Queens of Geek

CHAPTER NINE: TAYLOR

QueenOfFirestones:

You guys!

Thanks so much for all your messages. I'll try to get to them all later, but for now I just wanted to say thanks. I'm fine. I just had a moment. But I'm good now.

Guess what? I was on TV!

And I met a bunch of other QF cosplayers! I'm having a blast :D

I'll post more later, but right now I've gotta go.

Tay xo

"You want a drink?" Jamie asks. We're standing in the corner by the food, surveying the party.

"Yeah, thanks."

Jamie heads towards the bar to get us a couple of cokes, and I scan the small gathering of people. I'd expected to see more familiar faces, like cast members from The Rising or some of the many celebrity guests gracing SupaCon this year. But it's mostly full of studio execs and other important people of the non-famous variety.

In other words, it's boring as hell.

Charlie is making her rounds, chatting with everyone. The whole room is revolving around her, like every single person is stuck in her orbit. It's quite a sight to see, one that makes me beam with pride.

After the struggle she's been through the last six months, she deserves this. I think she's finally going back to her normal, confident self.

When we walk into a room, Charlie's the one everyone looks at. She's what people usually refer to as petite, I guess. Or is it pear-shaped? All these words people have for describing bodies seem a bit much to me.

The same goes for judging people based on their outfits or their hair or their nail polish. The way I see it, all that stuff is just a distraction from what really matters, and to get caught up in it is missing the point entirely.

If you're kind to me-truly kind, not that fake kind some people like to be-then I will be your friend. No matter what your body looks like or what brand of clothing you wear.

Whatever Charlie's shape is, it seems to be more socially acceptable than mine, judging by how people talk about her. People are always telling her she should be a model. But sometimes she gets a bit tired of people only seeing her for the way she looks.

I remember once, a guy at school said to her, "I don't usually do Asian girls, but I'd make an exception for you." I think he meant it as a compliment, but I don't know what was so complimentary about it. Charlie wasn't impressed, either.

I see someone walking towards me out of the corner of my eye, and turn to see Jase. I groan internally, but give him a wave as he approaches. "Hi, Jase. Long time no see."

He raises his beer as a greeting. "Hey." He looks me up and down, and I feel exposed. "What are you wearing?"

I fold my arms over my chest self-consciously. "I'm cosplaying. Queen Firestone."

He pinches his mouth to the side, studying me. "Cool," he says, as though I needed his approval.

I breathe out a quiet laugh.

He takes a swig of his beer. It occurs to me that he's only nineteen, and I consider pointing out that the legal drinking age here is twenty-one, not eighteen like it is back home. But I don't want to sound like a goody two shoes, so I keep quiet.

"So, how's school?" He asks this with an air of cockiness, and I'm not sure why.

"Good."

He looks around the room for someone more interesting to talk to, but decides to give this conversation another try. I wish he didn't. I wish he could see that it's me who's stuck here talking to him, and not the other way around.