see.
The subject line simply said, âTwinkletoes.â My stomach turned over.
Brooke clicked on the message. âLooks like someone sent me a video link. Should I open it?â
âNo,â I said in a horrified whisper.
But Brooke didnât hear me. A second later,a tambourine rattled and a woman sang, âI feel pretty! Oh so pretty!â
âWhat . . .â Brookeâs face broke into a grin, and she started to giggle. âOh my God. You guys have to check this out.â She held her phone up so we could all see.
Heather and Vanessa started laughing at the antics of the guy on-screen. He was prancing about in a billowy white skirt, white tights, and shoes with pompoms on the toes. His face was blurred out, but I knew instantly who it was.
Me.
CHAPTER
3
Going Viral
T he video was slowed down and sped up in just the right places so it synced perfectly with the music. Dancing Me even paused in front of a studio mirror just as the woman sang, âSee the pretty girl in that mirror there?â
My friends were practically doubled over with laughter.
I shrunk down a little in my chair. If I stayed quiet, maybe they wouldnât notice.
âI wish his face wasnât blurred out,â said Brooke. âI wonder if heâs singing along.â
âWait a minute.â Vanessa plucked the phone from Brookeâs hand.
Uh-oh.
âIâve seen this outfit before.â V paused the video and stared at the screen.
Leave it to our fashion expert to recognize my costume.
A second later, she gasped and looked at me. âYou!â
âShhh!â I put a hand over her mouth. âNobody else knows.â
âKnows what?â Heather asked, wrinkling her forehead.
âHold up.â Brooke took back her phone and gawked at the image. Then at me. âNo way!â
âOh!â Heatherâs eyes grew wide as realization sunk in. âWhy did you post this video online where anyone could see it?â
âAnd someone clearly has, judging from that email,â added Vanessa.
I gawked at both of them. âYou really thinkââ
âShhh!â Mary Patrick gave us a stern look.
I lowered my voice and my entire body closer to the desk. âYou really think Iâd post a video of myself dancing to âI Feel Prettyâ?â
Brooke let out a laugh but quickly stifled it when she saw the murderous look on my face. âSorry. But you did look pretty.â
Vanessa snorted and Heather looked away, but I could see the smile tugging at Heatherâs mouth.
âCongratulations,â I said, scowling. âYouâve all gone from getting jars of peanut butter for Christmas to getting jars of nothing .â
âOh, come on.â Brooke squeezed my arm. âYou canât even tell who it is.â
âIf you didnât post it, do you know who did?â asked Heather.
The last thing I needed was my friends confronting Ryan and making things worse. Theother guys in school would think I couldnât fight my own battles.
âNo,â I said. âBut I hope no one elseââ
I didnât even get a chance to voice my hope before it was dashed. From across the room, I heard . . .
âI feel pretty! Oh so pretty!â
Followed by . . .
âBa ha, ha, ha!â
Everyone in class glanced over to where Stefan Marshall was sitting, one hand holding his phone, the other wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
âPhone away before I take it away,â Mrs. H warned him.
âBut, Mrs. H, you gotta see this video someone just emailed me.â Stefan held up his phone, and several people crowded around.
The laughter grew louder.
âDude, send that to me,â said Felix, a guy whowrote for the front page.
The front page.
âPlease no,â I mumbled.
âOh wait, never mind,â said Felix. âI got it in my email too.â He stared at the screen. âAw, man! Looks like the whole