Orange Fluorescent Nights

Maya's mom had started her on these giant orange vitamin gummies because apparently her teenage years were a "nutritional crisis." The kitchen counter was basically a graveyard of half-empty supplement bottles, each promising to fix something Maya didn't know was broken.

First house party of sophomore year, and she was already panicking. The basement thudded with bass that vibrated through her converse. Some juniors were doing keg stands in the corner while a guy named Kyle loudly explained his "zero carb" lifestyle to anyone who'd listen. Maya grabbed a sparkling water and pretended to be deeply fascinated by the ingredients list.

"Those things are basically candy, you know," someone said beside her.

Maya looked up. It was Alex from English class, wearing this ridiculous orange beanie that was somehow working for him. His eyes were crinkled in this way that made him look like he was in on a joke nobody else got.

"What, the vitamin water?" Maya asked, suddenly aware she was still clutching the bottle like a lifeline.

"Nah, the vitamins your mom gives you," Alex said. "Same ones my sister takes. She's convinced they're gonna make her grow three inches by spring formal."

Maya laughed, and it wasn't even fake. "My mom thinks I'm gonna get scurvy or something. I think she just likes buying things from the wellness aisle at Target."

"Solidarity," Alex said, holding up his red solo cup. "My parents literally have me on this schedule where I have to text them a photo of me taking my vitamins every morning. It's humiliating."

"No way," Maya said. "That's borderline prison-like behavior."

"Tell me about it." He adjusted his orange hat, which was sliding slightly. "But hey, at least we're being healthy-ish? Meanwhile, Kyle over there is probably gonna pass out in like twenty minutes."

They watched as Kyle attempted to chug something suspiciously blue while his friends cheered him on. The orange fluorescent kitchen lights cast this weird glow over everything, making the party feel both hyper-real and dreamlike at the same time.

"Wanna get out of here?" Alex asked suddenly. "There's a taco truck two blocks over. And I promise I won't make you take any vitamins."

Maya glanced at the basement full of people performing being teenagers, then back at Alex and his stupid orange hat.

"Absolutely," she said, already reaching for her jacket. "I was literally just thinking I'd rather be literally anywhere else."

They slipped out the back door into the cool night air, leaving the bass and the performative chaos behind. Maya's pocket buzzed with a text from her mom: "Did you take your vitamins today??" but she didn't even check it.