The screams of fans in the crowd. The announcers talking quick. Jerome, at the front, biting his lip.

I'd been challenged to show on American Ninja Warrior. A lot of my fans thought I was fit enough to take on the final course, and they'd gotten me in. I knew they were talking about me and my channel, but I didn't care. They were paid to do this.

I'd gotten the chance to shorten the course, which I'd taken. The Quintuple Step, the Salmon Ladder, the Rolling Dice, and finished off with the Spider Climb. It was still a dangerous course, and Jerome was worried about me.

Jumping forward, my feet sunk into the padding of the Steps. Luckily, I was tall enough to take one step on each of them, and propel my way through. My last jump had me crash on to the landing deck, but the excited cries from the observers gave me the strength to get back up and continue. I really needed to block them out, but it was hard.

The Salmon Ladder would take almost all my strength. Grabbing into the bars, I started to pull myself up, and the crowd grew louder. With one quick movement, I yanked the silver pole out from its binds and slammed it onto the next set. After doing it once more, my muscles really started to burn, sending fire down to my hands and chest. I jumped up to the final one, and hung there for a second.

"--ood so far, but he seems to be slipping. Can the gaming nerd do it?"

"I think it's impressive he's made it this far."

Anger flashing through my mind and strengthening my limbs, I jumped to the Dice, grabbing one low bar and one high. Taking a slow breath and focusing on the metal instead of the tingling in my hands, I pulled down and pushed up. The structure moved slowly, and clacked into place. If I could do it just twice more, I'd be able to dismount.

I stole a glance out into the stands. Jerome's look told me to just drop down into the water. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't.

"Nerd."

"Weak."

"He doesn't work out. He's a fake!"

It was more for my self-esteem than anything.

Shutting my eyes, I moved my hands and tuned out. I couldn't hear anything anymore. Not really. It was all just a buzz.

Swallowing hard, I moved the Dice, bracing for the jolt. It came rather quickly, rattling my bones, and I winced. I already hurt all over. This wasn't easy.

One more time. Pinching my skin, I grabbed the top and bottom, shifting it one more time. I could probably drop down, if I built up a bit of momentum. There was no way I could take it, or moving it another time.

Taking my chances, I grabbed a middle bar along the bottom with first my left, than my right hand. Swinging once, I jumped, and was surprised to find floor under my feet.

"Mitch, stop!"

I could hear Jerome's scream from the crowd, but I ignored him, keeping forward to the Spider Climb. For about thirty seconds, I collected myself (I wasn't seriously competing, so there was no clock), and then ran up to the wall.

A straight climb up thirty feet with only three ledges the entire way, one every ten. If the spring didn't rise, I would fall all the way back down. Even with all the padding, I could still get hurt.

It was stupid of me to try.

I placed one hand on either wall, setting my feet in the ridges. My quiet surroundings became completely silent as I moved one hand up, and then the other, taking my feet up with them. That was maybe three feet, at most.

Fuck. I already could feel the flames.

With both hands, I used my height to my advantage and grabbed the next ledge, pulling myself up. Finding my balance, I kept climbing until both my feet were resting in the ledge, then reached up and grabbed the next one. The end was only a foot or so above my head, and I got excited.

I won't even lie.

I reached towards the end, and didn't grab where I should have.

With a cry, I fell all three stories and landed on the padding. Pain screamed through me, rendering me unable to do anything, even open my eyes. All I saw was black, and I couldn't feel much of anything. When my vision finally cleared a few seconds later, Jerome was kneeling over me, and all around me was white, the shelves shaking slightly.

An ambulance?

Maybe it hadn't been just a few seconds.

"Are you okay? Mitch, can you speak?"

"Yeah," I groan, looking around a bit. Jerome pushed me back down, worry clear in his eyes. "It just hurts."

"The paramedics can't find anything wrong with you, but they're taking you to the hospital anyways."

"Alright," I mutter, shutting my eyes.

····

When I woke up (I hadn't even realized I'd fallen asleep), Jerome was still in my room. As he saw my eyes open, he rushed over, kissing all over my face.

"Oh my God. I love you. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Jerome. Now, can I go home?"