Spinach In My Teeth

The coaxial cable dangled from the wall like a dead snake, cutting off my Wi-Fi right as Maya finally replied to my DM. My dad's voice echoed from downstairs: "Cable company says four hours, minimum."

Four hours. In which time Maya would definitely forget I existed.

The Florida humidity hit me like a wet blanket as I stepped onto the patio. My little sister Layla was doing that thing again—squatting in lotus position, eyes closed, palms pressed together like she was meditating or communing with spirits or whatever.

"You're blocking the pool," I said, kicking her foot gently.

"I'm sensing the energy," she said, not opening her eyes. "There's gonna be lightning. Big storm energy."

"You said that yesterday and it was sunny."

"But it's gonna storm tonight. I can feel it in my chakras."

I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly saw my own brain, but then I noticed how the sky had turned that bruised purple color. The air felt thick, electric. Maybe Layla wasn't completely delusional.

The pool water rippled in the wind, tiny waves lapping against the concrete. I sat on the edge and stuck my feet in, trying to cool down. Layla finally opened one eye.

"Why are you vibrating?" she asked.

"Maya finally messaged me," I admitted. "And then the internet died. It's catastrophic."

"Just talk to her at school Monday."

"You don't understand anything." I flicked water at her. "This is high-stakes romance. It requires real-time communication."

Layla sighed dramatically. "You're so dramatic. You're like, literally the main character in your head."

"Shut up."

"Hey, what's that in your teeth?"

I froze. "What?"

"Green stuff. Looks like... spinach?"

My stomach dropped. I'd eaten that spinach quiche Mom made for lunch. And then I'd DM'd Maya a photo of my "cool new haircut" with a close-up smile.

I'd sent a selfie with spinach in my teeth. To Maya. The girl I'd been crushing on since seventh grade.

"Oh my god," I whispered. "I literally sent her a picture with—"

"SPINACH TEETH!" Layla shrieked, falling over laughing. "You're the spinach teeth guy now! You're gonna be legendary!"

Then it happened—a lightning bolt split the sky, so close it turned everything blue-white for a heartbeat. Thunder shook the patio furniture. Rain started pouring, warm and sudden, flattening my hair instantly.

Layla jumped up, palms raised to the sky like she was summoning the storm herself. "I TOLD YOU! I summoned this!" she screamed, dancing in the downpour.

And I started laughing. Maybe because the situation couldn't get any worse. Maybe because Layla looked ridiculous doing her victory dance. Or maybe because, with the internet down and spinach in my teeth and a summer storm drowning us both, none of it really mattered.

I joined her in the rain. We danced until we were soaked, until the lightning moved east, until Layla's chakras were presumably satisfied.

Later, after we changed into dry clothes, I used my phone's cellular data to check Maya's response.

"lol that spinach tho 😂 still cute tho. wanna hang this weekend?"

I looked at Layla, who was meditating again on her bed. "Hey, Layla?"

"What?"

"Your chakras? They're actually kinda legit."

She didn't even open her eyes. "Told you. I'm basically psychic."