The Goldfish in My Hat

The cafeteria hummed with that pre-dance energy that always made Maya want to disappear. She wasn't going to Winter Formal—obviously—but somehow she'd gotten roped into helping decorate. Her vintage fedora sat pulled low over her eyes, her armor against the world.

"Maya! You're literally saving us," Chloe called, bouncing over in her sparkly dress. "We need someone to watch the centerpiece goldfish until setup starts."

"Me? Why?"

"Because you're responsible. And you're not busy." Chloe's smile was so genuine it made Maya's chest tight.

"Fine." Maya took the plastic bowl containing a single orange goldfish that regarded her with what looked like judgment.

Then Jason walked in. THE Jason. Who'd sat behind her in bio since September and whose laugh could still make her stomach do flips. He was wearing a suit—actually wearing a suit—and his hair was messy-perfect and Maya forgot how to breathe.

"Hey, Maya," he said, sliding into the seat across from her. "Whatcha got there?"

"Just... a fish." Her voice cracked. Smooth.

"Cool." He leaned in closer. "You going to the dance?"

Her brain short-circuited. This was it—the moment she'd been dreaming about. She started to nod, started to form words, and then her hat slipped forward.

The goldfish bowl tipped.

Time seemed to slow. Maya lunged—but she only succeeded in launching herself forward, directly into the remnants of her lunch. A giant piece of spinach from her salad stuck right to her front tooth.

Jason's eyes went wide.

The goldfish flopped on the table.

Maya grabbed it (GROSS) and somehow managed to splash water down her shirt. She scrambled to scoop the fish back into its bowl while trying to wipe spinach from her face with the back of her hand.

"I—um—I gotta—" she stammered, clutching the bowl, her dignity, her entire social life.

Jason started laughing. Not mean laughing, but the real kind, the kind that made his shoulders shake. "That was literally the most epic thing I've ever seen."

Maya froze.

"You saved that fish like a hero," he said, grinning. "Even with the spinach situation. Which, by the way..." He pointed to his own tooth.

She wiped her face frantically. Gone.

"Want me to help you finish decorating?" Jason asked. "I was kinda avoiding going early anyway."

Maya adjusted her hat, suddenly aware her heart wasn't just pounding from embarrassment anymore. "Yeah," she said, letting herself smile. "I'd like that."