Operation Goldfish

I was absolutely not spying on Maya Lin from behind the ficus plant in the cafeteria. This was reconnaissance. There's a difference. Spying's for creeps. Reconnaissance is for people who want to know if the girl they've been lowkey obsessed with since September likes her sushi rolls spicy or mild before they accidentally ask her to homecoming in front of everyone.

"You look like you're about to commit a felony," said Jordan, sliding onto the bench across from me and stealing a tater tot from my tray.

"I'm gathering intel," I whispered, still watching Maya laugh with the swim team. She had that glistening post-practice hair, the kind that says I spend my mornings doing laps while you sleep.

"You're gonna get caught staring, and it's gonna be weird." Jordan paused. "Why's she got something green in her teeth?"

My stomach dropped. "Spinach. She's got spinach in her teeth."

"So tell her."

"I can't just TELL her. We've never actually spoken. That would be random as hell."

"Bro, you're literally hiding behind a plant. You've already established a baseline of weird." Jordan checked their phone. "Anyway, Mr. Harrison's cat got out again. There's a missing poster by the office."

I glanced at Maya again. She was smiling, and—yep, still spinach. This was my moment. Not the grand romantic gesture I'd imagined, but Hero of the Dental Hygiene Situation was still a title.

I stood up, legs feeling like jelly.

Then Maya looked right at me.

I froze. My brain rebooted. What came out was: "Your cat!"

The table got quiet. Maya tilted her head. "What?"

"Your—I mean—Mr. Harrison's cat. It's missing. There's a poster. And also you have spinach in your teeth, but that came out wrong."

Someone snorted. Maya's cheeks turned pink. Then she smiled, actually smiled, and reached for a napkin. "Thanks. And that cat is basically a neighborhood legend at this point. Last time it escaped, it was found living in the abandoned house behind the pool, eating someone's pet goldfish."

"That's dark," I said, and she laughed.

"Hey," she said, wiping the corner of her mouth. "You doing swim practice today? I could use a relay partner."

"I don't swim," I said automatically.

"Learn," she said. "We meet at four. Don't be late."

Jordan watched her walk away. "Well played, 007. Well played."