The Spinach Incident

Marcus regretted everything about freshman year, but especially the spinach. Specifically, the spinach wedged between his front teeth while talking to Skylar—the cute junior who'd somehow noticed him existing.

"You got something..." She'd made a weird gesture toward her mouth.

He'd panicked. Muttered something incoherent. Rushed to the bathroom.

The reflection in the mirror had confirmed it: a green, leafy betrayal of epic proportions.

That was three weeks ago. Now? Marcus had a plan. A flawless, multi-step strategy to redeem himself before the end-of-year baseball game. Step one: actually learn how baseball worked. Step two: sit near Skylar at the game. Step three: somehow casually mention the spinach incident like it was a funny story and not a soul-crushing embarrassment.

His best friend Dewayne called it Operation Social Suicide.

"Bruh, she's gonna think you're obsessed," Dewayne said, scrolling through his phone. "Which you kinda are."

Marcus's palms sweated just thinking about it. "Shut up. You're the one who tried to recruit me into that stupid energy drink pyramid scheme last month."

"That was different! That was about financial freedom." Dewayne paused. "Anyway, you coming to Tyler's party tonight?"

"Maybe." Marcus checked his reflection in his phone camera. "If Skylar's going."

"You're hopeless, man."

But here's the thing about hopeless situations: sometimes they work out anyway. At the party, Skylar found him first.

"Hey, Spinach Guy," she said. And she was smiling.

Marcus's brain short-circuited. "That's my new nickname? Seriously?"

"Better than what Tyler calls you." She leaned closer. "So, you going to the game Friday? I heard you don't even like baseball."

"I, uh, I'm learning?" Why did he say it like a question?

Skylar laughed, and something in Marcus's chest did a little flip. "Sit with me. I'll explain the rules. It's not that complicated—mostly it's just people standing around waiting for something to happen."

"That's... oddly specific."

"I've been to a lot of games." She shrugged. "My brother's on the team."

Oh. Oh no.

"Your brother is..." Marcus's voice caught. "Tyler? As in, Tyler Chen, team captain, everyone-loves-him Tyler?"

"Unfortunately." Skylar made a face. "Don't worry, he's not as great as everyone thinks. Last week he tried to convince me to join this 'investment club' that was definitely a pyramid scheme. Some energy drink thing."

Marcus stared at her, then started laughing. He couldn't help it.

"What?"

"Dewayne tried to recruit me into the exact same thing." He shook his head. "Your brother and my best friend. Criminal masterminds."

"The worst." Skylar's phone buzzed. She glanced at it, then back at him. "So, Friday? You're sitting with me?"

"Yeah," Marcus said, and for the first time in weeks, his palms stayed dry. "Yeah, I'm sitting with you."

Sometimes freshman year wasn't completely terrible. Sometimes it was just spinach, baseball, and the unexpected kindness of a girl who didn't mind laughing at your mistakes.