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Post by Laura Phoenix - HBIC on Feb 10, 2021 22:20:35 GMT -5
PWS: APEX Demon’s Run Tuesday, February 23rd 2021 PWS Arena - New York, NY
Street Fight Gracie Lopez vs. Bella Madison This one is heated like none other. It started when Gracie Lopez returned at the first show of 2021, under the guise of friendly competition with Bella, only to attack her after the match. Last week, Gracie brutally attacked Bella’s friend, Dawn Warren, taking her out of action for the foreseeable future. Can Bella get her much wanted revenge on Gracie? Or will the younger Lopez show that she’s not one to be messed with.
Roleplay Deadline will be Sunday, February 21 11:59pm est 1 rp each, 300 word minimum , 5000 maximum
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Post by Gracie Lopez on Feb 22, 2021 0:50:21 GMT -5
“Getting back to normal”.
March 3rd, 2020.
(The scene opens up in LA at a park, we see Gracie, Kayla, and Jorge just walking around talking in the beautiful weather that LA offers. Jorge is happy to be out of the senior center’s place. He’s been there since the last health scare he had, and Eddie wanted to make sure someone is there watching him on a full-time basis. Jorge is still moving around these days but not like he used to. He’s in a walker because he got rid of the wheelchair they tried to put him in, the walker is to keep him stable. After going so far on their walk, Jorge took a sit down on the walker, and the girls did the same on the bench.)
Gracie: You ok Grandpa?
Jorge: Yeah, just can’t go too fast nowadays. Trying to keep up with you kids as well, but I’m ok. It’s about time I got out of that place, even if it’s just for a couple of hours. Lot of grumpy people that bitch and moan... Like that Jackson lady today. She bitched because her breakfast was too cold… I'm like woman, shut up!
(Gracie chokes down a laugh. She can imagine her grandpa getting into a fight at the Center and the thought of old people having a food fight is amusing to her.)
Gracie: Every time I got in there she gives me the death eyes... like she’s jealous of me or something. That could be a new rivalry… Us vs the Jackson family...
(Gracie chuckles while Jorge nods his head in agreement. He doesn’t like that family, he feels like they’re nothing but stuck-up snobs.)
Kayla: This is why we can’t have nice things…
Gracie: Well... I don’t need an audience when I’m doing stuff, including visiting my grandfather. I’d dig her eyes out if it wasn’t illegal.
Kayla: Yikes. I mean it can’t be worse than you trying to run someone in a semi or smashing something someone through a car window.. .
Gracie: Well, I’m not perfect. I got my dad’s tempter, what can I say?
Jorge: I mean Eddie used to do the same thing to Gracie’s mom before when they were kids…He ran Gracie’s mom over with a toy car before and I had to yell at him for that.
Kayla: I wanna hear more about that but first…. I’ll be back.
(Jorge and Gracie watch her leave towards the restroom area, leaving them there.)
Jorge: How are you?
Gracie: huh?
Jorge: HOW ARE YOU!?
Gracie: Oh, Good. Why?
Jorge: You ready to go back to the ring yet? I mean it’s been a few months since you left to search for yourself.
Gracie: Not yet. It’s not because of grandma’s death I left. Just...everything hit all at once. I haven’t been happy for a while now and I want to find where that went, and have fun again. I’ve been in this business for years and years before I’ve made my debut. You know this, everybody knows this. I just need to relax for once and chill. I know that’s a long-winded answer and probably an answer you didn’t want to hear but I’m an adult now.
(Jorge has always been an ear that Gracie would talk to. Sure, her dad is also an ear but when she wants an outside view of things, she goes to Jorge a man who has been on this earth for 80 years and he has the wisdom she craves for. Jorge has been through everything this earth has given him, and he’s a survivor.)
Jorge: How you feeling after her death? It’s been 5 months now. I just want to check up on you, I know it hit you pretty hard. I thought it would have hit Eddie hard but I know they didn’t get along.
Gracie: I still have my days, but overall I’m getting back to normal.
Jorge: Just a word of advice, don’t do that when I pass.
Gracie: Do what?
Jorge: Cry over me. I don’t want anybody to cry over me. I just want people to remember the man that I was and not waste time shedding tears, yes it’ll be a sad day but it’ll be a day of celebration. Celebration because I’ll no longer be in pain, and I don’t have to carry this walker with me everywhere I go. I’ve been in pain for a long time kid, but I’m too proud to let anybody know, I grew up in an era where you don’t tell people those things.
(Gracie listens to the elder figure, she tries to think of something to say but nothing could come out, so she just listens to the man.)
Jorge: In life, we all go through this. Lord knows I’ve had my share of moments like this. When I lost my brothers, and my sister, and both my parents. I’m the only one left of that family... but I never once felt sorry for myself, or blamed myself or it. It happens, it’s gonna happen. You’re going to be facing it, I won’t be here long, your dad won’t... but you can’t keep running and hiding. I get it, we grieve in different ways but there comes a time where you can’t let it consume you. But if I can get through the tragedies in my life, you can too. We raised you to have thick skin, it’s going to be rough but you’re stronger.
(Jorge points to where Kayla went too.)
Jorge: If you put self-blame on yourself, that worries her and you don’t want that do you?
Gracie: No…
Jorge: Right answer.
Gracie: You know what, you’re right. I slipped into that, I started to blame myself for it for some reason. It was more of a…” Why wasn’t I there to help her”. But I know she had a stroke and there was nothing that could have been done. By the time the ambulance came, she was gone. But you’re right, I can’t keep doing this to myself, or else I’ll drive myself away from everyone and do things that I’ll never do and slip into darkness. I don’t want that and I don’t want to scare her either.
(Gracie grabs her book bag and pulls out a letter that her grandma addressed to her 5 months ago when she died.)
Gracie: It’s what she said in this letter too, but at the same time… I just can’t fight it or shake it off. But, I want to get back to normal. I have too.
(The motivation is starting to sit in that she needs to get back in the ring where she belongs. She’s not a “normal person”. Wrestling is life for her, being away from it eats her alive but she’s too proud to say anything about it, she had to get over this stuff first. Which she does later in the year, she returned to the ring and the business she loved, the speech that Jorge gave her was the right kind of motivation. Jorge took the letter and started to read it for himself.)
Jorge: Wow… just... you can tell she loved you. She’s right, you’ve made all of us proud with your career so far, i can’t believe you’ve been doing it this long, it seems like yesterday you made you debut… but now you’re a vet..
Gracie: Time has flown by honestly...
(Kayla makes her return as the three of them start to walk some more around the park to get Jorge some exercise as the scene fades.)
“Betrayed”
Present day
(Scene opens up in LA with a view that overlooks the ocean, high above. As the waves crash the sun-splashed beach, it is the warmest place in the country right now. People are out walking around the beach, along with the seagulls. The camera pulls back a bit to see Gracie sitting Indian-style on the ground looking towards the beach. She’s wearing a white and black trimmed tracksuit, and her beanie is the same color but it’s covered by the hoodie she has up. It’s a look that she sports from time to time, so don’t take it out of context. She’s overlooking the beach, something she does from time to time as well. A good thinking spot away from everything and everybody. But soon Kayla would join her and Gracie could hear it.)
Gracie: Beautiful isn’t it?
Kayla: The view? Of course. Just like you, I use this spot to thinking about stuff and about the future as well. It’s one of my favorite spots around here.
Gracie: It’s always good to take time out of the day and just relax for a bit. I’m always on the go and I never get the chance to relax when I’m busy, but today is just one of those rare days I have nothing going for me, and I get that chance.
Kayla: Right? And doesn’t seem weird that since everything that has happened over the year… we’ve only gotten busier?
Gracie: You’re not the only one who noticed that huh? For a world that’s falling apart and partly shut down… would have seen that coming? But, at the same time, I’m not going to complain about it. It’s what I’ve always wanted, I’m not the type who sits on their ass all the time and be a lazy fat fuck, I like moving around, doing things that make me happy. Youtube shows, podcasting, wrestling, video games, everything we’re doing as a group makes me happy. Only one of us got sick so far and we kicked her to the curb.
Kayla: Oh yeah, that’s right! I just can’t get over how busy we are. But before you got here, you said you had a story about something and then you left. I had to track you down….
(Gracie nods her head about the story, she motions for Kayla to sit down next to her. Which she does, both of them look towards the ocean.)
Gracie: I’m going to tell you guys a quick story about the history of Bella and I. I know there’s a lot of “new” people who have no idea what our past is, and some who do know our past should listen anyway. Bella and I grew up in this ring, her and I ran these ropes, around the world and across this country since the diaper days. Our childhoods were never normal, each week, each day we’re always on the road, our parents have wrestled each other for longer than most people realize, except for the originals who are still here. As we grew into teenagers, things started to become different, because of course, they do right? People grow apart, friends leave, high school graduations, college, boys… dates…..prom… driving...all of the above. Our friendship was still holding on strong even after those events happened, which brings us to what we have now. Not sure what you even call it, broken friendship, growing apart… who knows, who really cares.
(Gracie shrugs her shoulders.)
Gracie: Now, since we turned 18, things have changed a lot, we’re adults now. Marriages happened, this business belongs to us now after our parents retired, the world is ours now. But, something happened to Bella. To say this broken friendship was my fault is a bit selfish if you ask me, or to say it was her fault is the same way. It’s both our fault and she doesn’t want to admit to it, and yet, I look like the bad guy here because of why? I had a mental breakdown after my grandma died? Because I moved to Hollywood? Or is it because I had a 2-year title reign, went undefeated in a different company and she couldn’t handle it? You don’t have to answer those questions. I can answer them for you.
(Kayla joins Gracie on the couch now, she wants to hear what her future wife has to say, she has a lot on her chest as of late just waiting to burst out, and it’s coming to that point where things will be said and some people will not like it.)
Gracie: Yes, I had a mental breakdown a couple of years ago, and I have mental health issues because of that now. Yes, I see a therapist figure out that stuff. Yes, it took a long time to get over it and get back on track with my career. 2020 was the worst year of my life and career-wise. I’m not saying any of this to get your sympathy, fuck your sympathy! I’m saying all of this because it’s true, and all of this is coming from my heart, the black hole that it is. It took me a while to get over my grandma’s death.
(Gracie took a deep breath, she still remembers that day in 2019.. She’s still not over it. It’s the closest thing to a mom she’s lost. She was young when her mom passed away, but her grandma stung hard.)
Gracie: On Twitter, after that happened... Bella reached out to me and told me to call her anytime, and she’ll answer anytime. Well, I took her up on that offer, I called her and I texted her. I got nothing. No response, no text back. Other friends from around the world reached out to me and offered to help, they even came to my house and helped me piece my life back together, and where was Bella? Nowhere to be found, still no text, still no callback, and still no Twitter DM to check up on my well-being. Still hurts that you decided to end a friendship for such a stupid reason, but I get it… you’re busy… I mean I’m busy too but I still make time for my friends. I have a long list of Twitter DM’s, calls, and text messages of me checking up on my friends and goddaughter in recent days.
(Gracie pauses for a moment as she tries to think of what she could say next. But the expression on her face grows from anger to heartache with every word she says about Bella. Once a true friend of Bella’s, which is no more.)
Gracie: This is not the sole reason why I made my come back. I just feel betrayed by a person I used to call a friend. I have a new friend, Madison. She is also my aunt from the marriage but because of age, we’re more best friends than anything else, but anyway. She’s been there through my rough days, my good days, through the rough workouts that everyone goes through as a wrestler, because she is a wrestler too. Even on my darkest days, Madison keeps me laughing and enjoying life like I used to do. I know you know of her because you guys talked a few times on Twitter… course you can talk to her but not me right? The reason I’m saying this is because it shows that you can be replaced.
Kayla: You also brought up a 2-year title reign earlier.
(Gracie nods her head, she did mention that, and she’s going to address that right now.)
Gracie: 2-year title reign in a different company. This place would want you, people, to believe it never happened. Why? Because they know I’ll outshine their golden goose in Bella? Now correct me if I’m wrong, wasn’t this place dead and buried after I started my career 5 years ago? It was, wasn’t it? But when they brought this place back and wanted me to jump aboard, they wanted me to erase my history. Like none of it even mattered….. it’s kind of hypocritical if you ask me…
Kayla: Why is it hypocritical?
Gracie: Because they want to try to erase my past from different feds, yet half of this roster splits time in a different fed, and nobody has a problem with it. But when I do it, oh, there’s a huge problem with it. I will not stand by and let them take away everything I’ve busted my ass for because it happened in a different company, a company they don’t like, ran by a person they don’t like, and yet it’s my fault? I bet it’s my fault that companies email me every day VIA Twitter and ask for my services too, right? It’s bullshit and they know it. I’m going to go to any place I want, It’s my life, not theirs. IT’S MY CAREER, NOT THEIRS! But at the end of the day, PWS will always be home no matter where I go, no matter what I do… even if I become a Hollywood superstar, and I don’t give a shit if these people frown upon it or not. My legacy in this business will NOT be erased because of bruised egos like the idiots they have in charge here.
(Kayla sat back, not really expect that kind of answer out of Gracie, but it comes from a place of anger and bitterness. Gracie knows it poked some feelings backstage but she couldn’t care less.)
Gracie: I’ve built a brand that doesn’t have the PWS brand hooked to it and they can’t stand it. I have this huge international following and again, they can’t stand it… See, I’m a polarizing character. No matter what fed I go to too or what state or country I go to. The reactions are always the same. Some people love me and some people loath me. Some people want me gone from this business entirely because of the stuff I’ve in the past. I’m not a saint, I never claim to be one and I’m not going to leave a business I love because a few people don’t like me. if you want to hate me, because I made my career somewhere else, so be it. I don’t give a shit. If you like me because of what I bring to the table and the roster, so be it, I don’t give a shit. I am Who I am and I’m not changing for ANYBODY.
(There’s a different side of Gracie when she speaks, the side of passion, the side of heartbreak, and the side of heartbreak but you know she wouldn’t speak on that part, but you can tell it’s oozing out. To her this match is more than just a match, it’s payback for years of being ignored.)
Gracie: I guess we should talk about the match, right? That’s why we’re here... to get people hyped for the match.
Kayla: Right. She’s been throwing a lot of insults at you as of late as if you care about them.
Gracie: Not really, but I saw a creative one on Twitter. She called me a bitch! I bet she’s really proud of that, and she probably thought of that all by herself too, such a big girl!
Kayla: The sarcasm…..
Gracie: A little but it’s not. I’ve been in this business for a long time and I’ve been called everything in the book, from a cunt to a bitch to a slut to a whore, been called racial slurs and I’ve been told to go back home, and I’ve also been told I’ll be nothing but my dad’s shadow. Yet, I keep coming to work each and every time, ignoring the insults, ignoring the political bullshit that comes with this business, and I go to the ring each and every time and prove the naysayers wrong, shut the critics up. You should know better, Bella. But if you want to be like everyone else who throws 3rd-grade insults at me, go ahead. It’ll fall on deaf ears. You and everyone else, your opinion of me doesn’t matter, I know what my worth is.
Kayla: How about when she tried to get her husband to try to get rid of you?
Gracie: Oh yeah, I forgot that. Bella, you gave instructions to that husband of yours to make me take my hair or give me a limp, right? Funny, because here I am with my hair and no limp… it just proves that your plan failed. I mean sure, I lost that match but it doesn’t really matter to me, pretty much how your husband being in this story means as well. Has little to no effect on the future. Then you had to run to your mother, didn’t you? Oh yeah, the whole “keep them apart” thing really worked... Besides, I’m not sure how your mother even got qualified to run this place after she ran PWSX into the ground with Kurt almost a decade ago, oh but that’s a different story for a different day. I’m sure the new people here would love to hear it someday...
(Gracie knows she’s poking the fire, but she doesn’t care. Everything she’s said so far is her version of the truth, and she doesn’t care people like it or not. She’s not here to make friends, she already has the people she cares about, she doesn’t need people to hold her down.)
Gracie: The thought of you trying to get rid of me is laughable. Do you know how many people over the years have seen that and yet failed to do so? Too many to count. You want to know how many tried to injure me over the years and failed to do so? Again too many to count. I can go on and on with this pointless banter. The fact remains, nobody got the job done when they were given the chance. What makes you any different than the rest of them? Because your name is bigger? You come from a famous family? None of it fucking matters, NONE! Even if someone decided to take me out, I’ll still show up to work the next day, because that’s what this business means to me. This match... you won’t get rid of me...
(Gracie shakes her head with a slight smirk on her face while she does so.)
Gracie: When was the last time I did a match like this?
Kayla: Oh god. It’s been a while honestly… maybe 5 years?
Gracie: I’ll have to look it up but it’s rare for me to do matches like these. I don’t need to hurt myself to prove anything to anybody and have pointless deathmatches or matches like these every time. I let my talent speak for itself, I don't need gimmick matches to tell me how “tough” I am., but since we’re going to have a street fight... honestly it’ll be good for us. Good in the context that we can get years of frustrations out. You’re going to have to do a lot to knock me down and get rid of me Bella. For example, I wrestled Jenn for 45 minutes before, with broken ribs, a concussion, and a sprained ankle. Never once did I complain in that match, I sucked it up and kept going. 45 minutes of torture, 45 minutes of pain beyond return, and yet… I won that match, with blood running down my face... It was the proudest moments I had and that match is still talked about to this day by the people and the family who saw it. If Jenn couldn’t stop me then, what makes you think you can? I have a high tolerance to pain, and this match will be no different. You’ve never faced me in matches like these, you’ve never stood across from me and never seen how motivated I am right now. You have NO IDEA what I’m capable of, but you will.. And you’ll learn to never cross me ever again. I don’t care if I win this match or not... it’s about revenge… it’s about getting back what’s mine… and it’s about respect...something you know nothing about!
(Gracie stood up for the first time. When she does, she helps Kayla up to her feet. She dusts herself off.)
Gracie: I’ll finish this story time off by saying this, I’m back… I’m motivated, I have a different attitude and I just don’t give a fuck anymore. You people wanted some anger out of me? Well… now you got it and now you'll have to deal with it, don’t blame me if things happen “accidently”, like with what happened to Dawn...that was on Bella, not me. I know you’re coming for revenge but... I'm going to use it against you. Charge me...I dare you...that’ll be the worst mistake of your life.
(Gracie leaves it at that and walks away from the spot she had been sitting at, Kayla would soon join her in leaving. Leaving the camera view the way it started, a beautiful look towards the beach and the Pacific Ocean, the waves crashing softly against the beach. But, the match between Bella and Gracie won’t be beautiful, it’ll be a beautiful disaster, in ways that PWS will be haunted by for weeks to come.. The slowly fades into darkness.)
End.
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Post by Bella Madison on Feb 22, 2021 2:49:40 GMT -5
~*~*~Then~*~*~
Long Time Ago...
In A Galaxy Far Away
“AND THE WINNER OF THE MATCH AND STILL PWS CHAMPION!”
A teenage Bella sitting in the back of the arena where PWSi just wrapped up their show where she sees her mother holding the PWS Championship high. It wasn’t too long ago that PWSR and PWSi combined their rosters, Laura stood atop the PWSR as Champion and Eddie Lopez was PWSi’s....and suddenly what was supposed to be friendly competition was made into a jealous fit very personal match by no surprise....Eddie. Gracie and Bella were just beginning their friendship and instead stood back as their parents tore each other apart.
As soon as the show went off the air, she didn’t even wait for Nick to give her the okay, she was up on her feet and out the door and quickly made her way to just outside the gorilla position. She glanced around to see if Gracie was around when everyone started to gather but there was no sign of her, instead she kept her eyes glued to the entrance. Through the crowd she finally spotted her mother, a little worse for wear but she made a beeline right for her and Nick who joined her and the group wrapped each other up in a hug.
“You were spectacular out there.” Nick says giving Laura a kiss on her sweaty head.
“I thought he had me for a moment.” says pulling away before she turns to Bella and as if it’s unspoken Bella hands her a hair tie to pull up her long blonde hair.
“Do you think Eddie will be ok?” the teenage Bella says with a slight tilt almost like she’s trying to look around for him.
Her mom smiles gently and places her hand on Bella’s shoulder, “Oh yeah kid, it’s part of what we do. It may take some time before he talks to me again, but I don’t think he’d keep you and Gracie apart.”
Bella takes a side of relief, “I hope not. It’s kinda nice to have someone around my age. I like hanging around Jack and all but he gets annoying sometimes.”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure it’ll all be good eventually. I just wish it didn’t come to what it was. I get that he thinks this absorption of the rosters is a thing but dammit, another friend that I had to do that too. Why do these guys do this?” she says looking at Nick like she’s clearly frustrated.
And all Nick can do is shrug, “I don’t know hun.”
Young Bella watches her mom and Nick for a moment, “I just don’t know how you guys do this. If I had to face people I considered family...I don’t know how I’d react to it.”
“It’s something you gotta really take into account if you are seriously thinking about being a wrestler, kid. Hell, even Nick and I have had to duel a couple of times.”
The story we know so Nick just wraps his arm around Laura and pulls her in tightly, “To put it mildly. But it’s a thing that we have to deal with sadly. We have the ego trips, people wanting to be that top spot and sometimes to do that...well”
“You have to break a few eggs to make an omelette.” Bella finishes.
“Exactly!” both of them say.
Bella snickers as Laura and Nick look at each other for a moment, Laura shakes her head, slinging her shiny title over her shoulder, “Ok I’m gonna get a shower, change and then we will get the hell out of here and celebrate as a family.”
“Alright, can I go to catering and see if they still have water for all of us.”
“Ok, don’t take too long.” Nick says quickly with an almost worried tone.
“Okay DAAAAAD!” Bella says rather sassy like, laughing and skipping away.
Nick stands there a bit dumbfounded for a moment, “She’s gonna be a handful someday.”
Laura pulls at his hand as they make their way down the hall, “She’s a teenager. She’s a handful NOW! Buckle up bud, we’re just getting started.”
Nick stops like he’s deep in thought, Laura stops and looks at him with her eyebrow raised, “Hey, let me ask you something...”
“Anything! You know that.”
“Ok, so say she decides to go into wrestling.”
“Which, you know she will.”
“Yeah, but...everything that the docs had to do to help her get over what she went through with Syn, do you think she can fully handle it?”
“Nick, you know as well as I do how strong Bella is mentally but there is no telling what this business is going to do to anyone. She’s 13 going on 20, and who knows what happened to her in that time but the best we can do is be supportive, let her be a kid and we will cross the bridge when it gets there.” Laura sighs for a moment, “I’m gonna have to be the mom though when it comes time, I really want her to be normal. I wanted this life, I wanted to be this but I have...we have responsibilities to her too. I just have a strange feeling that I’m not gonna get my way.”
“When that time comes, we will cross it and do what we must. Just weird you want me included in it.”
“I have a feeling you are going to be playing a bigger role in her life than just being a supportive stepfather.”
“You too?” The both laugh as they enter the locker room. Things swing to the left as we see Bella standing behind a partition, with a look of confusion on her face.
6 Years Later
“DO NOT LET ME CATCH YOU SLACKING! KNEES UP!”
What can only be described galloping on wood and metal comes roaring to life. “BACK BUMP!”
*CRASH* followed by more roaring of footsteps, “FRONT BUMP!”
*CRASH* “Alright, powder out, get a drink.”
A group follows the instructions except for one, we see a little bit older Bella pulling herself up, catching her breath before she stands and takes a quick front bump, obviously not happy with the way she landed the last one.
“BELLA! I SAID BREAK!” she turns to see her step-father standing there, leaning through the ropes looking at her cause he knows she’s that perfectionist, “It’s ok to rest, I know the bump pissed you off, that second one was better. Don’t worry, you’ll get it.” “One more...” she says standing in the ring with her hand on her hip.
Seeing her determination he just nods, “I got an idea...” he slides in, grabbing her and backing her up, “Take a hip toss.”
Her eyes get big for a moment, as she gets backed into the ropes,“I’ve never...”
Nick stops and smirks and just whispers, “Trust me. Get out of your head and trust me.” He doesn’t even give a moment to really let it sit in as to what’s about to happen as he quickly whips her off the ropes, she perfectly turns, hits the other side, and gets met in the ring by him and she goes up and over and lands perfectly on her back. She looks up in surprise at him as he smiles down at her, “And that is how you do it. Now, break.”
“Yes sir.” Bella gets up perfectly like she was taught before she smiles brightly and gets out of the ring with a little flair.
“Show off” couple guys grumble before they shrink away under her and her step-father’s glare.
“Ignore em, you’re doing great.” Nick says in passing as she grabs a bottle taking a big drink of water.
“NICHOLAS PATRICK AND ELIZABETH MARIE!” the sound of Laura’s voice comes screaming through that stops them in their tracks, they look over to see Laura standing there with her hands on her hips.
“You never talked to her did you?” Bella whispers leaning towards Nick who’s eyes are now just as wide as saucers.
“I...shit...”
“I swear to God, why do I always have to find things out through the grapevine?” Laura barks. You can’t tell if she’s angry or not but there is an edge to her voice.
“Babe, let me explain. I was gonna tell you...but...”
“Mom, please, don’t yell at dad, he was just...”
“Save it!” Laura holds up her hand and just glares at them both for a moment and then relaxes and looks at Nick with a smile, “She’s a natural.”
“I told you she would be.” he laughs and looks at Bella.
“She worked up to the universal yet?”
“Just about to go through it with the lesson with everyone today.”
Bella looks back at the class who is laughing at what just occurred and she sighs, “Lock Up, Headlock Takeover, work some chain in if you want but at the end back up to the ropes, shoot off, shoulder block and bump, pass over, leapfrog or lucha pass and hip toss....” she spouts off at her parents who just stand there. “Did I mention I really paid attention???” she said walking away from them both.
“Yup, she’s definitely your kid.” Nick says with a laugh as Laura just shakes her head.
~*~*~Just Like Before~*~*~
The backstage of the PWS Arena is in a chaotic mode as Riot went off the air and Dawn Warren was just viciously attacked by Gracie and crew following her main event match with Bella. The medical staff is working on getting her loaded into the ambulance as everyone watches on. In the front of it is Bella watching as the girl she just had a match with, someone she considers a friend getting loaded in. Mal hangs next to her, rubbing her shoulders trying to console her. The doors slam shut and the siren goes off as it pulls off and out of sight onto the streets of New York.
The crowd disperses except for Bella, she stands there still staring out, “Bells, let’s get you cleaned up.” Bella though, doesn’t budge, “There’s nothing you could have done, mo chroí.”
“I should have seen it coming. I should have slid back into that ring to do anything to protect her....and now, she’s out of action for who knows how long....just like Lanah.” the realization screams across her face just as fast as it comes from her mouth. “Where’s mom?”
“Last I saw her she was making calls to Dawn’s famil- Bells?” She doesn’t even let him finish as takes off down the hall as she comes across her mother and General Manager Laura Phoenix and President Ambika Renton standing in the hallway talking.
“Hey! You ok?” Laura says honestly concerned about her daughter’s well being. She notices Malachi right behind her.
“I’m fine, no thanks to you.” Bella turns to Ambika, “Because of that stupid no contact clause I couldn’t help her. They knew EXACTLY what they were doing and now Dawn is out. She’s gonna be out for who knows how long, just like Alanah when she was attacked from behind viciously like that. The Lopez’s, Haze and Alexis are taking us out one by one and I had to stand there and watch it unfold right in front of my eyes!”
Ambika looks at Laura for a moment with a bit of confusion on her face before she turns to the young woman, “Bella, I’m sorry that happened to you but...”
“Bullshit, you're not sorry. Not one bit. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if you were behind ALL of this.”
Ambika scoffs at the accusation, “Excuse me?!”
“ELIZABETH!” Laura almost screams seeing her daughter is emotionally out of control right now.
“Tell me I’m wrong.” Bella barks, “Tell me that my mind is seeing things, because I’m seeing those sons a bitches targeting each and everyone of us.”
“Love, come on. You can’t honestly think that Ambika would ever...” Mal says but Ambika cuts him off.
“You are wrong. I’m the one that sent security as soon as we saw what was going on. I’m sorry that I hogtied your hands like that to not be able to help Dawn, really I am. I was just telling your mother I feel horrible because of it and told her that even if you had done something to help Dawn that I would have forgiven it and still allowed your match with Gracie to happen at Demon’s Run.”
“Hindsight is 20-20, right?” Bella says rather flatly and Mal immediately grabs her by the wrist.
“That is enough! You are being extremely disrespectful to her right now for no reason!” Laura says getting between her daughter and Ambika.
“You have your street fight at Demon’s Run. I suggest you take all this aggression out then. I understand why you are heated right now and I’m going to let this slide, but if you ever accuse me of something like this ever again, you better be prepared to backup what you are saying with actual proof.”
Bella glares at Ambika for a few moments before she shrugs off Mal’s grip and storms off. Deep breaths flow from them as Laura looks to Ambika with an apology on her tongue but Ambika just nods and walks away so instead she turns to her son-in-law, “Mal, get her home, please.”
“On it. Let Ambika know that she doesn’t mean...”
Laura holds up her hand and nods, “I will. Just take care of her. I’ll see you guys at Aaron’s birthday, alright?”
Mal nods and walks away to find Bella.
~*~*~Chocolate Makes the Heart Grow~*~*~
2AM, clanging around the kitchen and Mal stomping through their home as Bella just made a request for chocolate chip pancakes. Bella has since calmed down, a quick trip to Vegas in a match that she didn’t have to stress out about and she seemed to be back to her normal self...
“I was comfy!” Mal growls as Bella joined him in the kitchen, she helped gather all the ingredients to make it easier and is now sitting on the counter watching her shirtless husband making her pancakes like she asked.
“I know, and I’m sorry hun. You can blame twitter for it.” she leans over and gives him a kiss on the cheek and smiles sweetly
“Yeah yeah, you’re just lucky I love you and I know how much you’ve been training lately. I also blame your brother and father.”
“Yeah Aaron got to talking about his birthday breakfast and I should have just known.” Bella smirks, “It smells wonderful.”
“Well, that’s something I guess.” he grumbles.
“Just trying to feel normal after everything. Sorry, if I’m making you miserable in the process.” she says leaning back.
“Love, I’m miserable cause I’m tired. I’m going to make these for you, take them and you and go back to bed.”
Her eyes get bright and she bites her lip, “Really? Breakfast in bed? I haven’t had that since the morning after we got married.”
Mal smirks slightly while flipping the pancake, “Yeah well that and I know if I don’t, you won’t come to bed and I’ll wake up without you there and you back in the gym. The hell demon won’t settle unless you do and lately it’s like she’s been feeding off of all this anxiety you have been putting yourself through.”
Bella glances over at Luka who is laying down across from them where they keep a bed for her, “Gracie has gotten to me. Last time her and I did this she was so different. I don’t know what the hell I did but all of a sudden my friend is using me to make a point. Just like her dad did years ago.” Bella reaches over grabbing a couple of chocolate chips rolling them around in her fingers, “Eddie did the exact same thing to mom, like something ate at him for mom to be so damn popular but there is something darker here.” she says dropping the chips in her mouth.
“You mean the fact that they seem to be siding with those hags that hold the tag team titles?”
“That’s part of it. I don’t know...something bigger is going on. But I will fucking damned if they make me just another example.”
“Street fight is much more than a regular match, mo grá.”
“I’m not looking for a match, Mal. After everything they want a fight, I’m going to bring it to all of them and I’m going to do everything I can to bring it from all sides. I’m not going to let them win, not after what happened to Alanah and Dawn.”
Her eyes begin to tear up a little bit just as Mal slides the last pancake onto the plate and he turns off everything and grabs her hands, “Listen to me, what happened to them was NOT, repeat NOT your fault.”
“But I could have and should have done more. Your sister has been out since before Thanksgiving, yeah she’s busy with now planning her own wedding...” that brings a growl to Mal for a moment before she forces him to look at her, “But what has been done since to really get her back to being in the ring? Has anyone done anything to really get revenge? No, we’ve been told to behave and to be patient. I don’t wanna be patient anymore Mal.”
“Well then starting tomorrow, we’re really going to go into this Street Fight training for you, might be helpful to me as well for that damn Triple Threat.” he shrugs. “BUT for now...” he wraps his right around around her waist and pulls her off the counter, a move where she instinctively wraps her legs around him and he grabs the plate of pancakes. “TO BED!”
Bella giggles as he whistles to get Luka’s attention to also move. “So I take it I’ll be cleaning up in the morning.”
“Damn right...”
~*~*~Let’s Play~*~*~
It’s a cold night in New York, the roof is adorned with lights, and it’s lightly snowing with makes the city glow a little brighter, Bella sits in the center of the roof, not that far off from where her and Mal got in engaged, looking up to the sky and taking in the sight, “GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACIE! You remember when we were kids and we would goof around in the ring and after a while we would lay in the center of the ring and stare up into the lights and always wonder if one day we should face each other?”
Bella giggles at the memory, setting her legs up under her and tilts her head, “We did that....and then...you just went and decided to rain on it ALL. I don’t know what would even possess you to attempt fate and history like this. It is definitely not in your favor, cause you see, you and your family went and started something that you really can’t finish.”
“Oh the Russow’s and the O’Neil’s and the O’Connell’s have just dominated PWS: Apex because we were the ones to put it on our backs while you decided to go home. You haven’t been here. You weren’t here when Syn tried to destroy us from the inside out.” Bella smirks for a moment, “In fact I’m fairly tempted to say that is why you really conveniently took time off- BUT I digress....while I get that sometimes you need a break, when you come back you don’t get to claim that you were ignored when you WEREN’T HERE IN THE FIRST FUCKING PLACE!”
She stands up and shakes her, her hands motioning broadly, “And when the hell did you turn into such a judgmental bitch? Throwing down on the things I post up on twitter about my husband and my dog, which is part of my life. Is this maybe because you weren’t actually really here or was it cause we didn’t reach out? Are you upset because we were friends and somehow we grew apart? Or are you honestly going to sit there and act like all my success is really pissing you off? My friends, my family has been attacked for what reason? Because somewhere Alexis sat on a stick, Heather got sick of being called out for her bullshit and you actually believed it? Those are some AMAZING rose colored glasses you have on there.”
“PWS was built on the foundation of Lopez, Russow and O’Neil and an amazing amount of characters. It feels like this is all history repeating itself and you are going to end up getting hurt. I don’t want to hurt my friends but like my parents, like your parents....it seems like we don’t have a choice. So I’m going to do unto you like you and yours did unto mine. I’m going to put you on the bench like you did to Dawn. I’m going to start taking the foundation of LOPEZ down brick by brick like it should have been done a long time ago.”
Looking down, she opens up a light and reaches in, “YOU brought this fire and I have been left with no other choice. I AM my mother’s daughter, I am the fire. Do you get what I am saying Gracie? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING TO YOU?!? We’re not kids anymore. I am not fucking playing these games.” Not even flinching from the heat of the light she pulls her hand out and holds up a familiar coin, “Heads, you lose...tails, you still lose just in tails.”
She flips the coin, catches it, opens her hand and the smile is almost evil like, “I guess you’re just gonna have to find your fate at Demon’s Run, when we WILL go to war.”
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