Palm Trees & Pretending

Maya's palms were sweating. Literally sweating. She stared at the transfer student, Liam, who was currently surrounded by the popular crowd like he'd known them for years instead of three days.

"You coming to beach cleanup Saturday?" someone asked.

"Totally," Liam said. "I'm all about that eco-life."

Maya's brain started doing that thing where it forgot how to human. She'd been volunteering at beach cleanups since seventh grade, but somehow saying that out loud felt like admitting she still watched Disney Channel.

At lunch, she found herself sitting behind him, aggressively reading a book while actually trying to memorize the back of his vitamin C gummies bottle that someone had left on the table. Because apparently that's what her life had become.

"Hey, you're Maya, right?"

She jumped so hard she knocked over her backpack. Out tumbled her lunch container—spinach salad that she'd packed because her mom was on a "we need more iron" kick.

Liam laughed, but not in a mean way. "Is that... spinach?"

"Yeah," she mumbled, face burning. "I'm super healthy. Obviously."

"Nice." He pulled out his own container. "I brought spinach too. My dog won't eat anything else lately, so I have extra."

Maya blinked. "Your dog... eats spinach?"

"Barnaby's basically a vegan in golden retriever form." Liam pulled out a bottle. "I also brought these vitamins because my mom thinks I'm malnourished from surfing too much."

Something clicked. "You surf?"

"Every weekend. There's this spot with these palm trees that hang over the water—perfect for climbing after." He grinned. "You should come. Bring your spinach."

Maya actually laughed. Real laugh, not her fake one she used for teachers asking about her college plans. "I'll bring the vitamins."

"Deal." He winked. "Maybe leave the sweaty palms at home though."

"I hate you."

"You'll love me by Saturday."

She would. And she did. But that's a story for next time.