Chapter 1

My name is Xavier and I am a nerd. I also happen to be in an electric wheelchair. I am a light-skinned Mexican who is a little heavy due to my constant sitting. I wont get into what I have, all ill say is that everything is hard for me to do. I can't lift more than 5 pounds without straining myself nor can I stand. Long story short I have very limited motion, but that does not mean I don't like to go out. And this weekend is my favorite part of summer, Comic-Con San Diego. I go all out meeting up with my friends to put together money for entire weekend tickets and a suite at a nearby hotel. This year happens to be a very special year, where I meet a wonderful girl by the name of Alexis. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

My friends and I decide to meet up at the hotel lobby the night before so we can check in all together. I arrive first as I lean back in my chair waiting on everyone else. The second to arrive is my Pilipino friend Thao. He is the major gamer and anime fanatic of our group. He is usually the one to find and recommend animes that we should watch. 20 minutes later our friend Paul arrives. He is a white guy that always has a stupid look on his face. He is the official jokester of the group. As we are exchanging our usual greeting between the three of us, Jorge and his girlfriend Adriana arrive behind us. Jorge is the pessimistic rock Mexican kid among us. He is as tall as Paul and Thao, at about 5'8, but is a very skinny guy. He and I are share the same taste in music such as Metallica, Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, etc. His girlfriend is a geeky girl that he has been dating for awhile. She gets along with all of us pretty well, being able to throw back puns and insults as well as the best of us. We check in making sure we all have one key and two spares. When we get off of the elevator on the twelfth floor, our room is about 20 steps down the hall.

Thao opens the door to the amazing 4 room suite. We all gawk in awe as we explore. The doors open to a decent sized common area with 2 sofas, a single chair, and a decent sized flat screen tv. To the left is a small kitchen area with a fridge, oven, microwave, and a small table. To the right is a hallway with 4 doors. There are 2 rooms to the left and 2 to the right.

Jorge and Adriana claim the room further down the left and Paul takes the room directly to the left. I knew exactly which room was mine when we took our mini tour. It was the room on the back right that featured an automatic lift built into the room. As you can imagine with my weak mobility, I usually need someone to transfer me from my chair to the bed and/or to the shower and toilet. However, this particular hotel is the only one that features this lift which is exactly why we booked this room. It is very handy as it is an electric lift that I could use a remote to lift me from my chair into the bed. There is also one in the bathroom to move me onto the toilet and shower.

Finally, Thao takes the last room remaining, the one to the right of mine.

After I take the time to put away my closes in the drawers provided under the tv in my room, I open the curtains to my window. I am able to see out into the city as the sun is setting and the lights begin to illuminate a better part of the area. "Wow, too bad I don't have anyone to share this view with" I said to myself.

We all hang out in the room for the evening, as we rest to be prepared to arrive to the convention center early in the morning. As it happens there is a Vons directly connected to the bottom floor of the hotel. Paul, Thao, and I head down to buy supplies for the room, such as alcohol, sodas, snacks, and more.

As we enter back into our suite we find Jorge and Adriana making out on the couch for everyone to see. Paul is the first to yell, "Awe come on man, can't you take it to your room?!".

"Shut up, we aren't hurting anyone!" yells Jorge.

"Yea, not yet at least"! follows Adriana as she smiles mischievously.

"We better not be able to hear you two tonight", states Thao as we start to put away our supplies into the refrigerator.

After a while of sitting around and watching tv we order a pizza for dinner and start setting up our individual Xbox ones in our rooms. We spend a few hours playing together, yelling at each other from our rooms so we could hear each other. I was worried that there would be complaints for the noise. But no one came knocking on our door to tell us to quiet down.

I look at the clock and notice it is 11pm. I yell to the others, "Alright guys, we better get to bed if we want to wake up early enough to get in before noon. Don't forget how bad the lines were last year."

"Yea alright"

"For sure"

"Goodnight, BITCHES!!!"

I couldn't distinguish who said what but I got the idea. I set the alarm of my clock for 6am so that I have enough time to get ready. Using the handy built in electric lift, I get into bed.

I sleep pretty well, but this was definitely not as soft as my bed at home. I woke up and looked over at the clock to see that it was only 5:47. I decide to get up and shower. I began to dress when I hear quiet rustling out in the common area. After putting some dark pants, dress shoes and a white collared long sleeved shirt I went out to see who was up.

Thao happen to be in the kitchen rummaging through the fridge with Paul already sitting at the table eating a pop tart quietly.

"How'd you guys sleep?" I asked

"Not bad", Thao replied.

Paul took a little longer to answer, until he looked at me and said, "I heard things man, terrible things!" Thao and I chuckled. "That's what you get for choosing the room next to Jorge" Thao said.

At this point Jorge walked out of his room in pj pants and a white t-shirt. "Sup", he said sleepily. Paul pointed at him with conviction, "You are a horrible person!"

"What? I can't help it if we are loud", Jorge replied.

After a little more discussion between Paul and Jorge, Adriana joined us and we all had breakfast in the living room.

At 6:30 Thao said, "We should probably get ready to leave soon". We all agreed and went back to our rooms to get ready.

I had planned for months to dress up as "Soul" from the anime Soul Eater. So I dressed in his iconic pin striped suit and gelled my hair to one side. I came out to see Thao dressed as, Professor Ozpin from RWBY. Paul came out dressed in regular clothes as he scoffed at us, "You guys are actually dressing up, what a bunch of fukin mooks!"

"Of course, that's the whole point. To dress up as our favorite character!" I yelled

"Nooooooo, the point is to go see OTHER people dress up, such as women with huge ass tatas", he argued.

It was at this point that Jorge and Adriana walked out of their room in their costumes which I didn't recognize.

"Who are you supposed to be", Paul asked Jorge

"Well I'm-" Jorge was replying as I interrupted. "Alright we need to leave now if we want to beat the crowds"!

They all agreed as we checked to make sure we all had keys, phones, wallets/purse just in case we get separated. We all walk a couple blocks down to the convention center. It took us maybe 5 minutes to get to the street it was on.

At that point is was about 7:50 am. We saw a few big groups of people heading in the same direction as us, some wore conspicuous costumes, while a handful of others went all out in their costumes.

As we approached the enormous convention center, that was more than a few city blocks long, we headed to the elevator so that we could reach the entrance. It didn't take us too much longer to enter. We were one of the first ones in the door, thanks to the whole sympathy people have for people in wheelchairs.

I stopped for a few seconds to smile and let my excitement overtake me as I realized how much fun I planned on having for the next 4 days. We wandered in and out of aisles admiring people's costumes, and the different booths displayed. We all made sure to grab a map and schedule for events so that we didn't miss anything good. It was decided after a few minutes that we would split up until the first event we wanted to see together. We planned to meet up in an hour and a half as Jorge, Adriana, and Paul went one way further into another room. While Thao and I made sure to look at every booth near the entrance.

We could tell how much time was passing by how many more people began to flood into the entrance area. Before it got too hectic we quietly headed in the same directions as the others.

I looked at the map of booths and noticed a small one that was solely dedicated to soul eater merchandise. Being a somewhat quiet follower I was easily able to talk Thao into heading in that direction. We stopped at a few booths on the way that had different manga and comic themes. It took us a little while longer as the booth I was looking for was further in the middle of the convention center, but we got there none the less.

I was so excited as I started seeing different people dressed up as different characters from the series. One guy was dressed really well as Lord Death, a few black star guys, one girl dressed as Tsubaki, two girls who I assume were supposed to be Liz and Patty but their hair was black. Among all these people there were two girls who I instantly recognized as Maka. One was pretty wide (if you know what I'm saying) and looked nothing like her except for the clothes, but the other Maka is the one that completely focused my attention.

This girl was about 5'5, with a wig on similar to Maka's hair color and style, and wearing the full outfit perfectly. In fact, I'm positive that she filled out that top a LOT more than the original character did in the series. She was beautiful in every way possible, that I could think of. She had curves that could make a grown man cry, perfectly soft light brown skin, and a face of an angel.

"You just gonna sit and stare?" asked Thao, snapping me out of the daze she put me in.

"Nah man, I wouldn't even know what to say" I said with a hint of sadness. I didn't have the best track record with women. They always seemed to put me into the "friend zone", leaving me there to rot. At the ripe age of 22 I can honestly say that I am still a virgin. These experiences molded me into a guy who is scared of rejection, so I don't even try to make connections with women anymore.

Thao knew how I felt, seeing as I always went to him to complain about being perpetually single. "Dude, if you don't even try, you will never find that one girl who will take you seriously man", Thao stated in a low and serious voice.

"Damn man ... You should put that on a fortune cookie" I joked, mostly trying to change the subject.

He didn't laugh, he just stared at me for the longest time. It finally got to me after a minute, "Alright, alright. Ill go talk to her".

I slowly pushed my joystick forward as I made my way up behind her. I saw that she was inspecting different soul eater collectable figurines. I finally came up to the right of her and inconspicuously started looking at figures next to her. I look over and say "A sound soul, dwells within a sound mind and a sound body". She chuckles as she notices who I am dressed up as.

"That's pretty good", she says.

"You have got to be the best looking Maka here" I say with fake confidence

"Thank you, I love the outfit that you chose for soul. Its different" she says and gives me a heart melting smile.

"Soooooooo, is this your first time here?" I ask awkwardly

"Yea, me and my friend Jess finally saved enough money throughout the year to come down for the whole weekend. We have been wanting to do this for years, just never had the funds to come." She explained in a cute ditzy enthusiasm.

I sat there smiling for a while, completely paralyzed not knowing what to say. I'm sure I freaked her out. Luckily my guardian angel came to my rescue.

"Hey Xavier, the event for the next Star Wars movie is gonna start soon." Thao said trying to snap me out of my state.

"Uhhhh, yea right. Ummmmm, we should ... get going then." I said stumbling over every other word.

Maka (since I still haven't gotten her real name) started hopping up and down, "OHhhhhh, I want to see Star Wars stuff! Jess lets go see Star Wars!!!"

A cute Asian girl dressed as tsubaki turned and said, "Fine, but I get to choose the next event". I looked up at Thao and saw a slight twinkle in his eyes as he inspected the new arrival.

"Uhh, well ... if you want to join us you could probably get really good seats, the whole wheelchair thing has its perks." I said regaining my composure.

"Oh really? That would be great". Maka said.

We all headed in the same direction together with the girls leading the way and me and Thao following close behind.

"What the hell do I talk about", I yell frantically in a quiet whisper.

"I don't fuckin know, you gotta figure it out." Thao replied in a similar tone

I make a point to drive up next to Maka and say, "You know, I feel pretty stupid asking, but I never got your name."

"Oh, I'm Alexis." She said with the same beautiful smile as before.

"Its nice to meet you, Alexis" I say returning a huge smile of my own. I come to the conclusion if I think too much on "what" I'm supposed to say then I will never get to say anything at all, so I silently strengthen my resolve to be a normal guy talking to a normal girl.

I am able to loosen up around Alexis, making jokes and exchanging personal information as we make our way to the room the event is being held. I make sure to look back a few minutes seeing Thao warm up to Jess in the same fashion as Alexis and I.

As we approached the room a group of young Asian girls, with their parents behind them, yelled, "Oh my God! You two are soooooo cute"

"You two look exactly like them!"

"Can we get a picture of both of you!" yelled one girl.

Alexis looked at me with a questioning look to see if I was alright with it. I shake my head, "Yea sure". I raise my chair so that I am closer in height to Alexis as we get closer together. A few girls pull out their phones as the parents use the cameras around their necks to shoot a few photos. I can feel blood rushing to my face due to the close proximity of this beauty I had been admiring since we met.

As the flashing of cameras began to die down the group of girls begin to move on satisfied with the pictures they took. Before they are out of earshot range I hear one girl yell, "You two are such a cute couple!"

Alexis and I look at each other and laugh. We continue are journey to the event and finally enter the door. Just to the left Thao and I see Jorge, Adriana and Paul already sitting kind of in the back middle. They head our way when they spot us and we head forward as we bump into a couple of employees coordinating the event. They ask me, "How many do you have with you?"

"Six" I reply

"Oh, well I'm sorry but there are only enough for you and one other person in the front." I look over worried that Alexis and I would be separated. Somehow she seems to understand my look as she turns to Jess and says, "We can meet up right after its over, okay?"

Jess replies in a kind of mopey tone, "Yea okay".

My face lights up as it is unspokenly agreed that Alexis would go with me to the front. I make sure to tell Jess, "Don't worry, Thao will stay with you for protection" as I wink at him conspicuously. Her and Thao both laugh nervously as they head off with the others to find seats. I take the time to look at Alexis as say with more confidence than I was expecting, "Shall we?" and out of nowhere I put my hand out to her. I'm not exactly sure what I was thinking but I figured it was too late to back out now, thinking she would awkwardly ignore my gesture. But what surprises me to no end, is that she smiles and intertwines her fingers with mine as we make our way to the front.

We find a spot for me to park and her to sit right next to me. During the event I was quite distracted by the beautiful thing next to me. Every now and then she would poke me or grab my hand to play with my fingers. I can't say that I really know what was going on or who was speaking and whatnot. What I was sure of was that we could not take our hands off of each other.

The event ends and the audience begins to make their way through the set of doors back to the main convention center. Alexis and I stay until the most of the crowd left. "So, why don't we go and get lunch together?" I ask with no trouble at all.

"Sounds good. I can't leave Jess behind though" she says

"Yea of course. Anything in particular you want to eat"? I ask

"It doesn't matter to me" she replies. She stares right into my eyes almost as if staring right into my soul. I hold her gaze and try to keep myself from smiling like a dork. Most the audience had left the room when I said the words leading to the best weekend to my life, "So do you want a ride"?