Palm Readings & Papaya Kings

Maya's palms were sweating. Literally sweating. Which was exactly why she couldn't believe she'd let Jessica talk her into visiting that cheesy palm reader at the spring carnival. The old woman had taken one look at her hand and gone, "You will meet a foxy stranger under tropical fruit." Maya had practically bolted.

Now she stood in the grocery store produce section, staring at a papaya like it held the secrets to her social life. She was supposed to bring something exotic to Kyler's party tonight—her first party with the popular crowd since she'd somehow landed on their radar after spring break. Her hair had decided to rebel today, frizzing out in every possible direction despite three different products and a prayer.

"You gonna buy that papaya or just bond with it?"

Maya jumped. It was Leo from her biology class, the quiet guy who always sat in the back and drew foxes in his notebook. He was holding a container of organic spinach.

"I'm... debating." Maya felt her face heat up. "It's for a party."

Leo nodded like this made perfect sense. "Papaya's risky. Half the people there won't know what it is. The other half will pretend to love it while secretly googling if you're supposed to eat the seeds."

Maya laughed, surprised. "So what are you bringing?"

"Spinach artichoke dip." He lifted the container. "Safe. Reliable. Nobody has to google dip."

"Smart." Maya hesitated. "Hey, you're going to Kyler's too?"

"Only because my mom's making me. She's friends with his mom." He rolled his eyes. "I'm planning to find the most introverted corner and camp out there with my dip."

"Mind if I join you? I'll bring the papaya. We can watch people pretend to understand exotic fruit."

Leo's lip twitched up. "Deal."

As they walked to checkout, Maya's phone buzzed—Jessica: *Did you find anything good??*

She thought about responding, then pocketed it. Her hair was still a mess. She'd probably say something awkward later. But for the first time in forever, she wasn't stressing about it.

The old lady had been wrong about the foxy stranger. Leo wasn't a stranger at all. But something about the pap prophecy was probably going to work out just fine.