The Sphinx Party

Maya felt like a **zombie** as she dragged herself into Kayla's basement. Finals week had absolutely destroyed her sleep schedule, and now here she was at a 'gathering' (nobody said party anymore, apparently that was cringe). The lights were dim, someone's playlist was vibrating through the floorboards, and Maya's social battery was already at 3%.

Then she saw her. Rina, the new girl from AP Lit, perched on the arm of the couch like she owned the place. Everyone called her 'the **sphinx**' behind her back because she never gave straight answers — everything was a riddle, a metaphor, some deep quote that made you feel stupid for not getting it.

'Maya!' Kayla materialized, grabbing her wrist. 'You made it! **Friend**, you will NOT believe what happened with Tyler earlier.'

Maya's stomach twisted. She and Kayla had been best friends since seventh grade, but lately everything felt complicated. Kayla was different around her new friends — louder, sharper, like she was performing.

The night progressed with the usual teenage chaos: truth or dare questions that went too deep, stolen sips of whatever someone's older sister bought, secrets spilled in corners that everyone would pretend not to hear the next day.

Then came the **lightning** moment — literally. The power went out during a thunderstorm, plunging them into darkness. Someone screamed. Maya ended up squashed next to Rina on the floor.

'So,' Rina's voice was surprisingly soft. 'What's the one thing you can't **bear** for anyone to know about you?'

Maya's heart stopped. But something about the darkness made it easier. 'That I'm terrified everyone will figure out I have no idea what I'm doing. Like, ever.'

Rina laughed. 'Same. You think I'm mysterious? I'm just anxious.'

The power flickered back on. But something had shifted. The sphinx wasn't a riddle anymore — she was just another person trying to survive high school. And maybe, just maybe, Maya wasn't the only one faking it till she made it.