The Sphinx by the Palm

Leo's palms were literally sweating through his jeans. First official high school party, and he was already considering yeeting himself out the back gate. The DJ was blasting something bass-heavy that vibrated through his chest, and clusters of juniors stood around the pool like they owned the place.

"Dude, you good?" Marcus clapped him on the shoulder. Marcus had been his best friend since seventh grade, back when friendship meant trading Pokémon cards instead of navigating these terrifying social hierarchies. "You look like you're about to throw up."

"I'm chill," Leo lied, grabbing a solo cup from the table. "Just taking it all in."

That's when he noticed her by the palm tree at the far edge of the patio. She was reading an actual book at a party, which was either the weirdest thing ever or a total power move. She had dark curls and wore a vintage band tee that looked authentically old, not curated from Urban Outfitters.

Leo found himself drifting closer. The papaya and orange slices on the nearby fruit tray glistened under the string lights. Someone had clearly tried way too hard.

"Riddling yourself to death over there?" she asked without looking up. Her voice was casual, like they'd known each other forever.

"What?"

She closed her book—The Odyssey, obviously—and nodded at him. "You've been staring at me for like five minutes. I'm Maya, by the way. And you're obviously new to this whole party thing."

Leo felt his face heat up. "Is it that obvious?"

"You're standing by the fruit bowl alone." Maya smirked. "Dead giveaway."

She patted the spot beside her on the low wall. Leo hesitated, then sat. For the next hour, they didn't talk about parties or who was dating who. They talked about why she loved Greek mythology, how he'd taught himself to code last summer, and whether Ariana Grande's new album was mid or a bop.

"So what's your deal?" Maya asked eventually. "Like, actual deal. Not the 'I'm trying to look chill' deal."

Leo took a breath. "I honestly have no idea. I thought high school parties would be... I don't know, more like the movies?"

"Same." She gestured at the palm swaying above them. "But sometimes the real stuff is better than the movie version."

His phone buzzed. Marcus: where u at??? party's winding down.

"You should go," Maya said, but she was smiling. "But I'll see you Monday? We can decode whatever disaster this cafeteria pizza is supposed to be."

"Yeah." Leo stood up, feeling lighter than he had all night. "I'd like that."

Walking home under the streetlights, Leo realized his palms weren't sweating anymore. And somehow, that felt like the biggest win of the night.