there she goes - jschlatt

sparks of inspiration

i left the coffee shop thinking that would be the last time i'd see the sarcastic stranger, schlatt, or whatever his real name was. honestly, i didn't think much of the encounter. just another random moment in my day, like the dozens of other awkward exchanges i'd had with people i'd never see again.

but as i wandered into the convention center later that afternoon, the memory of him still nagged at the back of my mind. i had signed up for this podcasting workshop months ago, hoping it would give me a push in the right direction. maybe help me figure out where i was going with my show, or at least how to market it better. but now, standing here, surrounded by people who actually seemed to know what they were doing, i couldn't help but feel out of place.i found myself wandering through the hall aimlessly, trying to look like i had a purpose. booths lined the walls, each one more polished than the last. creators pitching their shows, people filming, influencers posing for selfies with fans. it was like stepping into a world i thought i wanted to be part of, but now wasn't so sure i fit into.

as i rounded a corner, i overheard a group of people talking about a live podcast recording happening soon.

"you heard of chuckle sandwich?" one of them asked, practically buzzing with excitement.the name clicked somewhere in my brain. i'd definitely heard it before, probably while scrolling through my feed or seeing clips on youtube. curious, and honestly needing a break from feeling like an outsider, i followed the small crowd toward one of the side rooms. the room was packed, buzzing with chatter and excitement. i slipped into the back, hoping to blend in and observe. i was here to learn, after all. maybe see how the pros do it.

the hosts were already on stage, getting their mics set up. and that's when i saw him.

schlatt.

i froze. there he was, sitting in the middle of the stage, casually chatting with the other hosts like he hadn't just been in the same coffee shop as me hours earlier. except... now he wasn't schlatt, the random guy in a hoodie. he was *schlatt*, one of the stars of a massive podcast, grinning and cracking jokes like he owned the place.

my stomach flipped, a mix of embarrassment and shock washing over me. of course. of course he was famous. and of course i had no idea who he really was when we met. i felt a flush of heat creeping up my neck as i slid lower in my chair, hoping he wouldn't somehow spot me in the sea of people.

as the show started, i tried to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to the coffee shop. had he been messing with me the whole time? did he know i didn't recognize him? halfway through the recording, he made some offhand comment about "meeting weird people at coffee shops," and i swore he glanced toward the back of the room. my face burned. was he talking about me? surely not... right?

after the show, i lingered awkwardly by the door, not really sure if i should leave or stay. people were milling about, some lining up to meet the hosts, others chatting excitedly about the episode.i didn't know what possessed me to stay, but before i could overthink it, i heard a familiar voice behind me.

"so, what do you think? better than pretending to work in a coffee shop?"

i turned around, and there he was. schlatt—or, i guess, johnathon, as the name tag hanging around his neck read—grinning at me, arms crossed over his chest.my heart did a weird flip. "johnathon, huh?" i nodded toward the name tag. "so thaaat's the real name."he glanced down, as if he forgot it was there, then shrugged. "depends on who's asking."

i rolled my eyes, trying to act nonchalant even though my pulse was racing. "you were a lot less famous when i didn't know who you were."

he laughed, an easy sound that almost made me forget how out of place i felt. "yeah, well, anonymity has its perks."we stood there in an awkward silence for a beat before he nodded toward the exit. "you doing anything after this?"my eyebrows shot up. was he seriously inviting me somewhere? "uh, no, not really.""good." he smiled, the same teasing smirk as before. "come grab a drink with us. a couple of us are heading to a bar nearby. nothing fancy, just a few creators and... whoever you are."i hesitated, the usual part of me that wanted to say no tugging at my brain. but there was another part of me, the part that knew i came here to break out of my comfort zone, that wanted to see where this went."sure," i said, trying to sound casual. "why not?"