The Green Smile Disaster

Maya's first date with Caleb was supposed to be perfect. She'd spent two hours curling her hair and three rounds of outfit changes before settling on the vintage band tee that said she was chill but not trying too hard.

They were at Nino's, this Italian place that was fancy enough to feel real but casual enough that you wouldn't die if you said something awkward. Maya was killing it — making Caleb laugh with her terrible puns, keeping the conversation flowing, feeling like maybe this high school dating thing wasn't so terrifying after all.

Then came the spinach artichoke dip.

It smelled amazing, and Maya was so caught up in a story about her chemistry teacher's exploding experiment that she didn't notice the piece of spinach wedged between her front teeth. Caleb didn't mention it. Why would he? He was busy being the kind of cute that made your stomach do actual gymnastics.

"You have something right there," said a voice behind her.

Maya turned to see Jasmine — sophomore class president, Instagram royalty, and the last person she wanted witnessing her moment of humiliation. Jasmine held up her iPhone, already recording.

"No, wait —" Maya started, but it was too late.

By Monday morning, the video was everywhere. #SpinachGirl was trending at school. Someone had set it to dramatic music. Another version had slow-motion zoom on her toothy green grin. Maya spent first period staring at her desk, convinced her social life was officially over.

But then she found Caleb waiting by her locker.

"So," he said, grinning. "Wanted to ask — you planning to start a YouTube channel? Because I'd subscribe."

Maya groaned. "You're never gonna let me live this down, are you?"

"Nah." He stepped closer, lowered his voice. "But seriously? The way you just owned it? That was kinda badass. Most people would've transferred schools by now."

Maya looked up. He wasn't laughing at her. He was... impressed?

"I guess," she said, "I just had to bear it."

"Well," Caleb said, pulling out his phone, "you want to get dinner again? Maybe somewhere with less greens?"

Maya smiled — checking her reflection first, obviously. "Only if you promise to tell me if there's food in my teeth."

"Deal."