“That’s why you need Kylie and Lil.” Seeming satisfied with my strap placement, she started walking again. “They live for drama. They make creating content easy.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to be friends with them,” I practically squealed, my heart pounding in anticipation. Kylie and Lil were my celebrities. I’d obsessed over their Network feeds for years. Lily became famous when she was an adorable toddler, cheering her dad on at his football games. Now she was an Olympics-bound gymnast. And Kylie was a tastemaker with a hot body and her own swimsuit line that she loved to model.

They were everything I wanted—and needed—to be. Killing it, trading at Ä56, which was less than my debut price but more than anyone else on the exchange. Besides, my price was fake. My dad had a deal with some of his corporate buddies, who promised to buy into me to drive up my price—which was totally illegal—but I wasn’t supposed to know that. I’d overheard my parents discussing it when I was hiding under the dining room table during one of their famous dinners. They partied with everyone—Influencers, rock stars, politicians, priests, corporate big shots—and I was never invited.

But that didn’t stop me from attending in secret anyway. Eavesdropping was my favorite pastime—I craved the rush that came with being on the brink of discovery—and I recorded everything I overheard in my Book of Secrets.

“You’re not friends yet,” Deena said with a sideways glance that said chill out. “But I think you’ll be okay as long as you do what I say. Here’s how it is. We promote one another. That means reposting, commenting, and complimenting the squad on your Network feeds—talk about how lucky you are to have such great besties. And keep everything positive. A win for one of us is a win for us all. It’s our job to build one another up.”

“I can do that.” I nodded.

We arrived at the Self-Awareness classroom, and she lowered her voice as we entered. “And most importantly, stay away from Adam. He’s Lil’s. And trust me. You want to stay on her good side.”

I flinched at the bitterness in her voice, but she didn’t give me time to ask for more info.

The classroom was furnished with bohemian knitted rugs, tufted floor cushions, and dozens of throw pillows. On the far side of the space, long reclaimed wood tables were arranged in a square, so the seats faced one another. Bypassing the lounge, Deena led me to the back of the room, where two girls watched us approach, eyes snaking over my body.

They were so flawless I wondered if I was looking through a filter. Bronzer sparkled on Kylie’s high cheekbones, highlighting her tawny skin, and her luxe brown hair perfectly framed her face, while Lily’s cloud of curly black hair contrasted with her wide, sky-blue eyes, making them pop. Or maybe it was the judgment in them that pierced me.

“Hey babes, this is Ella, who I was telling you about,” Deena said, dragging me to a stop. “Ella, this is Kylie and Lily.”