First rule of self-defense is: Don’t ask your attacker for validation. Never apologize for sticking up for yourself.

First rule of self-defense is: Don’t ask your attacker for validation.

All I could think about was Gemma kissing Liam, Liam kissing Gemma – and wondering why that image made my insides knot up.

Okay, Mattie. I said okay.” All of a sudden, she threw her arms around me and squeezed. “We won’t talk about it if you don’t want to.

How do you know if you like someone because you really do like that person, or if you like him only because you think you’re supposed to?

I just meant this stuff with me is different. And I definitely wouldn't call it regular bullying.""So what would you call it, then?"I opened my mouth to answer.But I didn't have any words.Because all the words I could think of—bullying, teasing, flirting—seemed too simple, too small, to hold all the hurt I was feeling.

First rule of self-defense is: Don't ask your attacker for validation.