Shadows and Popularity

Chapter 16: Talk Show

Chapter 16: Talk Show

His smile was genuine, his navy blue blazer a cool, Calvin Klein. His white shirt made him look formal, yet casual nonetheless. He greeted the audience, made a dramatic bow that was rewarded by a few laughs from the crowd, then shook hands with Richard, who, if sized up with Nathan, didn’t really look that old, even with that scruffy chin of his.

The talk show went under way as soon as both Nathan and Richard took their seats.

“So,” Richard sounded once the audience died down in their applause. “Nathan! How’ve you been doing after three years of hiding?”

Nathan raised his brows, as though in thought, then shook his head from side to side as though weighing down his answer. “Pretty good, pretty good.” He nodded. “I’ve been living like a hermit under a rock, away from the mass media since I started high school.” He noted as though it were a thought.

“Yeah?” Richard sounded, a grin on his lips. “How’s that working out for you?”

Nathan made a face. “Not so good recently”

The audience laughed, and so did Nathan and Richard. Even Greg and Noah seemed to be enjoying the show.

“So, let’s cut to the chase here.” Richard said once the audience calmed down again. The man really did know how to control the mood. “I’m sure everyone’s familiar with all of your pictures going viral, in your school’s blog, in social media itself. And I’m sure everyone watching tonight is curious to know, everyone’s been dying to know,” he corrected, before looking at Nathan, who was keeping a polite smile, and said. “Who, this girl in the picture seen with you, is?”

Just as he said those words, a picture of her and Nathan popped up on screen. It was a picture taken on the night they met up in town and Nathan was about to kiss her, or, at least, she thought he was about to kiss her. Maya sunk in her seat when the other four in the room gave her questioning and shocked looks. She hid under a pillow she grabbed nearby as she continued to watch the show. She was merely thankful they didn’t ask questions.

Nathan looked at his feet, opened his mouth to speak, but looked at Richard when he answered. “Her name’s Maya. Maya Tanberry.” He nodded to Richard before he continued. “She’s a sophomore at my school, a wallflower. She’s nice, friendly, has the most original style in acoustic guitar, and might be…” He shook his head, then corrected himself. “No, THE most amazing girl I have ever met.” He looked at the camera then, and for a moment, Maya thought he was looking right at her. “I’ve made her go through hell these pass two days, had her introduced to a world she was never readied for,” He leaned forward, and Maya felt her breath get caught at the back of her throat when his dark blues looked her straight in hers. “And I’m sorry for that.”

Richard gave him an inquisitive look, before he gestured a hand toward the camera. “Is there anything you would like to say to all those on the internet saying otherwise?”

“Yes. Actually, there is.” His demeanor changed then. Brows furrowed and eyes flaming, and Maya knew then and there that he wasn’t talking to her anymore. “To those of you wondering, I’ll answer you this: We sat on the same table at lunch, just the two of us, and that was it. We became friends after that, and the date we had the night after? It was that. A date. She is not my whore, she is not a slut, and let me get this straight through all of you internet trolls out there. I do not belong to any one of you, and anonymous might be able to conceal your identity, but it won’t hide who you are. If you are a troll on the internet, you are a troll in real life, and the fact that you could bully such a sweet and innocent girl you weren’t even familiar with, well… that just speaks for itself.