Filter Fail

Maya's phone buzzed on her nightstand at 2 AM, another notification from someone posting beach pics while she lay here overthinking everything. She groaned and buried her face in her pillow. Tomorrow was Jordan's party, and she still didn't have an outfit that didn't make her feel like she was trying too hard.

"You're not gonna believe what Dad did," her best friend Kai's text read. Maya rolled over and called him.

"What happened?"

"So apparently he was trying to be all healthy and bought this spinach pasta, right? But somehow our dog got into it, and now there's green barf everywhere. My mom is literally losing it."

Maya snort-laughed. "No way. That's foul."

"But wait, it gets better. So while they're cleaning up dog barf, our cat—that orange demon cat—just casually walks in with a dead fox in its mouth. Like, a whole fox. Maya, I'm deceased."

Maya was wheezing now. This was exactly what she needed. Because meanwhile she was spiraling about some party where everyone would be judging her outfit and her hair and whether she was "trying too hard" or "being basic" or whatever other words people used to tear each other down.

"You good?" Kai asked after she'd composed herself.

"Yeah. Just... thanks. I needed that."

"You're overthinking the party again, aren't you?"

"Maybe."

"Maya, listen. Nobody cares. Everyone's too busy worrying about themselves. Just wear that black dress from your birthday, your hair will be fine, and if anyone judges you, they're not worth your time. Also bring your iPhone charger because Jordan's always dies."

Maya smiled. Kai was right. She grabbed the black dress from her closet and held it up. Not too fancy, not too casual. Just right.

The next day, Jordan's party was exactly as chaotic as expected. Someone spilled soda on the carpet. Two people got into a weird argument about music. But Maya was dancing with Kai and his friends, actually having fun instead of standing in the corner overthinking everything.

Her phone buzzed—her mom posting about how proud she was of Maya's "first real party experience." Maya laughed and pocketed it. She'd deal with the cringe later. Right now, she was just glad she'd actually shown up.