37 Wrestlemania
I was going to Orlando this weekend for a Percy Jackson fan event. The book had gotten more popular here than it was in the original world.
Matt and John were coming with me, as I had gotten tickets for WrestleMania 24.
It was shaping up to be a fun weekend.
"I can't wait for Friday," Matt said from my side.
"I have't been to a WWE show since I was a kid," John replied.
"The only part I hate is traveling," Matt said, shaking his head.
"Why?" I asked.
"Well, you know how airplanes are," Matt replied.
"You do realize we are flying business, right?" I asked.
"Wait, business?" Matt halted. He looked like he had an epiphany.
"You're rich!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, yes, I am. Did you forget?" I asked, as John laughed to my side.
"Yeah, I kinda forgot about that," Matt replied.
Matt's attention suddenly shifted, a huge grin spreading across his face. Curious, I followed his gaze, turning around to see who had caught his eye. It was Haley, walking towards us.
"Haley?" I said, surprised to see her here.
"We are going to go. Lucia asked me to do something," John said as he grabbed Matt and walked away.
"Hey, why are you taking me?" I heard Matt say as he was taken away.
I turned to her. "Hey, Haley," I started.
"Hi, Daniel. I was actually looking for you," she said.
"Are you free this weekend? I thought maybe we could hang out."
"Oh…..I'm going to Orlando this weekend with Matt and John. There's a Percy Jackson fan event, and then WrestleMania…"
I saw the disappointment flash across Haley's face, and I immediately felt bad.
"But how about next weekend? We could do something then," I suggested, trying to make up for it.
Her face brightened a little. "Yeah, that sounds great," she replied.
"It's a date then." The words hung in the air, and I quickly realized what I'd said. Haley's eyes widened slightly, and an awkward silence fell between us.
"I'll see you next week" I said before walked away to catch up with Matt and John, who were actually just watching from a distance.
"Not a word," I said as I walked past them.
.
.
.
"That was the most comfortable flight I've ever been on," Matt said as we were traveling to the hotel from the airport.
"You've flown like twice, if I remember correctly," John responded.
"Yes, and this was the most comfortable one," Matt replied.
We left Matt and John at the hotel. They didn't want to leave the place considering how good the place was, I didn't want to leave either.
Arriving at the Percy Jackson event I found myself seated in front of a room filled with eager fans, each one clutching a copy of my book. First, I addressed them; I had a whole speech prepared.
"Good afternoon, everyone," I started, my voice steady. "I want to start by saying how grateful I am to see so many of you here today."
I continued my speech, where I thanked them for their support of my books. I made some jokes that got some laughs and finally brought the short speech to an end.
"I know many of you have questions—about the characters, the plot twists, and what the future holds. I'm here to share as much as I can and to hopefully provide some answers to your questions."
The room erupted into a chorus of applause as I concluded my speech. It was time for the Q&A session now.
The first question came from a young fan in the front row, asking about the inspiration behind the character of Percy Jackson.
I answered the question by explaining how I had always been fascinated by mythology and wanted to create a story that would introduce these stories to an audience near my age.
Next, I was asked about the characters. I provided detailed responses to them. When asked about future plot lines, I gave vague answers, enough to keep them hooked.
A fan in a handmade Camp Half-Blood t-shirt asked about the romantic pairings in the series, causing a ripple of excitement to pass through the crowd.
I kept the answer to the question short and vague, and I told them it was too early to ask that question but teased some info, eliciting cheers from them.
More questions followed on potential for sequels and spin-offs. I answered them as best as I could and joked around for a while too.
Soon, the Q&A session came to a close. I thanked everyone again for coming and told them I hoped this was the first of many in the coming years. There was a huge applause, and I exited the stage.
Next was the meet and greet; I had the opportunity to meet the fans personally. I looked at the line and it seemed endless.
As each fan approached, I greeted them with a warm smile, signed their books and took time to listen to them.
I saw that some had dyed their hair blue in homage to Percy's love for everything blue. Many had asked for writing advice, and I offered them tips as best as I could.
This continued for a few hours, and I got to meet fans of all ages. By the end of the event, I was so tired I didn't come out of my room until Sunday afternoon when it was time to go to the Camping World Stadium for WrestleMania.
.
.
.
As we arrived at the stadium, Matt and John could barely contain their excitement. They were the hardcore wrestling fans here. I didn't watch it as much as them.
"I'm telling you, man, Edge might end the streak," Matt said.
"And I am telling you that you are wrong; the streak will never end," John shot back.
"Daniel, you are with me, right?" Matt asked.
"I'm with John here; I don't think the streak will end," I replied. Oh it will end all right in about six years i mentally noted to be there with these two to see their reactions.
They continued arguing as we arrived at the arena. I hadn't told them about the seats we were going to have yet.
"Guys, I have a surprise for you," I announced.
"Ah, the surprise. What is it then? Tell us," John asked.
"I hope you are ready to be on TV because we are sitting in the front row," I revealed.
Matt and John stopped in their tracks, their argument forgotten. "Front row? You're kidding, right?" Matt's voice was one of disbelief.
"Nope, not kidding. We're going to see everything up close."
Matt clapped me on the back. "This is incredible, man. Thank you!"
We made our way to the seats, and the show began. I had never gone to a live show like this before, and it was a different experience. Since we faced the camera, we would be on TV the whole time. Even Mom found herself getting drawn into the excitement, cheering alongside Matt and John.
During the brief intermission between one of the matches, a man who seemed to be in his late sixties approached me as I was returning with some drinks. He introduced himself with a firm handshake as Henry Morgan.
"My granddaughter is a huge fan of yours, but she's too shy to come over," Henry explained, nodding towards a young girl a few rows back who was peeking over with wide eyes.
"Well, let's not keep her waiting then," I said without hesitation. I handed the drinks to Mom and followed Henry to meet his granddaughter.
Her face lit up with a mixture of excitement and disbelief as we approached. I met the girl and talked to her for a while. Henry seemed to appreciate the gesture.
We struck up a conversation afterward, and to my surprise, I discovered that Henry wasn't just any spectator. He was a fucking billionaire.
He had investments in various sectors across the country, from technology startups to real estate and beyond. His insights into the business world were fascinating.
"I don't think Blockbuster has much of a future," I told him.
"Really? What makes you say that?" he asked.
"They are not changing along with the times. Now, Netflix, on the other hand, is changing, branching into streaming. I'm telling you now, Mr. Morgan, it's going to be big in a few years."
"Well, you are the Hollywood man here. I guess I'll take your word for it."
Henry's demeanor was warm, and he seemed to take a particular interest in my background and ambitions.
"You've got a good head on your shoulders, young man," he remarked after a while into our conversation.
As the event resumed, Henry handed me his business card. "I like your attitude, Daniel. It's refreshing to meet someone young with such drive. Let's talk more in the future; I've been wanting to get into the entertainment business for a while."
I accepted the card, intrigued by the opportunities and connections this might bring.
"Thank you, Mr. Morgan," I replied.
Henry tipped his hat and went back to his seat, and I did the same.
As I was returning, I saw Mom having an animated conversation with Matt and John.
"So, you are telling me the winners are decided before the match even starts?" Mom asked.
"Yeah, it's all scripted, but the athleticism and the performance are real," Matt responded.
"And sometimes, the outcomes can be surprising, even to us fans. It's all about the storytelling," John added, trying to convey the appeal of professional wrestling.
"That doesn't make any sense," Mom replied.
"Mom, don't really think about it. Just turn your brain off and watch people kick the shit out of each other," I said, sitting down.
As the night drew to a close, with fireworks lighting up the sky, we made our exit, our voices hoarse from cheering in the final matches.
"This was the best day of my life," Matt said, a sentiment echoed by John. Even Mom enjoyed it.
"We have to do this again next year," John said.
"Why don't we make it a yearly thing between us three?" I said.
"Absolutely, count me in," Matt agreed enthusiastically.
John nodded in agreement.
We made our way to the hotel. I was so tired I fell onto my bed and only woke up the next day in the afternoon, just in time for the flight home.
