Hey, thank you to all who have taken the time to click on and hopefully read this!
Basically, each chapter will be a letter written from one of the characters on the show and a response from the "mysterious columnist."
Not only will you get a look into the pure minds and hearts of each character, but everyone will also get their guess at who they think might be the advice columnist.
Some letters will be dark and more serious while others will be awkward and insecure.
It's kind of a mystery, but it's also a fun story that allows each chapter to be unique.
I hope you guys like it!
.
.
.
Katie Matlin
Dear Columnist,
When I was sixteen, I googled the question "At what age do you get your first kiss?" I was excited at first, because it seemed to be a popular question, one that many before me had already asked. It made me feel good to realize that others were concerned, that others felt embarrassed and unsure.
But then the results came up, documents from social websites like and Yahoo Answers. My heart dropped as I scrolled through the responses, countless "12" and "13"'s layered with few "14"'s and barely any "15"'s. Some people took the time to write about their first kiss, and I read about encounters at summer camps and under bleachers.
I've never had a boyfriend. There, I said it. I'm a leader in everything I do, looked up to by so many people, and yet, I can't even have a conversation with a boy I like without stuttering uncontrollably.
I tried to impress them, I really did. I wore make-up and frilly clothes, high heels that killed my feet . . . I even used tactics to keep myself skinny, unhealthy ones. It was wrong, I know, and I've stopped for now. But the urge to do it again is so strong. Every time I see a cute boy, my stomach tingles with the desire.
I still haven't been kissed, not even after everything I've sacrificed to make them like me. Not only that, but I feel horrible with myself for wanting to do such horrid things to my body. People look up to me, they respect me, and I'm nothing but a fake.
I'm lost, awkward, and maybe even . . . bulimic. And I'm terrified that they'll find out.
-All for Them
.
.
.
Dear All for Them,
Being a teenage girl is hard, to say the very least. You remain happily oblivious for so long, still under the impression that boys have cooties. And then, one day, you suddenly realize that everyone one around you is dating, everyone is kissing. Am I right? Of course, I am. Because I know. You panic; you wonder where exactly things changed, and you wonder why you didn't change with them. Why was everyone else prepared for something you weren't?
But what you don't realize is that everyone feels this way. Sure, there are a few girls who have rushed into things, in my personal opinion, a bit too quick, and slowly those girls set the example. When they start to do it, everyone feels they need to date, too. Some girls force themselves into awkward relationships they don't even want to be in while others simply lie about their love life.
And that's when the assumptions begin.
Everyone is dating. Everyone is kissing. Everyone is having sex. But it's not true. In fact, you'd be surprised how many people write in about similar situations, people that I'm sure would lie if you asked them to their face about it.
The bottom line: you're not alone.
It's okay to wait for the right boy. Maybe, you'll meet him here; maybe, you'll meet him in college, etc. But don't force yourself into something you're not even ready for, simply because you feel like you need to.
And don't worry about lack of experience. As corny as it sounds, when you do meet the right guy – and, by that, I mean someone you actually want to kiss – things will come naturally. No, rarely can someone tell whether or not the person they're kissing has done it before, and, even if he can, I'm sure he won't mind.
As for the bulimia, hopefully you don't feel the urge to do that anymore after grasping a better understanding of the situation. If a boy is kiss-worthy, then there is no way you should have to do that just to get his attention.
If there's a boy you like, try to become friends with him. You know, you don't immediately need to go to flirting mode. In fact, some of the best relationships start with friendships. Learn to be comfortable around the boy before taking things to the next level. That way, you can skip the awkward phase all together.
You're not lost. You're not awkward. And, soon, you won't be bulimic.
You're just a normal girl asking a normal question.
-Columnist
.
.
.
Katie Matlin holds the small slip of newspaper she's cut out close to her chest, her smile unable to falter even as people give her odd looks in the hallways. Girls are wearing short skirts and tight shirts, but Katie doesn't feel threatened by them anymore.
She waves at Drew Torres with refreshing confidence, and he smiles, his eyes lighting up in surprise, but he waves back. She feels her heart flutter just a little, but there is no ache in her stomach, no urge to flee to the bathroom.
Everything about her feels better, stronger, and she finds herself seeing everyone around her in a whole new light. Girls are gossiping against their locker, texting on their phones. But that doesn't mean they're gossiping about boys. That doesn't mean they're texting about dates and kissing. Katie realizes this now.
She realizes that no one has ever actually asked her if she had a boyfriend, if she's kissed a guy. Because no one actually cared, not Marisol, not Drew, not anyone. It's all been in her head. From the very start, Katie Matlin has tried to impress people that weren't even judging her, and she can't help but giggle at herself now.
She sees a girl kneeling on the ground only feet away. She's wearing a tight skirt and revealing top along with many layers of intense make-up. Her books are scattered in front of her, papers sprawled over the floor, and she's trying frantically to gather them.
Katie bends down beside the girl, helping her to pick up some of the material out of her reach, and the girl's pink, glossy lips pull into a genuine smile, one that Katie wouldn't have imagined a girl dressed like this would be capable of.
Katie reaches for a slip of paper, and a small gasp escapes the girl. She snatches the paper away, but not before Katie notices the familiar words printed over it. A wide grin pulls at Katie's lips as she realizes this girl has cut out the same article, her article. The girl's cheeks brighten in multiple shades of red, but Katie shakes her head, shamelessly holding up her own copy. The girl's eyes widen a bit before softening into relief.
Katie stands up with the girl, and her eyes dart down to her high heels, leaving red blisters along their edges. "Those look like they hurt," she murmurs.
The girl nods, shrugging a bit. Katie knows what she means. The boys are supposed to like them, though.
"You know, I have an extra pair of sneakers in my locker . . . you look like my size."