This chapter mentions a mental disorder.
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Journal entry (No. 52)
I'm probably going to take note of every detail of Halloween night, because this is it. What I've been planning for MONTHS! I feel so ecstatic right now, I can't even believe I went through with it. I blackmailed people, got into their computers, into their heads, into their minds, saw through their actions, uncovered their lies, let out their secrets, and discovered my brain isn't totally all right. I'm not going to believe the last part, though, no matter what the silly doctor told me.
I don't even know why Mom sent me there. Just on the account that I'm "too hostile" sometimes. What is a personality disorder even? It's just stupid. I'm just... having fun? Right? And showing her that she's not better than everyone else? I'm doing people a favor. They're all enjoying the drama.
Yes, it's all just stupid. I'm fine and impatient. Halloween come already! I can't wait! It's like something inside me is waiting to explode, and it feels totally amazing!
Maggie-Lyn's life was overâaccording to her, anyway. Monday night, Bella walked into her room, still on a high from the kiss, but her happiness was pulverized when she saw Maggie-Lyn curled up in bed, crying.
When she asked what was wrong, her cousin didn't say anything, showing her phone to her, instead.
Bella was beginning to believe Internet fame was like the earthâwhen you're on the part facing the sun, it's all bright, and people are sending you so much love, but when it's night, everything's the opposite, scary and negative.
She cringed so many times while scrolling through Maggie-Lyn's Twitter at eleven on Tuesday night.
An accountâWLGLegitâwhich, apparently, was a celebrity gossip account created to promote their E! Online and TMZ wannabe website, retweeted Fashionella Dirt's post, along with the link to the article about Maggie-Lyn's "betrayal," and they weren't nice. The only thing Bella found impressive about their page while reading the one thousand plus comments was their slightly excellent way of putting words, so it seemed like they were having a conversation with their readers.
They're cousins! They should be in this together, one comment read.
Big disappointment. And here I was thinking she was my role model.
That's it! I'm going to make more memes!
I didn't even know these two before this post. But I looked them up and all I can say is... FAMILY DRAMA!!
Maggie-Lyn asked Bella to read the comments to her, because she was scared to read them herself, and Bella was nice enough to skip a few.
Adele cornered them on Wednesday, after Bella returned from schoolâwhich was hell on earthâasking for an explanation for their behavior. Maggie-Lyn blamed it on her period, and Bella told her she had tests coming upâwhich wasn't entirely untrue.
"I've noticed something's not right. First with you, Bella, and now you, too, Maggie-Lyn," Adele said, obviously not buying their untruthful product. "And, Maggie, we went shopping together and, between your million words, you mentioned your time of the month, so don't tell me that."
"Um... it came early."
"Keep quiet, Maggie, I know you're lying."
Bella exchanged looks with her cousin, before looking back to Adele, who didn't look like she was giving up on her quest anytime soon.
"So?" she asked, making Maggie-Lyn squeeze her fingers. She didn't do well under pressure and, if this went on any further, Bella feared she would snap.
"Bella, Fashionella's doing terribly," Adele continued. "Maggie, you haven't posted anything for two whole days, and you post everyday. If you managed to fool Mom, let me have you know that you can't fool meâI'm twenty. So you better start talking, because I know something's wrong, or I'll call Mom here."
They were silent for a while, before Maggie-Lyn started crying and, there, she told Adele everything. From the cyberbullying to her blackmailing, then to the posts on social media.
When she was done, she looked at Bella and said a weak, "I'm sorry. I couldn't deal with the pressure."
Bella only folded her arms and waited for her sister's reaction.
"Wow," Adele said, her eyes distant like she was thinking hard. "I mean, wow! Bella, how long has this been going on?"
Bella avoided her eyes as she responded, "Since September."
Her sister shook her head, silently disagreeing with something. "I have to tell Mom."
"No," Bella snapped, her head shooting up and her hands grabbing her sister's. "Look, IâI know this is a big deal, but please, don't tell Mom. We're going to find out who the cyberbully is at HalloWiener tomorrow night. If things don't go well, you're free to tell Mom."
"Dad works to stop cybercrime, and you know he can help you sort this out. You don't even know who this person is. They could be some crazy person who could hurt you."
"Beau will be with us. We'll be fine." It was a lame excuse, but she had no other choice.
"Wait, we? Bellaâ"
"Please. Let me try to fix this."
She stared at her sister until she sighed. "You could get hurt."
"I'll be careful."
"Well, I'm coming, too if you're convincing me to do something so stupid. But, after tomorrow night, whether you find out who it is or not, I'm telling our parents. HalloWiener is huge, Bella. How do you even plan on seeing this person? There would be thousands of people there."
"She told me what she's wearing, which means she plans on meeting me."
"That obviously means she wants something. We should call the police."
"Adele," Bella snapped. "Stop freaking out, okay? That's my job here. We don't need the police. She goes to my school and I know she's not going to try anything. HalloWiener is guarded by security officials."
Adele looked up at the ceiling, her face twisting with something Bella couldn't read. She was acting like a teenager, doing something stupid when the solution was right in front of her. Telling their parents could save them a lot of trouble, but Bella didn't want that for some reason.
"I can't believe this," she finally said. "Are you okay? How bad is it? Why didn't you say anything earlier? Is she threatening you?" The questions tumbled out of her mouth like she wasn't in control of them, and Bella couldn't exactly blame her for freaking out, so she answered all her questions.
Then they spent the rest of the day discussing strategies.
The next day, her and Beau got to school at the same time. The Maggie-Lyn incident and pressure from YWN didn't let them acknowledge Monday night. She just knew it happened and that was it.
Cody's phone rang as she was about getting out of the car, and she was grateful for the distraction. He had been quiet throughout the ride and hadn't said anything about Ashton, so she guessed he had a lot on his mind.
She got to Beau's car just as Fleur got out, her hair in a ponytail and her dress swaying in the slight breeze.
Bella's pace subconsciously slowed when their eyes met, a weird chill going down her spine. She couldn't help but think about what Fleur could possibly want to keep a secret. What did someone like her have to hide?
Fleur surprised her by smiling. "Hey, Bella," she said chirpily, shutting the passenger door.
"Hey."
"That's a really pretty dress."
"Oh, thanks. I love yours, too."
Fleur gave her a genuine smile before walking away, and Bella went to meet Beau, who was leaning his forearms on the hood of his car and watching his sister.
"I don't understand her one bit," he said once Bella was close.
"I don't either."
He watched her for a few more seconds as she disappeared into the school, then turned to Bella. "Are you nervous about tonight?"
She let out a breath. "I think I am. Maggie told Adele yesterday, so she's coming, too." She placed a hand on the hood, unknowingly close to his. "Are you?"
"Kinda. I'm scared to find out what my sister has to do with this."
She felt a bit bad for him, so she said, "It'll be over soon. Wow, that sounded much more consoling in my head."
Beau laughed, lightening the atmosphere. "I've been there." He straightened, placing his palms on the hood, and his left pinky finger brushed against her thumb. She was strangely aware of it, and she quickly averted her eyes, but didn't pull her hand away.
"So, um," he started, "we need a plan, I think."
"Yeah. Yeah, we do. My sister and I discussed a few things last night. Do you have any ideas?"
"Not yet, but I could tell you when they come. I am so unprepared."
"Don't sweat it. We could meet in the library later."
There was a weird silence after that, and it lasted a few seconds before he moved to stand in front of her. She looked up at him and he smiled.
"You're putting on the bracelet," he pointed out, and she looked at the hand placed on the hood of his carâthe bracelet was around the wrist of that hand.
"Yeah. I told you I love it."
His smile widened. "The past two days have been a mess and I didn't notice."
She took her hand off the car and decided to take a brave step by taking his hand. He gave her hand a squeeze, then placed his free hand on the side of her face and leaned in to press a kiss to her forehead.
"Cody's watching," he said, his eyes focused on something above her head, and she looked up at him, "and I don't think he's completely forgiven me yet."
She laughed, then stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him on the jaw. "He'll learn to live with it."
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HalloWiener was a charity festival that was launched two years prior. They served nothing but hotdogs and punch, and all the money earned either went to an orphanage, animal shelter, or to assist another nonprofit organization. This year, the venue was filled more than ever, and it was hard finding a parking space.
Beau parked between an SUV and a black minivan, and Bella turned around to see Adele drive past them, heading to an empty space ahead.
"Ready to party?" Beau asked after shutting the engine, and Bella's eyes moved to Viola and Jake in the backseat.
Viola took off her hat, then tied her hair into a ponytail. "I wouldn't call this a party," she said.
"Yeah, well," Beau shrugged, "for lack of a better name, let's stick with that one."
Viola tied the strings of her hat loosely around her neck so she didn't have to put it on anymore, and Jake winced, then reached down.
"God, these boots are killing me!"
Viola and Beau managed a small laugh, before Beau said, "All right, guys. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for a red shirt similar to Viola's. And keep your phones close, okay?"
"Roger that," Viola replied, then opened the door and got out of the car.
"Could someone please remind me not to wear Max's shoes ever again?" Jake said in pain, distracted by his tight shoes. "They're stupid tight."
"It happens, buddy," Beau said to him with a smile, then turned to Bella, who was now staring out the windshield. "Hey," he called, and she turned to him. "Try to relax, okay? It'll be over soonâjust like you told me earlier."
"Don't you dare repeat my words."
He laughed, then playfully pulled on her fake cat ears and smoothed his hand down her hair. "Okay. But calm down, okay? We're all with you."
Behind them, Jake groaned, then got out of the car.
"I know," Bella said, "I'm just nervous."
"I am too, trust me. Just breathe and only think about when this all ends. Please? I'll worry enough for the both of us, I promise."
She smiled, then lightly smacked him on the cheek. "This is stupid. I'm not supposed to be smiling."
He stared at her for a while. "Come on. We have a cyberbully to catch."
"Okay."
They both got out of the car, then met Viola and Jake behind it.
"Let's go," Beau said, and they all nodded, then headed for the entrance.
Bella spotted Maggie-Lyn in her paw-print dress and Adele in her patchy, poor maiden dress ahead and felt a bit self-conscious about her boring black dress, plastic cat ears and slightly elegant two inch heels. She was overreacting, she knew, considering Beau wasn't even dressed up. He only brushed his hair back, away from his face, and hung a pair of dark shades on his loose T-shirtâI'm a secret agent, he had said when she asked him what he was supposed to be.
She told herself she had better things to think about and shook the thought away.
"Bella, I've been thinking about something," Viola said beside her, and she turned to her. "Do you think I should've put this on, considering everything?"
"Why not? Despite all this, she was your friend, and you shouldn't do things you're not happy about because of me. I don't think I deserve that."
Viola stared at her for a few seconds, then said, "We've both made mistakes. Can't we just forget about it and go back to normal?"
"Things can't be exactly the same, Viola," Bella said. "A lot has happened in such a short time and some are life-changing. You understand that better than anyone."
"Yeah," Viola said quietly, "but I don't want us to stop being friends because of it. We could even be better than before." Her heart missed a beat as she said this, and she gave Bella a smile, which she returned.
"I'm glad to have you back, Viola. When this is all over, we'd scare Codyâtogether. Then have celebratory ice cream."
"That would be fun."
They got to Adele and Maggie-Lyn just as they finished their conversation, and they naturally joined them.
"Like Viola's shirt, right?" Adele confirmed, her eyes going around.
"Yeah," Beau replied, "exactly like hers."
Adele nodded, then lifted an eyebrow at the limping Jake.
"Tight shoes," he explained, gesturing to his feet, and she nodded again.
"It adds to your ranch guy costume, somehowâthe limping, I mean."
They all laughedâenough to lighten the mood, but not enough to make them forget what they were there for.
In the brief moment of happiness, Viola's phone vibrated in her pocket, and she took it out. The text had her stopping in shock, and Beau looked back at her when he noticed.
"Are you okay?" he asked, causing the others to stop, too.
"Yeah. IâI thought I saw something." She continued walking to avoid further questions, and when everyone turned away from her, she looked down at the text again.
I'm standing by the first hot dog stand you'll see when you walk in. I can see you guys from here. Once you walk in, shine the spotlight on me.
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Hang on to your hats, guys! The end is nigh.