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He squeezes me close to his chest, pressing his cheek to mine. “I feel the exact same way.”
***
We work on the code for a few hours. School is out and my friends text me how their day was and ask if I’m okay. I text back that I am. They also tell me that everyone is talking about me and the app, which isn’t shocking. But now that Colt and I have created something great, I don’t really care what they’re saying. Sure, I feel bad for the couples I broke up, but there isn’t much I can do about that. If they love each other, then their love should get them through this.
As Colt and I work, I notice his jaw is clenched as he scrolls through his phone.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Just some idiots being jerks on Spill It!.”
“Is it about me?”
He nods. “Sorry. You shouldn’t have to see this.”
“Pretty sure I can handle it.” I hold out my hand.
He hesitates. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Willow.”
“I’ll be fine. If they’re talking crap about me, I want to know.”
He holds my gaze for a few seconds, then reluctantly places his phone in my hand.
I scan the posts written about me. Most are along the lines of me being a fraud, and about the app breaking couples apart. That I have an agenda to tear the school apart and make everyone’s lives miserable because my life is miserable. Um, no my life is actually amazing.
The comments get worse, many calling me ugly or an ugly person. And other terrible things. But I just laugh it off because I’m confident in myself to not let their words bother me. I know I’m cute and I know I’d beat any of them in a trivia competition, so yeah…where will they be in ten years and where will I be?
I continue laughing. “Listen to this one. ‘Willow Park has got to be the most grotesque person I have ever seen in my life. No guy would ever touch that, and rightfully so. Just look at her. She’s gross with those ugly glasses and that boring, greasy hair. But the worst part? That we need to look at that hideous thing as she walks down the school hallway with the most good-looking guy at school. That creature has no right to claim him. No right at all. Willow Park, leave poor innocent Colton alone.’”
I laugh again as I roll my eyes. “Can you believe—?”
Colt shoots to his feet, his hands fisted at his sides, and he marches around my room like he doesn’t know what to do with himself. It’s like he wants to punch a wall but is holding himself back.
“Colt, what’s wrong?”
He whirls around to face me, raking his hand through his hair and pulling at the strands. “How can you sit there and pretend that doesn’t bother you?” His voice is steady, but it’s filled with anger and frustration. Not at me, though.
“Why should it bother me? They’re just stupid kids whose opinions don’t matter to me.”
He faces the wall and shuts his eyes, releasing a frustrated breath.
“Why are you so upset,” I ask. “This affects me, not you. But you’re acting as though you’re the one under attack instead of me.”
He walks back to me, plowing his fingers through his hair some more. “I can’t stand it. I just can’t.” He plops down on his desk chair and bends forward. “Ican’t.”
I wheel my chair closer to him. “Why does this upset you so much? You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine.”
He glances up, his eyes pained. “You’re pretending that it doesn’t bother you, but I know it does.”
“No, actually, it doesn’t. I know those kids are just trying to get back at me because of the app. I have my friends and my family. As far as I’m concerned, they don’t exist.”
He releases another breath and shakes his head.
“Colt.” I place my hand on his back. “What’s going on? If you’re worried about me, I’m telling you I’m okay. Please don’t get worked up over this.”
He sits up and shakes his head at me. “You can’t just ignore their words. You might think you’re okay now, but they’ll come back to haunt you. They’ll eat away at you slowly, chipping your heart. And then you’ll be lost and alone and you’ll hate yourself.”
I just stare at him. “Colt, what are you—?”
