Power.
Tearing off a piece of paper from my notebook, I scribble a message and pass it to Simon. He reads it and flashes me a smile.
I’ll meet you at the party.
CHAPTER 18
Nell
As Darius promised, Patrick O’Hare arrives in Grenville for a Q&A with Ms. Meadows’s classes. He’s strikingly handsome, with a thicket of blond, surfer-boy hair and a tall, athletic body that—of course—catches the attention of most of the girls in class. Even Ms. Meadows seems a little flustered around him.
“It’s great to finally meet you, Nell,” Patrick tells me, when Darius introduces us before his Q&A. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good, I hope.”
“All the best, and Hawke isn’t one for exaggeration.”
His remark makes me feel good, even with this new weirdness between me and Darius. The two of them seem to have an easygoing, comfortable relationship that is not unlike the friendship Darius has with my father.
After school, Darius and Patrick go to Evergreen College to visit my father. I decline Patrick’s invitation to join them for dinner later, not wanting to intrude on Darius’s reunion with an old friend and knowing I would just feel awkward around the three of them.
On the way home, I stop at Comic Castle. Fern is behind the smooth wooden counter, her short blond hair shimmering and her slender body clad in a Wonder Woman T-shirt. She greets me with a welcoming smile.
“Clover told me about all the experimenting Simon is doing with portrait photography.” She carries a stack of comics around the counter. “That class sounds amazing. What a privilege to learn from Darius Hawke.”
“He’s a great teacher. His friend Patrick O’Hare was also in class today for a Q and A session. They both have some pretty interesting stories to tell about their work.”
“I can imagine.” Fern begins organizing the books on a shelf. “It’s always fascinated me how people create stories. There are people like Darius and Patrick who’ve lived their stories all over the world, and there are others who tell stories without ever leaving their house.”
“I’ve never thought of it like that.”
“The experiences of the storytellers are different, but I think the stories are equally impactful.” She dusts off her hands and straightens. “It’s all about what we connect with, you know?”
I do know.
“Speaking of stories…” I glance toward the other shelves. “I wanted to ask if you would recommend a few graphic novels. I haven’t read as many as I’d like.”
“Of course, I’d love to. Graphic novels are one of my favorite subjects.” She leads the way over to the shelf and takes several books down. “Which ones have you read?”
“Maus, Watchmen, and the Sandman. A lot of the other Neil Gaiman books. That’s pretty much it.”
“I bet you’d really like Nimona.” She hands me a volume. “It’s about a shapeshifter girl who has a particular talent for villainy.”
I leaf through the pages, struck by the precision of the illustrations. “Sounds like someone I could be friends with.”
Fern suggests a few other titles. I settle into one of the cushy chairs by the window to look at the books. The characters and worlds leap from the pages in detail so striking and vivid my chest almost aches.
What must it feel like to create such magic and then send it off into the world? They’re like sorcerers, these writers and artists, creating lives brimming over with love, hate, war, peace, and everything in between.
And though the writers and artists may have had interesting, adventurous lives, they didn’t have to experience everything they’d written about. They could just let their minds and imaginations take the reins.
After helping a customer, Fern comes to sit in the chair across from me. We spend the next hour talking about the graphic novels—both the stories and the artists.
“So tell me about Winsome Swift.” Fern places an X-Men novel on the table and sits back to look at me.
I’m so surprised by her request that it takes me a second to recall that I’d told her about my character. She’d remembered.
“You said she’s an OC.” Fern rests her elbows on her knees, her expression intent and curious. “Is she magical or human?”
“Human at first, but then she discovers her power.” I rub the seam of my jeans. “I’m still working on her backstory. I’ve mostly just done a lot of drawings of her.”
“Bring them with you the next time you come over. I’d like to see them, if you’re comfortable with it. No pressure, of course.”
Though I’m not sure how I feel about it—only Ms. Meadows has seen my Winsome Swift drawings because I’ve included them in classwork—I find myself nodding. “I’ll bring a few. Thanks for asking.”
Fern smiles. “If you don’t mind me asking, do you have job?”
“No.”
“Would you be interested in working here?”
I blink. “You’re offering me a job?”
“Just part-time, after school and maybe some weekends.” She waves toward the register. “Clover helps out sometimes, of course, but we could use an extra hand, especially when we get new shipments in. We also get a lot of college student traffic from Dream Bean in the late afternoon, and I’m expecting the holidays to be busy. I’d like to hire and train someone before Thanksgiving to prepare for the rush.”
I rise to put my cup in the recycling bin. My heartbeat suddenly kicks up a notch as I realize that I would enjoy coming here after school a couple of times a week. It’s a lovely place—warm lighting, hardwood floors, all the bright, glossy covers and posters—but more than that, there’s a calmness here. One I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced.
I like Fern a lot too. Just being near her would be a welcome refuge from both my father’s expectations and plans, and Darius’s…complications.
It would also be another thing I’d have to navigate. My father would probably suggest I get a job at the library instead of a comic book store. I suddenly can’t stand the idea of him saying anything negative about Comic Castle, or even knowing about it. I want to keep this place a secret.
“I’m sorry.” I pick up my book bag and sling it over my shoulder, avoiding her gaze. “I have…um, I need to get home after school to help out my father and stuff, so I really appreciate the offer, but I have to say no.”
“I understand.” She walks with me to the door.
“Thanks again.” I pull the door open.
“Nell.” She gives me a faint, worried smile. “I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you befriending Clover. She’s quite shy to begin with, and…well, her father and I didn’t have a great marriage, but she’s had a rough time with the divorce and then the move. Anyway, she could use a friend.”
I nod, not sure how to respond. I hadn’t realized I was befriending Clover.
“If anything changes with regard to your job situation, please let me know.” Fern starts back to the front counter. “My offer stands.”