Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Planet Girl by Tommy Greenwald

badly. And I’m sorry.”
    â€œI have way more to be sorry for,” I said. “Like … the kiss.”
    â€œYou don’t have to apologize for that,” Katie said. “Not to me, anyway.”
    â€œWell, I’m really, really sorry I lied about writing that poem. That might have been the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”
    Katie nodded. “At least that was dumb in a sweet way.”
    â€œWell, it’s the last dumb thing I’m going to do for a long time. Like you said, Katie, it’s time to grow up, and I’m gonna. I swear.”
    Katie smiled—a real smile. “Well, it seems like you’ve already started. And that’s awesome.”
    We just stood there, not saying anything. I think we were both so relieved there wasn’t this weird tension between us anymore that we wanted to enjoy it for a minute.
    â€œAnd,” I said, “all that stuff I said, about how liking you would be like liking my sister, and how it would be gross … that’s why I did that poem thing, because I couldn’t figure out how to tell you the truth.”
    Katie’s eyes shined like really bright stars. “Which is what?”
    â€œWhich is—”
    Suddenly the classroom door burst open.
    â€œWHAT are you kids still doing in here?!” It was Mr. Margolis, the assistant principal. I think his entire job was to get kids in trouble, and he was really good at it. “I was walking by and I heard voices. Children’s voices! Which didn’t make sense, because I KNEW that EVERY student in this school should be in their assigned classrooms, and there’s no class in this room during this period.” Mr. Margolis walked toward us, twirling a pen in his hand. “But sure enough, the voices were REAL! Here you are! I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason for you to both be late for class, and I’d like to hear it.”
    Katie and I looked at each other.
    â€œWell?” Mr. Margolis demanded. “Would you mind explaining to me what you’re both doing in here?”
    Katie smiled at me, picked up her backpack, and looked Mr. Margolis in the eye.
    â€œMaking up,” she said.
    Â 
    Pete Milano’s Guide to Romance

    BE ANNOYING!
    So you’ll probably read other people’s advice on how it’s important to be all nice and kind and the sweetest person ever to the person you like.
    Don’t believe it.
    Because I have a secret: Girls like it when you totally get on their nerves.
    No, I’m serious! They do. They might say they don’t, they might tell you to get away from them or leave them alone, but secretly, they think it’s fun. Girls like arguing. And if you act kind of like an idiot sometimes, they have a lot to argue about.
    Nice guys finish last. Annoying guys finish with a girlfriend.

 
    Part Three
    FRIENDSHIP IS THE BEST SHIP

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    A Communication Guide for Boys and Girls
    62
    Sometimes, the best way to stand out is to fit in.
    *   *   *
    All children want to be noticed: It is a very natural behavior. And the temptation to show off in front of one’s peers is also something most children are faced with. But part of the maturation process means resisting that temptation. It is not attractive to be the center of attention all the time. In fact, it often has the opposite effect: People start to resent those who demand to be noticed.
    Think of it as a collection of people all trying to breathe the same air. If one person demands too much of that air, the other people will begin to suffer. And then they will turn against the one who is taking more than his fair share.
    Remember: It is important to leave plenty of air for everyone else.
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    29
    So that ended up being the closest I came to telling Katie I liked her for a while.
    For the next month or so, nothing all that exciting happened. Katie and I were friends again—but not best friends,