Green Between My Teeth

The padel court smelled like rubber and desperation. I stood there, racket feeling like a foreign object in my sweaty grip, while Maya—my supposed best friend since seventh grade—laughed at something Ethan said.

"You serve, Lev," Ethan called out, all golden-boy confidence with his stupid perfect hair.

I stepped up to the line. My stomach did that thing it always did when the social pyramid at Lincoln High reminded me exactly where I stood: somewhere between the dirt and the basement.

I swung. Missed. The ball bounced sadly against the fence.

"My grandma's got more game than you," Maya joked. The group laughed. I forced a smile, but inside I felt like I'd swallowed a bag of **spinach**—which, actually, I had, from the food court earlier. I'd been too nervous about hanging with the popular crew to check the mirror.

Game over. I grabbed my backpack and speed-walked to the exit, pretending I got a text.

"Lev, wait!"

I kept walking until I reached the park. That's when I heard it—a familiar jingle. A golden retriever trotted toward me, dragging a leash behind him like he owned the place.

"Buster?" The dog belonged to my neighbor, Mrs. Chen. He nudged my hand with his wet nose, demanding attention. I sank onto a bench and buried my face in his fur.

"You wouldn't care if I had green stuff in my teeth, would you, buddy?"

Buster licked my chin.

"You're literally talking to a **dog** in public," a voice said.

Maya stood there, breathing hard like she'd run after me. She wasn't laughing anymore.

"You had **spinach** in your teeth the whole game," she said softly. "I was gonna tell you, but I didn't want to embarrass you in front of everyone. Then I felt like a bad friend for not saying anything."

"You left me out there on purpose."

"No." She sat next to me. "I invited you because I actually wanted my real friend there, not Ethan and his fan club. I hate playing padel with them. They're fake."

Buster rested his head on my knee.

"So... you're not embarrassed to be seen with me?"

"Dude, I've seen you cry during LEGO commercials. Nothing phases me anymore."

I laughed. For real this time.

"Tomorrow," Maya said. "Wanna come over? We can order pizza and ignore the pyramid scheme that is high school social hierarchy."

"Only if we don't have to play padel."

"Deal." She checked her phone. "Also, you've still got some spinach in your teeth. Just so you know."