Vitamin C Confidence

The bull in the China shop analogy? That was basically me at Carter's party last night. I'd spent three hours prepping my hair, only to have humidity wreck it the second I stepped outside. But Kai was gonna be there, and apparently I needed all the confidence I could get.

"Dude, you need this," Maya said, shoving a neon orange slice at me. "It's papaya. The ultimate vitamin C boost. You look like you're about to throw up."

I stared at the fruit suspiciously. Since when did Maya become a nutritionist? Since when did ANYONE voluntarily eat papaya at a high school party?

"Your girl Jordan is literally flirting with that swim team guy by the pool," she lowered her voice. "Kai's over there looking like a lost puppy. This is your moment."

My stomach did something unpleasant. Jordan. Kai. The situation was complicated, to say the least. Jordan and I had been best friend s since kindergarten, until last month when she left me behind for the popular crowd. And Kai? Kai was the reason I'd started sitting at the nerd table at lunch, just to be near him while he tutored me in algebra.

The pool area was packed. I could hear someone doing cannonballs, the water splashing against the concrete deck. Through the crowd, I spotted them — Jordan laughing at something Kai said, touching his arm like she owned it.

"Hey," I said, suddenly beside them. My voice came out squeaky. Smooth, Tori. Real smooth.

Kai turned, lighting up. "Tori! You made it!"

Jordan's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Hey. Didn't think you'd come."

"Yeah, well, here I am." I took a bite of the papaya Maya had given me. It was actually... not terrible. Sweet, slightly musky. Unexpected.

Kai stepped closer, dripping wet from a recent swim. "I saved you a seat earlier. Jordan took it, but whatever."

The way he said it — like I was someone worth saving a seat for — made something shift in my chest. Maybe this wasn't about winning anyone over. Maybe it was about figuring out who I was without all the noise.

"You know what?" I swallowed the papaya, feeling surprisingly steady. "I think I'm good right here."

And for the first time in weeks, it wasn't even a lie.