bridges » david dobrik

22

P A R K E R

"Are you ready to go?" Suzanne asked after we had sat in bed for a few hours. We slept until six, unsurprisingly, and decided to eat cookie dough and talk about Collin's new haircut for the next two hours. "I'll wait as long as you want."

"One more cookie dough package," I grinned, pushing myself out of bed to go grab another. We had already devoured two separate Tollhouse ready to bake packages, but I was down for a third. I dug around the fridge for a hot minute before I finally let it sink in that we were out of cookie dough. Instead of crying, which I desperately wanted to do, I shrugged on a white knit cardigan that was hanging by the door over my t-shirt and leggings and quickly pulled on my white Vans. I looked in the mirror and looked horrifying, but it would have to do. "We're out! I'll be right back."

"Wait, Genevieve, do you want me to—?"

I shut the door before she could continue her question. I knew, almost without a doubt, that she would encourage me to go with her, and sometimes, you've just gotta be alone.

I walked down the stairs and exited the apartment building, feeling shocked when I first noticed the bald man with the camera standing on the sidewalk a few feet outside the door.

I was caught. I could either run like Sia/Taylor Momsen (who knows who that was?) and become an internet meme forever... or I could answer one question, albeit a bit bitterly, and get it over with. I chose the second option, knowing I was a slow and ugly runner.

"Genevieve Parker," he seemed almost surprised I didn't duck and run for my life. "I'm Chris from TMZ."

"Okay, Chris," I fake smiled. "Two questions, and then I have to go."

"Great," he smiled, equally as non-genuinely, back at me. "How's your relationship David Dobrik going?"

I tensed, but tried not to show it in my face. I knew this would be everywhere eventually, and I knew David would see it. I still wasn't sure if I'd ever show up at his house, and I couldn't let him see me sweating.

There was a reason I ended things, I had to remind myself. It wasn't because I disliked David; it was because I didn't want exactly this to happen. I didn't want to be photographed and interviewed on every simple trip to the store to get cookie dough. I didn't want to be required to sign things or take pictures or do anything on my off days, or else I'd come off as a bitch. I didn't want people outside my door at eight o'clock at night waiting for me to emerge so they could write a story about me. I most definitely didn't want another IsGenParkerLegal.com, probably focused on fake nudes and pictures of me taken without my knowledge while I was in a bikini.

It was all too much for me, and that's why I said, "There is no relationship between me and David Dobrik. We are just friends who went to Vegas together. And your next question?"

"What made you come back into the spotlight after all these years?" he asked with genuine curiosity, proving he really wanted to know why. It was an interesting question, but it didn't have an interesting answer.

"It wasn't by choice," I nodded. "Thank you. By the way, this sidewalk from there to there isn't public property; it's property of the building. If you come again, I'm going to call the cops."

———

D O B R I K

"Maybe we should turn it off," I heard Todd say from behind me as I watched the clip from TMZ over and over again on my laptop.

"Let him be depressed," Scott shrugged, obviously not seeing a problem in my wallowing.

"I'm not depressed," I mumbled, shutting the laptop before I actually did any damage to my self esteem. "I just can't believe she said we didn't have a relationship. Why would she say that?"

"Maybe because she broke up with you," Jason sassed, sitting down on the couch with a bowl of cereal.

"Fuck you."

"David, I tried to warn you and you didn't listen to me," he shrugged like he couldn't give a shit how I felt, which didn't surprise me much. He was fatherly sometimes, but an asshole the rest.

"You said she'd ruin my reputation, not that she'd break my fucking heart."

"David," Jason sighed, placing a hand on my back and patting soothingly. "She's just a girl you've known for a few weeks. You're friends with fucking Kendall Jenner now. You don't need her; it's going to be so easy to find someone else."

"There is no one else, Jason. That's the problem."

———

P A R K E R

"Hey," I smiled as I entered our cozy apartment again, a half gallon of ice cream and a package of chocolate chip cookie dough sitting carefully in the reusable grocery bag hanging from my elbow. "I got ice cream too."

Ralph's was an uneventful trip, something I was thankful for. The TMZ guy shot my anxiety through the roof, and I was worried about being recognized. Luckily, I wasn't, and when I returned to the apartment, Chris had vacated the sidewalk.

"Cracker Jack loves ice cream," she gently scratched the tiny dog's belly, grinning when he began kicking his foot when she hit just the right spot. "I've been watching Ridiculousness. I feel like I'm losing brain cells."

"They should just have the videos with no commentary," I replied, grabbing two bowls and two spoons from the cabinet and doling out each of our portions. "All three of them are annoying."

"That's called Youtube," she laughed and I rolled my eyes, purposely giving myself an extra scoop of cookie dough. She'd probably never know the difference, but it made me feel better. "How was Ralph's?"

"Same as always," I shrugged, grabbing both of the bowls and joining her on the couch. I pulled her blanket over my legs and sighed in relief once I was finally down. "There was a TMZ guy outside the apartment."

"I know," she replied. "I tried to tell you, but you slammed the door in my face."

I winced and immediately apologized, "Sorry. I just wanted to be alone."

"It's fine," she smiled, shoving a mix of vanilla ice cream and cookie dough into her mouth. "Are you ready to go to David's? It's almost nine o'clock. He may not even be home."

"I've decided I'm not going to David's," I told her, after a few moments of internal deliberation. "Chris just made everything clear. David is risky, and it's not a risk I'm willing to take."

"Uh... who is Chris?"

"The TMZ guy," I explained with a half hearted chuckle. "I don't think I'd ever be happy in the spotlight like that, even if I was with David. It's not worth it to me, so... I'm done."

"You're done?"

"I'm done. For good, this time."

Or so I thought.

heheheje i like this chapter!!!! give it a vote and a comment if u did too!!!!!! <3333333

ps i love how ive updated this book like 792 times and i havent even touched raising it bc i literally do NOT want to write aifjs

xoxo abby