The Hat Vitamin Incident
Maya's first week at Vitamin World was equal parts cringe and cash money. The neon green polo shirt her manager made her wear was basically a social death sentence, but at $12.50 an hour, she'd survive.
"You good, bestie?" her coworker Jaylen asked as Maya frantically patted her head.
"My hat," she groaned. "The vintage Lakers snapback I spent three months saving up for? Gone."
It had been sitting on the counter when she'd bent down to restock the vitamin C gummies. Now it was nowhere. Maya's phone was at 3%, and her charging cable was at home in her room — specifically tangled somewhere her mom would definitely judge her for.
A customer walked in: Tyler from AP Chem, looking unexpectedly good in his hoodie and messy hair. Maya suddenly became very interested in organizing the collagen powder.
"Hey," Tyler said, approaching the counter. Then he froze. "Is that..."
Maya looked. There on his head sat her Lakers hat, slightly crooked, weirdly perfect.
"Oh my god," she whispered.
"I found it in the parking lot yesterday," Tyler said, removing it slowly. "Was looking for the owner. It's got 'M' sharpied inside."
"That's mine," Maya said, her face heating up. "I work here now. Clearly living the dream."
Tyler laughed. "No cap, this is actually iconic." He handed it over. "You need this back more than I do."
Their fingers brushed. Maya's stomach did that thing it always did when Tyler so much as breathed in her direction.
"Thanks," she managed. "For not stealing it, I mean."
"Weird flex, but okay." He smiled. "See you in Chem, Maya."
Jaylen appeared beside her, eyes wide. "Did Tyler from AP Chem just bring you your hat? And say your NAME?"
"Shut up."
"That's literally best friend behavior, I'm not even joking."
Maya placed her hat back on her head, exactly how she liked it. Maybe the neon polo wasn't so bad after all. Maybe first jobs weren't supposed to be cool — they were just supposed to lead to moments that were.
Her phone buzzed. 2%. Whatever. This moment was worth charging later.