CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Nineteen: Coffee With A God

Elle's PoV

Waiting in line to meet the creator of my favorite video game was not at all as amazing as I expected it to be. Maggie and I had dreamed of doing this for years; we'd made up scenarios of how it would go, usually involving me meeting some super-duper hot guy wearing a Shadows of Light tee-shirt. We would bond over conversations about the games' plotline, and then we'd fall in love and name all of our children after Shadows of Light characters.

Unfortunately, there were no hot guys in sight. In fact, a majority of the guys in line with me looked to be in their early teens with braces, bad acne, and all around poor hygiene. It was a saddening thing to feel out of place among my own fandom, and Marcus wasn't making it any better.

"Ooh, look Elle, cosplay." He chirped, pointing to a rather large, profusely sweating boy who was dressed as Prince Casimir. "That's impressive, with the spandex pants and that glittery plastic crown? Nice."

I rolled my eyes. "Be nice or go wait outside. I'm trying to enjoy finally meeting my idol."

"The creator of the game is your idol?" Marcus asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course! He created such an amazing story, and a beautiful setting!" I stopped for a moment, thinking. "Well, maybe he didn't really create, but he did make a game of it."

Marcus shook his head, sighing. "You're still on that 'video game characters came to life' thing, huh?"

"Well yes!" I exclaimed, "That's why I'm here! I thought you believed me now?"

"I said I would go along with your idea," Marcus corrected me, "I'm not entirely read to believe it."

'Fine." I huffed, crossing my arms and turning away from him. I didn't speak the rest of the wait, and before I knew it I was standing in front of him.

The Jared Frobisher.

I was overcome with the idiotic urge to drop to my knees and start bowing to him, but something told me that would be a bad idea.

"Hello, Miss! Are you a fan of the Shadows of Light series?" Jared asked, smiling. His face was a little wider than I'd seen in picture or videos, but it was definitely him.

I nodded, letting out a barely audible squeak. Off to my side, Marcus fought back laughter.

"Do you have something for me to sign?" Jared's voice was polite, he probably dealt with fangirling teenagers on a daily basis.

I squeaked again, stiffly removing the Shadows of Light game case from my purse. Sure I was here for information about Maggie, but I wasn't going to pass up the chance for an autograph from Jared Frobisher! He was a god!

"Alright, does your boyfriend want one too?" Jared looked up from signing.

"Boyfriend, wha...?" I asked, speaking for the first time. I looked over at Marcus and burst out laughing. "Oh, no no no, he's not my boyfriend, he's my..." I stopped laughing to think. What was he, anyway? I couldn't say friend, because that jerk was obviously not my friend. So what could I call him, my police officer? That just sounded weird. "He's my teacher, Mr. Shoesenheimer." I decided.

Jared raised his eyebrows, nodding. "Okay. Your life choices are completely up to you. If you want to date your teacher, that's for your parents to deal with..." Jared looked over at Marcus and his eyebrows knit together. "Do I know you?" He asked, "I feel like I've seen you before..."

"No." Marcus replied simply, and Jared dropped the subject instantly.

I shook my head furiously, "We aren't dating it's just..." Oh well, I had to ask him at some point, "I'm here to talk to you about your newest character, Lady Jacintha?"