Spinach Teeth & Orange Skies

Maya's first day of sophomore year was already a disaster before lunch even started. Her supposed best friend, Chloe, had spent all morning hanging with the popular crowd, leaving Maya to navigate the cafeteria solo like a total loser.

"Whatever," Maya muttered, stabbing at the mystery meat on her tray. At least she had her phone and a decent seat by the windows.

Then she saw him—the new guy, what's-his-name, Tyler something, walking straight toward her. Maya straightened up, smoothing her hair. Maybe this year would be different. Maybe she'd actually—

"Hey, is this seat taken?" Tyler asked, flashing that crooked smile that made half the girls in homeroom giggle.

"No! I mean, no, go ahead." Smooth, Maya. Real smooth.

They talked. Actually talked. About music, about how the school's bull was ridiculous (why was their mascot a bull, anyway?), about how Mr. Harrison's history class was basically nap time. Maya felt herself relaxing, finally, actually living.

Then Chloe appeared at her shoulder, looking perfect as always. "There you are! I've been looking everywhere."

Maya's stomach dropped. Chloe had ignored her all morning, and NOW she showed up?

"Anyway," Chloe continued, tapping Maya's arm, "You've got—" she gestured at her own teeth "—the whole spinach situation going on. Major."

Maya froze. Spinach. From lunch. Stuck in her teeth. While she'd been flirting with Tyler for twenty minutes.

Twenty. Minutes.

The cafeteria seemed to go silent. Tyler was practically choking back laughter. Chloe stood there with this half-smile, like she'd done Maya a favor or something.

"Oh my god," Maya whispered, grabbing her stuff. "I gotta go."

She didn't cry until she reached the girls' bathroom. Stared at herself in the mirror, green stuff lodged in her teeth like some kind of neon sign broadcasting her awkwardness to everyone. How long had Tyler been looking at it and NOT saying anything? And Chloe—why now? Why not when she first saw her?

"Hey." It was Tyler's voice from the doorway. "I, uh, I brought you this." He held out an orange from his lunch bag. "It's not much, but..."

"You didn't have to—"

"Yeah, I did." He leaned against the doorframe. "Your friend should've told you sooner. That was messed up."

Maya wiped her eyes. "She's not really my friend. Not anymore."

"Good." Tyler tossed the orange. It hit her hands with a satisfying thwack. "Because I was thinking maybe we could start over? No spinach, no fake friends. Just... us getting food somewhere that doesn't serve mystery meat?"

Maya peeled the orange, the citrus smell sharp and bright, cutting through the bathroom's harsh cleaner scent. For the first time all day, something felt real.

"I'd like that," she said.

And maybe it was pathetic, maybe it was cheesy, but standing there with orange peel under her nails and Tyler actually smiling at her like he saw her—really saw her—Maya figured sophomore year might not be so bad after all.