The Social Pyramid Scheme

Maya stared at the notification on her iPhone: 'Zombie 5K - 2 weeks away.' She'd signed up impulsively when Tyler mentioned he thought runners were chill. Now she had to actually deliver.

Her training "plan" was basically a pyramid scheme of bad ideas: start too fast, burn out, convince herself she'd do better tomorrow. She was currently at the "convincing herself" stage.

"You look like a zombie," said Lena, sliding into the cafeteria seat across from her. "Also, that spinach smoothie looks illegal."

"It's fuel," Maya said defensively, poking at the green sludge. "Runners need nutrients."

"Runners don't need to suffer publicly," Lena said, stealing a fry. "Also, Tyler's not even doing the zombie run anymore. He's doing that social media detox thing."

Maya's stomach did that thing where it forgot how to stomach. "He's not running?"

"Bro has zero commitment energy," Lena said. "But the zombie run is lowkey iconic. Everyone does it for the aesthetic."

Maya looked at her smoothie. She'd only signed up because Tyler mentioned it once three weeks ago. God, she was such a trope.

"I think I'm gonna skip it," Maya said.

Lena looked at her, really looked at her. "Or you could run it because you said you would? The zombie apocalypse isn't gonna care about your motivations, babe."

Maya started running that afternoon. Not because of Tyler (definitely not worth it) but because she wanted to finish something she started. Even if it meant drinking spinach smoothies that tasted like literal lawn clippings.

Two weeks later, Maya crossed the finish line covered in fake zombie blood, iPhone clutched in her sweaty hand, and posted the pic first. Tyler liked it 45 minutes later from his "detox" account.

She didn't even care. She'd finished. And that smoothie she'd choked down that morning? Still gross, but at least she'd earned it.