“So, is that a yes?” Dove was still looking at me, no idea about everything this was bringing back up. I tried to never think about it.

At first the comments had been normal stuff, but then it became DMs, and then it became personal. Stuff about me. About my brother.

Things a stranger wouldn’t know. Things only Clara would know.

I’d been a wreck when I’d seen the notification on her phone and figured it out. And worst of all, I still had no idea why she’d done it. She said it was a joke, that she could explain, but it didn’t feel like it. It felt like she’d hated my account being more successful and hated that it had been her idea that had kicked it all off. So I’d told her I didn’t want to hear what she had to say—ever again—and closed my account. End of our friendship, end of @NoWayNoelle. I never told Nick I’d figured out it was her; he just thought the trolling had gotten too much, and I guess everyone just assumed me and Clara had grown apart because of the move.

One of the last things I’d told Clara was that I’d be back better than before, even though I hadn’t believed it myself. But now it was all I wanted to do. That was one of the reasons I’d said I was going to hit 30k on my new account—she didn’t follow me, but I knew she’d be watching. Just like I did with her. Lurking was a two-way street.

“Oh, and did I mention that the losers have to close their accounts?” Dove’s words snapped me back into the room. “Tension, right?!”

Wait. What?! Talk about a mic drop.

So I’d either win and get all I wanted for Christmas, or crash and burn in front of everyone. In front of Clara.

Was it a risk I could really take?

“Absolutely.” I heard myself saying it, before I even knew I’d decided. “Count me in.” What was I doing?! “But be warned, I’ll be in it to win it.” And why was I digging myself in so deep?! “I’m aiming for 30k followers by Christmas.”

Dove chewed her lip. “Interesting…you might just have given me an idea…”

But Mom and Dad had had enough of yelling and chose this moment to come and get me. Dove turned on the full parent-meeting charm, asking all about the UK, as my mind spun with what I’d just gotten myself into.