The Cafeteria Catastrophe

Maya's palms were literally sweating. Like, actually dripping. She adjusted her oversized hoodie for the fifteenth time, trying to look casual while absolutely spiraling inside.

Across the cafeteria, Jason—the Jason—was laughing at something his friends said. His hair fell perfectly across his forehead, and Maya's stomach did that embarrassing fluttery thing that made her feel like a total cliché.

"You're literally spying on him right now," said Chloe, dropping onto the bench beside her. "It's giving stalker vibes."

"I'm not spying!" Maya protested, though she definitely was. "I'm observing. There's a difference."

"Mhm. Sure." Chloe opened her Tupperware with a loud pop. "By the way, you have something in your teeth."

Maya's heart stopped. "What?"

"Spinach," Chloe said casually. "From lunch. It's been there for like, twenty minutes."

Twenty minutes. She'd been smiling awkwardly at Jason for twenty minutes with spinach in her teeth. This was it. This was how she died. Social death, actual death, whatever—she was done.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" Maya hissed, frantically trying to cover her mouth with her hand.

"I thought it was funny!" Chloe grinned. "Also, I was waiting to see how long it would take you to notice."

Maya grabbed her phone and pulled up the camera app, tilting it to see her reflection. Sure enough, a tiny green speck was wedged between her front teeth, mocking her entire existence.

"I'm transferring schools," she announced. "Changing my name. Moving to a different country."

"Dramatic," Chloe said, but her expression softened. "Hey, look."

Jason was walking toward their table. Maya's palms were sweating again. This was it—he was coming to publicly humiliate her. He probably told all his friends about the girl with the spinach smile.

"Hey," he said, stopping at their bench. "I, uh, wanted to give you this." He held out a folded piece of notebook paper.

Maya stared at it. "What?"

"My number," Jason said, suddenly looking nervous. "If you wanted it. I mean, only if—"

"YES!" Maya practically shouted, then cleared her throat. "I mean, cool. Thanks."

Jason smiled and walked away, and Maya noticed a tiny piece of spinach stuck in his own braces.

"Well then," Chloe said. "Guess it wasn't that deep."