Page 15 of You. Me. Us.

The vibrant energy of the convention swirled around him, a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds, yet his mind kept wandering back to Hillary. He could almost hear her soft laughter, see the way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was listening intently to his answers or how she seemed to duck away anytime she grew embarrassed as if it would hide the adorable blush. He swore he could still feel the way her body heat spurred him on last night, to the hard press of his lips against hers.

Despite the chaos, everything kept going back to Hillary.

With each fan who approached for a photo or autograph, Julius couldn’t help but scan the crowd for a glimpse of Hillary before turning his attention to the person before him. Was she somewhere amidst the sea of fans, perhaps conducting an interview or scribbling notes for her article? His heart skipped a beat at the thought.

“Mr. Theon, could I get a selfie?” Another eager fan appeared, holding out their camera with a hopeful grin and payment slip in hand.

“Of course,” Julius replied with his trademark megawatt smile, posing for the camera as it switched to selfie mode. After the flash went off, he quickly scanned the screen before moving on to the next person.

No sign of her yet, just a sea of fans dressed to match his character, all vying for his attention.

Well, guess I’ll just keep hoping to spot her in the halls.

As the day wore on, Julius grew more and more antsy, his mind continuously drifting back to Hillary. It was almost frustrating how much he couldn’t seem to focus on anything else, even though he had fans waiting for him at every turn.

After hours of snapping photos of the exuberant cosplayers, Julius damn near sighed with relief when his assigned volunteer let him know he was done in this room. There was a gap in his schedule, which meant looking for Hillary was a little over-eager, but allowed. Surely, she wouldn’t be upset that he wanted to see her again.

“You’re off the hook for tomorrow,” Louisa tossed a bottle of water at him as she walked up to the side of the table. “We still need you at the Q&A Sunday, so don’t get any crazy ideas to leave town. All that’s left is the photo team up in two hours. Be there in an hour forty-five, please?” Louisa winked.

“I wouldn’t dream of missing it.” Julius uncapped the bottle and chugged. “I love my fans, but why do I always forget how draining it is to sign my name a hundred times?”

His agent chuckled. “Welcome to making it big. See you in a few hours. Go give your hand a break.”

Pulling out his cap and sunglasses, Julius put the silly disguise on. He sometimes pretended to be cosplaying himself out in the crowd, but with his mind on Hillary, he wasn’t as interested in being adored today.

He sought refuge in an empty booth nearby, grateful for a brief respite from the constant hustle and bustle.

As he leaned against the cool wall, trying to catch his breath, his gaze drifted to a small table tucked away in the corner. A woman with brown hair sat there, pen moving fluidly across the pages of her notebook. He started to move, in awe that he stumbled on her without trying, but as the woman looked up at him, he could see that she was much older. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to recognize him with his glasses on, or didn’t care.

He sighed, disappointed that it wasn’t Hillary, but also acknowledging he may be acting like a crazy person. No, crazy would be if he texted her again after the short good morning text exchange. He wasn’t going to do that unless he found himself so distracted he messed something up.

“And that doesn’t happen to me.” The growl of his stomach stopped him from continuing to look around where he thought she might be. “Food first. Pictures second. Maybe a Hillary sighting after.” He chuckled. If anyone knew he’d gone loopy over a woman he’d never hear the end of it after taking interview after interview about his lack of a dating life.

As he strolled through the crowded convention hall, fresh off a good mental break, his eyes were drawn to the elaborate costumes and intricately crafted props that filled every corner. The dedication and passion of the fans was evident in every detail, from the delicate stitching on a robe to the careful construction of an otherworldly weapon. He couldn’t help but smile, grateful for their love and support that allowed people like him to continue to bring fantastical films to the movies. It was as if he had stepped into one of his own movies, surrounded by fan-made creations that rivaled even the most skilled Hollywood prop masters’ work.

It reminded him of the first time he’d ever stepped foot in any sort of fan convention. He’d been so overwhelmed with the different versions of his beloved warrior elf that he almost had to lock himself in a closet to avoid being overwhelmed with emotion.

Any lack of dedication he felt this morning was completely replaced, filled with a need to be everything his fans needed him to be.

The photo area was tucked away in a spacious room, adorned with various backdrops and lighting setups. Julius arrived a few minutes early, taking a moment to compose himself before the chaos began. He straightened his jacket and ran a hand through his hair to ensure he looked his best for the eager fans. He knew what these photo ops cost, he wasn’t going to be anything but his best.

Just as he settled into his designated spot on the tall black stool, the doors opened, and Ethan and Rebecca walked in, her presence immediately commanding attention. Ethan lookeddashing in a tailored suit, his dark hair artfully tousled, while Rebecca was a vision in a flowing gown that shimmered under the lights.

“Julius! Where have you been the last two days?” Ethan grinned as he got closer, extending his hand. He looked as he always looked, without a hair out of place and his megawatt smile in place.

“Interviews. Panels. The stuff the hero does,” he snickered as he clasped his co-stars hand and pulled him in for a quick hug. Nearly a decade later and Ethan was still alive as the villain of their series, a constant source of teasing from Julius.

“Keep it up, elf-boy. Sooner or later, they’re going to realize the orphan human is the catch and let me end you once and for all.” Ethan walked to the stool on the other side of Julius, knowing his spot as the jilted lover was not beside the elf princess in their photos.

“The pair of you are why I like women.” Rebecca took her place beside him.

“Really? I thought it was more about the?—”

“Enough you three,” a security guard stepped up. “I’m in charge of this session and I want you to save the banter for the fans.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle as the older man tried to hide a smile.

“Your call, Boss.” Ethan mock saluted.

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