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Home > All Fiction > The Color Of The Inside Of My Mouth

The Color Of The Inside Of My Mouth This piece has been published in Teen Ink's monthly print magazine.

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I wipe at my stupid eyes with the back of my hand, and it startles me for a second that my tears are gray. I dunno why it surprised me; I mean, I buy the s***ty mascara that’s $1.99 in the 20 Items or Less checkout lane. Why spend oodles
Photo credit: Anna H., Buckeye, AZ
Author's comments about this article:
This is literally an excerpt from my journal, so it's a little different when it comes to writing style.
of green on something I hardly ever use?

I just wanted to look nice, you know? Like those girls who’re just naturally fake pretty. The girls who can blend shades of eyeshadow like no one’s business, and match their lipstick to the exact color of their toenail polish or whatever. Seemingly effortless, yet impeccably coordinated.

This is good stuff, I should write for a living – solely on the subject of beauty queens with superiority complexes, of course.

I just want … God, what do I want? I want to feel the sun on my face and paint the clouds and hear the music in the trees and love myself and love someone else and just feel perpetually beautiful.

But that requires the $14.99 waterproof, fire-retardant, Grade-5-hurricane-resistant mascara, not the tube that’s two bucks in Lane 4.

My shoes are dirty and outdated, but that’s how I like them. I like these shoes. They’re comfortable. Why do I need new, expensive, fashionably appealing shoes in order for someone to say, “Hey dogg, you look nice today”?

And why is it that whenever I get deathly bored and slather cheap, pore-clogging makeup all over my face everyone suddenly says, “Wow, you look pretty!”? Since when is “pretty” about whale blubber and cocoa butter?

I’ll tell you one thing, though. I most definitely am not crying about some stupid XY.

Definitely not.

I’m crying for all the whales that have to give up their fatty insulation so that some fugly anorexic super bitch can paint herself pretty every freaking day, giving him something halfway decent to oggle all the time.

Seriously, I’m not leaking saltwater over a guy.

I just think it’s cruel and unfair that the fat-endowed marine life population doesn’t even get the slightest warning that they’ll soon be on a cosmetics endcap at K-Mart.

He could have at least broken it to me gently, you know? We’ve been friends since the George Bush/Al Gore debacle.

I mean come the Bette Midler on.

I spill my blood, guts, and viscera out to this guy and he throws down the “Let’s just be friends” card without a second thought?

It’s just … it’s common courtesy to ease someone into heartbreak, not smash it over their head like a whiffleball bat.

You know what? I’m going to take my $1.99 checkout Lane 4 mascara and chuck it right at her big, stupid square head.
This piece has been published in Teen Ink's monthly print magazine.This piece has also been published in Teen Ink's monthly print magazine.

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This article has 179 comments. Post your own!

sidneynicole said...
Mar. 18 at 10:03 pm:

wow i liked this alot it was like... well idk it was jusss so foreal you knw srry if i'm not making any sense

 
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starlight26:) said...
Mar. 18 at 8:06 pm:

Mind blowing poem !!! You said the words that probably every single girl..(except the naturally fake pretty girls) are thinkin every day. You took the words right out of my mouth and wrote them down so perfectly!!! Beautiful article!!! keep writing girl!! U r beautiful for sure.

 
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Phooh said...
Mar. 18 at 7:46 pm:

i love this. We put too much of a price on beauty. what is beauty for me might not be the same for you. this is a piece that goes through every girls mind from one time to another. thank you for posting this! Keep writing!!

 
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nutmeg212 said...
Mar. 18 at 7:07 pm:

this was so good. if this came out of your diary by accident, imagine what could happen on purpose! WOW

 
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Penelope said...
Mar. 18 at 6:54 pm:

I love this!!!! it's so real but nice and poetic at the same time;) If this is what you do on an off day, then you are spectacular! you have a fan!

 
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ellyn-bo-bellyn_2014 said...
Mar. 18 at 6:05 pm:

i really think that guys are DUMB!

 
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trblue said...
Mar. 18 at 4:47 pm:

that was good and im happy i dont ware make-up. not yet i think

 
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the_Horsegirl said...
Mar. 18 at 3:09 pm:

Really good. Truthful. You write veyr naturally.
Please check out my work if you get the chance!

 
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Sarbear said...
Mar. 18 at 2:51 pm:

this is very well written, and im glad you wrote about something you know, and not something you couldn't describe accurately. keep writing and check out my poems tooo!

 
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wishing4thebest2day said...
Mar. 18 at 8:10 am:

That is so good! I feel the truth in your writing. Amazing!

 
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SoundTechie said...
Mar. 18 at 7:41 am:

I love your writing style, and this story made me laugh out with sister like feelings. almost every girl out there, even the retardingly pretty have felt this way. im sure of it

 
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roxamania96 said...
Feb. 24 at 8:18 pm:

Your writing style is interesting and beautiful, with a hint of sarcasm and today's intriguing society. But more than anything, you are completely and 100% correct. I love the rawness of your words, the way that it seems so effortless. It's amazing. Write your heart out.

 
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MyFairyTaleEnding said...
Feb. 24 at 6:36 pm:

Woah! Your a really good writer! I honestly never thought like that...INSPIRATIONAL!!! Go You!!!

 
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Kimalima said...
Feb. 24 at 4:21 pm:

i bet ur really pretty. keep it up. the "pretty" girls wont get anywhere in 5 years, while you'll probably be selling books every day.

 
Sarbear replied...
Mar. 18 at 2:53 pm :

i totally agree!

 
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PeacePerson said...
Feb. 24 at 10:29 am:

You totally captured what probably 99% of the population of girls feels like at that point. Minus the 1% "naturally fake pretty" girls who just dont's care. And even then... Wow, great work.

 
Ebony_Rose replied...
Feb. 24 at 12:59 pm :

I like it...

 
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star_struck_93 said...
Feb. 24 at 9:06 am:

I really do like this! I agree with the whole thing

 
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DaniWill said...
Feb. 20 at 9:32 pm:

nice! i wish i could write like this. if this is your journal entry, it just further proves how great a writer you are!

 
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twiwrite said...
Feb. 16 at 2:53 pm:

bravo!!! true to the point!

 
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DallysGrrl said...
Feb. 10 at 7:15 pm:

Haha!! i luv it. i luv the way u write and the way ur so sarcastic. ur voice is, lik, poisonous. really great.

 
ѕтоямιε.♥ replied...
Feb. 12 at 7:37 pm :

wow, i agree with the "poisonous" thing!! (:
keep up the awesome work!! i want to read more!! :P

 
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maki:p said...
Feb. 2 at 8:39 pm:

That is really interesting and well written.

 
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live~en~livre said...
Feb. 2 at 8:27 pm:

Incrdible. I know it's a real journal entry but all the same.... it sounds sooo natural! The words flow so perfectly... gracefully. I LOVE it! Great job! Keep Writing!

 
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robrobrobin11 said...
Feb. 2 at 7:08 pm:

Amazing. Love it. GAH IT'S AWESOME. So raw, and effortless with wording that is insurmountably clever and cunning. I think we'd get along pretty darn well, you seem like a cool chick. lol.

 
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elizabethlaura said...
Feb. 2 at 6:52 pm:

this is absolutely amazing. one of my favorite pieces on TeenInk. I can't even express how much I love this piece. Oh, and that guy probably is too stupid to realize how amazing you are don't worry! amazing job!=]

 
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hlnpurple said...
Feb. 2 at 4:21 pm:

This is lovely. It's fresh, and interesting, a different look. I love it!

 
Classic W. replied...
Feb. 21 at 10:01 am :

True, it is fresh, and by lovely, if you say anger is beautiful, it is... in certain circumstances. And really? Your DIARY? I appologize for whatever pain you must be in for such a let down, and really, this doesn't make you sound like a cool person to hang out with. It's quite annoying. But, making amends, I wouldn't be able to put my diary on here, and can relate to that. Still, couldn't this have been said in a less... "I'm Tough And Am NOT Hurt... But I Am... (more »)

 
Bassoonkelley replied...
Feb. 24 at 9:28 pm :

Thank you for your honest opinion, you have no idea how much that means to me :) I'll admit that when I wrote this - I was barely sixteen - I was dramatic and starving for attention. However I disagree when it comes to me "toughening up." :) Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is allow yourself to be weak. To be weak and to really, genuinely feel things.

 
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SammiiSCREAMS said...
Feb. 2 at 8:07 am:

this is beautiful. ive never read anything as intresting as that

 
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Bassoonkelley said...
Feb. 1 at 8:43 pm:

Hi all :) Thank you for all of the constructive feedback! I'd just like to ask that if you're going to give my articles low ratings (continuously...) PLEASE please leave critique of some sort so that I can know what it is you don't like about it :)

 
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DEMON:DAIMON said...
Jan. 16 at 12:50 pm:

"The Color of The Inside of my Mouth" is creative, beautiful, heartbreaking, and honest. I admire the way you captured a moment as thus, and I feel that you have potential as a writer meant to teach and entertain. Ah, there is an overwhelming amount of female writers! Who will represent my gender, the gentlemen? Love, I truly like the story. Good luck! -DEMON Age:17

 
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DEMON:DAIMON said...
Jan. 16 at 12:46 pm:

What does the lovely audience think? -DEMON AGE:17 "Runaway" An excerpt Darkness descended until the neon lights reflected elusive colors into the slick shadows of the wet street. Rain slid down my guant features, and I grinned wryly as I played with the strings of my acoustic guitar rhythmically. I tilted my face towards the polluted skies, and leaned the contours of my thin body against the brick wall. The city, empty and barren, shunned my existence. People, clad in coats meant ... (more »)

 
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emmajumbilia said...
Jan. 11 at 11:48 pm:

Wow I really love this! My favorite part is the 'I most definetely am not crying about some stupid XY'.
Keep writing! :]

 
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MustLoveBeatles said...
Jan. 11 at 8:22 pm:

Okay, that was just great! I went through the same situation with a guy-friend that I really liked but he turned me down for a girl who should be advertising for Wal-Mart's makeup section, because she practically owns it.

 
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AvecAmour said...
Jan. 11 at 8:01 pm:

I bought the $0.99 Eyeliner. I wore it twice and never wore it again. I'd like to tell the girls who spend $100 on make up who end up looking like a clown.. that I feel sorry for them. To wear so much make up to feel your pretty is sad. It depresses me. Make Up is like making up that your something your really not.

 
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MadnessMethod said...
Jan. 11 at 6:49 pm:

i loved this its so awesome. so true :]

 
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rawr5 said...
Jan. 11 at 6:42 pm:

i know how you feel,guys can be 100% heartless.

 
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oliviarose said...
Jan. 11 at 5:24 pm:

That was really great! You should post more of those journal entries. Very funny and extremely well written. I would love to read more.

 
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stopcountinglies said...
Jan. 11 at 4:58 pm:

This is so amazing.
It's an interesting way to write in your journal.
You are definitely going to be big one day.
I love it.

 
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said...
Jan. 11 at 11:58 am:

I love that this is a diary exert. I can really see your true feelings in here. It's very real.

 
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Truthwillprevail said...
Jan. 11 at 11:29 am:

I don't think people share enough about what they really think and feel about stuff that nobody else thinks about. They sugar-coat things and act like they aren't what they are. People just don't want to be seen as uncool. My favorite thing to rave about is the 'cool factor' as I put it. Anyhow, great job.

 
weirdonpurpose replied...
Jan. 19 at 6:16 pm :

i second this. :) great job.

 
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Allure said...
Jan. 11 at 11:10 am:

I agree about how people just fix themslefs up and for what? so whales can give up there fat :) I love your writing style

 
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paulyyyyyyyB!!! said...
Jan. 11 at 8:40 am:

I really enjoyed reading your story. I liked how you compared it to teenages around us today. You did a good job of making us visualize just what was going on. You are a very talented writer. keep it up champ.

 
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Allegria-Starling said...
Jan. 11 at 7:36 am:

Wow... excerpt from your journal? That is a very interesting way to write!
Anyways, I really enjoyed it. So... touching. Somehow I feel I can relate to it.

 
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Wordy101 said...
Jan. 3 at 4:02 am:

Magnificent as always, m'girl. You never cease to amaze me. Beeteedoubleyou, I know you in real life, so this shouldn't come as a total, "what the heck??"

 
Wordy101 replied...
Jan. 3 at 4:19 am :

Whoops, sorry. Thought this was a different author! My bad! Still great work though. :D

 
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sillyaardvarkabc said...
Dec. 31, 2009 at 9:42 am:

Wow. I wish I could write half as good as you. You're probably busy writing but once my stories finish pending, could you read them? I seriously need a great writer. <3

 
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soccercrazy said...
Dec. 21, 2009 at 3:44 pm:

1] i'm real sorry for you for having a guy break your heart that you had put everything into. [2] you're an awesome writer to be able to cover up the real reason for writing for a long time and then reveal it slowly but surely until the reader got to the "centre of the tootsie pop." very good job. [3] you're a strong girl, so i don't think you need the expensive block-against--everything make-up. =) [4] keep writing. please.

 
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