Spinach Between My Teeth

The cafeteria hummed with that specific kind of nervous energy that only happens on the first day of sophomore year. I sat picking at my lunch, hyper-aware that Mia—the girl I'd been crushing on since seventh grade—was three tables away.

'You're staring again,' said Jay, sliding into the seat across from me. 'It's getting weird, bro.'

I shot him a look. 'I'm not staring. I'm... observing from a tactical distance.'

Jay snorted, stealing a tater tot from my tray. 'Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night.' He gestured toward my plate. 'You gonna eat that spinach or just molest it with your fork all period?'

I glared at the spinach in question. My mom had packed my lunch because she was convinced cafeteria food would 'stunt my growth.' At sixteen, I was still waiting for that growth spurt everyone kept promising me. Meanwhile, my little brother was already taller than me.

'My mom's going through a health phase,' I muttered.

'Yeah, well, your mom's concern for your well-being is about to become your social undoing.' Jay nodded toward something behind me. 'Because Mia's coming this way.'

I froze. My heart did this embarrassing little flutter thing. I smoothed my hair, checked my breath, tried to look casual and totally not like someone who had been obsessing over this moment for three years.

'Hey guys,' Mia said, stopping at our table. She was wearing this vintage band tee that made her look effortlessly cool while I looked like I was trying too hard just by existing. 'You coming to Jordan's party tonight?' She directed this at me, specifically at me, and I felt my brain short-circuit.

'Yeah, probably,' I managed, sounding way more chill than I felt. 'You?'

'Definitely.' She smiled, and I swear, the entire cafeteria got brighter. 'Maybe you'll finally talk to me this time instead of just observing from your tactical distance.'

Jay laughed so hard he choked on a tater tot.

My face burned. She'd noticed. She'd totally noticed me staring at her for three years.

'I—' I started, but then I caught Jay frantically gesturing at his own teeth, eyes wide with horror.

Too late, I realized what he was signaling. I felt the spinach—my mom's health-kick spinach—lodged embarrassingly between my front teeth, visible for Mia and everyone else to see.

'My cat,' I blurted out. 'My cat, Busters, knocked over my toothpaste this morning. So I couldn't—'

Mia's eyebrows went up.

'What?'

I wanted to die. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. This was it. The peak of my teenage existence. I'd never recover. I'd be known as Spinach Boy forever.

But then Mia laughed. Not mean-girl laughing. Actual, genuine laughing.

'That is so random,' she said, still smiling. 'But you should definitely come tonight. I mean, if you can secure some replacement toothpaste.'

I nodded, unable to speak, certain I'd somehow managed to both humiliate myself and get invited to the party in the span of thirty seconds.

As she walked away, Jay just shook his head. 'That was the smoothest thing I've ever witnessed. Truly inspirational.'

'Shut up.'

'No, seriously.' He grinned. 'You should lead a seminar. 'How to Talk to Girls: A Case Study in Bull.'

I groaned, but couldn't help smiling. Okay, so maybe I still had spinach in my teeth and maybe I'd made a complete fool of myself. But for the first time ever, Mia had actually talked to me. Had actually noticed me.

And tonight? Tonight I'd make sure to bring floss. And maybe—just maybe—I'd actually say something smooth that wasn't a complete disaster.

A guy could dream, right?