Wishful Thinking

Chapter Six - Guys 'n Girls

“Are you nervous?” Kacie asked in a whisper, we had been picked up by John Green and were heading to some building.

John was prattling on about something or other, and you could probably tell I wasn’t listening. I stared out the car window as the grey London buildings flew past, Kacie snapped me back to reality. “No, I’m not nervous.” I answered, but my body betrayed me. My legs were bouncing up and down and if I clasped my hands any tighter they’d probably come off. Kacie gave me an unimpressed glare then turned back to the author. Truth be told I wasn’t actually nervous, more freaked. Whatever this was it wasn’t something to be nervous about because when John first told me about it he sounded excited. So I should be excited too, right? But what if it wasn’t. Ah, what the hell was I doing? Being a pessimist will get me nowhere, but it’s my specialty! I smiled to myself and listened to what John was saying, “We should be there any minute.” He stated.

“Really?” Kacie replied, John nodded.

“So, where is it we’re actually going?” I asked, perking up.

“Weren’t you listening, Gwen?” John asked, no I wasn’t, “We’re going to the book signing, then to an office to meet your agent.”

“My agent?” I asked, surprised.

“Yeah, every author needs an agent, and Nikki’s a real nice person.”

“Nikki?”

“Oh, yeah that’s her name, I thought you would like a woman instead of a guy, seeing as how you have to deal with me quite a lot.”

“Yeah, good idea.” John gave me a frown and I smiled angelically at him. The car stopped and the driver spoke up.

“We’re here Green.” He said. John sighed.

“Green?” Kacie asked, half giggling. John sighed again.

“When I first met the driver I went all Bond, I said the names Green, John Green, and it kinda… stuck.”

“Sure it did.” The driver replied. Kacie and I gave each other a look and then burst out laughing.

This was definitely not what I was expecting. People surged around the bookshop holding signed books close to their chests. John sat at a table next to me surrounded by some of his books. The queue of smiling fans went all around the shop, it was overwhelming. But his line was not as long as mine. John had let loose that I was joining him at the signing so people had come from all around the city to this one bookshop, and I mean all around the city. Tumblr would be having a field day about this. My line was all the way around the bookshop and out the front doors. It was mostly teenage girls like me who planted a book in front of me to sign but there was the odd boy. I stared into space as the next girl slammed a book down in front of me, it was the same colourful cover and slanted title as the last 20 thousand books I’d signed in the past hour. “What’s your name then?” I sighed. Tapping my pen on the table and propping my head up with my hand,

“You don’t sound very enthusiastic.” The girl stated, stating the obvious much. “In fact, you look like you’d rather be somewhere else.”

“Gee really?” I replied extremely sarcastic, not that I realised but I also said it a bit loudly. I looked over to see John give me a shocked look, I shrugged at him. Turning back to the girl I scribbled on the front page of the book. “There you go, have a nice day!” I sung. It was the same old jibber jabber for the past hour. Did I mention how boring this actually was? I think I did.

The next girl was really over the top. She was wearing a top that had Ripped Apart written all over it and had the same colour hair as me, in the same style. Her nails were painted the colours of the cover and she was jumping up and down clapping her hands in excitement. “Oh my god.” She chanted over and over again, “I can’t believe I’m finally meeting you!”

She sounded like me when I found out I was going to see Benedict Cumberbatch. “You are like, my hero. Oh my god.” Her smile grew bigger and her eyes brighter.

I just frowned at her, “Evidently.” I looked her up and down again smirking, she seemed affected by this. Her clapping and physical exercise stopped and she frowned angrily at me.

“What?” she pouted. Her hand had found its way to her hip and somehow the cuteness of the fangirl had turned into intimidating stalker. I smiled anxiously and replied, “Thank you for coming!” I handed her the signed book and she turned into the cute fangirl from before. 

Now I realise how scary us fangirl can be. I shivered creeped and got back to the fans. But instead of an ecstatic fangirl in front of me there stood a guy. He had dark shaggy hair,  bit like Zukos not gunna lie, and very dark blue eyes. “I really like your book.” He smiled handing me a copy to sign. This was not what I was expecting. I felt my cheeks warm up a bit and took the book shyly, oh god I was blushing.

“Thanks.” I mumbled slowly scribbling in the book. I wanted this to drag out, this dude was like my dream guy. “Which was your favourite part?”

He looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, “I’m not really sure, but if I had to answer I’d probably say the ending. It actually made me cry, which is a first. The way she just accepts the fact that Sebastian has gone from her life is… unbelievable.” The way he talked so passionately made me want to just jump up and hug him, wait what?!

“Well, I’m glad you liked it.” I giggled, handing him the book. The boy put his hand on the book but didn’t take it, our eyes locked for a second before I drew back shyly. He lingered in front of me for a moment before stepping aside to let another fan come forward. When I looked up the boy was completely out of sight, I couldn’t find him anywhere. I idly took the next book and scribbled in it unknowingly, I scanned the shop to find that dark hair… but nothing. I sighed heavily and dropped my head back on my hand, “Why the long face?” Kacie asked, planting herself in the chair beside me.

“Oh nothing,” I replied, scribbling in the next book. Kacie smiled at the fan then looked at me seriously.

“Don’t gimme that shit young lady, what is it?”

“There was a guy.”

“Isn’t there always?”

“You should’ve seen him, Kacie. He was…” I stopped suddenly trying to find the right word, but nothing came to mind.

“He was what?”

“He was like a fictional character.” Kacie straightened up in her chair,

“Wow, really?”

“Yeah, for all I knew Will Herondale had jumped out of Infernal Devices and stood in front of me.”

“Well this is a bookshop.” We laughed together as fan after fan had me sign their book. This didn’t turn out so bad after all.

Okay this is a filler chapter, and there will be another after this, but after this one and the next the Big Reveal will come. And then you'll finally find out what this big surprise is! I'm getting really excited now!

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