Zombie Mode

Maya dragged herself into third period like a **zombie**, skull throbbing from staying up until 2 AM doom-scrolling through Kai's Instagram archive. Again.

"You look dead," said Jordan, sliding into the desk beside her. "Rough night?"

"Rough life," Maya muttered, slumping over her chemistry notes.

Lunch couldn't come fast enough. She grabbed a tray, loaded it with the green stuff her mom was always nagging her to eat—actual **spinach**, because apparently regular salads were for quitters—and scanned the crowded cafeteria for an empty table.

Then she saw him. Kai. Sitting with Skylar and their perfect little friend group, laughing at something that definitely wasn't funny.

Maya's heart did that annoying fluttery thing. She'd been basically **spy**-ing on his socials for weeks, knowing every concert he'd gone to, every coffee shop he'd visited, every dog he'd petted. It was creepy. She knew it was creepy. But her brain refused to stop.

She took a bite of her spinach wrap and something felt wrong. A piece of green leaf lodged itself between her front teeth. Of course. Because the universe hated her personally.

Maya froze. She had to **bear** this humiliation alone or risk being the girl with spinach in her teeth while staring at her crush. Neither option was great.

"You good?" Jordan had appeared behind her, holding a slice of pepperoni pizza. "Because you're making a face like you just stepped in gum with bare feet."

Maya's eyes widened. She pointed frantically at her teeth.

Jordan squinted, then snorted. "Dude. You've got—"

"I know!" Maya whispered. "Is it bad?"

"It's... visible." Jordan paused. "Wanna know the worst part?"

"What?"

"Kai's literally walking over here right now."

Maya's stomach dropped.

"Hey," said Kai, suddenly standing there. His eyes flicked between them. "You're Maya, right? From English?"

She nodded, terrified to open her mouth.

"Cool." He gestured vaguely toward her tray. "That spinach wrap looks actually edible. Which is wild for this cafeteria."

Maya managed a tight smile. She could feel the spinach mocking her.

"Anyway," Kai continued, "I noticed you reading that graphic novel in class yesterday. The one with the zombie apocalypse?"

She nodded again.

"Yeah, I've been meaning to read it." He rubbed his neck. "You think I could borrow it sometime?"

Jordan's eyebrows shot up.

Maya's brain short-circuited. Kai wanted to borrow her book? Kai had noticed her reading?

"Sure," she forced out, praying the spinach wasn't too obvious.

"Cool." Kai grinned. "See you around."

As he walked away, Maya exhaled for what felt like the first time in three minutes.

"Well," said Jordan, "That could've gone worse. You didn't speak, but at least you didn't accidentally spit spinach at him."

Maya finally checked her reflection in her phone screen. The spinach was barely visible. She'd survived.

"Next time," she said, "I'm getting pizza."

"Pizza is always the right choice," Jordan agreed. "Also, you're welcome for saving you from having a full conversation."

"Shut up."

"Love you too, zombie girl."