Subscriber Wars: An Enemies-to-Lovers-Romantic Comedy

by Kristy Marie

  “So why are you over here and not at home?”

  I stare out at the parking lot. “Can’t I just have a beer with my friend?” I’m not in the mood to tell him about Vee saying she loved me.

  Maverick scoffs. “Sure, but I’ve never known you to turn down stalking your neighbor for having a beer with me.” Maverick doesn’t drink, but he likes to sit on his balcony and pour out his beers. It’s weird. I can’t explain it, other than to say it was one of those quirks I was talking about.

  I exhale a deep breath. “I’m leaving. What am I supposed to do?”

  Maverick picks at the label of his beer. “What do you want to do?”

  Any other time I would talk to Tweener, or T as I called her, about my conundrum, but not tonight. Tonight is different.

  “Our video has over two million views in the past twelve hours,” I state. “The producers already called me. We won.”

  “I’m not seeing how that’s a bad thing.”

  “It’s not. It’s just—” It doesn’t feel like a win. A win should have been celebrated with Vee and shots of moonshine. Instead, she’s not speaking to me.

  “I’m proud of you, dude,” Maverick says. “This is something you’ve wanted for a long time. I’m just wondering why you don’t seem more excited. Perhaps it has something to do with a former cameraman.”

  I’ll never admit that I love her to Maverick. I’ll never admit that I’m contemplating staying and finishing my degree just to see where things take us, since she’s no longer pretending to be my cameraman or girlfriend.

  “Maybe I’m just in shock” is all I say.

  “Yeah, and maybe you’re in love.”

  My bags are packed, and I’ve sent Vee a couple of congratulatory texts which she promptly replied with a thumbs up. Maybe her ignoring me is for the best. If she didn’t mean what she said, then there’s no reason for me to stay. We’ll still be friends, even with two thousand miles between us. I struggled with walking next door and telling her I loved her too, but she never turned on her light, and I took that as a sign. But I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye.

  So there, on her back patio, sits her chair with a fucked-up bow on the top. I didn’t know how to tie one and MyView, although helpful, could not teach me any bow tying techniques.

  “You want me to drive you to the airport?”

  I don’t answer Rowan immediately. Instead, I look down at the contents of my duffle bag. It’s minimal, only clothes and the flannel top Vee once wore when we did that stupid dance. All my stuff—including my film memorabilia—is packed away in a storage facility, so my sister can rent this place out to the next college kid who wants to take on a thieving neighbor.

  I swallow, feeling a bout of panic flare up. It feels like I’m abandoning my entire life, and I guess I am, but this is what I wanted, right? This was the whole point of entering the contest in the first place. To get away? To start over? To do what I wanted? But now, it doesn’t really feel like something I want. I’m sure once I leave, it’ll be fine. I just need to do it. Rip off the Band-Aid.

  “Nah. Thanks, though,” I tell him with a pat on the shoulder. “I think I’ll just take an Uber. I need to handle a couple of things first.” Like watching Vee for a few more minutes before I leave her forever.

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

  I look at my Fast and the Furious friend and shake my head. “Yeah, I’m good.”

  Not that I think Rowan will cry or ask to hug me, but I don’t know what to say to my friend of four years. I’m leaving, and I won’t be graduating with him in a couple more months. Stupid, I know, but I’ve never been one to make great decisions. I don’t care that I’m close to graduating with a business degree. Business can go fuck itself. I don’t want a desk job and a monotonous future. I want to see the world. I want to live the life I’ve always dreamed about.

  “Alright, man.” He holds his hand out for me to shake. “I’ll see you around.”

  We both know that’s a lie, but I nod anyway. “Yeah. Behave yourself. Don’t let Mav take all your money.”

  Fucker knows he sucks at poker.

  He grins and shakes his head. “Take care of yourself, man.”

  His voice turns serious, and I know this is the last time I’ll see him. If everything works out, I’ll never come back to Georgia, at least while Rowan is still in school.

  I swallow. “You too.”

  And that’s it. That’s how dudes say their goodbyes. Rowan turns and walks away while I’m left with a bag and pair of binoculars I stole specifically for this occasion. I walk to the window and raise them to my eyes, peering out for the last time at the girl who taught me that friendship comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s disguised as hate and sometimes as a fake girlfriend. Either way, as I watch her pacing her bedroom, I know that she deserves better than me. She deserves a real boyfriend. Someone who will be with her the next three years of her college life.

  She deserves someone better.

  I just hope that Vance isn’t that someone.

  I know it’s selfish but leaving isn’t easy. It should be, because that’s what I want, at least I think it is.

  My phone buzzes in my pocket. I look down, hoping to see it’s Vee saying goodbye or at least giving me hell about watching her with binoculars, but I’m disappointed.

  Maverick: You have one minute to get in the fucking car.

  I smile. I knew he would show. He might have called me and said he didn’t do goodbyes, but I knew he would. Deep down, Maverick Lexington is a softy.

  Me: Aww. You did miss me.

  Maverick: I owed you a favor and since you won’t be here to claim it, I’m taking you to the airport. I always pay my debts.

  He doesn’t owe me any kind of favor, but this is who he is.

  Me: If you say so. Let me grab my shit.

  Maverick: I don’t have all day.

  I pocket my phone and take one last look at the girl next door. She’s gone from the window, and my heart sinks. I should go over there, at least give her a high-five, but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to make it final.

  Grabbing my bag, I sling it over my shoulder and walk to the front door. I turn and give everything one more look before I close the door and lock it, leaving everything behind.

  “Took you long enough,” Maverick says, as soon as I open the passenger door and chuck my bag into the back seat. His eyes follow its landing, and he frowns.

  “Thanks for taking care of the Jeep while I’m gone,” I tell him, ignoring the sour look he still has. His leather is fine. It’s not like my bag was made of jagged metal.

  “Yeah,” he mumbles, pulling away from the curb and gunning it down the road, not even giving me the opportunity to look back.

  “Fuck. Seriously? You told them?”

  My friend is the devil.

  Maverick shrugs, not bothering to look up from his phone. “Ainsley made me. I told her you didn’t want to see them.” He flashes me an apologetic look. “She didn’t care.”

  I shake my head. “Tell her I’ll miss her sensitive self.”

  I swear, she’s worse than Vee about saving the world and shit.

  “Get out of the car and text me the address when you land.” Maverick sounds a lot like my father instead of my friend, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  I nod. “I’ll see you soon.” It’s not a question with Maverick. He keeps up with his family and I have no doubt he won’t allow me to disappear out west and never speak to him again.

  With one last fist bump, I get out of the car and open the back door to retrieve my bag and then turn to face my mom, dad, and sister.

  “Maverick told us what time your flight was leaving. We wanted to say goodbye.” My mom wraps her arms around me, her body shaking.

  I loop my arms around her, exhaling.

  “We are so proud of you,” she says between sobs.

  I snap to attention. “You are?” You can’t fault me for having doubts. All
my parents have ever wanted for me to do is go to school and get a good job. I think I always felt like they just wanted me out of their house. Once my sister married and moved out, I was the last hurdle in their way to freedom.

  “Of course we are, sweetie. Why would you think we weren’t?” My mom pulls back from my arms and wipes her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re looking for, Sebastian, but all we’ve ever wanted for you is to be happy. If that happiness is in California, making movies, then we hope you take California by storm and live the life you’ve always dreamed of.” She smooths her hand over my cheek. “You deserve it.”

  It’s like a dam of tension breaks in my soul. My mother didn’t declare that I wasn’t a failed stem cell donor, but she admitted that all she ever wanted was for me to be happy and, honestly, just feeling seen by the most influential people in my life is all I could ask for. It doesn’t fix all the years of insecurities I’ve brought onto myself, but it’s a start, and right now, that’s all I need.

  “Thank you,” I tell her, kissing her on the cheek and giving her one last hug.

  My sister steps up next and grabs me by the shirt and squeezes me. There are no tears in her eyes, only a threat. “You will tell me where you are staying and you will not avoid me when I come to visit you. Do you understand me, little boy?”

  It’s cute when she tries to threaten me, even though she’s a foot shorter than I am. “I understand,” I tell her, grinning and feeling a lot lighter than I did before.

  When she finally lets me go, I turn and look at my dad. He nods and then pulls me by the shoulder and hugs me. “You take care of yourself, Son.”

  I nod. “I will. Take care of them for me.” I tip my chin to my mom and sister, who are now hugging each other like I’m dying instead of moving.

  “You better go so you don’t miss your flight,” he mutters.

  I don’t tell him that I changed my flight three times since I bought the ticket. I kept finding shit I needed to take care of before I left. What was an afternoon flight ended up as a red-eye flight. But the airport will have some good footage I can shoot and it’s not at my house where I will be tempted to watch a particular neighbor until it’s time to leave.

  With another round of hugs and promises to call as soon as I land, I make my way to security. “Ticket,” the TSA agent demands.

  I unzip the front pocket of my bag and pull out my ticket and hand it over.

  “Don’t play with me, boy,” the agent says, handing the ticket back. “You need a real ticket to get through.”

  “What?” I take the ticket from him and flip it over. There, instead of my flight information, is a note in handwriting I will never forget.

  Yeah, I said it. I love you and I know deep down in that demon soul of yours, you love me too. I couldn’t let you leave without one more prank. If you want to get on the plane, you know where to meet me for the ticket.

  Tweener

  Aka your bestie

  Aka Vee

  Aka yours

  No one needs to see the ridiculous smile I’m sporting right now.

  I pull out my phone and text Maverick.

  Me: Can you turn around?

  His response is immediate.

  Maverick: Never left the parking lot.

  I turn and walk back to the parking lot, apologizing to the TSA agent for the mix-up.

  Me: She got to you, didn’t she?

  Maverick: She needed a favor.

  And Maverick is the granter of all things.

  Me: You just couldn’t leave it alone.

  Maverick: Don’t take it personally. Ainsley is a sucker for happy endings.

  Honestly, just knowing Vee wants to see me makes me stupidly happy. And bringing my friends in on this prank… solidifies my decision.

  Maverick drops me off at my house, and I don’t bother with getting my keys. The door is already unlocked.

  “You know,” I say, setting my bag down and striding to the kitchen, where the girl who dressed up as a guy for two months sits at my counter with two shots of moonshine in front of her. She has that fucking wig on, and I can’t help the grin that emerges.

  “I’m beginning to think you’re a serial burglar. This makes, what, four times you picked my locks? I’m assuming you broke in and stole my ticket?”

  She smiles and it’s all teeth. “Actually, Rowan stole the ticket. So, technically, I only broke in three times.”

  I take a seat next to her, and she slides the shot in front of me. “One last drink between friends.”

  I take the shot glass and we turn them up at the same time. “Another?” I say, licking the last of the liquor off my lips. She cocks her head to the side, wondering what I’m up to. “But maybe we drink to the first of many between lovers.”

  Her mouth drops open, and I grab her bar stool and slide her toward me so that she’s in between my legs. “Because I love you too and I’m not going fucking anywhere.”

  With absolutely no restraint, I let every bit of anxiety I’ve experienced over leaving her channel into the feeling of pressing my lips to hers, giving her everything I never thought I would feel for a woman. I steal her breath, crushing her face to mine until she pulls back, her dark eyes meeting mine. She smiles, running her hands through my hair. “I’d love that, bro.”

  One year later and that time I won the prank war. You’re welcome.

  “Rowan will probably bring moonshine if you want that instead of beer.”

  I scrunch my nose. Moonshine fucks me up. I can drink beer and can even shoot liquor and stay sober, but moonshine… knocks me on my ass. The last time I drank it, I passed out on the back stoop of the guys’ house and Aspen had to drag me across the courtyard, without the guys knowing and asking where the fuck I had been. Drew would have not been pleased but that’s okay because Drew is not the boss of me.

  “Cool,” I tell him. “But Maverick will have beer, right?”

  Sebastian cuts me a look of disgust. “Yeah, but it tastes like old socks.”

  “Of course,” I add, cocking a hip out and dropping my shoulder. “I was just wondering. I like to chase my moonshine with beer.”

  Be cool, Vee. Remember who you are.

  Sebastian looks impressed. “Whatever you want, dude.”

  “So, uh, how many honeys are going to be here? I could use some of that Gorilla Grip cooch. My dick has been hella dry lately.” I shake the crotch of my baggy jeans and watch as Sebastian’s eyes widen, before pocketing his wallet.

  “Uh, no girls are invited to Wednesday night poker, but we could always go out and celebrate later.”

  Is that what I’m asking? To celebrate later with a bunch of girls?

  “We can find chicks for you to, you know—” he waves his hand at me. “—to handle that.”

  Oh my gosh. How in the hell am I going to get through this night? Uncle Pe only taught me the basics and watching Teen Wolf wasn’t very helpful, since I just found myself staring at the sharp teeth and hard bodies. Not only am I going to sit through an exclusive poker game, but now we’re going to celebrate with a bunch of girls who think I have a dick.

  “Good,” I say, clearing my throat. “We might need to bounce out a little early then.”

  Sebastian’s eyes narrow.

  Fuck. He knows. There’s no way he doesn’t know. He’s going to out me in front of everyone at this game. What the hell was I thinking? I’m so done at this school. I am so stupid!

  “Don’t bail on me, T. First, we win some money and then we’ll celebrate. Got it?”

  I breathe a huge sigh of relief. I don’t know if he’s just playing a game with me or if he truly doesn’t know.

  “You know I got your back, brother.”

  “You’re either in, or you’re out, Tweener. Make a decision or go giggle with the girls next door.”

  I glance up at Rowan, who is beyond serious about this so-called friendly game of poker. At least that’s what Sebastian called it when he convinced me that I would have a great time,
making a couple extra grand at the Wednesday night poker game. But as I sit here, not knowing what in the hell I’m looking at, I’m thinking Sebastian downplayed, not only the complexity of the game, but the fact this was, in fact, not a friendly game.

  “Relax. Tweener is new.”

  I tip my chin at Maverick like I’ve seen Sebastian do in the past. Out of all the guys, Maverick looks the least relaxed, but I guess I shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. If he hasn’t thrown me out yet, maybe he won’t. I doubt Sebastian will have much sympathy if they figure out my game.

  I’m not here to play poker. I’m only here to keep up the ruse. Sebastian Carrington, my nemesis, expects his friend to click with his other friends. So here I am, in a wig that my uncle lent me and a makeup job that I’m proud of. I might not have the best eyeliner or the prettiest highlights on my cheeks, but it’s simple, underplayed, and looks very manly, if I do say so myself.

  Not knowing what card I should lay down, I look up at Sebastian who has this stupid grin on his face. Ugh. Why must the demon look like an angel?

  “You might want to wipe that fucking smile off your face,” says Maverick, his expression stern and no longer hospitable. “Because if he goes belly up, you’re not leaving here until you cover his debt.”

  I cringe. Sebastian covered the two thousand dollar buy-in too. I might not want the shithead to win next week’s subscriber war, but that doesn’t mean I want Maverick to shank him in a dark alley. Out of all Sebastian’s friends, Maverick looks the most unstable. Rumor has it he will grant any favor asked of him, but in return, you will owe him a favor that he will claim at a later date. It all sounds really sketchy, so as much as I want to ruin Sebastian, I don’t want him to go out when he’s doing something sweet for a change.