The Green Smile

Maya's vintage dad hat pulled low over her eyes, her armor against the world. Or more specifically, against Jordan, who sat three tables away at Chipotle, looking unfairly good in that oversized hoodie that definitely wasn't against dress code.

Her iPhone buzzed. Olive Group Chat:

Liv: YOU HAVE TO TALK TO HIM

Chloe: literally he keeps looking over here???

Maya's stomach did that annoying flutter thing. She'd been crushing on Jordan since October, when they'd been lab partners and he'd laughed at her terrible puns without making her feel weird. Today was finally the day—recital day, when she'd somehow psych herself up to actually speak more than three sentences to him outside of class.

The plan: grab food, look casual, maybe compliment his music taste. Simple. Flawless.

She loaded her bowl with extra **spinach** because her mom had been on a "healthy choices" kick since Maya's last physical, and honestly, she needed something to ground her before approaching Jordan.

Her iPhone camera clicked. Quick check in the bathroom mirror. Hair: decent. Hat: perfectly tilted. Smile:—

Maya froze.

Perfectly reflected in the selfie: a massive, bright green chunk of spinach wedged between her front teeth like some kind of vegetable trophy.

How long? Since lunch. Two hours. Of talking to Liv and Chloe. Of walking past Jordan's table like she owned the place.

The bathroom door swung open. Jordan stood there, phone in hand, looking equal parts horrified and determined.

"Hey." His voice cracked. "I was going to... this is so awkward, but your friend Chloe texted me?" He held up his iPhone showing her DM. "She said you'd want to know about the—"

"Spinach," Maya whispered, wanting to evaporate. "I know."

"No, I mean—" Jordan rubbed his neck. "I was trying to figure out how to tell you without being a weirdo about it. But then I took too long and now it's a whole thing and—" He actually laughed. "This is officially the most embarrassing moment of my life and it's not even my teeth."

Maya's phone buzzed again. Liv had sent a TikTok. Subject: someone's green-toothed bathroom selfie. Caption: "iconic behavior tbh"

Something in Maya's chest loosened. She started laughing, and Jordan joined in, and suddenly they were both doubled over in the Chipotle bathroom while her hat slid to the floor and her iPhone buzzed with fifteen new notifications.

"So," Jordan said, finally composed. "Since we've already established I can't pull off smooth... want to get boba after school tomorrow?"

Maya adjusted her hat. She'd probably need a new strategy. But this one wasn't turning out so bad.