Rain pounded the large windows of the average sized loft apartment. Of course she should have been at work writing her next novel chapter. Yet here she was , snuggled up on her white leather couch, tablet and note books scattered on the floor. Swiping left or right on tinder. It had been ages since she’d sought out companionship from anyone. A handful of close friends had invited her out. Yet she wanted to just snuggle her flease blanket and sip hot coco and do nothing.

That is until a Comic-Con pic of a girl cosplaying “cat woman/ Selena Kyle ” caught her attention. Of course the outfit wasn’t to revealing but she was sure it had men and woman on the app drooling all the same. The tight suit looked almost painted onto her body how well it accented every curve. And oh joy did those curves work for her. Twenty eight years old, same city, blonde haired bombshell of a woman, who was probably straight. Noel sighed, tossing her phone down as it swiped right out of pure spite to her “no!” She gasped and quickly tried to undo it.

This girl would hardly even know she’d existed. Much like most of the girls she’d crushed on through college. This art girl wouldn’t be any different. So with a yawn she forgot about it. A message alert called her attention elsewhere. “Maggie bestieboo” shot across the screen.

“So change of plans, there’s a dress up cosplay party. Ryan just got invited to by a guy downtown. I think we should do that instead “ She read the message and quickly found herself even less prepared for the night.

“I don’t have anything to wear!” She sent a few angry faces emoji’s and two crying faces, just to send her point home. Quickly tossing her covers aside and heading for the bedroom closet.

“Wear nothing then. Your cute enough to pull it off” A winky face followed the text and Noel wanted to shoot her friend a glare of many daggers.

“Let’s add public nudity to my rap sheet” She tossed open the rolling door to the small walk in closet which had long been forgotten.

It had been ages since she wasn’t to busy working to “go out”. Let alone in a cosplay outfit. She’d thought that nerdy part of her life would be over. Yet Maggie and Ryan always seemed to pull her back in. Guess that’s what friends were for.

“Ping” Her newest generation iPhone screen lit up as she grabbed an old cosplay outfit of kurenai from Naruto.

To her own dismay a banner across the screen told her that the cosplay girl and her matched. “No shit” she thought to herself. Another flash.

“Hey cutie” It was to much for her to handle, so without clicking on the tinder message she tossed her phone to the bed. Ready to change.

Out in the rain she found herself wishing she’d picked a cosplay female who had wore pants. Instead of the skirt shorts modeled after her body wrappings. Yet still she loved how power she felt a few people looking as she stepped out of the Uber.

“No shit!” Maggie’s excited voice squealing from the side walk. Of course a groan from Noel made Maggie twist her face into a scowl. Of course her best friend still had her matching Karin cosplay costume.

Maggie’s ginger hair was a frizzy mess coming over her shoulders, a purple shirt revealing her pierced belly button a green gem on it matching a green belt around her stomach. Tight black legging shorts and boots that nearly reached the bottoms of the shorts. A pair of black glasses hung on her nose. Of course her body didn’t quite fit the character, which she’d explained two years ago but it hadn’t stopped anything.

Ryan of course had colored his normally blonde hair black for his character Sai. A character to this day he’d sworn was gay. A black half long sleeved crop top hung just above his abs. Which he’d only gone to the gym to watch the guys work out. A pair of black pants and black boots. He smiled and fixed his headband. “God they were nerds” she giggled internally.

“So y’all ready?” Maggie questioned turning without a word and heading toward the party’s address, a block away.

An hour has passed, Maggie was off with some other anime dude she’d started dancing with. Ryan hugged the wall with a few other guys talking about the possibilities of new bleach episodes. Noel was hanging out in the kitchen with a few of the small plates of random finger foods. Tacos that Noel had definitely eaten her fill, mozzarella sticks, nachos and other snack stuff.

That’s when she nearly dropped her drink and the mozzarella stick as a blonde girl stepped into the kitchen. Instantly she noticed who she was, a smile quickly diminished on her face. Noel instantly noticed the character she was cosplaying Ino.

She’d gone with a grown Ino from the shippuden. A sleeveless purple crop top a bit of cleavage showing, a skirt that matched in color cut so that the mesh legging shorts under showed through. Boots and her mesh elbow and knee sets. Golden blonde bangs hung left over her face and the rest was tied up in a big ponytail. Noel could tell she was blushing just looking at her tinder match.

“Baby” Another voice called and a pink haired girl stumbled into the kitchen. Dressed as Sakura of course, the blonde looked back at her with regret. Which sent a fit of rage washing over Noel. Yet she didn’t let it show, just kept munching as the girlfriend wobbled away.

“Can’t text back” She gave Noel a weary smile in response.

“You have a girlfriend “ Noel hissed, moving toward the kitchen exit. As the girl lightly grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks.

“Please don’t be like that. It’s not what you think I promise. Just let me explain “ The look in her eyes seemed to flash with hurt and anxiety.

“Thanks, but no thanks” She pulled her arm away and headed for her friends. Grabbing Ryan by the arm and dragging him away from the guys.

Slipping away from the party out onto the street, rain now pouring onto the streets. Maggie was already standing against the building next door lip locked with the black haired anime boy from earlier.

“So we’re leaving?” Ryan questioned but Noel ignored him, tapping Maggie on the shoulder.

“What?” Maggie pulled away from the anime boy a second, glaring at her friend.

“We are leaving “ She grumbled, puller her phone out and getting ready to fetch the Uber.

“Ok, text me when your home” Maggie said nothing else, just went back to smashing her face into the guys.

“So you gonna tell me-“ Ryan stopped asked the question as the girl dressed as Ino stepped out into the street. Eyes already meeting Noel’s, a loud sigh of annoyance escaping her lips. “Wow. Is that why we-“ Noel cut him short as the phone pinged to signal the driver was on its way.

“Running away?” The girl questioned, stepping over to them.

“You have a girl and you hit me up on tinder. Just bye” Noel went back to her phone ignoring the girls very existence.

“Your costume is really cute. Wish you would have texted me back. I was looking for someone to invite “ The girl met her eyes, a tad bit of hurt flashed over her eyes. “It could have been you. Writer and art student would have made a cute couple “

“How do you?” Noel questioned.

“It’s just your vibe. Your Uber is here so have a good night. Hopefully we meet again” The girl extended a very pretty manicured set of pink and black nails.

Noel didn’t even take her hand. Just nodded pulling Ryan off into the Uber mini van. Clutching him tightly once they got inside.

“She’s beautiful…” He questioned Noel looking at the girl out the window as they drove off. “Why didn’t you text back?”

“I can’t do it again” She sobbed into Ryan’s long sleeved arm, and he just held here there.

“I’m sure she’s nothing like Katie “ He brushed her hair with his hand. Trying to give her some comfort, remembering the last time she’d had anyone.