Anna was giddy with excitement. She had just spent the morning running around New York City for the first time, and now she was sitting in her hotel room bouncing on her bed. She and her mother Beverly were in New York to visit family, but not in the city. Beverly's family lived in a small town up north, full of farms and old small-town charm. Anna did enjoy the town, but grew bored with it rather quickly; growing up in a big city on the West Coast made being in the boonies awkward feeling for her. She had visited once before when she was much younger and it was fun then, but now she was 22 and was more interested in seeing the city. She, her mother and her aunt had walked around some of the major streets in the city, taking in the sights and shopping, and they had stopped back at the hotel to drop off their purchases and take a breather before venturing back out. Anna had seen a comic book shop not far from their hotel and it also housed a coffee shop, so she wanted to check it out. She wasn't much for coffee but her mom was; Anna was more interested in the comics.

A short time later found them seated in the shop, an iced mocha in her mom's hands, a hot chocolate in her aunt's and some creamy cold strawberry concoction in her own. She had searched through the comics for a little while, but didn't find much of interest. Anna mostly read offbeat independent comics and this store was teaming with the usual mainstream fare she could find at any bookshop, albeit with a few unusual selections thrown into the mix. While her mom and her aunt were busy blathering on, Anna was looking around at the people in the store and taking in all the chatter. She was particularly enjoying a conversation being had by three boys seated near the door. One of them had inquired of his friends why real people didn't try to be super heroes and their shit-talking back and forth banter amused her, reminding her of crazy conversations she had held with her friends back home.

Their conversation shifted suddenly and Anna looked over. Outside of the window she saw a fancy black car with black tinted windows roll up. The three boys were speaking about who she presumed was the occupant of the car and she gathered that it was a boy their age who was rather wealthy. She also caught that his name was Chris. Anna watched as the car parked and the boy stepped out. She could tell right away that the well-dressed boy was a nerd and that made her smile. She loved cute nerdy boys and this one was downright hot. He walked into the store with a large, bulky man that she had to guess was his bodyguard, judging by his actions. The boys had gone quiet while the pair walked in and as the boy began browsing comics they resumed talking, Anna having to strain to hear their hushed words. She learned that the boy seemed to be lonely and friendless, probably on account of the bodyguard, and hearing that made her sad. She remembered what it was like not having friends; her father's strict ways when it came to her ensured that she did not have many friends for most of her teenage years.

The boys decided that one of them should venture over and attempt to befriend the rich kid. They voted and the boy who had been talking about superheroes stood up and took a breath, steeling himself before walking over to where the other boy stood browsing comics. Chris saw the boy approaching and Anna saw a smile begin to spread across his face; it was quickly cut short as his bodyguard took a step toward the other kid and dismissed him with a short, "Fuck off". The boy put up his hands and backed away, slinking back to the table with his friends. Anna looked at Chris and saw his annoyance and the underlying disappointment and decided to take a risk. She was always up for shenanigans back home and being in another city wasn't about to change that. She reached into her little backpack and pulled out a notebook, quickly scribbling out a note before tearing out the page and replacing the book.

"Mom!" she said in hushed but urgent tones, interrupting the conversation between her mother and her aunt.

"What?" she replied at a normal tone. Anna silently shushed her, gesturing with her hand to keep it down and lean forward. Both women leaned forward and Anna leaned across the table.

"I need you to do something for me real quick. I'll explain what it's about later, okay?" Her mom enjoyed her daughter's mischief when it involved her and was ready to hear more. They had a quick whispered conversation with Anna discreetly motioning to certain areas of the store. After a few quick minutes she was trying to get her mom to wipe the grin off her face and the three of them stood from the table.

Anna walked across the store along the short divider wall between the café and the comics. Chris was standing on the other side facing her way, his fingers running over the tops of the plastic wrapped comics and he searched through them. He must have sensed someone getting close because he glanced up at her. She smiled at him softly and he smiled back, his face quickly changing to worry as he looked toward his bodyguard. The large man caught sight of her as well and was turning to keep an eye on her when his attention, as well as Chris', was diverted suddenly. Beverly had stumbled into the display behind him and was blinking and staggering his way.

"Shit! My blood sugar's dropping!" she exclaimed and tripped directly in front of him. As the bodyguard reached out to catch her Anna made her move.

She had leaned over the divider and grabbed Chris' arm. He quickly turned her way and she handed him a folded up note before holding a finger up to her lips in a silencing gesture and letting go of him just as fast. He took the note quickly with a giant smile and stuffed it in his pocket. Anna quickly righted herself and ran over to her mother, her aunt trying to steady the woman while the bodyguard held up his large hands to catch her in case she fell again, a look of deep annoyance on his face.

"Oh, you're fine," Anna said as she took hold of her mother. "Come on, let's get outside. You just need some air." With that they quickly moved to the door and went outside, striding out of sight in a matter of seconds. They hurried down the street and when they were about a block away they turned down the next major street and leaned against the wall, laughter crashing over the three women.

As the women exited the store, the bodyguard turned around to glare at Chris. He was suddenly very disinterested in the comics; he just wanted to read that note.

"W-we can go," he stuttered slightly. The bodyguard huffed and glared at his charge who was walking past him. He angrily strode behind the boy as they left the store and quickly shut the car door behind Chris before climbing into the driver's seat and taking off, muttering about crazy bitches and their bullshit.