Chapter 68 – A Night at the Lakers' Court
The air in Los Angeles that night was vibrant. The city always had a certain special glow when the Lakers played at home, and for Jacob Stewart, this was his first time watching a live game at the Arena.
He wasn't a big basketball fan, but he always admired the spectacle the NBA provided. With a busy schedule of movies, Jiu-Jitsu training, and advertising commitments, Jacob finally found time to enjoy a game and relax a little.
And, of course, he had the best seats in the house.
Jacob arrived without security, wearing only a black Nike cap and a dark leather jacket. But immediately, the fans and photographers at the entrance recognized him.
"Jacob! Can you say a few words?" an ESPN reporter approached with a microphone.
Jacob smiled and paused for a moment.
"First time at a Lakers game?"
"Yes, I never had time before, but today I decided to take advantage of it." Let's see if it's all they say it is.
Flashes popped, and soon he was guided to his VIP seats on the court.
As he settled in, he glanced to the side and saw a very familiar face.
Justin Bieber.
The singer, dressed in a Lakers jersey and a backwards baseball cap, looked at Jacob and smiled.
"Hey, man?"
Jacob gave Justin a firm handshake, smiling back.
"Hey, Bieber? I didn't expect to see you here."
"I'm a basketball addict. I come whenever I can."
Jacob nodded, relaxing in his chair.
"First time here. You'll have to explain a few things to me, because I'm kind of lost in this."
Justin laughed.
"Okay, I'll teach you. But only if you teach me how to fight afterwards."
Jacob laughed too, already realizing that this night would be interesting.
The arena lights dimmed and the court lit up completely as the Los Angeles Lakers and opposing team players entered for warm-ups. The crowd roared, and Jacob felt that unique energy of live basketball.
As the players began their warm-up, Justin looked at Jacob and asked,
"So, how's life after the Oscars?"
Jacob smiled thoughtfully.
"Funny you should ask that. Everyone thinks winning an Oscar means you can relax, but it actually just puts more weight on your shoulders."
Justin nodded slowly, taking a sip of his Coca-Cola.
"I get that. I was just a kid when I became famous. Everyone expected me to be a perfect role model, and when I messed up, they crucified me."
Jacob looked at him intently.
"It's tough. When everything happens so fast, you don't have time to figure out who you are."
Justin sighed, shaking his head.
"Exactly. And you, man?" Have you ever dealt with this kind of pressure?
Jacob looked at the court for a moment, reflecting.
"I had to fight hard to get where I am. My childhood wasn't easy; there were times when I thought I'd never make it. But all of that made me stronger. And now, I see fame as a blessing, but also as a test."
Justin raised an eyebrow.
"A test?"
"Yes. A test to see if I can continue being who I am, without letting all this go to my head."
Justin was silent for a moment, clearly absorbing those words.
"Man… You really have a different perspective on things. I like that."
Jacob gave a slight smile.
"Thanks. If you need to talk about anything, I'm here."
Justin gave Jacob a light punch on the arm, laughing.
"Careful, man. If I like you too much, I'll want to call you every day."
Jacob laughed.
"Relax." Just don't call me to sing, because then I'll run away.
The game started and, as the Lakers scored baskets, the stadium erupted in celebrations.
During one of the timeouts, the cameras started filming the celebrities in the audience, and the big screen showed Jacob and Justin sitting together.
The arena roared with excitement, and Jacob laughed, waving at the camera. Justin, next to him, made a "peace and love" sign and joked:
"Make a bad boy face, Jacob!"
Jacob crossed his arms, feigning a serious expression, and the crowd went wild.
The comments on social media exploded immediately.
@NBAInside: Jacob Stewart and Justin Bieber together at the Lakers game? An unexpected friendship, but we're here for it!
@FanPageStewart: Oh my God, Jacob on the Lakers' big screen??? That's all I needed today!
@TMZ: Jacob Stewart and Justin Bieber spotted together at the Lakers game. Could this be Hollywood's new friendship?
Jacob picked up his phone and saw notifications exploding on Twitter. He showed it to Justin, who laughed out loud.
"Dude, the internet's already freaking out."
"Great. Let's enjoy this."
Then, Jacob picked up his phone and posted a picture of the two of them on Instagram, with the caption:
"First time at a Lakers game and I'm already under Bieber's bad influence. What could go wrong?"
In the comments, fans went wild.
"THE BEST FRIENDSHIP I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED!"
"Two legends, one game. History being made!"
"Jacob and Justin together? The world isn't ready for this."
Justin saw the post and started laughing.
"Okay, so now I'm your bad influence?"
Jacob shrugged, amused.
"Well, that's what the media would say, right?"
When the game ended with a Lakers victory, Jacob stood up, satisfied.
"Okay, I admit it. This was way more fun than I expected."
Justin patted him on the shoulder.
"I told you! You need to come more often, man."
The two walked together towards the exit, still talking.
Before saying goodbye, Justin looked at Jacob with a sincere expression.
"Thanks for the chat today. Seriously. I don't always find people who understand what fame can do to you."
Jacob smiled, shaking his hand.
"We're in the same boat, man." "If you need someone to chat with, I'm here."
Justin nodded, giving a slight smile.
"And if you need someone to teach you about basketball, you know who to call."
Jacob laughed.
"Deal. But only if you're up for a Jiu-Jitsu training session with me."
Justin swallowed hard.
"Hm… Let's see about that."
They said goodbye, and Jacob went home knowing he had made a new friend that night.
The media, of course, didn't stop talking about it for the next few days.
Chapter 69 – Tactics, CQB, and Old Warriors
It was a hot day in Los Angeles, and Jacob Stewart, fresh from his morning Jiu-Jitsu training, still felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He was dedicating himself more and more to physical training, always seeking new ways to improve his skills not only for movies, but also because he liked the feeling of being prepared for any situation.
While driving back home, his cell phone vibrated in the car's holder. A message from Mike "Ghost" Reynolds, a former Delta Force operator who now worked as a military consultant and YouTube content creator.
Mike Ghost:
"Hey bro! I see you've been training hard. How about dropping by the booth today? Me and some guys are organizing a tactical training session. I think you'll like it."
Jacob smiled. He had already watched some of Mike's videos on YouTube, where the former soldier talked about military tactics, CQB (Close Quarters Battle), weaponry, and even stories from the missions he participated in.
He quickly replied:
Jacob:
"I'm in. Send me the location."
Minutes later, he received a location pin and changed course.
The location was a large private shooting range, far from the city. When Jacob arrived, he saw that the place was full of special forces veterans, all dressed in tactical shirts, sunglasses, and carrying high-level equipment.
He got out of the car and was greeted by Mike Ghost, a man in his early 40s, bald, with a neatly trimmed beard and an impressive physique.
"The Hollywood legend in the flesh!" joked Mike, shaking Jacob's hand firmly.
"And the legendary Ghost… Pleasure to finally meet you in person."
Mike laughed.
"Man, I've seen some of your shooting practice videos." "You don't mess around on the job."
"Well, I have to be convincing in the movies, right?"
"Oh, don't give me that. I know you train seriously. You have a very technical, almost competitive shooting style. Are you using the Glock they gave you?"
Jacob took his customized Glock 34 out of its case, made especially for him by the company.
"This beauty never lets me down."
Mike picked up the pistol, examined it, and nodded.
"Good setup. But tell me, have you ever done any real CQB training?"
Jacob shook his head.
"I've trained on some film sets, with military consultants, but I've never done anything at a professional level."
Mike smiled.
"Then today's the day."
Jacob was introduced to two other Delta Force veterans who were there:
Ryan "Bear" Carter, a muscular guy with tattoos on both arms and a serious demeanor.
Luis "Shadow" Martinez, a former soldier with experience in covert missions, a man of few words, but with a look that said it all.
"Alright, Jacob. Today we're going to show you the basics of CQB. Close-quarters combat requires speed, precision, and most importantly, teamwork," Ryan explained.
Luis chimed in:
"In the movies, you guys go in kicking down doors and shooting everything. But in the real world, if you do that, you last five seconds before you die."
Jacob laughed.
"Yeah, Hollywood likes to exaggerate a bit."
Mike picked up a modified AR-15 rifle for training with simulation ammunition and handed it to Jacob.
"Let's do an exercise. We're going to put you in a closed environment and simulate an invasion. You'll have to go in, clear the rooms, and eliminate the threats."
Jacob gripped the rifle firmly and positioned himself at the entrance of the warehouse, which had been set up as a realistic combat environment. The lights were low, creating an atmosphere of tension.
"Ready?" Mike asked.
Jacob took a deep breath and nodded.
"Ready."
With a beep, Jacob entered the room, rifle in the correct position.
The first room had a target on the left and another at the back. He aimed quickly, two precise shots, and the mannequins fell.
He advanced down the corridor, keeping the weapon close to his body, sweeping the corners with the scope, exactly as he had seen in videos of real operations.
When he entered the next room, he was surprised by a target that suddenly appeared from the right. His instinct reacted immediately. He turned his body, aligned the scope, and fired.
BANG!
The mannequin fell, and Jacob continued forward, maintaining disciplined movement.
When he finished the exercise, he heard the ex-soldiers applauding.
"I can't believe this guy's an actor…" Ryan joked.
"Good job, man. Solid movement and good reaction to the surprise target," Luis praised. Mike approached, patting Jacob on the shoulder.
"You were born for this, brother. If Hollywood doesn't work out, I'll get you a job on the team."
Jacob laughed.
"I'll think about that if I need a plan B."
After training, Mike called Jacob to record a video for his channel.
"Hey guys! Today we're here with none other than JACOB STEWART! The guy is not only great in movies, but also in real life!"
Jacob smiled.
"Hey guys! Mike put me through CQB training today, and man… this is a whole different world."
Mike turned to the camera.
"So, Jacob? Would you say John Wick would stand a chance in real life?"
Jacob laughed.
"Well, he'd have to learn a few things, but he'd definitely be a handful."
The two filmed the simulation again, this time with cameras capturing the details. When they finished, Mike looked at Jacob and said:
"Brother, whenever you want to come back, the door's open."
Jacob smiled and shook his hand.
"Count on me. This is addictive."
When the video was posted on YouTube, the internet exploded.
@TacticalNews: Jacob Stewart training CQB with ex-Delta Force? This guy is taking action roles to another level!
@FanClubStewart: Jacob isn't just an actor… he's a MONSTER with a shot!
@MilitaryInsider: Jacob Stewart participated in real close-quarters combat training. If Hollywood doesn't want him, the army certainly will.
Jacob picked up his phone and saw the comments. He laughed to himself.
— Now I've officially become a couch potato.
But deep down, he knew…
That was just the beginning.
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