by Tucker, RH
“Well, looks like we got a special guest today. How’s your morning, V?” I pan the camera to her.
“Sucks.” She frowns before pointing at the camera. “Any seniors out there have a teacher that loves to offer you homework over Spring Break? Well, I have one. I mean, who does that?”
“Remember, no homework talk on my channel. We talk exclusively about new summer movies, great comics books, and hot anime guys.”
Veronica grabs my phone and gives it the steamiest look she can. “I want Chris Evans’ babies.” Handing it back to me, she flips a smile. “That count?”
“It certainly does. I’m sure we all do. Okay, I better go, guys. I’ll post a mid-week update next week, leading up to my big surprise. Oh, and if Principal Tanner is somehow watching this video, I did this after school hours. I promise.”
Veronica laughs with me as we head to our next class. She’s about the same height as me and same black hair; only hers is really curly. She’s a little on the heavier side, which I know she is self-conscious about, but I think she’s adorable. She and Cindy have been my best friends for years.
“I’m so jealous of you and Cindy. I want to go to New York.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” I give her a hug. “I would’ve tried to convince my dad to buy a second ticket, but I had enough trouble getting him to give his ticket to Cindy as it was.”
“I hate her.”
I let out a laugh as Veronica sticks out her bottom lip. “No, you don’t. V, the only reason she got the ticket was because me and my dad were having that argument.”
I’d just received my invite to the convention, asking me to be a guest judge for their cosplay contest. An invited guest. That means they pay for the flight, they pay for my hotel room, and I get to roam the convention and do everything I’d normally do at a show. But only I was invited, which meant only one ticket. And my dad wouldn’t hear of it. I love my dad. He’s great. But, being as I’m an only child and the daddy’s girl to his single father, he wouldn’t hear of me flying across the country all by myself. Even if I did just turn eighteen, that didn’t matter to him.
The next day he told me he bought himself a ticket. As I said, I love my dad, but I don’t want to be chaperoned around like I’m five years old. Luckily, Cindy had just come over to my house while we were arguing about it and I threw her name out. At first, he didn’t budge.
“Then it’d just be two girls alone in New York,” he argued.
But I hounded on him, batted my eyes, and gave him my best ‘Daddy’s little girl’ look that I could. I know it might seem low, but I know how to work over my dad if I really want something. And he finally caved. I’ll have to check in with him every hour, which I thought was excessive, but he finally said Cindy could have his ticket and he got the airlines to change everything.
“I know, I know,” Veronica laments.
“You could try and get her to give it to you.”
“Oh, please. Look, I like this stuff and all, but we both know she’s your bester best friend.”
“V, that’s not true.”
“Okay, maybe not on a friend level, but she’s way more into everything than I am. I like the movie stuff mostly, but I’ve heard you guys quote Fullmetal Alchemist more than I care to admit. She should go.”
“See.” I beam, giving her another hug. “That’s why you’re such a great best friend. Don’t worry, I’ll bring you back something.”
“How about one of those hot cosplay guys? Preferably one that’s shirtless.”
I snort as we walk into our class. “I’ll see what I can do.”
For the next hour, instead of taking notes, I’m doodling ideas for my YouTube channel. I’ve been making So Cal Nerd Girl videos for two years now. At first, I just did it for fun, to review new movies I saw or new graphic novels and mangas I read. But after the first few months, I actually gained a couple hundred followers. The more I posted, the more I seemed to get new subscribers. My mind was blown when I got my first thousand subscribers. It just kind of escalated from there.
As the subscriber count has grown, I’ve actually made a little money with ads too. And I’ve got fans. How crazy is that? I wasn’t sure what to think, the first time someone emailed me asking me if they could buy something from me, or if I had a PayPal account so they could donate money to me. I mean, I love making the videos. I love just talking about all things geek because that’s what I’m in to. The fact that I’m actually reaching people out there that love the same thing is so cool. I decided to set up an Amazon wishlist if people wanted to buy me things and boy have they. My room is littered with graphic novels, DVDs, collectible figures and anything else I’ve added to my wishlist. It’s insane. All the perks aside, I just love being So Cal Nerd Girl and talking about nerd stuff.
I know there are a few students at Woodbridge who watch my videos. I hesitate to call them fans. Cindy and Veronica always call them that, but it feels weird to call a peer of mine a fan. A lot of students know who I am though and kind of just blow me off. Or look at me like this is the eighties and nerds are the lamest things ever. It’s the 21st century people. Nerds are cool now. Well, at least, I think so. Then again, I’ve always thought so. And now I’m an invited guest to a comic book convention, all expenses paid. Have I said how cool this is? Because, yeah, it’s totally awesome.
Chapter 3
Matt
Spending a week in New York is awesome, but I’m too excited working on my costume to really go out and have fun. My mom took a couple extra days off and took my brother and me out, doing touristy stuff around the city. Since we only come to the east coast a few times a year, I don’t mind doing them. My little brother, Isaac, gets a kick out of the Empire State building and all the stuff downtown.
Isaac is just as excited as me for the convention. He’s using a Michelangelo Ninja Turtle costume to go dressed up. Being ten, he looks up to me like I’m some kind of superhero. It annoyed me when I was younger, in middle school, but since my parents got divorced, I really took it upon myself to look after him. It’s not like we’re lacking anything with my dad, except maybe an actual father figure in our life. He works around the clock, so we’re usually left to ourselves, and the housekeeper usually makes dinner for us and picks Isaac up from school. I’ll normally drop him off, which I don’t mind. Since the divorce, I’ve grown really close to him. Plus, he’s the only one I geek out to about comic books, video games, and other nerd stuff.
When Friday rolls around, he’s really bummed that I’m not wearing my costume. I tell him I’m just wearing it on Saturday for the cosplay contest, but he just shrugs his shoulders and dresses in his Michelangelo costume anyway.
We get to the convention center and to say it’s packed is an understatement. I thought arriving early would help, but I didn’t think the line to get in would wrap around the building. Which it does. It takes us nearly an hour to get inside, and we are packed in there tighter than a can of sardines. It doesn’t dampen our spirits though.
Isaac races across the floor, bobbing and weaving through attendees, trying to make his way over to the Nintendo booth first because he wants to check out the new video games that are coming out.
“Matty, hurry up!” Isaac radios to me on a two-way radio.
I bought them for us before the last convention we went to. My dad had gotten him a phone to use for emergencies, and we tried using it a couple times, but half the time he or I wouldn’t hear it or feel the vibrations. With the walkie-talkies, we just clipped them to our waists, and they’re super loud.
“Calm down, iBoy,” I radio back to him, using his nickname. “You’re smaller than me. I gotta wait behind all these slowpokes.”
A guy I’m behind turns around and flashes me an annoyed frown, and I give him an apologetic smile.
“Take note if they talk about any new Zelda games,” I radio.
“Oh, man! They’re playing Splatoon! Hurry, Matty!”
I just chuckle. I can see the Nintendo bo
oth and the video monitor he’s talking about, as they start demoing the game. I finally catch up to him, and we spend nearly an hour at the booth, checking out all the new games.
Afterward, we start walking around the Javits Center, taking it all in. There are tons of people who are dressed up, and Isaac seems to want a picture with everyone. My phone is filling up with pics of him with a Harley Quinn, Darth Vader, Batman, Captain America, and so many more. And then we see someone dressed up as War Machine.
“Matty!” Isaac tugs at my arm as he points at the black and grey Iron Man armor. “That suit looks awesome!”
“I know, right? I hope he’s not in the cosplay contest tomorrow.”
He looks up to me with a frown. “Oh, come on; your Iron Man armor is way better than that. Yours looks all shiny and stuff.”
“Thanks, kiddo.” I ruffle his hair.
Yep. That’s my costume I’ve been working on. Iron Man. Iron Man armor, MarkVI design, to be specific. Remember, I’m a nerd? It’s the Iron Man costume Tony Stark makes in the second Iron Man movie at the end, with the triangular chest piece. I’ve been working on it for over a month now, knowing that we were coming to New York and the convention, and I really went above and beyond—if I do say so myself. Not so much to try and win the contest, just because it’s so cool. The helmet slides up and down, and I have light reactors on the palms I made with tiny light bulbs, but the kicker is the chest piece. It’s the heaviest part of the costume.
Most of it is made from PVC pipe, aluminum, and plexiglass, which makes it light. Not that it’s easy to lug around, but it’s light enough that I’m not going to die in it. But the chest piece is the pièce de résistance. I really wanted the triangle light piece to shine brightly, for an awesome effect. So, I found the brightest flashlight I could and tore it apart and altered it so it could fit inside the chest piece. Of all the costumes I’ve designed, the Iron Man costume is by far my best one yet. I don’t know if I’ll win the contest, but I’m definitely proud of it.
And, because I really wanted to go for that Tony Stark look, I tried to not shave at all leading up to the convention. It’s not like I can grow a full-on, lumberjack beard or anything, and the mustache on my lip leaves something to be desired, but I have a nice goatee going on.
By the end of the day, even Isaac is exhausted. We take a cab ride back home, and mom has pizza waiting for us. Even though I’m ready to hit my bed, I’m still totally excited for the contest. Tomorrow is going to be epic.
* * *
IZZY
* * *
Big Apple PopCon does not mess around. We get to the guest-attendees registration line, and they have my ticket waiting for me. I wasn’t sure if Cindy was going to have to wait in line, but I was hoping she wouldn’t. We got to the convention center an hour early, and the line was already huge. I ask the girl who helped me with my pass if there was some way she could get Cindy’s ticket as well.
“I don’t know; we’re not really supposed to do that.” She gives me an apologetic smile.
“Oh, okay.” I frown.
“Who are you again?”
“Izzy—sorry—Isabel Jacobs? I’m a guest judge for the cosplay contest tomorrow.”
“Oh crap! I knew you looked familiar!” The girl starts jumping up and down. “I’ve seen some of your videos.”
“Thanks.” I give her a sheepish smile.
“Here, what’s your friend’s name?”
“Cindy Cosgrove,” Cindy speaks up.
“Cosgrove?” she asks, flashing her a curious look before walking away.
Cindy gives me the look, and I just lift my shoulders. Cindy is half-Korean. Her grandparents emigrated from South Korea, and her mom was born in Seattle. But she gets inappropriate questions all the time. Mostly asking where she’s from, even though she was born in California.
The girl walks over to another booth and searches through the files. She grabs her ticket and walks back over to us.
“Here you go.” She leans in a little closer, to whisper to me. “I threw in a couple extra food vouchers in there for you.”
“Oh, my gosh, thank you!” I give her a quick hug and look at her badge. “Bethany. I’ll be sure to give you a shout out tomorrow when I film. Thanks so much!”
“Awesome. Enjoy the show.” She gives us both a smile as we slip our lanyard badges over our necks and proceed to hit the floor.
With the line outside still being let in, the main showroom floor is pretty vacant, which is great. Veronica was totally right about Cindy. She loves all this stuff just as much as I do. We visit a bunch of booths, some artist tables, and hit up the Viz Media lounge, checking out the new animes that will be coming out. By the time we’re done there, the place is starting to get pretty full, so we decide to head over to the food area and grab something to eat.
“This is so awesome,” Cindy looks around at the masses while taking a sip of her soda. “I guess it pays to be friends with a celebrity.”
“Shut up.” I laugh and throw a french fry at her. “Quasi-celebrity, if that.”
“Quasi? Yeah right. That girl was so excited this morning.”
“Yeah, that was weird.”
“Girl, that was awesome.” She laughs. “I can’t believe how many people are here though. Glad we got in early to avoid being crammed in all together like cattle.”
“I know, right? I think they said they were expecting over seventy thousand attendees this year. That’s insane.”
“Did you want to stay all day?”
“I don’t know,” I say, biting another fry. “We could head out early if you want? I already checked in with my dad this hour.” I make a gagging noise, sticking my finger in my mouth. “You want to check out some of the city?”
“Totally. Let’s go hit on some east coast college guys.”
“Calm down.” I laugh.
It’s not that I’d be opposed to hitting on a college guy, especially if they’re hot, but I still had to make a video update and post it to my channel. Tomorrow’s going to be so awesome.
Chapter 4
Matt
Today’s the day. The day I’ve been working toward for over a month. I throw some jeans and a shirt in a bag, just in case I have an epic failure and have to change out of the costume, but even in the test run I tried last night, everything seemed to work fine. I slip on the legs first because it’ll be easier to walk around in those, without putting on the chest armor and helmet. I sift through our suitcase, looking for a tank top to wear under the plastic armor.
“Dude,” Isaac says as he finishes tying his shoe. “You’ve got, like, more muscles than Tony Stark.”
I throw my head back, laughing. “Thanks, kid. You know what it’s from, right?”
“What?”
“Eating all those green beans dad’s always telling you to eat.”
“Gross!” He sticks out his tongue. “Hey, you never eat them either.”
“I know.” I grin. “I’m just super awesome.”
“I want to be super awesome.”
“You’ll get there.”
I throw on the tank top as our mom walks into the room.
“All right. You boys ready?”
“You really don’t have to take us, mom,” I say, holding the chest armor and helmet in my hand. “We can take a cab again.”
“Nonsense.” She waves for us to follow her as she turns around. “I’ll drop you off and hang out a little bit. Then just text me when you’re ready for me to pick you guys up.”
“The contest isn’t till later this afternoon.”
“That’s fine.” She walks over to me and puts her hand under my chin, rubbing her thumb over the goatee. “My baby boy, all grown up.”
I chuckle as Isaac grunts. “Hey!”
“Oh, you’re my baby boy too.” She kneels down to him. “And you’re not allowed to grow up.”
“That’s not fair.” He crosses his arms. “I’m trying to be cooler than Matty.”
“In your dreams, munchkin.” I look down at him with a smile, and he givess me a warning glare. “Just kidding, iBoy.”
Isaac finishes tying his orange mask across his eyes, donning the Michelangelo costume again.
Once we get to the center, we wait in the long line again. I slip on the chest armor after we get out of the car and now just hold the helmet. A lot of people keep checking out the costume, and I get a handful of thumbs-ups from people walking by. Some even ask to take a picture with me, even though I don’t even have the helmet on. It’s pretty cool. I’ve taken pictures with people at other conventions, but this feels so much freer. I don’t have to worry about anyone from school being here and someone seeing me and learning I’m a super-nerd. I can just be me.
Once we get our badges, Isaac and I hit the floor again, and I finally put the helmet on. That’s when the photo-ops really start. So much so, that it actually gets a little annoying. I’d never been asked to take this many pictures with my other costumes. The one thing I didn’t consider when I made the eye slits on the helmet, was it’s really hard to see past five feet in front of me. I’m talking directly in front of me. I can’t see off to the side at all. After twenty minutes, I lift the front of the mask up and I’m able to see clearly, along with taking in a much need breath of fresh air.
“Matty, let’s go check out the Lego booth.”
It’s more of a demand than a request as he doesn’t wait for me to follow him and we head to the booth. As we make our way over there, I receive more thumbs up and compliments on the costume.
“Sweet Iron Man!”
“Awesome, even the Tony Stark goatee going on.”
“What’s up, Shell Head?”
I stop and take a couple more pictures while Isaac looks back at me, more annoyed with every stop. We finally make it to the booth, and he’s totally geeking out over all the cool new Lego designs and sets that they are going to release.