Luckily, we've never talked about anything too personal before–that'd go against our unspoken rules of anonymity. We went so long not sharing too much information that it became comfortable.

But now it's ruined. I feel the pain of guilt swirl through my body like a droplet of jet black ink through water. I bite my lip and hold my hair, stress spiking through my veins.

So that's why my phone was scrolled up. It had nothing to do with my butt, someone attacked my privacy! How they got through my password I'll probably never know, not that it matters anymore. I'm changing it.

I'm changing it and… Do I tell Isaac? 

Telling Isaac would mean outing me but he deserves to know. Even if...that opens the chance of him breaking our friendship off.

I exit the link and get brought back to the damned tweet. It already has many replies. 56 comments, 30 reshares and nearly 400 likes. Do they believe this? Do they care? The pace of my heartbeat is shaking my body enough to churn my stomach.

Yet I can't stop myself from looking.

〇 BadRomanticBB Is this really true?? Omg what if it is a fan?!   | 〇 Ohlala84 If it is can they share! His! Number!!! Pls if he talks to fans then I need it :')    | 〇 HstylesFTW I’m already jealous lmfao

〇 FriedEg This is fake, anyone could get screenshots and pretend it's someone famous. It isn't that hard.

〇 NotaPeoplePerson Wait does this mean he's gay?? No please be bi! Especially if he messages fans!!

〇 It’sBrittanyBch273 I hope it's not a fan or that's really weird and creepy. He doesn't even know their age. Probably taking advantage of them. 

Weird and creepy? That comment got 28 likes and it’s only been up for 5 minutes. They won’t all start thinking this will they?

I throw my phone down and grab my hair, the stress tearing through me like a motorbike speeding away with my sanity, leaving crackling rumbles in its wake. I shouldn’t worry too much about their speculations, that’s all they are. There’s time for the truth to come out and fix everything.

But Isaac. The truth would mean talking to Isaac. What if he doesn’t want the truth coming out? What do I say then?

I bite my lip until pain ripples through me, but my mind doesn’t stop coming up with ridiculous ideas and visions of the future. Not until I jump at the sudden ringing of my phone.

I hesitate, each ring going straight through me and prickling at my heart with nips of anxiety. I reach a hand out. It’s Fahim.

With a sigh of relief I answer, “Hello?” My voice shakes.

“Jem have you seen it? The article?” His voice sounds calm yet concerned. The ease he presents himself with installs some much needed hope within me.

“I have.”

“Okay. I’ll assume you had no idea about this which means someone went through your things without permission.” He states and pauses, waiting for my confirmation, I agree. “Do you know when this could’ve been?”

I think for a moment. I can’t imagine they’d hold onto these screenshots for a while and I normally keep my phone on me at all times. Except… Today. “I left it in the breakroom earlier… On the table.” I force out, holding the crinkled skin of my forehead. 

I even left it in full view of anyone in the room! Not that there should’ve been anyone in the room but it’s not exactly hard to get in there. I’m so stupid.

“That’s right. Okay we’ll look into who did it. Don’t say anything online in the meantime. I do have one very important question though.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you know who you’re texting?” The edge to his tone chills me, serious and to the point. I know why he’s asking, it’d be a big scandal if this were a random fan, not that we talk about anything bad. I guess it’s just the possibility…

Though I don’t know how exactly to answer. I know Isaac but I don’t know him. I know he isn’t a fan, I know he isn’t a minor.

“Yes. I’ve known him for 4 years.” I finally reply.

“Good. You should tell him about this, if he doesn’t know already. I’ll check up on the reports and get back to you as soon as. Bye Jem.” He hangs up.

The sick feeling quickly settles back in my stomach as silence takes over the room. My eyes are fixed on the wall of pictures across the dining table, but I’m not paying attention.

If he doesn’t know already.

As much as I don’t want to tell him, I really don’t want him to just find out. What if it scares him away? What if he never messages me again? Would he even tell me?

My ears become a void, sound not daring to enter as if scared away by the anxiety rippling through me. I don’t know what to do.

"And I drew a kitty, she purr." Harry holds a small sheet of paper up to me, a purple scribble with a long tail poking out from it.

"That's cute. Does she have a name?" I ask, smiling at his dazzling smile.

"Uhhh," He begins thinking, eyes looking up with his finger on his chin.

I take this opportunity to look to his mom, Aunt Kristen, who's chatting my poor mom's ear off. Harry is definitely a talker too. Not that I mind, especially after they both rushed here as soon as they saw the drama surrounding my name.

"Jem..ma!" Harry declares, drawing my eyes back to him.

I frown, which makes him giggle, "All that time to think and you just loosely used my name?" He sticks his tongue out at me, his face quickly falling when I reach out to grab him. A tickle fight ensues, producing shrieking laughter. The only reason I stop is the sudden thought that he might pee himself. I do not want to clean up pee right now… Or ever.

"You look a little happier." My Aunt says as her and my mom come to sit on the sofa, mugs in hand.

"I feel it. Thanks– For coming." I smile back at her, Harry still recovering on the floor next to me.

"Has the company talked to you yet?" 

"Yeah. They're looking into it. Said I shouldn't say anything yet." I grab a pillow to hug between my chest and knees.

"Really…" She pauses in thought, "I don't like that. This isn't that big of a deal, apart from the privacy invasion but that's not a media thing. You not responding quickly could make it seem like an actual scandal. Like you need time to cover something up." She puts her thoughts out. They do not make me feel any better.

"I guess. But if it really isn't that big of a deal, then waiting a little bit wouldn't hurt either right?" I ponder loud.

"Well whatever happens, we'll always be here to help you." My mom smiles reassuringly behind her mug. She struggles sometimes to understand any of this career stuff, but she always makes sure to show me how much she cares. 

"Thanks mom." I smile back, even if it doesn't feel completely real.

The conversation changes to more light hearted topics, what Harry was doing in nursery, how my mom's job is going, casual stuff. It was fun to chill for a bit. Until.. 

"So," My Aunt raises her eyebrows, watching me expectantly. I look back, mostly confused and trying to tell her with my eyes to continue. She's either great at reading eyes or the prolonged silence tipped her off because she speaks again, "Who is this Neighbour Boy?" Her smile is so teasing.

My mom shifts her gaze to me, the intrigue sparkling across her dark iris'. 

"It's uh, kinda a funny story," I start awkwardly, the eagerness of my relatives urging me to go on, "He's kind of like an online friend but not online. I mean, we didn't meet online." 

"Online but not online? Was it like notes on a public computer to each other? That'd be so cute." My Aunt theorises, taking a content sip after declaring her thoughts.

"No," her disappointment runs through her face, "back in school a game became popular where you'd change the last digit of your phone number either one up or one down. I was dared to do it during a 'last day of the year' game." I explain kind of embarrassed for reasons I can't quite explain.

"So you were messaging strangers in school?" My mom asks, a hint of worry to her light tone.

"Well… Technically it was just one stranger. And he turned out to be a similar age to me. His name is Isaac." I look down to my pillow, messing with the tiny zipper tucked nearly between the seams.

There's a slight pause, I get the feeling the two women are exchanging glances, communicating silently with one another. Until my Aunt speaks again, "And you have a crush on him?" The sound of her voice perfectly communicates the smile she's wearing, perfectly devious.

I feel my cheeks swirl with warmth, picking my head up to look at them both, smiles adorning each of their faces.

"We've never met before, I don't have a crush on him. He could act completely differently in person." I defend myself.

Sometimes I forget it's another person I'm talking to when texting Isaac, I definitely couldn't develop a crush for him.

"But is he hot?" My Aunt laughs as my mom hits the top of her head.

"I've never seen him before. And nope, not even a single picture."

"What?! How long have you known him?"

"Um," I tell them regretfully and both ladies respond with shocked faces, their jaws dropped and eyes perfectly round.

"How do you know he is who you think he is?" My mom asks, concerned. 

I smile gently, trying to reassure her that I'll be okay, I'm an adult and I know what I'm doing. "4 years mom. We talked about school, graduation, college. He's in uni now too and he's always given me detailed descriptions of what he studies. So by that alone I know he isn't pretending."

"Detailed?.. How detailed? Too much can be suspicious. He could just be great at research-" I cut my mom's worried rambles short. 

"No," I laugh, "It's fine mom. Don't worry."

She huffs, slouching back into the sofa with a childish pout on her lips. My Aunt waves her off, clearly much more excited, "Do you know his age?" she asks with greedy eyes, thirsty for tea.

"Mhm. He'll be 19 this year. Soon, actually."

"A winter baby? So, Sagittarius or Capricorn?" 

"I…" I pause to think about it. My Aunt finds things like star signs fun, I don't think she takes them seriously. Though she does always say that she likes Pisces the most–for some reason–so maybe I'm wrong. "Hold on, I don't even know my own!" 

"Well little Aquarius, just tell me his birthday," She smiles at me, a bright, curious smile.

I take my time looking at her, prolonging the silence in the way of her answer. When her frown turns just deep enough, I finally put her out of misery, smiling. "December 18th."