Page 52 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
Phoenix adjusts the camera, and they’re both back in the shot. “Okay, continue,” she whispers.
Katie folds her arms over her chest. “Find yourself another best friend to use. I’m out of here.” She marches out of the room.
“Katie!” Phoenix falls to her knees, clutching her heart. “Katie, don’t leave me!” She flattens herself on the floor until she’s out of sight.
It’s complete quiet.
Then she pops up and laughs at the camera. “Okay, that was fun. Katie!” She calls over her shoulder. “Come back.”
Katie also laughs when she returns. “We’re a little nutty.”
“But the viewers loved it!” Phoenix says as she reads the comments. “Especially you, Katie. Your acting was superb. You’re so good at improv.”
Her face grows a little pink. “I was just goofing off.”
“And she’s sooo humble,” Phoenix says to the camera.
“Stop.” Katie playfully shoves her.
I wonder if this video is still popular. It has a lot of views. I skim over the last few comments. Most are good, but there are a few that seem to be attacking Phoenix. Most of them are from a user called TheTman. And there’s a response to every one of them from a guy called LiamC.
I didn’t know Phoenix’s channel had so many haters. But I don’t think it bothers her that much—she’s always so fun and positive. I guess that goes with the territory, just like with the band. We have a lot of haters, too.
My phone rings. It’s the guy I’ve been talking to regarding the concert. He was supposed to get back to me with an answer any day now. Which means this phone call will either make the band’s dream come true, or crush it.
After clearing my throat, I answer it. My eyes grow wider and wider as he tells me we got it. The Rock E’s will be performing at a concert in two weeks.
“Thanks so much!” I say and hang up. Then I race to Ethan’s room to tell him the good news.
He’s playing a game on his computer, yelling at the screen when a group of zombies pounce on his character.
“Crap!” he groans when it’s game over. Bending forward, he types something.
I step into his room and am about to tell him the news, but I freeze in place when I catch sight of the game chat. He’s talking to someone called PhoenixFireBird and his username is LiamC? As in the guy defending Phoenix online?
“I didn’t know you’re LiamC. It’s cool how you stick up for Phoenix on her channel. But I thought you guys hate each other.”
He spins around on his chair. “What?”
I nod toward the screen, where PhoenixFireBird is playfully blaming him for their defeat. “You’re chatting to Phoenix. Are you guys friends now?”
His body stiffens and guilt passes over his face. “She…doesn’t know it’s me.”
I stare at him for a few seconds. “Wait, what? Why are you pretending to be someone else?”
He squeezes his eyes shut. “I don’t know.”
I plop down on his bed and I notice he’s got two phones on his desk. “You’ve been using a different number to contact her so she wouldn’t know it’s you?”
He nods, lips pressed together as he rubs a hand down his face.
“But why are you doing it?”
He shuts his eyes again for a second. “She was being bullied online and I couldn’t stand it. So I made a profile under the name LiamC to help her.”
I don’t say anything because I have no idea what to say. Then I turn to him. “You’re lying to her.”
“I know.”
