Spinach Between Teeth

The **hat** was everything. A backwards snapback, slightly curved brim, the kind Caleb always wore. I practiced in my mirror for twenty minutes, trying to nail the exact tilt that said effortless cool instead of trying too hard. Today was the day. Maya's pool party.

I grabbed an extra slice of pizza on my way out—the little mom-and-pop place downtown that made sheet pizza with that weird sweet sauce. Three toppings: pepperoni, extra cheese, and **spinach**, because my mom was on a health kick and wouldn't let us order otherwise.

The **pool** in Maya's backyard already had about ten people in it.有人在 diving off the board, music playing from a Bluetooth speaker that kept glitching every thirty seconds. I spotted Maya immediately, laughing with Sarah in the shallow end, her wet hair slicked back.

"You coming in?" Caleb called from the deep end, already dripping wet.

"Yeah, just—gotta hit the bathroom first." I'd never been great at **swimming**. Like, I could stay above water, but the whole graceful dolphin thing? Not happening.

I spent forever fixing my hair in the bathroom, checking my reflection from every angle. The hat stayed perfectly tilted. My swimsuit was board short length, not too short, not too long. I practiced what I'd say to Maya. Hey Maya, having fun? No, that was basic. Hey, cool party. Also basic.

**Baseball** conversation. That was it. I'd heard her dad was a coach. I could talk about the Cardinals, maybe mention that almost-home run I hit last week in gym class that definitely would've cleared the fence if it wasn't for that stupid wind.

Perfect.

I walked out to the deck, chest puffed slightly, confidence building. Maya was climbing out of the pool, water dripping everywhere, and she looked right at me and smiled.

"Hey! You made it!"

"Yeah, sorry I'm—"

"Hold on," she said, stepping closer. "You have—"

My heart did that thing where it forgets how to beat. She was leaning in. This was happening.

"—spinach. Right between your front teeth."

The world ended. I could feel my face burning hot. From the pizza. The spinach pizza I'd eaten in secret because I'd lied and told everyone I was into that trendy plant-based stuff.

"Oh my god," I whispered.

Maya just laughed, but not like mean laugh. Like actually finding it funny. "Dude, you should've seen your face. You look like I just told you you got expelled."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a floss pick, still in its wrapper. "I always keep extras. My little brother gets stuff stuck in his teeth constantly. It's not that deep."

I flossed in front of her, mortified, something swirling in my stomach that was equal parts humiliation and this weird warmth because she wasn't even judging me.

"Better?" I asked, finally getting it out.

"Much." She grinned. "Wanna play chicken fights? Caleb needs a partner."

I took off my hat and set it on the table, perfectly tilted be damned. Some other kid could pick it up and try to look cool. I was too busy **swimming** toward the deep end, spinach-free and maybe kind of okay with being messy.