Papaya Paramagnetic

Jordan's palms were sweating, which was exactly why the whole papaya situation was happening in the first place.

"You brought what to lunch?" Maya stared at the Tupperware like Jordan had just revealed she worshipped aliens.

"It's exotic," Jordan said, though the word felt wrong as soon as it left her mouth. "Like, sophisticated?"

Maya didn't say anything. She just kept staring. The papaya chunks sat there in their own juice, looking neon and wrong against the beige cafeteria tray.

Jordan had been trying to reboot her entire personality since starting sophomore year. New Jordan was supposed to be interesting. New Jordan ate foods no one else at Northridge High had ever heard of. New Jordan didn't spend Friday nights rewatching Avatar episodes while crying about how alone she was.

The problem was, Old Jordan was still very much in there, sweating through her shirt while her supposed best friend looked at her like she'd grown a second head.

"Whatever," Maya said, finally looking away. "Your lunch, your choice. But people are gonna think you're trying way too hard."

The words hit harder than they should have.

After school, Jordan took the long way home through the wooded edge of the subdivision — basically her designated cry zone since seventh grade. She was mentally drafting a whole apology text to Maya, something casual and chill that would fix everything, when she saw it.

A fox.

It was standing next to the creek, totally still, watching her with eyes that looked way too knowing. Its fur was the exact color of the papaya sitting ruined at the bottom of her backpack.

Jordan froze. The fox didn't move. For some reason, this felt like the realest thing that had happened to her in months.

"You're not trying too hard, are you?" she whispered.

The fox tilted its head. Then it turned and vanished into the underbrush, smooth and effortless, not caring what anyone thought.

Jordan stood there for a long time. Then she pulled out her phone.

Maya, 3:42 PM: sorry about lunch

The typing bubble appeared immediately.

Maya, 3:43 PM: it's cool. actually can we get boba later. i've been wanting to try that taro stuff

Jordan smiled. New Jordan could wait. Sometimes the most exotic thing you could be was yourself.