The Sphinx in the Hallway

Riley's stomach did backflips as she walked toward Northwood High. First day at a new school, junior year—literally the worst timing. She clutched her dad's old fedora, something she'd stolen from his closet that morning. It was her armor. If she wore a hat, maybe she wouldn't feel so exposed.

The hallway was a maze of lockers, limbs, and loud conversations. Everyone seemed to know exactly where they were going. Riley felt like she'd been dropped into an alien planet where she'd missed the orientation webinar.

Then she saw it.

In the center of the cafeteria, holding court like it owned the place, was the largest mechanical bull she'd ever seen. Not a real one, obviously—but some kind of inflatable rental thing for spirit week? A freshman was currently getting bucked off while half the football team filmed it.

"First time?" someone asked beside her.

Riley jumped. A girl with green streaks in her hair and approximately twelve earrings grinned at her.

"Uh, yeah. First everything, actually."

"I'm Ash. That bull"—she pointed—"is literally the most exciting thing that's happened since the cafeteria stopped serving pizza that was actually edible."

Riley relaxed. "I'm Riley. And I'm guessing this is not normal?"

"Spirit week gone wrong," Ash said. "You should come to the art room after lunch. We're painting a sphinx for the homecoming float. It's gonna be legendary if Mr. Harrison doesn't make us start over."

By third period, Riley had somehow agreed to help. The art room smelled like acrylics and rebellion. Ash introduced her to the group—a mix of kids who, like Riley, seemed to float between the usual high school categories.

They were working on this massive papier-mâché sphinx. It was ridiculous and wonderful.

"We're running behind schedule," a guy named Leo said, wiping paint from his cheek. "Homecoming's Friday."

Riley found herself covered in gold paint by the end of the period. And for the first time all day, she wasn't thinking about being the new girl. She was thinking about how many layers of papier-mâché it took to make a proper sphinx riddle.

When she got home that afternoon, her mom asked how it went.

Riley took off her dad's fedora, setting it on the hook by the door. She wouldn't need it tomorrow.

"Good," she said, and realized it was actually true. "I think I found my people."