Green Teeth and Racing Hearts

The kitchen hummed with music that was way too loud for 10 PM. Maya gripped her solo cup until her palms were practically dripping, eyes darting around like she was trapped in a game she didn't know the rules to.

"You good?" Jordan asked, nudging her arm. Her best friend had dragged her to Tyler's party, swearing it'd be "lowkey vibes." Jordan lied. This was definitely not lowkey.

"Fine," Maya squeaked. She reached for the veggie platter, desperate to look busy. Something about needing to appear occupied so no one would notice her standing there like a loser.

And then she saw him. Tyler, leaning against the counter in that hoodie that made his shoulders look broader than they actually were, laughing at something Blake said. The bull of the school—aggressive, loud, somehow always at the center of everything.

Maya choked down a spinach leaf. Maybe if she ate enough vegetables, she'd disappear. Poof. Gone.

"Maya!" A hand clapped her back. Riley, who somehow knew everyone, materialized like magic. "You came!" They were wearing this fox-ear headband, orange eyeshadow sweeping up to their temples. Of course Riley had committed to the theme. Of course they looked amazing doing it.

"Yeah," Maya managed. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

"Tyler's been asking about you," Riley whispered, eyes glinting. "Like, actually asking."

Maya almost dropped her cup. "What? No. That's—"

"I'm serious!" Riley leaned in closer. "He said you were in his history class and seemed cool. He wants to know if you're—"

"If I'm what?" Maya's voice came out breathless.

"If you're single."

The room tilted. Maya pressed her palms against the counter, steady, breathe, this is fine, everything is fine, except her tongue felt thick and wrong and—

"Maya, you have—" Jordan started, then stopped.

"What?" Riley asked. Then their eyes went wide. "Oh my god."

Maya's stomach dropped. She dashed to the bathroom, shoved past couples who definitely didn't need to be that close to each other, and flipped on the light.

A giant chunk of spinach wedged between her front teeth.

She groaned, scraping it out with her fingernail. Tears burned behind her eyes. This was it. This was her life now. The girl with spinach in her teeth while her crush was allegedly asking about her.

A knock on the door. "Maya?"

Her voice cracked. "Go away."

"It's Riley." The door creaked open. They leaned against the frame, crossing their arms. "So. That happened."

Maya buried her face in her hands. "I'm never leaving this bathroom."

"Cool. Can I have your phone? I need to add myself to your contacts."

Maya peeked through her fingers. "What?"

Riley grinned. "Tyler's not the only one who thinks you're cute. Also, you should know—" They pointed at their own teeth. "I had spinach in mine too. For like, twenty minutes."

Maya stared. Then she started laughing. Really laughing, until her sides hurt.

"Come back out," Riley said. "Or stay here. But either way, you're gonna need a ride home, and I'm excellent at escaping parties early."

Maya's palms weren't sweating anymore. She exhaled, long and slow. "Okay. But you're telling me everything Tyler said."

"Deal." Riley extended a hand. "And next time? Maybe skip the spinach."