The Sphinx of Sunset Terrace

The hat was ridiculous. Like, actually embarrassing — a floppy white monstrosity my mom insisted would save me from UV rays. Standing at the edge of the pool at Tyler's party, I felt like every single person was mentally roasting me. Which they probably were.

"Nice hat, Maya." Jake's voice dripped with that particular brand of friendly sarcasm that hits different when you're already spiraling. He was shirtless, holding a red solo cup like it was his personality.

"My mom's idea," I muttered, pulling the brim lower. Classic deflect.

The pool churned with bodies and laughter and way too much hormones. Someone had decided Tyler's backyard needed an Ancient Egypt theme because his parents had just gotten back from Cairo, hence the giant cardboard sphinx propped near the deep end like it was judging everyone's life choices. Its painted-on smile felt knowing somehow, like it knew I was only here because Chloe dared me to actually leave the house this summer.

That's when I saw the cat.

A scrawny orange tabby perched on the fence, watching the chaos with absolute zero chill. It wasn't looking at the pool or the people. It was looking straight at me, like, *you good tho?*

The air had that heavy, electric taste that means summer storm. Everyone else was too busy playing truth or dare chicken to notice. But I felt it — that pressure building behind my eyes, the same anxiety that had been haunting me since graduation, since everyone started asking what I was doing with my life, since I realized I had no idea who I was anymore.

*Thunder cracked.* Like, actually shook the ground.

"Everyone inside!" Tyler's mom shouted from the back door.

The party scrambled. I didn't move. Neither did the cat. Lightning split the sky — purple and gold and absolutely unhinged — illuminating everything in this weird, perfect freeze-frame. The sphinx's smile seemed to shift. The cat's eyes locked with mine. And suddenly it hit me, hard and fast: nobody was looking at my hat. Nobody was analyzing my outfit or my awkwardness or my complete lack of rizz.

They were all just trying to figure their own stuff out.

The first drop hit my hand. Then another. I took off the stupid hat and shook out my hair. The cat vanished into the night like it had never been there at all.

"Maya!" Chloe called from the back door. "You coming?"

I grinned, feeling something shift inside my chest. "Yeah." I grabbed my bag and headed toward the house. "Yeah, I'm coming."