Those Stories You Want to Tell

When I was about 12, walking to school, this old woman asked me where a street was. I didn't know and I told her that. Turns out it was one of the streets I went past every day to and from school (crossed over it). I felt so stupid and ashamed that I didn't know where it was.

One day in middle school, I fell out with my friend. I decided it would be a good idea to hide her diary (school diary, with timetable, homework dates etc). She spent most of that lesson looking for it and near the end, she still hadn't found it. So I "found" it and gave her it. She knew that I must have hidden it and hated me even more. I lied and told her I didn't, that I just found it. We didn't talk for a few days.

If that wasn't bad enough, I went home and told my mum about it and how ungrateful this girl was, "accusing" me of hiding it. She believed me and it got to the point where I believed it myself. But no, I really did hide the diary.

At high school, my "friend" (the one who I met later and she said none of her real friends were from high school) got a boyfriend and I was so jealous. In fact I was so jealous that I didn't talk to her much after that. It was unfair because she got bullied too, but for being fat. Most people didn't believe her anyway, and I hoped that she was lying, but she brought a photo of him (well her and him). He wasn't really my type, but I was still jealous that she could get a boyfriend and I couldn't because I was so ugly.

Also, in middle school a boy asked me out. I didn't know what to say and he just said "please think about it". I did think about it a lot that night. I didn't have a crush on him and I didn't find him very attractive, but I thought "well, he's not that bad". I was quite happy the next day when I went to school, but he totally ignored me. I found out later that he had been joking when he asked me out. I was so upset, even though I never really liked him to start with.

Thanks for posting.

I was at work and they were organising the Christmas party. One of the other girls in the office said she was inviting some people to her house first, to meet up, and then go together.

A few days later something about the party was mentioned and the time to be there for etc. I said "But we're all meeting at your house first, so we'll all be together". She looked totally horrified and said "No, I'm only having a few certain people, not everyone, I never said you were invited."

I felt so guilty and angry at myself, just assuming I was invited. I avoided her for the rest of the day (and maybe the next day). I didn't really want to talk about the party, and definitely not to her. In fact it put me off going. I felt so ashamed.

I know I was young and stupid, but not that young (in my early 20's). I was so rude. Now I'm definitley finding it easier not to talk to people unless they ask me something and need an answer, then I can't say anything bad, or make a fool of myself.

In high school, my friend really fancied this boy who most girls said was ugly. He was tall, lanky and had a big nose. They made fun of her for liking him and said there must be something wrong with her.

I didn't really have an opinion of him. I didn't find him attractive, but I didn't go around calling people ugly, because I was already on the receiving end of that.

I wondered if she did find him physically attractive or if maybe she liked him for more than just his looks/appearance. I have been attracted to guys for more than their appearance before. Some I haven't found really physically attractive, but there was something else about them.

But it seems most people don't think like that, Most people don't seem to see past the outward appearance.

• When I was a child I was scared of everything. Really stupid things like the switch on a lamp or the way the light reflected off something and made a light on the wall. The worst though, I was scared of the way white text showed up in the dark, on books, or boxes etc. Seems really stupid now.

• Also when I was younger (until about the age of 20), I was really embarrassing. If I said something and someone agreed, I'd think I was clever and kept saying the same thing, because I knew they would agree, and that fed my ego and made be feel good. But eventually people would get sick of me saying the same things, and then say things like "OK, OK, I know, you've told me a dozen times". Then I'd get embarrassed about it and never mention it again.