Page 38 of Someone Just Followed You

‘I know there’s risk involved, Mom, but life isn’t just about brand deals. I have a platform now, and I want to use it for something better than selling rank smoothies or crap toys.’

‘I’m sorry, but when did you become such a self-serving little bitch?’

My whole body feels the impact of her words – Mom never swears at me. My muscles tense and my eyes burn. But I mustn’t cry. Mom has always been so good at redefining the truth, and convincing everyone else to believe it too. But I need to push back, to keep remembering how good it felt to be doing this for Ella.

‘I’m just doing what the church teaches us, helping others in need.’

I watch her expression darken. Mom has always been insecure about not being raised Mormon, and I know I’ve prodded her weak spot. I feel bad, but I need to do something to get her out of my room. Because the truth is, I am feeling a bit wobbly now. About how powerful Selena Hart is, and what she might do to us.

‘Well, if you think that ruining our reputation, bankrupting your own family, is God’s work, then I have no words.’ Mom twists to go – thank goodness – and I twitch as she slams the door behind her.

I snap Coco.

Did you see it?

She responds instantly.

Of course! You were great :)

Relief floods through me and I type again.

Bit worried I’ll get in trouble for saying that stuff about Selena.

I stare at my phone. Nothing. It’s nearly a minute before Coco responds, and my palms are sweaty when she finally does.

You’re on the right side of history, babe. So brave. I’m proud of you.

I know she’s trying to make me feel better, but it’s not working. Because I’m not sure I am that brave.

She snaps again.

Hey, have you seen TikTok? Your content is going crazy on there right now.

A mix of excitement and fear dance in my belly. I open TikTok and scroll through my For You page. At first, it’s the usual content – makeup sessions, dance routines, skateboarding tricks (okay, that’s new) – but then there’s a reel by an influencer I love, BrookebabeNYC, and she’s got a split screen with our YouTube video playing. She’s talking about Ella, and our new show, which is so cool. But she’s also saying that she’s heard Ella’s dead, maybe killed by Selena and Bodi.

I shake my head – Brooke is crazier than I thought; no one’s going to believe that – and swipe on. But a few videos later, there’s another one talking about me, Dylan and Ella. A guy I’ve never seen before. He believes Ella’s dead too, except he thinks she was killed by a stalker, a stalker who’d been freaking her out for a year before she disappeared, which is why she’d changed her style. But how the hell does he know that? He lives in Canada and records his content in a creepy-looking basement.

I keep swiping. More reels about our search for Ella pop up, plenty claiming she’s dead, but others just keen to get to the truth, like us. I read the comments too. Ella spotted in Mexico, Panama, Wisconsin, Alaska. It’s exciting, I think. All this interest, a sign of how much people care.

Exciting, for sure. So why is my stomach churning like an out-of-date milkshake?

Chapter 46

Kirsten

@Anonfrom>>0, TikTok

I live in Austin, and I heard that’s Ella’s dead, and that her parents know about it. But why keep that secret unless you’re the guilty party?

I lean over my vanity, wonder if the faint lines around my eyes now classify as wrinkles. Christ, I’m only thirty-six. But keeping this family in check is taking its toll, especially after the stunt Maple pulled yesterday. I’m looking out for another influencer. Honestly, how naïve can a nearly fifteen-year-old be? Although not so much when it comes to insulting me. Thinking to throw that church comment in my face.

And she’s still refusing to take the video down, a full twenty-four hours later, which is a lifetime on social media. Of course I’ve tried myself, but I can’t figure out a way of doing it. Which also feels wrong. Maple is a minor, for Christ’s sake; shouldn’t I have some kind of parental control over her new channel?

The bedroom door opens halfway, and Garrett’s face fills the gap. ‘We need to leave for church in five minutes; you’ll be ready?’

‘I will,’ I snap back. I know Maple’s rebellious behavior isn’t his fault, but it has distracted me from the conversation we need to have about getting the twins back online, so it feels like he’s complicit. Alongside Blake, who’s also let me down, ghosting me since I asked for the name of her modeling agency.

Garrett backs out of the room, the classic wounded animal, and I pick up my lip liner. But then my phone rings. I eye it suspiciously. It’s an unknown number, which means it will be a spam call, but maybe I am in the mood to be really shitty to someone, so I press to accept. ‘Yes?’