The Pink Hair Protocol

Maya stared at her reflection, touching the bubblegum-punk strands that now replaced her boring brown hair. Her mom was going to lose it, but honestly? Maya needed this. Junior year was crushing her soul, and if hair dye was rebellion, then sign her up.

"You look like you're about to rob a bank," her best friend Riley said, Facetiming from her bed. "In a good way."

"I'm going for 'mysterious, not bank robber.'" Maya adjusted her leather jacket. "Tonight's the night."

"You're really gonna **spy** on him? That's creepy, even for you."

"I'm not spying!" Maya protested, though she absolutely was. "I'm conducting research. Jordan's been acting weird, posting cryptic stuff on his story. I need to know if he's seeing someone."

At the party, Maya's pink hair made her unmissable — which was exactly what she didn't want while conducting covert operations. She ducked behind a group of seniors as Jordan laughed with someone near the back door. Her heart did that stupid flutter thing it always did when he was within fifty feet.

Then she saw who he was with.

Naomi. The same Naomi who'd "joked" yesterday that Jordan would never date someone with dyed hair because it looked "fake."

Maya's stomach dropped. Was this punishment? Her new hair, her new confidence — was it all a joke to him?

She marched up, ready to unleash everything.

"So that's why you've been blowing me off?" Maya's voice shook. "You're with her now?"

Jordan's eyes went wide. "What? Maya, your **hair** looks amazing, actually —"

"**Bull**." Naomi rolled her eyes. "He's been tutoring me in chem because I'm failing, you weirdo. Jordan's been talking about you non-stop for weeks. He literally asked me for advice on how to ask you to prom."

Maya froze. "Wait. What?"

Jordan turned bright red. "I was gonna ask you tonight. Before you, uh, interrupted with the accusations."

"Oh." Maya's face burned. "So the cryptic posts..."

"Were me panicking about asking you out," Jordan admitted. "So... wanna go? Together?"

Riley would never let her live this down. But as Jordan smiled at her — actually at her, pink hair and all — Maya decided some embarrassment was worth it.