Green Teeth, Golden Hour

Maya's hair refused to cooperate that morning, doing that weird flippy thing it always did when she was nervous. Which she definitely was. Jordan, the Cute Human™ from AP Bio, had actually noticed her Instagram story about her new vintage finds and wanted to meet up at the farmers market.

"You've got this," she told her reflection, smoothing down her curls. "Just be chill. Be vibe. Do NOT be awkward."

She grabbed her papaya from the kitchen counter—because apparently adults bought fruit they forgot existed—and her cat, Mochi, immediately decided that today was the day he would attempt murder by tripping her down the stairs.

"Mochi, NO," she hissed, but the damage was done. Papaya went flying. Splat. All over her favorite oversized thrifted band tee.

"You have got to be kidding me."

But the real disaster happened later. She was talking to Jordan by the organic produce stand, actually making normal human conversation about his independent music project and whether thrift shopping was still cool or had become too mainstream, when he flashed that perfect smile that made her brain short-circuit.

"You have such a great smile," he said, and Maya smiled back, feeling absolutely victorious, feeling like she was absolutely crushing this interaction.

Then she caught her reflection in a mirrored sunglass display. An entire forest of spinach was stuck between her front teeth from her lunch earlier. A massive, undeniable green disaster that had been there for gods know how long.

Jordan had been staring at it the entire time. Politely. Without saying anything.

The ground needed to open up and swallow her whole immediately.

"I... I have to go," she managed, turning so red she felt radioactive.

"Wait, Maya—" Jordan started, but she was already speed-walking away, wishing she could evaporate on the spot.

Later that night, her phone buzzed. Jordan had DM'd her: "Today was adorable. Also, I have spinach in my teeth in literally half my photos, so we're even. Farmers market again next Saturday? Same time?"

Maya stared at her phone, her heart doing that weird flippy thing that had absolutely nothing to do with her hair and everything to do with the fact that maybe, just maybe, being a mess was kind of okay after all.