The Green Between Your Teeth

Maya stared at the pool, her orange bikini feeling way too bright against everyone else's aesthetic neutrals. This was exactly why she hated swimming parties. Her phone buzzed in her bag — someone was probably living their best life on Instagram while she stood here awkwardly holding a solo cup.

"You coming in or what?" Connor called from the water, droplets flying everywhere. Connor, with his perfect smile and his stupid perfect hair.

Maya's stomach did that thing it always did around him — like she'd eaten questionable spinach dip. Speaking of. She ducked into the bathroom to check her reflection, because nothing said social suicide like green bits in your teeth while your crush was literally five feet away.

Her iPhone camera showed the horror: a tiny speck of spinach, right there in her front tooth. How long had it been there? While she'd been awkwardly standing by the snack table? While Connor had actually spoken to her?

She brushed it away frantically, her hands shaking. This is fine, she told herself. Everything is fine. You're just being paranoid.

Her cat, Pickles, would be judging her so hard right now. Pickles, who stared at Maya like she was the dumbest human on earth whenever Maya did anything embarrassing. Which was often.

When she finally came back outside, Connor was climbing out of the pool, water streaming off him like something from a movie. He grabbed a towel and locked eyes with her.

"Hey," he said. "I was gonna come find you."

Maya's heart jumped. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." He gestured vaguely. "Your friend Sarah said you like that band, The National? I got tickets to their show next month and my buddy bailed. Want to go?"

For a second, Maya couldn't process it. Then: "Wait, really?"

"Unless you don't want to," he added quickly, looking suddenly unsure himself.

"No! I mean, yes, I want to go." Then she realized how desperate that sounded. "I mean, that would be cool."

Connor smiled, and it was even better up close. "Cool. I'll get your number from Sarah."

He walked away, and Maya stood there feeling like she might explode. Her phone buzzed again from her bag. This time, she actually checked it.

Sarah: DUDE. Connor just asked if he could have your number.

Sarah: I think he likes you?????

Maya typed back: Spinach was in my teeth the whole time wasn't it

Sarah: YOU HAD SPINACH IN YOUR TEETH AND HE STILL FLIRTED WITH YOU? That's LOVE girl

n

Maya looked up at the orange sky as the sun started to set. Maybe high school wasn't completely terrible after all.