An Unlikely Connection: Part 2

Chapter 7: Never Say Never

"Which one shall it be?" Naomi said. She tossed a yellow sparkly leotard on the bed next to two other costumes. One was a blue and pink color cheerleader outfit. And the other black fox onesie. "I'm thinking of the foxy. What are you thinking?" My mind was stuck on examining her half-naked muscular body. I pointed to the fox outfit since it's close and it's what she wants. "Awesome. You know what would be perfect alongside this?"

"What?" I said.

"You with me in one of these."

I told her no while trying my best not to smile. The idea sounded ridiculous. I couldn't picture myself in a costume surrounded by people at a convention about things I do not particularly care about.

"You can go by yourself," I said.

"Joshua," she said multiple times as she slowly walked closer to me from the foot of the bed. She sat on my right thigh and leaned into me with all of her weight. I held her from behind with my arms around her soft stomach. "Don't make me beg," she playfully pouted. "Pretty please would you come with me?" She tried to tickle my cheek with her nose. My lips accidentally touch hers when I try to avoid her nose. "No, you didn't," she gasped then giggled with her hand over her mouth. "Did you..."

"It was an accident."

"Was it? Your lips made some solid contact," she said, biting the corner of her lip. "You got some soft lips," she whispered inches from my face. "Why haven't I kissed you sooner?"

"I don't know," I mumbled.

"Come here." She brought my face to her lips for a single yet tender kiss. "I'll make a bargain with you. If you come, I'll make it worth it." I squinted my eyes and puckered my lips to show her I was almost interested. She frowned but couldn't keep her smile from breaking it. "Come on," she chuckled for a moment before taking in a lot of air through her nose. "I don't wanna go alone," she begged gently. "Joshua... this is once every year." I gave in to her wish like someone getting baited for a charity event. How could I say no to a beautiful girl? Plus, I was never the one who went out to places willingly.

"Where do I buy that outfit?" I said.

Naomi handled buying my suit. The convention she took us to was the same building I drove to last year when I picked up Yosefin from that creepy guy. It was filled with colorful people. I had no idea what the hell most of these people were. Most of the women that were walking around were wearing anime costumes. Their hair was colorful, spikey, and mostly fake.

"God, what am I doing here?" I said. A man walked a foot in front of me nearly stepping on my shoes. He wore a full set of combat gear with an assault rifle prop slung behind his back. I recognized his outfit from a game I played almost every day when I was not bored out of my mind.

"Recognize that, hmm?" Noami said. "It's not just all one thing here. You'll find your niche."

"I doubt it," I said as I looked in every direction. There was nothing that drew me in.

"Were you this uninterested with Yosefin?" I almost took offense to the question. I became more open to new things because Yosefin took me out of my comfort zone.

"I'm more open-minded because of her."

"All right then. Let's find what piques your interest." She walked me over to a stand where her favorite anime character had their little booth. Her name was Erika. She was a swordswoman with magical powers in a medieval fantasy period. There was a life-size cut out of her. She was an inch away from being six feet tall.

"Wow. We're nearly eye level," I said as I stared into Erika's green eyes.

"Let's look around some more."