Spinach in My Teeth

I'm practically hyperventilating behind the bleachers, my heart doing gymnastics that would definitely not qualify for regionals. Maya's already texted me three times asking where I am, but I can't go out there. Not like this.

"Bro, you good?" Jay slides up next to me, looking annoyingly calm in his varsity jacket.

I point at my teeth. "Spinach. From the veggie wrap. It's been there since lunch."

Jay squints, then burst out laughing. "That's not—okay, actually, that's kind of tragic. But also, literally nobody's gonna notice. You're spiraling."

"Spiraling?" I hiss. "Jordan's standing by the punch bowl looking like a runway model, and I'm over here with green stuff stuck in my braces like some kind of demented Christmas decoration. This is exactly why I can't have nice things."

"That's bull, and you know it." Jay checks his phone. "Jordan's been asking about you all night. Actually asking. Like, 'where's Riley?' asking."

My stomach does this weird lightning-strike thing that's half panic, half hope. Jordan Martinez noticed I existed? The same Jordan who'd somehow madeVarsity soccer as a sophomore and didn't seem aware that social hierarchy was supposed to be a thing?

"You're messing with me."

"Dead serious. But you're not gonna talk to them looking like you're about to throw up."

He's right. I'm not gonna talk to them at all, because I'm a certified coward who's been crushing on Jordan for six months and hasn't said a single word beyond "here" during attendance.

Then Maya appears, grabbing my arm. "Riley, stop hiding! Jordan's literally looking for you. And hi Jay, you can leave now."

Jay mouths 'good luck' and vanishes, because even he knows when to bow out of a situation.

I'm running toward the gym before I can talk myself out of it, spinach and all. Because sometimes being terrified is better than wondering what if forever.

Jordan's still by the refreshments, and when they see me coming, their face lights up like actual sunshine. And maybe, just maybe, I've been overthinking this whole thing.

"Hey!" Jordan calls. "I was hoping you'd show up."

I smile, spinach be damned. "Hey yourself."