Off Camera
Washington DC
Five Months Ago
“Here we are..” Alicia’s voice beamed with pride as the cab stopped outside the large two-story home in the DC suburbs she shared with Michael Reynolds her soon to be husband. Alicia handed the driver his payment as she grabbed her father's suitcase. He stared up and smiled at the house looking back at Alicia. “Your beau has excellent taste”. She gave a small nod moving towards the door, the wheels on the case making a whirring noise along the white path. Alicia smiled and opened the door allowing Jason to walk in as he ducked his head under the frame.
“It’s been in his family for years. He asked me to move here when New York no longer became what I needed.” Jason gave a small nod as Alicia moved the case in and around the corner in front of the door to the downstairs guest bedroom. She looked around a little and smelt the air with a sigh. “Michael is cooking.” She sounded so excited and happy as she moved towards the kitchen, Jason followed as Alicia burst through the door with a smile.
“I smell bacon and eggs…”: She laughed as Michael smiled, his arms reaching out right away as Alicia lept into them wrapping her legs around him, they kissed and Alicia smiled wide mumbling under her breath with a grin. Michael laughed and stepped forward sitting Alicia down on the kitchen bench. His hands moved to her waist as he looked over at Jason who towered above him, he reached out and the two shook hands. “Nice to meet you, Michael….”
“Likewise Mr. Maxwell.” Jason smiled and shook his head with a laugh. “Please call me Jason.” Michael smiled and gave him a nod before turning and continuing to cook. “You have a lovely home..” Michael smiled and laughed to himself adding pepper and salt to the eggs as he moves them around. “It’s a lovely old house, but it was your daughter you really made it a home.” He smiled as Alicia blushed and slid down to her feet lightly tapping Michael on the shoulder, she moved around passed her father. “I’ll go get washed up and make your bed…” She smiled wide as she left the room and Jason moved over and sat down wincing in pain as he gripped the bench. “Are you alright?”
He gave a small nod and breathed deep and sharp. “Just a little post-surgery pain, nothing the old bones can’t handle.” He gave a chuckle and ran a hand through his short grey hair as Michael finished cooking plating it up before placing a plate in front of Jason, one for himself and one for Alicia. “Alicia told me about the surgery, scary stuff.” Jason smiled and raised an eyebrow. “It’s why I left, I couldn’t...I didn’t want her to see me like that. It was selfish of me, I hated the idea of it….” Michael raised his hand and swallowed hard. “I’m not here to judge you, the fact you know it was selfish is good, means growth, accountability.” Michael trails off for a moment and sighs deeply before popping a piece of sausage in his mouth.
“Just, Vi loves you, her brother and sister don’t really remember you, but she does. She remembers her father leaving, walking away. Don’t do it again.” Michael was blunt, hard-edged but understanding, Jason gave smiled. “I don’t plan on it, it’s good to see she found a good man, for once.” He picked up a piece of the bacon popping it into his mouth as he made a face. “Is this...turkey bacon or something?” Michael laughed and shook his head as Alicia stepped in the doorway. “Tofu...for your heart.” Jason made a disgusted face and shook his head. “Oh Honey I...thank you but this is worse than death.” Alicia rolls her eyes as Michael tries a bit and smiles, a huge fake smile with a nod making “mmm” noises. Alicia scoffed a second time. “Men…”
She ate a piece of the bacon and gagged before spitting it out into the bin next to the bench before holding her hair away from her face. “Yeah...no..never again….”
Scene Two-Trouble…
Off Camera
Washington DC
Five Months Ago
Michael gave her a small kiss on the forehead as she smiled and kept her arms around his waist. A few moments passed before Michael laughed and tried to step back, Alicia kept herself around him and shook her head before keeping her face pressed against his chest hearing his heartbeat. Michael again laughed before escaping her grip. “I’ll see you tonight love….” Alicia waves slightly as she watched him walk towards the car, suitcase in hand, her long blonde hair was done in a braid that moved down the side of her body. She didn’t even hear her father open his door and step out.
“Oh is Michael gone?” Alicia jumped out of her skin and put her hand over her heart. “Jesus Daddy you almost gave me a damn heart attack.” Jason laughed and put a hand on his stomach as Alicia raised her eyebrow. “Phrasing kiddo” Alicia tilted her head before getting what he meant. She rolled her eyes and playfully hit her father on the arm as the door shut behind her. She moved into the kitchen putting the kettle on to make them coffee, Alicia wore an old band shirt from Pink Floyd and stretched as she grabbed the cups down. Jason grabbed the paper and flicked through it with a smile.
After Alicia added the milk and closed the fridge door Jason took his glasses off and placed them down. “You really found a great guy kid.” She smiled and beamed taking a sip of coffee as Jason shook his head slowly. His large seven-foot frame barely fitting on the stool. His leg hitched up as he leaned on the bench. “It’s amazing to see you so happy and secure. You two are perfect for each other. And I’m honored you want me at your wedding.”
Alicia put her cup down and moved around to give her father a hug squeezing him tight as she could Jason laughed and gave her a slow rub across her shoulders and up to her head stroking her long blond hair that was so much like his when he was a young man. “Not just at my wedding, I want you to give me away.” There was a small silence and Alicia pulled back slowly, Jason smiled and wiped a tear away not expecting the gesture. “Are you sure?. I mean I’m sure there are others that could do it. Your brother, mother, your step d-” “No!”
The word came out faster and harder than Alicia expected. Jason almost jumped as she cleared her throat. “I want it to be you. I need it to be.” He moved his head u0p and down with a happy sigh. “Well, are there any good-looking young bridesmaids?” Alicia scoffed and shook her head. “Dad! Jesus!” They both laughed and Alicia grabbed her coffee drinking it down. “So I was thinking-” she stopped mid-sentence and swallowed hard as she heard the door open, her face went white as Jason raised an eyebrow curiously Alicia moved across the kitchen to the door and swallowed hard.
“Good morning honey!” Her mother’s voice rang out loud as she kissed Alicia on the cheek. “Mom, what are you doing here?” She stopped and looked more than a little shocked at Alicia’s attitude shaking her head. “You’re only a few weeks out from your wedding, you need to get organized and I’m not going to let you do it alone. And lord knows Zoey can’t help you…” Alicia grabbed her mother’s arm and smiled turning her around so her back was to the kitchen as she gave her a hug. “Oh!..thank you, dear. But what’s wrong?. I’m sorry I didn’t call but I-” “Hello Barbara.”
Instantly it all changed Alicia’s mother's face went from her usual arrogant smile to a look of a woman who had heard something from another world. Jason’s voice being so familiar to her. Alicia breathed deep and held it in as Barbara turned around slowly to come face to face with Jason who stayed sitting on the stool. “What. The fuck. Are you doing here?” Her voice was low and almost like a growl. Jason stood up slowly with his hands up in a defensive position. “Now Barb I know you-” “Don’t you dare call me that Jason Maxwell!” Alicia stood still as Barbara and Jason seemed to stare each other down.
“You walk out on us then come in and out of Violet's life, over and over?. Who do you think you are?” “I’m her father that’s who I am and I wouldn’t have been out of her life if you hadn’t of pushed me” “Pushed you? I told you to get out of MY life, not your kids lives!” Alicia backed up a little and pushed the door open with her butt slipping out of the kitchen letting out the breath. “Fuuuuck….”
Scene Three-A GIFT for all occasions
On Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
Present Day
“Well, that was easy…”
Alicia slowly looks up from her kitchen table as she slides a piece of paper across it to the other side. Her long blond hair tied back in a braid that swings around and down the side of her body. Her bright blue eyes staring ahead.
“I have told people time and time again that I am on a whole other level when compared to the Honor roster. Now that isn’t a knock on the rest of the competition because being a step below me is still being a talented wrestler. It’s just, I’m the best in the world. I’m the best wrestler on this roster and any other roster I choose to step into. And on Showdown I proved it again. See while Mercedes Vargas spews bullshit, while every other woman on the roster just skates by, I put bitches to sleep….”
“Christina Rose thought she could step up to me. She thought she could get in the ring with the champ and do something other than embarrass herself and she was wrong. Her daughter had to save her ass. Her daughter had to stop the beating and end her misery. You think I’m playing with any of you?. I’m the best of the best. I will smile to your face and shake your hand if you show me respect but the second I get in that ring I am a trained killer. Looking to take empty heads off wannabe model bodies. And that’s what I did with Christina….”
“And now this overrated bitch goes on social media and talks about wanting another shot?...bitch please...back of the line….”
“But, I have to focus on what is in front of me and coming up on Showdown I have an interesting…” challenge” and I use that term very very loosely cause Brooke has continued her crusade to end GIFT and she is using me to do it. So now here I am booked against Delia Darling. The member of GIFT that, to be honest, most people forget even exists.”
She pauses for a moment and raises an eyebrow. Her fingertips tapping one after the other on the table as her cherry red lips curl into an arrogant smirk. A small chuckle, audible under her breath rises up.
“Can you really blame us for thinking that Delia?. You barely turn up and promote the shows, you’re not on social media at all except to talk shit with your little group. You spend way more time talking about bad reality shows like “The Life” and your roll in the LFL than anything of substance. Is it any wonder why any of us forget you’re a wrestler?. In fact just a straight up question. Are you a professional wrestler?....”
“From what I’ve seen. No, no you’re not. Seriously I’ll pause right now, all you guys watching at home go look up her last two promos, go watch her matches then tell me. Does she look like she belongs in the ring with me….go ahead I’ll wait…”
Alicia folds her arms over her chest and taps her foot waiting. She clicks her tongue and then looks at her nails checking for chips before clearing her throat.
“You done?. Good. Delia is lazy. A little blond twit playing at being a wrestler with a bad French accent and an even worse attitude. She makes the rest of GIFT look way better in comparison. I mean Tatsu is someone I had respect for until she decided to throw her hat in with Winter and Mercedes. Tatsu may have lost but hey, she did it with Pride. Winter shows she actually cares and took me to the limit. Kind of. And Mercedes despite her reliance on stupid stats no one cares about was the Honor Wrestling Women’s champion….”
“Till I took it off her…”
“But now, well now here we are in a weird situation where a woman who doesn’t even deserve to be in the ring with me could get a title shot by simply losing to me and the only member of that little group who MAYBE should get a title shot is left sitting on the sidelines. Thing is the only way Vargas is getting a rematch is if the unthinkable happens and Delia beats me. A prospect so laughable and out there that it’s not even worth thinking about. The only thing more laughable is the thoughts that I would somehow “throw” the match to get at Mercy or that Delia would have to throw the match at all.”
“But then again...Delia Darling doesn’t even want a title shot…”
Alicia gets to her feet and pushes the chair backward angrily. A little harder than maybe even Alicia thought. Her teeth grate together and she throws her hands in the air.
“This is what my division has become?. A group of entitled bitches thinking they deserve everything?. Faded starlets and has-beens?. A bunch of no-hopers with no real talent?. And someone in Delia who has been handed a shot. But doesn’t want it. She had a shot to be in the mayhem match, to win it and get money, a car and maybe earn respect and a shot at the title that way. But when I tried to get Delia’s attention, when I tried to get in her face and say “hey get ready” she said...she didn’t want one…”
“Now I can handle the reality show and football bullshit. The fact she’s in that stupid group. But when you’re handed the possibility of a shot or to earn one for your teammate and friend and you don’t say “I’m going to beat you to get it for her or get one for myself”. Well, you lose my respect completely. You become just a name on a list and it makes me sad that there’s lumberjacks for this. See if there wasn’t then maybe, just maybe your little stablemates would come down and make this interesting.”
“Too bad it won’t happen. Nah, see, what will happen is you will get the, worst beating of your miserable life, somehow get GIFTED a title shot at Zero Hour. Then get beaten again. Cause this is what I do. I’m not a football playing, reality wannabe who moonlights as a wrestler in a shitty stable of cunts. No….I’m a world-beating destruction machine...and you’re next….”