Third Person Pronoun

"Confident? Aggressive? Assertive? Oh, I know, how about sane?" she said.

"Stable? No, uhm... I don't quite know the right word for it." he said.

"Oh, OK, I'll go buy my second bottle of vodka" she said.

"Yeah, go on" the other she said.

*comes back with a bottle of vodka in hand*

"Self-assured! Yes. That is why you seem so self-assured" he said.

Oops, one of the highest compliments in her vocabulary. 

Silence. 

Don't go there. 

Too much, too soon. 

Think of another topic to talk about.

Let's just say that she seem so self-assured, as you call it, because:

-She is able to voice out her opinions simply because she knows that she's entitled to them. She is also able to ask uncomfortable questions and her ideas "go against the grain" at times because she does not hold back. More often than not, her untamed tongue brings harm but she likes standing in harm's way since she is aware that it's a good way to learn. America has a word for it - a bitch, that's what.

-She knows her worth. She doesn't find pleasure in putting down other people (especially their physical traits) because she respects the uniqueness of each individual. She has a good grasp of her limitations but she continues to push them, just not too far right away.

-She is open-minded and there is beauty in an open mind.

-Still, her demons can keep up with her. It's not because they're strong but because they're ever so cunning; they mastered the art of proper timing. They chase after her in her dreams, in her alone time, and when she's pissed with alcohol. In those times, she succumbs to them. 

-Her set of sins may be far different from yours, but they are sins nonetheless.

-She appears so self-assured because she is friends with her own demons and because she is constantly striving to master her set of sins. Also because, and especially because her walls are high up again, or so it seems. Dare to inch closer and "self-assured" would be the least adjective you'd associate her with. But then, please don't dare.