The Green Smile Incident

The swim pyramid loomed ahead of me — Coach Maria's infamous torture chart where freshmen started at the bottom and varsity sharks ruled the top. I'd been stuck in the middle for months, neither fast enough to move up nor slow enough to quit gracefully.

"Your hair's getting long, Torres," my best friend Riley whispered while we adjusted our caps. "Looking kinda indie rocker."

"Yeah, well, the chlorine's turning it green anyway." I shrugged, though I'd actually spent twenty minutes this morning attempting to style my growing-out curls before practice.

My phone buzzed in my locker. A text from Jordan: *swim tonight?*

Jordan, the cute sophomore who sat behind me in history. Jordan, who I'd caught watching me during last week's meet. Jordan, who I'd accidentally imagined while calculating the perfect moment to casually mention I could swim butterfly.

The door burst open and Jayden, the team captain who dominated the pyramid's peak, marched in with her posse. "Freshman meat," she announced, glaring at me. "You're in my lane today. Move."

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes, stomach twisting.

After practice, I lingered by the pool entrance, checking my reflection. My hair was definitely trying to escape my cap. Cute. Approachable. This was fine.

I grabbed the smoothie I'd pre-ordered from the cafeteria — spinach, mango, coconut, something healthy that said I was *that* kind of person. The kind Jordan would like.

Jordan appeared beside me, all easy smiles and warm brown eyes. "Hey."

"Hey!" I said, entirely too loud.

We talked about history class. We talked about the upcoming meet. I felt magnetic, charming, totally normal.

Then Jordan laughed at something I said — really laughed — and I felt bold enough to say, "You should come watch my heat on Friday."

"I was planning on it."

I floated back to the locker room, successfully casual, until Riley grabbed my arm.

"Dude. You have bright green spinach in your teeth."

"How long?"

"Since before Jordan walked up. I was trying to signal you but thought you were doing some weird wink thing."

I died. I died right there in my chlorinated shame.

But later that night, my phone buzzed again: *Still coming Friday. Even with the spinach.*

I stared at my reflection, hair messy and unstyled, and grinned. Maybe the pyramid wasn't so scary after all.