Ayden Stone is now blushing. In front of me. Wow.
He nods as his chinks get pinker and pinker, and I’m charmed and smiling before even realizing it.
I won’t pass out at seeing the face of Chrisander Gage blushing. I won’t do it. I’m a professional fangirl—I keep all my screaming on the inside and look like a normal person on the outside.
“Life’s weird, though, I guess. It’s my first time in California, and I wanted to come all the way out here and meet you, well, your character, take a picture, and lay down some serious cash that’ll dent my savings account to buy stuff. And it felt like it was all worth it, you know?” I’m blabbing now, why am I blabbing to Ayden freaking Stone? And I wanted that love at first sight moment like a total idiot.
It’s not like I’m ever going to see him again, right? Maybe if I’m interesting enough, he’ll remember our interaction for more than a second, like, ten years from now.
“Until it wasn’t,” Ayden finishes for me, taking a sip of his soda through the straw, looking at me like he gets it. Is it possible that I can find watching him eat and drink attractive?
That’s it, I need some therapy and a hospital visit because my temperature is going up, up, up.
“I know it’s my fault, was having an off day. Thought I was keeping it to myself, but I guess not.” Ayden looks earnest, but his features are made up in a way that I don’t recognize on the face of Chrisander Gage. It’s like I’m staring at a twin version of the fictional character I’ve gone and done the stupid thing and fallen in love with, and this guy’s doing all the faces all wrong. I don’t know Ayden Stone at all.
It’s really not his fault, it’s a me problem. I shake my head frantically. “No, no. I think I just expected too much, too fast. I had this thing in my head,” I say vaguely, waving my hands around, “that when I got to meet you, it would be like meeting your character, being his friend.” I cringe at myself because I do sound a little off-putting. “I just built it up through the stratosphere and now I’m kind of bummed it’s all over and done with, and you’re just you and I’m just me, and it sort of…sucks.” I shake my head, trying to get my thoughts together, pissed off at myself for being rude, too.
It’s not the guy’s fault he’s not a fictional character. I know I’m talking to a relative stranger, I know that, but I feel like I know Chrisander Gage, his hurts and wants, like he could be my friend, and I guess that’s why I feel comfortable saying the things that I’m saying, like a total weirdo.
Yup, should’ve just kept it to myself.
“I’m not the one living up to expectations, looks like.”
I flush, wave both hands at him, back-pedaling. “Look, that’s not what I was saying. I’m not trying to make you feel bad or anything. The con was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you were part of that experience. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.” I place a hand over my heart, because seriously, I’ll remember this forever. Even this weird moment, too.
Ayden nods again, taking another bite and swallowing his food. “And you’ll remember being disappointed,” he sighs, putting down his burger and wiping at his mouth with a napkin.
I shift in my seat. Why did I have to go and open my big mouth? Why couldn’t I just be content in staring at the beautiful famous person and asking them to autograph my tits or something? Would that be more of a normal response?
I capitulate with a sigh. No sense fighting it. “I’m having a good time talking with you,” I hedge, because let’s face it, this isn’t the most pleasant of conversations. “I just want to know why you sought me out in here.” Did he even search me out?
Ayden shrugs, using his food as a way to mull things over before he opens his mouth to say something. “You were looking at the picture of us like it made you upset, not a reaction I get often.” He stares at me for a beat too long, and I swear to God my heart’s gonna burst. “I wanted to try again, to make it better for you.”
Did he actually just say that to me? Gah, I might throw up with the butterflies in my stomach. “I…I don’t know what you mean.” Here we go again, people being cryptic.
“Is there any way I can meet you after my last panel today? I’d like to take you to dinner,” Ayden asks, wiping his hands on his napkin, looking completely and utterly serious, like this isn’t a joke, like we’re not being filmed for a reality show pulling pranks on us mere mortals by our favourite celebrities. I want to look around, try to find the hidden camera crew, but that would mean I’d have to look away from him, and I really really don’t want to do that.
Whatever you do, Aria, don’t pass out. Don’t pass out!
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