The Spy Who Talked to Cats

Maya's cat Mango was the only one who didn't judge her for sitting alone at lunch again. The orange tabby blinked lazily from her windowsill as Maya flopped onto her bed, scrolling through Instagram stories that made her stomach twist. Everyone else seemed to be living their best life while she was just... existing.

"You're the only real one here, Mango," Maya sighed, scratching behind his ears.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Riley: *we need to talk. fox knows something.*

Fox—that was Jordan's nickname since middle school, thanks to that time she'd somehow talked her way out of detention by switching seats with someone else. Jordan ran the school's social hierarchy like it was a game she'd already mastered.

Maya's stomach dropped. Last week, Jordan had caught Maya watching Jake's stories way too intently. Jake, who Jordan had been "talking to" for months. Maya had played it off, but now she wasn't so sure.

*what does she know?* Maya typed back.

*she says she saw you looking at his finsta. she's calling you a wannabe spy.*

The words hit Maya like a punch. A spy? Really? She'd just been... curious. Okay, maybe a little obsessed. But who wouldn't be? Jake was different. He got her obscure references, actually laughed at her jokes, didn't make her feel like the weird girl who talked to her cat too much.

Her grandma's voice called from downstairs. "Maya! Your show's on!"

Cable TV. The one thing that didn't require wifi or social strategies. Maya grabbed her phone and headed down, Mango trotting behind her like a fuzzy shadow.

Halfway down the stairs, her phone buzzed again. Jake. Her heart did that stupid flutter thing it always did.

*hey, jordan's being weird about something. you okay?*

Maya stared at the screen. Jordan was spinning narratives, playing games, and for what? To maintain her spot at the top? Meanwhile, Jake was checking on HER.

She texted back: *yeah I'm good. see you at the game?*

His response came instantly: *wouldn't miss it.*

Maya smiled. Let Jordan play her games. Let her call Maya a spy. Some truths didn't need to be spied on—some truths just found you when you stopped looking so hard.