Green in the Teeth

Maya's hair was supposed to be the moment. She'd spent forty-five minutes perfecting the waves, watching TikTok tutorials, using enough product to finance a small salon. The pool party at Tyler's house was her chance to finally talk to him — really talk to him, not just smile in the hallways between AP Bio and Euro History.

The padel court behind Tyler's mansion was already packed with juniors who'd somehow graduated from high school and moved directly to a country club. Maya stood near the edge, clutching her Solo cup like it was a lifeline, watching Tyler absolutely crush it against some sophomore she didn't recognize. His hair was messy in that way that looked accidental but definitely wasn't.

"Yo, Maya!" Tyler called, waving his racquet. "Get in here, we need a fourth!"

Her stomach did that embarrassing flutter thing. "I don't know how to play,"

"It's fine, it's literally just tennis but easier," said Chloe, who'd been giving Maya side-eye since fourth grade. "Unless you're scared."

The whole group went quiet. Maya felt seventeen pairs of eyes on her like she was being evaluated for a survival show.

"I'm in," Maya said, setting down her cup.

She grabbed a racquet and stepped onto the court. The sun reflected off the artificial grass, making everything weirdly bright. Tyler tossed her a ball and grinned, and that's when Maya felt it — the tiny piece of spinach from her earlier lunch, absolutely wedged between her front teeth.

Her face burned. She'd been walking around with green stuff in her teeth for actual hours. Tyler had smiled at her multiple times. Multiple times.

Maya's hand flew to her mouth.

"You good?" Tyler asked, stepping closer.

She couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe. This was it — her social life, over. Destroyed by spinach. The most unsexy vegetable in existence.

Then Tyler reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and turned on the camera. "You've got — " He pointed at his own teeth.

Maya frantically rubbed at her teeth while Tyler watched, looking more concerned than judgmental. When she finally got it, he didn't laugh. Didn't make a single joke.

"We've all been there," he said simply. "Ready to play?"

Maya looked at him — really looked at him. Maybe the perfect waves didn't matter. Maybe the spinach didn't either.

"Yeah," she said, stepping up to serve. "Let's play."