Papaya Summer Zombies

The chlorine stung my nose as I stepped onto the patio where everyone from sophomore year was supposedly living their best life. I was running on three hours of sleep—finals week had turned me into a certified zombie, shambling through school like the walking dead.

"Hey! Maya's here!"

Jessica, aka the Queen of Social hierarchy, waved me over to the table where all the popular kids sat. I smoothed my sundress and mentally prepared myself for the performance.

"Did you bring anything?" Jessica asked, scanning the spread of chips and store-bought cookies.

I hesitated, then placed my Tupperware on the table. "My abuela made papaya salad. It's got lime, chili powder—"

"Papaya?" Tyler made a face like he'd just smelled something rotten. "That's literally the weirdest fruit ever."

Laughter rippled around the table. My face burned. This was exactly why I usually kept my cultural stuff on the low.

"Whatever," I muttered, moving toward the pool to escape. The water looked inviting—cool blue anonymity where I could just exist without performing.

"Wait." A voice behind me. It was Lucas, the quiet skater guy I'd had a crush on since forever. He picked up a piece of papaya with his fingers, hesitated, then ate it.

"This is actually legit," he said. "The spice kick is fire."

Everyone went quiet.

"Thanks," I said, surprised.

"My cousins in El Salvador eat this all the time," Lucas shrugged. "I haven't had it in years though. Makes me miss them."

Jessica rolled her eyes. "You're so random, Lucas."

But others were trying it now. "Okay, this isn't terrible," Tyler admitted. "Still a zombie food though."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"You know, like exotic stuff that regular people wouldn't touch," he said, then immediately caught himself. "Not that—you know what I mean."

I stood there, water lapping at the pool's edge, papaya on strangers' tongues, and realized something important. I could shrink myself to fit their box, or I could just be me—zombie exhaustion, abuela's recipes, and all.

"You know what's actually zombie behavior?" I said, diving into the cool blue water. "Letting Tyler dictate what's cool at a pool party."

Lucas grinned and jumped in after me.

Sometimes the most alive moments happen when you stop performing and just start living.