Becky Albertalli

I remember exactly how it felt to see that first message from him in my inbox. It was a little bit surreal. He wanted to know about me. For the next few days at school after that, it felt like I was a character in a movie. I could almost imagine a close-up of my face, projected wide-screen. It's strange, because in reality, I'm not the leading guy. Maybe I'm the best friend.

But I'm tired of coming out. All I ever do is come out. I try not to change,but I keep changing, in all these tiny ways ..... And every freaking time, I have to reintroduce myself to the universe all over again.

He tells me to pick the music. I__ not sure if he knows that handing me his iPod is like handing me the window to his soul.

They put me in a box, and every time I try to nudge the lid open, they slam it back down. It__ like nothing about me is allowed to change.

I have a sneaking suspicion that you__e not 100% committed to your Oreo diet.

We are out and we are alive, and everyone in the universe is out here right now.

Did you just tell us you're gay?" Asks Nick"Yes.""Okay," he says. Abby swats him. "What?""That's all you're going to say? Okay?""He said not to make a big deal out of it," Nick says. "What am I supposed to say?""Say something supportive. I don't know. Or awkwardly hold his hand like I did. Anything"Nick and I look at each other."I'm not holding your hand," I tell him, smiling a little."All right"--he nods--"but know that I would.

It's more that I want to leap in and say certain things and do certain things, but I always seem to hold myself back. I think a big part of me is afraid.

Wow, is that Katniss making out with Yoda?

I take a sip of my beer, and it's - I mean, it's just astonishingly disgusting. I don't think I was expecting it to taste like ice cream, but holy fucking hell. People lie and get fake IDs and sneak into bars, and for this? I honestly think I'd rather make out with Bieber. The dog. Or Justin.

What's a dementor?"I mean, I can't even. "Nora, you are no longer my sister.""So it's some Harry Potter thing," she says.

I think the way I feel about the internet is the way some people feel about the ocean. It's so huge and unknowable, but also totally predictable. You type a line of symbols and click enter, and everything you want to happen, happens.Not like real life, where all the wanting in the world can't make something exist.

It's stillness and pressure and rhythm and breathing.

I feel like I'm supposed to make some comment to underscore the ridiculousness of it all, but honestly? It's sort of nice not to have to be cynical for a change. I guess it feels like I'm a part of something.

I was basically born knowing how to casually stalk people on social media.

And it's almost too perfect. Almost too Disney.

I can__ seem to shake this perpetual awareness of being Molly.

I guess what I mean is that sometimes it seems like everyone knows who I am except me.