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“Yes, Ally. We will.”
Mom pulls up before the stop and wraps her arms around us. “Make sure you have a good time,” she says. “I know you’re worried about Spencer, but please enjoy yourselves. I’m sure he’ll want to hear all about your trip when you get back.”
We thank Mom for the ride and grab our stuff. She wants to stay with us until the bus arrives. No one else is at the stop.
Chloe and I sit down on the seats and don’t really talk much. I think we’re too tired. But it’s not long before the bus pulls up. We wave to Mom and get on.
The bus is mostly packed. Finding seats in the back, we plop down, Chloe taking the window seat and me the aisle.
It’s a four-hour drive to Derryton. Chloe and I chat for a little bit, but we’re both so out of it. It’s not long before my eyes droop.
***
My eyes shoot open, and the first thing I see is brown hair. What the…? Oh right. I’m on the bus with Chloe and we’re headed to theSwords and Legendsconvention.
My head is resting on Chloe’s shoulder and her head is on mine. I guess we must have fallen asleep.
I don’t move because I don’t want to wake her. I’m not sure how much time passes—maybe I drift off again?—but her head shifts. Finally, she’s up. I was getting bored.
As I lift off her shoulder, her head rolls forward. Her eyes fly open and she glances around like she has no idea where she is.
“Shoot. I didn’t mean to wake you. I thought you were up.”
She blinks at me as the sleep leaves her eyes. “Liam? What are we…?” She glances around again. “Oh. Right. Did we fall asleep?”
Yeah…on each other.
She must realize how close we were because her cheeks are a little pink. She clears her throat. “How much longer until we’re there?”
I peer at the map and list of stops at the front of the bus. “Looks like we have about forty minutes.”
Nodding, she shuts her eyes.
I bend close. “You sleeping again?”
“No. I just want to shut my eyes and think for a little bit.”
About her secret admirer?
“Oh, okay. Sure.”
I play a game on my phone. After a little while, Chloe gets bored thinking and we talk aboutSwords and Legendsand how awesome today will be.
“We’re here!” Chloe informs me as she peers out the window. I bend over to get a closer look as a building with signs and posters of our favorite show comes into view.
“We made it,” I say with a laugh. “We’re actually here, Chloe.”
She grins at me. “Just wait until you see my costume.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chloe
After entering the large building that’s hosting theSwords and Legendsconvention, Liam and I separate to the bathrooms to change into our costumes. I’m all giddy as I lock myself in a stall and carefully pull out my costume from my bag. I can’t wait for Liam to see it. I worked so hard planning the perfect costume, and I hope I look amazing.
After I get dressed, I leave the stall and stare at myself in the mirror. Oh my gosh! Idolook amazing. Almost identical to Aleriana. She’s famous for her blue and gold armor and matching sword and shield, plus her long white hair with a single braid off the right side of her head. On her head sits a silver and gold circlet with a purple gemstone in the center that holds tremendous power. It’s an heirloom that was passed down to her from her dying mother when she was a little girl. And she wears cool black boots with laces.
Now the hardest part—makeup. Liam’s aunt, Amanda, showed me how to apply the correct makeup for Aleriana, but I’ve never done it before. I look over the notes I wrote down and do the best I can. The results?Spectacular.
