Content Creator

I never thought I, of all people, would be standing right where I am standing. Just a few months ago I was working a nine-to-five job and making enough money only to survive. Now, I'm standing backstage at a Canadian Choice Content Creators Conference. They called me, flew me out from Texas and here I am for the whole weekend meeting fans and followers while getting ready for my first Q&As.

Posting on YouTube was always just a dumb little hobby, and I refused to tell friends and family because it was just for my entertainment. Out of nowhere I started to get a follower here and there and didn't know why. Come to find out a little later, there were some clips TikTok account posting my videos. I remember waking up one morning for work and was pissed that my phone was dead. I thought I forgot to charge it but apparently, it was blowing up with notifications. Long story short, I'm a Texas-born YouTuber with a Wiki page now.

I walked up the small steps to get on the stage for the panel just waiting around for someone to tell me where I needed to be.

"Can you get me a bottle of water please?" a girl said to me. Her voice was nice and sweet but had a tone of urgency. Clearly, she thinks I'm part of the conference staff, aaannnnd I have nothing else to do so why not right? I walk down the steps turning left to the craft service table. I grabbed a biodegradable water bottle because I knew she would like it more than the traditional plastic. When I came back, she smiled grabbed the bottle, and said thank you. When she notices me hanging around, she looks back at me and says, "Umm I'm good now thank you."

I could tell from her tone she wanted me to leave, and she was being as nice as she could about it. Playing along that I was part of the staff because again, I had nothing better to do I walked back down the steps.

Waiting around outside in the backstage area, I start playing on my phone. It wasn't long before someone ushered me back into the doorway and up the stairs to the stage. The woman wearing a headset says, "You need to be up here, the curtain is opening in three minutes."

The table is the length of the stage with all the content creators facing the curtain where the crowd will be. The woman seated me in a chair sitting at the far end right next to the girl who thought I worked here. The blond-headed girl turned her head to meet my eyes, I gave her a small smile.

I smiled bigger seeing the realization smack her against her cheeks rattling her brain. "Wait you don't work here? I'm so sorry I didn't know."

As much as I wanted to keep her squirming, I felt like the bit had run its course. "It's okay honestly, I don't think anyone does. I would be surprised if there are even fans here for me."

"I feel like such a bitch I'm sorry for just assuming." the beautiful blonde girl said while looking like she wanted to melt away.

"Ha! It's ok seriously I'm not offended by much of anything."

"I'm not ever that mean to employees or fans I promise I am just having a bad day I guess."

"Really? That's what you considered rude? I swear Canadians are so nice. I don't mean that in any mean way, it's just I'm from Texas." I said smiling.

"Hey! We can be rude. oh, sorry for yelling!"

I laugh a little more. "Ha! It's ok Kris" Seeing her eyes widen I smile. "Yes, I know who you are, and may I call you Kris?"

At first, she didn't want to react but when she noticed I was laughing she knew I made a bad joke and faked a little laugh, or possibly a petty laugh, either way, I'll take it.

Giving in to the joke she smiles and says, "Yes you can KallmeKris."

We share a little laugh as if forming our little inside joke.

"Haha, you are funny."

"For a girl..." Kris said with a straight face.

"What?"

"You said I'm funny and you didn't add for a girl after it."

"Uh.... What?" I was a little confused honestly.

"That's what everyone says. 'you're funny for a girl."

"Uh.... That sucks, you can't just be funny for being funny? Like being a girl changes your qualifications for being funny. Like having a vagina makes you less funny? That's dumb I'm sorry."

I saw her head cock to the side slightly listening to me talk and I just enjoy her facial expressions. She's a beautiful woman, even when she is confused or maybe she was just thinking.

"Somethings different about you"

"Does that have to do with the fact that I'm like 3 feet taller and about 200 pounds heavier than you?"

She took a longer pause as if studying me and then said, "Something about you is different than other guys." She squinted her eyes a little bit staring me down.

I blow it off and change subjects. "So, is this like a Q and A kind of forum?"

Looking around she smiles and says "Yeah, I believe that it is. Are you excited?"

"Like I said I'm not even sure there will even be any fans of mine in the crowd."

The curtain slowly opened and there was a whole section of people holding signs with my channel and my merchandise. I must admit it's not even the best design for t-shirts, but I was proud to see people wearing them, nonetheless.

***

After the Q and A panel ended, they released all of us to get the next panel on stage, and since I was only invited for one day of the con I planned to pack and head home. Before heading back to the hotel, both Kris and I were stopped by some fans. I'll mention that ninety percent of them wanted pictures with Kris, so I played cameramen for all of them.

When we were finished talking to the few fans who sought us out, I turned and made my way to the exit. I brought nothing with me to the con; I figured it was best to travel light.

I got to the last crosswalk heading to my hotel and had the biggest fright of the week. My heart pounding out of my chest when Kris spoke.

"So, how'd you..."

I cut her off "OH SHIT! WHATTHE FUCK!" it's broad daylight but I had no idea Kris had been following along with me.

She paused and held her hands up against her chest almost as if she was upset, she startled me. "Oh, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to scare you ha-ha. I was just going to ask how you felt about the Q and A" The sound of her laughter was like a beautiful symphony.

Breathing heavily, mostly playing into the fear, to hear more of her laugh. "No, it's fine I ha! Didn't know you were following me."

She gives me an incredulous look and says "I'm not following you, weirdo! Maybe if you would use your brain, just maybe the convention booked the same hotel for us."

I smile at her "Yeah but see that would make too much sense. Haha ok, so do you really have a hotel room here?"

"Uh focus on the Q and A here, how was it?"

I laugh out loud at that "Fine it was just fine, I enjoyed meeting the fans. I didn't think I had so many fans here in Canada."

The whole walk to the hotel I do whatever I can to make her laugh. She grabs my arm while laughing and says that I am funny. "You know that's a really big compliment coming from you."

"Thank you. No really thank you" She looked up at me almost as if stalling for time.

"Well, I'm gonna go inside and pack, it was really nice to meet you," I say turning to the hotel.

"Sooo" she held out the word like I was missing something.

Odds are I was missing something. I looked back to her seeing the discomfort on her face and the anxiety in her body language. Now, I'm not the best at noticing hints and clues from a beautiful girl, so seeing Kris just standing there looking at me as if I should know what she's thinking has me so confused.

"What?" I said shrugging my shoulders.

She gives me the side eye and rolls her head in the way a girl does when she thinks I should know what she is trying to tell me without actually telling me.

"Look Kris, I'm not good with signals or clues. I'm sorry I don't know what you want me to know. So, please, tell me what you want me to know."

She looked from side to side as if she didn't want someone to hear what she had to say. She also looks a little bit disappointed that I didn't catch on. "Aren't you going to invite me to your room?"

I scrunched my eyebrows together at her sudden forward question, but also because I didn't know what she meant. Until I did know what she meant.

"Ohhh," I said after catching on. "Kris, I..." Looking into her eyes, I notice her fear, her anxiety, and now I know what it's from. "I... um, I don't know how to say this."

"How about you just say it instead of leaving me hanging here" She cocked her hip to the side, which happened to be very seductive in my opinion. "You aren't into me because I have small tits or whatever just say it ok? I won't be upset it's just..."

"WHAT? NO! hahaha" I say cutting her off. "No Kris that's not it, I mean honestly, I find you very beautiful. It's just."

"What?" She yelled abruptly as if caught off by being called beautiful and like she was getting a little impatient. The real question was why was it a slight turn-on.

"Kris haha I honest to God thought that you weren't into guys" I smiled at her.

It took a moment for Kris to let it sink in. "Wait you thought I wasn't into guys?"

"Yeah, you weirdo! I just was trying to be respectful of your..."

She gasped and put her hand against her chest "Did you assume my sexuality?" I thought she was upset and then I saw this little flicker of a smile on her lips. That was it, I knew she just got me good, and then she continued.

"No, I was just being respectful because you didn't tell me, so it wasn't my fault..."

"Well, you know now" She cut me off again and it made me smile and shake my head slowly. "So, I mean are you going to leave a girl in suspense? And in the cold?"

"Cold? you were raised here, born in it, molded by it..."

"OK, get on with it batman" she laughed.

"Um, that wasn't... nevermind" I decided to let it go as she did know roughly where it was from. "Besides this weather is barely ten degrees. Me, on the other hand, I'm from Texas, and we are used to like thirty degrees. I'm speaking in Celsius because you know it's Canada and all." I got her to smile at that and then I saw she was still waiting for the other answer. "Kris if you want to come to my room, I'd be delighted to have you all to myself" I phrased it that way to see how she would take it.

Her face turned red hearing that I would have her all to myself. I could tell that it was the right thing to say to her at that moment. I even think that I saw her bite her lip a little bit and I have to say it worked for me.

I walked to the front desk because I was only booked for the weekend. The first day was filled with getting in the hotel and meeting teams on setting up, and like a meet and greet to tease the Q and A panel. I look at the short brunette girl with a tight ponytail that works for the hotel. Dressed to the nines, she was a beautiful woman who was odd. She looked like someone who loved her job, but she looked like she had a secret passion that she had to hide while at work.

"Good afternoon ma'am I have a question for you" I started using a thick southern accent. I did this from time to time for fun and to hide my identity.

The hotel employee smiles and says, "Yes sir how may I help you today" Her face tells me she knows I'm American immediately.

"Well, ma'am the situation is simple." I keep the deep southern accent going. "I seem to have a problem with the number of days I was planning on spending here."

I don't know what gave it away, maybe I was completely obvious, or maybe Kris was just more intelligent than even she let on. She didn't miss a beat joining in on the bit.

Using a thick southern American accent as well, Kris said "Ma'am my loveable oaf of a husband didn't book enough days in our room for our vacation. Would there happen to be a way we could possibly book a few more days?"

"Now babe, this ain't all my fault now ya hear? I don't do good on those dang ol phones and stuff, come on" I was proud of my southern accent, it was one I knew how to do without practice, being from Texas it was easy.

"Daryl!!! Don't be making me a lying cactus in the middle of winter. You were the one that said 'Oh don't worry babe I know what I'm doin'"

I smile trying not to laugh then look at the employee again. "Alright loval bunches whatever you say it doesn't matter because the nice lady here will be able to fix it for us."

The employee seemed to be giving off the body language that she felt like we were arguing and didn't want to cause too much of a fuss. "Well sir that would be no problem, might I get your name to see what room you have so we can see what we can do?"

Giving my name we waited while she typed on the keyboard, I could tell she was looking at bad news and for a moment she didn't want to mention it.

"Ok, it says here that your room was booked by a company so we couldn't extend that room any longer I do apologize."

Cutting in, because apparently, she loved chaos Kris says "Damnit Daryll! You told me you booked it! You had your idiot brother do it didn't you?"

"Well fuck me like a lizard Beth! Of course, I did! I ain't no gosh darn rocket scientist!" I said with a straight face and before I could ask the girl for a different room Kris laughed.

She didn't just laugh from what I said in character. She broke her character, laughing so hard she was clutching her belly. It was more attractive than anything on the internet for me. Not only was she out of breath with laughter but I also, broke her from one of her characters, all and all a win for me.

"Yes, ma'am I am aware of that." Now using my normal voice, Kris was still recovering from laughing so hard. "Would you happen to have any other rooms I could get for a few days?"

After having a pure moment of shock from the accent change, she says. "I can certainly look for you." She looked back at the computer while typing then she had another face that said there was another problem, but she was a heavyweight salesperson. She spun the bad news into good News, smiling big she said. "Good news sir we do have a few rooms available, we have the luxurious Royal suite available."

Hearing the name of the suite Kris stops laughing and says, "Oh well...."

I cut Kris off "OK that sounds expensive but sure why not."

The employee just stared for a long moment and realized what I said. "Uh... yeah ok excellent choice sir I'll need a card to process the transaction".

I could tell in her voice she didn't believe I had the funds. As I was reaching for my wallet Kris started to protest.

"Whoa hold on now do you know how much that cost for a night? It's like ten grand or something."

"Wow that is pretty steep are there any deals or anything I could take advantage of?" I handed her my card, and I could see her face of shock again as she grabbed the card, she didn't think I would keep going through with it. "I mean don't you know this beautiful girl here? She's like basically Canadian royalty."

I smile seeing Kris was caught off guard and blushing at what I said. Then she looked at me defensively.

"Not royalty!"

"Well, you didn't deny being beautiful huh?"

She blushed again and the employee spoke up, and I just noticed her name was Emily.

"I'm sorry sir I don't recognize her, but this says your recent room was booked by that content creators convention is that because you are a content creator?" Emily never lost her professionalism.

"They say that I am, but I would just call myself lucky. It's ok if there is no promotional..." Emily cut me off and spoke.

"Well, if you stay for longer, we can give you a decent pricing."

Kris spoke now "Wait what do you mean?"

"Well, you see that room hasn't been taken for a very long time now and it's just losing money so how long will you be staying?"

"I could stay the whole weekend instead of one night if that helps," I notice she gives me a look at the ceiling, but I realize she means more days. "How about the week... ah two weeks?"

"Well sir if you were willing to stay for two weeks, I'm sure we can work a decent price for the room give me a moment to find out."

I knew she could have been lying just to get more money out of me but I was already thinking of ways to make it a business purchase so I could try and write it off for taxes.

Coming back Emily smiles and says, "Good news sir I can get you two weeks for the price of one night is this card good for the purchase?"

Kris looked at me and was clearly thinking business-wise as well and said "Could you split it on two cards? My husband didn't bring the big card you know how the cute ones are right?" she and Emily had their own little inside, girls only laugh as she handed her card to her.

"Yo! Wait what is that supposed to mean? What? We are dumb or something? I mean shit you ain't wrong, but you know at least we... ah." I let my words end to play dumb and get a laugh from both the girls.

***

After cleaning out the room I was in, which wasn't hard since I didn't even pull the comforter out from the tucked position of the mattress. Kris made a joke about sleeping like a vampire on the ceiling since all I had to do was pick up a laptop and walk back out of the room.

Getting to the royal suite I open the door with Kris in tow. The room was huge, bright, and opulent. Windows from ceiling to floor and a beautiful view of the city. There was a whole security room that had access for a security team which we didn't have our own security team, so it was empty. Three bedrooms that were just as luxurious as the main living room area. It was a penthouse, and it was all for us.

"Well, this is us! So why did you pay half anyway you weirdo?"

"I felt a little bad that you were paying it because of me wanting to come up with you... I mean I don't know why you bought more days in the first place."

"Eh I figured I might as well turn it into a little vacation and besides if I make a video or so maybe I can write it off as a business expense."

Slamming the door behind us Kris whirled around her Jaw dropped and excitedly said. "That's what I was thinking! Haha, I figured I wouldn't feel so bad if I helped pay and then when you left, I could use the room to shoot a few videos!"

"Oh, you sly little vixen!"

"Oh yeah well you should see my other skills," she said innocently.

I cock my head to the side, smirking and squinting my eyes quizzically to tease her. When she saw my look, I could tell what she said just clicked in her mind what it sounded like.

"I didn't mean it like that!"

Now I twist my face in a 'really' kind of look "So I shouldn't see your other skills?"

"Wait! No! I... I mean...." She stopped for a moment when she heard me laughing hard. "Hey, shut up you know what I meant."

"Oh yeah, I bet!" I say still laughing "I've seen your great dance moves and beating up Pete."

Saying that caught her in her tracks and she looked up at me. "Wait you really have seen my videos... but why?"

"Oh, that's simple. And that is, you see hot girl, you watch hot girl. Guy code 746." I said in a duh tone. "It was only after a few videos that I realized I was watching them because you were legitimately funny too."

I turned around at this point and walked to the window to look at the view. It was a cold, gloomy day with gray and black clouds blocking out most of the light from the sun. The city life looked unaffected by the weather or the temperature. It's beautiful in its own depressing way, it is intoxicating almost.

Almost as if I had a sixth sense I leaned to the side and a jacket crashed against the window in a very aggressive manner. I quickly turn around to look at Kris, because there is no one else that it could have come from.

"What the fuck is wrong with you woman!" I say with a smile as if it was just a jacket not as if it was going to hurt me after all.

"You can't just say nice things about a girl like that and then not give her attention" Her face was flushed but some anger was behind her eyes.