The Spinach Incident

Maya's mom was doing that thing again — lecturing about nutrition while Maya was already five minutes late for Jordan's party.

"You need more iron! Just take the spinach smoothie," her mom insisted, shoving a murky green cup toward her.

"Ugh, fine," Maya grabbed it, chugging it in the bathroom mirror while checking her eyeliner for the third time. She looked good. Actually good. Her hair was finally cooperating, her outfit was on point, and Jordan had actually noticed her in chem class this week. This was it. The night she'd make her move.

She grabbed her backpack, phone, and the tangled mess of charger cables she'd jammed in her pocket. The party was three blocks away, and Maya was practically running down the sidewalk, her heart doing that fluttery thing it always did when she thought about Jordan's smile.

When she arrived, the house was already vibrating with bass. Maya slipped in, trying to look casual while scanning every face. There he was — Jordan, by the makeshift dance area, laughing with his friends. Maya took a breath and headed over.

"Hey!" Jordan's face lit up. "You made it!"

"Yeah, sorry I'm late," Maya said, feeling her cheeks heat up. "My mom was being... my mom."

Jordan laughed. "I feel that. Want to dance?"

This was it. The moment she'd been waiting for since September. Maya nodded, trying to play it cool.

They moved to the music, and Maya was actually having fun — until she caught her reflection in the mirror across the room. There, stuck between her front teeth like a neon sign announcing her insecurity, was a massive chunk of spinach.

Her stomach dropped. She'd been dancing with spinach in her teeth for twenty minutes. Everyone had seen it. Jordan had seen it.

Maya bolted for the bathroom, locking herself in a stall and fighting back tears. This was it. Her social life was over. She'd be "Spinach Girl" until graduation.

Someone knocked on the door. "Maya? You okay in there?" It was Jordan.

"I'm fine," she called back, her voice cracking.

"Can I come in?"

Maya hesitated, then unlocked the door. Jordan stood there, looking genuinely concerned.

"I had spinach in my teeth the whole time," Maya admitted, feeling her face burn. "Like, a lot of it."

Jordan cracked up. "Dude, I know. I was trying to figure out how to tell you without being weird, but you kept disappearing."

Maya stared. "You... you were trying to help?"

"Yeah? Why else would I follow you?" Jordan smiled. "Also, you have something in your hair."

"What?" Maya's hands flew to her hair.

"Just messing." Jordan's laugh was so genuine, so warm, that Maya found herself laughing too. "But seriously, you want to get some food? I think they have pizza. No spinach involved."

"Please," Maya said. "And Jordan?"

"Yeah?"

"Next time I have food in my teeth... just tell me. Immediately."

"Deal."