The Fox in the Snapback

Maya's palms were sweating literal rivers as she stood outside Tyler's house. The bass thudded through the door, making her chest vibrate. First party of sophomore year, and she was already regretting everything.

"You got this," Chloe whispered, adjusting her crop top. "Just don't be weird."

Easy for her to say. Chloe was the girl who'd accidentally called their history teacher "daddy" during a presentation and somehow made it a TikTok trend.

Inside, the air smelled like cheap body spray and desperation. Maya immediately spotted him—the new kid, Adrian, leaning against the kitchen island. Everyone called him "the Fox" because he had those sharp features and eyes that seemed to know things. He wore this oversized gray snapback that Maya had definitely seen trending on TikTok.

She spent twenty minutes working up the courage to say hi. Checked her reflection three times. Fixed her eyeliner. Even practiced her casual cool-greeting in the bathroom mirror.

"Hey," she finally managed, sliding up beside him. "I'm Maya."

He turned, smiling. The hat shadows made his jawline look ridiculous. "Adrian. Nice to finally meet the famous Maya."

Famous? Since when was she famous?

"Chloe told me you're in our bio group," he said. "She said you're smart. Like, actually smart, not TikTok smart."

Maya felt her face heating up. This was it. This was her moment.

"Yeah, I actually—"

"You have something in your teeth," Adrian said, gesturing to his own front tooth.

Time stopped. The bass seemed to pause. Maya's tongue darted forward and there it was—a massive piece of spinach, bright green and impossible to miss, probably from that stupid spinach artichoke dip her mom had made her try before she left.

She'd been smiling at people for TWO HOURS with spinach in her teeth.

"Oh my god," she whispered, and booked it to the bathroom.

Five minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom to find Adrian waiting. He'd taken off the hat, revealing messy brown hair that made him look somehow younger and more real.

"Everyone has spinach teeth at some point," he said. "Last month, I gave a presentation with my fly down. The whole class knew. They just... respected the commitment."

Maya laughed, surprised. "Really?"

"Scouts' honor." He held up three fingers. "Besides, Chloe thinks you're cool. That's the real test."

Her palms were finally dry. Maybe tonight wouldn't be a complete disaster after all.