Page 19 of Subscriber Wars

I look at my wrist like I have a watch. “The party won’t be over for another few hours. Maybe you should go wait across town. We’ll call you.”

Aspen chuckles next to me while Malcolm holds his stomach in a fake laugh. “It’s so nice to see you in the daylight, Valentina. I was worried you might have transferred schools in the past two months.” He snaps his fingers. “Oh wait. Let me guess? You’ve been in mourning since you and your neighborhood crush called it quits.” Malcolm pokes his bottom lip out into a fake pout that makes Vance shuffle awkwardly.

He’s not completely wrong with his assessment. Sure, I’m not Miss Social Butterfly, but I have been staying in more since my fallout with Sebastian.

“Did he break your little manly heart?”

“That’s enough,” Vance says, just as Aspen takes a threatening step directly in Malcolm’s face.

It only serves to amuse Malcolm more.

He peers around Aspen, still taunting me. “Aww. Did I hit a nerve?”

I’ve never needed anyone to stand up for me, and I especially don’t now. Malcolm doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He has no idea why Sebastian and I stopped pranking each other. “You don’t know sh—”

A hint of moonshine wafts through the air like minion droplets, introducing their leader before he arrives. I would know that smell anywhere. It took me months to get it out of my clothes after we stopped speaking.

“Valentina,” Sebastian grits out, like each syllable was painful for him to say.

“Dick,” I return without hesitation.

His glare is volleying between Vance and Malcolm, like I purposely wanted to be over here between them.

“Are you hurting these poor boys’ feelings again? We’ve talked about this. You can’t afford another restraining order.”

My smile is forced as I try to cover up the exasperated sound trying to erupt. “So nice of you to walk over uninvited, Sebastian. But we’re fine here.”

I don’t need him trying to come over here and be some sort of hero.

“Unlike you, Aspen was sweet enough to invite me.”

Aspen was sweet enough to stir my ongoing pot of drama with the neighbor is what she was. She needs something to do other than meddle. I knew she had a reason for inviting Vance.

“You two are adorable,” chides Malcolm. “Too bad your fans don’t support your solo careers.” He sneers at Sebastian. “At least Vee’s video entry had substance. She doesn’t qualify to enter, but even her worst videos are better than your best ones.”

My stomach churns just as Sebastian takes a step forward, crowding Malcolm. “I’d watch your mouth if I were you.”

I know Malcolm is being a douche, but if Sebastian and I ever had an Achilles heel, it’s being nothing without the other. I figured my videos might not qualify for the contest but is Sebastian’s video really not doing well? I need to check it out. Surely Malcolm is just talking out his ass, per usual.

Vance steps between Sebastian and Malcolm and places a hand on Sebastian’s chest, playing the peacemaker. I think they know each other, but I’m not sure. “Come on, man. He isn’t worth the police report.”

I look at Sebastian’s heaving chest, his jaw working as his fists open and close by his side.

See? I told you Malcolm is hated on MyView.

Malcolm flashes me a smirk, taking a step back from Sebastian, the explosive. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him red-faced and—well, I guess it hasn’t been that long. Last time he was this enraged was with me.

“See you around, Valentina. I’ll be sure to say hi to your subscribers for you.”

I roll my eyes as Malcolm turns and leaves. He couldn’t win over my subscribers if he grew a vagina and burped rainbows. Women know a weasel when we see one.

The air around me eases, but then Sebastian has to go and mess it up.

“What the fuck are you wearing, Valentina?” His voice is low and threatening. I’m so not in the mood for it.

“What the fuck are you wearing, Sebastian?” I say his name all growly like he said mine. “I told you those shorts looked like you sat in shit. Why do you still have them on?”

He mumbles out something that I don’t understand, but I do catch Vance’s words. “Settle down.”

---