The Spy in the Pyramid Scheme

Maya's older brother Jay had talked her into joining his "pyramid scheme" — which turned out to be an actual Egyptian history club that met in the library every Thursday. Whatever. She needed extracurriculars for college apps anyway.

But then Tyler from AP Chem started showing up. Tyler, who somehow made wearing the same flannel three days a week look like a choice. Tyler, whose smile made Maya's stomach do that embarrassing flip thing.

The problem? Her best friend Sofie was convinced Tyler was secretly her soulmate just because he'd once held the door open for her. So now Maya was basically a spy, gathering intel on Tyler's club attendance while pretending to care about dynastic burial practices.

"You're being weird about this," Sofie said when Maya tried to casually mention Tyler's new haircut without actually mentioning his name.

"I'm not being weird! You're being weird!"

The situation reached peak disaster when Jordan — this bully who'd been tormenting Maya since sixth grade for reasons still unclear — started showing up to the library meetings too. Apparently, Jordan thought the pyramid stickers they handed out were "aesthetic." The bar was officially on the floor.

"I can't bear this anymore," Maya groaned, sliding down the locker bank. "Jordan is literally wearing a pyramid shirt. In public."

"Take the bull by the horns," Sofie said, because she was addicted to TikTok wisdom she didn't actually understand. "Just talk to Tyler already."

That Thursday, Tyler sat next to her during the lecture on mummification techniques (which, shockingly, were less gross than whatever Jordan was eating in the back row).

"Hey," he said. "You're Maya, right? Jay's sister?"

"Yup. That's me. Jay's sister. Forever and always known as such."

"He said you're really good at Spanish," Tyler said. "I'm failing. Would you maybe want to tutor me?"

Maya might have died. She definitely said something that sounded like "yes absolutely I would love to" in a voice that was two octaves higher than normal.

Later, Sofie screamed. Jordan got suspended for putting a fake mummy in the principal's office. And Maya's first tutoring session with Tyler was... fine. Mostly awkward, kind of wonderful, and completely worth joining the world's dorkiest pyramid club.

Sometimes the best things aren't the ones you scheme for. They just sort of happen while you're busy trying not to embarrass yourself in front of the only person who matters.