𝕀 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟... ~ 𝔼𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕟 ℕ𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣

𝟚𝟘𝟙𝟜

*incoming message*

I picked up the phone, making serious effort to keep an eye on the road while handling the cellphone in my hand.

Momma: Have a good time at packs sweetie! Your aunt will be home around 8 tonight so if you get back from the convention early, just go in the back door. I love you, I hope you drive safe <3

Me: I will mom, I love you too. And its PAX haha.

Momma: Are you there yet?

Me: No im...

I paused, realizing that I would have to lie to avoid my mom's insistent safety lecture.

Me: No I'm at a rest stop right now, needed to grab a drink :)

Momma: Okay! Send me lots of photos of Mark pliers!

Me: Mom its... (delete)

Why bother.

9:30 am

"Oh crap!" I muttered under my breath while searching for a parking spot. My leg bounced while circling the crowded parking lot. I managed to park across the street next to the curb, but this meant I had to run to get to the venue on time.

*Markiplier Q & A Panel: Room 3*

"Room three" I repeated. And with that, I began to sprint. Through the doors and through the crowded hallways, my nerves began to bundle up inside of me. I thought about if anyone would recognize me? No, definitely not. "I'm too new to this'' I thought. I was involved with tons of different reddit boards promoting new creators. Many highlighting Markiplier. I scanned each room marker until I finally found the room.

"Hi is anyone sitt-? Oh okay thanks."

"Hey I-.. oh sorry okay."

"Is someone sitting there? I need a spot-" I was cut off by a voice behind me. "Here!"

"What?"

"I have a seat if you want." The brown haired boy grinned with excitement. I nervously smiled back and took the seat beside him.

"Wow I thought it would have started already!" He made a polite gesture to a conversation, sensing my nervousness building with each approaching second. "Me too, I mean it is Mark. He can afford to be late."

He giggled, "AHAHA! Silly Mark." He said shaking his head. I played along.

"So how long have you been watching Markiplier?"

"Oh a few years! He's so great. I actually looked up to him so much I started my own YouTube channel!" He grinned.

"Wow that's so cool! Here i'll subscri-"

"HELLO!" A voice boomed. Screams filled the room as I looked up and saw Mark standing on stage, mic in hand. The boy next to me shouted loud, filled with excitement. I looked over at him and grinned while clapping with joy. I noticed dog tags bouncing on his neck.

"CrankGameplays?"

"What?" He paused, laughing while coming down from the high of seeing his idol there in the flesh.

"Your dog tags!" Shouting over the screaming fans.

"My channel!" He shouted. I smiled back at him and turned to Markiplier. Wow I turned back to MARKIPLIER! I'm here. Wow I'm actually here. I smiled with that realization.

This could be it for me.

10:30 am

I watched, dumbstruck, as the boy shot up to stand next to Bob. "I have a backflip for you!" He shouted into the mic. The boy bounced as he stood there. I watched as he was called up to the stage. "Wow he's talking with Mark! " the sentence shouting within my mind as I bounced in my seat.

He made his way back to his seat and was swept away with the attention from the crowd. I sat there and smiled. I tried to talk to him but he was too overwhelmed with fans to pay attention. It hurt, I don't know why.

I exited the venue and went to go to my other events.

7:00 pm

Today was the best day EVER. I couldn't believe that the photos with people that I had adored for years now existed on my phone. I got in my car, thankful it hadn't been towed, and clicked through the photos, posting most to instagram. I closed the phone, sitting back and taking in what had just happened.

Voices resonated throughout the car as I turned to see people walking on the sidewalk near me.

"CrankGameplays!" The boy practically skipped down the sidewalk towards the hotels in the distance with someone who looked like his dad. He was too far away at this point to call after him. And what would I even say? "Hey you were really cool with your backflip thing!"

I'm an idiot.

I picked up my phone once more and made a jab at the YouTube app glowing on my screen.

SEARCH: Crank Gameplays

ENTER

I examined the account for a few minutes.

SUBSCRIBE

*Open Instagram*

SEARCH: CrankGameplays

ENTER

I looked closer at the pages and settled upon the one that appeared to be connected with the channel.

"Ethan."

I like that name.