Green Smoothie Disaster

Maya's palms were literally sweating as she stood at the edge of Jake's pool. The party was already in full swing—people swimming, music bumping, everyone looking ridiculously confident in their swimsuits. Maya had spent forty-five minutes picking out this outfit, and now she just wanted to disappear.

"Hey! You made it!" Jake called from the water, grinning like an idiot. A total hottie, but still an idiot.

"Yeah, hi," Maya managed, clutching her phone like a lifeline. Her best friend since third grade, Chen, appeared beside her with two red plastic cups.

"I come bearing offerings," Chen announced, handing her one. "It's literally just Sprite, I promise. No random punch bowl disasters today."

Maya took a tentative sip. "You're a lifesaver. I was about to spontaneously combust from social awkwardness."

"Same." Chen scanned the crowd. "OMG, is that Ashley from math class? Her hair looks so good wet. I hate her a little."

Maya laughed. Chen had that effect—made everything feel less terrifying. But then Jake swam over to the edge, water dripping down his ridiculous abs, and Maya's brain short-circuited.

"You guys coming in?" he asked.

"In a minute," Maya said, her voice cracking. Smooth. So smooth.

They migrated toward the snack table, which was where Maya's life went completely off the rails. Jake's mom had set out this "healthy refreshment station" with spinach wraps and green smoothies. Maya, distracted by Jake approaching in swim trunks, reached for what she thought was a fruit smoothie.

"WAIT—" Chen started, but too late.

Maya took a massive gulp of straight liquid spinach.

Her face did things no human face should do. She gagged. People turned. Jake turned.

"You good?" he asked, concern in those stupidly perfect eyes.

"FINE," Maya choked out, her mouth full of vegetable nightmare. "Just... really healthy. Love spinach. It's my favorite."

What?

Chen was practically on the ground laughing. Maya wanted to dissolve into the pool tiles.

But then Jake smiled. "That's actually kinda awesome. Most people pretend to like the healthy stuff around here."

Maya's cat, who she'd left at home, would have been proud of her landing on her feet. "Well, you know me. Always keeping it real."

"You should come swimming," Jake said. "I'll race you to the other side."

Maya looked at Chen, who gave her this tiny nod. Like, go for it.

"You're on," Maya said. "But warning: I'm surprisingly fast."

"We'll see about that," Jake grinned.

As Maya dove into the cool water, green smoothie aftertaste and all, she thought: maybe embarrassing herself wasn't the end of the world. Maybe it was just... part of the story. And Chen, already in the water and cheering her on, was right. This was going to be a summer to remember.