Last Grasp of Reality
December 14th
Santa Barbara
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Thanks to Twitter and my encouragement to another woman about embracing the size of her backside... I apparently made a new friend. Not that me making friends is all that strange... ok, stop laughing. But the thing with this one is, it happens to be Minerva, the woman Drake Hemingway has been spending time with. That might sound suspicious, that I found a way to strike up a friendship with his woman, but honestly? I just replied to her ass-bashing tweet because no one should be ashamed of the size of their ass. Not as if hers is huge anyway, but she has a solid base. I offered to give her some squat tips for building it up. I was kinda half-joking but she took me up on it. So... there I was at Ante Up waiting for my new friend to arrive, so I could go over my gluteus maximus routine with her. When I told Tommy who was coming, he made a face, but didn't object. He'd backed off being so... assy? About my friendship with Drake, but he obviously still didn't like the guy. I thought that since it was clear the man was tied up with another woman it would no longer be an issue. Besides, I'd told Tommy I didn't want anyone else other than him anymore. In my head Drake was an exception, but I knew better than to say that. It wasn't going to happen anyway so it didn't matter.
I was sitting at the leg press machine, where I typically start my routine when I work on my ass. I had told Minerva it was a lot of squats, and it is, but not all squats. That only gets you so far, you need strength too. I had texted her Ante Up's address, she told me she was used to driving a lot and finding her way so I assumed she was at least well versed in using some form of GPS. There were a few students there going over strength drills with Tish. Tommy wasn't there, he had business at the Starmaker to take care of before coming in for his main class this afternoon. I noticed the door open, and a young woman with bright orange hair dressed in all black walked in. There was my new friend, in the flesh. She looked around, I could see she was impressed by the facility. I stood up and waved her over. When she saw me, she smiled and walked my way.
“You made it.”
“It wasn't that hard, did you know there are like a half dozen signs to here from the highway?”
“There are? No, had no idea.” I don't usually come straight here from the highway. I wonder if the signs had been Tommy's idea, or David's from before.
“Okay, maybe two. But still. It's not like this place is hiding. It's amazing. Very different than the dungeons I'm used to working out in.”
“Took me a while to get used to it, too. You could fit my old gym in here three times. But it feels like home now.”
“It should, you're fucking the owner.” Minerva smirks.
“I was doing that a long time before I felt welcome here. Turns out the trash taking itself out makes all the difference.”
Minerva laughed. She sat on the machine next to the one I was on, there's like five of them. I sat back on mine facing her. “Gotta love it when that happens. Speaking of your man, can I ask you something before we get started?”
“Go for it.”
“Is it... safe for me to be here?”
“Why wouldn't it be?”
“I've heard he isn't a fan of some of the company I keep.”
“You obviously mean Drake.” Minerva nodded. “We had a misunderstanding a few months ago. It's better now.”
“I see.”
“Besides, Tommy isn't here right now. He'll be in later.”
Minerva smirked. “That's why you asked me to come at this time, isn't it?”
“No. I have a striking class to lead later. You're welcome to stay for that if you want.”
She then shrugged. I got the feeling I was being tested somehow. “Oh. Okay, maybe I will.” She caressed the weight bar on the machine she sat on. “So... this thing doesn't look like squats.”
That was a pretty quick pivot, I must have passed the test. I play along and grin.
“Oh but it is. You just do them on your back. With weights.”
“That sounds a little more intensive than I thought I was getting into here.”
“Don't tell me you've never done leg presses?”
“Not really. I go more for cardio.”
“I'll start you off light. But before that I'll show you the form I use for my squats. It's a little different than standard.”
Minerva stood up and clapped her hands together once. “Sounds great. Been thinking about what you said. I'm ready to be proud of this thing.” She then slapped her ass. I laughed as I stood up.
“Alright then.”
I showed her the form, and explained how to keep the muscles tensed through the whole rep, not just when down. She's a quick learner. She did make a face when I told her I do a hundred at a time, four times a day. I told her to start with twenty-five and work herself up. Gotta walk before you can run, right? After that I went over my leg press routine, and set her up with a third of the weight I normally use. We took a break between sets. Minerva sat up on the bench with her bottle of water and gave me an up and down look.
“.... What?”
“One thing you should know about me if we're gonna be friends is, I don't hold back, I don't waste time, and if I want to know something, I don't hesitate to ask. I can be very blunt.”
“Then we'll get along fine, I'm the same way.”
“Good, so you won't be offended when I ask you about your association with Drake.”
I smirked. “I was actually wondering when you would bring that up.”
“I was waiting to see if you'd offer up anything.”
“There isn't much to offer. We've been friends since Emerge. A lot of people didn't understand it, but neither of us cared.”
“And here I was told you were more than that.”
“Why don't you tell me what you were told? You clearly know something, since you asked me about Tommy.”
“I know you hooked up, and Tommy didn't like it.”
“Then you know everything.” That wasn't entirely true, I hadn't told Drake exactly how much Tommy didn't like it... but that was something that wasn't ever going to be discussed. “It was only once.”
“Not a big deal for you I'm sure, but it was a big deal for him.”
“I know it was, it's why I wanted it. The man needed to be unleashed, okay?”
“Well, you definitely did that, so I should probably thank you for your persistence. He told me you worked on it a long time.”
I laughed. “You could say that. Worth it. But then you know that.”
“I do. So there's really no more issue with Tommy over it? I'm not gonna get thrown outta here over association?”
“It was almost a year ago doll, you're fine. Tommy might hold some grudges a long time, but not that. He knows there's nothing there, we're just friends. He didn't understand why I did what I did at first, but he gets it now. I can't say he'll ever like Drake or want him over for dinner for anything, but there's no hostility.” Anymore. I don't think.
“Good. I'd hate to cause you any more problems over the issue all in the name of improving my ass.”
I laughed. “Tommy isn't nearly that petty. Don't stress. It's bad for your skin.”
“What about my ass?”
“That... we should get back to work. Set two! Increase reps.” I laid back on the bench, and Minerva followed my lead. “Up to twenty. And Go!”
Minerva finished my routine with me like a champ, she even wanted a little more weight. I wrote everything down for her in an Evernote note and texted it to her for reference when she was on the road, but I also told her I was happy to work out with her any time, especially since she was with SCW for good now and we'd be seeing each other a lot more.
After we were done, I had to get ready for my class, Minerva stayed and watched me teach. Tommy arrived just as I was finishing up. I introduced them and Minerva left. Tommy gave me an odd look once she was gone. I shrugged, and he said nothing as he went upstairs to his office. So far, so good.
Christmas came and went. Tommy and I failed to beat Regan and Selena again. Neither of us were happy about it, as I'm sure you can imagine. Christmas was quiet, we spent the day to ourselves at home, then for dinner I went to Nate's and he went to his ex's to see his younger kids. That might sound strange for a couple who's been living together for a few months but we didn't think the added pressure of a holiday was a good time to introduce me to the kids. Tommy told me his ex, Kirsten, suggested that it was time I did meet them, but schedules and such hadn't made it possible yet. Maybe after the new year. I admit I'm not really in a hurry to do so, I don't consider myself to be very good with kids, even though they aren't that young. I think the oldest is around Carla's age. When I was at Nate's I made a point to spend some more time with the fifteen year old, try to get used to talking to someone her age in preparation. It was different with her though, she was older mentally than her actual years. Kinda like I was at her age. I can't imagine Tommy's kids being that mentally mature, given I know that they haven't had nearly as rough an upbringing as I did, or Carla did. And thank whatever you might believe in for that.
After falling to Frozen Hell again, our frustration level as far as SCW was concerned had reached an all-time high. Maybe that's what was shooting us in the foot, why we couldn't seem to buy a win lately. It seemed that after Tommy failed to claim the vacant World Championship and I came up just short in the Elimination Chamber, that we were forgotten about. I'd already been left off one pay per view this year, and we were both left off Last Laugh. It was bullshit! Neither of us had anything to do on the Year End show, either, but we were required to be there in case we won any awards... which of course we didn't. More bullshit.
January 1st
Toronto
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The day after the End of the Year Show – New Year's Day – Tommy and I were still in Toronto. We planned to leave around noon. We were being lazy in bed when I got a text, it was from Minerva. I didn't know she had attended the show, but apparently she and Drake were both in town. She wanted to meet up for breakfast, just me and her. Sounded fine to me. I told Tommy where I was going, he nodded and went back to sleep.
I met Minerva in a restaurant not far from the hotel. She had her orange hair up and tucked into a hat. I had mine in one thick braid, as usual. We were both in jeans and t-shirts, it seemed everyone was dressed for comfort that day. After ordering, we talked while waiting for our food.
“I didn't think you guys were coming to the show.”
“Hadn't planned on it. But the office told me I was on the ballot for an award so I should be in attendance just in case.”
“Right.... same reason we were there. Yet we didn't win shit so we could have stayed home.”
“I didn't expect to win, I could have stayed home too.”
“That makes sense for you, you've been here for like five minutes. No offense. Tommy and me though were tag champions earlier this year, he came this close to being World Champion, you'd think the people who vote on these things would recognize that, rather than going with the 'feel good story supercouple' bullshit. Those sheep care about what SCW tells them to care about and it's sickening.”
“So you think the sheep care about Bree Lancaster over Regan Street?”
I shrugged. “Bree probably has some kind of cult padding the votes for her with VPNs or some shit.” Minerva laughed. I smirked. I couldn't explain that anomaly, other than the fact that people really do think Regan is a bigger bitch. “I guess we just need a way to demand attention rather than waiting to be handed something like some of these other fuckers get.”
“They're giving your man a shot at the TV Title, aren't they? That has to count for something.”
“Maybe. If he wins it he could break a record, so there's that. But it's a pretty big drop from Under Attack where he was competing for the World Title. And what about me? I have nothing. SCW is content to let me be Tommy's sidekick rather than give me any kind of chance. I think I was added to the Chamber only because they had nothing else to do with me and then when I almost won the thing they didn't know what to do with it.”
“Then you show them you aren't to be fucked with. I've heard you say things about staying angry, you and Tommy had fun the Adrenaline battle royal, but maybe you should be more surgical with your strategy.”
“You mean, pick one target, rather than just causing general chaos?”
She smirked. “Exactly.”
I smirked back. “I have the... perfect, target. And I'm willing to bet Tommy will have one in mind, too.”
“Glad to help. Don't worry about the stupid awards though, they mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. At least the show was a spectacle.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “What, watching Regan and Selena get handed a win in a handicap match and that bitch that Tommy should have never trusted kick her former friend's ass over a title? Sure, yeah... super fun spectacle.”
“Let's not forget the person who isn't even a wrestler winning a battle royal and money and a car.”
“Right? How did he even get cleared to be in the match? Sometimes I really wonder what's going on in the offices around here.”
“I think they like the drama. Controversy creates cash... wait, I don't think I can say that.”
I smirked. “It was pretty fun to watch that fuckstick Asher Hayes be pissed he got beat at the end, I'll admit that.”
“True. He seems like a real douche.”
“He is, trust me.”
“Experience?”
“In ring? No. In sheets? Yes.”
Minerva leaned over the table, interested. “I thought that's what you two were bickering about over Twitter a while back. Got any juicy details?”
“It was a good time for what it was. I offered a lay for him to kick Gavin Taylor's ass, my hatred of that motherfucker goes way back. Asher took the fuck but then also took the loss. And then tried to get another fuck out of the deal to try again. That man is the definition of thirst.”
“So I should stay clear?”
“Do what you want, he's a good lay. Just don't expect anything out of it other than that.”
“Noted.”
Our food arrived, and we dug in for a minute before I had questions of my own.
“Okay so, I told you I am blunt just like you are, so I have a question.”
“Fire away.”
“What the fuck is the deal with you and the old guy?”
Minerva laughed. “Oh, I don't know if you'd understand that. Most people wouldn't.”
“As long as you're not telling me you're actually in love with him, I think it'll be fine.”
“Alright. I've actually known him for a while, from another company we were working in. He was sort of like a mentor. His bitch wife didn't like it. It's a long story but the point is that I get back at those who fuck with me. Hard.”
“So wait... this whole thing where he thinks you're in love is an act?”
“For me it is. Some of my best acting ever, by the way. Have you ever fucked a man over fifty?”
“Um, that would be a no.”
“I don't recommend it.”
“I hadn't planned on it, but thanks for the warning.”
We both snickered a bit. “So yes, it's all a farce, shame he has to be played this way to get back at the bitch, he's actually pretty innocent. But the ends justify the means.”
I gave her a smirk, pointing with my fork over my plate of pancakes. “You and me? We're a lot more alike than you think.”
“Oh yeah? Who's life have you plotted to ruin with your cunt?”
“Not really ruin... just alter course. There's this guy that was hovering around Tommy's daughter. Well, sort of niece who became an adopted daughter, its weird. But anyway... he didn't want the guy messing with her. He's a nice guy... just not for her, you know? So... I gave him a good distraction, until he decided that trying to date Tommy's daughter after fucking his girlfriend was a little too weird.” I punctuated the story by taking a bite of sausage. Minerva laughed.
“You're right, we are alike. I see why Drake likes you. I think we're going to be very good friends.”
“I think so, too.” We mockingly toast with our coffee cups. “So, since you're apparently all up inside Raab's head, do you have anything I can use to fuck with him when Tommy and I face him and Howell next week?”
“Oh, I have lots of juicy things.”
We spent the rest of breakfast talking about ways for me to get in the geezers head and beat him without needing to break much of a sweat. Apparently he has a secret fascination with my ass and comparing it to hers. Most people are fascinated by my ass, but the thing is that he pretends he doesn't. I could absolutely use that. In the meantime... if this was going to be a real friendship, I would have to think of some kind of way to get the stick out of Tommy's ass about Drake. He doesn't say much about me talking to him over text or whatever, but hanging out? That's gonna take some work.
January 6th
Detroit
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Breakdown was over, Tommy and I were back at our hotel room. Me? I was still hot. I didn't care that we lost the match against Raab and Howell by countout, we did that on purpose. Halfway through the match when it became clear that we were being treated like a joke, or not a threat, we decided it wasn't worth breaking a sweat to beat those fucks. So I grabbed a mic and spoke some truth that at least one person didn't want to hear. That's fine though, it was exactly the person's attention I was trying to get. Peyton Rice interrupted me and pulled her typical morality bullshit. “The rest of us work, you demand too much, you didn't even finish this match,” blah blah blah! I wanted to punch her teeth in. Tommy pulled me away but I got what I wanted.... her undivided attention, after she had blown me off time and time again.
By the time we got back to the room though, I still wasn't calm. I slammed the door behind me after walking in after Tommy, then threw my bag across the room.
“Whoa! You nearly hit me with that!”
“Sorry... I thought I saw that cunt in the corner.”
“I'm not even as pissed as you and I was the one jumped! What's gotten into you?”
“Did you forget my vow to stay mad? I know Under Attack was a while ago but-”
“No, I didn't forget. But at some point you have to leave it in the arena. I'd love to break Hayes' knees, but there's a time and a place, and in your case I'd like that time and place to not be in our hotel room.”
I sighed hard, and sat on the edge of the bed. “Okay. Fine. I see your point. I'm just so sick of her goody-two-shoes bullshit. I've been dealing with it literally my entire wrestling career. Emerge, we fought. She was singing the same tune then, and the masses eat it up like baby food. I decided to come here, she followed, and she's still doing the same shit. It's exhausting, babe.”
Tommy sat next to me. “You think I haven't heard the kinds of shit she's saying before? I've been in this business a long time, her spiel isn't new. There's always gonna be people who think the best way to get ahead in this business is taking the high moral ground, do things the so-called 'right way.' And there's also always going to be people like us... who realize that there is no right way, there's only the way that works. Peyton is just on an upswing at the moment, she thinks her way is right because so far it's worked for her. All she needs is one massive disappointment to become disillusioned enough to see how rose-colored her glasses really are.”
“Oh, so getting her ass kicked by Xander wasn't that?”
“I don't think so. Not if she's still spewing the same garbage. She needs to be beat by someone she sees as an equal, who stands for the opposite of what she does. Xander isn't her equal, he's been around just as long as I have. He's more like an... elder, for lack of a better term. She needs to lose to someone like you to get it.”
“Don't you think I've been trying?! We went the distance in the Chamber and the bitch still managed to get over on me! Every time she beats me it reinforces her garbage and-”
“All it takes is once.”
“Maybe, but when am I going to get that, huh? I don't even have a match against her any time soon, the Head Bitch is giving her all the attention and ignoring me!”
“Yes you do.” Tommy smirked. I frowned.
“What?”
“While you were in the shower, I got word from a gopher. Everything that happened tonight seems to have forced Sasha's hand. Last Grasp, you're getting Peyton. I'm getting Hayes.”
“I'll be fucked.”
“Yes you will....” He smirked again. “I know, that's not what you meant. My point is... we got what we wanted. We caused enough trouble that they had to do something. We're both on the pay per view, we're facing the assholes who have been fucking with us, and we're gonna put them down.”
I smiled, excited. It might be the first time I've been excited about anything in SCW since the Chamber was booked. “It's about fucking time! They won't be able to overlook us anymore after we take care of these nagging issues.”
“That's what I'm trying to tell you. There's no reason to stay mad tonight.”
“You could have just led with that.”
He smirks again. “Maybe, but I have to admit your angry face is sexy.”
I laughed. “Should I make that face when I come instead of my regular O face?”
“Surprise me.”
With that, he quickly leaned forward towards me, pushing me backwards onto the bed, ending with a rough kiss. Luckily for him, I like it rough, and I'm almost always in the mood. Even more so when the prospect of kicking as ass I've wanted to kick for literal years is on the horizon.
ON CAMERA
It sure the fuck took long enough to get a real reaction out of you, didn't it Pey-Pey? All I had to do was say things you didn't like after turning my back on a match that didn't matter, and well... clearly that offended Your Majesty's morality, so you had to open your DSLs and get in my face about it.
Well done, doll. You played right into my plans, and you don't even realize it. Here's the thing though, doll. You probably think we're going out there to have a match. Like the ones we've had before... despite the fact we clearly can't stand each other, in the past we've spoken about respect. For the competition, for the business we both work hard in, even for each other's talent.
But this isn't like every other match we've had, Peyton. I'm not coming out there to wrestle you. I'm not even coming out there to fight you.
I'm coming to hurt you.
We don't just have a difference of opinion of how this business works anymore, now you've actually insulted me. And anyone who knows me will tell you, that is pretty fucking hard to do. You got in my face two weeks ago and you said that I don't work for what I want.
I don't work?
Are you fucking kidding me?
Just because you don't like the way I carry myself – which would be pretty goddamn hypocritical of you, with your regular posting of mostly nude modeling pics, just saying. But it's not just that, you don't like the fact Tommy and I found it pointless to waste our time in a match that didn't matter, when it should have been called off anyway after he got attacked... could have just given the points to Raab and Howell without making us go out there, we didn't give a fuck! But no, that was an insult to your sense of morality and I'm trying to figure out why?
Why does it matter to you so much what other people do with their careers? Why do you feel the need t preach to the entire roster how they should conduct themselves in a ring? Why can't you just worry about yourself? This kind of morality police is what keeps getting you and your little Perfect Pack friends in trouble, isn't it? I'm not the only one sick and tired of your lectures from your high horse, but I am the one who's been dealing with your garbage for the longest.
I think I've got you figured out though, doll. You care what other people do, how other people act in the ring, because those of us who have no problems with doing what ever is necessary to get what we want? It actually threatens you. Not physically, usually. But mentally. Because you think our way is weak while your way is strong, you fight the temptation to take the so-called easy way, to be seduced by everything you could gain if you put all these pesky morals aside just once.... you worry that you'd lose your reputation, the respect of your family and your peers.
Let me tell you a few things that might shatter your innocent little worldview. First of all... nobody gives a fuck about your morals. Your peers don't respect you because of how you choose to rise. They only care if you it at all. The how of success doesn't matter, all that matters is that you are successful. And you have been, I'll give you that. But so have I. We got where we are by very different ways but we both have been champions here, we've both made friends and enemies. But what it all really boils down to is... the only one who gives a fuck about how you got there... is you.
You think the way I do things is easy? You think there's no work in learning your opponent's weaknesses to be able to exploit them? You think it's not hard work to stay in this kind of shape all year long? Keep my strength up, the strength that surpasses some of the men on this roster? You think it's easy to be vicious, even violent when necessary? Of course you did, because you've never had the mental strength to do it. If you had to take someone out to get what you want, could you do it?
I don't think you could. You even tried to 'save me' when Aries was cutting that chamber apart and chains were raining down on us. Even though we'd just had a war, even though we've been rivals for our whole careers... you stopped to pull me out of danger because you couldn't let yourself be the cause of someone else's injury, even though it would have taken out one of your enemies.
This is the problem your morality gives you, and why you're threatened by those of us who aren't held back by that kind of bullshit.
I don't have a problem hurting someone if I need to. Maybe in the past I wouldn't have wanted to do that, I'd have avoided it if possible, but if I had to..... you can bet your pretty little ass I would do whatever was necessary to get the job done. I've had to think that way my whole life and nothing has changed.
So, I'm gonna do you a favor Peyton.
I am going to teach you firsthand that letting yourself be held back by this squeaky clean bullshit is actually worse for you in the long run. It only leads to you getting hurt by those of us who don't have limits. It makes you weak.
I am going to prove to you and everyone else that I am stronger than you. I am going to hurt you. This isn't a warning, you can't stop it from happening. I've had enough of your bullshit and one way or another.... you're going to learn that you can only get so far trying to be perfect.