Papaya at the Pyramid

Maya's palms were sweating so much she could barely grip her lunch tray. First day at Northwood High, and of course she'd already managed to position herself at the absolute bottom of the cafeteria's social pyramid. The popular table radiated golden energy across the room—cheerleaders in matching uniforms, basketball players with their jerseys tucked just right, and Tyler, whose smile made her stomach do actual gymnastics.

"You look like you're about to throw up."

Maya jumped. A girl with green-streaked hair and approximately twenty bracelets on each wrist had slid into the seat across from her. "I'm Riley. Also, you're holding your tray like it's a bomb."

"Maya," she squeaked. "And I think I am a bomb. Socially speaking."

Riley laughed, flipping Maya's hand over before she could protest. "Let me see your palm. I read fortunes on Tuesdays."

"It's Wednesday."

"Details."

Riley traced the lines on Maya's palm with surprisingly gentle fingers. "You're going to survive high school. Possibly even thrive. There's a surprise coming—something involving a bear and an exotic fruit."

"A bear?"

"Metaphorical bear. Probably." Riley stood up. "Coming? The actual bear awaits."

"What bear?"

"The mascot, obviously. We're about to steal his head."

Maya should have said no. She should have stayed in her safe corner of the social pyramid. But something about Riley's confidence was contagious, and suddenly she was sneaking toward the gym with a stranger who read palms on the wrong day.

The school mascot—a giant grumbling bear costume—sat unattended on a bench. Before Maya could process what was happening, Riley had grabbed the bear head and was motioning wildly.

"Put it on!"

"What? No!"

"Trust the palm, Maya!"

So Maya put on the bear head. And then Tyler walked in.

"Hey, bear," he said, grinning. "You're dancing with a papaya."

Maya looked down. She was indeed holding the papaya she'd packed for lunch, and yes, she was doing a little bear dance because the costume was surprisingly roomy in the shoulders.

"His mom makes the best papaya smoothies," Riley said smoothly. "We're starting a club."

Tyler's eyes lit up. "I LOVE papaya."

"Great," Maya said from inside the bear. "Everyone loves papaya."

And just like that, the bottom of the pyramid didn't feel so lonely anymore.