The Sphinx's Secret

Maya's hands wouldn't stop shaking. Again.

"You good?" Jordan asked, not looking up from his phone. The charging **cable** between them was fraying at the edges, much like Maya's nerves right now.

"No," she whispered. "He's actually going to be there. Tonight. At the party."

Jordan groaned. "Not this again. You've been obsessing over Leo for like, three months straight. It's giving 'stalker' but in a gay way."

"Shut UP." Maya kicked his sneaker. "You're supposed to be my best **friend**, not my personal roaster."

"I'm both. It's called versatility." Jordan finally looked up, eyes softening. "Look, what are you gonna do?"

Maya stared at the old stone **sphinx** in the park across the street—some weird art installation from the 80s that nobody understood but everyone used as a landmark. The sphinx's riddle had been cracked years ago, but Maya's felt impossible.

"I think I'm just gonna... not go," she said.

"Wow. Bold strategy. Literally **bear** your feelings instead of dealing with them? That'll definitely work."

"What feelings?" Maya snapped, but Jordan just gave her that look. The one that said I know you're lying to yourself and I'll wait until you're ready to admit it.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and thick.

"You know what's dumb?" Maya said finally. "I came out to my mom like, three weeks ago. She literally baked a rainbow cake. My family is cool with it. My friends are cool with it. But I'm still scared to talk to a boy I like."

"Because that's different," Jordan said. "Family loving you is supposed to happen. Some rando liking you back? That's never guaranteed. That's why it's terrifying."

Maya blinked. "When did you get all philosophical?"

"Shut up, I have layers." Jordan stood up, grabbing the broken cable. "Come on. We're going to that party. You're gonna talk to Leo. And if he's not interested? Cool. But at least you'll know."

"You're annoying,"

"I'm literally your ride home," Jordan called over his shoulder. "Move your ass, Maya."

She took a breath and followed. The sphinx watched them go, enigmatic smile unchanged. Some riddles you solved yourself. Others, you just had to walk into and see what happened.

Fine. She could do that.

Probably.