The World Through Her Eyes: How 11-Year-Old Veronica Thinks About Relationships and Romantic Storylines

2. Why Can’t They Just Talk?

Most romantic dramas could be over in five minutes if the characters just used their words. Character A: "I think you’re mean." Character B: "Actually, I’m just shy."

At exactly 8:47 PM on a Tuesday, 11-year-old Veronica shuts her math textbook with a decisive thud. She isn’t thinking about fractions or the upcoming science quiz. Instead, she pulls up the blanket on her bed, grabs her tablet, and scrolls past three action movies to land on a teen drama. She knows the plot by heart: The two leads almost kiss in the rain, misinterpret a text message, and finally confess their feelings at a school dance.

( Riverdale/Archie Comics ): Famous for her long-standing "on-again, off-again" relationship with Archie Andrews