Green Teeth and White Knuckles

Liam's summer wasn't supposed to go like this. He was supposed to be working at the skate park, not stuck at his aunt's ranch in the middle of nowhere, Texas. But here he was, sixteen years old, wearing boots that were definitely not Vans, watching his cousin Maya prepare for the junior bull riding competition at the county fair.

"You're gonna want some water before you go out there," Maya said, leaning against the fence, her face calm despite the fact that she was about to climb onto a massive animal that wanted nothing more than to buck her into the dirt. "Hydration's everything, cousin."

Liam handed her a bottle, his hands sweating. Maya was the coolest person he knew, and she was barely seventeen. She'd been riding since she was twelve, while Liam could barely ride his skateboard without eating concrete. The pressure of being the "city kid" in a family of ranchers was getting to him. Everyone expected him to fail, to be soft, to run back to Austin the first chance he got.

"You nervous?" Maya asked, guzzling the water.

"For you? Yeah," Liam admitted. "That thing looks like it wants to murder someone."

"Oh, this old boy?" Maya gestured at the bull, a beast named Thunderhead who was currently pawing at the dirt like he was plotting something. "He's all bark and no bite. Mostly."

But then it was time. Maya climbed into the chute, and the gate opened. Eight seconds of pure chaos. Thunderhead bucked and spun, Maya holding on with white knuckles, her face determined. The crowd screamed. And then—she flew off, landing hard in the dirt.

Liam's heart stopped. But Maya was already up, dusting herself off, grinning.

The older boys were laughing. "That's what happens when girls try to play with bulls," one called out. Liam felt himself flush with anger.

Maya just flipped her hair back. "Your fly's down, Cody. And you've got something in your teeth."

Cody froze. Everyone looked.

"Is that... spinach?" someone whispered. Suddenly, the rancher's son who'd been talking trash had a massive green piece of spinach stuck front and center in his smile. The laughter shifted directions.

"Yeah," Maya said, walking past Liam toward the water station. "Nobody's too tough for spinach in their teeth." She high-fived him. "You good, city boy?"

Liam realized he was grinning. "Yeah. I'm good."

Maybe this summer wouldn't be so bad after all.