Chapter 40
Maple
I snap Dylan.
I think we should do this.
It’s funny. A week ago, I was freaking out about him coming to stay. Now, it doesn’t feel like a big deal to ask for his help.
I think Coco’s right about setting up a dedicated channel to search for Ella, but I don’t want to go it alone.
I have decent numbers on social media, but not enough to get the traction this will need.
But if I join forces with Dylan, maybe together we will.
When that fake kiss was just for clicks, or brand deals, it felt gross and embarrassing.
But if we could use the gossip it caused to get people caring about Ella’s welfare, maybe it could be worth it.
He responds with a lightbulb emoji, and I roll my eyes. This feels too important to communicate via snaps.
Can you FaceTime?
A minute later, his face appears on my screen. ‘Hey,’ he says. ‘How’s your crazy mom?’
I click my tongue. ‘I don’t know; I’m keeping out of her way. How about your dad?’ I look down to avoid eye contact. ‘Was he mad about the whole first-kiss bullshit?’
‘Nah, it wasn’t too bad.’ Dylan ruffles his hair. ‘He said the mind-blowing stats made up for me behaving like a dick, just about.’
‘But you told him it wasn’t real though? That Mom made it up?’
‘Honestly, there’s no point. Laying low is always the best way to handle him.’
My shoulders sink. ‘I guess you’re probably not going to be into my idea then.’
‘Try me.’
‘You know how we were talking about Ella Hart the other day? And how we could use our platforms to find her?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Well, I want to go all in,’ I say, trying to make out like it’s the best idea ever. ‘Start a new YouTube channel, maybe interview people close to her, or her family. Kinda crowd-source information so that we can work out where she is.’
‘Sounds cool,’ he says, but his tone doesn’t give much away. I take a breath.
‘And I want us to do it together,’ I say.
‘Reach out to both our fan bases, you know? Plus, if we start a joint channel, and maybe keep the reason vague at first, well, all those people gossiping about us; it might get their attention.’ I scrape my lip.
‘And anyway, it was you who told me about Ella going missing in the first place, and you seemed up for helping then.’
He nods but doesn’t speak so I keep going. ‘Coco thinks I should call it Maple Uncovers. But if we’re doing it together then we’ll obviously need a different name and …’
‘Wait, Maple Uncovers?’
‘Um, yeah.’
‘Isn’t that for a different kind of channel? You know, like OnlyFans or something?’
I think about it for a millisecond and then it hits me.
Oh God. Maples uncovers. Heat surges into my cheeks and my vision blurs; I think I might faint.
It’s only a stupid name, a silly mistake, but it’s like the whole of last week has built into this one tsunami of embarrassment.
It must show on my face too, because Dylan’s eyes widen.
‘Hey, I’m sorry,’ he says. ‘I didn’t mean …’
‘It’s fine,’ I say, trying to breathe. ‘You’re right; it’s a stupid idea.’
‘No, it’s not,’ he says quickly. ‘It’s a good idea. A great idea. Like you said, Ella doesn’t have anyone looking out for her, so we might actually do something good.’
I risk looking straight at him. ‘You think?’
‘For sure. And it’ll expose Selena Hart as a liar. Get one back for the kids.’
‘Does that mean you’ll do it with me?’
He ruffles his hair, sighs, then looks away.
‘Your dad won’t like it,’ I murmur. ‘I shouldn’t have asked.’
‘My dad will hate it,’ Dylan says, nodding thoughtfully. ‘But how can I say I want to be a human rights lawyer and then be too scared to help someone who might be in trouble?’
‘Because he’s your dad, and you live in his house.’
‘Yeah, and I’m sixteen soon, and stronger than him, and maybe it’s about time I built a spine.’
I feel the pull of a smile, but I resist it. I need Dylan to be certain. ‘Are you sure about this?’
‘I’m bored of Dad telling me to jump and me asking how high, sometimes literally.
I want to skateboard at the weekend, when it’s sunny, with my friends.
Not every day. Not do the same trick a hundred times over because the light is wrong, or whatever.
I want to study, make an actual difference. So yeah, I’m sure. Fuck him.’
I feel a swell of something like pride or power or shared endeavor in my chest. ‘What will we call it? Our channel?’
‘How about just Maple and Dylan?’ he suggests. ‘Then people can think what they want.’
‘Maple and Dylan,’ I repeat slowly, as though I’m considering it. When actually I’m just trying to hold my shit together. Because he said my name first.