The Zombie State of Mind

Maya felt like a total zombie as she dragged herself through the hallway on Monday morning. Three hours of sleep would do that to you—especially when you'd spent half the night overthinking that awkward almost-moment with Jake at Skylar's party. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she ignored it. Probably her mom asking if she'd eaten breakfast, or worse—Jake finally texting back.

"You look dead," said Kai, falling into step beside her. He was wearing that same oversize hoodie he'd had on since seventh grade, the one with the mysterious stain on the sleeve.

"Thanks, you really know how to make a girl feel special."

"I'm just saying. You need coffee. Or possibly an exorcism."

Maya snorted. "Right now I'd settle for something that doesn't taste like regret."

They turned the corner toward the cafeteria, and there it was—the freshman who'd somehow gotten permission to set up a "cultural foods" booth in the main hallway. A cardboard sign announced: TROPICAL FRUIT TASTING EXPERIENCE. And next to it, a whole papaya, sliced open like some alien creature that had met an unfortunate end.

"Dude," Maya whispered. "That looks like it's bearing witness to a crime."

"You gonna try it?" Kai raised an eyebrow. "Or are you gonna bear the shame of walking away from adventure?"

"Since when is eating suspicious fruit an adventure?"

The freshman behind the table—some kid named Marcus with braces and way too much enthusiasm—waved them over. "It's papaya! Superfood! Rich in enzymes! Good for digestion!"

Maya's stomach growled. She hadn't eaten anything since yesterday's sad cafeteria pizza. "Fine. Give me the weirdest-looking piece."

She took a bite. It was... unexpected. Sweet but weirdly musky, like something that should be delicious but wasn't quite sure how to commit.

"Well?" Kai asked.

"It's complicated," Maya said, swallowing. "Like, I respect what it's trying to do, but I'm not sure I'm ready for this level of commitment."

"That's what you said about Jake."

"Shut up, Kai."

Her phone buzzed again. This time she looked.

*hey sorry about yesterday, I was nervous. wanna hang after school?*

Maya stared at the message, her heart doing that embarrassing fluttery thing it always did when Jake's name appeared on her screen. The papaya aftertaste suddenly seemed perfect—complicated, uncertain, but weirdly sweet. A lot like being sixteen.

"Earth to Maya," Kai waved a hand in front of her face. "You're zoning out again. Zombie mode activated."

"No," she said, typing a response with thumbs that suddenly didn't feel quite so clumsy. "I think I'm finally waking up."