Green Veins

Maya's lunch tray was basically a social death warrant. Freshman year, and she'd already memorized the cafeteria hierarchy like it was the periodic table. Which, ironically, she was also failing.

"Ewww, what IS that?" Marcus leaned over her table, his voice carrying exactly far enough. "You eating grass or something?"

He gestured at her Tupperware — the one with the spinach leaves, still glistening with droplets from being rinsed that morning. Her mom's new health kick, which Maya had protested but ultimately accepted because arguments took energy she didn't have.

"It's spinach," she said, barely above a whisper. God, she was such a stereotype. The quiet girl who couldn't even defend her lunch choices.

"Spinach?" Marcus laughed, that bark of sound that made everyone at his table look over. "My dog won't even eat that crap."

Her face burned. Behind Marcus, she caught Jordan's eye. Jordan, who'd been assigned the nickname Fox in seventh grade after outsmarting every teacher who'd tried to catch them passing notes. Jordan gave the tiniest shrug, like: *what are you gonna do?*

"What's the matter?" Marcus pressed, doing that thing where he blocked her exit with his chair. "Cat got your tongue? Or just-"

"Actually," Jordan said, sliding into the seat next to Maya with zero hesitation, "spinach has more iron per calorie than beef. So technically, by eating it, Maya's building more muscle than your entire gym routine combined."

Marcus blinked. Jordan's voice was casual, like they were discussing the weather. The table went quiet.

"And," Jordan continued, "Popeye ate it. You calling Popeye weak?"

Someone snorted. Marcus's face did that complicated thing where it tried to decide between embarrassment and doubling down.

"Whatever," he muttered, already turning away. "Freaking health nuts."

When he was gone, Jordan leaned in. "You okay?"

Maya looked at her spinach. At Jordan, who'd deliberately made themselves a target by stepping in. At the way her hands had stopped shaking.

"Yeah," she said, and realized it was true. She picked up her fork, actually hungry now. "Yeah, I think I am."

Jordan grinned. "Good. Because tomorrow's taco day, and if you think Marcus is bad when there's spinach involved, just wait till he sees vegan options."

Maya laughed, and for the first time all year, the cafeteria didn't feel like a minefield. It felt like somewhere she could actually exist.