The Papaya Protocol

Maya felt like a total spy at lunch. Not the cool James Bond type—more like the invisible wallflower kind, watching everyone else live their best lives while she sat three tables away from Leo, trying not to be obvious about it.

"You're literally staring again," said Jacey, sliding into the seat across from her. "And you have spinach in your teeth. From that salad you didn't even finish."

Maya's face burned. She'd been running from her feelings all semester, literally—joined cross country to have a legitimate excuse to be anywhere near Leo's locker after practice. But now, with spinach decorating her smile like green Christmas lights, she wanted to disappear.

"Thanks for the heads-up," she muttered, scrubbing at her teeth with a napkin.

"Hey," Jacey lowered her voice, "Leo's coming over."

Maya's heart did that thing where it forgot how to cardio. Leo, with his messy hair and perfect grin, was actually walking toward their table. She'd been caught. The social damage would be irreversible. She'd have to transfer schools. Maybe move to another country.

"Hey," he said, stopping at their table. "Nobody wanted the weird fruit in the cafeteria today." He set something down in front of Maya. "Thought you might like it."

It was a papaya. Cut into cubes, perfectly arranged.

"My mom's obsessed with them," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "She says they're an acquired taste but, like, worth it. I noticed you always try different stuff at lunch, so..."

Maya stared at the papaya like it was an alien artifact. All this time, she'd been playing spy, convinced nobody noticed her existence, and meanwhile Leo had been paying attention to her lunch choices?

"That's actually so sweet," Jacey said, because Jacey had zero chill.

Leo's ears turned pink. "Anyway, see you at practice."

He walked away, and Maya finally exhaled.

"He noticed you," Jacey said. "Like, actually noticed you. Not spy-stalking you. Noticing you."

Maya took a bite of papaya. It was weird and unexpected and kind of perfect.

"Yeah," she said, and for the first time all year, she didn't feel like running away from anything. "I think I'm gonna acquire this taste."