Fox in the Cafeteria

The papaya sat on Maya's tray like an alien artifact. She'd grabbed it on a dare from Jake, who'd bet five bucks she wouldn't try something from the weird fruit section. Now it was just her and this orange-fleshed mystery, alone at lunch while everyone else sat in their established cliques.

Maya poked it with her fork. Freshman year was supposed to be different—she was supposed to be different. But three weeks in, and she was still the girl who sat alone and ate strange fruit.

"That looks radioactive."

Maya jumped. A girl with fire-engine dyed hair slid into the seat across from her. This was a Fox situation—the kind of person who moved like they owned every room, effortless and slightly dangerous. Everyone said Fox—real name Sophia, but nobody used it—was cool because she didn't care. But Maya had seen Fox reading alone in the library enough times to wonder.

"It's papaya," Maya said, suddenly defensive. "Jake bet me five bucks I wouldn't try it."

Fox's orange eyebrows shot up. "Classic Jake move. Bet you something stupid, then watches you suffer through it. He did the same thing to me with a jalapeño last month."

Fox reached across the table and sliced off a piece with Maya's plastic fork. Popped it in her mouth, chewed thoughtfully.

"Tastes like someone mixed a peach with hand lotion," Fox concluded. "But not terrible."

Maya laughed—really laughed, for the first time in weeks. They spent the rest of lunch dissecting the papaya and talking about everything and nothing. About how high school felt like everyone had received a manual that Maya had missed. About how Fox's hair color changed based on her mood. About Jake's five-buck dares and how neither of them had fallen for them.

When the bell rang, Fox stood up, then paused. "Hey. You seem chill. My friends are coming to my place Friday—my mom's making that orange chicken everyone obsesses over. You should come."

Maya's heart did something stupid and fluttery. "I'd... I'd like that."

"Cool." Fox grinned. "Bring the papaya. We can traumatize Jake together."