The Riddle of Room 207

Maya's hands shook so hard she nearly dropped the bottle. The **vitamin** C supplements rattled against the plastic like tiny maraca players mocking her pre-audition jitters. Her best friend Kai rolled their eyes, popping a piece of gum.

"Girl, you're taking enough vitamins to single-handedly boost the entire school's immune system," Kai said, leaning against the drama room wall. "You got this."

"Easy for you to say," Maya muttered. "You're not the one who has to deliver a monologue while the drama teacher's **sphinx** painting stares judgmentally at your soul."

The sphinx had been a senior gift to the drama department years ago—a massive canvas thing with eyes that seemed to follow you. Rumor was, if you couldn't answer the sphinx's silent riddle, you'd choke. So far, the rumor held true. Three people had thrown up during auditions this week alone.

Mr. Harrison called her name. Maya's stomach did somersaults that would've impressed Olympic gymnasts. She stepped forward, but Devon, that massive **bull** of a linebacker who'd decided to "expand his artistic horizons" this semester, blocked her path.

"You're going down, Shakespeare," Devon grinned, though not meanly. They'd bonded last year over their mutual hatred of group projects. "May the best thespian win."

"Maya," she corrected automatically, then immediately wanted to facepalm. NERD. But Devon just laughed and fist-bumped her.

"Maya. Right. Break a leg."

She walked to center stage, suddenly aware of everyone's attention. The sphinx seemed especially judgmental today. But then she caught Kiana giving her a subtle thumbs-up, and something shifted. The vitamin C might have been a placebo, but the friendship? That was real.

The sphinx wasn't mocking her. The sphinx was waiting.

Maya took a breath and began to speak, her voice growing stronger with every word. The riddle wasn't about confidence at all—it was about finding the courage to be seen.

"I'm not the person everyone thinks I am," she said, her character's words feeling surprisingly true. "I'm not quiet. I'm not shy. I've just been... waiting for someone to listen."

The room went silent. Even the sphinx seemed impressed. Devon mouthed "DAMN" from the sidelines. And when Mr. Harrison announced the callback list later that afternoon, Maya's name sat at the very top.

"Told you," Kai said later, as Maya finally stopped vibrating with adrenaline. "Though I'm pretty sure the vitamins had zero to do with it."

"Shut up," Maya laughed, already planning her acceptance speech for when she'd inevitably become famous. "Also, you're buying boba. My treat myself tax."

"Deal. But you're telling me what you said to the sphinx."

Maya grinned. "That's for me to know—and the sphinx to never tell."