Notifications

"Ring! Ring! Ring!"

My cellphone wakes me up at 9 a.m. sharp. I reach over the other half of the bed and grab my phone off of my nightstand. I look on the screen to see that my personal alarm clock today was Avery.

"Whadaya waaaaant, Aves? There's only a week until school and I need all the sleep I can get!" I slur my words, still half asleep.

"Imogen, wakey wakeeeey!" Avery half yells over the phone. "You know how my mom is like the president of the women's association or something like that at the local country club, right?"

"Uh, yeah. Why?"

"Well, she's throwing a party at our house for the association. I really extremely don't want to be alone, and she told me you could come. Please? Please? Puh-leeeeease? Puh-"

"Okay okay I'll go! But what do I wear?"

"Oh, it's a fancy sort of dinner party, so you have to wear a dress and m-"

"Avery no! You know how much I hate wearing dresses!"

"Please, Imogen. For me?"

"Fine. At what time should I get there?"

"6 p.m is fine."

"Okay see you later"

And with a few goodbyes, we ended our conversation.

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I look at myself in the long mirror that's behind my bedroom door. I shake my head, I'm not satisfied with my appearance. I hate wearing dresses! I guess, when it comes to looks, I've always been self-conscious. I've always hated the way I looked. I've never even had a boyfriend before, that's how ugly I am. With a sigh, I look at myself up and down one last time. I was wearing a casual dress with sunflowers on it, paired with some brown combat boots. My make up was simple; just a little foundation for some coverage, mascara, and some eyeliner. My long brunette hair came down my back in tousled waves. I was ready, I guess. I grabbed my phone, purse, and was soon out the door.

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Once we were done eating, the parents went into the back yard to talk about grown up things while the teens and kids went upstairs to the Davenport's game room. I guess you can say they're pretty wealthy. I was talking to Avery and her cousins Leo when...

"Ding Ding Ding"

My phone began to vibrate. I unlocked the phone and pulled down the notifications bar.

"Kyle David Hall has posted a new video! "Hurting Myself" is up now!"

"Excuse me" I politely say to Leo while I grab ahold of Avery's arm and pull her to the corner of the room with me.

"Imogen, what's going on?"

"Can I pretty, pretty, pwetty pwease use your laptop?" I ask her using her #1 weakness: my baby voice.

"For what?"

"You'll see!" I tell while while I basically drag her to her room.

Once were in, she grabs her pink laptop off of her desk and plops it down in her bed. Without saying a word, I open it and head straight to YouTube. I type in "Kyle David Hall" into the search bar and click on the most recent video.

At not even half way through the video, Avery looks over at me and says:

"Imogen, are you seriously crying?"

"No!" I say as I wipe a single tear from my eye.

"Imogen-"

"Look, I can't help it, okay? I love him so much! He's my idol, and the person I look up to! I feel terrible that he has to go through this. I see him as more of a friend than a famous YouTuber, and-"

Just then, I gasp at what rolls off of Kyle's lips.

"I'm from Ohio"

I quickly press the space bar on Avery's laptop.

"Avery, did you hear that!" I practically yell, forgetting how saddened I was three seconds ago.

"What?"

"Kyle just said that he was from Ohio! What if we see him like, at the mall, or like the grocery store? Oh!! Or what if-"

"Slow down there, Imogen. Even if he is from Ohio, he might not be from our area. For all you know, he could be in the other end of Ohio."

"I guess you're right. It was stupid to get my hopes up." I say, feeling my throat swell up and on the verge of tears.

"But hey, if we do meet him, I call dibs. He's a cutie!" Avery says while hitting the "Subscribe" button on Kyle's channel.

A/N: Imogen's dress is the one shown. Thanks for reading! - Clari 💜