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to be a teenager is to be in those social media group chats

to be a teenager is to know the hot goss, to know everyone's life

to be a teenager is to gush over boys and giggle when they look at you

to be a teenager is to be reckless, and funny, and happy

it's a social norm

it's known that if you don't do any of that, you're left out

...

so no, I'm not in the group chat with the funny name

no, i don't know the hot goss on jenny and tyler

no, I don't like any boys — i'm trying to figure out my sexuality

no, i don't like to be reckless, i'm not funny and...

i'm not happy

but maybe being a teenager isn't just that-

maybe it's the quiet, chaotic, messy in-betweens

maybe it's the questions with no answers yet

maybe it's the becoming, not the being

.....right?