Page 53 of Someone Just Followed You

‘Oh, babe, I’m so happy you called,’ she says, sounding relieved as she accepts my video call. ‘How are you doing?’

‘I’m good, thanks.’

‘You are?’ She looks confused. ‘I thought that post from Selena Hart might have sent you spiraling. Not that it should,’ she adds quickly. ‘But she’s such a manipulative bitch.’

‘Yeah, well, it did throw me a bit when I first saw it,’ I admit. ‘But Dylan made me see things differently.’

‘Oh?’

‘He reminded me that the alternative was letting pedos get away with their gross behavior.’

‘Well, he’s a smart guy.’ She tips her head. ‘You like him, don’t you?’

I shrug, look away. But the smile creeps back. ‘Maybe. I mean, he’s cool, isn’t he? And gorgeous. And a genuinely good person. But the really crazy thing is that he seems to like me too.’

‘Sounds like someone’s got a crush.’

I risk looking at the screen and see that Coco’s eyes are shining with a mix of humor and pride. ‘Do you think I’ve got a chance?’ I ask in a whisper.

‘A chance?’ She shakes her head. ‘Damn, you’re so pookie. The dude would be lucky to have you.’ Then her expression softens. ‘I’m really happy for you, babe. I think you’d make a great couple.’

I curl my fingers into a heart in gratitude. ‘Not that anything’s going to happen anytime soon, with Dylan in St George and me in Provo. But we’re finding Ella together, and that’s making us closer. Especially now Selena Hart’s trying to invent a whole new truth.’

At that, Coco’s expression changes. She suddenly looks sad. ‘What did I say?’ I ask.

She sighs. ‘Listen, Maple, there’s something I need to tell you.’

‘Oh?’

‘After our call the other day,’ Coco goes on, her voice more muffled, like her hand is covering her mouth now. ‘You know, when we found Ella’s pictures. Well, I guess I couldn’t stop thinking about it. About how AI means that just being known on social media puts you at risk of gross stuff happening to you.’

‘Why are we talking about this?’ My heart is booming, but my voice is tiny.

‘Because I went on the dark web this morning.’

‘But your parents …’

‘This is more important.’ Coco exhales and it judders out. ‘Looking out for my friend.’

‘Ella’s not your friend,’ I whisper.

‘I found your image on some of those sites, Maple. Your face anyway. On naked bodies. I’m so sorry.’

I feel a strange sensation, something vile and disgusting, like a million eyes stripping away my clothes. I drop my face into my knees, pull myself into the smallest ball, feel hot tears against bare skin. I can hear Coco saying my name, asking if I’m okay, apologizing, over and over.

I should say something. But I can’t speak.

I rip out my AirPods, feel them slip through my fingers, then listen to them skitter along the sidewalk below me.

Chapter 62

Maple

@RubyRoccsVox, TikTok

Me, I love that tattoo, but Selena Hart would have hated it, don’t you think? Tainting her sweet little girl with black ink like that? Maybe that’s what they were fighting about on the night she left #findElla

I stare into the mirror of my vanity and wonder about going back to bed. But I’m not sure I even have the energy to do that. Since that video call with Coco two days ago, I’ve barely done anything. I make food I can’t eat, spend hours in bed but can’t sleep. I scroll through my phone without even noticing the content. All I can think about is Coco’s words. And how her sympathy somehow made it all worse.