I like your new username. Reminds me of how terribly embarrassed I am about my own. In my defense, this account is over fifteen years old, and teenagers cannot be held accountable for their actions. At this point, I can’t change it because of how many subscribers I have. That sounded braggy, but I didn’t mean it that way.
You have inspired me. After our last message, I continued work on a novel I started years ago. No more wasting time. I’m finishing this baby!
Humblyyours,
FreddyStan4Life
* * *
From:BefuddledBrit
To: FreddyStan4Life
I’m thrilled to hear you’re writing a novel. I look forward to reading it. You should brag. It’s impressive. As is your writing.
Plus, isn’t boasting a requirement as an American? I picture you as wearing a ten-gallon cowboy hat and snakeskin boots, driving your massive truck. That’s what you all do, right?
I most certainly would not like to be compared to my sixteen-year-old self.
Speaking of usernames, who is Stan?
BefuddledBrit
* * *
From:FreddyStan4Life
To: BefuddledBrit
Sweet, sweet summer child,
WHEN I TELL YOU I AM CACKLING. Have you not heard of Google? Maybe the technology hasn’t reached your neck of the woods. I’ll save you the trouble. “Stan” is not a specific person but rather “an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan.”
My mocking has backfired. I’m even more embarrassed now. Remember, I WAS SIXTEEN. (Have I just aged myself?) Thankfully, he (the actor, Charles Downing) hasn’t been outed as a perv like so many of my childhood idols. And actually, as the years pass, I respect him more than the character he played. Sorry for laughing at (with?) you. I forget that you’re relatively new to this whole world of obsessive fandoms. But wherehaveyou been? Did you watchTerraFormative? I imagine you did, if you happened upon my stories and found them the least bit interesting.
Hey, not all Americans! But maybe all Texans. I’m in Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes, baby! Also, perpetually freezing. It’s March, so we’ve had six(?) straight months of snow now, and I’m absolutely OVER IT.
Hiding in shame,
FreddyStan4life (ugh. I hate this username now)
PS: I just decided that you can call me Kate. It’s not a big secret because my social media accounts are linked. And I would feel better if you’d picture me accurately and not dressed in that deplorable American uniform.
PPS: That doesn’t mean you have to tell me your name. And you certainly don’t need to picture me. That didn’t come out right. I should probably stop typing now.
PPPS: Okay, last thing. Here’s my email ([email protected]) if you ever want to try talking that way. FanFavz is known to crash randomly and is not very user-friendly.
4
Charlie
I stared at the screen.It was after two in the morning, and I needed to get sleep.
And yet …
I wiped a hand over my mouth. My smile was embarrassing enough, but this jittery anticipation was worse. I hadn’t expected FreddyStan4Life, orKateas she said I could call her, to respond. I definitely hadn’t expected her to be so funny and charming. And why not? Her stories were smartly written and had pockets of humor delicately woven in. Of course, she would be as equally charming in her conversation.
Her conversation withme.
