Emmitt falters on the steps, looking at me. “Do you want to wait out here? My apartment is a disaster. I’ll only be like twenty minutes.”

I shrug. “Sure,” I say and sit down on the stone steps. “Take longer than twenty minutes, and I’ll sell your camera on the black market.”

He scoffs. “No one would buy it.”

“Wouldn’t they?” I raise my brows. “I’ve seen people buy Harry Styles’s vomit.”

Emmitt’s entire face screws up. “Maybe you have a point.”

I wave him off. “Go take your shower, dickhead.”

He nods in acquiescence, then hops up the stairs and heads inside the apartment building. I busy myself on Twitter, typing Emmitt’s name into the search bar.

Emmitt Ramos Updates @EmmittRamosUA:

Emmitt Ramos was spotted in NYC earlier today by a fan. He is reportedly filming for a new movie.

crystal @emmittsramos:

omg was emmitt really with a girl??? do we know who she is

fariha @anakinskywalked:

A FAN THREW A DRINK AT EMMITT? IM CRYING ASKFJALFAF

gen @cosmicmoonlight:

oh my god why are some of you SO ENTITLED WTF emmitt is allowed to hang out with a girl without you ASSAULTING HIM?????? fucking weirdos

mana @shatteredplaces:

OK WAIT WHAT IS THIS ABOUT EMMITT BEING BLOND I’M ABOUT TO D WORD

lav @emmittluvr:

omg emmitt was taking pictures????? when I say he’s the softest boy on the planet I’m <3 <3 <3

kris @tomhollandoscar:

okay but WHOMST was the girl with emmitt omg. a co-star. a gf. what goes on my dudes

michelle @lisasemmitt:

HELLOOOOOO DID SOMEONE SAY BLOND EMMITT WE FINALLY WON LADIES #EMMITT1STWIN

val @bisexualramos:

alexa play that_should_be_me.mp3 I WANNA GO ON A DATE WITH EMMITT RAMOS IN NEW YORK CITY whose dick do I have to suck to make this happen

I close out of the app after reading that one, my eyes wide in alarm. A date?

I push that thought away, instead focusing on what’s more important. While there are no pictures of Emmitt circulating the internet, the information that he’s in New York City paired with him being blond doesn’t bode well for keeping his identity a secret.

I suppose it was just a matter of time anyway. He’s been around for almost three weeks without getting caught—barring the Saturday Night Live incident—which is already more than I expected. I’m more surprised that no one else in film club has realized.

Except...now that I’m thinking back on the way some of the students in film club watch Emmitt, I’m doubting myself. They often hang on to his every word, swarming him when they have the chance, almost hero-worshipping him. I had it down to his charismatic personality, but...

I groan, holding my head in my hands. Of course they know. How did I expect any different?