Goldfish at the Homecoming Game

Maya's life flashed before her eyes—or at least, the last three seconds of it, captured on her cracked iPhone screen. The video showed it all: her stepping up to the Homecoming court throne, the crowd screaming, and then the disaster. Her vintage sundress caught on something, and suddenly she wasn't the elegant sophomore queen nominee anymore. She was a girl in her underwear, with cartoon goldfish printed all over them.

The gasp that swept through the gymnasium sounded like a tidal wave. Someone shouted, "Nice goldfish!" and that was it. The nickname was born.

Maya bolted, leaving her dignity somewhere between the throne and the exit sign. Outside, she collapsed against the brick wall, her face burning. The Homecoming game continued without her—the Bears versus their rival school, whose mascot just happened to be a bull. A literal bull painted on every banner, cheered by students wearing "BULLDOZE THE BEARS" shirts.

She pulled out her phone, ready to delete every social media app and move to Antarctica. But then she saw it: a text from her grandma. "Don't forget your vitamin D supplements! They help with stress!"

Maya stared at the message. Grandma knew nothing about the goldfish incident. She was just being Grandma.

Suddenly, Maya was laughing. Like, actually laughing, doubled over against the school wall. Because what was the alternative? Crying forever?

"Goldfish girl." The school's biggest jerk, Derek, sauntered over with his friends. "That's gonna stick, you know."

Maya looked up. "Yeah," she said. "Yeah, it probably will."

He frowned. He'd wanted her to cry.

"You know what else?" Maya stood up. "I'm not the one who has to bear the nickname 'Derek Who Can't Catch a Football' for the rest of high school."

His friends cracked up. Derek's face turned the color of a badly-cooked lobster.

"And those goldfish?" Maya continued, surprising herself with every word. "My little brother picked them out. He's seven. He thinks they're hilarious. So joke's on you—they're literally cool because a child approved them."

She walked back into the game, goldfish undies and all. People stared. Someone whispered. But Maya just kept walking, head up, because honestly? Goldfish were kind of iconic.

Her phone buzzed. Grandma again: "Also, I saw on Facebook that something happened. Just remember: everyone has goldfish moments. You're not alone."

Maya grinned. Maybe Homecoming court wasn't a total disaster after all. At least she was unforgettable now.