The Sphinx at Shortstop

Jordan's baseball cleats dug into the dirt as she crouched at shortstop, sweat trickling down her spine. It was the bottom of the ninth, two outs, and her crush, Maya, was stepping up to the plate. Again.

"You're staring, Jordan," whispered Lily from second base. "It's getting creepy."

"I'm not staring. I'm scouting. Strategically."

"Right. Just like you weren't literally spying on her practice yesterday from behind the bleachers?"

Jordan felt her face burn. That had been a low point. But in her defense, Maya's batting form was mesmerizing—the way she shifted her weight, the concentration furrowing her brow, the absolute confidence as she sent balls flying into the stratosphere. Jordan had spent the past month as an unwilling spy in her own life, documenting Maya's every move like she was some kind of case file instead of a girl she'd known since kindergarten.

The school's ancient mascot, a crumbling concrete sphinx that sat near the parking lot, seemed to mock her every morning. "Riddle me this," the grinning statue seemed to say. "What's more pathetic than pining after someone who thinks you're just her teammate?"

Maya connected with the pitch. The ball soared toward left field, and Jordan's body moved on instinct—leaping, stretching, gloved hand reaching. She caught it, but landed awkwardly, her ankle twisting underneath her.

"You good?" Maya was there suddenly, hand outstretched, concern written all over her face.

"Yeah," Jordan lied, wincing as she tried to put weight on it. "Just my ankle being dramatic again."

"Let me help." Maya slung Jordan's arm over her shoulder, supporting her weight. "You know, you've been acting weird lately."

"Have I?"

"Yeah. Like, every time I look at you, you look away. You've been avoiding me after practice." Maya's voice dropped. "I thought I'd done something to make you hate me."

Jordan's heart did this stupid little flip. "No! No, I don't—"

"Good." Maya smiled, and it was this fox-like grin, all sharp and clever and knowing. "Because I was hoping maybe you'd want to get ice cream with me sometime. When your ankle isn't trying to ruin your life."

Later, Jordan would realize the sphinx hadn't been mocking her at all. It had been daring her to make a move. Some riddles weren't meant to be solved from a distance. Sometimes, you just had to swing for the fences.