The Sphinx by the Pool

Maya's phone buzzed in her pocket. Another Instagram story from the party she was actually at. The **iphone** felt heavy in her hand as she stood by the snack table, scrolling through posts everyone else was making in real time.

"Maya! You made it!" Chloe appeared, looking effortless in her bikini. "You have to try my mom's **papaya** smoothie. She got obsessed with them after our trip to Mexico."

"Sure," Maya said, reaching for the red cup.

She took a sip. It was actually good—sweet and tangy, but she still felt awkward standing there while everyone else was in the **pool**. Maya had brought her swimsuit but couldn't bring herself to change. The water reflected off the expensive patio furniture and the weird Egyptian statue in the corner—a stone **sphinx** that seemed to be watching everyone with that mysterious smile. Chloe's parents were weirdly rich.

"You okay?" asked Sam, suddenly beside her. He'd changed since middle school—taller, braces gone, hair falling over his eyes in that way all the girls liked.

Maya swallowed. "Yeah, just... you know. First party jitters."

"Dude," Sam said, "you've got **spinach** in your teeth."

Maya's face burned. She'd only eaten that stupid spinach dip five minutes ago. She turned toward the house, mortified.

"No wait," Sam said, laughing. "I'm kidding. There's nothing there."

She turned back, confused.

"You looked terrified," Sam said. "I wanted to break the ice. Plus, my sister told me you're in her art class. She says you're really good."

Maya blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah. She shows me your sketches all the time. The way you draw people—it's like you actually see them."

The **sphinx** seemed to smile more knowingly now. Maya looked at Sam, really looked at him, and realized maybe she wasn't the only one feeling like an imposter at this party.

"Want to show me your sketchbook?" Sam asked. "I mean, after you try the papaya stuff."

Maya smiled. "Yeah. Yeah, I do."

Her phone buzzed again in her pocket. This time, she ignored it.