My problem was that I had bad luck. And I spoke up when I saw something wrong. I did it because I could, without having to worry about the fallout lasting years. And yes, there was always fallout.

The problem with having friends was that you might lose them. Or they might get hurt.

I was many things, but I wasn't a quitter. I didn't give up, and I wasn't going to start.

There probably were things worse than the guy you had a crush on saying that kind of thing about your sister, but not many. Maddy could do way better than teeth-and-hair guy.