Zombie State of Mind

I was definitely entering zombie mode. Like, actual walking dead status. Coach Martinez had us running intervals until my legs felt like they were made of lead and regret. Welcome to varsity cross country, where your social life goes to die and your calves scream for mercy.

"Keep pushing, Maya! You've got regionals next week!"

I wanted to scream that I wasn't built for this. My mom, the queen of holistic everything, had me on this weird diet regime. "Packed with essential nutrients," she'd said, handing me a smoothie that tasted like literal lawn clippings. Spinach. Every morning. Like, I get it, I'm growing, I need my vitamin whatever, but could I please just eat like a normal teenager?

The real problem wasn't even the running or the spinach smoothies from hell. It was Tyler. Tyler, who showed up to practice looking effortlessly perfect even after six miles. Tyler, who smiled at me yesterday and now I couldn't form a complete sentence around him.

"Hey Maya," he said, falling into step beside me during our cool-down lap. "You were killing it today."

I almost tripped. "Thanks? I mean, yeah. Thanks."

Smooth. Truly.

"Your mom makes those green smoothies, right?" Tyler asked. "My cousin's trying to get into holistic nutrition stuff. She says there's this one vitamin combo that's supposed to help with recovery?"

My brain short-circuited. Was he asking about my mom's smoothies for his cousin? Or was this his way of talking to me?

"Yeah, I can get you the recipe," I managed, trying to play it cool while internally screaming.

"Awesome." His smile did something to my chest that felt suspiciously like feelings. "Maybe we could grab boba after practice tomorrow? You know, to discuss smoothie logistics."

I didn't even care that it was possibly the worst excuse ever. "Yeah. Totally."

Maybe there was something to this running thing after all. Or at least, to the cute runners. Even if I'd be drinking spinach smoothies forever.