As I walked in, I couldn't help but get distracted by the wonderful chaos. The costumes and bustle and colored noise. I went to walk off, eyes wide and heart swollen too big for my chest to really contain it, but I was stopped by my boyfriend pulling on my hip, tugging me back to his side. The want to disappear into the Wonderland slipped to 5e back of my mind as my body filled with irritation. My boyfriend. Ugh. He was dressed up with his friends as the beetles. He was Paul and I was... a side hoe I guess. I don't even know. His friend Michael, dressed as John Lennon, winked at a girl and she rolled her eyes, disgusted. Good for her.

I hated this. Him touching me and dragging men around, not paying attention to me but broadcasting me in my uncomfortably sexy clothing he'd picked out for me. It was strange. thought that I loved him. I mean, I knew I had. Once. But I'd come to see that in the end, he was an arse. A complete and total douche bag.

He leaned close, wanting my constant attention on him. "Come along little darling," he cooed in a low voice. "Go get us some food?" He asked sexily. I looked over to see him winking at a passing girl. I scoffed and snatched the money out of his hand. I don't even think there was food at comicon, but how would I know? I'd never gone before.

He and his friends wolf whistled as I left. I covered my chest with folded arms and stormed off. Luckily for me he would be occupied and wouldn't miss me. I looked for a bathroom and slipped in, changing out of my "costume" (were the beetles even comicon characters?) and pulling on my jeans and t-shirt which had been tucked in my bag for the second when we'd left. But nope. I didn't want to be in it a single second longer.

Leaving the bathroom, I let my mind wander. For the last week, I'd been dating the monster that I'd been dating because I was holding out for the Comicon tickets. I felt kinda bad using him... but hey. He'd used me for much worse so I didn't really feel bad.

Without meaning to, I found him and his friends again. My heart stopped to see him at ease, smiling and relaxed with that dazzling smile that had long ago won me over. His hands were at rest and he was still and loose. Relaxed. My body yearned for him like this. When he was himself and fun and easy to be around. When he was calm and not under pressure and was all up to make me laugh and kiss me innocently and tickle me and cuddle and...

And then I saw the other girl.

She was blushing and grinning, her body moving in a flirty way as she leaned towards him, listening far too intently to be only casually interested as he talked about whatever. The way those warm eyes of his locked on her, stealing looks at her body when she blinked or looked down or pretended to be coy and shy. The scene was like deja vu, watching our first interaction through the eyes of a third party person. It was insane to see things that I would have missed, over taken by his beauty and voice and charisma and proximity and attention. Things this girl was missing.

The worst part is that I wasn't even sad. Or shocked. I was r depressed or angry or agonized. I felt... nothing, other than a pang of pity for the girl.

He must have felt my eyes because he looked up and our gazes locked. He looked ready to rush and defend himself to me, but then he saw my complete inner peace and he dropped the act, showing me his true apathetic person. His face went blank and he seemed to say, 'Well. Act's up.'

Nodding, I simply confirmed. 'Yup. Goodbye.' He nodded back in a farewell and then turned back to the girl, coming alive again. I shook my head and turned, leaving the group. I had no wanting to go over there and it wasn't until it was too late that I even thought to seek out and warn the girl.

Just like that, I was single and completely uninterested and unmotivated to look around the rest of comicon. So I left.

Despite everything, I left with a heavy heart. It'd been ruined for me since he was there, despite having always wanted to go. One day I'd go with my own money and no guy and have a grand old time. I unlocked the car and pulled out my guitar in its case from the trunk.

Going across the street from comicon, I sat on the pavement and started strumming, leaning my case open for change. Usually no one left anything but I didn't mind. I didn't come for the money. Though, it was helpful.

"Love, love love."

I wanted love out of life...

For a second, I couldn't breathe. But then I closed my eyes and collected all the images of him and me and us, pinning them up on an imaginary wall. As a final step of letting go, I looked at all those images, remembering all those moments. And then I set fire to the wall. I watched the pictures curl and burn and blacken until they were nothing.

And then it was over.

Opening my eyes, reenergized, I managed a soft smile. I breathed deeply and began.

"Nothing you can do that can't be done. Nothing you can sing that can't be sung. Nothing you can say that you can learn how to play the game- It's easy! No one you can save that can't be saved. Nothing you can do but you can be you in time- It's easy."

Genuinely grinning, I let it all go and just went all out. I would find love one day. I WANTED love one day. Real love. No settling. No breaking my back when I was getting nothing in return. I was going to find it too. An it would be painted in brilliant colors.

"All you need is love! All you need is love! All you need is love, love - Love is all you need. All you need is love! All you need is love! All you need is love, love, love is all you all need... Nothing you can know that isn't known. Nothing you can see that isn't shown. No where you can be that isn't where you're meant to be- It's easy. All you need is love. All you need is love. All you need is love, love. Love is all you need..."

There was light laughter and tapping of feet as a little crowd joined from those coming in and out of comicon and the random passerby's. It made me smile even wider.

"All you need is love. All you need is love. All you need is love love. Love is all you need.
Love is all you need! Love is all you need...."

I let the last note go for a while, strumming it slowly. There a few claps and a few coins that fell in my case, but I didn't look up. I wanted to absorb just a few more seconds of the blissful warmth inside of me. I closed my eyes, feeling the breeze and sunshine and music. The wonderful music. I sighed through my nose, Sure the crowd had dispersed by now and setting up to start a new song.

A voice interrupted me. "Is love really all you need?" Someone asked.

Still holding onto the peace and happiness, I just shrugged. "I like to think so. If the Beetles said it, why not?" I asked nonchalantly.

When he spoke again, I mentally noted it was a man."Big fan of the beetles then?" He asked. British, like me. The voice was weirdly familiar, but I didn't recognize it completely. It was probably just one of those voices. There was no way I would recognize a random voice. Why would I? All my 'friends' were inside with my ex boyfriend.

Tilting my head back, I tried to look up at the speaker, but the sun was in my eyes so I looked back down, blinking the white spots from my visions. "Ginormous. They inspired me to sing. I sing their songs like people pray at church," I continued, chuckling.

He chuckled too. "Pretty solid, then?" He asked. I shrugged. "Have a favorite?"

Trying not to look overly aware of the question, I nodded, focusing on tuning my guitar a little more. "Paul."

"Really?" The voice sounded humored. "Why's that?"

My hands froze, stiffening. "Uh." I blushed. "If I wasn't so passionately making big bucks on the side of the street I'd be acting..."

The attempt at stalling and being vague and random didn't pass. I shrugged, trying to end it there but he pushed further. "Which pertains to this because...?" He asked, growing more humored.

Speaking slowly, I tilted my head down to try and keep my blush out of view as I plucked a few strings as a distraction. It felt weird not to be able to look at him. Not be able to see him, when he could so easily see so much of me. "One of my favorite movies, Nowhere Boy. Uh, my favorite actor played Paul. He's my inspiration for acting like his part is my inspiration for singing." I cleared my throat, self conscious. "Cheesy. I know."

He paused only a second. "I find it quite amazing actually. Ever met this actor of yours?" He asked, sounding yet even more amused.

A frown etched into my face and my movements slowed. He was supposed to come to comicon. He was probably inside, smiling and greeting fans, being caught and taking pictures and signing while I sat out here and talked to a stranger I couldn't see and played about love I yearned hopelessly for. "No. Probably never will." I barely shrugged, feeling uncomfortable but not being able to rationally explain why. Being a fan girl was weird.

"You sure bout that?" He asked.

He squatted down. Irritated, I looked over. "Well obviou-" I froze, my mouth open. "Th-tho-" I stopped talking.

Thomas Sangster stood there, leaning against the pole in his squat, an extremely amused look on his face. I blushed profusely. I'd been ranting about how amazing I thought he was... to him. "I've been shucked and gone to hell," I whispered.

Thomas let out a bursting laugh. "So you're a Maze Runner fan too?"

Tilting my head, I found I was in a bit of shock. "I'm a Thomas-Sangster-movie fan," I blurted honestly.

Looking over, his amusement turned to a teasing. Almost... flirting. "Really?"

Well, I'd said it. No point being a dork and melting in front of him. Squaring my shoulders, I nodded. "Yeah. I've seen all your movies. And shows," I added. "And a few shorts." I chuckled sheepishly, raising my hand from my guitar to rub the back of my neck. "I practiced parts and perfected them. That's how I learned to act. I used Shakespeare and got better." Seeing his face, I blushed. "I- I'm going to stop talking."

Practically glowing with his wide grin, he laughed. "Please don't. Maybe we can talk about something other than me, but please. Keep talking." My eyes flickered to the side, caught off guard by his obvious flirting. I couldn't look away for long though and when I looked back, I couldn't help bu think his eyes took hold of mine, airing for them to return and keeping them there once they did. "How well CAN you act? I've seen you sing. Extraordinarily well."

My eyes widened at the wonderful compliment. "Now I'm blushing red as a tomato," I croaked. "Thanks."

He nodded. "No problem."

It got quiet and I recalled his question before the minor distraction. "I don't think I can act as well as you can. For sure."

Nose scrunched, he waved his hand. "I don't believe it! Not till I see it!"

Brushing away the obvious invitation, I laughed and changed the subject. "Weren't you at comicon? I'm guessing?"

Nodding, he confirmed with a brief, "Yes."

My eyes flicked around to the lack of people around us and then my head when I looked back. "Are you here alone?"

He tilted his head too, mimicking me. "No."

Pressing my lips together, I paused a second. "Why don't you return to the fun? Little ol' me on the corner of the street strumming sappy love songs and singing so so and being complimented by my hero. I don't think I'm enough to keep you away from the fantastical chaos awaiting you." I looked closely at him. "Why aren't you with your other cast members?"

"They came too," he said simply. I froze, resisting the urge to swivel my head, scanning again for them. "They'll only come out if you sing again. They want to hear you sing. Maybe act." He shrugged, pushing out his bottom lip like the option was no big deal.

My jaw dropped. He smiled goofily at my expression. I shook my head and looked down at my guitar. "Um. O-okay. Sure. Why n-not."

He leaned close. "Don't be too nervous. We're just like everybody else," he said quietly. I looked up and saw his deflated expression. He liked the attention, obviously, but he was just a boy, looking for entertainment with his friends from a girl who he liked to hear sing.

He properly sat down, copying My Indian style crossed legs. I took a deep breath and stared at him. "Any requests?"

Intrigued by my suddenly composed expression, he relaxed. "Anything by the beetles," he offered, smirking. I nodded, smiling. Then I began.

"I tell you something I think you'll understand. When I say that something I wanna hold your hand. I wanna hold your hand! I wanna hold your hand!"

My eyes found his and I smirked, finally flirting back as I grinned, continuing.

"Oh please, say to me and let me be your man. And please say to me you'll let me hold your hand. I wanna hold your hand! And when I touch you I feel happy inside. It's such a feeling that my love, I can't hide! I can't hide! I can't hide..."

Really rocking out, I watched his face redden a bit and got lost in his awed expression. Wide brown eyes and light skin. His hair, which was longer and messy. My confidence really hit as I watched him watch me and it translated in play performance, making it louder and more energetic and warmer. More welcoming. It pulled him in.

"Yeah you. You got that something I think you'll understand. When I say that something, I wanna hold your hand. I wanna hold your hand! I wanna hold your hand. And when I touch you, I feel happy inside. It's such a feeling that my love, I can't hide. I can't hide! I can't hide! Yeah you, you got that something. I think you'll understand. When I feel that something, I wanna hold your hand. I wanna hold your hand! I wanna hold your hand!"

My voice lowered and I held his eyes as my grin turned to a smirk. "I wanna hold your hand..."

When I realized I was warmer, I also realized I'd totally rocked out, playing the fast beat and loudly singing, swaying and bouncing my leg, getting a little groovy with the notes. I heard laughter after I played the last few notes, looking away from Thomas and playing hard on my guitar as I hit them with my "rock and roll" attitude.

Looking up again, I found his eyes. But this time they weren't on me. I followed his gaze, taking in the new faces one at a time. Dylan O'Brien. Ki Hong Lee. Kaya Scoldelario. Rosa Salazar. Will Poulter. I stared, awe struck. "No. Shucking. Way," I whispered.

The cast laughed lightly. "Is she going to ask us to sign something now? Scream? Jump around?" Will seemed to be trying to make a joke, but I saw the uneasiness.

Pulling back that ease and using Thomas' reminder of his humanity and normalcy, I scoffed. "Why would I?" I asked, though that's what I wanted to do ever so badly.

Dylan looked at me, confused "Because we're-oh! I see what you did there." He looked at me, appreciating, but we kept the mood light and just laughed, keeping it as easy as possible for me.

Quiet fell and my eyes wandered back to Thomas. "So..." I drawled.

As I looked at him, he stepped forward as we both properly stood to our feet. "Can you act? Because I wasn't sure, the way you were beating around the bush earlier." Thomas brought the topic around again, hopeful.

Clearing my throat, I shrugged. "We can find out," I relented.

"Well you can definitely sing," Dylan added complimentarily.

Grinning, I turned to look at him. "Thank you!"

He nodded, moving closer. His feet held more humor, despite his heavily flirty words. "No problem. Stating truth is easy. You can sing. You're beautiful. Rolls right off the tongue."

Before I could sass back, Thomas jumped in. "Yes. Truth. She's single and talented. You're flirty and have a girlfriend."

An 'ooh!' echoed through the group as I stole a glance at Thomas, putting my guitar away and grabbing my case. He had sounded defensive and grumpy when he'd said it, even though he'd been forcing a joking tone. He looked at me, reining innocence. I quirked an eyebrow. "Uh... acting. Right. Follow me, I have just the place." Everyone quieted down and a few nodded.

We walked a few buildings down to the studio. It was an open studio with a few rooms for anyone to use at any time. They followed me, blind. Not many people knew about it, but I did. I motioned them inside and thy all followed me. I peeked into the room I always used and pumped my arm, excited it was empty. "What?" Thomas asked, liking my excited expression as he spoke from close by my side.

"It's free! Sometimes it isn't, especially when people are busy around here, like today. Hurry, inside!" Everyone went in and took a seat at the ten or so chairs in front of the small stage. I went on stage, thinking of what to do. As I turned around, I came face to face with Thomas. "Well hi," I greeted quietly.

He smiled. "Hello. Not fair if I make you act alone on your first time among those you wish to impress. It's always easier with people..."

Thankful, I nodded. "Have a scene idea or do you want to improv?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Eyes light up in interest, He leaned on one foot. "You can improvise too?" He asked, impressed.

Proud, I stood taller. "I can do a lot of things."

He leaned closer and I was aware of his proximity. "Shakespeare?"

My nose scrunched. "No," I sighed, shaking my hands. "Something else." I thought a second then smiled evilly. "Remember anything from Some Digs Bite?" I asked.

He grimaced. "Uh... A bit."

"What scenes do you remember I asked?" I saw him wince. "Honestly," I added.

He was searching for words, his face scrunched as he thought. "I remember bits and pieces here and there..." He offered, smiling sheepishly.

Amused, I shook my head. "Okay, so no. Do you remember any poems?" I asked.

He shot me a look. "Yeah. Loads... Of monologues," he finished.

I hummed. "Me too..." I touched my chin. Then an idea hit me. "Why don't I just do a monologue? We can improv after. Just you and me." I tried, tilting my body a bit.

He nodded. "Okay. It was just an offer. I'd prefer to see you act the first time anyway." He jumped down from the stage and sat in the first row, right in front of me. The stage was low an not grand in any way, but he had to sit all the way back to see me completely without looking up at all. Even then, his eyes were level with my stomach. He looked up a little to my face and smiled, encouraging me to continue.

Taking in a deep breath, I jumped into thing that came to my head. A poem.

"It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea. That a maiden there lived whom you may know by the name of Annabelle Lee. This maiden she lived with no other thought than to love and be loved by me.

"She was young and I was young in this kingdom by the sea, but we loved with a love that was more than love, I and my Annabelle Lee. With a love that the wingéd seraphs of Heaven coveted her and me.

"This is the reason, long ago in a kingdom by the sea, a wind blew out of a cloud by night, chilling my Annabelle Lee. So her highborn kinsmen came and bore her away from me and shut her in a sepulcher in the kingdom by the sea.

"The Angels, not so happy in heaven, went to envying her and me. And this is why (as all men know in the kingdom by the sea), a wind came out of a cloud, chilling and killing my Annabelle Lee.

"But our love was stronger by far than the love of those older than we- of many far wider than we. And neither the Angels in heaven above r the demons down under the sea could ever dissever my soul from the soul of the beautiful Annabelle Lee.

"For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams of the beautiful Annabelle Lee;
And the stars never rise but I see the bright eyes of the beautiful Annabelle Lee; And so, all the nighttide, I lie down by the side of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride. In her sepulcher there by the sea- In her tomb by the side of the sea."

A second of silence. Then applause erupted in the small room and I jumped a little, having lost myself in the words and the reactions to it. Startled, having forgotten they were there, I looked out at the cast and rose my hand to wave shyly.

Thomas jumped onto the stage and wrapped me in a hug. My eyes bugged out. "That was amazing!" He whispered.

He pulled back and I tried to relax, trying to ignore the tingling in my body, and I also tried to play it cool. "Ah, it was nothing. Just a poem I took days to memorize and then more days to recite just right..." I scratched the back of my neck and looked more and more away, slowly, as I said it.

He laughed. "That's what I do before every audition, before every rehearsal, before and after every shoot. I practice like mad and then stress about it forever." I laughed with him this time.

My attention was pulled by movement. "You should hang out with us more often!" Kaya gushed, coming up and looking excited. "It would be nice to have another girl - we only have, like, two. Except when Brit comes. Or Ki Hong's wife. But that's not often." Kaya sighed, looking at Rosa.

Heart racing, I knew I was about to be overwhelmed. "Oh my gosh," I whispered.

She looked up, suddenly realizing I was freaking out. She smiled, seemingly like she didn't mind, which was new. Maybe I'd kept cooler than she expected. But I had to keep keeping cool.

Keep cool. Keep cool. "That's really fun! I'd love to do that." I nodded, trying to not bob my head too long or too fast.

"Are you going back to comicon?" Rosa asked as my attention moved to her.

Deflating, I frowned. "No," I responded, my vigor gone.

Confusion took her face. "Why-"

Feeling ya hand tighten on his arm, Thomas jumped in to save me. "You should come back and hang out with us. We have, like, a ton of time," He offered. "It would be fun. You'd get to be back stage and hang out. I think that Wes would LOVE you." Everyone nodded in agreement.

I was just glad I hadn't had to answer Rosa's question. I didn't want to think about him. About my ex. Ugh. "Well, okay." I shrugged. "I'd love that." And oh how I would.

"How old are you?" Dylan asked me suddenly. "You look really young, like fifteen or so. Shouldn't you be in school?" He continued, just now genuinely realizing.

My face twisted as I sighed, glaring. "I'm 24," I told him bitterly. "I graduated a while ago."

Thomas's arm, now around ya shoulders, tensed and I looked over. "Blood hell, I get that all the time!" He leaned back a little as his shoulder sagged. "It's so irritating! I can't tell if it's supposed to be a compliment, but, no one respects people who are younger. I can't get a drink ANYWHERE without people questioning me."

My eyes widened. FINALLY! Someone who got it! "I know!" I gushed. Rosa nodded toward the door and we started walking out as we talked, cracking jokes and laughing.

When we got to my car, Thomas moved to follow me. "Are you going with her then?" Dylan called.

"Yeah!" Thomas called back. "She doesn't know where to go. It'll be easier this way!"

Dylan nodded, smiling knowingly, and they all piled in his car. Thomas and I slipped in mine after I put my guitar in the trunk and we were off.

Man. I was so freaking out.