Chapter 24 Keeley #2
At Jane’s urging, Mary Kate settles onto the goldenrod velvet sectional in the living room.
Jane sits tentatively across from her on the perpendicular couch piece, and Valerie takes the spot at Jane’s other side.
Riker sits next to Mary Kate—the traitor—but I just stand against the wall, crossing my arms to face our visitor. Caleb joins me, looking just as wary.
He’s never trusted the press either, and for plenty of good reasons.
“Riker texted me for advice,” Mary Kate says. “I’m not here for a story.”
“Prove it,” I say.
I expect a strong reaction, but Mary Kate simply nods.
“After what you’ve just been through, I understand your concern.
” She pulls up something on her phone, then stands and hands it to me.
“Here’s the Buzzword ethical journalism policy, which prohibits us from publicly outing someone without their consent.
If and when Jane decides she wants to talk about her sexuality, we would then be free to comment, but until that day comes, I would lose my job if I wrote about it, if I even wanted to… which I don’t.”
I read the policy, which seems truthful enough.
“I’m actually impressed,” Valerie says. “I didn’t know you did this.”
“A bunch of the staff is queer including my boss, and he got really pissed when Jaxon Cole was forced out for playing his gay character on Riverwood. My roommate helped write the policy, so I know it inside and out.”
“Okay,” I say, even though my hackles haven’t relaxed in the slightest. “So what are you doing here?”
Mary Kate turns to Jane. “First of all, I’m really sorry this happened to you. You deserved so much better than Gossip Daily taking photos and video of you in your own home. This is bad journalism, but I’m afraid the damage is done.”
Riker groans, sinking back on the couch. “So there’s really no making this disappear?”
Mary Kate swallows, shaking her head. “I don’t think that’s a viable solution. If you could appeal to Gossip Daily’s sense of decency—if they even have it—or maybe knew a hacker, they might be able to take it down, but there are too many reposts already. It’s out there.”
“So what do we do?” Jane asks helplessly.
“I’m not a publicist, so I don’t know what’s best for you, but I wanted to offer my platform as an open invitation.”
And there it fucking is. I gape in disbelief. “So you are asking for a story?”
“No,” Mary Kate says, her tone measured. “But if Jane wants to make any kind of statement, whether through a publicist or directly to the press, she can go through me, and Buzzword won’t change a single word.”
“I appreciate that,” Jane says quietly. She grabs a pillow and hugs it tightly, and I want to be the one comforting her in this moment.
We’ve barely had a chance to explore our relationship, and now she’s already having to think about the public’s reaction to it all.
I just want her to be okay. “But I don’t even know that I want to say anything. ”
“That’s fine,” Mary Kate says. “But I also wanted to offer something else. I’d like to ask you what your fans can do for you.”
“What?” Caleb asks. “Are you finally going to admit you’re secretly @GlitterbugsUnofficial?”
Mary Kate flushes, folding her hands in her lap. “I’m not going to admit to anything. I’m just saying that I have connections in the fandom. If you want us to squash this, as much as we can, I know a lot of people who will fight for you.”
“Thank you, but I don’t expect fans to, like, go to war at my command, or anything like that,” Jane says, toying with the fringe on the pillow. “I don’t want to take advantage.”
Shaking her head, Mary Kate straightens.
Despite my reservations, I’m begrudgingly impressed by how determined she is to help, and I want to trust she’ll do it.
“It wouldn’t be like that. These first twenty-four hours will set the narrative.
If you’d rather we just stay silent as a fandom, we can try that route, but we can also try to shape the public’s reaction.
We can call people out for enabling Gossip Daily’s invasion of your privacy in some shoddy attempt at journalism.
Like if you two had been out at a restaurant, or something, that would be one thing.
Still shitty, but unfortunately fair game.
But this? Filming you in your house? That’s beyond reprehensible. ”
Finally, Jane nods, and I can’t tell if it’s because she actually thinks this is a good idea, or if she’s just defeated. “Okay. Whatever you think will help, I’ll take it.”
Mary Kate smirks, gesturing for me to give her back her phone. I’d forgotten I was even holding it. With a few clicks, she’s already working away.
“Thank you, seriously.” Jane reaches out a hand, and instead of shaking it, Mary Kate squeezes warmly.
“You’re a real one, MK,” Riker says, smiling a little sadly. For the first time all morning, the tension in the house melts a little. Nothing the fandom does will make this go away, but maybe they’ll have our backs.
I’m with Jane: I don’t want to use our fans, but despite my initial misgivings, I’m deeply appreciative of what Mary Kate is offering. I’ve seen the power of fandom. Our following isn’t nearly as big as BTS’s ARMY, but the way they’ve organized things for social issues before is goddamn impressive.
This isn’t nearly the same kind of scale, but maybe our fans can pull this off.
“Look, I know I’m the press, but I think of you as friends too. I can’t always use my powers for good, but I want to do this.”
“As long as you make Tate squirm, you have my full support,” Valerie says.
“Oh, I’m going to make him wish he became an accountant by the time I’m done,” Mary Kate says, grinning.
And I can’t help it; I smile at that. We have bigger things to figure out, but until Jane can work with her team, revenge is sweet enough.