Green Smoothie Apocalypse

Maya's first day at Jefferson High felt like a zombie apocalypse movie—minus the actual zombies, unfortunately. Just halls full of students shuffling toward first period, phones glowing like undead eyes in the dim hallway lighting.

"You look like you're about to face a bull in a rodeo," said Leo, sliding up to her locker. He had messy hair that somehow worked and a confidence Maya had been praying for since seventh grade. "First day jitters?"

"More like first year jitters," Maya muttered, spinning in her combination. "I moved three times already. Four's a record." She'd been the new kid so many times she'd perfected the smile-and-wave routine, even though her stomach did backflips every time.

Leo leaned against the locker next to hers. "Word of advice: avoid the spinach smoothies at lunch. Yesterday Jordan drank one and spent third period in the bathroom looking like he'd seen a ghost. Or been possessed by one."

Maya actually laughed. "Spinach smoothies? Seriously?"

"Health kick week," Leo said, rolling his eyes. "Principal thinks if we eat enough vitamin-packed garbage, we'll stop falling asleep in class. Meanwhile I'm pretty sure the cross country team is literally running on espresso and prayer."

The warning bell rang, and Leo pushed off the locker. "Hey, I'll save you a seat at lunch. Away from the spinach danger zone."

Maya watched him walk away, something warm blooming in her chest that had nothing to do with the cafeteria's questionable food. Maybe, just maybe, Jefferson High wouldn't be another temporary stop on her family's endless tour of nowhere towns. Maybe this time she'd actually plant roots.

Later that day, sitting across from Leo while he dramatically reenacted Jordan's spinach incident using a breadstick and tragic sound effects, Maya thought: zombie apocalypse who? She was finally awake.