Page 61 of Make Me Laugh

Comment: I think at least 1,000 of these views are from me

Comment: Who’s writing this book? I’ll preorder it RIGHT NOW!

Comment: Anyone else really sad Hex got doxxed? Hope she’s okay!

There’s an assortment of bookish accounts who comment something similar.

Some defend against people blaming West, while others dog me for all sorts of reasons, but the biggest question people want answered is, are West Parker and HexedHeroine dating?

I come across candid pictures of myself throughout the weekend in the comments. In the yellow dress at the bar after night one, in the black mini coming out of the club after night two.

It’s jarring, going from being masked to having my face plastered all over with the name Josette Daniels attached to Hex.

I’m not sure if the complexity of this situation has hit me yet or when it will, but I’m back to feeling semi-numb as I continue to peruse our accounts.

My DMs are as I expect them to be: messy and overrun.

Before I exit though, a profile picture catches my eye. I tap on it so fast my phone doesn’t catch the urgency, and I have to tap again.

It’s the girl who posted the video, and the message is from Saturday—the morning it went viral.

HanahJane99: Hi Hex, I’m Hanah. I understand if you read this message, never respond, and block me, but I needed to personally apologize for what’s happening.

I’ve been a fan of West’s since his first Boston show last year. I thought the interaction between the two of you was electric and maybe he’d get some views from it. I truly had no idea who you were, and figured if you were an influencer with a big following, it wouldn’t matter if people recognized you… I realize now it absolutely did matter, and I might have ruined someone’s life.

I’m so so so so so so sorry.

I click on her profile picture, navigating to the video of her super cute and fluffy dog. It’s got five million views with thousands of comments tearing her apart.

I rest my hands in my lap, sighing. “Fuck.”

It was an accident. It wasn’t done with malicious intent. It was a young fan hoping to give their favorite comedian exposure, and now she’s being bullied on the internet by people who have taken my silence as a need to protect me.

I lock my phone screen, get off the couch, and cross the apartment to my second bedroom. I open the closet door, flip the light on, plug my phone in at the desk, and turn some music on.

I can’t wait any longer to take Marcia’s advice.

It’s time to take my power back.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

THE ONE WITH THE BROOMSTICK

HexedHeroine: I wonder if West Parker will notice the Hex he picked up in Boston

Comment: EVERYONE WAKE UP!!! HEX POSTED!!!

Comment: Omg OMG she’s going on tour with him?

Comment: is this their soft launch?

Comment reply: SOFT launch? I’m HARD!

I lose count of how many times I’ve let Joey’s newest video play on loop somewhere around the tenth time she walks back onto the screen.

The room’s lighting outlines the silhouette of her body in a purple neon glow, the shadows of her room hugging the curve of her hips in a way I wish I could. The lights act as a mask—keeping her face hidden.

She’s wearing this long black dress with twin slits up the legs to her hips. Her upper thighs are wrapped in leather straps, the black corset around her torso has me staring at her chest for at least one entire loop.