Page 106 of Talk to Me

Furthermore, since the highly violating and illegal recording had been taken in the dorm that they owned, it would be right nice of them to make sure Theo and I left Midway University after our senior year with zero student debt. When I made this last request, Theo couldn’t help but snicker in his seat next to me. Even I thought I had asked for the moon. When administration immediately agreed to everything, Theo and I told them we would gladly sign forms saying we wouldn’t sue anyone as long as they stuck to those stipulations. We also agreed to never blame Midway University for anything that happened if we spoke publicly about the situation.

We walked out of Student Affairs, found a bench in the quad, far away from everyone and everything, and laughed our asses off.

In the end, nothing had to be done about Collin. He’d disappeared from campus and no one knew where’d he gone. I figured he’d run home to his parents or something, but I couldn’t bring myself to care too much or think about it at length. As long as he was away from me and I’d never have to see my ex-best friend again, I was okay with it.

Peepers ended up banning Ben from their platform after enough people made reports of harassment, bullying, and illegal activities. The fact that he was working with another user to illegally record other people wasn’t looking too good for him, either. Both him and Collin were possibly facing legal charges—though Theo and I weren’t sure if we wanted to participate in all of that.

We just wanted things to die down. Getting back to studying, living our lives, and figuring out where our relationship was going were the most important things to us. So, we focused on moving Theo’s stuff into my dorm—our dorm—and pretending the live stream had never happened. Of course, Mom and Dad called me days after to check on me. Apparently, Evie had seen everything online and filled them in on the gossip.

I reassured them that everything was fine. In fact, for all the embarrassment, Theo and I had come out better off than we were before. They were still concerned for me, of course, but they were glad to know things were going to be fine—and that Theo and I were officially dating. In the end, I had to make a promise to bring him home for a few weeks over summer. Pretending to be put out, I huffed out a simple “fine.”

Things went back to normal right away, surprisingly. Other students would talk to Theo in line at Midway Roasters or in the halls between classes like always. However, once it was clear that Midway University had taken care of business, and Peepers had banned Ben, everyone moved on. Justice was served, Theo and I were happy, and there was nothing to keep raging on about.

After a few weeks, and several students requesting it, Theo began a new series on his Peepers channel. “Talk to Me” was a sit-down style interview segment where he highlighted interesting students from Midway University. Unlike before, when students were expecting to say unimportant things or act a fool when he tried to record them for Peepers, Talk to Me was totally different. Students talked to him about growing up confined by religious expectations, gender, sexuality, politics, their concerns and dreams. Talk to Me was becoming an internet phenomenon.

Theo ended up having to start a YouTube channel and cross-posting the videos on all of his social media so all of his followers could watch the videos. National news organizations mentioned his videos from time to time.

I was happy for us. I was happy for him.

Until he told me that he had one big dream for Talk to Me.

He wanted me to finally allow him to record me for his channel. Interviewing me about my experience over the last year was what he knew his followers really wanted. Theo actually wanted to hear what I had to say, too.

Though it wasn’t my idea of a good time, I couldn’t say no to him. Someone besides Theo and Ben had to set the story straight. Someone who had absolutely no desire to be famous or gain followers. I’d closed my Peepers account. Letting Theo interview me would do nothing for me, other than allow me to tell my truth.

So, I said “yes.”

“We’re almost ready,” Theo said, giving the ring light another adjustment.

“Okay,” I replied, taking a deep breath.

My phone dinged in my pocket.

“Turn that off!” Theo demanded playfully. “Your social life is not going to ruin this!”

“Get your manties out of their twist.” I teased him back.

He laughed as I slipped my phone out of my pocket. When I saw the screen, I didn’t immediately turn it off. I had a text from Arthur. I unlocked my phone and opened the text.

Are you kids still picking me up at four-thirty?

Smiling at the message, I tapped out a response.

Yep! Then straight to Pizza Insanity! Everyone is excited you’re coming with us! Turning off my phone. Theo is about to interview me.

I didn’t wait for a response from Arthur. He was one of those people who understood the need to disconnect from time to time. Besides, we’d be seeing him in a few hours. We couldn’t not get one last visit in with him before we left Midway for summer.

As I was sliding my powered off phone into my pocket, Theo was sitting down in the desk chair next to the ring light. His phone was clipped into a holder in the middle of the ring of light aimed at my face. Immediately, my gut started to knot up.

“Don’t get nervous.” Theo chuckled.

“I’m not nervous,” I said.

He grinned at me. Theo knew me well enough to know that I wanted to run for it.

“I can see it all over your face,” he said. “Take a deep breath. It’s just you and me here.”

“And the twenty million people who will see it afterwards,” I said, taking a deep breath as suggested.