Ugh, posting on a Wednesday instead of a weekend! Classic me :( I was going to post on Thanksgiving, but I realized I was sleeping over someone's house that didn't have a laptop, or even wifi, so I am posting today instead. I won't be home until late tomorrow, and with typical time zones everyone will be sleeping already.

So, Thanksgiving tomorrow! What do you have to be thankful for? And is anyone going Black Friday shopping? My friends and I were going to see Catching Fire instead, but I'm going to Costco with my mom. Lol.

Well... Chapter 14! Thank you to everyone for their support and kind comments/reviews. Just one of the many things I'm very thankful for.

ENJOY :D

~ supergeek4life

We dumped our plates in the trash bins and strolled away from the cafeteria.

"See, Ryah? Was that so bad?"

"Yes."

"Please. I bet you're totally over exaggerating."

"I am not. I was terrified."

"So you're feeling okay now?"

I stopped walking. "I guess so. I have the weird feeling. It's almost like I was so scared of this, and when I actually faced my fear, it kinda failed to meet my expectations. I expected it to be humiliating and terrible but it wasn't, so I'm left feeling a little bit empty."

Jewel draped her arm over my shoulders. "So, you don't feel like you can conquer anything?"

I smiled. "I admit, I feel a little unstoppable. But no one is unstoppable."

Ray grinned childishly. "Except Mitch. He's pretty unstoppable."

Jewel blushed, and I cracked up. "How?"

"Well, his number of subscribers keep on increasing, and so do his number of fans…"

"God, you're such a fangirl," muttered Jewel, turning away.

"I know you're blushing," Ray teased.

"Yeah," I chimed in. "Ray cannot be any more obsessed with him than you are." Jewel turned even further away, yelling at us to shut up, and we high-fived. The three of us began walking towards the hallway we usually hung out in. Ray continued to pound Jewel with kind-hearted teasing, and I walked in front of them, smiling and enjoying the tune of Viva la Vida playing in my mind.

"Oh my God! I knew you'd be here!"

Megan bounced over, flipping her dark hair over her shoulders. "Well, you already know what I'm going to ask you."

I sighed mockingly, placing a hand on my hip. "Let me guess: it's about my battle dome video, isn't it?"

She grinned. "You know it!"

Jewel and Ray walked up beside me. "Hi, Megan," they chirped in unison. Then they gave each other an awkward look, and Ray quickly whispered jinx and Jewel just shook her head.

"So, what do you want to know?"

Megan grinned. "Well, first of all how you got so lucky. Next, what was it like being will all the guys from Team Crafted?"

I laughed. "Pure coincidence, and the kindness of my dad. Also, it wasn't all the guys from Team Crafted. Quite a few people were missing."

She giggled. "Ty and Adam were there, and that's all that mattered." Ray gave her a death glare, and she quickly added, "And Mitch, of course. Cannot forget him." She laughed nervously, and glanced back at Ray, who grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.

Jewel rested her chin on my shoulder, looking Megan in the eyes. "I'd like to get some of Ryah's luck on day, you know." "So would I!" shouted Ray, who was digging for her phone in her bag. "Aha!" she produced the smart phone, unlocking it and finding her way to my YouTube video from Mitch's perspective. "Almost three-hundred thousand views!"

I raised my eyebrows at this, surprised, and Megan laughed. "Please, you're becoming more and more famous by the day! All nine YouTubers uploaded a video from that battle dome, you know."

I nodded, and Jewel added, "Each video had Ryah's channel link in their description." "Oh God," said Ray, grinning. I grinned along with her. "Please go and check how many subscribers you have." I crossed my arms mockingly over my chest as Megan and Jewel nodded their agreement. "Why? You don't have my channel on your favorites yet?"

Ray laughed. "I would, but I can't necessarily see subscriber counts on my YouTube app."

"Oh, that's right. Okay, moment of truth everyone!" I busted my phone out of my pocket, knowing that my subscriber count must have increased quite a lot since the videos had been posted. I unlocked my phone, then walked calmly towards the group waiting for me.

I had a totally of one thousand twenty-six subscribers.

"WE'VE REACHED ONE THOUSAND!" shouted Ray, hugging all three of us tightly. Megan squealed in delight, and Jewel began laughing wildly. One thousand subscribers… That was more than the amount of sophomores at this school! I began to realize slowly how many people that actually was… They had all subscribed to me in the hopes that I'd post videos, commentaries, collaborations with the guys from Team Crafted, and many other Minecraft YouTubers. And I was letting them all down; I had no intention of every posting videos. I just didn't have the confidence to trust my speaking and editing ability.

I laughed, pulling the trio closer to me. I guess right now it didn't matter. I had my three closest, and perhaps only, friends clinging tightly to me, sharing an equal happiness in my accomplishment. It was weird, but it was a good type of weird.

This was so different from how Mary-Ann and I had been. We had talked trash about the more nerdy, less popular girls, fantasized about boys from the sidewalk, stuck with our own cliques, refusing to accept newcomers who wanted in. Essentially, I had enjoyed it, but at other people's misery.

This was pure happiness and joy, without causing other people suffering and sadness.

Finally, our bundle began to unwind, and we all stood staring at each other, at a loss for wards. I decided to break the silence and give a small, awkward laugh, and Megan laughed, then Ray, then Jewel, and then we were all hugging again.

We finally broke away at the bell. Time had flown during lunch, leaving us with less time for conversation.

"If we're like this at one thousand, imagine how we'll be at one million!" observed Jewel happily.

"If we reach one million," I corrected, doubtful.

"You've already gained a thousand subscribers without posting any videos!" said Megan. "Imagine how many more you'll get when you actually start making them!"

I shook my head. "As of now, I don't plan on making my own videos."

Megan frowned, and we waved as Ray hurried off to her far-away classroom. "You should. You've be incredible at it!"

"Maybe one day. Not anytime soon, though."

She gave me this odd look, like she was examining me. "You're an unusual one, Ryah. Most people would jump at the opportunity to make videos for one thousand eager fans. You're not like that."

I shrugged, tucking my phone into my bag. "I'm not like most people."

She smiled sadly. "Something tells me you've been through a lot."

I smiled back. "Maybe one day I'll tell you."

She laughed. "I see how it is. Don't quite trust me yet, do you?" Megan met my eyes. "If I had wanted to be famous, or popular, don't you think I would've told everyone about you by now? 'Hey, everyone! There's this sophomore who makes YouTube videos with people who had around two million subscribers each! And only I know who they are!'" She laughed. "No, I'm not like that. But if you ever wanna open up, just know we're there for you."

Smiling, I replied, "I know. You've all already proved you're trustworthy. I just need time. You know what they say: wounds heal with time."

Nodding, she placed a hand gently on my shoulder. "It must've really hurt you," and I could see a touch of sadness in her eyes. "I'll see you later, Ryah."

I walked her skip down the hallway and around the corner, not once turning back. And before anyone else could see me, I turned around and marched down in the opposite direction.

If I had looked back, I would've noticed Megan's sad, sympathetic smile peeking around the corner.

Ryah?

I clicked on my phone, excitedly replying to Adam's text. Yes?

How have u been?

Amazing! I'm already at one thousand subs.

Just a few compared to six million.

Oh, please. Don't need to brag.

Sorry. It's a habit.

I laughed out loud, and Dad gave me a weird look from where he was watching Monday nigh football on the couch. Thanks for all the support.

The journey is only just starting, my friend! Have u ever thought of making ur own vids?

Course I have! But I'm not good enough.

Ur better than I was when I started.

That's not saying much.

Wow. I'm flattered.

Jk sorry.

Don't apologize.

Kk. Sorry.

:/ seriously Ryah!

Lol k.

But seriously, u should record. You've got an amazing speaking ability!

Yah, says u and who else?

All the other guys. Even Prestons gotta admit it.

Woah. Preston thinks I'm good?

Yeah. Cool, right?

Pretty cool for a normal girl like me.

Normal? Ur the most antisocial dumbass I've ever met!

Thx Adam.

Np.

:p

What do u plan on doing next with ur YouTube career?

What career?

The one that's slowly developing.

Haha. That's funny.

Ryah, if ur family is financially unstable, I can help.

They r not. We r ok. It's just that I'm not confident enough.

Oh. I c. Ryah, if u ever wanna talk about it…

Ik. Ur there 4 me.

:D u know me so well!

I've only just met u.

True, true.

Lol, right?

Anyways, I gtg. Ttyl, Ryah! Also Jason and Preston want ur cell #. Is that ok?

Yeah, that's fine. Thx again Adam.

Anytime. Byeaz!

Ttyl.

I clicked off my phone, throwing it aside on the floor and flopping my head down on the floor. I rarely had a normal conversation with Adam aside from when we were recording, so it was nice to text him for a little while.

Dad looked over and raised his eyebrows at me. "Texting someone special?"

I shook my head. "It's just Adam. Not someone special."

His eyebrows raised even further, if that was possible. "So, there is someone special?"

I gaped. "What?! No…"

He laughed. "I know when you're lying, Ryah. One of the few skills I've developed by living with you."

I turned away, blushing madly. "It's not Adam, if that's what you're thinking."

"I know."

Smiling, I looked back towards him. "I could be just imagining things between us. I think I'll wait a little while." Dad nodded, turning his gaze back towards the TV. "Good idea, sweetheart."

I nodded, clicking my phone back on. But I lacked something to do, so I busted back out the journal and lay down to write in it.

Reached a thousand subs! Battle dome video went well. All 9 guys recorded it, and I am officially a PVP master. I think I may be crushing on a guy I've only just met, or actually met anyway. Oh well…

Ugh. School. Such a bore.

As I walked towards homeroom, I thought of the day ahead with dread. Seven hours of not being able to have an actual conversation with Adam, play on Minecraft, watch YouTube… The only thing I enjoyed about school were my friends.

I grinned as I walked down to the cafeteria for the second time, allowing myself to feel slightly accomplished as I scanned my ID and sat down at the table. I began scooping chili and rice into my mouth and occasionally wiping it away with the thin napkins, before the girl beside me dropped her fork into her plate and gasped.

"Oh my God! You're name's Ryah?"

I nodded slowly, gulping down another forkful of rice. Her expression lightened, and she excitedly tapped her friends on the shoulders. "Guys! Guys! GUYS! It's Ryah!"

The two girls sitting beside her stretched around to look at me, and I stared back in confusion.

"We are such huge fans!" said one of the girls. "How'd you get to be on YouTube?"

I shook my head while Ray and Jewel looked at me, confused. "I'm not the Ryah you're thinking of."

The third girl gasped, eyes widening. "Oh my God! You sound exactly like her!"

"And besides," added the first, "how many people have a name like Ryah?"

I shrugged, scooping more of my meal. "Plenty of people, I guess."

The second girl shook her head. "I'm pretty sure there aren't many people named Ryah out there, especially that sound like they've been with the world's greatest YouTubers!"

I pouted, swallowing my food. "Look, I'm not who you think I am, okay?" The girls laughed, and the first one tapped my shoulder. "Why won't you admit it? You'd be freaking famous!"

I sighed. "I don't even know what you're talking about."

Ray nudged me, grinning widely. "Hey, are you done? We've got some classwork to correct, if you don't mind."

I nodded, tucking my fork away into the remaining rice. "Sure, let's go." As I got up, I turned back towards the trio. "It was nice talking to you, anyway. Maybe one day you'll find the person you're looking for."

Behind me, the second and third girls glared at the first, but she just shook her head. "I'm positive it's her, aren't you? They sound exactly alike."

"She said she doesn't know what we're talking about."

"She's lying. I know it."

"But what do you plan on doing about it?"

She smirked. "We can gain something from this, you know. How many fans of Team Crafted are there in this school? Probably a bunch. If we know a secret about this mysterious Ryah that no one else knows, we could be popular!"

The third girl sighed. "I've never seen you like this."

The first girl shrugged. "I'm 100% sure it's her. And I think the world needs to know there's someone famous in their midst."

"Ryah! Hi!"

"Oh my God, can I get a picture with you?"

"Hey, you have Sky's private number, right?"

"Ryah! Hey, friend!"

"Ryah and I are besties!"

"Can you get me to meet Jerome?"

"Oh my God, tell Adam I am his biggest fan!"

"How does it feel being so popular?"

"You are the luckiest girl in the world!"

"We're friends, right?"

"No, I'm her best friend."

"She's in my homeroom!"

"She's in three of my classes!"

"I bet you don't even know her last name!"

"Sure I do!"

"Oh yeah, prove it!"

I ran through the crowd of people that pestered me as I walked through the halls the next morning. Arms grabbed out to snatch me, phones were busted out to photograph me, all eyes were directed towards mine. Students screamed my name, strangers claimed to be my best friend, requests for me to deliver were shouted out. I was famous, and so far, it was living up to my dreadful expectations.

Ray shoved through the crowd, reaching out towards me. "Excuse me, Ryah's actual friend coming through!"

A boy next to her laughed mockingly. "Ha! Right! Everyone is her best friend suddenly."

I began blindly running towards her, pushing people out of the way and shutting my eyes to the others. I screamed for Ray, and she screamed for me, and I eventually found my way into her arms. She held me, patting my back, and began leading me away from the crowd.

"It's okay, we'll get through this," she muttered, stringing her arms around me.

"I hate school," I replied, ducking my head down.

"I know. This sucks."

"How did this happen?"

"Probably those no-good girls from lunch yesterday." I sighed, shaking my head. "I knew nothing good would come of going to lunch."

"Ryah, it was just a coincidence. But I can understand if you don't wanna go back for a while."

People continued to stream after us, and we found our way my homeroom. The class was open, and we hurried inside. Students screaming my name pushed to get into the room, and eventually it was filled with people.

My teacher stepped away from her desk, standing up with a stern look on her face. "What's going on? Why is everyone trying to get in?"

Ray pulled me towards her. "She's famous, Miss. We just need to get away from the madness."

The teacher looked towards the hoard of students pushing and shoving their way through the doorway, and began walking briskly towards them. "Hey! I need everyone to please exit the classroom, or you will get afterschool detention."

Slowly, people began retreating from the doorway. A few more words were shouted to me, but the class grew oddly silent with only Ray, my teacher, and I.

But Tanner was there also.

He had been sitting in his corner, listening to music on his iPod. Once the commotion had stared, his eyes traveled to the crowd. Now, her got up and began walking towards us.

"What was that all about?"

I sighed, leaning into Ray's embrace. "There were these girls at lunch yesterday who thought I was Ryah from the videos. I tried to tell them I wasn't, but I guess they didn't listen." I sat down, and Tanner and Ray sat down with me.

"God, they're not even worth it," muttered Ray, shaking her head. "What are we going to do about this?"

"The hallway we're in is usually deserted. We can retreat there for a little while. But eventually, they'll find us."

Tanner nodded. "You can always stay here, but it's no fun with just me, is it?"

I found myself blushing. Ugh, Ryah! Not at a time like this!

"Nope!" said Ray, noticing my reddening cheeks. She then stood. "Jewel's going to be worried about us. I should go out and find her." I nodded, and she gave me a sad look. "This is going to be hard, you know."

"I know."

"Well, good luck. I'll be back in a little while."

Ray walked out the door, glancing back at me once before slipping outside.

Tanner called my name, and I turned towards him. His eyes were filled with an unusual sympathy, and I found my heart skipping a beat. "You didn't think I could have possibly done this, did you?" I shook my head. "I thought it was those girls all along." He nodded, his hair bobbing. "It must be hard, being famous."

I groaned, leaning back on the chair. "You have no idea."

Tanner laughed, and I caught myself smiling. "People will wanna be your best friend now. Everyone will."

"Strangers called me their friend. They've never even talked to me before."

"I know. Sucks."

We sat in an awkward silence, me waiting for the clock to read homeroom.

"But you know, if you ever need someone to talk to, I can be that person…"

I looked at him, slightly surprised. He smiled sheepishly at my expression, slipping a piece of paper into my palm. "I figured you probably don't have many guy friends, and I wanted to take advantage of that."

I laughed, squeezing the paper in my hand. "Thanks. I appreciate it." "No problem."

Ray decided to pick that moment to spring through the door, Jewel's wrist in her hand. "Oh my God, everyone is a freaking mob!"

Jewel shook herself free from Ray's grasp. "That was intense. Ryah, what's going on?"

I looked from Ray to Tanner, then to the door, then back towards Jewel. "Well, it started at lunch yesterday…"

Annddddd that was chapter 14! This was a pretty cool chapter to write, and I loooveeee doing dialogue! Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and see you guys next week nerds!