Page 37 of Masked Sins
Starboy1997
So far, what I’m reading is fairly common in the community. Nothing stands out as unrealistic or over the top. The author did their research.
I’m glad you’re enjoying it.
He doesn’t respond despite me waiting several minutes, and it takes me a minute to realize that I’ve been nervously chewing on my nails.
“Everything okay?” Orion asks, looking up from his phone.
“Yeah. Fine,” I say quickly, ignoring him while I look at the screen. Even though I could probably recite this entire movie by heart, I’m having trouble concentrating.
My phone vibrates.
I fumble, trying to unlock it, and Orion huffs a laugh.
My heart leaps into my chest when I see another message from the mysterious, masked man.
Starboy1997
Is that you in your profile picture?
I bite my lower lip, thinking of this guy looking at my profile. It’s private—a decision I made when I started dancing professionally. Suddenly, a friend request comes through, and I nearly squeak out loud.
“You sure you’re okay?” Orion asks, breaking me out of my stupor.
“I’m fine,” I practically growl.
I glance at him quickly before looking down at my phone, totally engrossed in the conversation with Starboy.
I confirm the friend request on my phone and wait—scrolling through months and years of my life. There’s everything from pictures of my dad and me, Zoe and Remy on random girls’nights,lotsof pictures of Sparrow, and random other things like my pointe shoes, peonies, my library and reading nook, and sometimes pictures of what I’m reading—the PG ones, that is. Just as I’m about to lock the screen again and focus on the movie, I get another message.
Starboy1997
You’re beautiful. I hope someone tells you that often.
I know I shouldn’t be blushing from what a stranger told me on the internet, but I am.
Thanks. And no, there’s no one. I’m pretty invisible.
Starboy1997
You sure? Because it’s hard to believe you just walk through life without anyone noticing.
I nearly drop my phone as my heart sputters inside my chest. No one’s ever said anything like that to me. Yes, I’m a ballet dancer, but when my shoes are off, I usually wear sweatpants and glasses at home. Plus, I’ve spent the past ten or so years battling crippling self-loathing and horrid thoughts about my body.
To have someone call me beautiful right off the bat…
“Are you still watching?” Orion asks, sounding almost annoyed.
My dad is snoring now, and I look over at my stepbrother, who has his phone resting on his lap.
“You’ve been on your phone, too,” I accuse.
“You’re right. I have been,” he confesses, grinning. “I’m getting another drink. Want one?”
“Just water for me,” I tell him absentmindedly.
He stands up and walks out of the room, and I unlock my phone again, staring at Starboy’s message.
