Her career had been a rousing success thus far in Sin City Wrestling. In her debut at Into the Void VI, she had scored a colossal upset victory against one of the premiere athletes in SCW, for both the men as well as women, when she pinned the shoulders of Amy Marshall to the mat for the one, two, three. She shocked many that night, none more so than herself. And when some thought it was just pure, dumb luck against the Hall of Famer and first-ever Grand Slam Champion of SCW, Devona silenced the critics and arm-chair "experts when she repeated that victory against another Grand Slam Champion, this time against another ring great in Mercedes Vargas.
The win against Mercedes was bitter sweet because what caused it was the actions of one Veronica Taylor a number of weeks prior; when the ever confident arrogant Ms. Taylor attempted to upstage her during her contract signing segment alongside "Hot Stuff" Mark Ward. The end result of that error in judgment was Veronica on the wrong end of one of Devona's fist, and the contract being signed anyway. Veronica would not set foot in the ring against her, at least not yet, which was what brought Mercedes in instead, and following that match? An attack by Veronica and Celeste North that led to a six-woman tag match at Summer XXXTreme V. And we all know what happened then!
Devona scored the victory for her team which consisted of none other than Amy Marshall and "The Siren" Kate Steele, pinning, of all people in the Mean Girls cabaret, Veronica Taylor! Veronica's fragile ego was unable to accept what had happened that evening, which was what brought us to...
Silver Legacy Resort and Casino -
Reno, Nevada
The room was large and comfortable, with a soft, tanned carpet beneath Devona's bare feet as she walked casually across the room, glass of wine in hand as the evening sun had set and been replaced with the bright lights of the city reflecting in the darkening sky. She decided she'd take some time tonight to go down and venture about the casino, perhaps step out into the city itself for a walk or to see some of the late night life sights. Beauty and Beast were unable to make this trip to Nevada to keep her company and cheer her on, so she was on her own for the time being.
Perhaps Amy Marshall would be around and want to hang? Or Jessie or Kate? They were not yet at the point where they could refer to each other as bosom chums, but they were close -- somewhat. It could be a start to having so,me girlfriends on the road. Something both Gabriel and Odette had encouraged her to attempt, so long as she was careful in doing so.
Wrestling was full of back stabbing incidents, and all in the name of success.
Devona passed the bed, quite comfortable looking in the white and red bed spread and luxurious pillows, until she stood at the window and calmly looked out as the night life of Reno passed by.
Devona: Bullies. I never liked them.
Benjamin Franklin High School -
Devona's Junior Year
Coach: I'm sorry, Thérèse, but it is out of the question.
Of course she knew that this would be an uphill battle, even were she serious about it. But truth be told, she had no real interest in joining the football team. She loved the sport, don't get her wrong! She loved attending all the games and cheering Beauty on alongside Beast and their Momma in the stands, but she just had no real inclination to take part in the field of play herself, at least not in an official capacity. There were more than a handful of times where she would join Beauty and Beast, as well as a few mutual boys they knew, at the park for a game.
But when rumor came about that Beauty and her mutual friend, Valentine Pinet, was going to attend the pre-season sign ups in the cafeteria, Devona and a few other girls decided to go to -- just because. And of course, they were met with quite a bit of resistance from most of the boys who saw the act as encroaching upon their territory. Notice we said "most," not "all." Beauty and one or two others saw no reason the girls shouldn't be allowed to try out, but it wasn't just the team hopefuls resisting. It was also the head coach, Mister Nicolas Leger, who was determined to put a halt to any progress on the girl's part.
Devona: Why not?
Three out of the five girls had up and left the cafeteria filled with boys who wanted to join the team, and only Valentine and herself remained. By now, Devona was just about ready to fight to be allowed to join the team just on principle's sake.
Coach Leger: Because girls can't join the boy's football team.
Devona: Why. Not?
By now, the sixteen year old Devona was starting to sound like a broken record to the coach, as she simply was not accepting what he had to say.
Boy: Because we don't WANT girls on the team!
Last year's "head boy" of the football team, Raphael Levanche, spoke up, believing he was speaking for everyone present. And although a number of the boys nodded in agreement, many others averted their gaze as if they didn't want Devona and Valentine to think that they agreed with the boisterous blowhard. Devona turned and stared across the line of tables to where the cocky little twat was seated, staring her down as though he could intimidate her into submission.
Devona: Why not? You afraid we'd show your scrawny butt up!?
Raphael stood up with an annoyed look on his face, as if he thought this "girl" shouldn't have dared speak out against him, a high school football captain, practically a member of royalty as far as he was concerned. But the moment he stood up, an over protective Beauty stood up as well, but OPPOSING him! A few other boys stood up, some supporting Raphael, others supporting Beauty and the girls. This was quickly nipped in the bud by the coach who barked at everyone.
Coach Leger: Okay, if everyone is not seated by the time I count to three, you'll not be given a chance to join the team this year! One!...
And before he could finish, the seats were filled again and Devona and Valentine found Coach Leger's eyes back on them.
Coach Leger: And this is why girls can't join the team, Thérèse. It's about unity, team work. And this issue would cause friction where we can't afford it.
Devona and Valentine looked around as some boys watched them, others watched the coach, and many more simply found the walls, ceiling and floors fascinating at that point in time. Devona just exhaled sharply and shook her head.
Devona: Unbelievable!
She, and Valentine, stood up and walked out of the cafeteria. Their battle having been lost this day. Beauty had told her that evening that he had decided not to join the team that year out of protest, but Devona would not hear it. Sports was the one thing Beauty and Beast had in common with each other, and whether he wanted to admit it or not, Beauty liked it when Beast came to see him play, and Beast wouldn't admit it but he enjoyed the same. Devona would not allow her boys not to have that single bit of bonding ruined on her account.
But of course, Raphael couldn't let the challenge to his manhood go so easily...
Sylvie: Why would you even WANT to? I mean, oh my GOD!
Sylvie Cyr. Head cheerleader since their freshmen year in school, and just as annoying as her very name implies. Not to mention Raphael's girlfriend, or at least ONE of them. She just believed herself to be the most important one in his 'harem.'
Sylvie had practically invited herself to sit with Devona during their study hall, most likely at Raphael's urging, to stir the pot a bit, which she was working beautifully.
Sylvie: I mean, you could have been on the cheerleading squad if you wanted to try but nooo! You wanted to play with the boys? Those dirty, smelly guys and do all that running and kicking and get hit...
Devona: Imagine that, having to play football while on the football team!
Sylvie: Ugh! I know, right?
Apparently Sylvie wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer either, as Devona's sarcasm went flying right over her head.
Sylvie: So why DON'T you try out for cheerleading? You could probably even make the team if you lost a few pounds.
Devona, working on reading the latest chapter in her history homework, glanced up at that caustic remark and her eyebrows rose almost to her hairline.
Devona: Excuse me?
Sylvie: Oh no offense T. I'm just looking out for you. But if you want to join the cheerleading squad, you have to be able to fit in the uniforms and I seriously doubt right now that you would with that pooch.
Devona lowered her arm to rest against the table's edge and she frowned.
Devona: Okay, first of all, I never laid claim to being some glamour model, but I'm hardly what you'd call "fat!"
And she wasn't. Most of her added weight was athletically inclined given her participation in other school sports, plus her kickboxing hobby. Sylvie clearly wasn't having though, and was perhaps even enjoying the spot she had woven around Devona as she rolled her eyes.
Sylvie: Okay...
Devona: Second of all, why would I even want to join the cheerleaders? I could think of better things to do with my time than parading around like some fake peacock on the sidelines, trying to upstage the actual reason why people are in the stands.
Devona slapped her book closed and stood up with an unsympathetic shrug.
Devona: Sorry!
But she was not and she turned and moved to another desk to get away from the toxic girl while Sylvie stared at her, aghast at her outlook towards her place in the school.
And after that, Devona had made not just an enemy out of Raphael for trying to work her way onto "his" team, but also with Sylvie for rejecting what she considered an institution; the cheerleading team of Benjamin Franklin High. And of course, this meant that Devona had also earned the ire of Sylvie's gaggle of followers, the 'mean girls' that every school seemed to have. of course, they thought of themselves as just popular, not mean. It wasn't their fault if they were prettier or richer or the boys liked them more. The other girls were just jealous of them.
Honest!
With Raphael's support and Sylvie's manipulations, she and at least four other girls proceeded to target Devona with their lies and teasing and generally mean spirited pranks and insults. Like a trooper, Devona weathered the abuse rather than go to a school official and be labeled a snitch, not that she felt the school officials would actually do anything about it. Seemed where bullies were concerned, the teachers tended to prefer pretending that it wasn't happening. That made the school, and by extension, them look better in the eyes of the PTA.
Sylvie: Personally I'm GLAD she didn't join our team!
The lead 'mean girl' spewed at lunch, while her girls leaned in and nodded in collective agreement. She spoke loud enough that some of the tables surrounding them could hear, including the one Devona herself sat at.
Sylvie: I mean, she tried to join a BOY'S team! She walks around in those stupid shirts and jeans! And have you seen her hair? There is something strange about Thérèse, I'm telling you! I'd be afraid to be alone in the locker room, getting dressed around her -- if you know what I mean!
Her supporters hooted and cackled, and some of the meaner members of the football team laughed as well while Devona just looked down at her lunch tray, feeling her face flush with heat as she fought against the tears of embarrassment.
Until one day....
Devona: I have had it up to HERE with your stuck up attitude you uptight little...!
Sylvie: Oh REALLLLY?
Sylvie had a smug look on her face as she set her hands on her hips and leaned in at the waist.
Sylvie: And just what do you intend to do about it?
POW!
That's what! That right hand of Devona's met Sylvie square in the mouth, knocking her flat on her back and splitting BOTH lips wide open! her supporters stared in shock that their "leader" was felled with a single blow! Sylvie scrambled to her feet and went running off down the school hall, crying for a teacher. Her group watched after her, then slowly turned their heads and looked at the incensed Devona before they dispersed.
Much of Sylvie's power and standing in the school was lost because of that one act, but it didn't come without a price. Devona had ended up suspended for three days for striking a fellow student, and when she came back the next week?
"Hi Thérèse!"
"How's everything going?"
"I like your hat!"
Laying out the head bitch of the school had caused a turnabout in Devona's own standing at school, as some of her supporters greeted her as if nothing had happened negatively between them in the past. She rolled her eyes at the hypocrisy of their fake friendship and actions, when she didn't see Raphael's foot stick out in her path as she walked past him and a number of his boys, causing her to trip and fall -- spilling her books and papers everywhere!
The boys roared in laughter at the girl as she started to rise, when a flash blew by and slammed Raphael up against his own locker and threw him hard to the floor! Beauty had seen everything and was all over him, pinning him down to the floor and throwing lefts and rights at him as the hall broke into chaos of "FIGHT! FIGHT!" chants! It was bad enough that the bastard tripped a girl, but that girl just so happened to be HIS best friend and Beauty was getting a pound of flesh in payback as students and faculty had to drag him off of Raphael!
Beauty was suspended for a week for his actions but retained his spot on the football team, and if Raphael thought he'd get away without a blemish on his record, he was mistaken. There were enough witnesses to support Beauty's claims on Raphael's actions, and he was suspended for a week and demoted from captain of the football team.
Devona: Women like you are a dime a dozen, Veronica. You think because you have money and you're pretty, it somehow puts you on a level so much higher than the rest of us. You talk a lot of smack but say very little save for the same thing over and over and over again. Hunty. Sorry, not sorry. We've heard it and everything else you have to say or tweet so many times, I'm starting to think someone needs to twiddle your knob because you're obviously out of focus. Rich girl super models are almost as prevalent in wrestling as so-called millionaires, and you even added that little note worthy distinction to your already self inflated resume.
Well when the time comes sweety pie, and you find out just how much trouble you're actually in, just remember; you caused it. You started all of this trouble between us for no other reason than because a rookie newcomer was getting a little camera time that you wanted for yourself. You just couldn't stand the fact that people were paying attention to someone, anyone, else other than the high and mighty Miss Priss aka Veronica Taylor. Chick, you're seriously so uptight about yourself that you couldn't drag a needle out of your ass with a tractor!
Well! I just hope that this is the final call, the curtain falling across the stage if you will, in this thing between you and I. Because, quite frankly, I'm bored of you. I'm done with you and your insecure, over bearing sense of entitlement. You ate my fist that first time you made the mistake of getting in my face. And I've already pinned you once. This weekend in Reno, it'll be my pleasure to do so a second and last time, and let everyone out there know one thing.
Devona turned to the camera.
Devona: Veronica Taylor -- is not all that.
