Page 93 of Subscriber Wars

I shrug. “They were all different, but the one consistent trick used was bandage wraps to strap down their tits.”

Maverick releases this loud and hearty belly laugh. “Dude, I’m impressed. I’ve never known anyone to get one over on you, much less me.”

It was impressive. I’ve always been able to acknowledge that much but what gnawed at me was the fact Itrulybelieved she was Tweener, my friend and someone I desperately missed once he was gone.

“So why are you over here and not at home?”

I stare out at the parking lot. “Can’t I just have a beer with my friend?” I’m not in the mood to tell him about Vee saying she loved me.

Maverick scoffs. “Sure, but I’ve never known you to turn down stalking your neighbor for having a beer with me.” Maverick doesn’t drink, but he likes to sit on his balcony and pour out his beers. It’s weird. I can’t explain it, other than to say it was one of those quirks I was talking about.

I exhale a deep breath. “I’m leaving. What am I supposed to do?”

Maverick picks at the label of his beer. “What do you want to do?”

Any other time I would talk to Tweener, or T as I called her, about my conundrum, but not tonight. Tonight is different.

“Our video has over two million views in the past twelve hours,” I state. “The producers already called me. We won.”

“I’m not seeing how that’s a bad thing.”

“It’s not. It’s just—” It doesn’t feel like a win. A win should have been celebrated with Vee and shots of moonshine. Instead, she’s not speaking to me.

“I’m proud of you, dude,” Maverick says. “This is something you’ve wanted for a long time. I’m just wondering why you don’t seem more excited. Perhaps it has something to do with a former cameraman.”

I’ll never admit that I love her to Maverick. I’ll never admit that I’m contemplating staying and finishing my degree just to see where things take us, since she’s no longer pretending to be my cameraman or girlfriend.

“Maybe I’m just in shock” is all I say.

“Yeah, and maybe you’re in love.”

My bags are packed, and I’ve sent Vee a couple of congratulatory texts which she promptly replied with a thumbs up. Maybe her ignoring me is for the best. If she didn’t mean what she said, then there’s no reason for me to stay. We’ll still be friends, even with two thousand miles between us. I struggled with walking next door and telling her I loved her too, but she never turned on her light, and I took that as a sign. But I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye.

So there, on her back patio, sits her chair with a fucked-up bow on the top. I didn’t know how to tie one and MyView, although helpful, could not teach me any bow tying techniques.

“You want me to drive you to the airport?”

I don’t answer Rowan immediately. Instead, I look down at the contents of my duffle bag. It’s minimal, only clothes and the flannel top Vee once wore when we did that stupid dance. All my stuff—including my film memorabilia—is packed away in a storage facility, so my sister can rent this place out to the next college kid who wants to take on a thieving neighbor.

I swallow, feeling a bout of panic flare up. It feels like I’m abandoning my entire life, and I guess I am, but this is what I wanted, right? This was the whole point of entering the contest in the first place. To get away? To start over? To do what I wanted? But now, it doesn’t really feel like something I want. I’m sure once I leave, it’ll be fine. I just need to do it. Rip off the Band-Aid.

“Nah. Thanks, though,” I tell him with a pat on the shoulder. “I think I’ll just take an Uber. I need to handle a couple of things first.” Like watching Vee for a few more minutes before I leave her forever.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

I look at myFast and the Furiousfriend and shake my head. “Yeah, I’m good.”

Not that I think Rowan will cry or ask to hug me, but I don’t know what to say to my friend of four years. I’m leaving, and I won’t be graduating with him in a couple more months. Stupid, I know, but I’ve never been one to make great decisions. I don’t care that I’m close to graduating with a business degree. Business can go fuck itself. I don’t want a desk job and a monotonous future. I want to see the world. I want to live the life I’ve always dreamed about.

“Alright, man.” He holds his hand out for me to shake. “I’ll see you around.”

We both know that’s a lie, but I nod anyway. “Yeah. Behave yourself. Don’t let Mav take all your money.”

Fucker knows he sucks at poker.

He grins and shakes his head. “Take care of yourself, man.”

His voice turns serious, and I know this is the last time I’ll see him. If everything works out, I’ll never come back to Georgia, at least while Rowan is still in school.

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