The Salad Bar Incident

Maya's stomach did backflips as she approached the cafeteria salad bar. First day at Northwood High, and she was already about to commit social suicide.

"Just play it cool," she whispered to herself, grabbing the plastic tongs like they were some kind of weapon.

Behind her, she heard the unmistakable laugh of Chloe—the girl who somehow made everything look effortless, from her perfect waves to her vintage denim jacket. Maya accidentally knocked a mountain of raw **spinach** onto her plate. It was way too much. She looked like a rabbit preparing for winter.

"Nice," Chloe said from behind her. "Going green?"

Maya's face burned. "Yeah. You know, trying to get my nutrients in."

She grabbed the last thing on the line—a sad, peeled **orange** from the fruit bowl—like it was some kind of consolation prize.

"My mom says I need more **vitamin** C," Maya continued, her voice cracking slightly. "Because apparently my immune system is trash."

Why was she talking about her immune system? She literally never talked about her immune system. This was what happened when she got nervous: her brain disconnected from her mouth and went rogue.

Chloe laughed, but not in a mean way. "Same. My mom's obsessed with wellness too. She literally makes me take those gummy vitamins that taste like artificial fruit depression."

Maya relaxed a fraction. Then, out of nowhere, someone's backpack swung through the air and knocked a winter **hat** off the nearby rack—directly onto Maya's spinach mountain.

They both stared at the beige knit hat now nesting in Maya's lunch like a very unfortunate vegetable toupee.

"Well," Maya said, "at least my salad is dressed for winter."

Chloe burst out laughing. "Okay, that was actually funny. I'm Chloe, by the way."

"Maya."

"Hey Maya, want to sit with us? We're over by the windows, and I promise no one's gonna throw any more headwear at your food."

Maya grinned, actually grateful for the hat disaster. Sometimes the most embarrassing moments became the best stories—especially when they turned into friendship starters instead of social casualties.