"Go ahead, Judge me. Just remember to be perfect the rest of your life."

The beautiful blonde stares intently at the camera. She offers a quick smile.

"It seems I struck a nerve with a few people around here for doing what I'm supposed to do. Talk about why I think I deserve to win. Why I think I'm going to win. Apparently, as the new person, I'm supposed to be humble. I'm supposed to talk about how much better my opponents are than me. AT least, that's the impression that Amy Marshall is trying to give."

"I didn't even call her out personally, in fact, the only thing I even said was that she probably heard of me because my best friend is Roxi Johnson. Me? Arrogant? Well, ain't that the pot calling the kettle black. I'm well aware of your history in SCW Amy. However, the one thing you seem to fail to see or even do some damn research about is that fact that I have been in this business a long time. Just because this is the first time, I'm stepping into a six-sided ring doesn't mean that I'm some rookie with no right to be talking about my skills. I am a four-time champion. I had the wrestler of the month thing too like you have posted on accomplishments. But the one thing you have over me is the fact that you are so obviously jealous of the fact that I have no fear of you or anyone else in this match. You know why? Because I'm not a rookie. I have been in many battle royals in my days. I've lost some and I've won some but all in all... I never get into a ring with any doubts about who I am and what I know I can do."

She shrugs.

"Seems the only one with any kind of fear here... is you, my dear. You were the first to call me out by name and accuse me of having a big mouth when if I'm not mistaken... you got a far bigger one than mine. I don't know why you think you have to try and pick a fight with me, but you'd be making a huge mistake to do so."

She shakes her head slowly, her blonde ponytail waving back and forth.

"AS for my twitter timeline... yea thanks for telling everyone what a big fan you are of creeping my timeline. I'm sure everyone was interested in that. Coming down on me for not spending every waking moment publicizing when from what I can see, neither were you. Just because you've been around SCW longer doesn't mean that I'm about to kiss your feet and grovel. Fuck that nonsense. Obviously, you have some really strange ideas about how this world works, more specifically how wrestling works. No one wants a kiss ass. I'm not here to make friends. I'm not here to earn yours or anybody else's respect. I am here to win matches and get titles. If you have aims for glory and a huge fan base than good for you sweetie. I hope that goes well for you. Even further to that... I heard a rumour that you might be leaving which is why you're waiving your right to a title match. What's the point of picking a fight with someone when you're just going to bail after the ball drops anyway? Think that's going to make you look like the big dog?"

She smirks.

"Point is, I don't give a shit what you think."

Her entire face lights up with amusement now. She shakes her head again as she chuckles.

"Am I arrogant? Sure but I have a right to be. Whoever told you that I was a nobody was well... actually, nobody told you I was a nobody. That was you just telling yourself that so that you could feel all tough and macho because deep down you know I'm a legitimate threat here. You've beaten everyone else and wouldn't want to look like a jerk when you go sailing over the top rope and get your heart broken. But just know dear that after this match, you will remain insignificant to me. Unlike you, I don't repeat things over and over again. I learn from what I did wrong and become better for it."

She gives a wink.

"And Traci... You really think I'm just 'a number to fill the match'? really? That was the best thing you could think of? I'm going to really enjoy showing you what a 'number' looks like when I give you a taste of any one of my perfected moves. Even more so if it's me that throws you over the top. But overall, keep fighting the good fight my dear. See where it gets you."

Although her words are laced with anger and sarcasm the smile remains on her face.

"You know out of everyone in the match I thought I would get the sourest grapes out of you, Mercedes but to my surprise, you were the one to actually offer a welcome. I'm not sure yet if it was genuine, but I suppose I will take it and say, 'thank you'. But don't think for a second that I take anything for granted. I commend you in your ability to actually do some research. I'm not saying that no one can beat me. Just ask Roxi and a slew of others that have done it. I'm just saying that out of everyone else in this match, This means a lot more to me. All of you have had lucrative careers. You've all been successful. I had my successes, but I made so many mistakes. So many stupid rookie mistakes that ended up costing me everything. But not this time. Not again. Despite the outcome, people will be talking about me and it won't be because I was the first to go over. It may not be because I was the last woman standing either, but it won't be because I have no skill. Actually, out of everyone in this match I have the most respect for you... as much as I don't hand that out freely. You got balls. You need them in this industry and you don't have to call other people slutty, bitchy or whorish to get your point across.

Nodding her head, she continues.

"As I alluded to just a few seconds ago, this isn't my first match like this. In fact, my first one, I won. Then I went on to win a title because of that. You can't underestimate the determination of a woman that has nothing to lose. At this point in time, I am coming back from what could very well be the worst year of my life. I got divorced. I lost a baby. I had a surgery that kept me out of action. I got burned not once but three times by men I thought I loved. And to top it all off, when I went on my sabbatical it was because I lost a chance at winning the world title. I am not about to let that sort of opportunity evade me again. I no longer want to live with regrets of not accomplishing all my goals and you know what... losing to Violet in that match like Ashley said, it was probably the best thing that could have ever happened to me. It made me realize that I am not done yet. And in the spirit of giving it everything I have, there is no way in hell that any of you ladies is going to get some weak ass fight from me. You can underestimate me all you like if that somehow makes you feel more confident then all the power to you but don't go crying after you lose."

She stands, revealing what appears to be a U of T sweatshirt and yoga pants.

"You see, you ladies are in my territory now. I'm not saying it is a pissing contest. You all have legitimate skills ad I'm not denying that at all, but I am saying is that you can't compare me to anyone else in this company because I am not like anybody else. You would be wise to remember that."

She then bends down to blow the camera a kiss.

"Get used to seeing my face ladies, 'cuz I'm not going anywhere."

The camera then fades out.

***

I had decided to be a nice girlfriend. Chris was out, training hard for this match. Not that I didn't feel I needed to train, just that I usually did my workouts in the morning. It's something I had done since I was 17. I woke up, did my run then finished off with core and strength training. I had followed this routine for years until I blew out my knee the first time. But as soon as I got the okay from the doctor, I was right back into it. Getting stronger. When I blew it out the second time, I was depressed. Baxter had cost me the chance at winning that gold and I knew for the most part that it was mostly my own fault for not being more astute. For not preparing for the match properly. For getting too cocky.

Some might say I was repeating the mistakes of my past now but telling the world exactly how I felt about the women I was facing but to be honest, I was playing it way smarter this time around. I was prepared for every single one of them. Even Kate. Even if she hadn't spoken to me since this match was announced. But I had meant what I said. I wasn't here to make friends and play nice. I was here to win matches. I was here to get top gold because I hadn't been able to get there before. This time was different.

Anyway, nice girlfriend... and by that, I meant me doing his laundry.

Yes, we both had maids. I'm not going to deny it. I paid a woman to come into my house every couple days to dust, vacuum, and tidy but when it came to my unmentionables I trusted no-one to treat them well. So I did the laundry myself. But this was Chris' house and he had neither a maid or the inkling to do his laundry until the dirty clothes became a mountain and spilled a lava river of boxers and smelly socks in a trail that lead to the bed.

I was exaggerating, which I am known to do but still. He didn't do it as often as I think you should so while he was out, I loaded up a basket and put them in the machine. I loved his machine, though. So easy to use, so clean. I just had a thing about that fresh laundry scent. Back home, we had a drying line. Not that we didn't have a dryer. We did, but there is something indescribable about that outdoorsy smell of fresh laundry that made me feel at ease. Now in the city and not exactly one to hang my skives outside my balcony I had to settle for those synthetic fabric softeners that offered an approximation of what fresh laundry should smell like. It would have to do, but this weekend Chris and I were headed to Ottawa and after, a short stay in Toronto where my father had planned a congratulatory dinner for my sister Jules and her new fiancé Luke. I still felt like they were far too young. He was 20, her barely 19. I just hoped they waited a while.  

Like ten years.

I whipped up a few cookies while I waited for the dryer, left them to cool while I folded up the load and then immediately go to put it away. Since I had practically moved into this place, Chris' drawers had started to become miraculously neater but that was probably because I had taken it upon myself to refold and organize his whole system. Maybe it was a bit presumptuous of me but I was always right. He knew this and eventually he always accepted my opinions as such. His socks were a mess, though. How someone needed this many I will never know.

I pick up my phone:

Bliss
You have a lot of socks

I texted it to him while I started to pull them from the drawer. He had way too many black pairs in my opinion.

Chris
My drawers are fine. Don't reorganize the socks.

That was strange.

Bliss
Too late.

The response comes right away.

Chris
Just don't touch the tan ones.

The tan ones, why the tan ones? He had six pairs and as I moved them to see the black velvet ring box. There was no doubt that's what it was and my heart started beating fast.

Bliss
You better get home and explain this.

Leaving the socks and drawer the way it was, haphazardly in the middle of being overhauled and found my way to the living room. I set the box on the coffee table, afraid to open it. Afraid of what might be inside.

Chris
Explain what? That you found something you shouldn't have?

Bliss
Just come home

Chris
On my way.

It wasn't like I was mad. Not really. I just... didn't know if I could say yes. If it was a diamond in that box but part of me, would feel disappointed if it wasn't a diamond. We'd only been together 2 and a half months. That was far too soon to think about marriage. Even if I had never felt this way about anyone before. Not even my ex-husband. Not Jimmy. But I wasn't ready and I was afraid that if he asked me if that was a diamond ring in there I was going to ruin this relationship because of that.

When he comes in, looks at me and the down at the box ad repeats this a few times before he finally stops to speak.

"Okay, so the thing about the ring is, I saw it. It was nice. I remembered that pearl is your birthstone and thought, 'hey maybe she'll like it.'"

Thank Fuck. A pearl ring. Just a really nice gesture that although will mean everything to me takes the pressure off that I'd felt building in my chest.

"So this is just a coincidence after my sister's news?"

I watch him because sometimes you could tell so much more from watching someone's facial expressions than you could from their words.

"Kind of. Maybe I was thinking that if you liked that ring and got used to wearing it... it would be easier when I replace it with a diamond."

He steps back, closing his eyes part way as if expecting me to punch him. I don't though. There was no reason to punch him. He was being very sweet.

"So like... a promise ring?" I close my eyes. I try really hard to steady myself even though my whole body is still shaking with unexplainable emotions.

"I suppose we could call it that." I feel him sit beside me and take my hand. I open my eyes to look up at him. "Do you want it to be?"

I blurt it out before really thinking. "No." I see something sparkle in his eye and quickly recover. "Not if that wasn't what it was meant to be. Marriage is like... a touchy subject considering last time it fell apart around me."

He brings my knuckles up to kiss them. "I wanted to gauge your reaction I guess. I know it's a delicate subject ad you're gun shy after everything that's happened the last time. Believe me; I'm nervous about it as well. I just know that I love you and when I do think about the future, it's with you and there's a large shiny diamond on your finger."

Well, I'm an asshole. I'm really embarrassed now because I acted like... well like an asshole.

"It's beautiful."

Liar, Liar pants on fire.

I hadn't even looked at it but to save face I pick up the box and flip it open. Then my words weren't a lie anymore. It really was beautiful. He takes it out ad slips it onto my right ring finger and it fits perfectly.

"I don't want you to feel obligated to propose Chris. I'm fine if it never happens."

"I don't feel obligated at all. I love you Kahlan. I'm not gonna rush to propose, but I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

I nod. Maybe I wasn't ready for a step like marriage but being with him for however long I had left sounded pretty damn good.

"I want that too. I know I'm not exactly one of these mushy sentimental chicks, but I do love you. There's just always been a connection between us."

"Yes, there definitely has." I take the opportunity to crawl into his lap, laying my head on his shoulder as he wraps his arms around me, kissing my temple. "I can honestly say I've never felt this way before"

I sigh. "Me either."

The rest is not fit for other people's eyes, but I will say this, there is never going to be any more doubts about where his heart is. Where my heart is for that matter.

It wasn't a diamond and it wasn't a promise ring, but it was a different kind of promise. A promise that no matter what, we were a team. Whatever got thrown at us next was going to be done together. I'd never really felt like I had this kind of support before. My exes all seemed to abandon me at the drop of a hat. My family had tried to encourage me not to do this at all. To not be a wrestler. To not get involved in this business or take over Olympia when Dad has his heart attack. Every opponent I'd ever had had attempted to try and wear me down. To use anything to get into my head and make me feel like I was out of my league.

The thing was, Even without Chris, I had the determination to accomplish my goals, but I tell you... it was a whole lot better to have people in your corner.