Breakdown 10-7-20
September 27
Santa Barbara
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Dammit.
The Tag League didn't start off very well for Tommy and me. We threw our best at those bitches, as we always do, but at the end I got caught by one bitch when I was trying to take out the other. Funny how people used to think me and Syren were friends, just cause I was cool with Autumn because of Ryan. Nah, fuck that, I never liked the cunt. So, two points down the drain. But whatever, we can make it up in the rest of this thing. The bigger news of the night was Katya making decisions since Sasha got concussed by Swann. And one of those decisions was adding Tommy to the World Championship rematch that Bree Lancaster has been demanding against David. Neither me nor Tommy expected that, although it kinda solves two issues at once. Bree gets what she wants, and so does Tommy. And they don't have to worry about whatever bullshit deal they worked out. Tommy went along with Bree's ideas but if it was me? I wasn't gonna step aside for no one! Guess it doesn't matter now though, does it?
The Sunday after, I made it a point to not stress about SCW for at least a day. Sydney had gone back to Miami the previous weekend to visit her dad, Uncle Corey. She'd told me she was going to try to talk him into coming out here. See where she lives, see me, meet my family and friends here. She must be a really good talker because he agreed, and came back with her. We couldn't get together when they got in because it was Tuesday afternoon, and Tommy and me were leaving for Breakdown. We'd got back from the house show tour early that Sunday morning, and had plans for dinner that night. With everyone coming over – Nate, Clarissa, Carla, Devin, Debbie, Ray, Sydney, and Uncle Corey. My two families were going to meet, and it was happening at my boyfriend's house, that I'd just moved into.
Me, nervous?
Fucking right.
It was about an hour before everyone was supposed to arrive. Which given the driving time from West Hollywood to here, meant they were already on the way. Tommy and I were in the kitchen getting things ready. He'd offered to cook something but he'd already insisted that we do this here rather than everyone meeting up at a restaurant or something, so I talked him into getting something catered. Less to stress about. It was meant to be delivered in about ten minutes. We were getting plates and silverware out to set the table in the dining room.
“Can't remember the last time I had a reason to use the big table.”
“I'm sure whatever it was, you didn't have to coddle some nervous as fuck woman being neurotic.”
Tommy grinned. “Probably not. I don't know why you're nervous anyway, every single person that's gonna be here loves you.”
“I know that. But I'm more concerned about them getting along with each other. The only blood relatives I know are about to meet the family who did more to raise me than the entire State of California did for the first fourteen years of my life. How can you not see how that's stressful?”
“I can see it. I just think you're stressing a little too much, babe.”
“Not only that, they're coming here. This isn't even-”
“If you say 'this isn't my house', I might just have to ask you to leave.”
He smirked but I wasn't amused. “I'm serious, Tommy. The Williamsons know better, they've all been to my apartment before, even Sydney. Yes I live here but it's not really mine. And don't give me that 'it's yours too' shit, okay? There's a difference between me accepting the fact that this is home, and calling it mine. I had nothing to do with getting this place, you pulled me in.”
Tommy set down the dishes in his hands and gave me a nod. “Yeah. I see what you mean. Are you afraid your uncle is gonna think you're showing off or something?”
“I don't know what I think. I told you I was neurotic.”
Tommy walked around the table and grabbed me gently by my shoulders. “Babe. Relax.” He kissed me. “It's gonna be fine.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Take a deep breath.” I did as he asked. “Now, tell me. What's the worst that could happen?”
“Um... Uncle Corey hates you, hates Debbie or Ray or Nate... Debbie and Ray hate you... Uncle Corey is freaked out by Carla's name being Carla...”
“Fuck sake, no wonder you're stressed. That's a lot of nonsense tumbling around in there.” He tapped my temple.
“Nonsense?”
“Okay.... maybe the name thing might be weird for a few minutes. But come on, no one is gonna hate anyone, especially me. I'm a fucking delight!”
I laughed, and he smirked. I guess that was the point. “I mean, you're definitely a delight to fuck.”
“That's better. Lighten up. It's really gonna be fine.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. I'll try to relax.”
“Good. Fuck, if you're like this for your family, I'm afraid of what you'll do when I get around to introducing you to the kids.” Tommy grinned.
“Please. Kids are easy. Besides, the really awkward part is already out of the way, thanks to running into your ex-wife at the hospital.”
Tommy cringed a little. “She didn't say anything out of place, did she?”
“Nope. We actually had a good talk while they were giving you every test imaginable.”
“What about, exactly?”
“How much of a dumbass you can be sometimes.” I laughed. Tommy shook his head.
“Figures.”
The restaurant Tommy ordered dinner from arrived on time, and we kept ourselves busy setting everything out. Included with the meal were warmers to make sure it wasn't cold by the time everyone got there. We had baked stuffed chicken breasts, mashed potatoes for the gravy, some kind of creamed spinach thing for a side, and lots of green salad. Tommy handed me a beer while we were setting things up, I guess to settle my nerves some more. It helped. Nate was first to get there, and he had all the Williamsons with him, Clarissa and the kids rode with him and Debbie and Ray followed. Nate and Clarissa had met Tommy already, they'd been to the club a few times. But it was the first time for Debbie and Ray, and also the kids. I made introductions, the men shook hands, typical stuff. Carla seemed awestruck. I guess if I was a fifteen year old girl I'd be awestruck by Tommy, too. Devin, my three year old nephew, seemed shy. I squatted down to try to get him to hug me.
“Hey kiddo. Don't act like you don't know me.”
He smiled and walked over to hug me. He then looked up at Tommy, and disappeared behind Nate's legs. I stood up and laughed. Nate shook his head. “Gotta love when kids pretend to be shy.”
Carla giggled. “He's just playing. He hides like that every time you kiss on TV.”
“Seriously?”
“That's kind of adorable.”
I looked down and Devin was peeking around Nate's leg at us. I guess for a three year old is its pretty weird to see someone in person you'd only ever seen on TV.
Just then, there was another knock on the door. Tommy gestured for me to get it, another thing in my head where I didn't think I should cause it's not my house, even though I live here... anyway, I opened the door and it was Sydney and Uncle Corey. He smiled big when he saw me. I let them in and Uncle Corey gave me a hug. We went into the dining room to join everyone, Tommy had led them to the table.
“Okay, some of you have met each other already, but no one here has met this guy yet, Corey Destrehan, my uncle. And of course, Sydney, his daughter.”
Debbie and Ray hadn't met Sydney yet either. They all shake hands as Uncle Corey goes around the table to greet everyone.
“It's a real pleasure to meet you folk, I've been told a bit about you all from Kandis and Syd.”
Everyone sat, and after I declared this wasn't formal by any means and they could serve themselves, we spent the next few minutes sorting out dishes. Clarissa fixed Devin's plate first, then her own. After getting that settled, conversation started as we ate. Before I tell you all about that though, I have to point out that the food was fucking fantastic. I made a mental note to tell Tommy I wanted to go into whatever place he called sometime. Ray broke the silence.
“I haven't been up this way in a few years, this is a really beautiful home.”
“Thanks. Bought it several years ago. Seemed a bit too much at the time but I figured I'd grow into it.”
Uncle Corey looked around and then at me. “Oh, I thought we were meeting at your house.”
“Well, uh... you kinda are. I just moved in here a few weeks ago.”
“Oh... I see.” Uncle Corey glances at Tommy and I think just then really grasps how much of a thing we are.
“About time too, I was starting to wonder which one of them was the scared one.” Nate joked. I glared at him.
“Stop it.”
“What?” He and Tommy laughed.
“I'd say her, she'd say me.”
“Well it doesn't matter now, cause I'm here.”
“Well, I agree, it's a beautiful place. You're very fortunate to be in a position to own it.” Debbie meant that as a compliment, I know how she speaks. But I think Tommy misinterpreted her.
“Hey, I wasn't born into being able to live like this, all of this is the result of a lot of years of work, and some smart investments ten, fifteen years ago.”
“Oh, I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry. Kandis has told us how hard you work.”
Ray leaned over, interested. “Investments, you say?”
“Yeah, various business ventures with money saved up from wrestling. A friend of mine and I got into a few different things a while back, most of them continue to have a good return.”
“Sounds like a smart friend. I assume he's doing just as well as you are?”
“Probably. Can't really speak to that, we're actually no longer on speaking terms.”
Tommy said that with all the casualness of announcing the time. Sydney knows about some of the mess, Nate too. But everyone else looked a little uncomfortable with the comment.
“Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. Shame when a long time friendship goes to dust. Must have been something big that happened.”
“Long story, really.”
I shook my head. “No it's not. I'm what happened.” I smiled sarcastically.
“Kandis...”
“What? Am I lying? They don't like that you got with me, they think I'm a bad influence, that I changed you.”
“And that's bullsh-... bull.” I smirked the tiniest bit at Tommy censoring himself because of Carla and Devin.
“Acknowledging that's what they think doesn't mean I think it's true.”
“Well, whoever 'they' are, I think they sound like very judgmental people.” Uncle Corey nodded curtly.
“They really are. At least they have been about me.”
“Honestly, they've probably been judgmental for a long time and I never noticed it because it wasn't really directed at me.”
“Maybe.”
Debbie sighed. “Well, from everything I have heard from Kandis, and just from knowing her, I would say that it's ridiculous to think she did anything wrong. Maybe you're better off without these so-called- friends around, Tommy. They might have just been jealous they didn't have all of your attention anymore.”
“That's a possibility.” Tommy gave me a look, I took it to mean he'd rather be talking about literally anything else.
“Id say so. But they really don't deserve all this discussion-”
“May I say one more thing?”
I couldn't deny Debbie. I glanced at Tommy, he shrugged. “Sure.”
“If anyone is any kind of influence on anyone, I'd say Tommy has influenced you, to be better. Happier.” Debbie smiled.
“Second that.” Ray nodded.
“I don't know about that....”
“I do! Any man that can settle her down has got to be good for something.”
“I don't know if I'd call her settled.”
Debbie waved a hand. “Oh you know what I mean. I don't think she'll ever be tamed, but being with you as opposed to the other things she used to do...”
“Debbie!”
“What? You didn't think we knew?”
“That is so not the point.” I glanced at Uncle Corey, who was following the conversation with skeptical eyes. Debbie saw where I looked and made a face.
“Oh. Right.” She turned to my uncle. “Corey, I don't want you to get the wrong idea about your niece here. She's just always been sort of a... free spirit.”
Uncle Corey smiled. “Like her mother.”
“We always assumed it must have come from there. It could be argued that her childhood up til when she moved in with us cause some of it, but I liked to think it was genetic.”
“It certainly wasn't learned in our house. All I taught her was how to make and paint things.”
“Guys. Stop it. Please.”
Nate laughed. “Yeah, cut it out, you're embarrassing her.”
“I'm not embarrassed! I just don't think this is really the topic we should be discussing right now.”
“What, Kandy? We're just talking about how you've grown in the last year or so. I never thought we'd see you like this.” She gestured between me and Tommy, and the house in a vague way.
“Okay, okay, I get it Mom, chill out.”
Debbie laughed. “Well, I at least got you to call me Mom.”
I shook my head, and saw Uncle Corey smiling. He seemed to be enjoying seeing me interact with the people I'd considered my family since I was a teenager.
Ray though seemed to be able to tell all this was making me squirm. “Well, I think we've put Kandis on the spot enough. Tommy, what about your family?”
“Uh, well... me and Mom get along great. Dad turned out to be a piece of... uh, garbage, so we won't talk about him. Then there's my kids with the ex-wife.”
Sydney went wide eyed. “Oh, I didn't know you had more than one.” Sydney had met Charlotte at the club once.
Tommy nodded. “Yeah, two others.”
“How old are they?"
“Taylor is twelve, and Jacob is eight. And well, Charlotte, she's twenty-eight, but-”
“Twenty-eight?! You don't seem old enough to have a child that age....” Uncle Corey was stunned. Couldn't blame him Sydney is twenty-four. Tommy laughed.
“I don't, really. Charlotte is actually my ex's niece. Her parents died suddenly when she was a teenager. Kirsten and I took her in and adopted her.”
“Oh... so she's really your former step-niece....?”
Everyone looked at each other around the table. That sounded weird. “I... guess? Never really thought about it like that, I just see her as my daughter.”
“Well it makes perfect sense to me. It's how I've seen Kandis since the day she was brought to our house.”
“Yeah, she's been my sister since I found out she liked football, too.” I smirked at Nate. That was roughly an hour after I was dropped off at their house.
“She's like me.”
Everyone turned to Carla, who had been quiet most of the night. Sydney, who was sitting next to her, spoke up first. “She is? How so?”
“Well... my mom and dad died when I was thirteen. Then I went to the State, and then I met Kandis cause of... well, we had the same problem with a foster family. And she helped me with the courts. And I met Nate and Carissa, and now they take care of me. It's the same thing. Well, except I'm not related to them. But you know.”
Tommy nodded at her. “Yeah, totally the same thing.”
“So if he wants to call her his daughter instead of his niece, so what? Family is what we decide it is. And home is where we feel safest.”
Uncle Corey gave her a warm smile. “I suppose you're right, young lady. Leave it to a teenager to school an old man like me.” He turned to Tommy. “My apologies, I didn't mean any insult.”
“None taken at all. A lot of people don't get it at first, when they realize I'm not much older than she is. But it's our normal.”
“So... when do I get to meet her?”
Tommy turned back to Carla. Her question made me nervous, but I wasn't sure why. “I don't know. But we'll figure it out soon. I think she'd like you.” Carla smiled.
There was other small talk after that, Uncle Corey told us about his time looking for his sister Carla (my Carla already knew this, I'd explained when I told them about finding Corey and Sydney), and some stories from when they were young. Based on these stories I see what he meant about me getting my 'free spirit' from her. She moved around a lot, never stuck with one boyfriend for long. Their parents, my grandparents, called her a restless soul. If I believed in things like that, I'd like to think that soul is at rest now.
After everyone left, Tommy and I were cleaning up, me with another beer.
“Didn't I tell you it would be fine?”
“I don't know.... bringing up the asshole got tense for a few minutes.”
“Can't blame them for that, I brought it up talking about the businesses.”
I shrugged. “Yeah. I guess. Other than that though... yeah, it wasn't bad. Thanks for not being weird about Ray asking about your family.”
“Why would I get weird about that? It was a logical question, since none of them were here.”
“Yeah, but this was supposed to be about Corey meeting the Williamsons, not you.”
“I didn't mind, really. It did bring up some things I need to address though.”
“What's that?”
“Um, the fact we've been together just about a year now and my younger kids haven't met you.”
“That's probably a good thing.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Well... when I talked with Kirsten at the hospital, I got the idea she's very protective of them. Most people in your life don't seem to like the fact that I'm a part of it. So...”
“Let me stop you right there. Firstly, yes she is protective of them, she took them away when things got really heated with David. I didn't blame her for that, they didn't need to be around that. But as for you... she's actually the one who encouraged me to be completely honest with you about how I felt.”
I set the beer bottle down with a thunk. “Really?”
Tommy nodded. “Yeah, really.”
“That's weird.”
“Why? Yeah, we've had our issues, obviously considering we're no longer married... but why wouldn't she want the father of her kids to be happy?”
“I guess. You know I don't really know about all this relationship stuff.”
“I don't know... you haven't fucked it up yet.” Tommy smirked.
“I almost did.... a few months ago.” I was referring to the night I spent with Drake Hemingway and Tommy's anger at finding out about it. He cringed.
“Yeah... but we're not gonna talk about that. Ever.”
I thought about that night, but immediately pushed the thought away. “Right. Ever. Deal.”
Tommy nodded, and after the moment passed, he picked up the last dish from the table and we went into the kitchen.
After putting everything in the dishwasher, we both cracked open another beer and sat at the smaller table in the nook.
“So, your two families came face to face and you survived. No one hates anyone, least of all me.” He smirked. “Does this make you feel yet like you're actually home here?”
“Yes... yes it does.” I smirked back, and got up. I walked around the table and sat on his lap, straddling him on the chair. “I wouldn't do this at someone else's house, after all....”
I leaned over and kissed him.
I had been stressed about this dinner literally all day, and it was time to relax. Y'all know the best way to relax, right? Yeah, you do. I was carried upstairs. You know, to relax.
ON CAMERA
Okay, so our first outing in the Tag League didn't go me and Tommy's way. I'm not gonna cry or bitch about it. That's not me, y'all know that. We just get up, dust off, and get back to work. I'm not gonna point out how the Dark Fantasy bitches had all their minions at ringside playing tricks, or the fact that Tommy probably shouldn't even have been booked so soon after Apocalypse and those bitches knew that and used it to their advantage.
Nah. Not gonna talk about that shit at all. Cause I don't need to, y'all already know.
I'm not even gonna talk about the match Tommy's been put in for Under Attack. You know, the one he's deserved for a long time now? Cause y'all already know about that too.
Nope. I have two things to focus on right now. And no, I don't mean Cookie's tits that she loves to show off. But I'll get to that later. I'm talking about our Tag League match tomorrow night... and the fantastic idea Peyton Rice had about Under Attack and an elimination chamber. I'm gonna start there, cause I know y'all must be mindblown that I called something Pey-Pey did fantastic. She and I go way back, you remember. Emerge and all that shit. I never liked the trick but let's call it a mutual respect for each other's abilities. So when she opened her DSL talking about a chamber and putting something up for grabs? Well, I was all over that. I've been looking for something to keep me busy while Tommy takes care of his own business. He has the opportunities he's earned, he has his own spotlight.
I need to find mine.
Look, I love teaming with him, in and out of the ring, y'all know that. But that doesn't mean I don't want and deserve my own shit, too. And if the Head Bitch in Charge of the Week puts Peyton's idea on the card? Well, I need to be all up inside that thing so I can bust it open. It's just the kind of opportunity I need, to get myself some shine on my own. And y'all heard me on Breakdown. If a certain championship's contendership is on the line, and that certain championship match at Under Attack goes a certain way.... I know what I need to do.
But that's for Under Attack. I don't want anyone to think I don't care about Breakdown tomorrow night. Tommy and me are gonna be facing probably the most popular team in the whole tournament, Jordan Majors and Cookie. We know we're not the favorites here. But then again, we rarely are. That kind of thing, being overlooked, being rooted against, is what drives us. We just love proving people wrong.
I think Jordan knows something about that, don't you doll? Everyone thought you were gonna follow leader with Sienna Swann and Bree Lancaster, until you planted Sienna on her face. So you had you feel-good moment where you stood up for yourself, you lost a friend and a girlfriend in the process... but you grew a spine! Or that's what they said about you, anyway. But what did you really get for that, huh? An asswhooping or two? Cause gotdayum girl, Swann really put you through the ringer, didn't she? Somehow getting your ass kicked repeatedly only made the fans love you more though, so maybe that's a win in your book. But me?
I just see a beaten down girl, and wonder what exactly you have left to give to this Tag League.
Then we have Cookie. Here's a woman who shocked the world by beating Regan Street for the TV Championship, then... disappeared. Yet she's back! With Jordan as her new best friend! And they're gonna take on the world! Together!
You two remind me of some Power Ranger knock offs, and it's kinda sickening. Maybe I think that because Cookie posted some picture of herself dressed as Pink Porn Ranger or something. Not that I'm judging you for your pictures, Cook. I'm the last person who has any right to do that, believe me, I know that. In fact I actually really like some of your outfits, you rock that shit!
But we're not having a costume contest or an ass-off or anything like that. We're having a fight. And look, I don't know what happened when you lost the TV Championship and left, but people who just up and disappear instead of getting up and bracing themselves for the next fight really aren't the kind of people who are going to go far in this thing.
My whole live, all I've ever done is get right back up when I got knocked down. Literally, figuratively, any way you want to take it. Jordan... I'm gonna need you to ask yourself if Cookie is really the person you think you can count on as a tag partner for a few months while we work through this tournament.
Keep that in mind when the bell rings, okay? Is Cookie gonna be there for you when you go to make the hot tag? Or is she gonna disappear again? Just something for you to think about, Jordan. I know she's your friend, but friends don't always make the best partners. I mean, not everyone can be me and Tommy and have chemistry in every imaginable facet of life.
That's really all I got for you, I don't really feel the need to stand here and waste my breath for ten minutes when I could be getting in last-minute prep for this. We've got a match to win, and a tournament to dominate.
See you soon, dolls.