The Riddle of Lunch Table Three

Maya's iPhone screen glowed in the dim cafeteria corner, revealing the latest Group Chat drama.

r u coming to the party??? Jade's message read.

Maya hesitated. Since the Great Friend Schism of sophomore year, she and Jade had been orbiting each other like satellites in different galaxies. Jade with her varsity jacket and perfect waves. Maya with her art-stained fingers and questions about everything.

The Monday before, Maya had discovered Jade's secret Instagram account — @sphinx_riddles_xo — where Jade posted anonymous riddles about their classmates. Maya had felt like a spy, creeping through digital hallways, watching someone she thought she knew transform into something mysterious and cruel.

Now the cafeteria lady plopped something green and gelatinous onto her tray. "Spinach surprise," she said cheerfully.

Maya poked it with her plastic fork. It jiggled.

"You gonna eat that?"

Leo from AP Lit slid into the seat across from her. He was the kind of quiet that made you wonder what he was really thinking.

"Probably not," Maya said. "You want it?"

Leo's eyes crinkled. "I'll pass. But I heard about Jade's party."

Of course he had. Freshman year, Maya and Leo had bonded over conspiracy theories about why the school mascot was a Spartan when their mascot was clearly supposed to be something cool. Now he was just another person who knew things before she did.

"Everyone thinks I should go," Maya said, surprised by how much her voice shook.

Leo considered this. "What does the sphinx say?"

Maya blinked. Then she understood. @sphinx_riddles_xo. Jade's secret account. The riddles.

"Wait — you KNOW?"

Leo shrugged. "I see things. I don't post them."

Something shifted in Maya's chest. For months, she'd been holding onto Jade's secret like a burden, something that could destroy her ex-best friend. But Leo knew. And he wasn't using it.

"The sphinx says..." Maya started slowly, "that some riddles aren't meant to be solved alone."

Leo smiled, and it was genuine. "Then maybe we should figure out what this party actually is. Together."

Maya picked up her tray, leaving the spinach untouched. For the first time in forever, she wasn't afraid of what Jade might post next. Some sphinxes lose their power when you stop treating them like mysteries and start seeing them for what they really are.

Just girls trying to figure out who they're becoming.