The Pyramid Scheme

Maya's phone buzzed for the third time, another notification sliding across her screen like bad news. She swiped it away, palms sweating against the plastic case of her smoothie—her mom insisted she take the vitamin D supplement blended in, said it would help with the 'seasonal affective disorder' diagnosis, whatever that meant.

"You coming?" Jason stood by his locker, surrounded by his usual orbit of people. He had that effortless vibe, like he'd never experienced a single awkward moment in his life.

"Yeah, one sec." Maya took a gulp of the orange concoction, grimaced.

The truth was, she'd been avoiding him all week. Last Friday at Jordan's party, things had gotten weird. Not bad weird, but weird weird. The kind that made her stomach do actual gymnastics when she saw him in the hallway.

She grabbed her bag and started toward him, but then she saw it: the flyer taped to the wall next to the water fountain. PYRAMID SCHEME, it read in block letters, someone's sharpie masterpiece. But underneath, in smaller letters: 'Make money. Make friends. Make your life actually matter for once.'

Maya stopped. The words hit harder than they should have.

"Hey." Jason appeared beside her, making her jump. "You okay?"

"Fine." She gestured at the flyer. "Just, you know, capitalism's greatest hits."

Jason laughed, and something in her chest loosened. "Yeah, my brother got sucked into one of those last year. Lost, like, four hundred dollars on some energy drink pyramid scheme. Had to work at the cable company all summer to pay it back."

"The cable company? That's, like, actual hell on earth."

"Tell me about it. He had to listen to people complain about their internet not working during the World Cup finals." Jason leaned against the lockers, closer than necessary. "Hey, about Friday—"

"Don't." Maya's voice came out sharper than she intended. "Just, don't make it weird."

"I wasn't going to." His expression softened. "I was going to say I had fun. Like, actually fun. Not 'pretending to have fun because it's a social obligation' fun."

Maya felt her face heat up. "Oh."

"Yeah. Oh." He smiled, and it was this genuine thing that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "So, I was thinking, maybe we could—"

The late bell rang, cutting him off.

"History," they said simultaneously.

"After school?" Jason asked, already backing away.

Maya nodded, something bright and terrifying expanding in her chest. "After school."

She watched him go, then turned back to the flyer. PYRAMID SCHEME, it accused. But looking at it now, with Jason's laugh still echoing in her ears, it seemed almost funny. Some schemes were worth falling for. The rest? She'd figure it out. Probably after another vitamin smoothie. Definitely with more heart palpitations either way.