Green Smoothie Confidence

The uniform hat was the worst part. A bright green beanie with 'NUTRITION STATION' embroidered across the front that Maya had to wear every shift. She adjusted it for the tenth time, feeling ridiculous as she smoothed down her apron. It was her first real job, and her parents were already nagging her about 'building character' and 'learning responsibility' over the summer.

"Order up!" called Jamal, sliding a blender cup toward her. "Green Machine Extra. Your favorite."

Maya groaned. The Green Machine Extra contained approximately five pounds of **spinach**, plus kale, protein powder, and something that tasted like grass clippings mixed with disappointment. She'd accidentally sampled it once during training and spent the next ten minutes trying not to gag in front of her trainer.

"Table seven," Jamal added with a smirk.

Table seven was where Lucas sat. Lucas, with his stupid perfect hair and his lacrosse team jacket and his smile that made Maya's brain stop working. She'd been crushing on him since freshman year, and now she had to serve him a drink that looked like pond water.

She grabbed the cup and marched over, channeling confidence she absolutely did not feel. "Green Machine Extra for Lucas."

"Thanks, Maya." He smiled. "I didn't know you worked here."

"Yeah, just started." She felt the hat slipping and jammed it back on. "Living the dream."

He took a sip and made a face. "Wow. That's... intense."

"It's basically a liquid **vitamin**," she heard herself say. "Like, one smoothie equals three days of vegetables. Or something."

Why did she say that?

Lucas laughed. "Good to know. I need all the help I can get after finals week."

They talked for five more minutes. About finals, about summer plans, about how ridiculous the green hat was. When Maya's break finally came, she sat in the back room, grinning at nothing.

"You look like you just won the lottery," Jamal observed.

"Maybe I did."

The hat still looked ridiculous. The spinach would always taste like sadness. But somehow, none of that mattered anymore.