The Riddle of Friday Night

Maya stood at the edge of the pool, clutching her solo cup like it was a lifeline. The **water** reflected twinkling string lights and about fifty teenagers she didn't know, all somehow cooler and more confident than she'd ever be.

"Yo, you gonna stand there all night or actually vibe?" A guy with messy dark hair and a mischievous grin appeared beside her. His nickname was **Fox**—something about being clever, or maybe just because he'd once stolen the principal's golf cart and driven it into the fountain sophomore year. Now he was a legend, and Maya was... well, Maya.

"I'm vibing," she lied. "Hard."

Fox laughed. "You're about as vibing as my grandma at a rave. Come on." He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the garage, where a smaller group sat in a circle. Someone had strung a thick **cable** from the house to power the speakers, and the bass thudded against Maya's chest.

In the center of the circle sat an ancient stone statue—some garden ornament that looked like a miniature **sphinx**. Its face was cracked, one ear chipped off, but its eyes seemed to follow Maya.

"We're playing Riddle or Dare," Fox announced. "**Sphinx** asks, you answer or drink. Truth or dare, but with ancient Egyptian mythology energy. Maya's up first."

The group's attention snapped to her. Maya's palms grew sweaty. She hated being on display, hated the way everyone's expectations felt like weights pressing down on her chest.

"Okay," said the sphinx keeper, a girl with rainbow hair who looked like she belonged in a different dimension. "What gets bigger the more you take away?"

Maya's mind went blank. The bass, the lights, everyone watching—

Then she saw it: a bowl of snacks someone had abandoned. **Spinach** artichoke dip, now cold and congealing.

"A hole," she said suddenly. "Like, literally, the more dirt you take out, the bigger the hole gets."

Silence. Then Fox grinned. "She's not vibing, but she's SMART. Respect."

The circle erupted in laughter, but this time it felt different. Not laughing AT her, but WITH her. Maya felt something shift inside her, like puzzle pieces clicking into place. Maybe she didn't have to be the coolest person in the room to belong here. Maybe being the girl who knew weird riddles was enough.

"Your turn," she said, surprised by her own confidence. "Ask me another."

Fox winked. "Now you're getting it."