Bad Hair, Brave Heart

The bathroom mirror was my enemy. I'd been staring at my reflection for twenty minutes, product-testing my hair into submission. Gel, mousse, whatever. My hair had developed a personality of its own – think Einstein on a wind tunnel day. Mom called it "artistic." I called it a disaster.

"Dude, you good?" Leo's voice came through the door. He'd been waiting outside for ten minutes.

"I look like a radioactive hedgehog," I groaned at my reflection.

"At least hedgehogs are cute," Leo said, coming in anyway. He was my best friend since third grade, back when we'd bonded over shared trauma in Mrs. Henderson's math class. These days, he was the only person who could call me out without me actually wanting to die.

I spiked my hair up for the fifth time. It fell immediately.

"Bro, Sarah's not going to care about your hair."

"I'm caring about my hair. Hair's important. First impressions matter."

Leo sighed, perching on the counter. "What if she laughs at me?"

"What if she doesn't?" he countered, like that was supposed to help.

"What if I throw up?"

"Then I'll make fun of you forever."

My cat, Mochi, chose that moment to saunter in. She surveyed me like I was a disappointing can of cat food. Then she launched herself onto the counter and started kneading my shoulder like it was dough, purring like a tiny engine.

"I think Mochi approves," Leo said.

Mochi bit my ear.

"Ow. That's not approval, that's a warning."

"Maybe she senses your fear."

I looked at Mochi. She looked back with those I-see-right-through-you cat eyes. Why are you like this? I asked her silently.

Mochi's response: she knocked my twenty-dollar hair gel off the counter.

It smashed onto the tile in a tragic explosion of product and plastic.

Silence. Then Leo lost it, cackling like this was the best thing that ever happened.

"That was twenty dollars, Leo."

"That was PRICELESS entertainment."

Mochi looked incredibly pleased with herself. I looked in the mirror one more time. My hair was already refusing to behave anyway. Whatever. I grabbed my backpack.

"Let's go. Before I overthink this more."

"Finally!"

We were halfway down the street when I realized: "I forgot my phone."

"Go back."

"No time, I'll just – I'll just do it."

My heart was running a marathon in my chest. Sarah was waiting by her locker, adjusting her own perfect hair. I didn't plan anything. I didn't rehearse anything. I just went for it.

"Hey, Sarah! Want to grab boba after school?"

Her smile lit up everything. "Absolutely!"

Leo gave me a thumbs-up from across the hall. Mochi would be proud. She ruined everything perfectly.