Green Teeth and Deep Ends

Maya hovered at the edge of the **pool**, clutching her phone like a lifeline. The seniors from North High were **swimming** laps or lounging on floaties, their laughter echoing across the backyard. She'd crashed Carter's graduation party because Jenna said she had to—you couldn't spend整个 summer being a total hermit.

"Hey, you're actually here!" Jenna materialized, dripping wet. "Come in, the water's perfect."

Maya hesitated. She'd barely packed a swimsuit, let alone actually planned to *use* it. But then she spotted Tyler—the guy she'd been lowkey **spy**ing on via Instagram stories for months—laughing with his friends by the diving board. This was her chance.

She cannonballed in. The water swallowed her, cool and shocking. When she surfaced, everyone was cheering. For the first time all night, she didn't feel like the awkward freshman hovering on the edges.

That is, until Carter's older sister pointed at her face, giggling. "Um, Maya? You got a little something..."

Her stomach dropped. She'd had that **spinach** smoothie before coming. Her hand flew to her teeth—yep. Green. Literal green chunks stuck in her braces. The entire pool area erupted into laughter, but surprisingly, no one was being mean about it. Tyler swam over, grinning.

"Dude, at least it's healthy," he said. "I once showed up to formal with chocolate smeared across my forehead. No joke."

Maya's face burned, but she was laughing too. Something about the sheer awkwardness made it okay. They were all just kids being weird together.

Later that night, she called her little sister. "You can sleep with Mr. **Bear** tonight," she said, surprising herself. "I think I'm done needing him."

Hanging up, Maya realized something: she didn't have to spy on life from the sidelines anymore. She could just dive in—green teeth and all.