Smoothie Operator

Maya shoved her lunch tray toward the back of the cafeteria table, strategically positioning it behind Leo's backpack. The container of raw spinach sat there like a green embarrassment, completely ruining her vibe.

"Bro, what is that?" Leo asked, peering around his Northface.

"Nothing," Maya hissed, but too late. Jordan, the sophomore with the perfect eyeliner and chaotic TikTok energy, had already spotted it.

"Wait, you're actually doing that cleanse?" Jordan slid into the seat across from her, eyes bright with conspiracy. "My mom tried to get me on that vitamin kick last month. I lasted three days before I snapped and ate an entire pizza by myself in the pantry at 2 AM."

Maya felt her face heating up. "It's not a cleanse, my mom just—"

"She's trying to detox you for tryouts, right?" Jordan nodded knowingly. "Same. Anyway, you gotta hide the evidence better. Mix it with fruit or something."

Before Maya could respond, Jordan reached over and grabbed an orange from Maya's tray—her backup snack, because apparently one healthy item wasn't enough parental supervision.

"Trade you," Jordan said, peeling it with practiced fingers. "I'll give you the gossip on who's hooking up with who at Skylar's party if you let me help you with that... situation." She gestured at the spinach.

Maya hesitated. Her mom would literally kill her if she wasted the expensive organic greens. But Jordan was offering entry into the social orbit she'd been trying to crack since freshman year.

"Fine," Maya said, sliding the container forward. "But my mom packed kale chips too, and those are actually decent."

Jordan's face lit up. "Deal. Oh my god, you're not gonna believe who made out with who behind the garage..." She lowered her voice, Maya leaned in, and the cafeteria noise faded to background hum.

Maybe healthy food wasn't so terrible if it came with a side of social currency. Maya took a bite of kale chip. Okay, maybe a little terrible, but worth it.