I've learned to get really good at this - say one thing when I'm thinking about something else, act like I'm listening when I'm not, pretend to be calm and happy when I'm really freaking out. It's one of the skills you perfect as you get older
Lauren OliverLike I've been sketched by an amateur artist: if you don't look too closely, it's all right, but start focusing and all the smudges and mistakes become really obvious.
Lauren OliverThatโs just the kind of thing that kids do to each other. Itโs no big deal. Thereโs always going to be a person laughing and somebody getting laughed at. It happens every day, in every school, in every town in Americaโprobably in the world, for all I know. The whole point of growing up is learning to stay on the laughing side.
Lauren Oliver