When the Fox Blinked

Maya's phone buzzed. Third text from Tyler in five minutes. Her supposed best friend since fourth grade, now suddenly ghosting her at lunch while blowing up her phone. Classic. She stared at the **goldfish** bowl on her desk — Leonard, her unjudgmental companion. He swam in endless circles, probably had a better social life than she did.

"You're being such a **fox** about this," Kali said, falling onto Maya's bed. Kali, the only person who actually talked to Maya at Northwood High since The Incident.

"A fox?" Maya raised an eyebrow. "That's not even slang anymore."

"It is now. I'm bringing it back. Means you're being all mysterious and unreadable. Like, you won't even tell me what happened between you and Tyler."

Maya sighed. Tyler had been her ride-or-die until freshman year orientation when Jason — the human embodiment of a **bull** in every social situation — had decided Maya was suddenly worth his attention. Tyler had taken sides. Tyler had taken Jason.

"It's nothing," Maya lied.

"You're such a **sphinx**," Kali groaned. "All riddles and secrets. I swear, if you don't spill, I'm gonna start making up my own version. And it'll be way more dramatic."

"There's nothing to spill!" But even as she said it, Maya felt the weight of it. The truth was stupid and humiliating — Jason had asked Maya to tutor him in algebra, Tyler had gotten jealous, and now Maya was stuck in the middle of a friend group civil war she never wanted.

Leonard the goldfish floated to the top of his bowl, blowing a tiny bubble.

"Fine," Maya said. "But you have to promise not to make it weird."

"Weird is my middle name."

Maya's phone lit up again. Tyler: "Can we talk?"

Kali grabbed Maya's hand. "Whatever you decide, I've got your back. Actual friend status, no conditions."

For the first time in weeks, Maya breathed. Maybe she didn't need to solve this riddle alone after all.