The Fangirl Disease (On Hold)

two

I sit with my mother in a small empty room, waiting for the doctor to return with my results.

Having just undergone a series of brain analyzations to diagnose me with fanitosis- being a fangirl or fanboy- I'm kind of tired.

When Dr. Kines walks back into the room, though, I sit up straight. Beside me, Mom looks nervous.

I'm not nervous. I already know what my results are going to be: I know that I'm a fangirl.

Dr. Kines gives me a small smile. "Your results are positive," he says, confirming my assumption.

I hear Mom make a small noise, but I keep my eyes glued on the doctor.

"Now Freya," he says, "you have a big decision to make. You can decide to stay here and live with your mother, but if you do we will have no choice but to put a damper on your love of books and the like."

I begin to frown, but Dr. Kines hasn't finished yet. He lifts his hand, signaling me to wait.

"However," he continues, "You do have another option to consider."

I raise my eyebrows.

"There is an island- called Fan Isle- in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It's confidential. The only people who know about it would be the government, doctors who can diagnose fanitosis, and the fangirls and fanboys. Along with their immediate family, that is. Only diagnosed fangirls and fanboys are able to live on this island, it's devoted entirely to fandom life."

I stare at him, not knowing quite what to say.

"I'm sorry Freya, I know this must be pretty overwhelming. We are going to have to ask you to make a decision today, though. Before you leave."

Dr. Kines pulls a small piece of paper out of his long white coat and hands it to me. "Here's a brochure to inform you a little more about life on Fan Isle."

The doctor gives Mom and I a curt nod before walking out of the room and leaving us in silence.

I look down the brochure. The front half covers the fangirl section of the island, and the back half covers the fanboy section.

What interests me the most is the list of classes for fangirl school:

•Fangirling 101
•Coping with Feels
•Fangirl Language
•Fanfiction Writing
•Book Handling
•Fanart
•Running a Fandom Blog
•How to Ship
•Editing Basics

The list goes on.

Mom peers over my shoulder at the brochure. "Honey, I think you should stay here with me," she says. "I don't think that this whole fangirl this is healthy for you, anyway."

I pivot in my seat to look at her. "But I think that this is where I belong," I say, holding out the brochure. "I'd get to be surrounded by people like me."

Mom's eyes glisten, but she gives me a little smile. "If that's what you want."