Jacqueline, that's my name. Jacqueline Dumas. People call me Jacquie. This is my story of becoming a famous Youtuber and being best friends with Dan Howell and Phil Lester. But, every story has to start somewhere, right? Well, that's why I'm here.
August 21, 2013. London, England. (For those of you who don't know that was when they filmed A Day in the Life of Dan and Phil in London.)
"One strawberry lemonade, please." I told the cashier. She grabbed one from the fridge behind her. I smiled and payed her the 1£. Stepping away from the vendor cart, I pulled my phone out of my pocket. The screen displayed a text message from Tori, my best friend. 'Say hi to Dan and Phil for me. They're out and about.' I smirked at her child-like personality and quickly typed my reply before locking the screen and slipping the Galaxy SIII in my back pocket.
I walked and window shopped for a while. I was in London for two weeks, house hunting. My dream had always been to live in a big city and getting out of France was a big part of it. I was homeschooled all my life and spoke english. My father was from Manchester and my mum was from Amsterdam but they met at college in Paris, fell in love and decided France was where they wanted a family. Which is where I come in.
They tried and tried to conceive and I was the only success. On November 18, 1991, my parents rushed to the hospital for my arrival. As a 3 month premature baby, I was on life support for the first year of my life and I needed extensive care for most of my life.
17 years later they decided to adopt a 6 month old baby boy from New York. A year later, a 3 month old girl from Boston. Cornelius Ferdinand and Isabella Rose. My only siblings.
My phone vibrated again, pulling me from my thoughts. I pulled out my phone and typed my rebuttal to Tori and just as I was putting my phone away, I bumped into someone. And my drink went all over him and me. Also, I dropped my phone.
The person muttered an ow and stumbled back. They bent down and picked up my phone as I apologized a billion times. "Really, miss. It's quite alright." I looked up and came face-to-face with someone, make that two people, who I'd seen everywhere in Tori's room.
"Um, I just ruined your shirt. And mine." I motioned to the both of us. "At least let me buy you a new shirt." He smiled. "Only if you let me return the favor by buying you one as well as a drink to replace yours. This is my fault as well." I nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
I took my phone from him and his black-haired companion, for some reason I'm drawing a blank on their names, led the way to the closest clothing store. "First time here?" He asked. "What gave it away?"
"The fact that you have a french accent and look like a lost puppy, especially being that short." He laughed. "You are really short." I crossed my arms and looked up at him. Being premature, I'm really tiny. And the eating disorders never helped. Neither does both of them being giants.
"I was a premature birth. I'm naturally small." I attempted to explain my five foot two stature. "Also, you guys are super tall." They both agreed, laughing. We entered a shop and black-hair dude ran over to a leather hat. "Hey Dan!" Achievement unlocked, name learned. "Look it's your hat." Dan laughed. "It's ugly."
He tried it on anyways as I looked around for a shirt. Dan told me to look around and he would too but he was just making his friend try on a galaxy jacket. I found a cute shirt after a while. It had a lion on the front and said 'Loud and Proud'.
I went and got a dressing room and tried on the shirt. I was satisfied so I set out to find Dan. He laughed when he saw it and called his friend over. "Hey, Phil. Come look at her shirt." Phil walked over and gasped. He hugged me. "Dan, I'm in love." I blushed deeply as he let go of me.
Dan had found his shirt so we went and checked out. "Next stop, Starbucks!" We quickly found one and sat down after ordering. "So, what is your name?" Phil asked. Dan made a little noise of approval, wanting me to answer. "Jacquie." They both nodded and were about to ask a question but got interrupted by a squeal.
A girl, who looked fourteen, ran and stopped in front of our table. "O. M. G. Dan! Is that a new youtuber friend?" She asked. Dan shook his head no. "She is soooooo pretty." She turned to me. "You should become a youtuber with Dan and Phil. I would totes watch-" She got cut off by a woman calling her name. "I gotta go. Bye Dan. Phil, I love you!!!" With that, she ran off.
I looked at where she had stood, startled. "Don't worry, Jacquie. That's normal for us. We're youtubers." I nodded at Phil's remark. "I know, I don't watch you but my friend does. She loves you guys." I sighed. "I don't much free-time with all my doctor appointments to do much." They nodded understandingly and stood to go get our coffees.
"You know, Jacquie. That girl had a good point. You could be a youtuber." Dan said when he sat down. My jaw fell open and I know it. "No, I couldn't be. I have to much going on. I'm too sick. I'm to scrawny. No one would watch me. I don't even have a-" "Jacquie!" Dan cut me off. "We'll help you."
I shook my head. "I'm sorry Dan. I just can't." "What's stopping you?" "Nothing, it's just-" "Exactly." "Fine. One video. On your channel. And I guess an introduction one on my own page. But if I don't have 1,000 subscribers after a week, I'm shutting it down."
"Deal."
