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AnimeCon Harem 4: Out of the Blue
🕑 Added 2017-07-01 22:53:04 +0000 UTCNo. No way, Emily hissed through gritted teeth, glaring hatefully at the cell phone gripped in her trembling hand. It was a struggle not to hurl it at her bedroom wall. No fucking way.
Emily was short, standing five feet tall despite constant claims at being five foot oneand, to her frustration, had a slight frame that seemed scrawny rather than sexy. Even at twenty-three years old, her breasts were still just teacup-sized mounds, too small to form cleavage or even fill her tragic little bra. Her messy hair was worn in a tousled long pixie-cut, dark bangs falling down across her cheek.
On her phones display, an almost unrecognizable girl in a Magical Doll Himari cosplay was exaggerating a cute victory pose. Emily stared long and hard at the bright, chipper-looking young woman in the photo before accepting that it was, actually, in fact... Chloe. It was an admission that wrenched her insides into an angry knot. Chloeyou heinous bitch!
Miss-Anne-Dree:
? at animecon figuring things out!! remember that each and every day is full of blessings!!! love you all!!! ?
#cosplaycutie #excited #imsuchanerd #animecon #magicaldollhimari #relationship
Are you fucking kidding me?!
Emily. Inside voices only, please, her mother called out from the living room. Are you almost ready to head out to work?
Chloes at the convention. Shes at. The fucking. Convention! She wasnt gonna go, because HE would be there. We even made her give back her goddamned badge! Emily fumed, before taking a deep breath and slowly deliberating. Howd she even fucking get there?
But, whatever. There she is... at the convention anyways, somehow. With a new cosplay shes never shown anybody. That shes only posting on her stupid secret account. She tapped on the photo in annoyance, and then pressed and spread her fingertips across the display, enlarging the picture for closer scrutiny.
Emily? her mother asked again. Am I not dropping you off, then? Didnt you trade someone for a morning shift so that you could be off for tonight?
I dont see either of those con badges anywhere on her, Emily observed, slowly lowering her phone and exhaling, trying to contain the fury threatening to bubble out. ...Might mean Brian still has both of them? Maybe he hasnt run afoul of her just yet?
Emily?
Change of plans, Emily declared in a resolute voice, reaching behind herself to untie her pocketed server apron. Mom! I need the car.
Hun I have rehearsals to run all weekend, I couldnt lend you the car even if I wanted towhich, really, I dont. Whats going on with your morning shift?
Im not going. I quit. I quit for real this time, Emily responded. She wasnt the least bit concerned about her jobwith its lousy customers and even lousier tips, shed been looking for an excuse to quit for weeks. She tossed her apron across her unmade bed and untucked her collared work blouse. Something bigs come up.
Emily The rest of her mothers protest went unheard as Emily paced restlessly back and forth amid her messy room, scrolling through the rest of Chloes recent posts.
Magical doll Himari? Really? REALLY? And of course, no one but me knows, Emily realized with a scowl.
Last year at AnimeCon, Emily had, by chance, caught a glimpse of Chloe taking some uncharacteristically... sultry selfie shots. Chloe had been all gussied up in her Hera Victoria cosplay, but shed unbuttoned the dress shirt within her pantsuit to tease an alarming amount of cleavage, pursed her lips into a pout, and even fluttered bedroom eyes at her phone for dozens of pictures. Considering the condescending, prim and proper image Chloe maintained, such un-Chloe-like conduct was utterly baffling. Behavior so blatantly out-of-character that it was sure to make big waves among their community of friends.
Onlynone of those pictures ever seemed to surface anywhere. Everyone seemed none the wiser regarding Chloes apparent lapse in disposition. That snotty girls Nibbler account, Chloe-Ravioli, was just that normal reblogging of radical feminist articles and social activist rhetoric.
Does CHLOE take sexy pictures? Emily... are you high? A few innocuous questions dancing around the issue had revealed that even Brian was still in the dark. None of them had any idea.
After all, who wouldve had the bitter tenacity to carefully browse through thousands of different selfies in the recent Nibbler feeds in search of that familiar Hera Victoria getup? Who could have possibly happened to finally find those pouty shots of Chloe, posted instead under an alias account, Miss-Anne-Dree? There, Emily found a gamut of downright sleazy cosplay and lingerie shots, subtly seductive smiles and attention-grabbing attire that had built Chloe an impressive base of nearly fifty thousand followers.
Although resisting the urge to expose Chloe for an outrageous hypocrite was a challenge, Emilys patience was constantly rewarded with more and more sexual snapshots into this secret slice of Chloes life; more potential ammunition to use against her. What she really hoped was for Chloe to carelessly prove somehow that she was cheating on Brian. Something more than just risque, something decisive enough to really fuck the relationship over for good. Then, Emily could gleefully pile up all the evidence in front of Brian. But, suddenly getting a big ol heads up on what Chloes up to right now? Thats fine, too.
She pulled up Brian on her phone, but then hesitated, her thumb hovering over the call icon. Better not. Hell be able to tell Im upset and I dont know how the hell Im supposed to answer when he asks why. Instead, she tabbed over to their messenger thread. Back in the day, theyd messaged each other almost all the time, but over the recent months, conversation had flagged. His responses had become few and far between, and so Emily had reluctantly stopped bothering him.
Well, this is an emergency, Emily thought, biting her lip. Maybe. Besides, its not weird. I just called him last night. Or maybe that MAKES it weird? Ah, whatever... fuck it.
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: hey brian
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: u up n runnin?
Emily? ...Are you alright? Her mother called over.
Not really? Emily let out a helpless laugh, tossing her phone towards her bedspread and storming out of her room to make her way towards their large, somewhat cluttered living room. The lighting in there was muted and comfy, a flat-screen hung above their fireplace and a long wrap-around couch hugged the corners of the room.
Mom, I have somewhere I really need to be, right away... I really need the car. Her spirit sank once again at the sight of her mother, Mrs. Rivera, sitting cozy on the couch with a book. They shared remarkably similar featuresthe same tiny nose, lips that looked like they were made for trouble, and large, expressive eyes. But, unlike Emilys figure, which could be summed up politely with petite, or little, her mom possessed ample assetsa bust and behind that were the stuff of hopes and dreams. In fact, just how many hopes and dreams are crammed in there?!
Throughout her childhood shed idolized her own beautiful mother... right up until Emily hit puberty. Then she realized that her well-proportioned mother had apparently gotten stingy with passing on all those good genes. Her mom being a stunning, gorgeous woman always made Emily feel that, at best, she would only ever be just a cute knock-off imitation.
It was infuriating. Of course, Mrs. Rivera wasnt just some simple, unassuming housewife who was also unusually, even outrageously good-looking. Shed had a small acting career before settling down to teach, and magazine advertisements shed modelled for in the past were still framed throughout their hallway.
Is this about that boy? her mother asked, and that all-too-familiar knowing smile spread across her lovely face once again.
Very funny, that boy, huh. You dont have a clue what youre talking about, Emily snapped, inexplicably irritable and defensive.
Of course I do, her mother said without looking up from her page, calmly taking a sip from her coffee. Im afraid youve told me everything.
I didnt tell you anything, ever. I never tell you anything. And you dont ever know anything, either! You just act like you do, Emily retorted in vexation. Just like youre not even a real teacheryou just act like oneyoure the drama teacher, for crying out loud.
Its theater department director, not drama teacher, Mrs. Rivera corrected, rolling her eyes. She lowered her book and flashed her daughter a glamorous smile. And the way youre acting has told me everything, lil lady. There is no movement of yours that has not betrayed you! A pace, a glance, a turn of the head, the flash of your throat as you breatheeven your way of standing perfectly stillthese were all my spies! My love, you only ever get this worked up over that boy...
Shouldnt you be preparing for your rehearsals? Emily growled through clenched teeth. Dont you have, like, equipment to check, stuff to prepare, or, uh... things to do? Work?
Well, yeah, I do... but its Saturday morning, hun. And Ive got a good book! her mother pouted. Arent you the one who should be getting ready for work? Didnt you beg and plead with that poor Karen girl to switch you her morning hours? And now, all of the sudden, youre quitting? Whats she going to do now, work both shifts?
Shes, uh, she doesnt claim all of her tips, Emily tried weakly. Bad things were coming her way. Karma. Im just sayin. Puh-leeease can I borrow the car?
Didnt we already have this all planned out? I was going to drop you off at work, and after your shift Rebecca was going to pick you up from there?
Okay, well yeah, I was about to call her, Emily admitted reluctantly. Its just, she works till six. Thats like, the entire day. Itll be too late by then!
What will be too late?
Everything! Emily cried in exasperation, not daring to explain further. Her mom was so perceptive sometimes that it was scary.
...Try calling Rebecca, Mrs. Rivera suggested, shaking her head and returning her attention to her novel.
You dont understand. I need the car, right now. More than Ive ever needed anything in my entire life! Emily stamped her foot in a cute, exaggerated manner.
My, doesnt that sound desperate? Which is exactly why youre going to wait for Rebecca to drive you. That girl has a good head on her shoulders, and shell keep you out of trouble. I mean... as much as anyone ever can.
Emily opened her mouth to angrily retort, but nothing came out. She instead pursed her lips and whirled away, unbuttoning and angrily kicking her way out of her work slacks. Her uniform blouse followed, flung onto the tile of the corridor, and Emily stomped into her room, unconcerned with the trail of discarded clothing she left behind.
Cmon, cmon answer me, Brian. She strode her way through heaps of laundry, piles of comic books, and the discarded packaging from anime figurines to hop up onto her bed so she could check her phone.
There was this sense of urgency she just couldnt shake, as if tiny blue bubbles were insistently working their way up her body towards this growing pressure she felt. This uncomfortable, unsettling feeling of impending crisis, as though her life was rapidly approaching some sort of pivotal turning point. She couldnt even pinpoint what, exactly, was agitating her so much; it wasnt just the Chloe thing that was bothering her. That whole situation just felt like it was forcing her to act before she was ready. But what am I even DOING? Am I going toah, fuck, hes finally replying.
Oberon: Run is done.
Oberon: Whats up?
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: uhhhhh
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: just kinda checkin in on u
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: lol
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: u doin ok?
Oberon: Im not a little kid ya know.
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: yeah well
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: im alloud to worry bout you
Oberon: You definitely are a loud, lol.
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: *allowd
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: geez
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: lol
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: so ur ok?
Oberon: Yep. We are heading back over to the con now.
WE? Him and... Chloe?! Am I already too fucking late? Emily stared at his words, stunned, and felt her blood turn to ice water. She frantically thumbed letters into her digital keypad.
whos we? r u back with chloe
She almost even hit send before realizing how awkward and insensitive it was. Swearing loudly, she hurriedly tapped the backspace key before sending her response.
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: whos we?
Oberon: Didnt I tell you last night?
Oberon: Ive got all these girls with me.
Emily snorted, feeling the frigid tension in her veins start to melt away, and she fell back onto her bed with an exasperated exhalation. Brian, I love your little jokes, but no. Just no. You seriously bout gave me a heart attack this time!
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: yea ok bro
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: have fun
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: have fun
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: me n rebeca will b there
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: soon as we can
Oberon: KK. Call me when youre close so I can meet you guys somewhere.
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: kk
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: thx
? iXi Cerulean iXi ?: bai
Okay. He hasnt run into Chloe. Obviously. Were fine. Were still fine. Lets try Rebecca, now Shady Oaks, Shady Oaks, Emily nervously swiped her way through the contacts in her phone for a moment before finding the correct entry and making a call.
Hello, could I speak to a Rebecca Smith? She works in theOh? Oh, um, okay. Then, if you could leave a message for me? Please tell her that Emily Rivera called, that its an emergency, and... if she could get back to me as soon as possible, Id, uh, Id really appreciate it. Yes, well, thank you. Uh, yeah. Thank you. Bye.
Ugh, if she cant get off work, Im getting nowhere! Emily pitched her phone into her pillow in frustration. ...What the hell did Chloe even mean with hashtag relationship?! Is she there for him, or isnt she? Am I overreacting?
Hope hes doing okay, she thought, beginning to gather up all of her scattered costume bits so she could try everything on again. Until she was satisfied with the way every single piece fit together, the improvements shed made to her cosplay since last year were only theoretical.
Some detached part of her blithely wondered just why she was so anxious, so hung up on this... situation? Whatever this was, this thing that seemed to be looming now over her friend Brian. After all, thats all we are still, right? Good friends? Close friends? Some more of those tiny little bubbles wriggled their way up her entire body towards her brain, where they surfaced in a fizzing blue foam of half-forgotten memories and deeply buried secrets.
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