Meet Me at Comic Con: Arrowsmith High, #5

By MJ Ray

I know I need to get out of my comfort zone, but is dressing as a sexy green alien really the way to do it?

Confidence has always been a struggle for me, socialising is scary. When I decide to go to Comic Con, I'm loving the idea of becoming someone else, even if just for a little while. Little did I expect to meet someone like Charlie—funny, sweet, and ridiculously good-looking. And here's the kicker—he pops up in my real life, and has no idea that I'm the mysterious girl he met at Comic Con.

As the days pass, I find myself falling for Charlie, even though he has no clue who I really am. The connection between us grows stronger, but he doesn't know who I truly am. Should I confess the truth and tell him that his new step-sister is actually the girl from Comic Con?

"Meet Me at the Comic Con" is the emotionally charged fifth book in the heart-warming Arrowsmith High Series. Immerse yourself in a world where self-discovery, first love, mistaken identities intertwine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MJ Ray
• Release date: Jan 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215034736

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Beth

Am I really going to walk into this enormous conference centre in a skin-tight fitted costume, with every part of my skin a bright green colour? On. My. Own.

I must be crazy.

This is not me... doing things on my own... dressing in a costume that is so fitted I can barely breathe. No one who knows me would ever believe it if they could see me now. And you know what? I love that it's not me. Shy, boring, plain me that never does anything exciting. Well, not today! Today, I am exciting and fun-loving Beth. I can just remember what fun is.

After lurking in every Comic Con group created on social media for the last few years, I knew I had to be part of it. Everyone posted–making incredible memories, unashamedly liking what they like, surrounded by people who get them. I wanted that. I wanted to be in the pictures of groups meeting for the first time. Some wear cosplay, dressing as their favourite characters. I longed to be in those pictures. Part of it all. Everyone looks happy in a room full of like-minded people who want to geek out on Marvel, DC, or anything comic-related. It’s like being part of a big family. And here I am. Now it's my turn. My belly jumps with nerves and excitement. I’m not sure which emotion is winning out.

Maddie is so great. I owe her big time. When she posted in the Manchester Comic Con attendees group saying that she wanted to go to the con but had to go alone, it caught my eye, and I commented I was travelling alone too. We started talking online and found out we had so much in common. After chatting with me, she realised there must be lots like us, going alone, terrified. So, she posted saying she was starting a Messenger group for teens travelling alone so that we could get to know each other beforehand. We couldn’t believe the response she got. So many wanted to be part of it. You know when sometimes you make a friend, a kindred spirit, that you know you were meant to be friends? Well, me neither, not until I met Maddie. She is the yin to my yang - outgoing and funny, whereas I am introverted and dislike interacting with people. Our friendship works, and she brings out a side of me I didn't know I had. I'm fun when I'm in her company. She brings something out of me. We've spoken on Messenger in a group that now has over twenty people. We're all travelling alone and going to meet inside the con.

This is the reason for the green body paint. Maddie got the, in her words, 'genius idea' of us wearing cosplay as the Avengers. I picked Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy because I love her character. She's tough, and you wouldn’t want to cross her, but she's got a good heart. I thought she'd be easy to dress up as, and I'm completely disguised as someone else. My mother barely recognised me when I went downstairs this morning.

It took a lot of skill to get the green body paint looking even. I bought it from Amazon, along with the long red wig. After searching for a while, I bought the outfit online. The long coat is fantastic. I love it–the entire outfit put together is so awesome.

Mum's reaction earlier made me laugh.

I walked down the stairs, and her mouth dropped open. What the...?

I held my hands out and did a twirl. Well?

You don't look like you.

Good, that's the look I was going for.

I shrugged, Yeah, I wanted a change from the messy up do, glasses and leggings.

After all the digs she gives me about being scruffy, see what she says about this.

She nodded. Well, you look fantastic and, well, very green. What’s the name of this person?

I rolled my eyes. Mum does not get my obsession with Marvel but tries to humour me. It's Gamora, Mum.

She nodded. And why is she green again?

I laughed, "She's an alien - part of the 'Guardians of the Galaxy'."

She frowned and shook her head. I do not know what you're talking about, but it's very effective, and you look just the same as the woman in the picture you showed me.

I smile because I’m one of the least confident people anyone could know, but in this kick-ass coat and boots, I could conquer the world... and look good doing it.

I chuckle to myself, remembering the drive here. If Mum could have slid down so she was invisible behind the steering wheel, she would have. At least Manchester Comic Con is only half an hour from where I live in Wigan, so her drive wasn’t too long and I couldn’t have got on public transport as a bright green alien, so I am glad she could take me.

So now here I am. I look up at the vast building and swallow. I can do this. Besides, I don’t have to do it alone. I'm so excited to meet Maddie in person. There are banners everywhere with the Manchester Comic Con logo and so many volunteers in high-vis vests instructing us where to go. I message Maddie, my new BFF, with butterflies in my stomach.

Me:   I'm here, at the front entrance, under the sign. Are you here yet?

I get a selfie back within seconds. She is standing outside the same building as me at Event City, rocking her costume as Valkyrie. She said that she's gonna go with what God gave her - she's got the skin tone, and with the look of everything else, she has it nailed.

I'm so excited. We're finally meeting. I hear a scream to my left and turn. I see a warrior of Asgard, aka Maddie, running towards me. The biggest grin spreads on my face - today is going to be the best day.

My body shunts backwards with the force of her hug as she wraps her arms around me. I can't remember the last time I hugged someone. I am not a hugger.

Oh my God. We're here. It's you! She is panting out one-word sentences through the hug, then releases me and steps back, holding me at arm's length.

I grin widely at her. Maddie, you look amazing! I'm so glad we finally meet.

I'm so frickin’ excited for today. On a scale of one to ten - I'm a hundred, or as good old Tony would say, three thousand.

Wow, I love that I'm in the company of someone who quotes bloody Ironman.

I laugh, Me too. Even before we go in, I'm having the best time.

She nods in agreement. You look awesome and so gorgeous. I swear you could pass for her.

I blush under my green make-up. 'Gorgeous' has never been used to describe me. Thanks. So do you. How was the train ride from Bury?

She shrugs. I got a few strange looks, but who cares?

I shake my head. I want to be you when I grow up.

Why can't I do my own thing and not care what people think? It must be so freeing to be like that. One day.

She waves her hand. Shut up. You travelled here as a green alien–you're not exactly blending in with the crowd.

Yeah, but I was in my mum's car, not on a train full of people - there's a difference.

She shakes her head. I bet you got a few strange stares at traffic lights.

I chuckle. Mum was mortified.

She laughs, Love it. She takes a deep breath and looks around, and I do the same, looking at the crowds milling around. A few are dressed in cosplay, some in groups, some alone - young and old, from different walks of life, but here for the same reason - we all love the same thing.

You ever come to a place where you just feel you belong? she whispers and then looks at me, smiling.

I so get how she's feeling right now.

I nod. Never before, no, but right now? I get you.

We look at each other and smile, happy that we found each other.

I adjust my backpack. Right, we’d better get in line. Are the others meeting us inside?

She nods. Yeah, we’re meeting outside the main room in around an hour. Let’s get in the queue.

I glance toward the queues and wince. That is a long queue.

I know, right? I hope it goes down quick, or we might miss them.

I link her and start dragging her in that direction. Well, we can get to know each other better in the queue.

She huffs. Looking at the glass half full, aren't we? Come on. Wait, I have an idea. Fancy having some fun?

I bite my lip. Depends. What did you have in mind?

Hmmm, I think she might be a rule breaker, and I definitely am not!

Are you any good at accents? she asks, grinning.

Accents? What do you mean?

She rolls her eyes and suddenly starts talking in an American accent. Oh, you know, we can pretend to be from somewhere more exciting than where we're actually from.

Wow, how do you do that? Her American accent is perfect!

She grins. What accent can you do?

I try to think if I'm capable of anything other than my northern accent, then get an idea and put on a French accent, I'm good at French. A friend I grew up with through school is French. I can even speak a little.

Oh sexy, spot on, you are now French.

I bite my lip. I don’t know... I don’t know if I've got the guts.

Come on, we only live once. Let’s have fun. It's not like we're lying about who we are -we’re still gonna be honest. We’re just having fun.

I sigh. Okay, I’ll try. I just hope I remember to keep it up.

What have I got myself into here?

As we approach the line, we hear a group being rowdy. It doesn't bother me - I will be phased by nothing today. I am not dull Lizzie, who doesn’t make conversation –today I’m fun Beth!

I went by the name Beth in the group. I’m still not sure why I did it. I wanted to be different... to stand out. At first, it had more to do with security, keeping my identity hidden, but then I decided Beth was more confident than Lizzie, and I really liked her, so she stayed. And now, apparently, she's French. I'm not lying about the name, at least. Elizabeth could be Lizzie or Beth.

I hear Maddie and my names being mentioned as we reach the line, coming from the rowdy group - mostly guys and a couple of girls dressed in cosplay. At a glance, I see an Ironman. I’m guessing there will be a few of those today - RIP Tony. I bet there will be a few Tonys here today, too. There is a Black Widow and a long-haired version of Thor. Excitement rushes through me. I glance at Maddie. Could this be the group that we were meeting? I only swapped pictures with Maddie, and we kept our costumes a secret for a surprise, but we did say we would be Avengers. There was a chance that two of us could show up as the same character - but would that matter? At least we’d get to dress up as the character we wanted.

Someone says, "Hey, Starlord, your girlfriend is here."

I glance around, and my heart beats twice its usual rate when I see the boy he's talking to.

He is tall and looks impressive as Starlord. He has light brown hair and brown eyes, the colour of caramel, that are looking right at me. A smile is playing on his lips, and those lovely eyes are dancing.

My woman! I've been looking everywhere for you, he shouts, and everyone turns to look at us.

I chuckle as we finally reach the gang in the queue. I like him already. Hey, boyfriend, I mutter in my fake accent.

He winks at me and grins.

My stomach does a flip.

Maddie speaks, Are you guys who I think you are?

I try to keep a straight face at her fake accent.

One of them, dressed as Thor, opens his arms, motions up and down his body, puts on a stronger than normal British accent and speaks as deeply as he can. Of course, we are the Avengers. I am the strongest Avenger.

I bite back a laugh. Are you the lonely ones? I blush at saying that out loud, but that is what Maddie named our group. If I have the wrong group, this will be embarrassing.

Starlord answers, We are!

I smile, I am Beth. This is Maddie. She is the one we need to thank for our group. Okay, this French accent thing is easier than I thought.

They cheer as they realise who we are, and introductions start. I try to remember names. Finally, we get to see what everyone looks like, even though half of them are wearing masks, so I haven’t seen their faces yet.

Everybody hugs one another, and when Starlord comes over, he says in a deep voice, So nice to meet my girlfriend. My name's Charlie.

Of course, I don't know how I didn't guess. Charlie is the joker of our Messenger group, always being funny and posting memes. He always makes me smile. He was one I was looking forward to meeting. It’s nice to put a face to the name, and it's a nice face.

A very nice face.

He has his hair short at the sides and longer on top. He has cute freckles dotted around his face, and his nose is perfect and slightly upturned at the end. But it's his smile that gets me. It lights up his entire face, and his eyes are dancing with mischief–as though he's gonna come out with a punchline, and you don't know if you're the joke or not.

Hi boyfriend, I'm Beth.

He leans into me. I can see why I’m into you. I have great taste.

Shut up. I bat his chest.

Okay, Beth, you sound really immature. Think of something interesting to say.

Good costume. Guardians of the Galaxy are your favourites, I presume?

Ok, way to be fascinating, Lizzie.

He shrugs. They’re the most fun. And I like fun. What about you?

"I adore Gamora. She's fierce and doesn't take