Level Me Up (Gamer Boy #1)

by Lauren Helms

  As Ruby chuckles, I ask, "Oh, what about that show starring Evan from GREEK? We have to make that event. Is it on our list!?"

  "Yup! Oh, and there is that signing we have to go to, remember? That pro gaming team? Jake wanted me to get a Call of Battle shirt from the Visionwave booth and have the team sign it. You know he's obsessed with that game, and I guess now that professional video gaming is a real thing these days, he's all into it. I doubt the signing will take very long," she says as she pulls out the convention center map and we head to our first panel.

  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 the GREEK star.

  "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 to Call of Battle, they call it CoB for short by the way, or any other game really, I'm terrible."

  "Mario, yeah, I played Mario Kart in 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.

  “Yeah. Basically, I can tell if a guy is worth the time in thirty seconds or less. It’s all about eye contact. If a guy can’t keep up the eye contact for at least ten seconds, he’s weak. If he can, then I’m intrigued.”

  I place my hand on my chest and ask, "So it's like a Jedi mind trick?”

  “Ah, you're learning well, young padawan, but I can only perform those on the weak-minded. I’m getting tired of that kind of guy—and cutie over there is definitely that type. I’m looking for something a bit more challenging,” she says turning her back to the guy.

  If dating was on my radar, I could learn a lot from Ruby when it comes to men. Somehow, she always gets her way in the dating world.

  In an instant, something in the air shifts and the crowd gets much louder. It’s excitement, I realize, as a group of people file in and take their seats at the table. There are four guys and one girl now seated at the table. Interesting. I'd always assumed gaming was a guy thing. I can’t really make out any features of the gamers, as we are still ridiculously far away, but I think Ruby is going to get her wish for some eye candy.

  After more waiting, we are finally close enough to make out the gamer’s facial features. By this point, we have missed the panel I wanted to attend, and Ruby has already promised she would make it up to me. She really doesn't need to, but I'll pour it on thick just to get back at her for the comments about me needing to get laid.

  "Dang, the eye candy was a good prediction. Most of those guys are hot! I mean, some of them are totally nerdy, but it really works for them. Even the gamer girl has that nerdy-chic thing working in her favor," Ruby whispers in my ear.

  As I start from the end to make my own assessments I reply, "Are you saying a person has to be nerdy to be a gamer?" But as I start to form my next words, I change course, "Yeah, ok, that one is totally nerdy but hot." Ruby chuckles as I continue to scan the table.

  The girl is indeed nerdy-chic. She is wearing those big, round, old-school clear plastic glasses. She has long, black locks of hair that have a slight wave around her shoulders. Even though she is sitting, she looks like she is tall and lean. She is gorgeous. I'm sure she is a male gamer's dream girl.

  "Yeah, I'm
sure she is probably some female gamer's dream girl too," Ruby replies deadly serious, as she stares at the gamer girl too. Apparently, I said that last part out loud.

  After one last look at the gamer girl, I move on. That's when I see him. There, right in the middle of the group is this guy with brown, perfectly tousled hair. His face is more angular than rounded, with well-defined cheekbones and jaw line. His nose fits on his face perfectly. I can’t tell his eye color from this distance, though. I catch myself licking my own lips as I study his. His smile is downright alluring. He has an athletic build, but he isn't beefy or overly muscular. He is wearing a gray jacket with a hood over a black v-neck shirt. Exuding confidence, he doesn't look arrogant at all. He just seems like a guy you want to know. He looks…perfect.

  Ok, perfect is a little much. We aren’t in some Disney movie. People are not perfect in the “real world.”

  But wow. He is probably the hottest guy I have ever seen in real life. As in, you can’t really count celebrities as part of the “real word” populace. Mostly because you can’t always prove they are real people. But this guy. Oh, my. I think my mouth is watering. I have never been so attracted to someone before.

  “Wow,” is the only thing that manages to escape my mouth.

  “Ah, yeah. I was wondering when you were going to see him” Ruby laughs. “He is something else, isn’t he? His name is Dex Roberts, and he’s the team captain.”

  “If this is what most video gamers look like, then I’m buying a game system when we get back home, and I’m learning how to play because I could get behind this,” I declare.

  “More like, ‘let one of them get behind you,’ right?" she quips, and then adds, "Maybe all their hotness is just a fluke. Or maybe none of them are any good. You know? Someone just thought that if they assembled a team of hotties, it wouldn’t matter. Actually, I’m sure of it. That’s what is going on here: a ploy to take all my money.”

  “Give it to them, Ruby. Give them all our money if that means we can stare at them longer.”

  Someone taps me on my shoulder then, and as I turn around, I find a mousy, black-haired boy standing there looking at me expectantly. He isn’t more than thirteen.

  “Yeah?” I question.

  “Actually, that team is the number one team to beat in the MLG. They are more than just looks; they are really good. They win almost every tournament they play, and that guy in the middle—DosDex, he currently has the best positive K/D in like…the history of CoB. They are nothing to make fun of,” he informs us.

  Uh, what? Ok, first of all, who is this kid? And what is MLG, DosDex, and a positive K/D? Fortunately, I know what CoB means, but only recently.

  Thankfully, before I can say anything, Ruby replies, “Oh, thanks, kid. You seem to know a lot about them. Thanks for the intel. Now we won’t embarrass ourselves in front of the hotties.” The kid scoffs at that and turns around to whom I expect are his parents, who look bored out of their minds.

  “Ok, well now we know they really are something to write home about. I’m really excited to get up there and get this T-shirt signed!” she tells me.

  Chapter Four

  Morgan

  As we get closer to the table, I try my hardest to continue checking out the rest of the team. While the rest of them look about the same as the first half, I don’t really see them. My eyes keep coming back to this Dex guy. I wonder if that’s his real name or just a gaming nickname. Do they have nicknames? The kid did refer to him as "DosDex," but I still need to figure out what MLG and a positive K/D could be.

  Again, with an elbow jab to my side, Ruby excitedly announces in my ear, “We’re next!” The name card on the table informs us that first up is a guy named Ben "Fordify" Ford. He smiles at us and with a nod, signs the shirt. Then he slides it to his right as we move along. Next up is the hot gamer girl, also known as Bernadette “BurndIt” Ross. She starts signing the shirt and in the sweetest voice says “Hiya! Thanks for coming and seeing us today,” with a smile. She then slides the shirt to…him.

  I realize as she pushes the shirt to him, that I was unsuccessfully able to make eye contact with either Bernadette or Ben. I couldn’t stay focused as they each signed the shirt because I kept sneaking glances at Dex. I also realize that it is getting increasingly hotter in here—the closer I get to him. What the heck is wrong with me? I’m not the kind of girl who gets nervous talking to a guy.

  Sure, sometimes I will avoid guys in general, but I’m not scared of them. I’ve gotten along with most of the guys Gia and Ruby date. There were a couple of guys I hung out with in college, mostly to study though. So why the heck do I feel like I’m about to do something utterly stupid, like that split second before you realize you’ve missed the step and are about to fall down the stairs?

  “Hi,” he says in this perfectly male, deep voice. “How are you ladies today?”

  I distantly hear Ruby reply, “Well, we’re just fine. Thank you for asking.”

  And she nudges me as I realize that while he asked both of us that question, he is only looking at me, and I’m not moving or saying anything. Apparently, I'm a freaking mute. Why can't I form words? Get it together, Morgan!

  "Hi," he says again, but to only me this time.

  And just like that, I snap myself out of it, slap on a smile and reply, "Hi," as I reach out and offer my hand like it’s some formal introduction. Again, I ask myself, what is wrong with me?

  With a smile that reaches his eyes, he grasps my hand in his as I say, "I'm Morgan, and I have no idea what a positive K/D is."

  I hear Ruby stifle a laugh beside me. I'm never going to live this down. Somebody should just shoot me now. But to my surprise, Dex doesn't laugh at me. He is still smiling at me and says, “Hi Morgan, I'm Dex. And don't worry about it, this guy sitting next to me," he jerks his head to his right, "doesn’t know what a positive K/D is either, but at least you're honest."

  I quickly glance to his right and see a guy with short blond hair turn toward him glaring, but then turn toward us, smile and says, "He doesn't know what he's talking about."

  I slide my eyes back to Dex and realize he is still holding my hand even though the handshake stopped a minute ago. I quickly drop my hand and smile as a big bouncer type guy comes up to us and says, "Sorry ladies, you’re holding up the line. Keep moving."

  Ruby apologizes, and I apologize to Dex because I'm still staring at him. But we move along, and now the gamer to Dex’s right, Simon "SezSimon" Palmer, is signing the shirt. Dex looks back at me as he finishes signing a poster and says, "it was nice meeting you, Morgan," with a warm smile. I can only manage a smile and nod as Ruby finishes getting the last signature. Then we finish and get out of the line.

  We walk a little bit before Ruby stops, grabs my arm and doubles over with laughter. My face starts to redden with embarrassment, but her laughter is contagious, so I can't help laughing too.

  "Oh. My. God. Morgan. What was that?" she asks through fits of laughter.

  "I don't know," I answer honestly, finally able to calm my speeding heartbeat.

  "I have never, ever, seen you act like that. Even when our mean, scary new boss singled you out in that department meeting that one time. I know you had no idea he was going to ask you to share, but you did, and you kicked butt. But yet you stand face to face with a hot guy, and you completely blank on how to be normal Morgan. Oh, my God. Gia is going to be so mad she missed this," she says. By this time her laughter has subsided but I'm positive she now has the hiccups. The weirdo gets the hiccups whenever she laughs too hard.

  And yeah, she was right about that meeting. Our new boss was scary and mean. And out of the blue, he called me out to explain the current promotion our team was working on. I wasn't the team lead on the project, so I was totally unprepared, but I pretended like it didn't faze me and gave the group a rundown. Ruby was right; I kicked butt. But what the heck happened five minutes ago?

  "I have no idea what possessed me to do or say what I did, but I hope tha
t never happens again," I reply.

  "I think he likes you though," she says.

  "Ah, yeah. Right," I snort.

  "No, really. You might have had a total spaz moment, but he couldn't keep his eyes off you either, and while everyone else might have been looking at you like you were cray-cray, he, my friend, was not."

  Humph. Even so, it's not like I'm ever going to see him again. I just roll my eyes and mutter a “whatever.” The sooner I can get past this little blip of embarrassment, the better. Standing around chatting about it is not going to help, so I pull on her arm and start walking. “Come on, let's go. Not only do you owe me for missing that panel I wanted to go to, but you also caused me to have my greatest, most embarrassing moment, ever. How are you going to make it up to me?" I ask, relieved as she joins me.

  Chapter Five

  Dex

  "It was nice meeting you, Morgan," Simon mocks in a deep voice that is supposed to sound like me, but it doesn’t.

  I groan, “Let it go, man,” as I gather my water bottle and push in my chair at the table. We have just finished the signing; I am starving—and if I’m being honest, a bit distracted.

  “Hey, no can do. You called me out in front of two hot girls to make yourself look good. You sounded like a douche by the way,” he says as he follows me off the slightly raised platform.

  Rolling my eyes, I don’t stop until I get to where my team is standing around chatting with my best friend, Link. I quickly realize that they are figuring out what they want to do about the late lunch we need and stat. We’ve been busy with our game publisher, Visionwave, all day. Because of Call of Battle’s enormous popularity, our convention schedule is packed all day, leaving little time for lunch or dinner. The morning started with a mini-press-conference for Call of Battle, followed by our attendance at the Call of Battles’ Meet and Greet’ booth. It’s here that some fans get a chance to play a few games against us, just for fun. Then we were hurried over to Hall D for our signing. All we have left on our required activities list is to attend a mandatory Visionwave party tomorrow night, but that involves mingling and drinking, so it’s not a big deal.