The Papaya Incident

Maya's first day at Northwood High could've gone worse. Probably. But when she walked into the cafeteria wearing her dad's vintage fedora because her hair was doing that thing where it looked like a bird had nested in it overnight, she definitely felt every single pair of eyes lock onto her.

"Nice hat," said some guy who looked like he spent three hours on his hair every morning. "Going to a jazz club afterward?"

His friends snickered. Maya felt her face burn. She was about to bolt when Trinity, a girl with purple streaks in her hair and a don't-mess-with-me vibe, slid into the seat across from her.

"Ignore Chad. He thinks he's the main character," Trinity said, popping a forkful of something green and wilted into her mouth. "This spinach tastes like sadness, by the way."

Maya tentatively sat down. "I'm Maya."

"Trinity." She pointed her fork at Maya's tray. "You gonna eat that papaya?"

"I... didn't know what it was. It looked like an alien egg."

"Dare you to take a bite," Trinity said, grinning like she knew something Maya didn't.

Maya shrugged. What did she have to lose? She'd already worn the hat. She took a bite.

And immediately regretted everything.

"Oh my GOD, that's disgusting," she gagged, while Trinity practically fell out of her chair laughing.

"The look on your face!" Trinity gasped. "That was worth it. Anyway, you're cool now. Chad's been a bully to everyone since sixth grade, but nobody stands up to him because his dad's the principal."

"The principal's son?" Maya's eyes widened. "That's so cliché."

"Right?" Trinity rolled her eyes. "High school is so predictable. But anyway, welcome to the loser table. We've got cookies."

Maya took off the hat and shook out her hair. "I think I'm done with the hat."

"Nah," Trinity said, pushing the papaya away. "Wear it again tomorrow. It'll be your thing. Chad's still gonna be a tool, but at least you'll be memorable."

For the first time all day, Maya actually smiled. Maybe Northwood wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Deal," she said. "But I'm never eating papaya again."