Spinach Teeth and Poolside Regrets

The pool shimmered like liquid diamonds under the July sun, but Maya's stomach did nervous backflips. This was it — Jake's party. The Jake. The one who'd smiled at her in chemistry twice this week.

"You got this," Priya whispered, adjusting her bikini strap. "Just remember you're a total fox in that swimsuit."

Maya's face burned. She wasn't a fox. She was the girl who'd gone vegan last month on a whim, whose current diet consisted mostly of spinach smoothies that stained her teeth green. Speaking of which...

She smiled tentatively at Jake across the pool. He waved back.

OH GOD.

"Maya," Priya hissed, "you have spinach. Like, a LOT of spinach."

Maya's hands flew to her mouth. Her reflection in the sliding glass door confirmed it: a full-on spinach salad wedged between her front teeth. Beautiful. Absolutely stunning.

She bolted toward the water, diving in before anyone else could notice. The chlorine stung her eyes, but it was better than facing Jake with green teeth. She stayed under as long as she could, letting the water muffle her groans.

When she surfaced, sputtering, someone was treading water beside her.

"Hey," Jake said, grinning. "Nice entrance. Very dramatic."

Maya wiped her face. "I'm just... really committed to making an impression."

"Mission accomplished." His eyes crinkled. "Also, you had some spinach in your teeth. Just so you know."

"I KNOW," she moaned. "Priya tried to warn me but I panicked."

"Honestly?" Jake splashed water at her. "It was kind of endearing. My little sister stuffs her face with spinach and kale every morning trying to be like those wellness influencers. It's cute you're into that stuff too."

Maya blinked water from her lashes. "You think it's cute?"

"I think YOU'RE cute," he said, then immediately looked like he wanted to dissolve into the pool water himself. "I mean — "

"You think I'm cute?" Maya echoed, disbelief rising in her chest like a bubble.

Jake's ears turned pink. "Yeah. I've been trying to talk to you all week in chemistry, but you always look so focused. I figured today was my chance."

The friend who'd been quietly drying off on the deck gave Maya a thumbs-up.

Maya laughed, real and light. "So wait. I could've just talked to you normally instead of doing a dramatic dive into a pool to hide my spinach teeth?"

"Probably," Jake admitted. "But the dramatic dive was way more entertaining."