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Las Vegas, Nevada
What is the one time of year that children most look forward to, whether they are five years of age or fifteen? Some might answer Christmas, others might say that the correct answer is their birthday. And while both answers are good ones and right up there at the very top of the list, the one day out of the year most kids, no matter their age, look forward to is the last day of school before summer break. I mean, come on! While birthdays and Christmas are great with their family atmosphere and those glorious presents, in the end when both are over, days later the children still must return to school. (Unless of course their birthdays fall within the confines of the summer months, and then all bets are off the table!)
The final day of school is one that fills each child’s heart and mind to the brink of overflowing with anticipation. The excitement of having anywhere between six weeks and three months off, depending on where you reside. Much like Christmas morning, you just can not sleep due to the unbridled nature of that one day. Then you watch the clock and count down the very last few seconds until that final bell rings and…
That was where we currently stood at just outside of the John S. Park Elementary School, as the cars were lined up along the city streets while parking at the school grounds were taken up mostly by the buses that transported the children to and fro. And while some parents who had nothing better to do and saw it as something of a position of prestige to get a parking spot on school grounds, such was not the case for Alleyne Mahoe, otherwise known as the reigning Internet Champion of the SCW Bombshell division - Tempest. Unlike those Karens and soccer moms that competed in the school’s version of Hunger Games just to park in the school parking lot, Tempest had better things to do with her time.
She had spent much of the day since Anela had gone to school at the GO Gym, preparing for her upcoming title defense against Mercedes Vargas at the final stop in the 2024 Battlegrounds Tour, culminating in Pearl Harbor. She had sparred against Mackenzie Page and Charlotte Elliot from London Underground, while tempering her workouts by continuing to hold records at the Gym in the weight lifting class. As was the norm between the pair, Tempest had tried to get the gargantuan enforcer of London Underground - Osbourne - to step inside of the ring with her for a sparring match but he wanted no part of it. Not that she intimidated him in any way, mind you. No, it was more to the point Osbourne, for all his size and fighting prowess, found the idea of facing a woman inside of the ring distasteful. Legit match or no.
Gabriel had to point out to Tempest the time was winding down before she was able to hurry up and grab a shower and change of clothes before she had to pick up both Anela, and as a favor to the Stevens, Lucas as well. And she arrived and found a halfway decent parking spot along the road just outside of the school when she, and the other parents like her, heard that final bell, heralding the end of her adoptive daughter’s first school year here in Las Vegas.
Minutes passed as children of all ages exited the elementary school in one huge swarm of bodies, separating from friends to go to either the waiting buses or searching for the car their parents would be picking them up in. As usual, it wasn’t that long of a wait when Tempest saw Anela and Lucas exiting the school side by side, chattering away to one another. Most likely about their upcoming plans for summer vacation and if she had to hazard a guess, most likely planning some ideas to hang out with one another at each others’ homes as well. When Anela first started school here, Lucas promised he would keep an eye on her and he did that and more. The two children had formed a strong bond of friendship between them. One in which Tempest herself was eternally grateful for the young boy being there for her daughter when she was concerned few others might be.
The two kids finally looked up from their conversation and glanced around, but it was Lucas who spotted Tempest first. A rather easy accomplishment considering she was a head above about ninety-five percent of the parents present - even the fathers! The two maneuvered their way around the campus until they arrived outside of the gates and walked down the pavement until they arrived at the passenger side of her Transverse where Anela hurried over and hugged her mom - you don’t have to use the ‘step’ part of that because Tempest is just that to Anela; her mom. And even after the hug was returned and the two separated, Lucas caught her by surprise by hugging her as well.
Far as he was concerned, she was Aunt Alleyne.
Once Lucas stepped back, Anela seemingly took on a downcast expression on her young face, giving Tempest cause for concern.
Tempest: What’s going on, baby girl? What’s wrong?
Lucas: We got our report cards before school let out.
Uh … oh! Report cards, and Anela looked defeated. Worried. Tempest looked back and away from Lucas to her own child and she held her hand out, beckoning for it to be handed over.
Tempest: Let’s see it.
And after a moment’s hesitation, Anela finally relented and held out the laminated printout of her final grades for the school year. Tempest snatched it, expecting the worst as her eyes roamed over the grades, and she lowered the report card and raised a brow.
Tempest: These are all As and Bs?
And that was when it all fell into place and the smiles brightened the faces of the two children and they broke out into a fit of hysterical giggles between them. They practically fell against one another and Tempest just sighed and shook her head in mock defeat.
Tempest: Okay, fine! Fine! You got me!
Still giggling, Anela pointed toward Lucas with an impish smile.
Anela: It was Lucas’s idea.
Tempest: Oh yeah?
Tempest leaned over at the waist and stared into the boy’s eyes, but he didn’t even flinch. This was the same young one who had charmed Fenris of all people - whether “the White Wolf” would admit the fact or not.
Tempest: Your idea?
But Lucas just struggled to hide his smile and contain his laughter but when Anela snorted from her own efforts, that just sent Lucas into overdrive and the two started laughing again. Tempest stood upright with that exasperated expression that every parent knows – and loves. She sighed and shook her head, reaching for the passenger door.
Tempest: Okay you two! Inside!
They did as instructed, Lucas scrambling into the backseat where he buckled himself in, setting his schoolbag on the floor of the vehicle. Likewise, Anela climbed in and buckled in, holding her own book bag on her lap, her arms wrapped around it protectively. Once inside herself, Tempest watched and waited for the traffic flow from the school to begin and she slowly pulled out onto the street, taking extra care between the people crossing the street and the cars and school buses.
As they proceeded along their way, Tempest glanced into the rearview mirror at Gabriel and Odette’s son as he watched the traffic through the window.
Tempest: Lucas, how did you do?
Lucas: Pretty good.
Anela: He got straight As.
Tempest looked from her daughter and back at Lucas through the mirror and nodded.
Tempest: You both did great.
Anela: Mom? Does this mean our deal is on?
They pulled up behind a Nissan Sentra at a red light and Tempest looked to Anela for clarification.
Anela: You said if I got good grades you’d take me to Hawaii with you for your show?
Tempest: Ahh! That deal…
She could feel her daughter watching her for any signs of an answer. Tempest scrunched her nose almost to a comical extent.
Tempest: Well….!
**********
And the scene almost immediately transitions to Oahu, Hawaii, aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Tempest was walking along with her hand being held by Anela for safety reasons, while they visited the final destination of the Battlegrounds Tour. Tempest allowed no pictures to be taken by Anela as she felt it was somehow disrespectful to the history of what happened here that helped to spark the involvement of the United States in World War Two. She ranked it right up there with those disrespectful little shits who took selfies at Concentration Camps. Only after the tour had concluded was Anela allowed to take some pictures, the young girl making sure that her camera shy mom was in as many as she could sneak in.
Flags were present everywhere and many soldiers greeted her as well as several other Superstars and Bombshells who had also taken the initiative to tour this memorial before Sunday’s event. And several soldiers, knowing that Tempest had ties to the United States military thanks in part to the service of her husband, flocked to her for autographs and pictures.
Anela even went into a fit of childish laughter when one soldier struck a bicep pose alongside her mom and Tempest matched his pose, and outshined him as well to a point.
Anela believed this to be a deal well made, even if she had no idea that being so close to Maui, Tempest had fully intended to bring her to Hawaii anyway to visit family.
**********
Dusk was falling here in Oahu, Hawaii, coloring the sky in a blanket of vastly different hues of the spectrum. Pinks, oranges, yellows and blues all blended together as the sun was slowly descending into the waters in which the Battleship Missouri Memorial was anchored and had been positioned in for lo these many years. Flags were flown high, and the military presence was strong as soldiers - men and women alike, marched along the battleship and the docks while tourist and local alike prepared for the conclusion of the day’s tours.
One such person remaining was the reigning Bombshell Internet Champion, Tempest, who stood along the docks and simply gazed out at the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Her armed were crossed and where a satisfied and somewhat peaceful expression had been worn earlier in the day with her daughter and mingling with the soldiers and fans, now her face was stoic and serious. Her mind was on an all business setting.
“Four months. I am almost going on four months since I bested Courtney Pierce in Las Vegas for the Internet title and even I have to admit surprise by just how satisfying it is to fulfill all of your promises in what you intended to do as champion. To tell the world just how badly you intend to break these little Barbie dolls into teeny, tiny little pieces and do just that… walking away still the champion…”
She closed her eyes and shook her head.
“There’s nothing quite like it. And I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve had some pretty grueling matches ever since I won the Internet gold. I’ve faced and defended against the likes of Crystal and Seleana Zdunich. The former champion Courtney Pierce herself… In fact, there was only a single blemish on my record since I got hold of this title of mine and that falls at the feet of the very same woman who I’m defending against in just a few days; Mercedes Vargas.”
Tempest scoffed, hands on her hips.
“To say that Vargas practically fell into this opportunity would be a vast understatement. She was like some animal hunting its prey. She stalked for just the right opportunity and when that chance presented itself, she struck. At least, that’s how the so-called wrestling experts are crediting her in how she accomplished becoming the top contender for this title. As for me and my own opinion? She got handed this opportunity because she’s gone from being one of the true greats in this division to a whiny little bitch with a dreaded case of the ‘Me, Me, Me’s’! The chick got so butt hurt because I stated one simple fact, that she simply wasn’t what she used to be. That she’s racked up losses faster than she ever has wins and time and again, squandered each and every championship opportunity handed to her! In short, I called her pathetic and that is an opinion that I stand by to this very day!”
“I mean, face facts Vargas! Before that non-title match of ours? When was your last win? How many title shots were you just handed based on your past reputation alone? You are not the same Mercedes Vargas that ruled the Bombshell division in years past! I can accept that fact, why can’t you?”
“But that’s where it all went downhill, isn’t it? You couldn’t accept it and you could accept my speaking the truth even less. So – you were stupid enough to attack me. But it got for you the chance you wanted and that was to face me inside of the ring.”
Tempest scoffed and held her hands up.
“But as stellar as your past record has been, wanting me in the ring is no burden of proof for your intelligence! You got battered. You got beaten. You got thrown around the ring like you didn’t even belong there any longer and against me? You didn’t! And you proved that when you had to break out the brass knucks to take me down and get your first win in how many months!? Now that I have to admit that it stung. Badly! For you to go week after week, month after month, being unable to get a win for yourself and lo and behold, your first win in all that time and it’s against me! Your use of brass knucks comes as small consolation because in the end, a loss is a loss and this chance at my championship you got for yourself?”
She shook her head.
“You proved that you don’t deserve it. Not really. Of course then you had to go and secure your standing by beating Crystal who thought she was going to take you down as a favor to me for one reason or another. And even I have to admit that it was a match for the ages, between two of the best bad ass bitches. And granted, you sent a message to the world that maybe, just maybe – deep down you still were Merces Vargas.”
“Well, now is your chance to prove it. Now is your chance to back up that bony ass of yours and prove to the world that you still have what it takes to be a champion in SCW! Just do yourself a favor this time around. Leave the brass knucks at home and come at me, woman to woman. Because trust me when I say if you think to cheap shot me again and steal this title away just to cement your ego?”
She shook her head.
“They will never find what’s left of you!”