More Than Comics (19 page)

“You are?”

“Yep. Not because of you, though, but because I want it more than the other job.”

I laughed and picked her up, spinning her around once before setting her on the ground and kissing her again. My heart was so full it nearly hurt. She loved me and she was moving to LA. I didn’t know how it was possible, but I wasn’t going to argue it. If she wanted to be with me I was never letting her go.

“There you are,” Julie said, behind us. “I hate to ruin your happily ever after, but it’s time for us to go on stage. And you better not have messed up your makeup or, god forbid, your costumes.”

Oh right. The Masquerade. I’d forgotten about that.

“Sorry,” Tara said, blushing. “We’ll be right there.”

We followed Julie backstage, holding hands the entire time, and the group whooped and cheered when they saw us enter together. I scowled at them, or tried to, at least. It was hard to don my usual grumpy face at the moment.

Julie checked our costumes and makeup, clucking at Tara for messing up her hair and lipstick. They fixed it, I wrapped the bandana around my face, and then it was time to go on stage.

Ballroom 20 wasn’t as big as the massive Hall H but had a grander feel to it. Aisles and aisles of red chairs had been set up across the scrolling carpet in front of the stage, and screens hung from the ceiling at regular intervals so everyone could see what was happening, even in the back.

Our song “Behind the Mask” started playing through the speakers, and the Comic-Con volunteers waved us on. We went out in pairs, with Alexis and Kyle first, in their Riddler and Two-Face costumes. They strolled onto the stage and posed while the music played behind them. Tara and I were next, as the Penguin and Bane, and I lifted my bandana to give her a quick kiss before we joined them out there. Next up were Carla and Julie cosplaying as Catwoman and Poison Ivy, walking onto the stage like they owned it. Finally, Jared and Maddie emerged as the Joker and Harley Quinn. When they got to the middle he took her in his arms and dipped her on the stage, pulling her in for a kiss while the audience cheered and clapped.

For a few beats we posed while the announcers read out our names, and then our time was up and we walked backstage again. It all happened so fast, but I was used to that kind of chaos from our concerts and from being on
The Sound
. Still, it was always a rush to be in front of an audience, whether it was playing drums or doing something like this. And this time it was even better because I had Tara at my side.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
TARA

A
fter we exited the stage we were directed to the press area to pose for photos as a group in front of a white background with the Comic-Con logo all over it. We stood there for a good fifteen minutes or so before they brought the next group up, who were all dressed in extremely detailed
Bioshock
costumes.

A Comic-Con volunteer ran up to us. “Which one of you is Julie Hong?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “That’s me.”

“Your group won an award.” The man checked his paperwork. “The, ah…
Behind The Seams
Award?”

“What?” Julie shrieked.

“
Behind The Seams
, like the reality TV show?” Alexis asked.

“That’s the one,” the guy said. “You did enter to win that, yes? It was an optional category…”

“Yes, I definitely entered.” Julie fanned herself with her hand. “I won? Seriously?”

“You did. You have to come on stage and accept during the awards ceremony at the end of the show, but the sponsor wants to talk to you first.”

“No freaking way!” Julie turned to us, her eyes like saucers. “You guys, can you believe it?”

Maddie hugged her. “I believe it. Your costumes were amazing!”

We all crowded around Julie and offered congratulations. I gave her a hug too, and she squeezed me back as hard as she did the others.

“Thanks, everyone,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without you. It was originally just going to be me, Maddie, and Carla, but it became so much better after the rest of you joined us.”

“You did all the hard work,” Kyle said. “We just had to stand there and look pretty.”

“Easier for some of us than others,” Jared said, winking.

Julie laughed and wiped at her eyes. “But seriously. I wouldn’t have won without your help.”

“We’ll have to celebrate at the afterparty,” Hector said, wrapping an arm around me.

“Definitely,” I said. I was so happy to be part of this group and so excited for my future with them. My new friends. My new love. My new life.

Giselle Roberts appeared next to our group, with her blond hipster assistant at her side. “Sorry, am I interrupting?”

Julie’s eyes flared as she recognized who had joined us. “Oh wow,
you’re
the sponsor? I mean, of course you are! You created
Behind The Seams
. I just…I didn’t expect…”

Giselle gave one of her bubbly little laughs. “I am the creator and producer, yes, and I’m delighted to offer you a spot in our upcoming season as part of the award, if you’re interested. The only thing is it starts filming next week and lasts a few weeks, culminating in New York Fashion Week in early September, so I’ll understand if you can’t make it. But I was impressed with your villain-themed punk rock collection tonight, and I think you would do really well on the show. I’d love to have you on it.”

“This is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me!” Julie said. “Um, yes! I would love to be on the show. I’m on summer break until the middle of September, so I can definitely make it.”

“Perfect. My assistant here will take down all your information and contact you after Comic-Con with all the details.”

Julie threw her arms around the woman. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I won’t let you down, I promise!”

“I’m sure you won’t.” She pulled back and caught my eye with a smile. “Hello, Tara. I didn’t realize you were part of this group. I swear, I didn’t pick Julie as the winner for that reason.”

“I would never think that,” I said. “But could we talk alone for a minute?”

“Of course.”

We moved away from the group and into a quieter corner of the backstage area. Her assistant stayed behind, jotting down Julie’s contact information.

“Have you come to a decision?” Giselle asked.

“I have. And I want to take the job.”

“Great! I never doubted you would.”

“There’s just one thing I want to run past you.” I resisted the urge to bite my fingernails and instead gripped my amethyst pendant. It had always given me strength, and I realized it was because it made me feel like Hector was with me even when he wasn’t. “I think you should do a comic book tie-in for the show. You could have one come out each week online and use it to give origin stories for different superheroes and villains, or show superheroes in different parts of the world and what they’re up to. It would make the world of your TV show feel so much bigger, and be a fun thing for your fans. Plus it might bring in more of the hardcore comic book readers.”

She tapped a finger against her lips as she listened to my spiel. “I like this idea. A lot. So you’d write this for me?”

“I would, if you’re open to it.”

“Hmm. I think that could work. I want you to help with the individual episodes, too, though. I want you to be a vital part of the team, shaping the direction of the show for as long as it’s on. But you could split your time between the two projects.” She nodded, her eyes far away as the gears in her head turned. “Yes, I love this idea. You’ll be even more involved this way. Now we just need an artist or two…”

I smiled. “I know the perfect guy.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
HECTOR

A
fter Julie got her award and the show ended we headed back to our hotel for the villain afterparty Jared had set up. I just wanted to sneak up to Tara’s hotel room, but everyone insisted we stay and celebrate for a while.

The club was small and had a goth look to it, with chandeliers dripping with red lights, black velvet walls, and leather booths. The bar was lit in an eerie blue and the drinks all came in glowing skull glasses. Jared had talked extensively with the DJ earlier to make sure the music met his approval, and he must have done a good job because the club was packed with people dancing, wearing costumes ranging from Maleficent to Loki to Green Goblin. We were all still in our costumes too, the eight of us crammed into the largest booth in the corner.

Jared raised his glowing glass in a toast. “Julie, let’s hope your reality TV show experience goes much smoother than ours did.”

“Hey, it didn’t turn out so badly,” Maddie said, giving him a playful shove.

“Very true.” He raised his glass higher. “To Julie!”

We all toasted as a group and took a sip of whatever we were drinking. I chugged my beer, feeling content for the first time in as long as I could remember. Good friends, good drinks, and good music. Not to mention a beautiful girl at my side who loved me. What more could I want?

“So you’re really going on that show?” Alexis asked.

“I think so,” Julie said, laughing. “My parents won’t like it, but…yeah, I’m going to do it. Why not?”

“You should get Carla to be your model,” Kyle said.

“Hey, that’s a good idea. What do you say, Carla?”

She tilted her head and considered. “I’ll have to think about it.”

A blonde walked into the club wearing a tank top that read, “This
is
my slutty costume.” I straightened up. “Oh, shit. Becca is here.”

“Your former bassist?” Tara asked.

Jared shrugged. “Well, I
did
invite her.”

I kept my eye on her as she perched at the bar. “Just as long as she doesn’t cause any trouble.”

“Nah, I think she really has changed,” Kyle said.

“We’ll see.”

“Come on, let’s dance,” Alexis said, dragging Kyle out of the booth.

Julie downed the rest of her glowing drink. “Time for me to find a guy I can bring back to our hotel room.”

“Hey, that’s my hotel room, too,” Carla muttered.

“And mine,” Maddie said.

“Nah, you’ll be in my room all night,” Jared said, nuzzling her ear. “I have all sorts of naughty things planned for you in that costume. And I still have some of that whip cream…”

Tara leaned against me and whispered, “Sounds like you’ll be spending the night in my room.”

“Can’t complain about that.” I slid an arm around her back and pulled her in for a kiss.

“Check out that guy in the Rocket Raccoon costume,” Julie said, nodding toward the bar.

“Does that even count as a costume?” Maddie asked. “He’s wearing an orange shirt with raccoon ears and a tail. That’s not trying very hard.”

Julie stood up and smoothed out her dress. “When he looks like that, who cares?”

“It’s just…not right,” Carla said. “He’s hot, but then he has ears. And a tail.”

“I know. That just makes it hotter.” She grinned and slipped off to flirt with him. Carla trailed behind her, shaking her head.

The group split up, with each of us going our separate ways inside the club. Tara and I stayed in the booth while she told me about her idea for a comic book related to Giselle’s show. She’d suggested that I do the art, but I wasn’t sure how I’d juggle the band,
Misfit Squad
, and another project on top of that. I told her I’d consider it. At least I was finally making enough money from my music and my art that I wouldn’t have to go back to my job at the art supply store after the tour.

On stage, Maddie and Jared started belting out “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, beginning the karaoke portion of the night. They both had amazing voices and alternated the verses but harmonized on the chorus, sending little chills down my spine. From the way they sang together, working the stage with their eyes locked on each other, it was obvious how much they loved each other.

As they sang, Alexis and Kyle danced close, lightly brushing their lips together like they were in their own world and nothing existed around them.

And this time, I wasn’t jealous.

“Never thought I’d see the Joker and Harley Quinn singing
that
song,” I said.

Tara smiled as she watched them. “They’re so cute together.”

“I know. Hard to believe that a few months ago Jared would sleep with anything with boobs and Maddie was too shy to even play guitar on stage.”

Tara laughed. “I remember you telling me you were worried they would sleep together. But it worked out.”

I glanced between Jared and Kyle and the women they loved before turning back to mine. “I guess it did…for all of us.”

I was about to drag her in for another long kiss, when I spotted Andy moving through the crowd, wearing the same clothes as when he’d proposed to Tara. I nudged her. “Look who’s here.”

“Oh, god.” She shrank down in the booth, but Andy had already seen us. I was surprised he would show up tonight after what had gone down, but he didn’t look mad or anything. Still, I moved away from Tara, since there was no need to rub it in his face or anything. I felt bad for the poor guy.

“Hey,” he said, with a weak smile. “Just wanted to say that I’m sorry about everything. And I do want to be friends.”

“You don’t need to be sorry for anything,” Tara said, but from her rigid posture I could tell this whole encounter made her uneasy.

“Thanks.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I decided to take the Dallas job after all. Don’t suppose you know anyone there?”

“I do, actually. A friend of mine is moving there soon.” I stood and slapped a hand on his back. “Come on, I’ll buy you a drink and introduce you to that hot blonde over there.” I directed him toward the bar, and Tara gave me a grateful smile as we walked away.

I led him over to Becca and practically shoved the guy at her. I noticed she was drinking a soda—no alcohol for her anymore. “Hey, Becca. Glad you could make it. This is Andy. Andy, Becca used to be the bassist in my band.”

“Nice to meet you,” Andy said, shaking her hand. “I like your shirt.”