Goldfish and Papaya Nights

Maya smoothed down her dress for the thousandth time, the fabric suddenly feeling too tight, too everything. She felt like a bear in a costume—one of those ridiculous mascot outfits where the person inside is just trying not to trip over their own giant feet. The bass from Tyler's speakers thudded against her chest, making her heart race even faster.

"Hey! You actually came!" Tyler materialized from nowhere, handing her a bright orange bowl. "Goldfish? I literally just bought them because you mentioned liking them that one time."

Maya's face heated up. That had been in eighth period math, three weeks ago. He remembered?

"Thanks," she managed, reaching for a cheese-cracker fish. Her fingers brushed his and something electric zinged through her—actual sparks, not just the I'm-so-awkward kind.

"Oh my god, are you eating PAPAYA?" Chloe's voice cut through the music like a verbal slap. She stood by the kitchen counter, pointing dramatically at Lily, who was calmly spooning something bright orange into her mouth.

"It's literally just fruit, Chloe," Lily said, but her smile looked tight. "My mom got it at the new international market. Want to try?"

Chloe made a face like she'd just smelled something dead. "That's literally so weird. Who even eats that?"

Maya looked between them, her goldfish forgotten. This was the thing about parties—the way normal words suddenly turned into weapons, how the wrong food or the wrong laugh could make you public enemy number one. She'd spent enough lunch periods feeling like the goldfish in a bowl—swimming in circles while everyone watched.

She looked at Tyler, who was watching the exchange with this pained expression. He caught her eye and did this tiny, almost imperceptible shrug. Like, yeah, this sucks, but we're in it together.

"Actually," Maya said, her voice sounding weirdly loud, "papaya's supposed to be really good for your skin. My aunt eats it every morning and she literally looks twenty-two."

Chloe blinked, momentarily derailed. "Wait, seriously?"

Maya nodded, grabbing a slice from Lily's bowl. It was sweet and musky, nothing like she expected. "Yeah. Want some?"

She caught Tyler's grin out of the corner of her eye. He'd seen her do it—the way she'd turned herself into the bear instead of the prey. The way she'd picked a side.

Maybe parties weren't so terrible after all.