Gamer Girl (25 page)

He smiled at me
then. A beautiful, genuine, amazing smile that made my heart feel
like it was going to burst. Chad Murray liked me. The real me. The
real-life me.

"When I
found out Sir Leo was you, I got scared," I confessed. "I
thought someone like you would never give someone like me a second
glance."

"Well, you
deserve a second glance," he told me in an earnest voice. "And
a third and a fourth and a fifth, sixth, and seventh..." He
paused, then added, "And Maddy?"

"Yes,
Chad?"

"I hope
you don't think this is unchivalrous of me. But I think I might die
if I don't kiss you now. A real-life kiss."

The butterflies
leaped to my throat, choking me. "Well," I said, struggling
to get the words out. "Wouldn't want that to happen." I
grinned. "After all, then who would tank the dragons in Fields
of Fantasy?"

"Good
point." He leaned forward and pressed his lips against
mine--fantasy becoming reality in a single touch. "A very good
point."

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Epilogue

A fter the
judging, everyone headed to Longhorn's for a party. Our group alone
filled five tables and the waitstaff was bustling about, trying to
fill all our requests.
i
looked around the restaurant in awe.
It was hard to believe everyone was there because of me. To think
only a month ago I felt totally friendless and alone.

Mom, Dad,
Grandma, and Emily were at one table. Emily was currently
demonstrating to Grandma how to stick a spoon on her nose and Mom and
Dad were actually talking to each other--even laughing at times. I
knew they'd never get back together as husband and wife, but it was
nice to see them being civil to each other again. After all, they
were both my family and I wanted nothing more than for everyone to
get along.

At the next
table were my Boston friends. They'd all come out to cheer me on.
Caitlin, Ashley, Dana--even David Silverman, who I found out, to my
delight, had asked Caitlin out a few days earlier. The two of them
were currently

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snuggled in a
booth, looking lovey-dovey at each other. At first Caitlin had been
worried about telling me, knowing I once had a crush on him, too, but
those days were long over. I had Chad now. Chad, who was currently
sitting next to me, holding my hand and looking at me with beautiful,
loving blue eyes and making me go all melty inside.

The other
tables were packed with manga club members and Ms. Reilly. Blackie,
Matt, Sarah, Luke, Jessie, David, Ed, and a ton of other people I
didn't even really know but who all seemed to know me. They were all
chattering excitedly about the judging and what would happen next.

Yes,
Gamer
Girl
was the official winner of the evening. The judges loved the
collaborative spirit of the work--praising the way everyone's
personal styles melded together into something truly special. And
they loved my story line, too, claiming it was the perfect mix of
shojo and fantasy. My hero Svetlana gave me the highest praise and
told me I definitely had a future in the business. She even took me
aside afterward to give me her personal e-mail, saying I should feel
free to ask her advice anytime I needed it. Totally made my already
unforgettable night.

The manga would
now move on to the national competition, where the publisher would
choose one regional winner to publish. But while publishing would be
a dream come true, sitting here in this restaurant, surrounded by my
friends, family, and new boyfriend, I already felt like I won the
jackpot.

No longer Freak
Girl. Not even Gamer Girl. Just Maddy Starr. And right now, that was
enough.

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