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Any girl faced with daily attention from a gorgeous boy…

“Any girl faced with daily attention from a gorgeous boy with a cute accent and perfect hair would be hard-pressed not to develop a big,stinking, painful,all-the-time,all consuming crush. Not that that's what's happening to me. Like I said.It's a relief to know it won't happen. It makes things…” quote by Stephanie Perkins
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““Any girl faced with daily attention from a gorgeous boy with a cute accent and perfect hair would be hard-pressed not to develop a big,stinking, painful,all-the-time,all consuming crush. Not that that's what's happening to me. Like I said.It's a relief to know it won't happen. It makes things easier. Most girls laugh too hard at his jokes and find excuses to gently press his arm. To touch him.Instead,I argue and roll my eyes and act indifferent. And when I touch his arm,I shove it.Because that's what friends do. Besides,I have more important things on my mind: movies. I've been in France for a month, and though I have ridden the elevators to the top of La Tour Eiffel (Mer took me while St. Clair and Rashmi waited below on the lawn-St. Clair because he's afraid of falling and Rashmi because she refuses to do anything touristy), and though I have walked the viewing platform of L'Arc de Triomphe (Mer took me again,of course, while St. Clair stayed below and threatened to push Josh and Rashmi into the insane traffic circle),I still haven't been to the movies. Actually,I have yet to leave campus alone. Kind of embarrassing. But I have a plan.First,I'll convince someone to go to a theater with me. Shouldn't be too difficult; everyone likes the movies.And then I'll take notes on everything they say and do, and then I'll be comfortable going back to that theater alone.A””

Stephanie Perkins

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She masks her attraction to a charismatic boy by acting indifferent, using friends and hobbies as distractions, and plans to confront her fear of intimacy through a controlled social experiment.

In simple terms: She pretends not to care about a crush, using distractions and a plan to face her fear.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge feelings and take small steps toward confronting them.

Themes

romance self‑deception personal growth

Mood

anxious hopeful

Type

narrative self‑reflective

When to use this quote

  • college life
  • crush dynamics
  • public spaces
  • self‑observation

Key Concepts

psychology social anxiety friendship

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does pretending indifference achieve?
  • How can she turn observation into authentic interaction?
A Different Perspective

She may be avoiding genuine connection rather than solving the underlying issue.

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