Chapter 1
I drummed my fingers against the barrier rail, trying hard to ignore the people trying desperately to push in next to me. The security guards had been whispering nearby, and I heard one of them mutter "just a couple more minutes", which was how I knew the cast was about to start their rounds.
I wasn't a complete newbie to the convention craze, and knew that when they finally brought the Spider-Man: Homecoming gang out—Zendaya, Laura Harrier, Jacob Batalon, and most importantly, Tom Holland—it would be a while before anyone in the meet and greet line actually got to say hi. However, once they came out, it would be worth it because they would be right there, all near me and real. A single scream from about halfway across the barricade caused me to whip my head around.
A wave of brown hair became another and another as the cast came filing out, beaming. Tom followed Zendaya and was in turn followed by Laura and so on. I tried to maintain composure as I waved at the cast. There would be no way I would leave this happy unless I found a way to keep it cool.
Still, that was hard when Tom Holland was about five feet away from me, separated by only a railing and a very muscular man with a name tag reading "Convention Security".
"Hi! Hi! It's alright, we'll get to say hi to everyone later!" Tom tried to shout over the noise of the crowd, but I think I was one of only a few close enough to hear.
I did my part by keeping my screaming to a minimal, calling, "I can't wait to meet you all!"
Once they left, everyone around me kept a certain energy from the encounter and the lines were practically vibrating as we all waited for our chance. A girl next to me kept shifting her gaze between my shirt (Spider-Man, of course) and the doorway through which fans were being led.
"What's your name?" she asked me after a few minutes, looking down at her shoes as she did. I almost didn't hear her.
"Oh, I'm Y/n. And yours?" I responded. Frankly, I was glad to have something distract me from the nervous energy of the whole room.
The girl smiled. "Bailey! I love your shirt. Where did you get it?"
"I ordered it online," I laughed and shrugged. "Best place to find the really fun designs."
"Dang, I was hoping I could get one like it." Bailey sighed. "Oh well."
I was about to add something when the line shifted forward and Bailey moved up. We were fairly close to the start of the line, and the amount of people ahead of us was quickly shrinking. I paused before searching through my bag for a pen and paper. Once I found the corner of a receipt, I jotted my number onto it, curving the numbers so they would fit, and held it out to where Bailey had just been standing.
"Wait… Bailey?" I asked, looking around for her. She had vanished.
"You're up!" a male voice called, and I startled to find one of the security guards looking at me.
I couldn't find it in myself to be upset that Bailey was gone—probably to meet the cast—as it was finally my turn. I tucked the paper in my front pocket, jammed the pen back in my bag, and hurried forward.