Unfriending the Fox

Maya's fraying HDMI cable flickered like a dying heartbeat, just like her social life. Three weeks ago, she'd met Fox in an Among Us lobby - quick-witted, hilarious, somehow always knowing exactly what to say. They'd graduated to Discord calls till 3 AM, Fox's voice smooth as caramel, making Maya feel seen for the first time since middle school.

"You're different, M," Fox had said last night. "Not like those basic bitches at your school."

Maya had preened like someone had actually complimented her IRL. But when her childhood best friend Keisha caught her canceling plans - again - to game with Fox, Keisha's expression had shifted from hurt to something harder.

"You don't even know if Fox is who they say they are," Keisha said, not even looking up from her phone. "For all you know, you're being played by some 40-year-old dude in Ohio."

"You're just jealous," Maya had snapped. "Fox actually gets me."

The irony hit like a brick yesterday when Maya dropped her phone during their call. For ten seconds, she heard another voice through Fox's mic - deep, masculine, laughing about how "this one's actually falling for it." Fox's real voice, not the carefully modulated one they'd been using.

Maya sat frozen as her screen went black, the damaged cable finally giving up. Something in her chest cracked too.

Today, Keisha found her crying in the cafeteria. Didn't say "I told you so." Just slid over her AirPods and said, "Wanna hear this podcast about catfish instead of sitting here looking tragic?"

"Did it show?" Maya wiped her eyes.

"Show what? That you're down bad?" Keisha's grin was sly as any fox. "Girl, I've known you since we were seven. I can read you like myInsta algorithm."

The bell rang. Maya grabbed her bag, then paused. "Hey. You wanna come over after school? My cable's shot but we can just... talk."

Keisha's smile was real, not filtered. "Bet. But you're buying snacks."