The Pyramid Scheme

Maya's mom had dragged her to yet another motivational seminar at the Hilton, which meant two hours of awkward networking and overpriced hotel snacks. But at least there was free breakfast, which is how Maya found herself standing in front of a fruit display, contemplating a wedge of papaya like it held the secrets to surviving freshman year.

"You gonna eat that or just stare at it?" A guy in a bucket hat slid next to her, grabbing a handful of melon balls. "I'm Leo. My mom's the one in the front row taking notes like she's gonna be tested on this later."

"Maya." She poked at the papaya. "And yeah, probably not. I'm more of a donut person, you know?"

"Valid." Leo leaned against the buffet table. "So, what brings you to the cult meeting? My mom says she's starting a 'side hustle.' I told her that's what people call it when they want to lose money and alienate their friends."

Maya almost laughed. "Same. My mom's convinced this is her path to financial freedom. Meanwhile, I'm just here for the mini muffins and to avoid thinking about how I have to present my history project on Monday."

"History?" Leo made a face. "Rough. I had to do Egypt last month. Built a sugar cube pyramid that collapsed twice. My teacher said it was 'metaphorically accurate' because empires fall or something deep like that."

"No way." Maya grinned. "We're doing Egypt too! I've been procrastinating for weeks. Now I feel slightly better about my life choices."

"Look," Leo said, lowering his voice, "we could suffer through this seminar, or we could bail. There's a boba place across the street. I'll even let you make fun of my hat."

Maya looked at the stage where a guy in an expensive suit was shouting about residual income. She looked at the papaya, then at Leo's ridiculous hat, and finally at the exit sign glowing like a beacon.

"Boba sounds better than pyramid schemes," she said. "Lead the way, hat guy."

"Hat guy?" Leo shook his head as they walked out. "That's definitely going in my bio."

They spent the next two hours sitting on the curb outside the boba shop, talking about everything from their weird families to how social hierarchy was basically a pyramid and they'd both rather be at the bottom together than at the top alone.

"Next time your mom drags you to one of these," Maya said, popping her last boba pearl, "text me. We'll start our own pyramid scheme. You in?"

Leo adjusted his ridiculous hat. "Only if I can wear this to the recruitment meeting."

"Deal."