Green Smoothie Disaster

Maya's mom was going through her 'wellness era' phase, which meant the kitchen counter had become a graveyard of powders, tinctures, and a blender that sounded like a jet engine taking off.

'Just try it, honey! It's got spinach, banana, and—'

'Whatever green sludge you made this time, no thanks,' Maya said, grabbing her backpack. Her phone buzzed in her pocket — probably another group chat blow-up over who was sitting with whom at lunch.

The front door slammed and Maya was out, hoodie up against the morning chill. The walk to school was usually her decompression time, but today her stomach was doing actual backflips. Today was the day. THE day. Jordan had actually replied to her Instagram story yesterday, and now they were supposedly meeting before first period.

Her iphone lit up with a notification from Sasha: \<EM>girl emergency where ARE YOU jordan is literally by our lockers rn<\EM>

Maya started speed-walking, then broke into a jog. She could see the orange backpack around the corner — Jordan's signature. They were leaning against the lockers, effortlessly cool, scrolling through their phone like they didn't have a care in the world.

'Hey!' Maya called out, maybe a little too loudly. Her voice cracked.

Jordan looked up. 'Oh, hey Maya! What's—'

And that's when Maya's backpack decided to betray her. The water bottle she'd grabbed in her haste? Not closed properly. Cold water soaked through her backpack, onto her jeans, creating the most unfortunate-looking dark spot right in the front.

'Wait, did you just—' Jordan started, eyes wide.

'NO! It's water! I promise it's water!' Maya felt her entire face burning. She wanted to dissolve into the linoleum.

Jordan cracked up. 'I was gonna say, that's a lot of water for one bottle. Unless you're part camel.'

Maya started laughing too, despite herself. 'My mom's into those giant motivational bottles. Stay hydrated, chase your dreams, all that.'

'Anyway,' Jordan said, 'I was gonna ask if you wanted to come to the fall fest with me? Like, as a date?' They said it so casually, like they were commenting on the weather.

Maya's brain short-circuited. 'Wait, really?'

'Duh.' Jordan smiled. 'I've been trying to get your attention for like, two weeks. I literally replied to your story with fire emojis, Maya. How much more obvious could I be?'

'Oh my god I thought that was just—you know—being nice!'

'I don't give just anyone fire emojis, Maya.' Jordan handed her a small orange. 'Peace offering. For the water incident.'

Maya took it, still processing everything. 'So... fall fest?'

'Pick you up at six?' Jordan headed toward class, then turned back. 'And maybe don't let your mom talk you into any more green smoothies. You look like you've had a rough morning.'

Maya stood there, clutching the orange, completely forgetting about her wet pants. Some mornings started with disasters and ended with dates.

Maybe her mom's wellness phase wasn't ALL bad.