The Sphinx's Halloween Party

Maya stood outside Jake's house, her heart hammering like she'd just chugged three energy drinks. First proper high school party. First time wearing a costume that wasn't "basic girl cat" or "sexy zombie" like half the squad.

She adjusted the plastic sphinx headpiece—riddle-keeper, mystery-maker, exactly the vibe she wanted. Nobody knew what to make of it. Perfect.

Inside, the bass thumped hard enough to rattle your teeth. Someone had already puked in the bathroom (classic). Maya spotted her bestie Chloe by the snacks, wearing this giant bear hoodie that swallowed her whole.

"You look like a cozy grizzly," Maya shouted over the music.

"It's called emotional support fashion," Chloe yelled back, gesturing at the hoodie. "Also, I can fit an entire pizza in here."

That was when Maya saw him—Tyler, leaning against the wall wearing that stupid fedora hat he thought made him look mysterious. (Spoiler: it didn't.) Last week at lunch, he'd asked if she'd read this obscure indie graphic novel, and she'd basically forgotten how to form words.

Tonight, Tyler was dressed as—get this—an actual zombie. Not the cool kind, but full-on decaying prom king with fake blood and everything.

"Nice sphinx," he said, appearing suddenly beside her. "You got any riddles for me?"

Maya's brain short-circuited. "Uh, what walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening?"

"Man," Tyler deadpanned. "That's literally my whole gender crisis."

They talked for twenty minutes about everything and nothing—how weird it was that everyone was suddenly "finding themselves" when most of them were just confused messes trying different personalities on like clearance rack clothes.

Then Tyler's ex walked in. Dressed as a cat. Of course.

The energy shifted instantly. Maya's stomach did that awful twisty thing. But instead of slipping away like she would've done last year, she stayed. Sphinx mode activated.

"So," Maya said, as cat-girl practically glued herself to Tyler's arm. "What's the deal with fedoras anyway? You channeling your inner Indiana Jones or what?"

Tyler laughed. Actual genuine laughter. "Touché, sphinx-girl. Touché."

Later, as Maya sprawled on Chloe's bed recounting everything (minus the panic attacks), she realized something: she hadn't needed the riddles or the mystery. She just needed to show up as herself—awkward, nervous, and figuring it out like everyone else.

"So," Chloe asked around a mouthful of bear-hoodie-stashed pizza. "You gonna see him again?"

Maya grinned. "Maybe. But first, I'm burning that sphinx headpiece. It gave me a headache."

"Fair." Chloe paused. "But lowkey though? You looked kinda legendary."