Breakdown 10-7-21
{{Monday, August 2
Gretna, LA
BlackOut Academy}}
The weekend had gone by in relative silence after Jodi Jennings told Spencer to fuck off and stormed out of his apartment. At the moment he'd thought, good riddance. Would save him the trouble of having to end things himself once he got busy with SCW and didn't have time for her. But when he walked into BOA this morning and saw Jodi already there, doing stretches.... he thought to himself, maybe he'd been a little too harsh. Jodi had been excited for him, wanted to support him, and he slammed a figurative door in her face. She'd always been nothing but good to him, and while Spencer was still unsure about her traveling with him to SCW shows, he was sure he didn't want their relationship to end like this.
Spencer looks around the room, so far only himself, Jodi, Trey, and Simon were there. Amy was more than likely in the building, just not upstairs, not as far as Spencer could see anyway. Trey was warming up with hand weights, Simon was sitting on the ring apron with his phone in his hand. And Jodi... she was in the middle of a split-legged stretch on the floor mats at ringside. Spencer sets his bag down and walks over to the mats. Jodi looks up and frowned, but says nothing.
“Hey... can we talk for a few minutes before classes get started?”
“I don't have anything to say to you.”
“Okay... well then can you just listen to me?”
Jodi closes her eyes in annoyance, or was it hurt? “Fine.” She pulls her legs out of the split stretch and into a normal seated position. Spencer squats to get on her level, but that didn't seem right either, so he sits across from her.
“Point blank, I was an asshole.”
“Oh, you think so?” Jodi glares.
“I know so. Obviously I didn't think so in the moment, but I see it now. And I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry.”
Jodi's glare fades, replaced with a skeptical head-tilt. “Do you see it though? Do you really understand what you said sounded like to me? You made me feel like I mean nothing to you.”
“Yeah, I know. That's what I'm sorry for. I didn't mean to come off like that, not at all. You're not just... a warm body.”
“Then what am I? Important enough to apologize to but not enough to travel with you?”
Spencer lowers his head with a sigh. “It's not like that, Jo.” He looks up, the same skeptical look in her eyes staring back at him. “When I said the tagalong thing... I didn't mean that I see you like that. I was worried about the SCW people seeing you like that. Thinking you'd get in the way. Make it look like I'm not taking this seriously.”
“So.... you do want me to go with you?”
“I'd love that. I just don't know what kind of impression that would make. That's all I was trying to say.”
Jodi smiles, and leans over, and Spencer thinks she's about to kiss him... but then the smile fades and she glares again. “What about when you called me a piece of fun? Or are we gonna pretend that didn't happen?”
“You didn't let me finish what I was saying.”
“How stupid do you think I am, Spencer? Obviously we had different ideas about what this is... or was. I thought we were together and you thought we were just having fun.” Jodi shakes her head. “Maybe I shouldn't have assumed. It's so hard to tell what you're thinking sometimes.”
That was by design, Spencer reminds himself. There were things he had to keep to himself, that he could tell no one... or else his whole mission could crumble like a stale cookie.
“If you wanted to know what I thought about us, all you had to do was ask. Ask me now.”
“I think it's a little late for that.”
“Ask me.”
Jodi stares a few seconds, then takes a deep breath. Nothing to lose at this point, she thinks.
“Fine. Spencer... how do you see me? Us?” She seems afraid of the answer.
“I see you and think... that's my girl. You and me? Definite us.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
“Jodi... what else do you want me to say? It was just a misunderstanding, I'm sorry.”
The look on Spencer's face seems genuine, but Jodi just can't be sure. “I accept your apology, but.... I think I just need some time. You really hurt me.”
Spencer nods, and gets to his feet, squatting like before. “Okay. I respect that. If you decide you can believe me, you know where I am.” He rises to his feet. “In the meantime, I'll do my best to not make things weird around here.” Spencer gestures to the room, meaning BOA. He then turns and walks away.
“Thank you.” Spencer doesn't bother to acknowledge that Jodi said anything.
It was early in the morning and training hadn't even started yet, but Spencer already had enough of the Academy for the day. He grabs his bag and heads back to the door that leads downstairs. As he's about three steps away, Amy walks in.
“Good morning, Spencer.” Amy glances at the bag in his hand and the direction he's headed. “Is everything okay? You look like you're leaving.”
“I am. I'm just not really feeling it today. You know?”
“It happens. Take a day, come back with your head in the game tomorrow.”
“That's it? No lecture about work ethic or something?”
Amy shakes her head. “Not today. I can tell something's bothering you, and being unfocused in the ring, even while just working out, could get someone hurt. Take a day.” Amy nods towards the door, encouraging him to leave.
“Thanks, Coach. I'll have my shit together tomorrow.”
“I'm sure that you will.”
Spencer glances back to the room, seeing Jodi just getting into one of the practice rings. Jodi happens to look in his direction at that moment, and they make brief eye contact. Jodi turns away quickly. Spencer turns back to the door and walks out.
Once outside and walking to his car, Spencer pulls his phone out and taps on the screen, making a call.
“Hey.... yeah I did.... no, it went over like a fart in church.... I don't know man.... yeah that motherfucker is there, he's always there.... I don't know.... tell you what, it'll be good when I get going with SCW and I'm not around here for a few days a week.... getting tired of this playing nice shit.... going home and back to bed... yeah, talk to you later, bro.”
Spencer ends the call and hops into his 2004 Malibu, the only used car he could afford when he moved here to train. The first thing he was gonna do with his first SCW paycheck, was replace the piece of shit.
{{Saturday, August 28
Gretna, LA
Spencer's apartment}}
Two days ago, Spencer had been at Breakdown with Amy, the first show back following Rise to Greatness. He had expected to do more than just a two minute interview, even though he knew he wasn't wrestling. It seemed strange to him to fly all the way to Washington D.C. just to be interviewed. But, it got his face on TV, and it kickstarted his salary. He hoped to be booked for a match soon, he was told possibly in two weeks. Hopefully that would be the case.
In the living room of his one-bedroom apartment, just down the street from the BlackOut Academy building, Spencer lays on the couch, the TV on but muted. He's comfortable, wearing running shorts and nothing else. It's afternoon and he's just gotten out of the shower following a run around the track at the nearby park. Drinking a protein shake, he thinks back about everything that happened on the trip to D.C. The first surprise was.... travel. He'd known going in that since Amy was his manager, it made sense for them to fly together. What he didn't know though, was that Simon was now on commentary every week, and that he was traveling with them, as well. Most people loved the retired SCW legend, but he and Spencer had butted heads since the first day he arrived at BOA, and not much had changed in the last near-year. Case in point – the lecture Simon gave him after the scuffle with Trey, right before Rise to Greatness. Spencer wasn't happy with the news, but it turned out to not be so bad. His seat was behind theirs, and he kept his headphones in for the whole flight, both there and back. At least he had his own hotel room, so that was a plus.
A vibrating sound takes Spencer out of his thoughts. His phone bounces across the coffee table; he'd apparently forgotten to turn the ringer back on when he woke up this morning. He glances at the screen first – it reads Caleb. Spencer always picks up for his baby brother.
'Hey, what's up?”
“I got a bone to pick with you man.”
“What'd I do now?”
“You didn't call me when you got home!” Caleb tries to sound stern but he can't keep himself from laughing.
“What are you, my father?”
“Fuck no.... I'm not an asshole.”
Spencer laughs. “True that. Look, sorry I didn't call, I was kinda running around as soon as I got in. There's a hurricane coming, you know.”
“Yeah, I saw that shit. You should get back to Beaumont, stay with me til it passes.”
“I'd have to leave like... right now. Bitch is moving fast.”
“Whatcha waiting for?”
Spencer thinks for a few seconds. Caleb isn't wrong, its probably best if he leaves. Amy and her husband had already shut the gym down and flown to California to stay with Bree Lancaster, whose husband has a house near Los Angeles. Amy had grown up in this area, if she thought it was bug out time, it was likely to be bad.
“You know what? You're right. But I gotta call someone first. Mind if I bring a friend with me?”
“Not that girl?” Spencer had told his brother about the falling out with Jodi, and the last couple weeks of Spencer doing his best at BOA to give her space, but still let her know he was there when and if she wanted. Since the day he apologized though, they'd only spoken at the gym. She hadn't called or texted him, and he hadn't tried. But this was extenuating circumstances.
“Yeah, that girl.”
“If she accepts... sure. You know I have room. Just let me know.”
“Thanks bro. I'll text ya.”
Spencer ends the call, then immediately calls Jodi. He was almost certain she wasn't going to answer and he'd get her voicemail... but she picked up right before the voicemail would have kicked in.
“This must be important, you haven't called me in weeks.”
“Hello to you, too.”
“What do you want?”
“Damn, and I thought we were on civil terms.”
“We are. At BlackOut. So unless this is about training-”
“It's not. I fully admit it's personal. But hear me out?”
Jodi sighs. “I already asked you what you want.”
“Right... it's about this storm coming. You got plans?”
“Oh... that. Well, I was going to go with my roommate to her parents across the river. They have a whole home generator.”
“Nah... that's not good enough. You know Amy left, right?”
Jodi hesitates a second. “... She did?”
“Yeah. Earlier this morning.”
“Shit....” The nervousness in her voice is clear.
“I'm going to my brother's in Beaumont. I want you to come with me.”
“I... what? You want to take me to your brother's? I didn't even know you have a brother...”
“I guess I do kinda keep family stuff to myself... but yeah, I have a brother, Caleb. He's younger than me but he lives in Mom's house and there's an extra bedroom, so-”
“Wait.. your brother and your mom? You want to take me to stay with-”
“Just Caleb. Mom's dead.”
“Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know.”
“I know you didn't. Like I said, I don't talk about family much. But this is important, I can't let you stay here when I have a place I can take you to be safe.”
“I... I don't know what to say... I didn't think... I mean...” Jodi lets her words trail off.
“You didn't think I really cared about you? Is that what you were gonna say?”
“I... yeah...”
“Well now you know different. So are you coming? I'm gonna have to leave in the next hour or two to beat the traffic rush so-”
“Yes. I'll go with you.”
Spencer smiles, relieved. “Good. Good, I'll pick you up. Pack whatever you can in an hour. Enough clothes for a few days at least, maybe your own pillow-”
“I actually already have things together. I was supposed to leave with Sherry for her parents later this afternoon.”
“Perfect. I need to get my shit together then I'll be there.”
“Okay. Text me, I'll meet you outside.”
“Its a plan.”
“Spence?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks. I really didn't want to stay here.”
“I got you.”
Spencer ends the call, and hurries into his bedroom. There wasn't a lot of time – he had to pack a bag, clear out his fridge, hope and pray he could fill his car's tank somewhere. He loved the south, specifically the Gulf coast area... except for this shit. He had a brand new career to get off the ground, other plans that had been set in motion months ago... this fucking hurricane could set fuck everything up. At least it helped him out with Jodi.
ON CAMERA
Finally... I get to debut on SCW Breakdown!
But first, how about Apocalypse, huh? What an experience! I mean, I didn't win, but I didn't expect to. I was in the ring with three people far more experienced than me and one of them actively trying to injure me. The fact I walked away unscathed is a win to me. This Tsunami dude is no joke. I tell you what though, I'd love to go one on one with the big man. He jumped me and ruined what was supposed to be my Breakdown debut, he tried to take me out before I even got started! It's only fair I get a shot at him man to man, no other people involved.
But, that's gonna have to be at a later time. This week, I'm facing another SCW newcomer, although she and her family aren't unfamiliar to me. Marie Caedes. Anyone who grew up a die-hard wrestling fan like I did, knows all about your family. Even if I hadn't gone to Amy Chastaine's Academy to train, I'd have known exactly who you are just looking at you and hearing your name. Stature and looks like your mom, last name and tough attitude like your dad. I admit I did get a little further information from Amy... but she's my manager, it's her job to prepare me as much as possible for what I'm about to face.
And if you were trained by your mom like Amy says you were.... then I know I'm not facing just a young woman looking to get her foot in the door. I'm facing a woman with this business literally in her blood, from both sides. That's one advantage you have over me, Marie. It might be the only one, though. I've seen the battles Amy and your mom had back in the day... legendary shit, I have to admit. If you're anything like your parents, I got a rough night ahead of me. But I don't plan on letting that stop me from victory. You won your Breakdown debut... I fully intend to win mine.
I know you have some experience coming in, I found some of your previous work online. I want to make something clear though, just because you've worked elsewhere before coming here, while this is my first contract and literal second match ever.... doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. I spent a year learning from some of the best that's ever laced up boots. Amy you know... but what about Jason Helms, and Jeff Alexander, and Shane Lawson?! Come on.... and let's not forget SCW's own Simon Lyman..... yeah, he's a coach too. We both got the goods in our corners, Marie. We both had brilliant wrestling minds teaching us our craft.
Now let's step into that ring and show the world that it's our time to create magic, become the best we can be, live up to and maybe one day even surpass all the success of the people behind us. We learned from legends, you and I, Marie.
Let's make them proud by showing how epic we can be.