Parallels | Dylan O'Brien

2 - The Actor

-Lydia Moon-

Today is the first day of Comic Con and also my first day as intern event manager. My uncle works as one of the event manager companies at Comic Con San Diego and has been since the very first one in 1970. He was eighteen back then, I'm twenty now. He always tells me I started too late with this passion of event managing. I always wanted to become a therapist, but then I watched what my uncle did and I fell in love with the job. I've helped him a few times already, but this is my first big gig.
"Lyds, you're going to take the 12pm slot with the panels for the Maze Runner: Scorch Trials and also the Teen Wolf panel at 4:30," my uncle tells me during the first meeting of the day. It's five am at the moment and we need to be at our posts around 6. Although, I only have a proper job around four pm. My uncle told me I could roam around the convention as much as I wanted, as long as I got back at twelve for the panels. The Maze Runner and Teen Wolf. Both starring Dylan O'Brien. It's kind of funny as Dylan O'Brien -the Dylan O'Brien- and I used to go to the same school. Primary-high-college. I used to be friends with him in high school, but it kind of went away when we had gone off to college. Only at parties we might've had a couple interactions. I used to have the biggest crush on him, still do. He's a beautiful human being. I sometimes like to think I stand a chance with him, but then I remind myself to be realistic. A boy as successful and busy as him doesn't have time for someone like me.
"Meeting dismissed," my uncle calls, and I didn't even notice I was still at the meeting. Everyone shoves his chair back and stands up, each one leaving the conference room. I do the same, my uncle following behind. "Are you ready for your first day, Lyds?" my uncle asks as he's caught up to me. I nod my head vigorously.
"I was born ready," I say, filled with confidence.
"I'm sure you are, honey. You're the smartest, most persistent woman I've ever met," he says as he hugs me from the side, "They didn't let you skip three grades in primary school for nothing," he presses a kiss to my temple. Yep, that's true. I skipped from third grade to sixth grade. That's when we also moved, and I transferred schools. I met Dylan and his sister, Julia back then. Thinking about them and about college makes me feel low-key sick. I'm hoping I can drop out of college and just start working for my uncle already. I'm so sick of school, it's unreal.
"Alright, I'll see you at 11:30 in the green room for the Maze Runner panel," he tells me before we split ways and he goes on to do his job. To be fair, I'd rather have a nap right now than surround myself with a bunch of cosplayers. I love them, and they can do whatever they want and wear what the hell they want, I just can't at this hour of the day. I watch my uncle as he walks away, completely zoned out as I think of what I have to do later and what I have to do right now. The green room. I'm going to find the green room and see what's happening there. As proud as I could be, I walk through the convention center, the badge around my neck dangling with every step I take. I walk down a few wrong hallways, but eventually find my way to the Green Room. Which, to my surprise when I saw it yesterday, isn't that green. The room is filled with a couple of sofas in the middle and the walls are lined with tables filled with food and beverages. I did that. Yesterday. With my uncle. I'm pretty proud of that. Only a couple of people are here, no one I really know or recognize. So, I sit down on one of the sofas and take my phone out. I better keep myself busy while I can. I scroll through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and back to Twitter. I open a new tweet and start typing away.

@LydiaMoon: First Comic Con as event manager. To say I'm excited is an understatement! 😁🎉

I then decide to start watching some YouTube videos to kill some time. Without realizing, I'm twenty videos in -now at funny puppy videos- and a couple hours further. When I look at the time, it's already 10am. That's a proper hour to start roaming around Comic Con. Who knows what I'll bump into. Or who.
I turn around the corner, only to find a whole crew of people dressed as anime characters. I swallow a lump in my throat and decide to turn the other way, only to bump into someone's chest. I stumble back, a weird sound coming out of my mouth. Anything but attractive.
"I'm sorry, I-" I start, but cut myself off when I see the three gentlemen in front of me.
"Hey, I know you!" the one I bumped into sounds, a wide smile on his face. One that nearly reaches his ears and makes his eyes very small, yet sparkly. It's Dylan. Oh yes.
"You do?" I ask, but quickly recompose myself by coughing, "I mean, you do?" it still comes out the same, which makes the boy laugh a little.
"Yeah! We used to go to school together," he tells me and opens his arms to pull me in for a hug. He smells of mint and cologne. A great combination, if you ask me. "What's it again? Lily?" he tries when he pulls away. I open my mouth, but nothing comes out from embarrassment. Can't believe we went through four years of high school together and he doesn't remember my name. "I'm kidding, Lydia. Of course, I remember you!" a small puff of air leaves my mouth and I finally manage to nod.
"What are you here for today?" the blondie asks, a thick British accent prominent. Everyone knows this one as Thomas-Brodie Sangster. The kid from Love Actually and Nanny McPhee. Now also The Maze Runner. To be fair, Newt is my favorite character.
"Err- I've actually helped organize this weekend," I tell them and the three listen intently. The third boy - I notice now- is Ki Hong Lee, the South-Korean actor who plays Minho in the Maze Runner. Amazing actor, love his hair. "Yeah, I'm an intern," I tell them with a proud smile and show them my badge. All three squint their eyes to look at it properly.
"So, working hard, or hardly working?" Dylan questions, giving me a wink and sending shivers down my spine. It's still clear how big my crush on him is. It's disgusting.
"Right now, hardly working. But at 12pm, I'll be working hard to try and get your butts at the panel in time," the boys look at me, not saying anything. They aren't sure if I'm joking or not, I can tell. "I need to guide you guys to your panel later on, and also the Teen Wolf panel," I explain, pointing at Dylan. His smile widens.
"Really?" I nod in response. "That's so cool!" We stare for a second, as if we've never seen each other. Ki Hong breaks our moment by breaking the silence.
"Hey, you got anything to do now? Maybe you could show us to the Green Room and we can chat a bit before we have to go on?" That's not even a bad idea and quite flattering that they want to hang out with me.
"Oh yeah, sure. Come on!" I signal for them to follow me, and they do so. Like obedient puppies. Once there, we all take a seat on the sofas, the other actors soon joining. Will Poulter and Kaya Scodelario included. We chat about what I'm doing here and about their movie. Kaya then asks how Dylan and I knew each other. My heart skips a beat as we look at each other, debating who's going to start.
"It was fifth grade, I think?" Dylan starts, but I shake my head.
"Sixth grade. I transferred schools when I was nine," my voice sounds confident, but that confidence quickly glides through my pores as everyone stares at me.
"Nine?" Thomas asks, confused. "You were nine in sixth grade?" I nod my head, looking down at my lap nervously. This is going to be rather awkward. I don't think anyone really knows my age except my closest friends and family.
"Yeah, I skipped three grades. Went straight from third to sixth grade," I explain, my voice soft, barely even making a sound, my eyes still focused on the fingers tugging at each other in my lap.
"I didn't even know that," says Dylan as he stares at his hands, slightly surprised.
"How old are you now?" Ki Hong wants to know. I bite my lip, lifting my head to look at them and debating whether to tell them or not. When everyone's eyes are on me, I decide to answer anyway.
"Just turned twenty-one yesterday." Before anyone can react or reply, my uncle comes between us.
"Ah, Lydia, you're taking your job very seriously, aren't you?" he asks, putting his hand on my shoulder. "It's time to get to the panel, guys," he tells us and then, he lets me do my job.
"Alright, guys, follow me!" I command sweetly and excitedly. Everyone follows me towards Ballroom D. "Here we are! Do we have everyone?" I question, just to make sure. Thomas and Kaya were walking beside me the whole time, making conversation. I don't know where Dylan was though, somewhere behind me.
"Hey," Dylan says before he needs to get on. He adjusts the snapback on his head as he thinks about what he's going to say, or how he's going to say it. "Can we meet up after my panels tonight and after you're done here?" I raise my eyebrow at him.
"Are you asking me out on a date, Dylan?" I watch him as a slight blush creeps onto his cheeks.
"You could call it that," he mumbles, looking down at his feet.
"Yeah, sure. Just stick around, yeah?" he nods his head before he's being called up on stage. I go to stand on the side of the stage, just so I can watch him. Mostly on the big screen, as I'm too close to the stage and the table is actually in the way.

After the Maze Runner panel and the Teen Wolf panel, Dylan and I meet up beside the stage.
"You ready to go?" he asks like a true gentleman.
"Yeah, let me just go and quickly grab my stuff," I tell him, pointing to the end of the hallway where the conference room is. That's where we had the meeting this morning and where I left all my stuff. As I grab my handbag, I get a weird feeling in my stomach and it feels as if someone's stepping on my throat. My hands are shaking, and that's not the only thing. The table is shaking too. The glasses upon it clattering against each other, one even falling off. The next thing I know is a bright light and then darkness. Complete and utter darkness. When I open my eyes again, I'm somewhere else. A bathroom, I think. The walls are tiled with white squares. A whiff of vomit fills up my nose. When the door is being yanked open, I look up. Dylan stands there, looking down at me with worry in his eyes. He comes to sit next to me, on his knees. He's persistent at first, but then he puts his hand to my cheek, his thumb rubbing my skin. I lean into his touch, completely melting away at the softness of his skin.
"Hey," he says, "Are you okay?" I look up to him, trying to find out what's going on from his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I say when I realize I won't find the answer there. So, I just ask. "Where are we anyway?"