The Riddle Behind the Bleachers

Maya stood behind the gym bleachers, phone in hand, watching her crush Liam walk away with his crew. She felt like a total zombie—exhausted from overthinking every interaction, running on three hours of sleep and an iced coffee that had stopped working hours ago.

"You good?" asked Sammy, her best friend since seventh grade, appearing with his golden retriever Max. The dog nudged Maya's leg with that talent dogs have for knowing exactly when you're about to cry.

"I'm just done," Maya groaned. "I almost talked to him AGAIN. Third time this week. I'm such a bull in a china shop when it comes to flirting."

Sammy snorted. "First of all, you're overthinking it. Second, there's a literal sphinx situation happening here."

Maya blinked. "A what now?"

"A sphinx. You know—riddle. The thing blocking your path." Sammy dropped dramatically to the ground, crossing his legs like a wise sage. Max immediately flopped beside him, tongue out. "Here's your riddle: What gets harder every time you don't do it, but easier once you start?"

Maya rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "That's literally not a real riddle. You made that up."

"Answer: Talking to your crush," Sammy said, completely undeterred. "Look, Maya, you're not gonna friend-zone yourself into oblivion. Just say hey."

"Hey is what people say to their friends," Maya protested. "I don't want to be his friend. Well, I mean, I DO, but I also—"

"Exactly!" Sammy pointed at her like he'd just proved something profound. "Start with friend, see where it goes. Maya, you're smart, you're funny, you literally rescued a kitten from a tree last weekend. You're not some awkward zombie. You're a whole person."

Max let out a soft bark, as if backing him up.

Maya looked toward the cafeteria doors where Liam had disappeared. The worst that could happen was awkwardness. She'd survived awkwardness before. She'd survived middle school with braces. She'd survive this.

"Fine," she said, her heart racing. "But if this goes sideways, you're buying me boba for a week."

"Deal." Sammy handed her Max's leash. "Take the emotional support dog. His soft boi energy is undeniable."

Maya walked toward the cafeteria, Max trotting beside her like he knew he had a job to do. For the first time all week, the zombie feeling lifted. Maybe the sphinx's riddle was simple after all: you just had to walk through the mystery to find the answer.

"Hey Liam!" she called out, and when he turned and smiled, she knew—friend zone or not—she'd already won by showing up.