Page 18 of You. Me. Us.

“Today, we have the pleasure of hearing from three visionary creators who have shaped the landscape of science fiction through their intricate and immersive world-building,” he began, gesturing to the panelists. “Please welcome Dr. Evelyn Thorne, renowned astrophysicist and author of the groundbreaking ‘Celestial Saga’ series. Liam Gallagher, lead designer of the critically acclaimed ‘Andromeda’s Edge’ video game franchise, and Naomi Naka, the mastermind behind the epic ‘Distant Realms’ graphic novel trilogy.”

The audience erupted in applause as the panelists waved and smiled, their faces illuminated by the overhead lights. Hillary couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe as she took in their presence, each one a giant in their respective fields.

Dr. Thorne spoke first, her voice clear and confident as she addressed the eager crowd. She was a small woman, not much older than Hillary yet when she spoke, she commanded attention in a way Hillary never could. “When it comes to crafting believable and engaging science fiction worlds, it’s crucial to start with a solid foundation in realscience,” she explained, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “By understanding the principles of physics, astronomy, and biology, we can extrapolate and imagine future technologies, alien environments, and the consequences of scientific advancements on society.”

Liam Gallagher nodded in agreement, leaning forward to share his own insights as he tucked a pocket square into his tweed jacket pocket. “In video games, world-building is about more than just the visuals and mechanics,” he added, his hands gesturing animatedly. “It’s about creating a sense of history, culture, and depth that players can immerse themselves in. But it has to be entirely visual. Every detail, from the architecture to the language, should feel authentic and purposeful.”

Naomi Naka chimed in, her voice soft but filled with conviction. “In graphic novels, we have the unique opportunity to blend visual storytelling with rich, layered text bits,” she said, her gaze sweeping over the audience. “By carefully crafting each panel, each character design, and each background, we can transport readers to fantastical realms that feel both alien and familiar at the same time.”

As the panelists delved deeper into their creative processes, sharing anecdotes and behind-the-scenes glimpses into their work, Hillary found herself furiously scribbling notes, her mind buzzing with inspiration. The way they spoke about their craft, with such passion and dedication, was infectious, and she could feel the energy of the room rising with each passing minute.

Questions from the audience flowed freely, ranging from technical inquiries about world-building mechanics to more philosophical musings on the role of science fiction in shaping our collective future. The panelists answered each one with thoughtfulness and candor, their responses sparking lively discussions and debates among the attendees. Hillary wasn’t certain her pen could keep up with the flow of information.

Hillary’s phone buzzed again, and she couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at the screen. Julius’s response was immediate and playful, a stark contrast to the serious tone of the panel discussion.

“I suppose I’ll have to let you off the hook this time, but don’t think you’re getting away that easily. Focus on your work, and we’ll catch up later. I’ve got a few distractions of my own to deal with.”

She laughed softly, imagining Julius surrounded by a hoarde of adoring fans, his attention pulled in a million different directions. It was a reminder of the world he inhabited, one so different from her own, and yet, in this moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the room.

As the panel delved into the intricacies of world building, Hillary found her mind drifting back to Julius, wondering what he was doing, if he was thinking of her. She pictured him at his booth, his charming smile and easy laugh drawing people in like moths to a flame. The thought sent a flutter through her stomach, a mixture of excitement and nervousness that she couldn’t quite shake.

She typed out a quick response, a smile emoji, before tucking her phone away and turning her attention back to the speakers.

The rest of the panel passed in a blur, her notes a jumble of half-formed thoughts and doodles in the margins, but notes just the same. As the applause died down and the crowd began to disperse, Hillary gathered her things, her mind already racing ahead to her next interview, her next deadline.

But even as she threw herself back into her work, the thought of Julius lingered, a tantalizing promise of something more, something that made her heart race and her cheeks flush. She knew it was foolish, knew that the odds were against him ever talking to her again in the real world, but she didn’t care. She was content to live in the present, to savor the thrill ofpossibility, and to see where this unexpected connection might lead.

eight

. . .

Hillary’s fingersdanced across the keyboard, her eyes locked on the glowing screen as she poured her heart into the article. After four days surrounded by glitz and glam—and texts from Julius—back at the Muse office seemed like another life.

Thankfully, words flowed from her like a river, each sentence carefully crafted to capture the essence of the story she’d needed to tell from the weekend. A tale of a fish out of water journalist learning what it means to attend New York Comic Con. It wasn’t what Olivia asked for, and she’d be luckily if she had her job after this, but it was the best angle she could think of that didn’t repeat the tweets from all weekend.

She paused for a moment, reading over the last paragraph, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of her lips. It was her best work yet, and she knew it. All she needed was Olivia to agree.

No one ever wrote about Comic Con from the panelist and celebrity side. Now someone had.

With a deep breath, Hillary saved and closed the file. All that was left to do was move the cursor to hover over the send button, and push it to deliver her masterpiece to Olivia. She’d proofreadit death, and just kept adding more each time she read it. No, she just needed to send it.

Her heart raced with anticipation, imagining both scenarios that could come from the piece. Just as she was about to click send, a shrill ring pierced the air, causing her to jump out of her seat for a split second.

“Sorry!” She muttered, wishing she could sink under her desk as it continued to ring.

Hillary reached for her phone, expecting to see Olivia’s name on the screen, but instead, she was greeted by a name that made her heart skip a beat.

Julius Theon – Real One.

Her mind raced with questions. Why was he calling her now, just as she was about to submit her article? Did he want to discuss their weekend together? Was he really calling in that coffee date? They’d had a whirlwind of text messages the last three days, but she hadn’t trusted herself to meet him again. Not while she had to impress Olivia.

With trembling hands, Hillary silenced the phone, but didn’t end the call. It kept ringing, and she stared at Julius’s name as it flashed insistently. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. “It’s just a phone call,” she whispered to herself. “You can handle this, you kissed the man for crying out loud.”

Summoning her courage, Hillary swiped to answer the call, lifting the phone to her ear. “Hello?” she said, her voice sounding far more confident than she felt.

“Hillary, hi! I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.” Julius’s warm tone filled her ear, instantly putting her at ease.

“No, no, it’s fine. I was just finishing up an article,” Hillary replied, glancing at her computer screen. “What’s up?” She wanted to puke, talking so casually to someone like him.

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