Chapter 45
Maple
@BrookebabeNYC, TikTok
So, guys, I have got something JUICY for y’all today.
I just watched this YouTube Live with those kids Dylan Dope and Maybe Maple talking about Ella Hart.
I’m gonna put a longer post out soon, but some TikTokers are already saying that they know Ella is DEAD.
Fuckkkkkk! – I’ve put a link to their live in my bio. Thank me later #findElla
‘I said no, I’m not taking it down.’ I try to sound confident, even though Mom looks like a vampire craving blood. ‘We’ve already had heaps of new comments about Ella. How everyone is worried about her, and that they’re grateful we’re doing this. We can’t stop now.’
I shuffle along my bed until I’m facing Mom, then risk making eye contact, reminding myself that Dylan is probably facing worse from his dad right now.
‘Look, I get why you’re freaking out,’ I say.
‘It is different to my usual stuff. But you’ve always said that success comes from getting noticed.
Well, this will get me noticed, and maybe, hopefully, do some good alongside it too. ’
‘Not when you’re being noticed by Selena Hart, or Maddie, or that skinny Azione woman with her colossal budget, or that modeling agent Blake, or any of the other brand managers we’ve been working with.’
‘They’ll be proud of me for helping out another influencer.’ I try to sound convincing, but I’m pretty sure I don’t.
‘What? When you compared one of the most-watched kidfluencer channels on YouTube to a car crash?’
‘That wasn’t me; I just …’
‘And said that it made sense to you that Ella ran away?’
‘I don’t think I said …’
‘Brands choose to work with you because you’re so good at making our lifestyle look amazing,’ Mom interrupts again. ‘They slot into the nirvana we create, and suddenly they’re perfect too. So what do you think happens when you rip away that filter?’
‘I know there’s risk involved, Mom, but life isn’t just about brand deals. I have a platform now, and I want to use it for something better than selling rank smoothies or crap toys.’
‘I’m sorry, but when did you become such a self-serving little bitch?’
My whole body feels the impact of her words – Mom never swears at me.
My muscles tense and my eyes burn. But I mustn’t cry.
Mom has always been so good at redefining the truth, and convincing everyone else to believe it too.
But I need to push back, to keep remembering how good it felt to be doing this for Ella.
‘I’m just doing what the church teaches us, helping others in need.’
I watch her expression darken. Mom has always been insecure about not being raised Mormon, and I know I’ve prodded her weak spot.
I feel bad, but I need to do something to get her out of my room.
Because the truth is, I am feeling a bit wobbly now.
About how powerful Selena Hart is, and what she might do to us.
‘Well, if you think that ruining our reputation, bankrupting your own family, is God’s work, then I have no words.’ Mom twists to go – thank goodness – and I twitch as she slams the door behind her.
I snap Coco.
Did you see it?
She responds instantly.
Of course! You were great :)
Relief floods through me and I type again.
Bit worried I’ll get in trouble for saying that stuff about Selena.
I stare at my phone. Nothing. It’s nearly a minute before Coco responds, and my palms are sweaty when she finally does.
You’re on the right side of history, babe. So brave. I’m proud of you.
I know she’s trying to make me feel better, but it’s not working. Because I’m not sure I am that brave.
She snaps again.
Hey, have you seen TikTok? Your content is going crazy on there right now.
A mix of excitement and fear dance in my belly.
I open TikTok and scroll through my For You page.
At first, it’s the usual content – makeup sessions, dance routines, skateboarding tricks (okay, that’s new) – but then there’s a reel by an influencer I love, BrookebabeNYC, and she’s got a split screen with our YouTube video playing.
She’s talking about Ella, and our new show, which is so cool.
But she’s also saying that she’s heard Ella’s dead, maybe killed by Selena and Bodi.
I shake my head – Brooke is crazier than I thought; no one’s going to believe that – and swipe on.
But a few videos later, there’s another one talking about me, Dylan and Ella.
A guy I’ve never seen before. He believes Ella’s dead too, except he thinks she was killed by a stalker, a stalker who’d been freaking her out for a year before she disappeared, which is why she’d changed her style.
But how the hell does he know that? He lives in Canada and records his content in a creepy-looking basement.
I keep swiping. More reels about our search for Ella pop up, plenty claiming she’s dead, but others just keen to get to the truth, like us. I read the comments too. Ella spotted in Mexico, Panama, Wisconsin, Alaska. It’s exciting, I think. All this interest, a sign of how much people care.
Exciting, for sure. So why is my stomach churning like an out-of-date milkshake?