Green Between My Teeth

Marcus stood in front of the bathroom mirror, finger jammed in his mouth, trying to dislodge what felt like an entire forest of **spinach** from his back molars. Of course this would happen today—the day Chloe had finally noticed him existed during third period English.

"You got a little something," she'd said, smiling that smile that made his stomach do jumping jacks.

He'd mumbled something about salad and practically sprinted to the bathroom. Now his phone buzzed. Group chat blowing up about the **baseball** team's undefeated season. Marcus wasn't athletic—his hand-eye coordination was basically nonexistent—but he'd been trying out different sports since freshman year, hoping to find his thing. Soccer had been a disaster. Basketball? He'd tripped over his own feet during tryouts.

"Hey Marcus," someone said behind him.

He jumped. It was Tyler, the guy who somehow made varsity everything and still had time to volunteer at the animal shelter. Tyler's **orange** hoodie was bright against the school's neutral tiles.

"You coming to padel club after school?" Tyler asked. "We need another player for mixed doubles."

**Padel**. Marcus had watched TikToks about it—squash meets tennis, played in an enclosed court with walls you could bank shots off. It looked fun. It looked like something he might not completely embarrass himself at.

"I've never played," Marcus said.

"Neither did any of us when we started," Tyler shrugged. "That's kinda the point. Nobody's good yet. We're all learning together."

Marcus's reflection in the mirror showed a guy who always sat on the sidelines, literally and metaphorically. But maybe—just maybe—he could be someone who tried things. Someone who took chances, even if he had spinach in his teeth.

"I'm in," Marcus said, and it felt like his first real victory all year.

After school, Marcus played **padel** with Tyler and two others he vaguely recognized from AP Chem. He missed easy shots. He hit the ball into the net three times. But he also made this incredible shot off the back wall that Tyler swore was intentional.

"Dude, that was fire," Tyler said, bumping his fist afterward.

Walking home, Marcus stopped at the market his parents owned. His mom was arranging exotic fruits in the front display.

"Try this," she said, handing him sliced **papaya**. "New shipment came in today."

He took a bite. Sweet, slightly musky, nothing like anything he'd tasted before. He thought about spinach stuck in his teeth, about orange hoodies in school bathrooms, about trying new sports and new foods and new versions of himself.

"It's good," Marcus said. "Really good."

His mom smiled, and Marcus realized something: being brave wasn't about not being scared or awkward. It was about trying new things anyway—even when you had no idea what you were doing.

His phone buzzed. A text from Chloe: You looked cute in English today ;)

Marcus grinned. Tomorrow, he decided, he'd try **papaya** in his lunch. Maybe even talk to Chloe without panicking. Baby steps.