The Vitamin C Conspiracy

Maya's vintage dad hat — the one with the fake coffee stain on the brim — had become her emotional support object since moving to Northwood High three weeks ago. Pull it low, invisible. Pull it low, safe.

"You know, palm reading says I'm destined for greatness," Jay announced at their lunch table, shoving his hand in everyone's faces. His actual palm was sweaty — gross, but also weirdly endearing?

"Bro, you literally failed your math test yesterday," Marcus deadpanned, which made Maya snort-laugh directly into her cafeteria spinach.

So of course THAT was the moment Ethan — the junior with the motorcycle and the jawline that could cut glass — walked by. Their eyes met. Maya froze with what felt like an entire salad garden stuck in her braces. Jay's palm reading prediction: today would be "interesting."

Understatement of the century.

Later, in the bathroom, Maya aggressively scrubbed spinach from her teeth while analyzing her life choices. Her phone buzzed — Mom, sending her third vitamin reminder of the week. Because obviously, the key to high school survival was remembering your daily supplement while dying of embarrassment.

But then something weird happened. Ethan found her by her locker.

"Nice hat," he said, and the sarcasm was so light it was practically not there. "Also, Marcus told me what happened. You looked like a bunny rabbit. It was kinda... I don't know, not the worst thing I've seen today?"

Maya's palms went from sweaty to nonexistent. "That's honestly the most backhanded compliment I've ever received."

"I'm working on it." He grinned. "Hey, some friends are getting boba after school. You should come. Bring the hat — it's growing on me."

Walking away, Maya realized something: maybe fitting in wasn't about being smooth. Maybe it was about finding people who didn't mind if you had spinach in your teeth, as long as you were funny about it. That was the real vitamin she needed — daily doses of "this is awkward but I'm still here" energy.

She adjusted her hat. High school survival hack #1: embrace the chaos. Spinach and all.