Misfits Like Us (Like Us #11)(94)

No one’s in this one.

Next room is another parlor. A mammoth painting of the original Frey family backdrops a darkly lit room swathed in blues. From the furniture to the tile on the crackling fireplace.

It’s packed with security.

My former roomies are hanging out underneath a stained-glass window of a rose. Moonlight streaming through, they’re drinking goblets of something purple and sparkly. Maybe they’ve seen Lun—I mean, Vada.

Vada.

Fuck me, I’m losing it, right?

I take a breath and go over to them.

Quinnie is wearing a Thor cape, and he puts a hand on my shoulder. “The prodigal roommate has returned.”

Gabe smiles. “For good?” His hope hits me right in the gut.

“Not for good,” Quinn says, his face scrunched up like he’s trying to figure out where his statement went wrong. “I just meant returned to this room, which I guess you haven’t entered before…”

I bail Quinn out easily by nodding to their drinks in hand. “Watcha drinking?” I ask only Quinn and Frog since Gabe is without liquor. He’s on-duty for the night, so he’s probably been doing rounds around the Manor and stopped here for a break.

Frog swishes the goblet. “Some type of fruity flavored vodka. It’s good.”

“Don’t let the boss see you with that,” I mention like their bodyguard camp counselor. “He already reminded us you’re under twenty-one.”

“Ten times,” Quinn adds.

“Fifteen for me,” Gabe says. Quinn gives him a look.

I try to smile. Try to keep it easy. That’s what life is all about. Not this knotted feeling in my stomach. That, I don’t want. I don’t like, but I do love the feeling of her…

Just not the pain that comes with it.

Frog groans. “My cousin can be too much sometimes.” He’s just looking out for you, I’m thinking as she takes a much larger gulp, then tells me, “This is why I’m excited about December.”

“What’s December?” I ask.

“Some fandom convention in San Francisco,” Frog says, inspecting the shimmery stuff in her drink. “Luna’s going to go, which means I get to leave Philly for a bit. Goodbye to Nine’s annoyingly growing protectiveness over me.”

I go still. Unblinking as a feeling paws at me.

December.

Fandom convention.

It can’t be…

Quinn is already speaking. “It’s probably his paternal nature coming out with the baby on the way.”

Gabe gives a hearty nod. “Daddy mindset kicking in.”

“Ew,” Frog grimaces. “Let’s not use that word when describing my cousin, ever again.”

I butt in fast, “Fanaticon?”

Their eyes dart to me in confusion.

Shit. My pulse is on an ascent, and I know I’m not making sense. “The convention,” I explain to Frog. “Is it Fanaticon?”

“Um…I can’t remember. Maybe? Why?”

I know someone who’s going there. “Just wondering…”

There’s no possible way Luna could be the girl I’ve been DMing. That would be…impossible.

That can’t be right.

Which means, Luna is planning on going to the same convention I planned to attend with Illyana. Still, there’s this funny feeling at the back of my head.

I’m dazed, hiking a mountain and reaching uncertain altitudes. But I keep climbing, searching for something beyond the haze.

“Does Luna watch Beneath a Strong Sentiment?” I ask.

Frog nods. “Oh yeah. That’s like her favorite show right now. I can’t get into it, but I love her passion for it.”

It’s a coincidence.

It can’t be her.

It’s wishful thinking.

What are the odds…?

I can’t breathe. All I know is that I have to go. Have to leave this room.

I have to find her.





25





LUNA HALE





Most accurate costume award goes to Eliot, who enlisted his mom’s help in recreating Pyro’s ensemble for the evening. My Polaris dress is not accurate. Mainly because my dad texted me right after he sent out the costume list.

Please make sure your dress is not see-through and absolutely no cleavage. This is my birthday, not my funeral. Thx. Love you. – Dad





I didn’t even hesitate before typing out my reply: But then it won’t be comic book accurate

LUNA – Dad





What? I replied. I’m with Eliot and Tom on this one; sometimes it is fun to see our parents squirm a little bit. Just a little.

Most of the people at this party are family members. They would also like your costume to be less comic book accurate. TL;DR: Don’t scar your little brother – Dad





Okay, so he totally used Xander as the ace card. I smiled and replied with a peace sign emoji.

So while my dress isn’t as sheer as Polaris’, it still has the wide bell cut at the bottom that I love, and I got to spray my hair a dark green shade.

Honestly, I’m really happy my dad assigned me this costume. It feels so much like me, and I’d like to believe he really sees me.