40 Things I Want to Tell You Read Online Free PDF

getting me nowhere. I scrumpled up the page and chucked it away, returning my attention to Adam99.
    Dear Adam99,
    I bet a lot of girls would love dating a guy like you: one who isn’t putting pressure on them. I get the feeling that you and your girlfriend don’t know each other that well—you don’t seem very sure about what she thinks of you.
    Tips to Take Back Control
    You should be more confident that lots of girls would be happy with a boyfriend like you.
    If she’s the right girl, you’ll feel comfortable with her. She should be honoured to be your first, not judging you. And she should respect your decision to wait if that’s what you want to do.
    Get to know her better, take a little time, and when she brings it up, tell her what you want.
    From one teen to another …
    Miss Take-Control-of-Your-Life
    CLEO CAUGHT UP WITH ME BY THE LOCKERS ONE AFTERNOON AFTER the final bell.
    “What’s up with you?”
    “Nothing. Everything’s good.” Rain began to spatter against the opposite window. “I guess I’m stressed about school.”
    I thought back to when Cleo and I met. We were eleven and were attending a photography class that Mum got for me as a gift. I noticed Cleo right away. She had streaks of purple in her black hair. I’d never seen anyone my age with purple in their hair.
    She stood in the middle of the room, her fancy camera looped round her wrist on a pretty chain, and said to the teacher, “I don’t really like taking photos.”
    I envied her camera, I envied her purple streaks and I envied her for being cool. Pure hatred quickened in my blood. I decided that the way she’d spoken to the teacher was the rudest thing I’d ever heard, so I was furious when we were paired up to work together.
    The girl hooked her arm through mine as if we’d been friends forever and said, “So how are we going to make the time go faster?”
    “I like taking photographs. I
want
to be here,” I replied.
    She started laughing.
    “What? What’s so funny?”
    “You are. You’re so cross and stiff, like a cardboard cut-out. You need to relax.”
    “You need to realize you’re not the centre of the universe.”
    She laughed harder. “You’re hilarious,” she said. “I think I love you.”
    “I’m not being funny. Let go of my arm.” I put my hand up and said to the teacher, “Please can I be paired with someone else?”
    The teacher sighed. “Come on, girls. Let’s get on, shall we?”
    “But she doesn’t even
want
to be here.”
    Cleo said, “Because it’s a
Saturday.
Who wants to be on a course on a Saturday?”
    “Why did you come, then?” I spat.
    She shrugged. “My dad bought it for me as a Christmas present.”
    “My mum got it for
me
as a Christmas present and I’m
happy
about it. I want to learn about photography.”
    She smiled broadly, her braces showing fully in her mouth. “Okay, well, let’s learn about photography. At least I’ve got you as my partner. That should make things better. What’s your name?”
    Even though I didn’t like her, I couldn’t help but warm to her smile. She was what my dad would call a live wire. “Bird,” I said. “It’s my nickname. My real name’s Amy Finch.”
    “Don’t be mad at me, Bird.”
    “Can we just get on with this?”
    “You’ve forgiven me?”
    The rest of the day was great, but afterward I figured I’d never see her again. However, we started at the same new school in September of that year, and we both grinned like idiots when we recognized each other.
    Now Cleo said, “Uh, helllooo, Bird, I’m still here. Sure you’re all right?” She slung an arm over my shoulder. “Come on, ‘fess up. Is the idea of having sex freaking you out?”
    I turned away from the window. “How do you know what’s going on in my head?”
    “Your first time, it’s a big deal …”
    “But it’s me and Griffin, remember? It’s so obviously the next step for us.”
    “It’ll be over before you know it. Then you won’t have to