Untitled

[charliespovv]

When I see Patrick getting bullied, I feel my chest tighten with anger. I hate watching someone hurt my friend and laugh about it. Before I can even think, I step in to defend him. I’m scared, but I know I can’t just stand there and do nothing. Fighting back makes my heart race, but it also makes me feel strong. I realize how much Patrick means to me in that moment. Protecting him feels more important than being afraid. After it’s over, I understand that friendship matters more than staying quiet.

[charliespovv]

As we drive through the tunnel in the back of the truck, I feel the wind rushing past me. Sam stands up with her arms stretched out, smiling like she’s completely free. I watch her and feel calm in a way I’ve never felt before. The music plays loudly, and for a moment nothing else matters. I’m not thinking about school or my problems. I just feel happy to be there with them. Being with Sam and Patrick makes me feel like I finally belong somewhere. In that moment, I feel infinite.

[charliespovv]

At the party, I feel nervous but excited to be there with everyone. I’ve been talking to a girl at the party, so I don’t expect anything to go wrong. When we start playing truth or dare, I get dared to kiss the prettiest girl in the room. After thinking for a second, I walk over and kiss Sam. My heart starts racing because I know I just changed everything. I can’t believe I chose her, even though I know I’ve had feelings for her for a while. The kiss makes me feel happy but also worried about hurting the other girl. In that moment, I realize my feelings for Sam are stronger than I ever wanted to admit.

[charliespovv]

As I spend more time with Sam, I start to notice how special she is to me. The way she smiles and laughs makes me feel calm and happy in a way I’ve never felt before. When I’m around her, everything else seems quieter, like she’s the only person I can focus on. I admire how kind and understanding she is, especially when she talks to me. I catch myself thinking about her even when she’s not there. Being near her makes me nervous, but it’s a good kind of nervous that I don’t want to go away. I realize that my feelings for her are growing stronger every day. I think I might be falling in love with her, and that thought both excites and scares me.

[charliespovv]

At the football game, I didn’t expect anything big to happen, but I still felt nervous walking into the crowd. I sit down alone in the bleachers until a senior named Patrick smiles and asks me to join him. A girl named Sam soon comes over and sits beside us, making me feel welcome. For the first time since school began, I don’t feel invisible anymore. Talking with them, I realize how easy it is to laugh and share stories without feeling judged. Patrick and Sam don’t make fun of me they actually want to know who I am. After the game we hang out and eat together, and I start to feel like I finally belong somewhere. In that moment, it feels like maybe high school won’t be so scary after all. 

[charliespovv]

On my first day of high school, I feel nervous and out of place. The hallways are loud and crowded, but I walk through them quietly by myself. I keep my head down and avoid eye contact because I don’t want anyone to notice how uncomfortable I am. Even though I am surrounded by people, I feel completely alone. I don’t know where I belong yet, and everything feels new and overwhelming. I’m unsure of myself and scared to speak up. I wish I had someone to talk to, but I don’t know anyone. It feels lonely being in a place full of people while feeling invisible.