Sunburn and Papaya Seeds

Maya pulled the oversized bucket hat lower over her eyes, creating a tiny shadow fortress. It was her fifth day working at the tropical smoothie shack, and she still felt like an imposter every time someone asked for something that wasn't on the menu.

"Can I get a papaya refresher? Extra vitamin C?" The guy was gorgeous—sun-bleached hair, the kind of effortless confidence that made everyone else feel like they were faking being alive.

Maya's brain short-circuited. "Uh, papaya? We... have papaya?"

He laughed, and it was genuinely nice, not mean. "You work here and you don't know? That's iconic, honestly."

Her face burned hotter than the mid-July pavement outside. She'd been too busy dying inside every time the door opened to memorize the fruit inventory.

"I'm joking," he said. "I'm Jay, by the way. Also fake-working. My cousin owns this place."

The air conditioning hummed between them. Maya adjusted her hat, suddenly aware of how ridiculous she looked. "I'm Maya. I'm... new at everything apparently."

"Everything?"

"Everything." The words tumbled out before she could stop them. "Moved here two weeks ago. Don't know anyone. First job. Can't swim."

Jay raised an eyebrow. "You live in a beach town and can't swim? That's bold."

"It's not bold, it's survival instincts." She sliced into a papaya, juice dripping onto her cutting board. "My dad tried to teach me last summer. Nearly drowned him, not me. I flailed so hard I knocked him backward into a dock."

Jay was properly laughing now. "Okay, that's actually legendary. Tragic, but legendary."

"My therapist says it's probably anxiety manifesting as—" She stopped. Why was she telling him this?

"As what?"

"As not being able to float. Symbolic or something."

"Damn," Jay said. "That's deep. Also, I think you just sliced your finger."

Maya looked down. A thin line of red welled up on her thumb.

"Great. Now I need... a bandage? Vitamin something?"

"I mean, you could try papaya on it," Jay suggested. "I heard it's got healing properties. Probably fake, but you're surrounded by them, so..."

Maya wrapped her finger in a paper towel, laughing despite everything. "This is the worst first conversation I've ever had with anyone."

"Nah," Jay said, grabbing a smoothie cup. "This is top tier. Bet you don't even remember my order."

"Papaya refresher. Extra vitamin C."

"See? You're crushing it. Also, I'm teaching you to swim tomorrow. Non-negotiable."

Maya looked at him through the brim of her ridiculous hat. Something unclenched in her chest.

"Okay. But if I drown you this time, I'm telling everyone it was intentional."