Operation Lunchroom Catastrophe

Maya stared at her tray. The cafeteria **spinach** sat there like a sad pile of regret, mocking her life choices. Why did she think today would be different? Why did she think sitting at the popular table was within her realm of possibility?

"Earth to Maya," whispered Lena, her best friend since third grade. "You're doing that thing where you internally spiral."

"I can't do this," Maya whispered back. "Look at them. They're like... they're like actual humans who have their lives together."

Lena rolled her eyes so hard Maya worried they'd get stuck. "Bro, they're just people. **Fox** wears too much cologne and **Bear** talks about his gym gains like it's personality."

Maya snorted. She couldn't help it. Lena had nicknames for everyone. Fox was the slick-talking junior who somehow charmed teachers into extending deadlines. Bear was the massive football player who looked like he could crush you but once helped Maya find her lost AirPod in the hallway.

And then there was Cat.

Cat sat two tables away, all mysterious energy and vintage band tees. She'd transferred here three weeks ago and already had everyone intrigued. Maya had been lowkey **spy**-ing on her Instagram—okay, fine, full-on stalking—at least twice a day. Cat's aesthetic was unmatched. Pastel hair. Doc Martens. An attitude that said she didn't care what anyone thought.

"She's looking at us," Maya hissed.

"Who?"

"Cat!"

"Dude, she's looking at **Fox**. He's been trying to slide into her DMs since she got here."

Maya's stomach did that thing where it forgot how to food. She'd been trying to work up the courage to talk to Cat for weeks. Cat seemed like the kind of person who'd get Maya's obsession with obscure indie films and her tendency to overanalyze everything.

Today was the day. Maybe.

But first, the spinach situation.

Maya took a deep breath. "I'm gonna do it."

"Do what?"

"Sit with them."

Lena's eyes widened. "Since when?"

"Since I'm tired of being background character energy in my own life."

"Bet. Five bucks says you choke."

"You're on."

Maya stood up, tray shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. This was it. The moment. The crossover episode she'd been dreaming about since freshman year.

She made it three steps.

Then tripped.

The spinach went everywhere. Like, literally everywhere. On **Bear**'s fresh kicks. On **Fox**'s phone. On Cat.

Silence. The kind of silence where you can hear your entire life flashing before your eyes.

Maya wanted to evaporate. Become air. Cease to exist.

Cat wiped spinach off her vintage tee and started laughing. Not mean laughing—like, actually cracking up. Soon the whole table was laughing. Even Bear, whose fresh kicks were now salad-themed.

"Well that's one way to make an entrance," Cat said, grinning at Maya. "I'm Cat. You have excellent aim."

Maya's face burned. She was gonna die. Actually die.

"I'm Maya," she squeaked. "I am so sorry about your shoes."

"Nah, it's fine." Bear shrugged. "Needed an excuse to buy new ones anyway."

Fox flipped his phone into his palm, spinach and all. "You good though? Sit down."

Maya sank into the empty seat beside Cat, her heart racing like she'd just run a marathon.

"So," Cat said, side-eyeing her with this tiny smirk. "You gonna finish that spinach or what?"

And just like that, Maya went from background character to supporting role.

She could work with that.