Green in the Teeth

The cafeteria **pyramid** was real, and Maya was at the bottom. That's what it felt like, anyway — freshmen clustered near the trash cans, seniors occupying the circular booths like thrones, everyone else sorted in invisible tiers between them.

"You good?" asked Jules, sliding into the seat across from her. Jules was her oldest **friend**, the one who'd helped her survive middle school braces and that one time she cried in math class because her period started mid-test.

Maya nodded, but her hands shook slightly. Why had she agreed to this? Why had she let Jules talk her into sitting at the popular table today, like they could just climb three social rungs in a single lunch period?

Ethan walked in, and Maya's stomach did that awful fluttery thing. She'd had a crush on him since October, when he'd picked up her dropped pencil and said "cool binder" about her astronaut-themed folder. He was sitting two tables away, laughing with friends, effortlessly somewhere near the pyramid's apex.

She'd barely touched her salad. The **spinach** leaves were wilted anyway, probably from sitting out too long. But Jules was already waving her over.

"We're doing this," Jules hissed, grabbing her arm. "Trust me."

They sat. Nobody actually looked up, but Maya felt like she was glowing radioactive embarrassment. She managed to choke out a "hey" to some of Ethan's friends, who nodded back absently. She reached for her water bottle, knocked it over, watched in horror as it rolled toward...

Ethan.

He caught it. Handed it back with a small smile. "Nice save."

Maya mumbled something unintelligible. She was dying. This was the most uncool thing that had ever happened to her, probably.

Then Jules started laughing. Like, actually couldn't stop laughing, doubled over and wheezing.

"What?" Maya whispered, panicked.

"Your teeth," Jules gasped. "You have — " and she made a little gesture toward her own front teeth.

Spinach. Of course.

Maya wanted to vanish. Poof. Gone.

Then Ethan leaned over. "Hey, you got a little —" and he mimed the same gesture, but grinning. "It's cool though. Happens to everyone."

The bell rang before Maya could respond.

Walking out, still mortified, they passed the art room. A stray **cat** — the one everyone fed behind the gym — sat on a bench like it owned the school. It meowed at them judgmentally.

"That cat just roasted you," Jules said, still grinning. "But also? You talked to Ethan. You survived the popular table. And nobody actually died from spinach teeth."

Maya sighed. "I hate you."

"Love you too. Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."

The pyramid hadn't changed. But somehow it felt a little smaller.