Papaya Promise

The humidity hit me like a wall as I stepped onto Jenna's patio. Her parents were hosting their annual 'exotic fruit tasting party' which was basically just an excuse for all the suburban moms to pretend they were cultured while us kids suffered through the awkwardness.

'I can't believe I let you talk me into this,' I muttered, pulling out my iPhone to check my notifications. Anything to avoid making eye contact with the bowl of weird-looking fruit on the table.

'My mom said if I didn't come, she'd donate my entire sneaker collection,' Jenna replied, scrolling through her own phone. 'Besides, I heard Tyler's coming.'

I rolled my eyes. Jenna had been obsessed with Tyler since seventh grade, even though he was basically a human plank with great hair. 'Whatever. Just don't make me third wheel again.'

The worst part wasn't the social torture—it was the fruit. Mrs. Henderson appeared with a platter of something that looked like alien melons. 'Everyone try the papaya! It's delicious!'

I stared at the orange flesh dotted with black seeds. It looked like a disease.

'Go first,' Jenna whispered.

'I hate you,' I whispered back, but I picked up a piece anyway. Because that's what friends do—we suffer together.

I took a bite. And froze.

It... it wasn't terrible. It was actually kind of good? Sweet but not too sweet, soft like butter but with this slight tang. I looked at Jenna, whose eyes were wide with anticipation.

'Well?' she asked.

'It's... actually kinda fire?' I admitted, taking another bite.

Jenna's jaw dropped. 'No way.'

Then Tyler walked in, and Jenna immediately abandoned me to go talk to him. Typical. I wandered toward the pool, still eating my papaya like it was the most normal thing in the world.

The water looked inviting, all blue and glittery in the afternoon sun. I sat on the edge, letting my feet dangle in the coolness, thinking about how I'd almost let my fear of looking stupid keep me from trying something new. And how maybe that was the story of my life lately—too scared to taste the papaya, too scared to jump in the water, always watching through my iPhone screen instead of actually living.

'Hey,' said a voice behind me. I turned to see Tyler's friend Marcus, who I'd barely spoken to all year. 'Is that papaya actually good? I've been too scared to try it.'

I smiled, holding out my plate. 'It's surprisingly amazing. Want a bite?'

And for the first time all day, I put my phone in my pocket and actually talked to someone. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to.