The Sphinx at Locker 217

Maya's sophomore year had been one long exercise in feeling invisible—until the day she realized someone was definitely watching her.

It started small. Her Instagram story views included people she didn't know. Her locker combination had been changed, then changed back. Someone was going through her phone during gym class. Classic high school spy stuff, but still creepy.

The weirdest part? Everyone pointed to the new girl, Kael, who'd earned the nickname "the Sphinx" within her first week. She sat at the back of every class, hoodie up, answering questions with riddles or half-sentences that left everyone more confused than before.

"The weather outside is... how you feel about it," she'd say when asked if it was raining.

Maya had had enough. One Tuesday, she confronted Kael after school, finding her on the bench behind the gym where the stray tabby cat—the one Maya secretly fed—sometimes hung out.

"Stop going through my stuff," Maya said, her voice shaking. "I know it's you."

Kael looked up, startled. The tabby cat wound around her legs, purring like a motor.

"I'm not—" Kael started, then stopped herself. "Your lock combination is 14-27-9. You write it on your hand in highlighter that disappears by fourth period. You leave your phone unlocked during lunch because you think no one notices, but they do. You're predictable."

Maya stared. "What?"

"I'm not spying," Kael said, scratching the cat behind its ears. "I just notice things. It's... kind of my thing." She pulled Maya's missing science journal from her backpack. "Found this in the boys' bathroom. Some juniors were using it for scratch paper."

Maya's journal. Her grandma's recipes, her song lyrics, everything.

"Why?" Maya asked.

Kael shrugged, finally meeting her eyes. "Because last year, nobody noticed when I needed help. I figured someone should start." She hesitated. "Also, your cat likes me. That's usually a good sign."

The tabby chose that moment to jump into Maya's lap, purring like she'd always belonged there.

"Her name's Pancake," Maya found herself saying.

Kael actually smiled. "I'm Kael. Want to study for the history test?"

"Only if you stop with the riddle answers."

"Deal. But the real question is..." Kael's eyes twinkled. "Are you going to keep feeding Pancake behind the gym, or can we both do it?"

Maya laughed. Maybe high school spies weren't so bad after all.