Just Fiction? Nay.

I would just like to account a conversation Ash and I had the other day in Mom's kitchen, you then can call us whatever names you wish.

Ash: Did you see that article Rita Skeeter wrote about Harry and all them? It kinda blew up the internet today.
Me: Wait, what?!
Ash: It was a Quidditch final and everybody showed up and they're all like 34 now....
Me: AAHHH! No I didn't see it! Tell me everything!
Ash: Well Harry was there with Ginny of course, and Rita was going off about how Harry isn't doing a good job raising Teddy because he's a trouble-maker...
Me: Bah. Rita's a turd, wait how old is Teddy now? He's gotta be...
Ash: Like 17 I think...
Me: Oooohhhh...
Ash: Oh and Ron was a Auror for like 2 years but then he quit to help run Weasley's Wizard Wheezes...
Me: Oooohhhhhh....(voice cracks)
Ash: Ya, George was having kind of a hard time with it...
Me: (chokes back ugly tears)
Mom:
Ash: (changing subject frantically before said tears emerge) But Hermonie's still at the Ministry!
Me: oh good.
Ash: And then there's Luna...
Me: Oh Luna
Ash:...and her husband...
Me: Luna got married?!?
Ash: Ya! Newt Scamander's grandson!
Me: Oh ya I think I remember hearing about that...
Mom: (rolls eyes)
Ash: And Neville!
Me: Neville got married too?!?
Ash: Ya to Hannah...
Me: Abbot?
Ash: Yep
Mom: (starts questioning if her original assumption that we were discussing fictional characters was off)
Me: And he's Herbology professor, right?
Ash: Ya and Hannah's going for Madam Pomfrey's old job
Me: Oh cute Hogwarts couple! Awww...
Mom: (slight look of concern crosses her face for her daughters' sanity)
Me: Wait! Who's the Headmaster now?
Ash: I don't know...
Mom: (watches curiously, marveling at the nerdiness of her offspring)
Ash: Oh but you heard about Emma Watson right?
Me: That she's an ambassador...
Ash: Goodwill ambassador...
Me: Ya that's so cool!
Mom: (rolls eyes with accompanying 'look')
Me&Ash: (simultaneously and rather indignant) SHE'S A REAL PERSON!

You may call us dorks, embarrassingly lost in a fictional world, crazy... Well, call me a Book Nerd and I will gladly take upon me the label and carry it proudly. I will even admit that I am currently not reading the second book in a series because I loved the first one so much and it ended so well I am not ready to start the next and send the characters into more turmoil. I am letting them have some time, a bit of their happy ending before they end up going to war in the sequel (which I'm sure will happen because, hey, its a dystopian).

I'm fully aware that none of that makes sense. They are fiction. My not reading the book does not change what's going on with the characters. They're not real. Knowing that and feeling it are two different things.

Fellow Book Nerds will understand.

BTW, it's Unwind by Neal Shusterman. (I know, once again I am behind the times) It's a particularly well-written and otherwise marvelous book. I am excited to read more...but, the characters have been through enough for the moment, they are in pretty good places right now and I'd like to let them have a bit of peace and happiness before continuing.

And yes, I do realize this makes me gigantically book nerdy.

So be it.