I had high school all planned: I was going to be well dressed and popular. Then my family started falling

apart, friendships I'd built my world around started breaking, and the boys I used to crush on wanted things

that scared the life out of me. But if anyone asks, I'll say everything is fine. I'm wearing my mask so well,

nobody can tell I'm holding on by a thread. The girls in my beloved novels never had it this hard ... I wish I'd

kept my naive head in those romance books, watching other people risk rejection, embarrassment, and

heartbreak instead of me.