Breakdown 11-25-21 #2
November 22
Santa Barbara
Ante Up
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With the six-person tag coming up on Breakdown, I knew I couldn't slack off at all, no matter how upset I was about Coral's bullshit. I had told Tommy everything when we got home that night, but I hadn't spoken to Sydney or Nate about it yet. This wouldn't be like the other things I hide from facing – I knew I needed to tell them and I had every intention of doing so... after Breakdown and we dealt with Lexy's Cunts.
It was Monday and I was at Ante Up. I'd already had my class for the day so it was my own personal work-out time. I was on the leg press machine, obviously the most important one, getting my reps in. After that was done I planned to hit the heavy bags in the back of the building to keep my striking sharp. Tommy was leading a class of new recruits, we both suspected a few were there only to try to get some inside info, thanks to the stupid internet articles about me and Tommy supposedly being either broken up already and just pretending not to be because of SCW, or about to be. After my class I had walked over to Tommy to tell him I was done, and I made a show of giving him a kiss. Report that, you assholes.
I was halfway through my set, taking a break between reps, when I saw Bella walk in. She glanced towards Tommy first, saw he was busy in one of the rings, and kept walking. She had to pass me up to get to the locker rooms. I was sitting up, and when she passed, I smiled. She smiled back, but it was hesitant, and then she sped up her pace as she passed me up, hurrying to the locker rooms. I shook my head. That girl had been avoiding me since that week Tommy and I were fighting, and I didn't have to ask her or him why. Just like Tommy didn't have to ask where I went the night before Under Attack. This ridiculousness had to stop. I knew Tommy had told her we had an agreement, so I didn't understand why she was suddenly afraid of me. I knew that Tommy had a talk with Drake at Breakdown, so I decided I'd better have one of my own with Bella. I finished my set, and by the time I was done, Bella had come out of the locker room, changed and ready to get busy. She always started off with cardio, so I wasn't surprised when she went over to the treadmills. She chose one, and started messing with the settings. I got up and walked over to her. Might as well get it over with, right? As I approached, she saw me, and gave me the wide-eyed 'animal about to be roadkill' look as she stepped down off the machine.
“Hey doll, how's it going?”
“Um... hi. It's going. Good. You?”
“Been better, been worse. You got a few minutes before you get started? Just wanted to go over something.”
“Um... sure. Yeah.”
“Great. Here's the thing. I've noticed that you've been going out of your way to avoid me lately. Since the week before the SCW Pay Per View.”
“What? No! I haven't. I mean, like... not on purpose. I've just been... really focused on my training.”
“Is that why you haven't come to any of my classes? Cause no offense doll, but if you were focused on training, you really can't afford to miss any striking lessons.” She had power behind her strikes, but her technique was really sloppy.
“Oh... I'm sorry. I just... I-”
“It's okay, you don't have to try to find some excuse. I'm not a hundred percent certain because I didn't ask, but I have a pretty good idea what's going on here. That week, Tommy and I weren't speaking much, which I'm pretty sure you know...” Bella nodded, everyone at Ante Up knew. “There was one night he left home and stayed out all night... he was with you, wasn't he?” If Bella could have backed up any further, she would have, but the treadmill was stopping her. The poor girl looked like she was about to cry. I grinned. “That expression tells me all I need to know. But you don't have to be nervous or scared, okay? That's what I came over here to talk to you about. You don't have to avoid me or act weird around me. It's all good.”
Bella relaxed a bit. “You really don't care?”
“I care, but only about the fact he's doing what he wants to do and enjoying it. Just like I do. It's what we agreed on.”
“Well... he said he enjoyed it, so that's something... oh!” She clapped a hand over her mouth for a second. “Should I not say that to you?”
I laughed a little. “No, no, you're fine. I'm glad. Listen... we were friendly before, at least I thought of you as a friend. That doesn't have to change. I'm really fine with this.”
“Really? Totally?”
“Totally. Completely. I don't really want to hear details... but other than that.” I shrugged. Bella smiled, as her guard finally came down.
“Okay. I'll try to remember that. This is just kinda... weird, and different for me.”
“You get used to it.” I smirked.
“I hope so. I mean... cause awkwardness sucks. And I... well, really liked it.” Her face turned red. She's adorable, I could see now why Tommy was interested.
“Of course you did.” Bella giggled, and I smirked.
“Okay, so... if you're really okay with all of this, can I ask you something?” I nodded. “What do you think about these articles? First they got me with Tommy, and that was before anything... and now they got you and your friend.” I shrugged a little. “Wait... are you and him...” I just grinned. “Oh. I see. You did say you both....” Bella shook her head. “Anyway. Are you concerned at all how it all looks? I've read them, they're making it sound really bad.”
“I'm not worried at all. I've never cared what the dirtsheets ran about me. Tommy is worried though, he thinks people will try to take sides and create issues for us. I think we're stronger than that, though.”
“I think you are, too. Not very many couples could have the arrangement you have and keep things together.”
“You'd actually be surprised how many there are.” I could think of three others just in wrestling right there on the spot.
“That's just it though. No one knows how many there are, because a lot hide it. They don't want people to know because of the stigma. They're either ashamed, or afraid of what their family and friends would think. You don't care though. That takes strength and confidence. I don't think I have that... I don't know what I would do if those reporters actually ID'd me.” Bella shook her head nervously.
“Well hey, I'm not gonna out you. That's between you and Tommy. Personally, I don't care.”
Bella leaned against the treadmill, looking the most relaxed since I approached her. “I have to say, I do feel better after talking to you. I wasn't sure how you felt about things, you know? Like... was I supposed to act like I knew you know? Or how you felt about people knowing you two get around in general. Like the articles say.”
“Look, those dirtsheets are only half right, and that's just because of some lucky guesses. I don't care though, I've always been an open book, no reason to hide anything.”
“Maybe one day I'll be that confident.”
“You will. We'll make sure of it.” Bella smiled. “Now do me a favor, and chill with the avoiding me. There's no reason for that shit, you're making it awkward when it doesn't need to be. Friends?”
I offered my hand. Bella smiled and took it. “Yeah. Friends. No more weird.”
“Good. That's all I wanted to talk about, I'll let you get back to work.”
I turned to walk away. “Kandis?” I turned back.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
I just grinned before walking off.
I headed to the heavy bag area, and picked out my favorite one. I set it up how I like, then got on the floor to do a few stretches before letting loose. As I got up to get started, I heard my phone buzz from my bag. Everyone important knew I was busy training today, so I started to ignore it, since it likely wasn't important. As I got to my feet though, I had a thought – if they knew I was busy and contacted me anyway, maybe it was important. Since I hadn't really started my kicks yet I thought, fuck it, I'll just see who it is and what they want.
The text was from Gail.
[“Sorry to bother you, but Coral told me you had a fight and you refuse to speak to her. I hate the idea of you girls fighting. I know you've been upset with me but can we please talk? I'd like to hear your side.”]
I scoffed, shaking my head. Whatever it was that Coral told our mother... I was certain it was full of lies.
[“Yeah. We can talk. But after my show, I have to focus. Is Friday okay?”]
Gail replied immediately.
[“Friday is fine. Any time. Thank you.”]
I tossed my phone back into my bag and turned to the heavy bag. This should be fucking interesting.
ON CAMERA
If anyone thinks that last Breakdown was the end of The Connection's road to get the Tag Titles back... I have some bad news for you. As I've said before but I'll remind you again...
We.
Don't.
Quit.
So this is just a speedbump, delaying the inevitable. It's only a matter of time before The Connection does make history, and there isn't anything anyone can do to stop it.
Order of Chaos might think they stopped us, but all they did was add a step. These two, Lucas Knight and Christy Matthews, they're supposed to be the chosen ones, right? Everyone loved it when they took the titles from us, they're the team upholding everything right and good around here, setting a new standard or some shit, right? Then explain to me why they had no problem taking advantage of the bullshit that Lexy's Cunts executed last week? Autumn and Ace ran into the ring and blatantly fucked us out of the titles, stole our record-breaking moment. And Lucas? That motherfucker jumped all over the chance to take advantage and steal a win. Did I have a title belt in my hand while the ref was down? Yes. Was I going to use it? Fucking right! Call me a hypocrite if you want, but the difference is I was going to do the damage myself, not take advantage of someone else doing the dirty work so it looked like my hands were clean.
Lucas... Christy... you didn't beat us. You took advantage of some petty cunts looking for payback. Some champions, right? But I get it... I really do. You want to hold on to the titles, I can't really blame you for that. You're trying to prove me wrong, acting like you care about them for more than just an accomplishment to tick off. Maybe you do, I don't know your mind. But you have a shitty way of showing it... letting those cunts help you and steal the moment from you. That's right... they stole it from both of us. Just remember... we don't give up. And you are carrying those belts on borrowed time.
As for Autumn and Ace... I get you, too. You were pissed at us over those scuffles before Trios made me and Ace have to get along for a few weeks. Clearly that's out the fucking window, and you know what? I'm okay with that. Something else you made clear by this stunt of yours is... you're afraid of facing us again. Or in Ace's case, at all. We took the titles from you at Rise to Greatness, after Ace had better things to do and Autumn called in Katsumi to take his place. Look, it's not our fault that you brought in a subpar competitor who ended up being dead weight, leaving us to pick up the pieces and bring the titles back where they belong. Ace can talk like he wants a rematch all he wants but he wasn't in it to start with. Maybe he's trying to make up for his role in losing the titles by fucking off for a failed attempt at becoming World Champion. Don't know, don't care, sounds like not my problem. What is my problem... is the fact you fucked with our business. You wanted Lucas and Christy to retain because you'd rather face them instead of us, because you know, like everyone else knows, that we are the greatest tag team in SCW history.
You're gonna find out anyway though, as this week its you two plus Katsumi against us two plus Drake. Kinda funny how that worked out, you screwed us cause you didn't want to face us for the titles, yet you're facing us anyway. Maybe you think it'll be okay since its a six person tag instead of just the four of us, and you might have some kind of advantage. But let me ask you this... Do you really think that little psycho pyro balances out Drake? He's been in this business for years, taken on some of the best this company has to offer. That girl though? She's been wrestling for like five minutes and only seems to care about burning things down. She's been nothing but dead weight to your little group since she came here, dragging you down.
The Jackals on the other hand... with Minerva gone to take care of herself and find a way to get her birthright back, we've cut the dead weight called Konrad Raab. You have no idea how long we've been waiting to ditch that crazy motherfucker. He entertained Minerva so we tolerated him, but now we don't have to do that, and he's not going to drag us down anymore. You're getting a version of the Jackals you haven't seen before. It may be just three of us, but we're all focused on the same goals now and unfortunately for you, Lexy's Cunts? That goal is currently to take you out of the equation so that we, meaning The Connection, can get back what belongs to us, without interference, stamp our names into the record books, and claim the spot officially that's already ours... the best fucking team in this company.
But first, tomorrow night at Breakdown? The Jackals are going to show Autumn, Ace, Katsumi, and all of SCW what they're getting into with this version of us. There are no lies about us or between us. We're not pretending to be something we're not, we're not trying to pull wool over anyone's eyes about who's fucking who or who's really in charge. There is no leader in the Jackals, we're a pack, we know each others thoughts, we have a singular focus.
Eliminate the enemy.
Enjoy the spoils.
And when it's all over? We're going to run this place.