Zombie Apocalypse at Homecoming

I looked like a straight-up zombie after staying up until 3 AM doom-scrolling through Tyler's Instagram. My mom, being the health nut she is, forced me to eat this spinach smoothie before the dance. "It'll give you glowing skin," she promised. More like green teeth and humiliation waiting to happen.

The homecoming dance was packed. Everyone was either grinding awkwardly or pretending to have deep conversations by the punch bowl. I spotted Tyler across the gym—actually looking at me? No, wait. He was pointing at my mouth.

"You've got—" he started, but before he could finish, his family's giant dog, who'd apparently snuck in through the open gym doors (because apparently Coach Davison leaves everything unlocked), came barreling through the crowd like he owned the place.

Chaos erupted. Someone screamed "ZOMBIE DOG!" for no reason, and suddenly everyone was running toward the exits like the actual apocalypse had started. I got swept up in the stampede, my spinach-green smile on full display, clutching my phone like it was a survival kit.

We ended up huddled behind the bleachers—me, Tyler, his escaped dog, and half the sophomore class. Tyler looked at me, breathless from running, and started laughing. "That piece of spinach has been there the whole time, hasn't it?"

I died. Actually died. But then he handed me a napkin from his pocket and said, "I was gonna ask you to save me a dance anyway."

Sometimes the most embarrassing moments become the ones that actually matter. And apparently, Tyler likes dogs. And girls with green teeth who survive zombie attacks at school dances. Who knew?