Palm Lines and Spinach Smoothies

Marcus adjusted the brim of his fedora, catching his reflection in the mall window. Not his usual vibe, but summer called for reinvention, right? Behind him, his little sister Maya made gagging noises.

"That spinach smoothie looks like swamp water," she said, pointing at his cup.

"It's basically a multivitamin in liquid form," Marcus lied, ignoring the weirdly grassy taste. Mom's new health kick meant nobody escaped the green juice regime. At least the hat covered his hair—that disastrous DIY dye job from Friday night still looked kind of purple in certain light.

The carnival setup beckoned from across the parking lot. That's where she'd be—Chloe, with her perfect laugh and the way she somehow made marching band look cool. Marcus had spent all of eighth grade watching her from across the cafeteria, and now, three months into freshman year, he was still watching.

"Fortunes! Palm readings! Your future awaits!" Madame Zora's tent smelled like incense and desperation. Her nails were painted electric blue, matching the streak in her hair. Unexpectedly, she looked like someone who'd skipped fourth period to smoke behind the bleachers.

Marcus sat across from her, heart doing that annoying fluttery thing. He extended his right hand, palm up. The hat slipped slightly—he caught it just in time.

She traced his life line with surprising gentleness. "You're trying too hard to be someone you're not."

Marcus froze. Was it that obvious? The fedora, the spinach smoothies he'd been forcing himself to drink because Chloe mentioned she was vegetarian once, the vitamin supplements he'd been researching at 2 AM?

"But," Madame Zora continued, "your head line shows creativity. And your heart line..." She looked up, and for a second, the mysterious fortune-teller act dropped completely. "You've got a good heart, kid. The right person'll see it without the disguise."

Outside, Maya was waiting. "So? What's your fortune?"

Marcus took off the hat and ran a hand through his weirdly purple hair. The sun felt good on his head. "She said I should stop trying so hard."

"Finally." Maya rolled her eyes. "Also, you should probably finish that smoothie before it explodes."

Marcus laughed, and for the first time all summer, it actually felt real. The spinach still tasted like regret, but maybe that was okay. Some things took time to acquire a taste for—including yourself.