Fox Hair and the Spinach Incident

Working at Sal's Diner wasn't exactly where seventeen-year-old Marcus saw himself spending his junior year summer, but the tips were decent and the free meal shift didn't hurt. The real perk, though, was HER — Riley, the girl with the most incredible fox-orange hair he'd ever seen, who came in every Thursday at 4 PM sharp.

Marcus had it bad. His best friend, Tyrell, called it "down atrocious." Marcus preferred "romantically committed."

"You gonna actually talk to her today, or just keep wiping that same table for twenty minutes?" Tyrell asked during a slow Tuesday.

"Shut up, man. I'm building momentum."

Thursday arrived. Marcus wore his lucky black shirt. Riley walked in at 4:03 PM, her fox-orange hair pulled back in a messy bun. She looked like she might cry.

"Hey, Riley. Usual?"

"Actually, can I just get the spinach salad? And maybe some water?"

"Rough day?"

"You have no idea." She sighed. "My mom's been on my case about colleges, my boyfriend decided we should 'take a break' via text, and I failed my calc exam. I'm just so tired."

Marcus nodded. "I feel that. My parents act like my entire future depends on this summer job. Like, sorry I'm not curing cancer, I'm just trying to afford gas."

Riley actually laughed. "Oh my god, same."

They talked for forty minutes about school pressure, annoying parents, their shared hatred for country music. It was the best conversation of his life.

Until she stood up to leave.

"Thanks, Marcus," she said, smiling. "You're really easy to talk to."

"You too!" he said, maybe too enthusiastically. Then he smiled back.

Riley's eyes went wide. She hesitated, then awkwardly pointed at her own teeth. Marcus froze. He ducked into the kitchen, flipped open his phone camera, and there it was — a massive, bright green piece of spinach wedged firmly between his front teeth.

He wanted to die. Just evaporate from existence.

His phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: "For what it's worth, I still think you're cute. Even with the spinach decoration ;) — Riley"

Marcus stared at his screen, unable to stop grinning. Tyrell walked by, saw his face, and said, "Oh no. You're doing that thing again."

"Shut up, man." Marcus's hair was a mess, his shift wasn't over for three hours, and he'd never been happier. "You don't understand. This is momentum."