Chapter 48: 46 ☆ Truths

Michelle Henshaw

Dear Belinda Quincy,

I apologize for the delay in reply to your email, which was lost in our system for some mysterious reason. Even though Teen Stars season is over, I'm happy to invite you onboard. I was thinking we could arrange a meeting at a café downtown. You're a person of interest, and that's why I'm privately sending you this email. I'm looking forward to your reply!

Amora Belle wasn't one to be afraid, but tonight, fear and her had become acquaintances. It was quite fitting, actually, considering she had never done anything so adrenaline-pumping in her life. But, with the way things turned out, she was yet to decide if the pounding in her chest was as a result of her running, or something else entirely.

Her breathing came out in short gasps as she reached a tent that sheltered the guests for the festival, but it stopped when her eyes fell on the person lingering beside it.

When she was close enough, she saw their posture stiffen, and before she could start thinking of an explanation for her mess up, they closed the distance.

Viola DelMane stared at her for a moment. "I hope you have the thumb drive," she finally said, her eyes searching Amora's, and Amora cringed at the intensity of her gaze.

"I don't," she replied, her voice low and weak. She hated knowing that she wasn't in control of things—especially things she was supposed to be in charge of—which was why she accepted this alliance with Viola in the first place. She just wanted to have one more person she could control.

But Viola, as she'd come to realize, was a silent killer—she pulled the strings well, and it was hard to decipher her intentions. She was messed up. Anyone who could act that well and even sacrifice something as delicate as the news of their dad's death wasn't completely okay in the head.

"But I lost it," Amora added.

Viola looked relieved, an expression that surprised Amora. Just like every other outwardly strong person, Viola had cracks, and, sometimes, the emotions that showed through those cracks were even more intense than what Amora was expecting. Since they officially met as Internet friends, Viola had been so serious about the plan, so why was she looking so relieved?

"That's better," Viola said with a sigh, then walked past Amora so casually, it took her by surprise.

"Wait," Amora called, turning to her retreating figure. "That's it?"

Viola looked at her, unsmiling. "That's it. I think we've both gotten what we wanted."

"Viola—"

"Let it be, Amora. Look at us—we're miserable. And I know at first I was in support of this, but now I just feel dirty. We've ruined her life, Amora."

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Amora's voice was angry and suddenly loud. She couldn't believe this.

"No," Viola shouted back, tears pricking at her eyes. "I wasn't thinking, okay? I was just angry and frustrated, I wasn't thinking. I just wanted to get back at her for everything, but it wasn't her fault. I just had my own issues, and I was unwilling to accept them. We'll keep this a secret, but we'll stop, too. I can't continue this."

Amora stared at her in disbelief. They didn't achieve their goal, so what was Viola doing? "If you do this, then you're dead to me. I was by your side when she wasn't. I accepted you when she let you go. Now you're just going to pretend the last few months didn't happen just because you feel guilty?"

"That's exactly what I want."

She stared at her for a while longer, then shook her head. "No wonder you don't have friends."

Viola's eyes widened at her. "You did not just say that!"

"What? It's true. You let emotions lead you all the time. You want to please people that don't care about you all the time. You can't make your own choices—"

Viola cut her off with a shove that had her falling to the grass.

"What the heck!"

"Never talk to me again, you hear me," Viola spat at her. "Ever." With that, she turned around, tears running down her face, and angrily walked away.

"Well, I don't plan on doing that!" Amora shouted behind her from her place on the grass, feeling like the biggest fool in the world.

* * *

Bella and Amparo were finally released from the small detaining room they had been in for the past thirty minutes, and they were immediately greeted by Mrs. Quincy's widened eyes.

Adele, Jake and Maggie-Lyn stood off to the side, and Bella's heart jumped when she didn't see Beau.

"My goodness, Bella. Seriously?" her mom whispered angrily, moving closer, and an officer stretched a small tray to Bella and Amparo so they could reclaim their phones and the thumb drive—which Bella stealthily took.

Bella couldn't quite look her mom in the eye, knowing that Adele had told her everything before she began sorting things out to get them released. She knew she was in trouble, but right now, that only seemed like a small thing compared to what was going through her head.

When she didn't respond, her mom stood upright, then walked back to the table behind which a grumpy cop sat. She thanked him one last time before leading them out of the building and to the parking lot.

Bella's breath caught in her throat when she saw Beau leaning against her mom's car, Fleur standing nervously beside him. They both looked awkward—more like complicated exes than siblings. Her pace increased so she could go give him a hug, but her mom's voice stopped her.

"Wait. Where's Viola?"

That was right; she hadn't seen Viola for a while. She instinctively put her phone on and, like she expected, there was a text from Viola sent almost an hour ago.

Sorry I left. I couldn't handle it so I went home. Hope you're not mad.

"She went home," Jake said behind her, his face illuminated by his phone.

Beau's eyes roamed over Bella's face, his face falling when he saw the disappointment in her eyes.

"All right, Adele, you go with Maggie-Lyn and Jake. Cody's carpooling with friends, so Bella and Amparo are coming with me," Mrs. Quincy said, glancing in Bella's direction. "We have a lot to talk about."

She made her way to the driver's side, then unlocked the car. "Beau, I think you should go home, too. It's been a weird night."

"Sure thing, Mrs. Quincy," he answered politely.

"It's nice finally meeting Bella's kind-of-mystery guy, although I would've preferred to meet you in a less... legal situation."

Beau smiled. "It's nice to meet you, too." He looked at Bella. "I'll properly come over soon," he said to her mom, but kept his eyes on her.

"That would be great. Come on, Bella, Amparo."

Beau leaned away from the car, and Adele, Maggie-Lyn and Jake headed for the other car in silence. Fleur started to walk away too, her head down, and Bella stared at Beau.

Before she could think about the question, she asked, "Mom, can I talk to Beau for a while?"

Her mom looked over, studying her face, her eyes looking tired, then she nodded.

Bella took his hand immediately and led him away from the car. When they were at a safe distance, she turned to him. "It's Amora," she said without missing a beat, "and she's not the only one."

"She's not?"

Bella shut her eyes, then shook her head, suddenly feeling the tears. She thought tonight would be it. All of this was just useless. "She's not." She didn't mean for her voice to come out shaky, but it did, and Beau instinctively took a step closer to her. "I can't go back to her blackmailing people because of me, Beau. I just can't."

"Hey," he said softly, then took her face in his hands and tilted it up to his. She didn't open her eyes immediately, but when she did, Beau saw how glassier her eyes looked with the coat of tears. Her eyes were beautiful and he could stare at them all night, but the pain behind them unsettled him. "I know there's nothing I can say to make this any better, but, Bella, I know she won't try anything else with you."

"And what if she does?"

"Let your mom know. She's aware of it now and that's better, isn't it?"

Her vision was a bit blurry as she stared at him, and his face softened, providing her with so much comfort.

Bella nodded, then focused on his shirt. "You're right. It is better." She glanced at her mom's car. "Though I know I'm in a bit of trouble."

"You'll be fine."

She nodded again, and he pulled her into a quick hug, resting his chin on the top of her head for just a few seconds before they pulled apart. Then he kissed the tip of her nose, making her grip on his shirt tighten momentarily.

She loved this boy so much.

"I should let you go. I'll call you later, okay?"

She thought about what home would be like. Her mom was being calm now for a reason, and she knew it wouldn't be so at home. "Text me instead," she said to Beau, "and if I don't reply within five minutes, then I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay."

She leaned up to give him a kiss on the cheek, then told him goodbye and walked back to her mom's car.

As expected, the ride home was filled with questions from her mom—When did this start? Has she done anything too serious? How do you girls feel about it?—and Amparo provided a few answers, but after she was dropped off at her expensive-looking place, silence arrived with all its suitcases.

Her mom didn't say anything for a while, and when she did, Bella looked out the window so the breeze could keep her calm.

"Do you have any idea how serious cyberbullying can get?" her mom asked in a calm voice.

Bella nodded.

"Yet you kept quiet. Why?"

That was a question Bella couldn't provide an answer to, mainly because she didn't know exactly why. Maybe she didn't say anything about it because she was scared she wouldn't be supported—scared she would have been told stopping Fashionella was the best option.

"I don't know, Mom."

"Did you think I wouldn't understand?"

She looked down at her hands in her lap. "I—I don't know."

"What if something happened to you tonight? What if you got hurt? Speaking of which, who is she?"

Bella didn't speak. There was already a lot to deal with and more trouble wasn't needed.

"Don't try to protect her, Bella. I'm having a word with Amparo's parents tonight, and if you know who this girl is, I'd have to speak to hers, too."

"She's... Amora. A girl from school."

"Are you friends?"

She gave her mom an incredulous look. "Seriously? We're far—way far—from it."

The car was silent again for a few seconds, then her mom said, "I'm mad at you, Adele and Maggie, you know that, right?"

Bella looked away, feeling bad. "I know," she mumbled.

Her mom sighed. "I understand what you might've gone through, but, until your dad and I reach an agreement on what to do, you're on probation. And I think I'll have to take that phone of yours, too."

She didn't argue with that. It was what she deserved.

* * *

Bella didn't plan for it, but she didn't make it to school on Friday. She had retired to her room on Thursday night after handing her phone over to her mom, and her and Maggie-Lyn didn't have a conversation before it was time to go to bed. The house was tense, and she held onto Amora's thumb drive, wondering who her ally was. But, at the same time, she wasn't sure she wanted to find out.

On Friday afternoon, her dad called and requested for her, and it took all she had not to jump out of the window.

"Bella, you know what you did was wrong," her dad's deep voice sounded through the phone. "Your mom was so worried about you."

"I know, Dad, and I'm sorry. It was all new to me so I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry."

"I can tell, sweetheart. Are you all right?"

"I guess I am. I couldn't go to school today."

"Your mom told me she went to talk to your principal concerning that girl."

"Yeah. She told me, though I don't really see the importance of that."

Her dad was quiet for a long time, and she thought he had forgotten that he was on a call again and was now engrossed in his computer work. But then he spoke.

"I'm working on a program that will help your future devices, so when I arrive in a month, I'll run it for you, okay?"

"Okay."

"Don't forget to change your passwords on your new phone. Oh, Mom told me you have a boyfriend now."

Her eyes widened, and she fumbled for words. "What? No. He's not my boyfriend... yet, and I'm not talking to you about that. Bye!" Her dad was definitely going to start a lecture on how "young" she was.

"Bella, wait—"

"I really have to go do something. We'll talk later, okay? Love you!" She kissed the phone, making a mwah sound, then hung up. Parents could be so embarrassing.

As the call ended, Maggie-Lyn walked in, looking a bit sad.

"What's wrong?" she asked, and Maggie-Lyn walked to the bed. She sat on the edge, then took Bella's hand.

"My mom just called and she wants me to come home. I'm literally going back to New York in a few days. Mom's coming."

"Maggie." She gave her hand a squeeze. "How do you feel?"

"Honestly? I feel great! California's bad for my health."

"Okay. That wasn't what I was expecting to hear." She laughed.

"LA is great and all, but I literally can't wait to go home and start over. I still need to talk to my fans, and if they literally hate me, then that's their bag of coconuts. Literally Maggie will always be, whether they like it or not."

Bella smiled, her chest tightening at the thought of her channel. Maggie-Lyn was moving fast, but she wasn't sure she could. No matter how much she wished it wasn't so.

"Maggie, I've been thinking about something," she said, putting her mom's phone aside.

"What?" She seemed to sense something was wrong, and she moved closer to her cousin.

"I don't think I'm—Maggie, I don't think I'll continue Fashionella."

Maggie-Lyn froze, her lips parting but no words coming out of her mouth. "Bella," she breathed.

"I don't want to have to worry about fan engagement," Bella continued, "or promotions, or whatever, anymore."

"But, Bella, you can't. I'll never forgive myself."

"No, Mag. It's not your fault. Fashionella's fate has been decided before any of this started." Her eyes filled with tears. "This is hard for me to do, but I promise you, I'll be fine. Okay?"

Maggie-Lyn stared at her for a while, her eyes getting glassy, too. She was about saying something when a sound came from the window. A gasp escaped Bella, and both her and Maggie-Lyn turned to it in shock. The sound came again and again, and that was when she realized something was being thrown at her window.

When she walked to it and looked out, the smile that went up her face was natural.