Page 5 of Lily
3
BEN
I need to find new ways to get customers to shop in my comic book store. Even though the uptick in comic book superhero movies and television shows that Hollywood is producing left and right. The life expectancy of small, independently owned comic book stores is becoming shorter and shorter. Comic book publishers are cutting out the middle man and selling directly to consumers online.
I needed to find a way to get people in the door, so I got the idea for the costume contest to generate buzz in the store. If there’s one thing I know about nerds who love comics—they all have costumes of their favorite superheroes in their closets, and they don't have a lot of places to socialize in the world that doesn't make them uncomfortable. My comic book shop is a home away from home, and I needed to tap into that nostalgia and get them to open their wallets.
A few groups of people have already shown up in full costume. It’s not too bad a turn out considering the prize for the top costume is only a hundred-dollar gift card for the store. But then again, we don't live anywhere near any of the big comic conventions. When else will they have a chance to dress up as their favorite superhero without judgment?
The sound of the bell ringing out as the front door opens, and I turn to greet the new arrivals.
It’s a group of guys that come in every Tuesday night for new comics, standing just inside the door. They seem to be the complete team of the Defender Alliance. There is someone standing with them, but I can’t see from this angle if it’s anyone I’ve seen in the store before. Two other groups are dressed in the same costumes, but they are missing one member, The Scarlett Inferno. Not too many girls want to spend their Friday nights in a comic book shop, so it’s not surprising they skipped over that crucial member.
"Hey, fellas!” I wave and walk over.
My heart sputters wildly when the guys part, and I can see the woman standing with them. She looks like the real-life embodiment of my favorite comic heroine, Wanda Watkins, aka The Scarlet Inferno. I’m not the only one else to notice her because many of the conversations happening around the shop stop when they see her.
She looks nervously around at the sudden attention on her.
“Did I do the hair wrong or something?” she asks, patting the two red buns on top of her head.
“You look amazing,” I blurt out.
Her eyes meet mine, and the concerned crease in her brow relaxes. “I had to figure out the style from pictures I found online.”
“I think you all are the team to beat tonight,” I admit.
The guys beam with pride, standing a little bit taller than just a moment ago. Not only are their costumes more authentic looking, but they managed to find a Wanda Watkins willing to dress up with them. Tonight, I relinquish my crown of “King of the Nerds” to them. It’s a title I got only because I own the comic book store.
“Come on, guys. Come on, Lily. Let’s go do a lap around the store and show of our costumes.” Lester says, pushing up the glasses slipping down his nose.
Lily gives me a look like she knows the costumes aren’t what they are showing off tonight, but she plays along like a good sport. I want to play it cool and take my time working up the nerve to talk with her, but a girl dressed like a superhero in a comic book shop might as well be chum in the water because the sharks are going to start circling her. My only hope is that the other guys are too nervous to talk to her.
LILY
When I agreed to come out tonight, I thought that I’d make an appearance, help the guys win the prize, and get out of there. I’m not sure why it didn’t occur to me that women at this party would be outnumbered seven to one. No one will talk to me. All they do is stare at me until I look at them, and then they turn away.
The only life preserver in this sea of awkwardness is the cute guy that greeted us when we arrived. He isn’t like a lot of the guys in here. I find his nerdiness charming. It's like he has a vulnerable, sweet side to him, mixed with good looks I’m not even sure he knows he has. My guess is he grew into his looks at a later age, but his persona never got the message.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” A deep voice asks behind me.
I turn and see the cute guy standing back a few feet like he's not sure he's allowed to approach me.
“To be honest, no.” I shake my head. “No one wants to talk to me.”
“I can chat if you are looking for someone who can translate nerd for you."
I snort into my cup of punch. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have laughed.”
He waves my apology away as if he's not in the least bit offended. "I grew up being called a nerd. It's not so bad."
“You don’t look like a nerd.”
He's taller than me even in my heeled boots, and the hard chest beneath the Cosmic Comic t-shirt tells me that he does lift weights or some kind of fitness to keep him in shape. He pools in my lower belly, and the dirty thoughts of him bending me over the table of comics and pushing into me is hard to wipe clean from my brain.
“Stocking and carrying boxes of comics seems to more of a workout than I could have imagined when I opened this place.”
“Don’t bulk up too much. It’s kind of the age of the nerd right now. Isn’t it?”
