Green Hair Don't Care

I stared at the bathroom mirror, my reflection practically vibrating with anxiety. The green hair dye had taken too well to my curly brown strands. WAY too well. I looked like a spinach smoothie exploded on my head.

"Maya! You're gonna be late for school!" my mom yelled up the stairs.

"Coming!" I called back, voice cracking. Great. Just great.

First day of sophomore year, and I was about to walk in looking like a human vegetable. The plan had been subtle highlights. Natural vibes. Cottagecore aesthetic, you know? But nope. I was full-on salad bar.

The bus ride was a nightmare. I kept my head down, phone burning with texts from my best friend.

WHERE ARE YOU??? Hallway near the lockers. People STARING. I hate everything.

I found Jordan hiding behind her open locker door, peeking through the crack like a meerkat on guard duty.

"It's not THAT bad," she whispered, though her eyes said otherwise.

"I look like if Popeye and a kale smoothie had a baby," I muttered.

"Okay but... lowkey kind of a vibe though?" She tilted her head. "Like, you're mysterious now. Artistic. People are gonna think you did it on purpose."

"I DID do it on purpose!"

"You know what I mean. Like, on purpose on purpose. Artistic chaos."

I sighed, leaning my head against the cool metal locker. "I just wanted a glow-up, not a green-out."

Lunch was the real test. I sat alone at first, picking at my tray. Actually alone alone, because Jordan had AP Chem and couldn't save me from social suicide.

That's when I heard laughing. Not mean laughing – like, ACTUAL laughing.

"No way," someone said. "You seriously used spinach juice? That's actually kinda genius."

I looked up. This guy Marcus – who I'd had a crush on since basically forever – was standing there with his tray. And he was smiling. AT me.

"Wait, you knew about that?" I asked, totally thrown.

"Everyone knows. Jordan posted the 'disaster' pics on her story." He sat down across from me. "But honestly? It's sick. Your hair, I mean. It's different. Everyone else is doing the same blonde highlights thing. You're actually being original."

My face went hot. I could feel it.

"It was supposed to be natural highlights," I admitted. "Obviously failed."

"Nah." Marcus shook his head. "Failing is when you copy everyone else and still don't stand out. You? You're definitely standing out."

I sat back, totally confused but weirdly... happy? Like, my hair was still awful, but Marcus was looking at me like I was interesting. Different. Not just another girl trying to look like everyone else.

"Thanks," I said, trying to play it cool. "I guess."

After school, I sat by the pool behind my apartment complex, dangling my feet in the cool water. My green curls frizzed in the humidity, looking even crazier than before.

But for the first time all day, I smiled. Maybe Jordan was right. Maybe this was actually a vibe.

I pulled out my phone and posted a mirror selfie. Caption: "spinach hair, don't care."

Within minutes, my notifications were blowing up. And maybe, just maybe, being different wasn't the worst thing that could happen.