Green Between the Teeth

Leo wiped sweat from his forehead as another twelve-year-old cannonballed into the pool, sending a wave of chlorinated water over his sandals. Three more hours of this, then he could finally escape to Maya's party.

"Yo, Leo!" called Jason from the snack bar. "Your mom dropped off your lunch. Said something about eating your vegetables before your big night."

Leo groaned. The spinach salad sat there like a punishment. Maya's party was literally *the* party of the summer. Everyone who was anyone would be there, and he'd been flirting with her in AP Bio for weeks. This was it — the night he'd finally make his move.

He stuffed the spinach down between customers, checking his phone. Seven unread texts from his best friend: *DUDE she asked if you're coming. WHAT DO I SAY. HELP.*

He texted back: *Chill. Coming straight after my shift. Looking fresh.*

Barnaby, his golden retriever, was waiting by the back gate as usual. Leo had started bringing him to work after the divorce — the apartment felt too empty without Dad's stuff, and Barnaby's goofy grin made the silence less deafening.

"Hey buddy," Leo whispered, scratching behind Barnaby's ears. "Tonight's the night. I'm gonna tell her."

Barnaby thumped his tail, probably just excited about the half-eaten hot dog Leo slipped him.

At 7:00 sharp, Leo clocked out and hopped on his bike, Barnaby trotting alongside like they always did. The house was already thumping with bass when they arrived. Girls in cutoffs and guys with snapbacks filled the backyard, and there she was — Maya in a floral dress, looking like she'd stepped out of a Tumblr aesthetic board.

She spotted him and smiled. *She smiled. ACTUALLY smiled.*

"Leo! You made it!" She grabbed his arm like they'd been friends forever. "I was hoping you'd come. There's someone I want you to meet—"

"Wow, you actually came," said a sphinx-like girl beside her, all sharp angles and unreadable expression. "Maya said you were... interesting."

This was it. His moment. Leo leaned in, ready to say something smooth, something about chemistry class or how he'd noticed her since homecoming.

"So I was thinking—"

Maya's eyes went wide.

"What?" Leo asked.

"Spinach," the sphinx girl said flatly.

Leo's tongue darted to his teeth. *No. No no NO.*

"Like... a lot of it," she added. "Whole situation going on there."

Maya tried to suppress a laugh. Failed.

"I—" Leo started.

Then Barnaby chose that exact moment to sprint through the crowd, knocking into a table with three red cups. The crash echoed through the backyard. Soda everywhere. Girls screaming. Someone yelling "WHO BROUGHT A DOG?"

Barnaby sat in the middle of the chaos, tail thumping, so proud of himself.

Leo's face burned. Maya was doubled over laughing now, not even trying to hide it. The sphinx girl finally cracked a smile.

"Okay," Maya said, wiping her eyes. "That was honestly the greatest entrance ever. And don't worry about the spinach thing — happens to everyone."

"Really?" Leo asked.

"No," the sphinx girl said. "But the dog? That's a vibe."

Maya grabbed Leo's hand. "Come on. Let's get you a drink before Barnaby destroys something else."

Leo stood there, spinach still stuck in his teeth, dog panting nearby, somehow holding Maya's hand like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Sometimes the most embarrassing moments became the best stories. And maybe — just maybe — that was okay.