Vitamin C & Conspiracy Theories

Maya's mom shoved the orange bottle across the kitchen counter. "You need your **vitamin** C, Maya. Cold season's coming."

Maya swallowed the chalky tablet without water, already late for school. Her phone buzzed—another DM from @school_watch42, the anonymous account that had been posting candid pics of students all week. Everyone was freaking out. Who was the **spy** behind the lens?

At lunch, Maya's crew sat in their usual spot by the windows. "Did you see what they posted about Jake?" Kayla whispered. "He was picking his nose in third period."

Maya snorted. Classic middle school drama.

Her phone died mid-scroll. "Crap. I forgot my charger at home."

"Use mine," offered Leo, sliding his across the table. But the **cable** was frayed, wires exposed like a tiny copper disaster.

"That thing's gonna electrocute you," Maya said, but she plugged it in anyway. "Whatever. I need to see what's happening."

New post from @school_watch42: a photo of Maya and Leo at lunch, captioned: "They think they know who's behind this account. They don't."

Maya's stomach dropped. "Wait, that's literally us, right now."

"No freaking way." Leo scanned the cafeteria. "Who's watching us?"

That afternoon, Maya walked home with Buster, her grandma's ancient **dog** who moved like a furry glacier. His retirement home walks were her excuse to escape group chat drama for twenty minutes.

Her phone pinged again. @school_watch42 posted again: a photo of Maya and Buster, tagged "conspiracy theorist and her accomplice."

Maya stopped walking. Someone was following her.

"Nice picture, isn't it?"

She spun around. Leo stood there, grinning, holding up his phone. "I figured out your login pattern three weeks ago. You use your birthday for everything."

"You're @school_watch42?" Maya's jaw dropped. "Why?"

Leo shrugged. "People are obsessed with being watched. Social media's all spying anyway. I just made it literal. Thought maybe if everyone knew they were being watched, they'd stop performing and start being real."

"That's... actually kind of deep?"

"Also," Leo admitted, "I wanted to see if you'd notice me."

Maya's face heated up. "Well played."

"Wanna walk Buster together tomorrow?"

"Only if you bring a charging cable that actually works."

"Deal."