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Chapter 3: Onlinathon's Secret Starlight

It's not that I didn't have a comeback. It's just that I didn't feel the need to waste it on you.

~Starlight24

"Hay day!" yelled Mom as I swung open the door. This was her very own salutation and endearment whenever I came home from doing something (which was typically hour long walks by the countryside). Now when I thought about it, going to school was the longest I'd ever been away from my family. Dad finally started going to an actual office, so I was going to see him only later tonight.

"How was school?" she asked, coolly. The good thing about my mom was that she wasn't overprotective. This should probably come as a surprise, considering she'd never left me out of her eagle eye. She kind of knew when it was time for me to leave the nest, I guess.

"Great!" I exclaimed, which was true. I tried to swallow back the coldness I had received from Nat on the way back, where she deliberately tried to avoid all conversation and sit away from me. I s'pose I would be treated like the plague now by her. Oh joy.

"I've been invited by the queen bee today," I said, smirking. Mom gave me a high five, though she looked mildly concerned.

"I know I shouldn't be stereotypical," she began. "But I really hope this isn't some joke they want to play on you. I remember the popular bunch when I was at school, and they weren't the nicest of people." I smiled warmly at Mom. It was great that she was both warning me to keep my defenses ready, and also not telling me to steer clear completely.

"I'll keep that in mind, Mom," I said, pecking her cheek before darting upstairs. I threw open my door, and inhaled the sweet smell of air freshener, plants and books. I drank in the One Direction, 5SOS and other singer's posters that were pasted onto my wall. Unfortunately, my huge Palladian window that streamed light into my room was right opposite Dylan's, which really gave me a lot of privacy, didn't it?

I flopped onto my bed, which was comfy as ever and pulled out my phone. My first instinct- open Onlinathon. Onlinathon is this social networking platform where you can blog, share photos and chat. The app popped up and I couldn't resist the urge to smile as happiness tugged against my lips. My profile said:

Starlight24; Just be yourself,  because everyone else is taken; Followers: 4, 695, 234; Neverland.

This was my secret. I was an online superstar blogger with 4M followers from across the world, giving inspirational quotes and motivational blogs every day. I smiled again (only this time it was tinged with sadness), and realized that this would have to remain a secret. I wanted people to want to know me for DAY, and not STARLIGHT24.

I decided to look up the people who were following me, to see whether anyone from my school was around. I first looked up Dylan, and sure enough, his profile was there, bright as day. Good lord, I'm quoting my own name.

In fact, everyone from my new friends circle was there, including Deirdre (whose profile said her name was Deedsxox and she didn't have a pretty bad following either, with 7K follows) and Nat. I could feel my heart thumping against my chest; was I really that famous?

"What's the sudden excitement about?" called a voice, and I whipped my head up to see a grinning Dylan staring out of his window.

"Dylan Daniels, you will get lost this instant," I fumed, breathing fire.

"Why would I if your persistent love towards me would find me again?" he asked, giving me a cute pout. This flirt would have to learn that he had a girlfriend before I smacked his face with my shoe.

"Thanks for reminding me how self-absorbed you were. I'd almost forgotten." I drawled, rolling my eyes.

"Sweetheart," he sighed. This seemed to be his way of addressing me. "You know what I'm made of. Boyfriend material. You're just pissed because you're not the one using it." He gave me an impish grin.

"I'm not a photographer, but even I know that I can't picture you and me together," I said, really wanting to get back to my Onlinathon stuff.

"Stop trying to convince yourself, Summer girl," he said. I just realized that he wasn't wearing the thickest of shirts, but a thin, tight white shirt that showed off his muscles. Would he go away? I didn't like getting distracted.

"Bye," I said, in a very annoying singsong voice.

"You want me so bad." He shook his head in mock disbelief and laughed at my horrified expression.

"Never in a million years," I mouthed, quoting Zayn from Best Song Ever. I loved quoting books and bands. It was fun because it didn't make you look like some philosophical weirdo.

Before I could hear his next narcissistic response, I closed the curtains and hopped back onto my bed.

I needed to make another account, just in case people asked me for my Onlinathon ID. I didn't want to look like a loner when I said I didn't have an account. That would just be depressing, because 1) I actually most probably have more followers than them and 2) I'm too cool to be a loner (JK I HAD NO FRIENDS REMEMBER).

I quickly uploaded a weirdly retarded selfie of myself as my DP, and my profile was updated in literally two minutes. It said this:

DayWinterz; Love your perfect imperfections; Followers: 0; Hollywood.

Yep, it was time for Onlinathon's secret starlight to branch out.

My following was depressing. So I decided to follow everyone from my school, plus Starlight24 because everyone followed Starlight (hehe). Dylan immediately followed back, which showed he was on. I went to my home screen and sighed, only to find Dylan's post that made my heart stop.

I was a dead person.

There was a picture of me, looking at my phone with a very excited expression. The line above that picture said:

Me humoring my new next-door-neighbor; Look at her expression when I sent her a text lol.

I could feel my face turning an angry beet color and I quickly typed a terrible comeback in the comments section: I used to think I had a good imagination, but now you're imagining me smiling for your nonexistent texts! Now that's what I call an imagination. You shouldn't let your mind wander so much. It's too small to be out by itself and if you let it out, it won't come back again.

His response was quick: Gosh gurl, don't get your panties in a twist. I was only kidding, and if you're imagining me giving a shit about what you think, then you're wrong.

OH BRING. IT. ON.

Have you changed your mind, then? Hopefully this one works better.

I could almost see Dylan's cocky smile when he typed this:

Brains aren't everything, Sweetheart. In your case, they're nothing.

Did he just... gasp.

Keep typing. Hopefully you'll eventually type something even mildly intellectual. Then again, while I'm hoping, I wish I owned a rainbow unicorn.

Dylan: Don't think so much. You might sprain your brain.

Me: I, unlike you, at least have something to sprain. You've just got your thick skull.

Dylan: At least I have looks, which you so conspicuously lack. I also have height. Speaking of which, how's the view from down there?

Me: Looks? Oh, if I looked like you I'd sue my parents! And the view sucks. I have to stare up at extra Dylan shit.

Dylan: You'd stare at me anyway, Sweetheart.

Me: You're just dark and handsome. That is, only in the dark you're handsome, because no one can see your disgusting face.

Dylan: At least I'm hot in the dark. You... hmm... I'd give you a nasty look, except you already seem to have one.

Me: I'd slap you, but that would be animal abuse. Who left your cage open, btw?

Dylan: Oh shut up. You're so short that you'd be the last one to know when it rains. How would you like to feel the way you looked?

Me: I already do feel the way I look. And I feel amazing, thanks. Unlike you.

Dylan: How do you know the way I feel? I know you wish you could feel me, Sweetheart.

Me: Idk what makes you so stupid, but it really works.

Dylan: Do you practice being ugly? Or does it come naturally?

Me: I'd like to see your point of view about me and you, except I can't stick my head so far up my ass.

Dylan: The Earth is full. Go home. Oh, and btw you'd better hide. The garbage collector is coming.

Me: Bro, I know you wanna collect me. Plus, I'm genuinely curious. How does the toilet look? Considering you get flushed so often, you piece of shit.

Dylan: Haha, I'll tell you if you trade the dump's secrets.

Me: Ciao shitface xD

Dylan: Later trashtalk ;P

I peered through my curtains and grinned at Dylan, who gave me the same look. I couldn't help the huge smile that was spreading across my face, and I burst out laughing and opened the window. He did the same, and soon we were both laughing our heads off and complementing each other's comebacks.

"You're not that stupid," I said, rolling my eyes. My sides were aching because I'd laughed so hard.

"Yep, that's your job," he replied breezily, even if he was smiling too.

"How?" I asked, the smile starting to slacken.

"Blondieee..." he sang, and I flung my shoe at his face.

"Strike," I whispered chirpily at his bewildered expression.

"I would've done it back, except I didn't lose my manners. See, I'm such a gentleman." He said, with this mock seriousness as he topped his imaginary hat.

I scoffed, "If you're a gentleman I wonder what monkeys are! They must all be dukes and kings!" I shrieked, and he laughed.

"You're not that ugly either," he began. "In fact, I'd even go as far as to call you hot..."

I raised one eyebrow. Yes, I could do that, I happened to be very talented.

"But I'd only call you hot in your Wildest Dreams," he sang, and I laughed as he sang Taylor Swift's Wildest Dreams. Never in my Wildest Dreams did I think he'd sing that!

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Deirdre.

Deedsxox: Hi Day! You're coming over, right?

HOLY HELL. I COMPLETELY FORGOT.

I turned to Dylan and smiled. "That was your girlfriend. We're going on a date." He laughed and mouthed 'have fun' before he closed his window.

I quickly pulled over an oversized shirt and ran out of the house, unable to contain my excitement. I wondered what my first get-together would be like.

A/N:

How was that? COMMENT WAAARS xD xD

Pic of Max on the right :) OMG SHAWN MENDES FOR LIFE (Sorry, I'm a fangirl) ;P

Teaser: How much damage can one little lie do? Day enjoys (sort of) a bitter-sweet symphony of the company of her new friends but the guilt of her new lies.

Best comment gets a dedication! Please Comment/Vote/Follow/All of the Above if you liked this!

How do you like Day and Dylan? I want feedback, please! Thanks!

Song of the day: I Know What You Did Last Summer by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello

Love you all,

~Lexi