Papaya Kings & Panic Attacks

Maya's palms were sweating. Like, actually sweating, the kind of nervous moisture that made holding her phone impossible. She wiped them on her dress—this vintage thing she'd thrifted specifically because Quinn, the actual human being she'd been crushing on for three months, had mentioned liking retro style three whole weeks ago at lunch.

Now she was at this party. This actual high school party with red cups and someone's older brother buying alcohol, and she was standing next to the snacks table like a loser.

"You gonna eat that papaya or just stare at it?"

Maya jumped. A guy with curly hair and the kind of easy confidence that made everything look effortless was grinning at her. Fresh fruit. At a high school party. Because of course.

"It's weird, right?" she said. "Who brings papaya to a rager?"

"My mom," he said. "She's going through this wellness phase. Basically everything is a superfood now. I'm pretty sure she thinks papaya cures anxiety."

Maya laughed, surprised. "Well, I've been taking these vitamin D supplements because my aunt said they help with confidence, but so far I'm just Vitamin D-deficient AND awkward."

"Self-awareness is the first step." He held out his hand. "I'm Leo."

"Maya."

"Cool vintage dress."

Her heart did that thing where it forgot how to beat properly. "Thanks. I found it at—"

"MAYA!" Someone shouted across the room. Quinn. And Quinn was coming toward them, that bright-energy Quinn who somehow made everything feel like sunshine and also like Maya might literally die from how much she wanted to be noticed. "You came!"

But before Quinn could reach them, this other guy—Jason, the one who'd made Maya's life hell in seventh grade for reasons she still didn't understand—shoved past Quinn. Hard.

"Watch it, loser," Jason spat.

Something in Maya snapped. Seventh grade was over. She was done being someone who just took it.

"Hey," she said, voice steadier than she felt. "Jason? You're being a dick. Just letting you know."

The room went quiet. Jason's face went red.

"What did you just—"

"You heard me." She stepped closer. "Leave Quinn alone. And while you're at it, maybe work on not being an actual bull in a china shop of human emotions."

A few people snorted. Jason looked around, realized he was losing the room, and muttered something before stalking off.

Maya turned back. Quinn was staring at her with wide eyes.

"That was..." Quinn started.

Leo coughed. "Yeah. That was awesome."

Maya looked at her palms. Still sweating. But she didn't wipe them on her dress. She just stood there, heart racing, feeling somehow like she'd finally become the person she'd been trying to be all along.

"So," Quinn said, stepping closer. "You like papaya?"

Maya grinned. "I'm willing to find out."