Spinach in the Sunset

Maya's palms were sweating. Again. She wiped them on her jeans for the third time, watching Jordan across the bonfire circle. He was wearing that stupid beanie hat even though it was seventy degrees out, laughing at something Tyler said. His hair curled out from underneath it, this ridiculous orange-ish color that he swore was "natural highlights" but everyone knew was from a box.

"You gonna talk to him or just stare all night?" Chloe whispered, elbowing Maya.

"I'm not staring. I'm observing. There's a difference."

"Mhm. You've been 'observing' since September."

Maya's phone buzzed. Her mom: *Did you eat the spinach salad I packed?*

*Yes,* she lied, deleting the text. She'd given it to Tyler's dog.

Someone yelled something about the cliffs down by the beach. Half the group took off running toward the shoreline. Jordan went too, of course. Because Jordan was that guy — the one who made everything look effortless, who'd jump off anything, who probably didn't get nervous talking to people.

Maya followed, jogging behind. The salt air hit her face, the bonfire crackling somewhere behind them. At the edge of the cliffs, the ocean stretched out forever, the sky turning this incredible pink-orange, like someone had spilled paint across the horizon.

"It's sick, right?" Jordan appeared beside her. He wasn't wearing the hat anymore. His hair was messy. He was closer than she'd ever been to him.

"Yeah," she managed. "Really sick."

They stood there for a minute, the waves crashing below. She could feel herself overthinking everything. Say something cool. Say something funny. Say literally anything that isn't weird.

"You got something—" Jordan pointed at his own teeth.

Maya froze. "What?"

"In your teeth. It's green. Like—"

She bolted. Actually ran. Down the beach, away from the cliffs, away from Jordan, away from the single most embarrassing moment of her entire life. She could hear Chloe calling after her but she didn't stop until she reached the parking lot, where she leaned against someone's car and tried to figure out how to transfer schools before Monday.

Her phone buzzed again.

Jordan: *lol sorry if that was weird. also i was gonna say your teeth are fine i was just messing with you*

Maya stared at the screen. Then: *You're such a jerk.*

Jordan: *i know. also i like your palms*

Maya: *What?*

Jordan: *they were sweating at the bonfire. i thought it was kinda cute that you were nervous.*

She stood there for a long time. Then she walked back toward the bonfire.