Spinach on the Soul

Maya's iPhone buzzed in sweaty palms as she leaned against the kitchen counter at Tyler's party. Her fourth fake-check of Instagram in ten minutes. Classic avoidance tactic.

"You're Bear's sister, right?"

Maya jumped. Chase. The guy she'd been lowkey obsessed with since September stood there, soda in hand, looking unfairly good in that faded thrasher shirt.

"Yeah. But everyone calls me Maya, thank you." She winced. Too defensive. Chill, Maya.

Chase laughed, and her stomach did that annoying flip thing. "Nah, I meant it as a compliment. Your brother's legendary. Saved me from detention last week."

"Oh." Maya relaxed. "Yeah, that sounds like him. He's annoying but useful."

"So," Chase leaned against the counter beside her, "you hiding too?"

She blinked. "Is it that obvious?"

"Pretty much." His grin was lopsided, adorable. "I'm terrible at these things. Everyone's so... performative."

"Thank you!" Maya practically shouted. "Like, why is everyone trying so hard?"

They talked for twenty minutes. About classes, music, how weird high school felt sometimes. Maya checked her phone once at the beginning, then forgot about it. Chase didn't check his at all.

Then it happened.

Chase said, "You've got—" and gestured at his own teeth.

Maya's stomach dropped. She bolted to the bathroom mirror. A massive piece of spinach from the earlier appetizers. Had been there. The entire conversation.

She wanted to die. Actually die. Instead, she heard Chase's voice outside the door.

"Hey, for what it's worth? I still think you're cool. Spinach and all."

Maya stared at her reflection. Then she smiled, kinda, and opened the door.

"My brother's going to roast me for days."

"Definitely," Chase said. "But at least we'll have a good story."

Her iPhone buzzed again. She ignored it.

Some things were more important than the timeline.