My cosplay bet went wrong - Chapter 15 by Tekazett on DeviantArt
My cosplay bet went wrong - Chapter 15------------------------------------------------------ <--- my cosplay bet went wrong - Chapter 14------------------------------------------------------Based on a real storyI lean into Derek's shoulder, feeling the solid warmth of him as I settle against his side. His arm automatically comes around my waist, a gesture that's becoming familiar with surprising speed."So," Derek says, picking up the thread of conversation from before. "You were saying earlier that you write character-driven stuff. What kind of characters do you gravitate toward?"I glance over at Connor, who's still standing near Kyle and Brandon but now checking his phone repeatedly. Kyle says something to him and Connor manages a smile, but it's strained. He's processing, I tell myself. He needed to know."The ones who don't know who they are yet," you answer Derek, forcing your attention back to him. "People in transition. Caught between identities.""That's pretty specific," Derek observes. "Personal experience?""You could say that." The irony isn't lost on me. "I think the most interesting stories happen when someone's forced to see themselves from a completely different angle. When their assumptions about who they are get challenged.""Like method acting, but for real life," Derek says."Something like that."Derek takes another drink of his beer, considering. "I read this article once about how we're all just performing versions of ourselves. Like, the 'you' at work is different from the 'you' with your parents, different from the 'you' on a date. None of them are fake, but none of them are the complete picture either.""Which one am I getting right now?" I ask.He laughs. "I have no idea. That's part of what makes you interesting." His hand traces absent patterns on my hip through the fabric of my costume. "You're clearly dealing with something tonight, but you're also here. Present. That takes guts."Across the patio, Connor has rejoined Kyle on the bench, but the easy physicality from before is gone. He's sitting with space between them now, holding his phone like a talisman."My friend over there," I say quietly. "I just reminded her of something important. Something she'd forgotten. I'm not sure if I did the right thing.""Was it going to hurt her more to remember now or later?" Derek asks."I don't know. Maybe later. Or maybe not at all." I close my eyes briefly. "God, that sounds cryptic. Sorry.""It's fine. Everyone's got their weird friend drama." Derek shifts, and I end up even closer, my head properly resting against his shoulder now. "For what it's worth, if you cared enough to interrupt our conversation to go check on her, you probably made the right call."From inside the house, music swells as someone changes the playlist. Through the glass doors I can see Maya talking with a group near the kitchen, her brown hair catching the light. She glances toward the patio and her eyes find mine. There's something knowing in her expression.I lift my head from Derek's shoulder, glancing around at the crowded patio. The music from inside is getting louder, and someone's started up karaoke—off-key singing drifting through the open doors."Hey," I say, turning to face Derek. "Want to find somewhere quieter? I can barely hear myself think out here."Derek's face lights up. "Absolutely. I know Maya mentioned there's a den or something? Should be less chaotic."I lead him back through the sliding glass doors, weaving through clusters of partygoers. In the main room, Connor catches my eye from across the space—he's back with Kyle and Brandon, but he's still checking his phone every few minutes. He gives me a small nod, acknowledging my earlier intervention without quite forgiving it.The den is down a short hallway past the kitchen. It's smaller than the main living area, with a comfortable couch, some bookshelves, and significantly fewer people—just two women deep in conversation on one end of the couch who barely glance up as we enter."Much better," Derek says, settling onto the opposite end of the couch. I sit beside him, close enough that our thighs touch. The noise from the party is muted here, a distant hum rather than an assault."So," Derek says, angling his body toward mine. "Now that I can actually hear you—tell me about this novel you're working on. The character-driven one.""It's about three friends who make a bet," I say, the words coming before I can stop them. "And the consequences end up being way bigger than any of them expected. They each have to decide who they want to be when everything they thought they knew about themselves gets turned upside down.""Heavy stuff," Derek observes. "Based on real events?""You could say I'm doing some intensive research," I admit.He laughs, assuming I'm joking. "Method writing. I like it." His hand finds mine, fingers intertwining easily. "What happens to them? The three friends?""I don't know yet," I say honestly. "I'm still figuring out the ending. One of them is having a complete breakdown. One's adapted so fast it's like he forgot who he used to be. And the third...""Is making out with strangers at parties?" Derek suggests with a grin."Something like that." I look down at our joined hands—his large and warm, mine delicate and unfamiliar. "The thing about transformative experiences is you never know if you're discovering something that was always there, or if you're just becoming someone new entirely.""Does it matter?" Derek asks. "Either way, you're still you at the end of it."His thumb traces circles on the back of my hand. Through the doorway, I can see Maya pass by, pausing just long enough to register my location before continuing on. Is she following me?
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