The Spinach Incident

Maya stared at her reflection, frantically smoothing her hair for the third time. The curls were betraying her — frizzing up in the humidity like she'd stuck her finger in an electrical socket. Great. Just great.

"You coming in or what?" Tyler called from the deep end, splashing water her way. He was the starting pitcher, varsity jacket optional but always present. The way he leaned against the pool edge should've been illegal.

She'd been crushing on him since softball tryouts back in March. Not that he'd noticed. Tyler was busy dating girls whose hair actually behaved itself.

"Yeah, just, uh, fixing my face," Maya muttered. She swiped through her iphone, checking her makeup in the camera. One more coat of gloss, maybe...

Her stomach did that stupid flip thing. This pool party was make-or-break. If she could just look chill for once, act like she belonged with the popular crowd instead of the AP Bio crew who brought spinach dip to everything —

Spinach dip.

The realization hit like a fastball to the face. She'd eaten, like, half the bowl. Without even checking a mirror.

Maya's fingers flew to her teeth, already knowing what they'd find.

Green. Everywhere.

She let out the most unattractive squeak humanly possible and ducked behind a patio chair, heart hammering against her ribs. This was it. Her social life, over. Done. She could already see the texts flying: Did you see Maya? Looking like she just ate a lawn?

"You good?"

Tyler. Standing right there. Dripping wet. Concern written all over his stupid perfect face.

Maya considered faking a seizure. Or death. Both seemed better than this.

"I, um —" She gestured helplessly at her mouth.

Tyler stared. Then he snorted. Like, actually laughed.

"Dude," he said, wiping water from his eyes. "I had cilantro in my teeth for like an hour at lunch. Jordan took a picture and put it in the team group chat. It's my lock screen now."

She blinked. "Really?"

"Cross my heart." He held up his phone, and yup — there it was. Tyler himself, looking like an idiot with herbs stuck in his braces. "We're all disasters, Maya. You're just late to the party."

He held out a hand. "Come on. The water's actually not terrible. And I think someone brought more dip."

Maya looked at her iphone one last time, then slid it across the table. Hair frizzy? Whatever. Green teeth? Happened to the best of them.

She took Tyler's hand and jumped in.