Don't Act Like I'm Average Novels & Stories

said Claire, “you mean the rest of us, right? You’re not including yourself.” “No, Claire, I am including myself. Just because I act like I’m better than everyone doesn’t mean I think I’m great. I have a very low opinion of myself, trust me. It just means I’m constantly being surrounded by people who are even less impressive. It’s very depressing.”

"Proud of me, aren't you?" "Always." "You're the most clever person I know and you're usually right about everything... But you're wrong about this, about us," I stressed to her. "To quote one of the best movies of the early 2000s, when it comes to us, 'the limit does not exist.'" The 'Mean Girls' line made her laugh. "After what we've been through, I couldn't care less about 'the average person.' Because that's not you—and that's not me when I'm with you... Stop equating us to 'the average couple' 'cause doing so makes less sense than not wearing pink on Wednesdays."

Agatha Ford, Landon's mother, scoffs, then says in a voice loud enough for me to hear, “God, what an embarrassment. Can't she be like a normal person? Why does she have to act like a freak?“ I mentally shake my head. I don't know what she meant by saying that I have to act like a normal person. Like, I am acting like a damn normal person. But if her definition of a freak is being amazed by things that cannot be attained by people living on the minimum or lower wage, then fine, I am a fucking freak. I honestly don't give a flying fuck anymore. She and the entire Ford family can think and say whatever they want about me. As long as I am on Landon's side, then they can go fuck themselves.

I really hope she would understand. Or maybe I just have to act well enough. I think about my mannerisms and shake my head. Acting is not really my strong point. In the end, I'm not particularly good at being what I'm not. But I would have to try. It's best to keep her suspicion down to the minimum and continue going smoothly with her, instead of letting there be trouble between us.

I pack my hair into a messy bun right before I slash running water into my face. My reflection bounces off the mirror. “He'll never love a lowlife like you!” Aria's words scream at me. I wince in pain at her words. But in reality she was probably right. I am pretty average. Average black hair, average brown eyes. Average everything. I obviously won't be a problem for her anyway, I'll just blend in with the crowd. Professor Caden won't notice me anyway. A thought comes to mind and a smile spreads across my face. I might be an average Joe but at least I can beat her ass, at least not with her sidekick Freya around.

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, and spoke with deliberate calm. “Olivia, let me ask you something. Do you want to succeed… or do you want to remain average?” The words hit her like a blow. She blinked at him, lips parting, but no sound came out. “Because those are your choices,” he went on, his voice low, unwavering. “If you want comfort, if you want easy, if you want people to pat you on the back for doing the bare minimum, then by all means, remain average. You’ll get by. You’ll scrape through. But you’ll never rise. You’ll never break past the crowd.”

I closed my eyes, about to jump off a building, when an ill-timed phone ringtone blared. On the other end of the phone came a voice that I couldn't be more familiar with. It was my own voice. "Don't jump, Jack Sterling."

"I just... I sometimes feel inadequate when I'm with them. They are both so great and successful in whatever they do. And they have such big expectations of me. I feel like I'll end up disappointing them. I mean, what if I'm just average? Or worse, what if I am a complete failure?" By now, he had also turned to his side to face me. He looked so vulnerable talking about this. Gone was the Stav who always used jokes to hide his true feelings. Right now, in the dark night, he was completely raw and unfiltered. "It can't hurt to try," I said. "All the successful people, they start from the bottom. And you can't let the fear of being average scare you. It's not a competition. You don't have to be

“What if I don’t feel like a puppy?” I feel like a loser who is too inexperienced with love to understand how to keep the girl he likes in his orbit. “Then act, Dante. It’s what you do.” She grins. “Act as if Jennie broke your heart. Take the roll and, whatever you do, stay single. You hear me? This is how we use this. Half of America thinks you’re down to earth for being willing to date a woman who isn’t famous, and now everyone is going to watch the new show thinking they have a chance at getting to become your new wife.”

I let out a humorless breath, shaking my head slowly as I leaned back, my fingers tapping against my thigh in restless energy that needed somewhere to go. “You all are ranked members,” I continued, my voice gaining intensity as the words spilled out, heavier and more deliberate with each second. “Girls look at you with those stupid heart-shaped eyes, and guys look at you and think – yeah, they’re strong, they’re untouchable.” I tilted my head slightly, my lips curling in disdain. “But you’ve never actually faced real, honest feedback, have you? Because the people who see you clearly – the ones who notice that you’re just… average, that you’re not perfect – they don’t say it.”