The Green in My Grin

Maya's legs burned as she rounded the track, her breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. Running wasn't her thing—it was Sophie's. But her best friend had been distant lately, too caught up in her new track star friends to notice Maya's texts going unanswered.

"You should come to practice," Sophie had said three weeks ago, barely looking up from her phone. "Coach says anyone can join."

So here she was, lungs screaming, dignity hanging by a thread. At least her dad's old baseball cap hid her face—the one thing she'd grabbed from her room while sprinting out the door.

"Maya! Wait up!"

She slowed to a walk, chest heaving. Sophie jogged over, looking effortless and glowing and completely unfair.

"I've been trying to call you," Maya said, before remembering she was supposed to be cool and chill.

Sophie grimaced. "I know, I'm sorry. Track season is literally consuming my soul. But hey, I brought you something!" She pulled a Tupperware from her bag. "My mom's smoothie recipe. Pre-practice fuel."

Maya took it gratefully. "Thanks."

"No problem!" Sophie checked her watch. "Shoot, I'm late. Coach will kill me. You coming tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Maya said, already knowing she wouldn't. "See you."

She watched Sophie sprint toward the field, feeling weirdly hollow. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. They were supposed to drift apart in college, not sophomore year, not over something as dumb as track.

Maya unscrewed the Tupperware lid and chugged the smoothie in three gulps. It tasted like spinach and desperation. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and headed for the parking lot.

The reflection hit her in the car window. Green. Everywhere. Spinach wedged between her front teeth like she'd photoshopped it there for maximum embarrassment. And Sophie hadn't said a word.

Maya's face burned. Sophie had done it on purpose. Sophie, who knew exactly how insecure Maya was about being "the awkward friend," had literally set her up to walk around with green teeth all day.

Her phone buzzed. Sophie: "Smoothie good? Practice was intense today, missed you though! See u at lunch?? :))"

Maya stared at the text, then at her reflection, then burst out laughing. Maybe Sophie was just oblivious. Maybe she hadn't noticed. Maybe—just maybe—Maya needed to stop overthinking everything and actually communicate.

She grabbed her phone: "Lunch sounds good. But next time, tell me if I have spinach in my teeth, you traitor.

Sophie's response came instantly: "OMG I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE 😭😭😭 but also I'm literally dying that u didn't say anything either"

Maya typed back, "Starting tomorrow. I'll be at practice."

She adjusted her hat, grinned at her reflection (still green, whatever), and drove toward school. Running track might actually happen. And if it didn't, at least she'd get a good story out of it.