How to Get One Million Reads on Wattpad (a novel)

6) Build Connections

Derek excused himself from the table to go to the restroom, and his heart thudded with a strange mix of excitement and nerves.

As he crossed the cozy coffee shop, the soft hum of conversation blending with the clinks of cups, Derek tried to push down the anxiety that had surfaced the moment she'd asked about TikTok.

How much should he say? How much should he reveal?

Vikki's voice—angry, venomous—was still stuck in his head from the last video, and even now, while he was here on a date with Stacy, his mind kept circling back to that ridiculous idea of making a comeback video. Maybe satire would defuse the tension Vikki created, but part of him wondered: was he ready to deal with the backlash? Again?

And were those the type of videos that he would want Stacy to stumble upon if she found his channel?

Inside the bathroom, he took a moment to study his reflection. The sharpness of his jawline, the muscular arms that filled out his shirt—things he'd never take for granted. There was a time when he couldn't even dream of seeing this man staring back at him.

To anyone looking, he was just a regular guy. But beneath that skin lay a complicated story—one he didn't know if he was ready to share with Stacy yet. He didn't want it to cloud her perception of him.

For once, he wanted to be judged for himself, not for whatever opinions someone had about transgender people.

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady himself. He knew Stacy deserved honesty, but he wasn't ready for her to look at him differently.

Not yet.

He splashed water on his face and stood upright, wiping his hands on his jeans.

Enough with the overthinking. He'd just enjoy this date. No need to unravel everything in one afternoon.

When he stepped back into the main area, Stacy was waiting at the table, her phone resting beside her coffee cup. She glanced up, offering him a warm smile that sent a flutter through his chest.

"There you are," she said teasingly. "I was starting to think you might've been ambushed in there."

Derek chuckled as he slid back into his seat. "No ambush. I don't have that big a following."

Her eyes sparkled, and she leaned forward slightly, her curiosity obvious. "So, are you going to tell me more about your TikTok fame now? I feel like you're holding out on me."

There it was again. That familiar tug of pride mixed with uncertainty. He didn't mind talking about his channel, but how much should he really share right now?

"Fame might be overstating it a bit," he said, flashing her a grin. "It's just a fun outlet. And people seem to like it."

"Yeah, a few hundred thousand people." Stacy raised an eyebrow. "You know," she said, her tone thoughtful, "it's kind of amazing that you've got this huge following. I mean, hundreds of thousands of people? That's a big deal. You should be proud of it."

Derek smiled, a little bashfully. "I guess. Sometimes it feels like too much, though. A lot of pressure to keep producing content, to stay relevant. And then there are the haters..." His voice trailed off, not wanting to bring up Vikki and her crowd of trolls. That would definitely kill the vibe.

"I get it," Stacy said quietly, surprising him. "It's the same with writing. You want people to like what you create, but at the same time, it's scary. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just throwing my stories into a void, you know?"

Derek nodded, feeling a strange connection at that moment. They weren't all that different. Both of them were trying to carve out their space in a world that didn't always understand or appreciate them.