Orange Hair, Don't Care

The disaster started with a box of hair dye labeled 'Sunset Strawberry' and ended with me looking like a walking traffic cone.

"It's not that bad," Lily lied, staring at my neon orange hair with wide eyes.

"It's literally orange, Lil. Like, actual fruit orange."

I yanked my beanie hat down lower. "No one can know. If Justin sees this at his pool party tomorrow, I'm literally going to homeschool myself."

My cat, Pickles, chose that moment to knock my green smoothie off the counter. The spinach explosion splattered across my white sneakers.

"Pickles, WHY?"

"At least no one's looking at your shoes," Lily offered.

Small victories.

Next day at the pool party, I hovered by the snack table, clutching my hat like it contained my soul. Justin waved from the diving board—actual sunshine boy energy, impossible not to stare.

"You swimming or what?" my crush, Riley, asked, suddenly beside me.

"Uh, I—"

"You've been wearing that hat inside for two hours," they said, half-smiling. "Hot tip? You're not hiding anything."

Before I could respond, some random guy cannonballed into the pool, sending a wave of water straight at me. My hat flew off. My orange hair flared like a warning beacon.

Silence. Then actual laughter.

But then Riley stepped up, touched my shoulder. "Honestly? It's kind of iconic. You're brave for trying something new."

"It was supposed to be strawberry," I whispered.

"Orange suits you though," they said. "Bold choice. Bold person."

I looked at my hair. Really looked. It wasn't strawberry. It was loud and messy and impossible to ignore.

"Fine," I said, stepping toward the pool. "But if anyone asks, this was totally on purpose."

"Orange hair, don't care?" Riley grinned.

"Something like that."

And maybe—just maybe—I didn't hate it. Being seen was terrifying, but it was also kind of powerful. Sometimes the worst mistakes become your best storyline.

Also, Pickles was still grounded for the smoothie incident.