The Spinach Incident

Maya's phone buzzed with another text from the group chat.

"Pool party at Jake's. Everyone's coming. You too?"

She stared at the screen, thumbs hovering. Since moving to Oak Creek three months ago, she'd been the designated **spy** — watching from the edges while her new friend group lived their seemingly perfect lives. They'd never guess she spent hours scrolling through their Instagram stories, analyzing every inside joke she wasn't part of.

Her little brother Leo appeared in the doorway, baseball cap on backward. "Mom says dinner's ready. Something green and leafy again."

"It's called **spinach**, Leo. And it's actually good for you."

"Yeah, if you're a rabbit."

That night, Maya stood in front of Jake's massive house, clutching her towel like a shield. The sounds of laughter and splashing drifted from the backyard. In through the side gate, past the perfectly manicured garden, and there it was — the in-ground **swimming** pool that would define her social standing for the rest of sophomore year.

"Maya! You made it!" Chloe waved from the shallow end, surrounded by the popular crowd that had seemed untouchable since seventh grade.

Maya slid into the cool water, letting it hide her trembling legs. Maybe tonight would be different. Maybe tonight she'd actually belong.

Two hours later, she was chatting with Jake — actual Jake, who everyone had a crush on — when Chloe whispered, "Um, Maya? You have something..." She gestured to her own smile.

The **spinach**. From dinner. Still stuck between her front teeth.

The blood drained from her face. How long had she been walking around with it? Talking to Jake. Smiling for photos. Oh god.

Maya ducked underwater, letting the silence engulf her. This was it. Social suicide. She'd be "Spinach Girl" until graduation.

But when she surfaced, Jake was laughing. Not mean laughing. The real kind. "Dude, I had cereal in my teeth at homecoming last year. My crush took a picture and put it on her story. I still cringe about it."

Chloe shrugged. "At least it's not as bad as when Liam sneezed during his class presentation and a booger flew onto his desk. That was legendary."

Maya wiped her teeth, grinning. "Okay, fair point."

That night, Maya deleted the group chat from her favorites list. She didn't need to **spy** on their lives anymore — she was finally living her own.