I was incredibly awkward in middle school: tall and uncoordinated, fitting the mold of a nerd with a high grade and science and a low one in self-esteem. Even though I had friends, I didn’t necessarily fit the seventh grade standard of being popular.
I remember the day Austin came to our school. She was from Brooklyn, and she brought along her unbelievable stories of mischief making her instantly popular. She told us of how she had snuck out at night to meet older boys, and how she would smoke in the park. She was slightly overweight and her teeth were crooked. That did not matter though, because she walked around like she was better than all of us put together. She was intimidating, outspoken, and aggressive – a person …show more content…
Even during recess I questioned why, why Austin? I could run for a touchdown, but Austin somehow always managed to be one of the first girls picked in flag football during recess while I was lucky to be picked at all. I was thrown the ball while she stood with the quarterback, conversing about the last keg party she had gone to. I had no idea what even came in a keg and never even contemplated drinking. She was promiscuous and mysterious while I was the prime example of what good parenting and strong Christian morals could produce. I had never been further than a first kiss, nor did I understand the tactics to get as far as she had gone with a boy.
One day, Austin bribed a classmate to ask me to the school dance. My parents had set a prior engagement so I couldn’t attend; I told him so, but I was flattered. I was finally beginning to feel good about myself and accepted by the popular crowd. I felt that they were accepting me for blending in the most perfect way; well enough to fit in and not nerdy enough to stand out. Soon enough however, my world came crashing down. Austin told me one day during science class that she had put him up to that. If that wasn’t enough to put down my ego, she asked in front of everyone, “Why would anyone ever want