The Papaya Protocol

Leo's phone buzzed. Third text from Maya in ten minutes.

"U coming?? everyones waiting lol"

He stared at his lunch tray. The papaya his abuela had packed sat there like a radioactive mistake—bright orange inside, weird seeds, completely not what anyone brought to the cafeteria on a Thursday. Kids walked by with pizza, bags of chips, those overpriced smoothies from the place downtown. Normal stuff.

Leo had been crushing on Maya since seventh grade. Now they were juniors and she'd actually invited him to sit with her and her friends at the popular table. The **POPULAR** table. And here he was with tropical fruit that screamed "I still let my grandma pack my lunch."

His cousin Carlos had told him, "Just be yourself, bro. Girls love that."

Total **bull**.

Maya's crew included Jason, varsity quarterback and actual human Golden Retriever, and Priya, who wore designer everything and had somehow made being smart look effortless. They probably had opinions on papaya. They probably had opinions on everything.

Leo's hand hovered over his phone. Could he fake sick? Say he had to meet a teacher? Make a run for it and spend lunch hiding in the library bathroom like that time in eighth grade when he spilled chocolate milk all over his white jeans?

No. He was done being that guy.

He grabbed the papaya—so bright it looked like it was glowing—and marched toward their table. Maya waved when she saw him. Jason gave him a nod. Priya didn't look up from her phone.

"Hey!" Maya scooted over. "Saved you a spot."

Leo sat down, heart hammering. The papaya sat on the tray like a neon announcement of his uncoolness.

Jason squinted at it. "Dude, what is that?"

"Papaya," Leo said, before he could overthink it. "My abuela grows them."

"Wild." Jason leaned in. "Can I try some?"

Leo blinked. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, why not? I'll try anything once." Jason grinned. "Except cilantro. That's where I draw the line."

Something in Leo's chest loosened. He split the papaya with his plastic fork, passed a piece to Jason, who actually ate it and made a whole dramatic production about the flavor. Maya tried some too, said it tasted like "summer vacation," and suddenly they were all talking about weird foods they'd tried, family recipes, the time Priya accidentally ate a scorpion in Mexico.

The papaya wasn't embarrassing anymore. It was a story.

After lunch, Maya walked with him to history class.

"You know," she said, bumping his shoulder with hers, "Jason tries way too hard sometimes. But you were actually cool about it."

"Thanks?"

"No, I mean—you didn't try to be someone you're not. That's rare here." She smiled. "Sit with us tomorrow?"

Leo's face went hot. He hoped he wasn't blushing. "Yeah. Definitely."

He texted Carlos later: **ur right. sometimes be urself actually works**

Carlos replied almost immediately: **told u bro. now about that papaya...**

Leo laughed. Some things would never change. But maybe that was okay too.