Page 24 of Someone Just Followed You

‘Sponsors want me to win skateboarding comps. Brands want me to wear their clothes, or eat their snacks, or drink their rancid protein shakes. Everyone wants to throw money at me, so Dad’s happy. But it’s not my dream.’

‘So what is?’

He hesitates, like he’s not sure whether to trust me. I can’t blame him for that, I suppose. I do share DNA with my mom. ‘Can you keep this between us?’ he eventually asks.

‘One hundred percent.’

‘Okay so my dream is to go to Columbia University to study law. I want to be a human rights lawyer.’

‘Wow.’ So he’s hot, sporty and clever. ‘That’s really cool.’

He sighs. ‘Maybe, but I doubt it will happen. My mom’s knowledge of the senior school curriculum is pretty sketchy. I’m trying to do stuff myself – there’s resources online, that’s what I was listening to when you asked earlier; dull, hey? – but it’s hard to find the time with all the filming Dad makes me do.’

‘Can’t you just tell him that? That you’ve got other, worthier, aspirations? I mean, a human rights lawyer?’

‘He tells me to be grateful for what I’ve got,’ Dylan says, shrugging like it’s not a big deal, but also looking away, like it is. ‘That we need the money now, and being a lawyer takes too long, end of discussion. But I’ve got a few years to figure it out; I’m not giving up yet.’

‘It’s funny,’ I murmur. ‘I never think about dads being pushy too.’

‘So yours isn’t?’

‘God, no. He’s not a fan of social media, period. But he doesn’t dare cross Mom.’

Dylan looks thoughtful. ‘You’re his little girl though, aren’t you? And your mom’s latest post, I dunno, it’s pretty suggestive, isn’t it? Everyone’s got a breaking point; maybe this will turn out to be your dad’s.’

I lie back, absorb Dylan’s words, and wonder if he’s right. If Dad might finally decide to fight for me. Or if he’ll even bother to watch it.

Chapter 30

Kirsten

I had a feeling that inviting Dylan Dope to stay would turn out to be one of my better ideas. And when I saw the two of them lying next to each other on the loungers, I knew the moment was worth recording. But I could not have predicted that they would lean toward each other like that, or how wild the response would be to my little stretching of the truth. The video has gone viral on every channel. And especially TikTok where there are already thousands of memes mimicking their FIRST KISS!!

I’m so proud of myself. Spotting the opportunity. Tweaking the narrative to give it some clickbait spice. I just hope that Maple is pleased too, that she doesn’t go into a hormone-induced sulk about me adjusting reality. But she knows we’re in the post-truth era now, that if we limit ourselves to fact, we’ll always be at a disadvantage. Anyway, no one cares whether Dylan and Maple are actually dating – it’s the drama that matters, and if we do this right, we can keep it going for months, maybe even years.

I reach for the coffee pot and pour myself a second cup – life is good this morning, and I need to celebrate somehow. Even Garrett’s bringing the twins home early. After my voice message yesterday, he sent me a curt text agreeing to cut his trip short, while warning me that we needed to have a serious conversation. It’s a win in my book. I can film the twins opening those airplane launcher toys this afternoon, which will keep Maddie quiet. And Garrett’s serious conversation will just mean listening to him whine for ten minutes, then reminding him that he’s unemployed and doesn’t get a vote.

I scroll through the comments on YouTube, but there are so many exclamation marks and emojis that it’s dizzying, so I give up, and click into my email instead. Considering Maple has almost two million followers, I get very little email traffic from YouTube – I suppose that mode of communication is as outdated as actual mail to Gen Alpha – and the ones I do get are generally trying to sell me something. But this morning there’s one with a subject header that gets my attention.

Modeling opportunity.

I open the email.

Hey Kirsten,

Thanks for your time; I hope you’re having a good day.

I run a modeling agency with my business partner, and we represent some of the world’s most successful models, both photographic and catwalk. I came across your daughter, Maple Clark, via her Instagram profile, and noticed that she has recently worked on a campaign for Azione. I appreciate she is a minor, which is why I am contacting you rather than Maple directly, but if Maple is keen on developing her modeling career, could you please send four or five profile pictures, so that I can discuss her future representation with my business partner?

Please send these via Telegram (details below) to protect Maple’s privacy.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Blake

My skin tingles. I read the email a second time, feel the corners of my mouth stretch high and wide. This good day is getting even better. Maple is going to be a model! I always knew she had the potential, but there are so many beautiful girls out there, I wasn’t sure she’d rise to the surface. But she has. It’s there, in black and white.

Azione was only the start for Maple, just as I predicted.