Spinach Incident at the Pool Party

Maya stood at the edge of the pool, clutching her towel like a lifeline. The annual Jenkins neighborhood party was basically social suicide for anyone not blessed with perfect skin and zero awkwardness.

"Yo, you good?" Marcus asked, splashing water at her. Her ride-or-die friend since third grade, Marcus was the only person who knew she'd been secretly practicing her cannonballs for two weeks just to survive today.

"I'm fine," she lied, adjusting her swimsuit straps. "Just vibing."

Across the pool, Taylor—aka the fox of sophomore year—was laughing with her squad, looking effortless in a designer bikini. Maya had accidentally stared at Taylor during math so many times that Mr. Henderson had literally moved her seat.

Then her stomach growled. Loudly.

"Damn, when did you last eat?" Marcus raised an eyebrow.

"My mom's on this health kick," Maya groaned. "Literally nothing but spinach smoothies for three days. I'm starving."

The universe, being the petty drama queen it was, chose that exact moment for Mrs. Jenkins to emerge with platters. "Time for lunch! Fresh from the garden!"

Maya practically dove for the food station. Green salad. Spinach wraps. More spinach. Her soul died a little.

"Hey, you're Marcus's friend, right?"

Maya froze. Slowly turned. Taylor was standing there, smiling, water droplets glistening on her shoulders.

"H-hi," Maya managed. Her voice cracked. She wanted to die.

"I like your swimsuit," Taylor said. "Where'd you get it?"

They talked. Actually talked. For five whole minutes. Maya was floating on cloud nine, thinking maybe the universe wasn't entirely terrible—

Until she caught her reflection in the sliding glass door.

A massive, bright green chunk of spinach was wedged squarely between her front teeth.

"Anyway, I gotta run," Taylor said. "My dog got out again. Bear!" She whistled, and an enormous golden retriever came barreling around the corner, nearly knocking over the dessert table.

Maya spent the next hour hiding in the bathroom, plotting her move to Antarctica.

"You coming back out?" Marcus called through the door.

"No. I live here now. This bathroom is my new residence."

"Taylor asked for your Insta."

Maya's head snapped up. "What?"

"She thinks you're funny. Also, she said her dog's full name is 'Bear' because he acts all tough but is actually the biggest softie. Kinda like you hiding in there instead of owning the spinach tooth."

Maya stared at herself in the mirror. Green teeth and all. She grabbed her phone, opened Instagram, and found Taylor's profile.

Message from @tay_jenkins: spinToothGirl got any more spinach stories? 🦊

Maya grinned. Maybe the universe wasn't so petty after all.