The Sphinx's Secret

Maya pulled her beanie down lower, grateful for the hat that hid her nervous flush. The Metropolitan Museum field trip was supposed to be educational, but mostly it was just an excuse for everyone to gossip and sneak selfies.

She stood before the granite sphinx, its paws worn smooth by centuries of tourists reaching out to touch something ancient. Something permanent. Unlike her crush on Alex, which felt terrifyingly fragile.

"Hey!" Alex materialized beside her, iphone in hand like an extension of their arm. "Group pic?"

Maya's stomach did that annoying flutter thing. "Sure."

"Wait," Alex said, scrolling through their camera roll. "I have the worst cable situation back here. My charger's been janky since Wednesday." They showed Maya the frayed wire, splitting at the ends like something wounded.

"I have a spare," Maya heard herself say. "In my backpack."

Alex's face lit up. "You're literally a lifesaver. I've been bearing with 12% battery all morning and it's stressing me out."

"Bearing with?" Maya raised an eyebrow.

"You know what I mean," Alex laughed, bumping her shoulder. "My dad says that all the time. It's annoying, I know."

Behind them, the sphinx watched with its enigmatic smile, guardian of secrets and terrible riddles. But some riddles didn't need solving. Some questions could just be asked.

"So," Maya said, digging into her backpack for the cable, "are you going to the spring social?"

"Maybe," Alex said, taking the cable from her. Their fingers brushed. "If someone cool asked me."

Maya's heart hammered against her ribs. The sphinx seemed to hold its breath.

"Well," she said, "I was thinking about going. But I'd need someone to suffer through the terrible punch with me."

Alex's grin was answer enough.

Behind them, the sphinx remained silent. But its stone eyes seemed to wink.