The Orange Crush Summer

Maya stared at her reflection, the neon orange hair dye seeping into her bathroom sink. Sophomore year was two weeks away, and she was done being invisible. Done being the girl who sat in the back, who never spoke up, who let people walk all over her.

She pulled on her new black beanie — the hat was basically her security blanket now. If she kept it on, maybe people wouldn't notice her hands shaking.

"You look ridiculous," her cat, Mochi, observed from the counter, tail twitching with what Maya swore was judgment.

"Shut up, Mochi. At least I'm trying something new."

First day back, Maya walked into homeroom with her orange hair barely visible under the hat. Heads turned. Someone actually whispered "whoa." For once, it wasn't because she'd tripped in the hallway or because her backpack had ripped open, spilling tampons everywhere (freshman year trauma, forever).

Then she saw him.

Ryan, varsity basketball, already-looking-college-ready Ryan, was watching her. Actually watching her. Not through her, not past her. AT her.

"Nice orange," he said, sliding into the seat beside her. "Bold move."

Maya's brain short-circuited. "Thanks?"

"Most people would've played it safe." He leaned closer. "I like that you didn't."

That's when it happened. Jordan, the girl who'd made Maya's life hell last year, strutted by. "Oh my god, did someone confuse their head with a traffic cone?"

Laughter erupted. Jordan's laugh — sharp, mean, perfect.

Maya's face burned. She reached for her hat, ready to pull it down and disappear.

"Bull," Ryan said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "That's actually bull."

The room went silent.

He looked right at Jordan. "Maya's hair looks fire. You're just pressed because she's finally getting the attention you've been chasing since sixth grade."

Jordan's smile cracked.

Ryan turned back to Maya, grinning like nothing happened. "So, orange hair. What's the story behind it?"

Maya smiled, really smiled, and for the first time in forever, she didn't feel like disappearing. "Summer reinvention," she said. "No more invisibility."

"Good." He bumped her shoulder. "Invisible's boring anyway."

Mochi would be proud. Maya definitely wasn't the same girl who'd let everyone walk all over her. Not anymore.