The Sphinx Party Incident

Maya's best friend since kindergarten, Chloe, had invited her to Jake's house party. The first party of freshman year. Maya had spent two hours straightening her hair that still frizzed at the ends, and now she stood frozen in Jake's doorway.

"You came!" Chloe squealed, already two drinks in, grabbing Maya's hand. "Come meet Jake. He's in the backyard."

The backyard featured a giant concrete sphinx statue next to the pool—because nothing says cool eighth-grade grad gift like a three-foot Egyptian creature with chipped paint. Jake was leaning against it, holding a red solo cup like he'd been practicing in the mirror.

"This is Maya," Chloe announced. "She has, like, the most epic goldfish named Beefcake."

Maya's face burned. That's what Chloe led with? Not that Maya made varsity soccer, not that she'd gotten an A on Mr. Harrison's impossible history final. Beefcake the betta fish from carnival.

"Beefcake," Jake repeated, fighting back laughter. "Nice."

Then his golden retriever, probably named something normal like Buddy, bounded over and knocked into Maya. She stumbled, her elbow catching Jake's cup. Red punch splashed across his white Vans. The party seemed to pause.

"I'm so sorry—" she started.

"It's fine, really," Jake said, but his jaw was tight.

Maya fled to the bathroom, where she caught her reflection: spinach in her teeth from the spinach artichoke dip she'd nervously shoved in her mouth earlier. Spinach. In her teeth. The entire time she'd been talking to Jake.

She hid in the bathroom for ten minutes, questioning every life choice that led to this moment.

A knock on the door. "Maya? It's Jake."

She opened it, expecting him to ask her to leave. Instead, he handed her a toothbrush—still in packaging.

"My sister keeps extras for when she forgets hers," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "Also, my dog hates me, so we're even."

Maya laughed, the tension breaking. "Beefcake hates me too. I'm pretty sure he judges me through his bowl."

"Deal with it later," Jake said. "Chloe's about to attempt karaoke. You don't want to miss this."

They walked back to the party together, the sphinx watching silently as Maya finally, finally, started breathing again.