Don't be special." That's what I would say to my younger self if I could pinpoint the moment when I went astray. But there was no one moment. I was always astray

I don't believe that anyone who is a legitimately interesting person can be popular as a teenager," Mel went on. "Or ever, maybe. Popularity rewards the uninteresting.

I was a very awkward high schooler, especially in early high school.

My awkward stage extended well into high school.

This should have been a red flag, I realize in retrospect. Working really hard on anything is, by definition, not cool.

It wasn't an effect of alcohol. It was more like we got drunk on the night.