ROMEO

18

E.V.A.

'Romeo's secret mistress!'

'Evangeline Newton hides from the camera. Is she becoming her mother?'

'Romeo Emerson has secret affair with Evangeline Newton!'

'Evangeline Newton has grown up in her mother's footsteps!'

I drop my phone, face down, onto my bed.

Oh, fuck.

My eyes burn with tears, nausea wreaking havoc.

I'm not like her. You don't even know me.

I scroll down and read some of the comments, tears raining.

"That poor girl."

"Damn, I always hoped her mom wouldn't taint her. "

"This generation has no regard for safety or protection."

"She looks strung out."

"Romeo has awful taste. First he picked a hoe, then a picked a druggie, now he got this thot."

"Leave her alone."

"They can do whatever the hell they want."

"If you believe this, you're dumb as fuck. No more Internet for you today."

"Get a life."

"This is a shame. We bash teenagers for something as innocent as going to dinner and a movie now, but laugh when they twerk, cuss, or have babies on reality TV. Fake news!"

"Fake news!"

"I'm done with this website." 

I smile, despite the tears, at the people who stuck up for us. But my eyes still find their way up to the negative comments, soaking them in.

She didn't taint me.

I'm not a cheater.

I would never date my sons killer.

Never.

How dare they?!

Tears of anger blur me and I stand up, not knowing what to do.

Alex walks in, phone in hand. "Eva, don't go on-"

She looks up, drops her phone, and rushes over to me.

Her arms wrap around my shaky frame, embracing me. "Oh fuck, you already saw it. I'm sorry, Eva."

I sob into her shirt, dampening the fabric. Her hands rub my back, soothing me.

I pull back, smiling at her. "You're the best."

"No, I just care," Alex says, placing a strand of hair behind my ear.

The door opens. "The king has arrived!"

"You're not a king, Zach," I hear Malcolm say.

Zach's smile falls when he sees me. "What happened now?!"

"You guys didn't see?" I croak.

"Apparently not if you're crying like this. Jeez, Eva," Zach says, pulling me to him.

His arms wrap around me, my face resting on his chest.

He places his chin on top of my head and sighs. "I can't leave you for a second."

Alex shows Malcolm the phone and he shakes his head, frowning. Zach takes the phone, still holding me.

His chest vibrates as he growls. "I'm going to trash the fuck out of this website. They really have nothing better to do?"