Page 3 of Level Me Up

Chapter Three

Morgan

We walk into Hall D, where there is booth after booth set up like a carnival midway. Each booth represents a vendor, publisher, product, studio, entertainer, etc. As we move through the walkways, I notice people have formed lines or are standing around tables or displays marveling at what was being featured. Several booths offer up tchotchkes or host author and illustrator signings. Moving through the crowd is tough. No booth sits empty, and the hall is loud and smells rather musty. I wonder what the hall will smell like in two days’ time.

Then I see it as we enter the clearing; a ridiculously long line comes into view. Apparently, the professional video game industry is a heck of a lot more popular than Ruby and I thought. There is a long table with a black tablecloth that would seat several—twelve maybe. There is a massive San Diego Comic-Con branded backdrop behind the table. But it isn't the staged signing area that truly catches my attention. It’s the line of people already waiting for the signing to start. The line wraps and weaves around, organized by those black retractable line dividers more times than I can count.

"Oh. My. God," states Ruby, with pure disbelief in her tone.

"Yeah, tell me about it. I thought you said we'd make it through this line in no time. This is going to take at least an hour, if not more, to get through,” I say with a pout. “I'm going to miss Evan. The one chance I have to see one of my favorite TV boyfriends in the flesh, and I'm going to miss him because of a video gamer. Not cool Ruby. Not cool," I say.

Really, I'd do anything for Ruby. And since I’m on her and her brother’s dime, it’s the least I can do to stand in line for a signing, but that still doesn't help the fact that I’m going to miss out on seeing theGREEKstar.

"Oh Mo, I know seeing as many celebrities as possible was your number one goal, but look at it this way, these gamers are obviously celebrities in their own right," she draws out the word obviously, as if I was oblivious to the obvious.

"You're right. Duh, Morgan! What was I thinking?" I roll my eyes but can’t hide my grin.

She nudges me with her elbow and jerks her head toward the line. "Come on. There is a fifty percent chance the guys could be hot. At least we can take advantage of the eye candy."

I shrug and scan the room as she adds, "You know, I'd be ok here by myself if you wanted to check out the panel."

I look at her and smile. "Nah, there is no way we would find each other again if I wandered off by myself. Plus, you've got me wondering about hot gamer boys and if they actually exist."

She loops her arm through mine and in sarcastic seriousness, "It would be like finding a unicorn."

"Or a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow."

"Or finding a golden ticket," Ruby mused. We both start giggling. "And now I'm thinking about Johnny Depp," she adds.

"As Wonka or Jack Sparrow?" I question.

"Definitely Sparrow, poppet," she replies on an exasperated sigh.

As we move to the end of the line, we hear others around us chatting away about what they've done thus far and where they are going next. Despite having been at a standstill for twenty minutes before the signing started, I honestly don't mind. I try to listen in to the people around us when I hear them talking about the gamers we are all waiting to see, but I’m horrible at eavesdropping. I always get sidetracked if there’s any other noise around.

"So, I really don't know anything about video games," I tell Ruby.

"Yeah, me neither."

"I am aware that there are several different gaming consoles out there, and I know the names of the popular games," I add.

Ruby and I work for a popular social news and entertainment website. I am one of the social media community managers, so I’m only aware of the games because sometimes I have to post about them.

"But that is really all I know. I had no idea that you could be a professional gamer, and that people took it seriously," I whisper that last part because I'm not one to ruffle anyone's feathers, especially die-hard fans.

Understanding the need to be discreet, she replies in a whisper, "I know what you mean. But I grew up with a brother, so I've played my fair share of video games. I'm a pro at anything Mario, but when it comes toCall of Battle, they call itCoBfor short by the way, or any other game really, I'm terrible."

"Mario, yeah, I playedMario Kartin high school a few times. It was really fun!" I remember.

"I really don't know much about the whole professional gaming scene, but I know these guys are legit and as you can see, have a pretty big following," she says thoughtfully. “Oh, but that cutie over there is totally checking us out,” she adds distractedly.

I swear her hot guy radar is always on. I look in the direction she motioned toward, and sure enough, the guy is checking her out. Ruby is a classic beauty. She is tall and lean, and she has a gorgeous head of soft, red hair. She is always attracting male attention.

“Are you guys eye flirting?” I ask, not surprised at all.

Breaking her gaze with the guy in line standing in the next segment up—making him ahead of us in line, she says, “Not anymore. He wasn’t my type.”

“Seriously, you can tell from the thirty seconds of…whatever you call it?” I ask confusedly.

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