Natural Selection at Bat

Maya's flat iron had been her best friend since seventh grade, transforming her tight curls into something socially acceptable at Northwood High. But today, staring at the burn mark on her forehead, she thought: screw it.

She wore her hair natural for the first time in three years. By third period, the whispers had started.

"Whoa, Maya's hair got HUGE," someone muttered in AP Bio.

"It's like a different person," Kayla said, not quietly enough.

By lunch, Maya was practically running to the bathroom to hide, fighting the urge to cry. She almost texted her mom to bring her flat iron to school. Almost.

Then she saw him at the baseball diamond during sixth period PE. Liam, the pitcher everyone swooned over, sitting alone on the bench, his baseball cap in his hand. His hair—huge, curly, frizzy, definitely not tamed by product.

Maya froze. Liam. With wild hair. Looking upset.

"Go ahead," he said, not looking up. "Say whatever you're gonna say."

"About what?" Maya asked.

Liam finally looked at her, then pointed at his hair. "Coach says I need to cut it. Says it's 'distracting.' My parents are on his case too."

Maya walked closer. "That's messed up. Your hair is awesome."

Lilian snorted. "Right. That's why everyone's been making comments all week."

"Let them," Maya said, surprising herself. "I spent years frying my hair trying to look like everyone else. Today's my first day going natural, and I've been freaking out all day thinking people are staring. But they're gonna stare anyway. Might as well give them something worth looking at."

Liam studied her for a long moment. A slow grin spread across his face. "You know something? You're right."

He put his cap back on, backwards. "If they want me to cut this, they're gonna have to make me."

"Same," Maya said, and something unclenched in her chest.

"Hey," Liam said. "You should come to my game Friday. I'm pitching."

Maya smiled, and for the first time all day, she didn't care if her curls were perfect. "I'll be there. Front row."

The bell rang. They both started running toward the school building, but this time Maya didn't run to hide. She ran like she had somewhere to be—like she belonged exactly as she was.