“No, I mean, I don’t know what you said. Now what?” I completely zoned out and tuned her out.
“You’re going to help me be an influencer. I want all your contacts, and I want shout-outs.”
“What?” I say.
She snickers. “Jesus, Cecily. Pay the fuck attention to what I’m saying!”
“I heard you, but are you serious?”
“I’m dead serious.”
“No,” I blurt. “I’ve been building my contacts since we were in high school. I’m not going to hand them over. And I’m on contract with my agency. Get yourself a following, get an agent, and do the damn work. Nothing’s free.”
She FaceTimes me, so I answer. She’s running through her mansion, looking youthful as hell with all her daddy’s money.
“Hey, Dane?” she calls out.
He answers, so she walks up the stairs.
“You’re not doing what I think you’re doing?” I whisper. “Are you insane?”
“Yeah?” Dane says. She faces the phone to him, and my heart skips a beat. Slicked back hair, hooded eyes, perfect lips, blue eyes. “Cecily?” He yanks the phone from her hands and walks away as she shouts at him to give it back. “Have you heard my sister’s cut off? Poor little thing can’t get herself under control.”
“Fuck you!” Alix shouts. “Give me back my fucking phone!”
“Fine,” Dane laughs.
When Alix comes back on the screen, I say, “Okay, I’ll do it. Why didn’t you tell me? I had no idea.”
“Why would I tell you when you’re living the perfect life?” she scoffs. “You’re about to have your degree. You have a successful business. You have friends. And what am I doing? Living off my parents? I need to make what you’re making. I need my own money.” She starts crying.
I sit down on my couch. “Shit, I’m sorry, Alix. I had no idea. And hey, my life’s not perfect.”
She whisper-yells at me as she walks back outside, “Yes, you fucking are! Don’t take it for granted, or I will drive over there to slap some sense into you!”
That makes me laugh. I have to laugh because she’s right. But I am grateful, and I am downplaying it for her.
The call ends, and I’m left in my empty apartment, remembering what it was like to hang out at her pool all day. Those are my core memories—a rich best friend with her hot older brother.
I scroll through Instagram, through Dane’s profile. He doesn’t post much, but he doesn’t need to. He’s the hottest guy ever toroam this earth. Usually, guys with money are deadbeat ugly, but not this one. He’s perfectly built with a towering height. Though not as tall as these hockey players. But he’s tall with good style. I’ve never seen him disheveled. If there were anyone put on this earth for me, it would be Dane.
Alix: Send me those contacts.
I stare at her message until it disappears. I wish I hadn’t told her my secret when she had been hiding her own. I hate distance. I hate that she thinks my life’s put together because of social media. I hate that I’ve become a person on a pedestal to all my friends and family. I’m not famous. I’m not remarkably rich. I sure as hell am still human.
Instead of doom scrolling, I get up and start making myself lunch. I’m starving, so I pull out leftover chicken from last night’s dinner and heat it up. I cook some greens and rice, mix a sauce, and scarf down the whole bowl.
I take a nap on my couch, then start on my schoolwork. I have a few assignments due on Monday.
See.
I’m normal.
I’m just a girl in college with a following, doing normal girl stuff.
17
Dylan
