The Sphinx at Sunset Point

The bonfire crackled as Maya hovered at the edge of the party, clutching her red solo cup like it was a lifeline. Sunset Point lived up to its name—palms silhouetted against a sky melting from orange to purple, the Pacific roaring in the background like it had something to prove.

"You're literally main character energy right now," her best friend Jaz nudged her. "Go talk to him."

Him being Lucas, whose skateboard tricks and effortless charisma had been occupying Maya's brain space since September.

"I can't. My rizz is non-existent when I'm sober."

"Bet. Five bucks says you freeze up again."

Before Maya could respond, a flash of **lightning** split the sky. Everyone flinched, then laughed. "Classic California," someone said. "One storm cloud and we act like the apocalypse is coming."

But it wasn't funny two minutes later when the heavens opened up. The party scrambled toward the beach house—everyone except Maya, who'd somehow gotten separated from the group. Rain plastered her hair to her face as she sprinted toward what she thought was shelter.

She crashed into someone in the dark.

"Watch—"

They both said it at the same time.

"Lucas?"

"Maya?" He was soaked, his T-shirt plastered to his chest, holding something against his side. "You okay?"

"I'm—yeah. You're out here too?"

"My little brother," he said, gesturing to a stuffed **bear** clutched under his arm. "Mr. Cuddles. Left him in the car, came back to get him before my mom realized. I'm not trying to get murdered."

Maya snorted. "Mr. Cuddles. Your intimidation levels are through the roof right now."

"Shut up." He laughed. The sound was warm against the storm. "You heading to the house?"

"Yeah. Just got turned around."

"Come on. I know the way."

They walked in silence for a moment. Maya's heart was doing something stupid and fluttery.

"Hey," Lucas said suddenly. "You know that Greek mythology test coming up?"

"Unfortunately."

"The **sphinx** riddle," he said. "What walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, three in the evening?"

"Man. Humans. Whatever."

"Right." He paused. "But I was thinking—maybe it's about growing up. Like, we start crawling, then we stand on our own two feet, then we need support again. But in a different way."

Maya glanced at him. "That's... actually kind of deep."

"I have my moments," he shrugged. "Mostly I'm just dreading this test. My mom's going to kill me if I fail another one."

"You want to study tomorrow? At the library?"

The words were out before she could overthink them.

Lucas stopped walking. Even in the dark, Maya could feel him looking at her.

"Yeah," he said softly. "I'd like that."

They reached the house, lights blazing and music muffled through the walls. Lucas opened the door, gesturing for her to go first.

"After you."

Maya stepped inside, dripping wet and feeling something flutter in her chest that had nothing to do with anxiety.

Sometimes storms weren't catastrophes. Sometimes they were just what you needed to find your way.