Green in the Deep End

The hat was stupid. I knew it, Jordan knew it, everyone at Linda's pool party knew it. But I wore it anyway — backward, totally extra — because it hid the chunk of spinach I'd discovered wedged between my front teeth five minutes before showing up.

"You good, fam?" Jordan asked, doing that cool guy nod thing from the deep end.

"Solid," I lied, adjusting the brim. Water lapped against the pool tiles, sounding way too chill while my internal monologue was fully panicked.

Jordan was the kind of friend who'd accidentally expose you but somehow make it iconic. Last month he'd shouted across the cafeteria that I'd "finally hit puberty" when my voice cracked. The whole school knew. Jordan thought he was helping.

Now he was treading water in Linda's pool, surrounded by half the sophomore class, while I stood at the edge fully clothed because taking off my shirt meant exposing the gap in my teeth that definitely still had green stuff in it.

"Yo, Marcus!" Jordan called out. "Truth or dare!"

Every head turned. Linda's cousin Priya, who I'd lowkey had a crush on since biology, watched me with those annoyingly pretty eyes.

"Truth," I said, because at least I wouldn't have to jump in the pool with my hat on like a loser.

"Boring!" Jordan splashed water. "Dare. Jump in. Fully clothed."

The group chanted my name. Priya smiled. My stomach did that thing where it felt like I'd swallowed actual rocks.

I jumped.

The hat flew off. Water rushed up my nose. I surfaced, sputtering, to everyone staring at my mouth.

"Marcus," Jordan said softly. "Bro. You got something in your teeth."

Priya giggled. "Is that... spinach?"

I closed my eyes and waited for death.

"Dude," Jordan said, splashing me. "That's honestly kind of iconic. Who eats spinach before a pool party? Legend behavior."

Everyone laughed, but it was that weird warm laughter that felt like acceptance. Priya swam over and offered me a towel.

"My mom's a dentist," she said. "I have floss in my bag."

Maybe the hat had been stupid. But sometimes, that's exactly what you need to find out who your real friends are — and that the cute girl from biology keeps floss in her pool bag. Honestly? Iconic behavior.