The Riddle at Jackson's Party

Maya pulled her beanie **hat** lower, trying to disappear into Jackson's living room wall. First party. Zero chill. Her phone buzzed in her pocket – probably her mom asking if she'd eaten, but she couldn't check without looking like a total loser.

"Yo, you gonna stand there all night or what?"

**Bull**.

His name wasn't actually Bull – that was just what everyone called Tyler 'cuz he'd charge through problems like he owned the place. He was also Maya's crush since seventh period English, when he'd defended that weird kid against the actual bullies.

"I'm... good?" Maya managed. Smooth. Totally not awkward.

"Wanna play?" He jerked his chin toward the kitchen, where someone had set up the most random game ever – an Egyptian-themed escape room puzzle in the middle of a house party. Some girl was crouched by a cardboard **sphinx**, looking way too intense.

"You afraid of a little riddle?" Bull teased, that grin doing things to her stomach.

"Please." Maya straightened her **hat**. "Bring it."

Ten minutes later, they were both on the kitchen floor, defeated. The sphinx had won.

"This is stupid," Bull groaned, throwing an **orange** at the cardboard pyramid. He missed.

Maya's **iPhone** lit up with a text from her actual ride: leaving in 5. The night was basically over, and she'd spent it sitting on the floor, failing at puzzles, while everyone else was... whatever normal people did at parties.

"Hey," Bull said suddenly. "You want to get out of here? There's this diner down the street..."

Maya's heart did that thing where it forgot how to heart.

"Yeah," she said, pulling her hat down to hide her smile. "Yeah, I'd like that."