My sunshine

Chapter 11: My hero

     As we walked in the convention it was bigger than I imagined. Different sections were everywhere, cosplayers of all kinds it was amazing. Nathan could tell I was so fascinated considering it was my first time going to an anime convention. "Nice isn't it, ha I knew you would like it. Happy belated birthday Annabelle!" He hugged me and I hugged him back.  Besides getting my laptop this was the best birthday present I ever got even though it's months late.
     The groups started to split up, Nathan and I went with his friends and their cousins went else where. I kinda wanted to follow them because of that guy but that would be really weird.  We all decided to go and meet voice actors, manga artist and even directors for anime and anime movies.
     I got 2 mangas signed and took pictures with everyone I met. They all complimented my sweater and asked me questions on how I knew them and my favorite characters and such.
     Next we went to the merchandise part of the convention. Mangas or Japanese comic books, posters, t-shirts, sweaters, pins, backpacks, movies and even weapons from different animes were being sold. 
     I went crazy with the posters and pins and Nathan even bought me a t-shirt and got a matching one for me because it had an inside joke from an anime we both liked.
     I was having a blast, I got pictures with different cosplayers and got compliments from people saying how cute I was and how they liked my sweater. I didn't really understand why people thought I was cute but it was probably because I'm very short and act very shy around people. Honestly if it wasn't for Nathan I probably wouldn't be able to get pictures with all these people.
     There was an announcement that there was gonna be a screening for a sneak peek of a new anime coming out around the next month or so and the first 250 people get to see it. Nathan quickly grabbed my hand and hurried to the screening room.
     Thankfully we made it and got a really good seat. 5 minutes into the screening I had a huge urge to pee and today was not gonna be the day I pee myself in front 249 people. I got up and told Nathan I was going to the washroom, he told me to hurry up so I wouldn't miss anything.
I walked out of the screening room and looked for a sign with the washroom symbol on it. After looking everywhere and not finding anything I asked the people in the nearest booth where the washrooms are. They were 2 guys selling mangas and posters they made themselves, they weren't half bad.
"Hi can you guys help me..?" I said walking up to the booth. One of the guys were busy helping a costumer but the other was looking at me up and down which creeped the fuck out of me. "Hey cutie how may I help you?" I ignored the comment he made and just asked him where to find the washroom. "Hey baby wanna see my drawings I made! Did them with my friend here." He said while pointing at his friend still helping the costumer. "They're nice but I-" "yeah I know and just for you I'll give you 2 for a price of 1 or maybe your number..?" I looked at him disgusted, one he's so cocky talking about his drawings, I don't really care since I'm about to piss my pants. Two he looks way older and was acting like a genuine fuck boy.
"Um I just really need to find the washroom..." He can tell I was trying to walk away and ask someone else so he slid out of his booth and started coming at me. I was getting ready to kick this guy in the balls. "Okay I'll show you." He said trying to find it. I relaxed a bit as he showed me the way to the washroom. As he was showing me he started to come close to me, I ignored it because I thought he was just showing me the way but his arm started wrapping around my hip and he was holding me by his side. As I tried to get away he moved his hand from my hip to my butt and that's where I drew the line.
Right when he put his hand on my ass he said where the washroom was. I pushed him away aggressively said thank you and ran towards the washroom. On the way I asked a lady working at another booth if this was the right way to the washroom because I didn't trust where this sick creep was leading me. She nodded yes and I thanked her and rushed because I felt like my bladder was about to explode.
As I was running I felt someone following me but my main priority was to go pee. As I walked out of the washroom relieved I finally got to empty my bladder I saw the guy from the booth just sitting around.
I thought it was just a coincidence because he had food and there was a stand selling things like bread and Japanese treats. As I started walking back to the screening room I felt like someone was following me again.
I pretended to look at Japanese magazines and I noticed it was the guy from the booth, I immediately got scared and hurried to the screening room. When I got there the anime screening was over and my cousin was no where to be seen.
I started to panic to find places to hide and get away from this creep following me. "Omggggggggg!" I heard some say behind me. There was a group of girls screaming and fangirling, I thought it was a good place to blend in and wanted to see what the big fuss was about.
     I sneakily joined the group and tried to see if the creep was gone or not. Unluckily he stayed and kept on looking for me so I turned my attention to the main reason why these people were gathering. My eyes grew bigger as I saw who was making all these girls scream. "It's that guy from before..." I said to myself.
     He was taking pictures with random girls and although there were thousands of them around him he didn't look like he was enjoying it at all. "Hey hot stuff can we take a picture?" Some girl said. Out of no where we made eye contact again and just like before it stayed for awhile. Looking at him was like a dream come true. Every time we made eye contact I always got lost in his dark mysterious eyes, they were as blue as the darkest ocean and although they were intimidating they were so beautiful to look at.
     Reality quickly came back and screaming was everywhere because someone lifted his shirt while he wasn't looking and reviled a nice set of abs. I blushed wildly and walked out of the group to get some air. I rested on a near by wall and tried to calm myself down. I didn't know why I got so flustered but the group was just too much to handle.
     Soon enough I felt someone come next to me just a few meters away. All of a sudden I remembered the creep I was trying to avoid and was hoping it wasn't him. "Stupid girls trying to undress me!" In shock I turned my head and saw the exact same guy who was just taking pictures with all those girl beside me.
     He turned and looked at me but I looked away trying to look at anything but him. He tapped my shoulder and I slowly turned to him "hmm.." I said still not making eye contact with him. "I saw you earlier..." I tried so hard to act like I didn't get what he was talking about. "What do you mean?" I said looking at him confusingly. "In that group of girls... Did you want a picture or something?" Now I was really confused. How the hell did this guy see me out all those girls around me but at least he didn't know me from before. "Oh no... I was just wondering what was going on with the group of girls..." I told him.
     "Oh yeah... Sorry you're sweater said otherwise... So you like aot too." Aot was short form of the anime that was on my sweater. I nodded at him, "I can tell you are too your cosplay is spot on." Out of no where he started laughing, which sounded like the hottest thing ever. When he smiled it made him look 10 times more attractive. I didn't know how I was containing myself, "believe it or not this is not a cosplay this is my regular self." He said looking at his clothes.
     My jaw dropped there was no way this was what he really looked like. "Hey man I don't like liars!" I said to him because I didn't want to believe this attractive being that looks exactly like my favorite anime character is talking to me and is real and isn't a freaking costume. "Go ahead try to prove me wrong, oh and just saying I am a guy. A lot of people are mistaken me as a girl cosplaying as a guy."
     I looked at his figure, he was quite skinny like a girl but like I noticed before those muscles and his hair were the only thing that made him look like an actual guy. I tippy toed to reach his head so I can gently pull his hair to make sure it wasn't a wig. The guy wasn't super tall but still taller than me since I'm only 5'0, he was probably 5'6-5'7
     Since his hair was real and I made sure the only thing to check was his eyes. "Is that your actual eye color?" I asked curiously staring straight at them, I saw his cheek turn a slight tint of pink but I thought I was just seeing things. "Um yeah they are... Why do they look fake?" I looked kinda closer. "No it's just... They're so spot on..." I backed up and went back to the usual spot I was on the wall. "Oh by the way my name is Lance." I nodded my head, "nice name... Mine is Annabelle." He did the same thing. "I like your name too."
     Our conversation was interrupted by the same creep from earlier. "Oh there you are baby I've been looking everywhere for you." He smiled smugly then turned to Lance and gave him the cut eye. "Who's this prick?" Lance's expression changed and all of a sudden became all serious. "Look this prick has a name and I'm her boyfriend." I widen my eyes and he took my hand and held it in his and pulled me in a position where it looked like he was trying to protect me. "Baby you didn't tell me you had a boyfriend... Why this asshole?" Lance let go of my hand and started going up to the creep "This asshole is a 5 year kickboxing champion and the funny thing is I'm self taught, I'm also a professional knife thrower... Don't ask. So I suggest you leave us the fuck alone before I show a few lessons in kick boxing, got it?"
     The man froze and everyone was watching. He nervously shook his head and started backing away. "Hold up!" Lance said grabbing the back of the guy's shirt and dragged him back. "I think you should apologize to my girlfriend for harassing her." The guy's face was filled with fear and was shaking like crazy "s-s-sorry..."
     Lance let him go and he ran back to his booth.  He turned back at me and could tell I was afraid. "Sorry people like that annoy me... Was he bothering you for long?" I nodded no. "Thanks... He was really creepy..." I said trying to hide my face because I know how red my face was. Suddenly my stomach made a huge noise that was very inhuman and made me blush even more.
     He laughed, "are you hungry..?" I nodded, "I never had lunch yet..." When I looked up he was looking around the place. "What are you looking for?" I asked him. "I'm looking for somewhere to eat." I was really confused to why he kept helping me,  We just met each other a few minutes ago. 
     "Why are you helping me so much..?" I looked at him and he stared at me. "I didn't want you to get kidnapped and you're not the only one hungry." I blushed and shut myself up. There was me thinking this guy was being nice and treating me like a knight in shining armor like some storybook. Who would ever treat me like that?
    "Oh I remember! There's a mall across the street if you still have your pass we have no problem leaving and coming back here." I reached in my pocket and pulled out my my pass. I didn't really know this guy and I didn't know if I could trust him, but considering he probably saved my life I was pretty open to the idea. As we're about to walk out someone behind us yelled my name. "ANNABELLE!!!"
    I turned around and I saw a guy wearing a Link costume so I knew it was Nathan. I was about to walk to him when Lance grabbed me and held my hand like he was trying to protect me again. Nathan had a confused look on his face and charged at Lance. "Let go of my cousin you creep!" Lance all of a sudden let go and Nathan pulled me towards him.
     "What were you gonna do to my little cousin!" He held me like I was his own child and was hugging me so tight I was about to suffocate. "I'm not a child! I'm 15! And he was just gonna have lunch with me that's all." I said explaining to Nathan.
"I get your 15 but you can't just go out with strangers! I'm supposed to be looking after you and if something ever happened to you I would never forgive myself!" He was being overly dramatic again and because he went to school for theater so he thinks it's an excuse to act that way. I rolled my eyes and tried getting out of his embrace. "He's not a totally stranger it's not my fault you left me."
I gave him the angry look I always gave him when I was upset. It last for like 10 seconds before we started dying of laughter. Lance was just staring at us like we were psychopaths. He then wrapped his arm around my shoulder like guys normally do with their best friends.
"Hahaha I'm Nathan, Annabelle's older cousin, although we're cousins I treat her like my little sister so I am a little protective." He said shoving me closer to him. Lance just gave him a cold stare like he didn't give a shit. An awkward silence came to play and Lance's friends and Nathan's friends came over.
     "There you are Lance where the fuck did you go?" One of his friends said. "Around." Lance said staring at his friends, "wanna get lunch now?" They all nodded and joined Lance. Before they made it out the door Lance turns and faces me, "do you still wanna come?" I was about to say no when my stomach started rumbling again.
     Nathan laughed and asked if I wanted to go with them. I shrugged and just stared at my feet looking at my brown boots. He rolled his eyes and pulled out $20, "just go princess." It was my turn to roll my eyes at him. "I'm not a little girl anymore don't call me that!" I said taking the 20. "You'll always be in my book." He said as he kissed my forehead. "Oh and before you leave... You boy come here!" Nathan said pointing at Lance. He shooed me away and I stood with Lance's friends waiting for them to be finished talking.
     All we saw was Lance nodding yes or no and my cousin laughing. Nathan playfully punched his shoulder and Lance started walking back to us. His friends asked why they were talking about but all Lance said was nothing. "Have fun Annabelle! And you pretty boy watch her for me!" I angrily turned around at Nathan and he just gave me this cocky smile.
     We entered the mall and went straight to the food court. I've never been so happy in my whole life to see food. I looked around and saw the Greek place I wanted to get food from. I was about to run when someone grabbed my hood, I looked back and it was Lance.
     "Hey I'm just getting food don't worry." I said so he can get the hint I'm starving to get food and to let me go. "You getting Greek food?" He asked looking at the place. "Yeah why is something wrong with that?" I said ready to defend my taste in food. He grabbed my wrist and we started lining up. When it was my turn I got my classic chicken meal with the rice, salad and extra potatoes.
     Lance looked at all the food I was ordering. "You can really eat all that?! That's like a feast!" He said staring at me, "you're so small I don't get it..." I rolled my eyes and waited for my order to be ready. "Look there's a difference between small and short. What I am is short not small got it." I honestly didn't care if I gave him sass all I really wanted was food and not some guy questioning my figure.
     "Okay ma'am that will be $11.50." The nice lady at the counter said. As I was about to reach in my bag to fetch my wallet it was gone. "Shit!" I said under my breath. Lance turned his attention to me, "what's wrong?" He said looking concerned. "I left my wallet in my other bag! That's where I put the $20 Nathan gave me!" I said partly yelling at him.
     As I was about to have a panic attack Lance turns to the lady and says he was gonna pay for the food.  "Lance you don't have to-" he carried the food to a near by table and told me to sit down. "It's fine. Just stay here while I get my food." I nodded my head and started digging into my meal.
     Lances friends started coming and decided to sit in the table near the one I was at. "Annabelle right?" The little blonde girl said. She had big blue eyes and short hair that had a length just above her shoulders with cute straight cut bangs. "Yeah and you guys are..?" I asked hoping for a response. "I'm Emily, these two are Aaron and Maihca." She said sweetly and the 2 waved. I started to feel a little insecure all of a sudden, both girls were clearly skinnier than I am and both are very pretty.
     "So was Lance nice to you while you guys were together?" The other girl said. She had nice almond eyes with straight black hair. I nodded yes, "yeah he was nice he even smiled and laughed." They all stopped and stared at me "LAUGHED!" They all said in unison. I nodded a bit slower thinking they never heard me the first time.
     "Sorry..." One of them said. Then Maihca started talking again, "Lance barely smiles nor laughs... We're his closest friends and we've never seen him laugh before." I didn't know wether to believe them or not because it sounded a little bogus. "He does seem like a very harsh, serious person." I said staring at the 3.
     Lance then came back with his food and 5 bubble teas. 2 mango, 2 taro and 1 coconut. "Here I got the drinks." Lance said giving them out. Maihca and Aaron got the mango ones and 3 were left. I was never a fan of coconut and would die if the taro went to Emily. "Here..." Lance said handing me one of the taros. "I didn't know what you wanted so I went with the best flavor I could think of." He took the other taro and sipped it himself.
     I didn't know if it was noticeable but I had a hint of joy in my eyes like a child does staring at a new toy. I loved bubble tea more than anything in the world besides anime. "Oh my gosh! You didn't have to get me this. How much was it I'll pay you back promise." He looked at me with the same blank face. "You don't have to its fine. It's just food I don't want you to die and have your cousin kill me."
     I laughed at him and continued to eat my lunch. After everyone was done they started showing each other what they bought at the convention and what they were gonna get.
     All of a sudden a hardcore cosplayer comes in and I go on full fangirl mode. He was cosplaying as a badass character and went all out. I got up and wanted to catch up with the guy so I can take a picture. Lance got up and followed me probably because my cousin told him to watch after me.
     "Where are you going?" He said catching up. I was so focused on catching up to the guy I didn't even turn to face him. "I trying to catch up with that guy. He looks so cool!" I said now sprinting, "hey guy wait!" The guy turned around and by my luck he was also attractive. I thought to myself, I've met 2 hot guys in one day what is this? "Hey what's up?" The guy said.
     "You look so cool! How long did it take you to make all this?" I said looking at his costume. He got everything precise, the hair, clothes and even the eyes. The eye contacts must of been a fortune. He laughed and looked at his costume. "About a month or so but it was only because I'm quite busy at times." I gasped in amazement. "Can I maybe have a picture with you?" I asked him hoping he would say yes.
     He thought about it for a moment and nodded, "sure why not. But if you want my full costume someone will have to take the picture for you. As I started looking around Lance caught up out of breath, "jeez for a small girl you run fast." He said still trying to catch his breath.
     "Lance! Can you please take a picture for me." I said almost begging. He rolled his eyes and told us to pose. The guy posed in the signature pose the character does in the anime and I just did the simple smile and peace sign. 
     After we took the picture I simply thanked the guy and he wished me a good day and gave me a hug. When I looked back to get my phone from Lance he looked very annoyed. "Hey is something wrong you look upset." I said taking back my phone. "Huh? Oh it's nothing don't worry." I looked at him confusingly, he's so weird I thought but it was whatever.
We were deciding to head back to the convention. As we were waiting for the light to turn Lance tapped my shoulder. I turned around to see what he wanted and showed me his phone.
It showed a contact of my number. It didn't bother me at first but then I wondered how he got it. When I was about to ask him he told me. "I hope you don't mind me having you're number. You're cousin gave it to me."
He looked kinda embarrassed which was kinda cute. I giggled and said, "I don't mind, I just want to know why." He rubbed the back of his neck. "He gave me a list of numbers in case something happened to you. I thought calling 9-1-1 was good enough but not for him."
Lance showed me the rest of the numbers Nathan gave him. I laughed, "yup classic Nathan." When we made it to the other side where the convention was, Nathan was there with his college friends waiting for me so we can head home. "There you are Annabelle! Anyway let's get going you're mom called asking if you could go home." I nodded and turned to the group of new friends behind me.
"Well it was so nice meeting you guys! Maybe we can all meet up one day and just hang out, I'll get you're numbers from Lance." They all looked at me confused but continued hugging me good bye. When it came to Lance's turn to say bye he wasn't even looking at me. "Hey grumpy I hope I get to see you again. I really owe you one for probably saving my life." I was hoping for a hug but he didn't open his arms. When I was about to walk away he looked at me all sad. I turned back and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Thanks for being my hero, grumpy."