The Green Monster in Room 204

Maya dragged herself into first period like a **zombie**, three hours of sleep and AP Bio exam prep turning her brain into actual mush. Her usually perfect curls were now a **hair** disaster—half flattened, half frizzing like she'd stuck her finger in an electrical socket. Of course today would be the day Jake from lacrosse team actually noticed her.

"Nice hair," he said, sliding into the seat behind her. Maya wanted to evaporate. Or at least time-travel back to yesterday and not procrastinate her study guide.

Then it got worse. Lila, who'd been weirdly distant since Maya quit dance team to join academic bowl, leaned over. "You have..." She gestured vaguely at her own teeth.

The bathroom mirror confirmed it: a massive piece of **spinach** from her emergency breakfast smoothie was wedged between her front teeth. Green. Obvious. Humiliating.

Maya scrubbed it away, eyes stinging. This was it. This was her life now: barely sleeping, abandoning friends for activities she wasn't even sure she liked, and walking around with salad in her teeth while her crush watched.

Lila appeared in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe. "You know," she said, "we could really use someone who knows stuff on dance team. Like, actual strategy. Not everyone has to perform."

Maya blinked. "You're not... mad?"

"That you have green smoothies for breakfast?" Lila grinned. "We've all been there. But seriously, academic bowl sounds miserable. You look dead."

"I feel dead," Maya admitted.

"So don't do it." Lila shrugged. "Life's too short to be a zombie. Also, fix your hair before second period. Mr. Harrison will have opinions."

Maya laughed, something she hadn't done in weeks. The zombie brain fog lifted, just a little.

Maybe she'd quit academic bowl. Maybe Jake would notice her tomorrow when she didn't look like a creature from the grave. Maybe she'd actually sleep tonight.

Baby steps.