Green Teeth, Big Dreams

Maya stared at her reflection, the bathroom fluorescent light highlighting every insecurity. She'd spent three hours straightening her hair, trading her natural coils for a sleek look that felt like someone else's skin. Tonight was Jordan's party—the one everyone would be talking about on Monday—and she was determined to finally be seen.

"You look beautiful, mija," her mom called from outside the door. "I made empanadas."

"Not hungry!" Maya smoothed her dress, grabbed her phone, and escaped before her mom could comment on how grown up she looked. How grown up she didn't feel.

At Jordan's, the bass thrummed in her chest. Everywhere she looked, people were performing versions of themselves—loud versions, cool versions, versions that fit together like puzzle pieces she couldn't find. And then there was Lucas, the quiet swimmer with the ridiculous eyelashes she'd been crushing on since September.

"Hey Maya," he said, actually noticing her. "You look... different. Nice different."

Her stomach did gymnastics. "Thanks! You too."

They talked by the snack table for twenty minutes. It was happening—she was having a moment. Until Tyler, varsity quarterback and certified bull of a human, started challenging people to ride his uncle's mechanical bull in the backyard.

"Maya's up!" someone shouted, and suddenly she was being pushed toward the spinning machine. Her hair frizzing in the humidity, her heart racing, Lucas watching—

She lasted 4.7 seconds before launching sideways into the bushes. Everyone laughed, but Lucas helped her up. "You're crazy," he said, smiling. "I like that."

They returned to the snacks, Maya brushing leaves from her dress. She was mid-sentence about how embarrassing that was when Lucas's eyes went wide. He made a subtle gesture toward his own teeth.

Spinach. From the empanadas she'd sworn she didn't eat. Probably decorating her smile for the last twenty minutes.

Maya's face burned. She started to turn away, to run home and never return, but Lucas caught her arm. "Honestly?" His voice dropped. "I've had spinach in my teeth all night. That's why I wouldn't stop smiling.

They stood there, two imperfect people with green teeth and messy hair, and Maya finally felt like herself—no straightening required.

"Want to get out of here?" she asked.

"Abso-freaking-lutely."