It was one day. One stupid day. I was at Playlist Live and I was vlogging around. I said hello to all my Youtube friends and mingled around. When I went to go say hi to Louise Pentland, she was unfortunately hanging around with Dan Howell. He was an internet sensation, I knew that. He had over six million subscribers and was on his way to seven. Everyone knew about him, but I had never met him. Being as friendly as I could, I talked to him and we ended up playing Cards Against Humanity with Tyler Oakley and Louise. Of course I had to vlog it. Of course I did; but unfortunately I did so just enough that it was going to get me into a lot of trouble.

#Dalynn

#iShipDalynn

#MakeDalynnCannon

#ForgetPhanLoveDalynn

It was a riot. They were four trending tags for six straight days. My manger was going crazy. That one single vlog had gotten over two million views. That's the most I've ever had ever. He called me into a meeting on a Tuesday at one in the afternoon and I was so frightened. This popularity might make any other YouTuber super happy, but the popularity scared me.

"So, Aslynn, tell me about what you've been seeing these last couple days from your perspective," he started off calmly.

"Uh, well, mostly chaos. I can hardly use any social media right now and every new vlog is getting harder and harder since all that's getting asked is my thoughts on Dalynn," I explained for him as calmly as I could.

"Hm, well I see it as an opportunity. You could gain so many new subscribers and so, so many more views. I mean, that one vlog alone makes up 90% of your views last week. Why would we miss an opportunity like this?"

"What kind of opportunity?" I asked suspiciously.

"The opportunity where you fake being with danisnotonfire, or actually be with him— whatever you want— and gain so many new followers. In the end, if we make it look like he broke up with you, then you'll gain a bunch of new viewers. The whole thing will just be like a really long collaboration video. It's ingenious."

"That is not ingenious. That's crazy and horrible. What is he going to think?"

"He can be in on the action too— just not that last part— and it will all work out. You'll head down to London this weekend and make sure some fan sees you two together. Then, the whole thing will come together very easily," he told me.

"Why not—"

"No negotiations right now. Do your research on him tonight and I'll talk to you before you leave. I'll email you later tonight with some more details and charts! I know how you love charts!" I nodded and left. I didn't like charts at all. It reminded me of schemes and stuck up business people and difficult times in school. As soon as I got outside, I put on my vlog smile and turned on my camera.

"Well, my meeting is over with now. It was surprisingly short. Anyway, I just had some great news confirmed. This weekend I will be able to come down to London for a visit, so if you're in the area I might be around town. Come say hi. I'm going to head home now," I said, holding up my car keys with a brilliant smile. I got back to my house and threw my things on the couch with a loud sigh. I can't believe all this is happening for real. My manager I know likes to make jokes so when he first suggested it, I thought it would be to play along with the fans, but he was actually serious. I hated the idea of invading someone's life and using them for something so superficial as subscribers. I changed into my pajamas and decided to Skype call my best friend, Raine, while I researched the Dan Howell fandom and read my manager's emails. She picked up and I could see that she is in her dorm room back in Maine.

"Hey, love," she says in her fake British accent. Ever since I moved to England, she addresses me like this because she thinks it's funny.

"Hey, Raine," I sulk a little.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"I'm doing a little 'experiment' for work and I feel totally horrible about it," I tell her as I start scrolling on Tumblr.

"Does this have to do with Dalynn?" she asks.

"Ugh, not you too," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Oh, so it does."

"Look, I don't even like this guy that much and my boss is forcing me into a fake relationship with him." Her mouth dropped open. "I wanted to be a vlogger, not an actress."

"Dude, Dan is hot," she said and I could see that she was looking at something else on her laptop, which I assumed was a picture of Dan. "I don't know why you wouldn't like him."

"I just don't okay? I mean, he's a nice person and all, but not attrac-" I stopped talking, my mouth open mid-sentence.

My mouth began to close and turn into a smile while Raine yelled, "What? Aslynn, what is it?!"

"Huh? Oh, sorry. I'm looking at his tag on Tumblr and, uh, who is the guy with blue eyes that Dan is in— wow— a bunch of pictures with?" I was scrolling down through so many pictures. One had an informative caption: danisnotonfire + AmazingPhil. I was confused but then started to look up his tag instead.

"You mean, Phil, the other half of 'Phan'?"

"Yeah," I said, almost breathless.

"Don't tell me—" she started.

"He's hot."