As for the rest, especially about my father, I don’t think truer words have ever been written. At least by me.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter

TWENTY-TWO

It doesn’t work.

Even though my statement has been read by countless reporters, more are now standing outside my home and school. A few have been camped out at the police station.

So much for giving me my privacy.

The past twenty-four hours could best be described as a media tsunami.

And because I’ve turned into some kind of masochist, I can’t get enough of it.

I refused Marian’s offer to stay home from school to keep me company, because I don’t want anybody to see how I live now. Despite Grandma Gleason’s request yesterday, I haven’t showered. I haven’t gotten out of my pajamas.

Last night at dinner neither Marian nor her parents had the heart to tell me how disgusting I must be. I shoved food into my mouth without tasting. I woke up today to find pockets of acne had popped up on my chin and forehead.

I look nothing like that age-progressed image of me that has been dominating the news cycle. Granted, I don’t really look much like myself from a week ago, either.

And I keep googling. Oh, how I keep googling. Since this girl they talk about, this Amanda Linsley, doesn’t share anything with me—especially a name or face—it’s easier to believe it’s not me. It’s like watching a telenovela, with the absence of cleavage and hot men.

Ugh. “Hot men” leads my mind to wander to Neil. I’ve been ignoring his e-mails and texts. I’ve made it very clear to Marian that I don’t want to see anybody. I do mean anybody. If Neil came over, I’d lock myself in my—well, Susan’s room.

Yeah, the fact that I’m not an adult has been very apparent the past couple of days.

Fox News was outside the school trying to get people to comment about me. Dana, of all people, approached the reporter with her hair done and full makeup.

“What can you tell us about the student?” the reporter asked as he shoved the microphone in Dana’s face.

She smiled at the camera like she was enjoying herself. “You know, there always was something off about her dad.”

Discovering this scoop clearly excited the reporter. “How so?”

“Well—” But Dana never got another word out. Neil showed up in the frame and pulled Dana off camera.

“Hey!” the reporter called out.

“Interview’s over,” Neil shouted at him. His hand obstructed the view of the school, and it appeared as if he tried to knock the camera down. The feed was quickly cut, and they’ve avoided going live ever since.

The clip has gone viral, and I keep replaying it.