Free Tangled Web by S.A. Ozment Page B

hesitated a moment as I thought about whether to accept it or not. It always ticked me off when someone created a screen name using a celebrity’s name, as if they’re hiding their own name. But what the heck, I was feeling good tonight, so Ba Boom, I clicked Confirm and minimized the page.
    I continued typing to Patricia,
    Ashley: Anyway, needless to say, it was one hell of a day….
    A few minutes later, another instant messenger screen popped up beside my chat with Patricia. Becoming a little frustrated over the second interruption, I typed in Patricia’s box.
    Ashley: Hold on a second, sweetie. I have an annoying person instant messaging me who wants me to think he’s Sebastian.
    I clicked out of the chat with Patricia and read the message from Imsebastiangray .
    Imsebastiangray: Hi, Ashley, This is Sebastian Gray. My manager told me you had several social media accounts set up on my behalf, and I’ve spent the last thirty minutes looking at them. First, I want to say thank you and that I appreciate all your hard work. Secondly, I wanted to say that it was fine with me if you wanted to make them official.
    My heart skipped a beat while I reread his message. Then I laughed. Out. Loud. Seriously? I lifted my eyebrows in disbelief. Did this dude really think I would believe him?
    Ashley: Who is this? Gabby is this you? After the day I’ve had, I’m not in the mood for your nonsense. The last thing I needed was my coworker playing another one of her pranks on me.
    After a few seconds went by, this Sebastian wannabe responded.
    Imsebastiangray: It’s me, really, I’m Sebastian Gray.
    Ashley: And I’m Julia Roberts! Stop it Gabby!
    Now I was becoming annoyed. My head was spinning from the wine, my wits had still not been collected from today’s events, and now one of my not-so-funny friends was getting on my nerves.
    Imsebastiangray: Okay, I see you’re not going to believe me. What can I do to prove it’s me?
    I thought about it for a second. First of all, my Sebastian would never pick such a stupid screen name. I mean… really? I am Sebastian Gray? He might as well announce it all over Google. But okay, I can play along. I started snickering as I typed.
    Ashley: Take off your shirt, and send me a picture holding a sign with my name on it. I’ll know that eight-pack anywhere.
    A few more minutes passed, and I was beginning to think I had scared him away when I received a response.
    Imsebastiangray: I’m not going to do that… but I will take a photo with my shirt on if you like.
    Testy, aren’t we? I thought to myself. Then my heart started this strange fluttering sensation. Shit! What if it is him? Maybe Sebastian’s manager had passed on my information. But would Sebastian himself write me? He never had before, and my love for him had been plastered all over the Internet for years. But crap… maybe. My head began to spin as I typed the following:
    Okay prove it, then. And just so you know if I find out that this is you, Gabby, I am never going to forgive you.
    Everything went silent, all except the buzzing that continued to whoosh through my brain. I glanced down and saw that Patricia was waiting patiently on me to finish with my mystery man. Clicking over into her instant message box, I typed, OMG! Patricia! This person is saying he’s really Sebastian Gray, and he is going to prove it by sending me a photo of himself holding a sign with my name! Holy Shit! What should I do if it’s really him? I was scaring myself. I hadn’t been the nicest of nice when typing to him just now.
    Patricia: What?? Wow Ashley! I don’t know, but you have to tell me immediately if it’s him.
    Ding! My heart skipped two beats at that sound. Slowly, I flipped back to the imposter’s instant message box. Silently holding my breath, I clicked it open, and the entire bottle of wine felt like it hit my brain and exploded. Feeling extremely dizzy, I’m sure I would’ve fainted had I not been sitting down. I blinked my eyes