The Sphinx in Third Period

The cable had been fraying for weeks, just like my patience. Every time someone tripped over the coaxial cable snaking across the living room floor, my stream would cut out right as I was about to clutch in ranked matches. But that wasn't even the worst part of my day.

That honor belonged to Bull Montgomery — six-foot-two of pure eighth-grade nightmare who'd made it his personal mission to ensure my existence remained miserable. His latest masterpiece? Dumping chocolate milk down my brand-new hoodie during lunch because I'd apparently 'looked at him wrong.' Whatever that meant.

I'd retreated to the library to assess the damage, which is how I ended up sitting across from Riley, the girl who never spoke but seemed to know everything about everyone. She was reading a book on Egyptian mythology, her dark hair falling like a curtain between us.

'Bull's acting like a total jerk because his parents are getting divorced,' she said, not looking up from her page.

I stared at her. 'How do you know that?'

She finally met my eyes. 'I observe. People think they're sphinxes — all mysterious and unreadable — but everyone has tells. Bull checks his phone every two minutes, waiting for texts that never come. You pull at your hoodie strings when you're nervous. And that cable on your floor? You're too scared to ask your dad to fix it because you don't want to admit you need his help.'

I felt exposed, like she'd x-rayed through my entire carefully constructed facade of indifference.

'So what's your tell?' I asked, trying to regain some ground.

A smile ghosted across her lips — the first one I'd ever seen. 'I read in the library because it's the only place where no one expects me to perform.'

Something shifted between us in that moment. Not a romance movie moment or anything cheesy like that. More like... recognition.

'My dad can help with the cable,' I found myself saying. 'He's an electrician. He could probably swing by your place too, if you need anything fixed.'

Riley closed her book. 'I'd like that.'

Later that afternoon, when Bull tripped me in the hallway and everyone laughed, I didn't look down. I looked at Riley, standing by her locker with that unreadable sphinx-like expression, and she gave me the tiniest nod. The cable might still be frayed, but for the first time in months, I didn't feel like I was about to snap.