The Green Smile

Maya's iphone buzzed in her pocket, lighting up with notifications she was too nervous to check. This was her first house party since transferring to Northwood High, and her social anxiety was doing gymnastics in her stomach.

"You gonna stand in the corner all night or what?"

She turned to see Jake—the cute junior from AP Chem—leaning against the basement wall. His vintage band tee and perfectly messy hair made him look effortless in a way Maya desperately wanted to be.

"I'm... observing," she managed, though her voice cracked slightly. "It's a vibe check."

He laughed. "You're overthinking it. Here." He held out a red solo cup. "Try this. My cousin's 'signature punch.'"

Maya took it, grateful for something to do with her hands. The punch was suspiciously green, and something about the texture felt slightly... leafy? She swallowed anyway, trying to look casual.

They talked for twenty minutes about music and teachers and how much the school cafeteria lasagna looked like radioactive waste. Jake actually laughed at her jokes. She was doing it. She was socializing. She was—

"You have something in your teeth," Jake said suddenly.

Maya's stomach dropped. She pulled out her phone, tapping the camera to check her reflection. A massive piece of bright green spinach was wedged between her front teeth, glowing like radioactive waste. It had probably been there the entire conversation.

She wanted to dissolve into the basement floorboards. Instead, she just muttered, "I have to go," and rushed toward the stairs.

"Wait, Maya—" Jake grabbed her arm gently. "Everyone has spinach teeth moments. Literally everyone."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tangled aux cable. "Wanna help me fix the playlist? Sarah's playing way too much Taylor Swift and the party needs actual vibes."

Maya blinked. "You... want me to DJ? With you?"

"Unless you're gonna run home and obsess over spinach teeth for the rest of your life. Which, valid. But I'd rather have company."

She smiled, spinach and all. "Yeah. Let's fix the playlist."