~*~*~To Grace~*~*~

Wanda Grace O’Neil
August 9, 1954 - April 6, 2016

You know what I hate most about tombstones? That is pretty much all the amount of information that is given. What is missing is what happened in that area where the dash is. Wanda Grace O’Neil is my grandmother. Interesting to note, that I only really knew her from the age of 12 until she passed 4 years ago, but in that short time I found that I was very much like her. She loved to read, she was sassy as hell, she gave my grandfather a run for his money and no matter what, she loved everyone. She has this amazing ability to not put up with anyone’s attitude, put her foot down only when necessary and had this amazingly big heart. She saw the good in everyone.

Cancer took her, fast. She never got to see me graduate at the top of my class in High School. She wasn’t there to see me off to college. But no matter what I did before that, she made sure she was there to support me through everything I ever did. And I know while she didn’t understand it, she would support me now. One of the rings I wear on a regular basis, besides my engagement ring now, was a ring grandpa gave me that was hers. It’s been passed down through the last 2 generations, skipped mom but came to me. I hold it dear to my heart, only take it off when I’m wrestling, give it a kiss before I put it back on. She would always tell me “No matter what, to follow my heart.” And my heart has led me here, to Mal, to wrestling....and I don’t plan on ever letting her down. Especially being so close to what this time of year is....

Las Vegas, Nevada
Monday, April 6th
9pm

The sun has set over Vegas, the sky is clear and the moon is out. On the deck of the hotel we see a female figure sitting watching the practically empty strip of Vegas. Alongside her is a stack of shot glasses and a full bottle of whiskey. We hear a door slide open and the woman looks over her shoulder as we see it’s Bella’s mother, Laura “Phoenix” Madison. Laura smiles softly and stands up as we see Bella stride across the patio and straight into her mother’s arms, “Hey kid....good to see you.”

Bella sighs a bit, hugging her mom tight. It’s been a while since she’s got to even see Laura let alone hug her, “I am so glad to see you.”

Laura lets her go and smiles at her, “I know, this stupid virus turning this whole world into gumbo. Thankfully, everyone is healthy and here and we get to start our new tradition.”

“How have you been today? I know it’s rough on you...”

“It’s been a day, cried a bit...”

“Which is completely normal...”

“It is, but I still hate it. Thankfully Nick has made sure to try and keep me smiling, Aaron too. Jaime, Slappy, Levi and Emma all called to make sure that I was doing alright. I even heard from a few people that caught me by surprise. What about you?”

Bella shrugs, and looks around, “I’m doing alright. After what happened last year with...” Bella kinda trails off, “I think Mal kinda expected him to show up again but there’s been no sign thankfully and Luka has been by my side like she knows something was up with me today. Once I saw your message on twitter, I told Mal I just had to be here.”

“Quite the awesome fiance you have there, missy.” Laura grabs her daughter’s left hand to take a closer look at the ring, “It does look better here than in that box.”

“He told me he had asked you and Nick at Aaron’s birthday party. I almost yelled at you when I called you that night.” Bella said, swatting at her mom. “I come from a long line of sneaks and I’m marrying one too. It’s redonkulous!”

Laura can’t help but laugh a bit as we hear a female voice from behind, “Actually what I think is redonkulous is that you are both here and no shots have been poured yet!” Both Laura and Bella turn around to see a slender woman standing there with her arms folded with long brown hair and glasses down her nose.

“Aunt Cam?!”

“SURPRISE!” boast a bright smiled Cameron (formerly O’Neil) Russow with her arms out.

Bella can’t help herself, she runs over and engulfs her in a huge hug, “What are you doing here?”

“Are you kidding me? Vegas, Whiskey, seeing the niece and her man in a big match and finally getting to congratulate you in person? The minute Laura called, I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. Jen sends her love, but...” Cameron looks knowingly at Laura, “Well it’s your Aunt Jen. Either way, I am here...let’s get this toast on to remember mom and celebrate you!”

“No Jesse?” Laura said looking behind her questionly.

“He’ll be along soon enough, he ran into a few people in the lobby and I just couldn’t wait.” Cameron makes her way over to her sister and gives her a hug before grabbing the bottle and cracking it open. “It has been way too long since the crazy ones in this family got together. In fact I think the last time was....”

“Aaron-slash-Levi’s birthday, back in February.” Bella said, thinking quickly and lining the glasses up on the table.

“That was ...interesting but no, something like this was maybe the night before my wedding. Just the 3 of us talking it up before dad busted in, insisting we’d get sleep before I dragged Jesse down the aisle.” The girls busted out laughing as Cameron poured the whiskey into the glasses. If you only knew what it took for Cameron and Jesse Russow to finally seal the deal....

“Listen to them, squakin like a bunch of hens” Bella freezes for a moment knowing that voice.

“Maybe we should warn that fiance of hers to run while the getting is good.”

Bella turns around to see her step-father Nick Madison and her now uncle (Jack’s uncle as well), Jesse Russow standing there.

“About damn time you two showed up.” Laura spoke up handing her husband a glass.

“Only 5 minutes late. We would have been here sooner but Aaron spotted Malachi with Luka and well you can guess what happened from there.” Nick reaches over and pulls Bella into a hug, “I may not like him that much, but he treats you right. To me that’s what matters.....besides, I left him behind with Spinelli....”

“Oh God,” Bella laughs out, “Quick let’s get this over with so I can go save Spinelli from being maimed horrifically.”

The crew laughs once more as the rest of the shot glasses gets passed around we see Laura standing there looking at everyone, “Ok” she takes a deep breath, “4 years ago, we lost an amazing woman, and while not all of us could be here for this I know they too will never forget the amazing woman mom was. I know she is looking at us from wherever she may be, smiling because we have all found where we are supposed to be. I look at Bella and Aaron, and I know that somehow she has graced her grandchildren with amazing strength. So...” Laura’s voice breaks a bit as Nick wraps his arm around his wife and kisses her on top of her head.

Bella steps up and lifts her glass, “To Wanda O’Neil, to the legacy she left us, to the strength of family, friends, and loved ones. May we all carry that with us and pass it along and show that we, with the grace that she left behind, remind everyone that we are stronger than ever. To Grace.”

“To Grace!” everyone says, lifting their glasses and taking the shot.

From the doorway to the inside we hear yet another voice, “Dark knight, please! The Jackal did not mean to offend.”

We see Malachi pushing Spinelli through the door with one hand, holding Aaron in his other arm with the leash to Luka around the same wrist, looking a little frazzled, “Keep moving nerd.” Mal gets over to the group and gently pushes Spinelli towards Nick and Laura “I believe this belongs to you.” He also passes Aaron over to Nick, “Him too” and he turns and hands the leash over to Bella, “And this belongs to you.”

“Is everything ok?” Bella says to him.

“Hmmm? Oh fine, nerdboy was laying the Dad jokes on thick and I have not had enough alcohol to deal with that.” pointing to Spinelli. He looks down and sees the shot glasses and whiskey, “I hope I didn’t disturb anything.”

“Actually we just finished toasting to the memory of her, but....since you are both here....” Laura says grabbing the bottle, refilling everyone’s glass and giving one to Malachi and then one to Spinelli.

“Uhhh, Valkyrie, as much as I appreciate this....remember the last time I consumed liquor?”

Nick goes to say something but Mal reaches over and grabs the glass out of Spinelli’s hands, “I got this one. You all are one ahead of me anyways.” Mal raises the glass and shoots it down.

“Way to take one for the team babe.” Bella said under her breath as Mal winks at her.

“Ok, so I wanted to propose a toast to Bella and Malachi, first to congratulate them on their engagement but mostly to wish them the best of luck this coming weekend when they walk in to Blaze of Glory VIII and walk out as the number one contenders to those Mixed Tag Championships. You two have been through a lot in the last year, both growing professionally and personally and I cannot wait to see what this next chapter brings for you both.” Laura smiles brightly, “And while I know we are all not here right now, I know that every single one of our wild family wishes the same but we’d break laws if that whole crew was here. So here is to you two....show them exactly how it’s really done.”

“Kick ass you two” Nick says and raises his glass as well followed by Jesse and Cameron.

“That’s the plan.” Mal said, raising his other shot glass.

“We’re gonna show those Tigers, that we are not pushovers by any stretch of the imagination. We’re going to show them exactly what it’s like to be a real team.” Bella finishes as she also raises her glass and they all take the second shot.


~*~*~Just Keep Trying to Get Us~*~*~

You’re not gonna. You can literally have a movie of our last year and no one is going to completely ever be able to understand how every bit of what we went through truly brought us to this moment. I am not ashamed of it at all because we’re gonna pound it into the head of everyone that crosses our paths. We’re not going away.

We’re on the doorstep. Blaze of Glory VIII is here and we have been training our asses off. Yeah, girls vs. the girls, guys vs. the guys but we’re looking at it from a point that a team that works together does indeed stick together. Whether it's a 4 sided or 6 sided ring, we’re set and ready to go.

Can the Trenton Tigers, the BESTIES, say the same?? Mmmmm... lately???

I caught Dani by surprise and I’m still changing my game. It’s wonderful to know the amount of information that I have from all different walks of life. I keep telling people to not underestimate me. Hell I warned Mal right from the get go. I am not one to play games, I’m in it to win it. That’s one of the things I freaking love about Malachi as well. Never half-assing what he sets his mind too. And with this, I have never seen him more motivated. Well...scratch that the last time I seen this was when he was out to prove a lot of the naysayers wrong in Apex. Where he became the champ over there. Through this pandemic and this insanity of our world changing, he has refused to let me falter, even knowing what this week was for my family, he’s managed to help me kick my own ass. I don’t plan on letting him down.


~*~*~Not Now, Not Ever~*~*~

Friday, April 10, 2020
11pm

“Just stop for a moment. And listen....”

Silence falls upon the Las Vegas strip where we see Bella staring through the window of the hotel room.

“Even through a double pane glass window the sounds are eerily quiet. The world has completely changed and will perhaps never be the same ever again because of this stupid virus.” Bella turns and smirks, “But because most of the world stops does not mean we stop. We fight and we continue on because it is what we do.”

“I hate this virus, it has scared a lot of people and turned some of the people even dumber than they already were. I get why Malachi is the way he is, I can’t even get on most social media platforms anymore because the stupidity that is flowing anymore.” Bella grips the bridge of her nose and closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

“It’s why when I see the Trenton Tigers try and compare Mal and I to the Barnhart’s I practically wanna smack them over the head with a steel chair. I mean, congrats, ya’ll beat them....that’s them. Not us. Dani had to learn that lesson the hard way. You can study so much tape, you can try and learn ALL the nuances and the moves and the ticks....and still get beat because you try and make things two dimensional in a three dimensional world.” Bella looks over her shoulder to the outside, “In a world that seems to be somewhere in the fifth dimension right now....kinda makes it a little hard. We’re stuck in a hotel, barely allowed to move around but we still all have stories to tell, we all have matches to win.”

“To the Trenton Tigers, to Daniela V. Rodgers and Brandon Sludge...you two have no fucking clue what you are getting yourselves into. You can claim just how much you really want to own the Mixed Tag Division, when you still can’t get it through your heads....we are out to make one hell of a statement. And it starts with you two school spirited clowns. All the video, all the study in the world can’t get you into one place....and that...is here.” Bella points to her head. “So you can both try like hell to beat myself and Malachi, but at the end of the day, I think you both know how this is going to end. And like Mal said, feeling generous....once it’s all said and done...we’ll give ya a shot, if you are feeling froggy. But what I want is for you two to learn a valuable lesson from this.....much like I have been in my time in SCW. School is ALWAYS in session. Ra ra ra.”

And with that Bella draws the curtains closed and things go dark.

“Time for the Tigers to fall from grace.”

 ~*~*~*~When the world around you has gone nuts,
Depend on those that love you to make your world right.~*~*~*~

Sunday March 22rd
New York, NY

Quarantine hell. We have been home for almost 2 weeks now and instead of traveling like we have become so used to, we were told to go home and don’t come out unless it was absolutely necessary. Thankfully we have had access to a private gym, ring and whatnot to get out of this house besides just going to get the necessities...but life has been pretty damn quiet...except for me constantly bugging Malachi for what he wants to do for his birthday. The more I ask, the more he ‘hmm’ and ‘haws’ and the more frustrated I get. This has led to me just burying myself in projects around the house.

Piles upon piles of books stacked on the floor of the apartment Bella Madison and Malachi where we see Luka laying down in the middle of it. This time though, the mess is not of her doing. From off a bit in the distance we hear footsteps and Bella’s voice “Ok, I found the two I was missing, somehow ‘North and South’ and ‘Love and War’ got stored away which how that happened I have no idea.” she steps into the room, dressed in a grey shirt and ripped jeans with her long hair pulled up in a bun, rocking her glasses. She stops and looks around, “Well, Luka, whatta think...genre, or library form?”

Luka just looks at her and tilts her head, “I know! I know...not like you can read any of these anyways, I just want to be better organized. Trying to find anything has been a pain and if I’m in the mood for it, just boom at my fingertips. And yes I know, I’d save so much more room if I just went digital but I am not staring at my phone hours upon hours when having a good hardcover book just feels so much better. Call me a purest or old school...I don’t really care.” Luka barks loudly at Bella as she gets to work putting the books back on the shelves, “Gotta keep my mind occupied somehow...daddy is pissing me off. I know things are sideways right now with the world going to hell but a little help or a CLUE would be nice for tomorrow. Stubborn ass.”

Behind Bella, during her last rant, the door cracks open ever so slightly and it catches Luka’s attention and she takes off through the door as Bella keeps putting the pile of books away. Bella notices it’s quiet and looks around and notices the pup is gone and sees the door open. “OH COME ON!” she quickly runs over to her phone, “You better freakin have your damn phone...”



With that Bella quickly throws on her shoes and screams out the door, quickly looking around and only sees the door to the stairwell open wide. “LUKA!” screaming into the stairwell, she hears barking coming from above and she goes running up the stairs, skipping 2-3 at a time, seeing the top floor door closed she keeps going, almost out of breath chasing after the pup. She finally reaches the roof access where the door is wide open. It’s there where she stops in her tracks when she sees on the roof, lit up.

And Malachi standing there with Luka sitting proudly at his side. “Hey! Took you long enough.”

“Where the hell have you been?” she said crossing the rooftop.

“Me? Oh...up here, staying out of striking distance of you throwing one of your books at me.” Mal smiled at her.

She stops and glares at him, “You really should have thought this out better. ‘Not that far away’? I could push you off this roof, ya know?”

“While I wouldn’t blame you, I was up here, setting things up.” Mal motions to the side of him as we see a nice little dinner set up, “I figured since we’re about to head to Vegas tomorrow for the foreseeable future, a nice anniversary dinner was called for. Not exactly what I had in mind but you deserved something.”

Bella walks slowly over, looking at it, “Looks like Marie’s tacos.”

“Your favorite as I recall, thankfully they are still doing the carryout during this insanity. Figured it was a nice night, the sun is setting...romantic?” he says sounding hopeful.

“Yeah, it is. So I take it you were responsible for the door?” and Mal just shrugs.

“Had to get you up here somehow to surprise you. That’s a hell of a cardio workout too.” Mal laughs and sits down on the bench.

“Smart ass.” Bella looks out as the sun begins to set and sits down next to Mal, “I almost forgot what the sun looked like, been cloudy and rainy for so damn long. Feels perfect.”

With that she lays her head on his shoulder and wraps her left arm around his right, and they just sit there in silence for a bit taking in the spectacular sight as Luka lays at their feet. We see Malachi reach into his pocket and he carefully grabs Bella’s hand and slides a beautiful ring onto her ring finger. Bella feels the difference and looks down and notices what he has done. She looks up at him and before she can even say anything, “Well, what do you say?”

Bella seems to be speechless looking at him and down at the ring he put on her finger. “Mal...I...What?” is all she could muster out.

Malachi turns and faces her and holds on to her hand, “Bella, you took one hell of a chance on me, and I never took that for granted. You’ve stuck by me through everything, and this past year with you has been the happiest I’ve been in a long time. So, I’m asking you to take one more chance...Elizabeth Marie Madison, will you marry me?”

Bella can’t help herself, one of the most romantic things ever, tears are forming. Malachi just stares at her, and she looks up at him, “Aren’t you supposed to get on one knee when you do this?” Mal just sighs in frustration and she giggles.

“I swear to God woman, I am just gonna jump the fuck off this roof....” Mal goes to stand up and she pulls him back.

“Yes.” she smiles at him brightly, “Yes I will marry you!”

Mal can’t stop himself as he smiles broadly and grabs her, pulling her into him and kisses her deeply.

And just like that...the whole world doesn’t feel so damn bleek.


~*~*~*~Hello, Vegas~*~*~*~
Friday, March 27th

We’re under strict orders, don’t go out if you don’t have to. Considering we have spent practically the last week celebrating that has not been a problem. And I gotta say the accommodations have been more than enough. Mal and I just want to enjoy this time, we made the choice to not plan much of anything with one exception, the honeymoon. Believe me, when he told me the original plan was to go back to the city where we met and propose there...needless to say I could have probably destroyed this stupid virus with amount of pissed I was. Luka has also taken to her new home away from home, she loves to visit everyone she can with her daily escapes. ...sorry about that everyone. ANYWAYS, this week our plan for the future shifts. We got our chance at becoming #1 Contenders in the upcoming PPV for the Mixed Tag Titles.

But either way, Trenton Tigers....sounds like a reject 80s movie written and produced by John Hughes. We haven’t come up with a name yet....but it’ll be much better than that.

Wrestling Daniela at a set up like Staggs Dungeon is going to be a trip in that 6-sided ring. We gotta follow protocol though, and we can only hope that this is only temporary. I miss the roar of a crowd already. ....fucking virus taking everything from us.

Doesn’t mean that I am not going to bring it to Ms. Rodgers because I am pretty damn tired of getting told I’m doing a great job. It’s time to prove exactly how great I really am and throw a W into that column and get that one up before going into Blaze of Glory VIII.

“Caught her!” Mal says coming in. “She managed to get to Lach and the girls. Thankfully they were distracting her a bit. I swear, who the hell needs cardio with you, you crazy mutt.”

Luka quickly makes her way to her make-shift bed and lays down. “Now you know how I feel chasing her up those stairs.” Bella, dressed in her workout clothes, smirks at him as she sets her phone down.

“Har har, sass master,” Mal says smacking her on the rear on the way through, “Everyone ok?”

“Yeah, they are all checking in, making sure we don’t do anything while we’re here.”

“What can we do? Everything is closed, hell we’re on a schedule just to use the gym. Thankfully, plenty of time to get you primed for your opponent this week. I am actually very interested to see how these guys are going to look at us....” Mal tosses her a bottle of water and she catches it.

“If she’s smart, she will not underestimate me. I’m in the mood to beat someone’s ass since the last time I was in the ring. I don’t mind staying put, but being told to do so...not really my thing.”

Mal rolls his eyes, “Oh the hell you say, I remember when you were sick before Christmas. I thought I was going to have to tie you to the bed.”

.....

“Dirty.”

“Well not for the usual reasons. But hey, we can go again, if you’re feeling up for it.”

Bella just shoves him playfully to the side, “Calm down smart ass. You’re gonna have me around for the rest of your life, don’t want you to get sick of me. And besides, I think my time preparing for Daniella Rodgers is better spent in the gym. We got a lot of mother fuckers to prove wrong.”

“That we do...we really should get a t-shirt with that on it.” Mal says holding the door open for his fiancee.

“...I’ll have to have a chat with Mark and Christian...provided Christian doesn’t make me want to put his head through a wall.”

“OOHHH look who’s feisty! Man, I cannot wait to see you take this girl on. She’s not going to know what the hell hit her.”

Actually the plan is for her not to forget just who the hell hit her.

 ~*~*~*~I’m not apologizing~*~*~*~
Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Detroit, Michigan

She just couldn’t believe it, she just stood there in the cold and the snow and stared at the entrance to the plane that was going to transport them across the Atlantic. “Bells?” Mal said with concern.

“Well this is gonna be a fun trip.”

Jack just ripped into everyone and instead of being able to get another word in, he stormed onto his dad’s private plane and just left everyone in the wake of it.

“Maybe I should have just kept my mouth fucking shut.” Bella just looks at everyone and stops at Levi, “Are you sure this is ok? We’ll go into the terminal right now and fly economy first before I make things even worse.”

“I don’t think things can get any worse and trust me they won’t. Slappy and the guys will make sure of that.” that last bit Levi looks directly at Malachi who just shrugs and hands off their bags to be stored.

“Whatever.” Mal says climbing the stairs into the plane as Bella stands there for a moment contemplating the situation.

“Trust me kid, it’ll be fine.” Levi nudges her shoulder a bit, “Just...let him cool off.”

“Yeah...I guess.” Bella says smirk slightly before climbing the stairs into the plane herself.

But we’re getting pretty fucking close to having a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment.


~*~*~*~We’re Flyin’ Now~*~*~*~
Somewhere over the Atlantic

“I have a good mind to seriously go back there and give that shitheel a piece of my mind. He can sure as hell dish it out but he is completely out of line going off on you and Alanah like that.” Mal said whispering under his breath.

Bella meanwhile has her nose buried deep in a thick book but glances up at him, “We’ve been in the air for hours and even if you try, you’ll run into the brick wall known as Slappy. I really don’t feel like visiting you in the hospital as you have every bone shattered and then Mack will be probably pissed off at me for not stopping you and fucking up your match with him in 2 weeks, so please don’t.”

Mal just drops back in his chair hard, “Spoiled little rich daddy’s boy” he said just loud enough to hear from behind them “....YOU’RE on the private jet too, playboy.” which causes Bella to laugh.

Mal just glares at her, “Sorry, but just let it fucking go, Mal. He’s pissed off at everyone for some strange reason and I really don’t need to anymore bullshit either. I feel like I have everyone’s eyes on me to see what the hell I’m going to do in this Mixed Tournament teaming up with Chris Crippler.” Bella just sighs heavily and slams her book down, “I wish I never signed up for the fucking thing to begin with but I was honestly curious as to who I would pull. To get the one guy that has history with you and with my idiot best friend back there, and I can’t help but feel like I’m about to get completely fucked over. So please, until we get back on the ground, save it!” and with that Bells gets up from her seat and almost storms off to the bathroom past everyone without another word, slamming the door behind her and glances up at the mirror. “Way to go, you idiot. Not thanking him, cut me a break....he’s the one like ‘I WON, I WON!’ Yup, congrats to you...now shut up and focus on what is important! GOD!”

Bella rears back like she’s about to punch the mirror when someone grabbing her arm stops her and spins her around and engulfs her in a big hug, “Now Miss Bella, we don’t want to be doing that.”

“Dammit Herbie let me go!” As Slappy basically drags her out of the room.

“I don’t think so. We knew you were gonna attempt something like that. Now let’s get you back to your seat, we will have no destruction on Mr. Levi’s plane.” Slappy said picking her up and walking her back to her chair and safely depositing her back in her seat. “Now, stay there until we land.”

Slappy glares at her and Mal on his way back to his seat, “You so have your mother’s temperament....” we hear Levi from behind them, Bella looks behind her as Levi smiles at her, “Besides...I like that mirror.”

Bella starts to feel a little silly and slides down in her chair as Mal looks at her, “....you ok?”

“.....not really.” Mal grabs her hand and places a kiss on the back of it, “Sorry about that.”

Mal just smiles at her, “All good love.”

Just then we hear from the back of the plane Jack screaming out something about ‘Impregnanting Mal’s sister’

“....now I’m gonna kill him” Mal deadpans as he gets up from his seat and almost all hell breaks loose.

~*~*~What do you think I should do?~*~*~

“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. The scars have scabbed over....the stitches are out....but the memory of the hell I went through in that Deathmatch with Candy remains very fresh in my mind. I’m not going to lie, I’m very disappointed in myself because I was so damn close I could taste it.”

Scene fades in as we see Bella sitting on a stool.

“It was supposed to be my moment but well...I tripped...and I lost and I get to live with that fact from here on out. Now I have to look towards the future, and yet....I have this deep fear of that. Chris Crippler and I are not friends, and that is a very common theme in this Blast from the Past tournament. The fact that I will stand across the ring with Andrea Hernandez and Bill Burnhart who have very well known problems is pretty much proof of that. As is I still have a glaring 0-1 record against Andrea is something else too. But here is the funny thing about that....I realized after Bloody Valentine that I needed to start learning from my mistakes. I keep making those slip ups. The problem is with this particular tournament, I have a glaring issue....Chris Crippler...you screw me and there will be problems. It’s bad enough I kinda already have a disdain for you with the way you treated Candy following our mixed tag match a few weeks back. And yeah, I still have a lot of love for Candy. I still consider her a friend and in fact we hugged each other in the hospital after we both got stitched up.”

Bella shifts a bit and stares directly in the camera.

“I need you all to hear me clearly as day, no matter what happens this week, if I have to carry Cripplers old British ass through every single match we have, so be it. I have no fear of pain, I have no fear of dropping buckets of blood for what I want. I want to win. But if this is it....then my focus goes to what is next. That choice is mine but I will not be screwed over. I will not be made to feel guilty for my choice to sign up for the Blast from the Past, I will not be made to feel guilty for my choices in my life from anyone. And I will strike back if you try.”

And with that Bella stands from the stool and smirks, giving a wink to the camera.

“Second-Gen Not to be Fucked with. ....try me.”

 What the hell did I do?

Following Climax Control 260
Orlando, Florida

“Has anyone seen Candy?”

That’s the one question I keep asking anyone that I see as I am making my way thru the halls of the Addition Financial Arena where Climax Control just wrapped up. I went off on her. Some would say I was in the right...

There is part of me, however, that knows that I’m not in the right. I’ve known her for far too long for me to act like I did...

Bella: Let me make this nice and simple, ok? WE ARE NOT A TEAM! WE ARE NOT BESTIES! WE ARE NOT GOING ON A DOUBLE DATE! I DON'T WANT TO WEAR INSANELY BRIGHT AND GLITTERY MATCHING SHIRTS WITH YOU! YOU ARE JUST AN OBNOXIOUS BALL OF ENERGY THAT I JUST CAN'T HANDLE RIGHT NOW! YOU ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! SO BACK OFF AND LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!
She takes the shirt Candy had given her earlier, and throws it on the ground.

I can’t believe I did that. The look on her face said it all....

I finally spot Pussy Willow and run up to her, “P.W. ...have you seen Candy?”

“No hun, I’m sorry, I think I seen her leaving with her husband shortly after your match.”

“Dammit...ok thanks.” I had this feeling that is what happened. I broke that woman’s heart...and I am SO gonna get my ass chewed out as soon as it reaches the crew. I should be gutted with how I reacted. I should feel absolutely horrible.

But I’m not. And that’s what has me more fucked up than anything.

Plopping my ass in an empty chair, I just stare down the hall.

“I take it you didn’t have any luck?”

Glancing up and seeing Malachi standing there. “No, you called it. Honestly...I’m kinda glad I didn’t find her. What would I say to her after that? “Sorry Candy, I didn’t mean to blow up at you, but you turned into an insufferable pain in the ass and I couldn’t take it anymore.”? No, it’s better like this. I have 2 weeks to prepare for this match against her for that Roulette Championship and I don’t need a guilty conscious knowing that she sees me as her bestie and I may potentially have to shorten her career.” standing up, he just hands me my jacket. He knows I’m rambling. “I have worked my ass off way too much to be second guessing myself about anything that I did tonight. I have more important things to worry about.”

I just groan and practically headbutt his chest, I can hear the smirk on his face, “Your rambling game seems to be off.”

“Yeah? Well, I’m fucking starving. I need a taco....or 5....”

“Then we’ll get back to the hotel and we’ll order a stupid amount of tacos and you can eat yourself into a food coma, as long as you got energy for the park tomorrow cause tickets are bought and no matter what we are going.” I smirk and look up at him, “Yeah, you’re spoiled but I am not dragging your ass through that park.”

“So no tequila then?” You could hear him really thinking about this and I can’t help but giigle a bit.

He raises his eyebrow at me, “You are evil....”

“It took you 10 months to figure this out? Just wait til you see what Mattie made me....” I stick my tongue out just a little bit grabbing my bag from him and begin to walk away.

“Maybe getting drunk would be a good idea...maybe I can get some information outta ya. We should get going though, who knows what that dog has done since we’ve been out of the hotel.”

Looking back, smiling like an idiot and in a sing songy voice....“Never. Gonna. Happen.” He knew it was pointless and just trudges behind her.


Where did that come from though? I am not a hateful person. Did Candy really piss me off? ....or was that something else?

Home sweet home.
New York, NY
Late Night

Since we got home, I haven’t had a chance to really think about what happened in Orlando. I haven’t wanted to. Besides one day where I had my ass chewed out by Slappy McGoo, it hadn’t really passed my mind.

Here’s the weird part, getting read the riot act by Slappy....really didn’t affect me like I thought it would. I have rarely ever completely lost my cool like I did on Candy. She’s a really sweet girl. So why did I want to rip her head off?

Luka is curled up next to me, sleeping peacefully. Something she’s done quite a bit since we got home because we have her fully going to training courses now that seem to be working...sometimes.

“Whadda think girl? Another movie or should we wait for daddy to get back with the food?”

Her ears perk up and she looks up at me.

“No, he’s not back yet...should be soon though.”

She just gruffs at me and lays her head back down.

“Sor-ry sass....she likes him better than me and he’s the one that got her for me....” Luka whines and nudges my hand and I can’t help but scratch between her ears. “Sorry sweetie, I’m a little grumpy today. I’ve been a little grumpy a few days. Trying to play off this whole thing with Miss Candy as not a big deal and I’m finding myself feelin’ a little off-center. I was just genuinely annoyed with her. It’s like having those annoying kids show on 24/7...like Noggin, Nick Jr, Disney Junior and PBS all tightly packed into one crazy highly energetic brunette ball of ....HER! I mean, am I like that?!? I can’t even imagine if I have EVER been like that. Mal would have killed me by now....”

I never heard the door open.

“And I sure as hell hope if I ever become that, I wouldn’t blame him for dumping my ass. But, this match at My Bloody Valentine....Mark and Christian promised that the wheel was going to be full of matches that could just be straight up brutal and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let something like a potential friendship with that annoying ball of energy, ruin any potential of me getting my first real championship in my young career.” I just sigh and annoyingly turn off the TV, “What the fuck am I going do? Go out there and play patty cake with her? That is not why I followed in my parents’ footsteps. I wanted to be the fucking best of my generation and write my own legacy and if that is going to make the bad guy in this situation where I have to crack her head open to see if there is a brain sloshing around in that canoe of a head...then so be it!”

.....”You know....”

I jump with a scream and see Mal there at the door almost laughing. “FUCK! You scared the shit out of me!”

“I’m sorry love! I didn’t want to break your concentration....but that...that was hot.”

I just roll my eyes and throw a pillow from the couch at him... “You are such a jerk sometimes!”

“A jerk with the best pizza in New York...keep talkin Madison and I’ll give it to the damn dog!” Luka perks up and wags her tail, “Yeah...not happening mutt...forget it.”

“I don’t know about you Luka, you act like you like him better than me...but then he promises you something and says ‘HA Guess again!’ You're really gonna take that???” Luka gives a loud bark and jumps off the couch and runs at Malachi.

“Ah shit! NO! LUKA! DOWN! I SWEAR DOG YOU MAKE ME DROP THIS PIZZA AND I’M GONNA SEND YOUR ASS BACK!”

Bella smirks and sits back down on the couch and grabs her phone and hits a few buttons, “Hello, yeah this is Bella....we’re gonna need another pizza. Delivered this time please.”

 So you guys know by now, my ability to overthink things turns me around. Since Climax 258 was announced I was excited. Since I signed with SCW, Mal and I always tooled around the idea of teaming up but since he was out to try and beat Lach and I was focused on trying to just get going, we never got around to it. So when things were announced and we saw that we got to team up, it was actually a cool moment.

But now that we’re here....And my brain hasn’t shut the fuck up since.

Never underestimate the little faith I have in myself.


Four Seasons Hotel
Edge Terrace Restaurant
Miami, FL

We got in, got settled, introduced Luka to the beach and the ocean....she wasn’t sure what to make of the ocean chasing her and then running away. Man, Griff is right, I need to keep a video camera trained on her at all times because it was funny but now that she’s run out of energy and fast asleep in the room. Hopefully she stays that way for a couple hours. We really don’t need to be worrying about damages.

Mal and I came down for dinner at one of the more famous spots in Miami. This place is gorgeous and yet I don’t notice. Instead I seemingly am lost in my own thoughts in the vast emptiness that lately has been my head.

Stupid mistakes cost me time and time again in the 6 sided ring. How is it everything goes right and then it all goes so wrong?

I’m supposed to be enjoying the night and instead...I’m just drumming my fingers on the table, staring at my water glass. I don’t even notice the waiter coming up.

*tap tap tap tap tap tap*

“Bells...”

*tap tap tap tap tap tap*

“Bella...”

I can hear him but for some reason his voice just is not registering with me....not until he reaches across the table and grabs my hand that’s just been tapping, snapping me from the haze. “Wha?”

“Waiting on you, love.”

“For?”

He points to the man standing next to the table pen and pad at the ready, “Food?”

I look up, seeing the waiter standing there patiently and almost blush, “Ah, sorry...ummm...would you...” I’m flustered, tripping over myself and as I look at the menu trying to make a quick choice it all looks completely forgein to me, “Would you mind giving me just a few moments? Sorry, I haven’t really looked at the menu. In fact, Mal why don’t you go ahead and order...”

“No, it’s alright, I can wait for you.” he just squeezes my hand and then looks to the waiter, “Why don’t you just bring a bottle of merlot and that should be enough time.”

“It’s not a problem, I’ll be back in a few moments then.” the waiter just nods and walks away.

I am thoroughly embarrassed and I just sighed, “I did it again, didn’t I?”

Mal just shrugs, “At least you weren’t drooling this time...”

“Not funny.” I deadpan and glare at him before glancing down at the menu and things turn a lot clearer for me, “The New York Strip looks good...” me trying to change the subject.

He cracks a smile, “We could just go back up and have room service, you know? I can tell you’re not exactly in the mood for being out.”

“So I can, what, be in our room and off in my own little world? Thanks but no...at least out here there are distractions.”

“And what am I? I can help take your mind off of it. You know exactly how much of a distraction I can be. And Luka? Set her free and we can watch the world burn from the balcony.” he says with a smart ass smile on his face. He’s not lying though, we’re swearing that dog can bring the end of the world, given the right motivation.

“Smart ass.” taking a sip from my water glass.

“So what has got you so distracted? Hmm? This match against Candy?"

"The match itself? Not really.” I just shake my head, “Just feeling like I’m not living up to the ‘hype’ that was given to me upon my signing with SCW. I started so damn hot and then...hit that wall like some damn crash test dummy.”

“Kinda like Candy’s train of thought?” Mal said with a smirk on his face.

“You’ve been waiting for that....”

“Oh just a little bit.” he laughs as I just shake my head.

“Like the God damned Kool-Aid man, give him a chance and crashes through that wall. But no, I feel like this weekend may be my last real shot. I came close only, I don’t know how many times, just to trip up! Like I’m overthinking things. It’s stupid, I know.” I am frustrated and just cover my face in my hands.

“Hey, you are a constant perfectionist and you push yourself harder than anyone I know, me included.” Mal reaches across the table and grabs my hands and pulls them down and looks dead into my eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes that I could just fall into any time, “Listen, maybe...perhaps...and this might get me some heat....maybe sometimes you are too nice?” the way he ended it...it was like he was waiting for me to slap him.

Too nice....interesting way to put it.

“Look, I’m not saying you need to be an asshole like me. And I get it, Candy is...well you’ve known her for a long time. But Bells, if you look at the entire picture, Candy is just so...I don’t want to say stupid...”

“Special. She has a different way of looking at things and it’s paid off for her. She showed up after I did and she managed to get a hold of that Rollette Title in her second try.” I just sit back, sigh and look around, “That is hella frustrating for me. Ya know that?”

“BUT, this match, you can very well stamp a chance to get a shot at her. You were pretty damn close to getting her shot at Sam before....”

“Yeah but one problem...her partner”

Mal laughs bitterly, “You don't have to worry about that guy. I’m gonna make sure thru hell or high water, your hard work is going to start paying off. Whatever it takes, love. Especially for you.”

I can’t help but smile widely and lean over the table and kiss him. “Thank you.”

Just then we see the waiter rush over to us with a note in his hands “Uhhh I have been asked to hand this to you.”

Mal takes the note and looks at it and sighs, “She’s awake”

“How bad?” I say looking at the waiter.

“I don’t know, but they heard some crashing from your room. What about your dinner?”

I just shake my head, “Room service. Will that be ok?” I say looking at Mal with concern.

“Sounds PERFECT, I’m gonna go see how bad it is and you take care of that.” he says as he stands up and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

“Don’t kill her.”

“No promises”

I just shake my head as he leaves and I look at the waiter, “We got a puppy....and she doesn’t like to be left alone...ever.”

“Kinda like having a kid, huh?”

“I wouldn’t know...now...to go with that wine...”

Mal was right...But I’m going to do it my own way.


The Next Day

We see Mal walk into the room and hot on his heels is that crazy husky pup known as Luka. “You’re lucky, kid. Now...where the hell is she? She said she’d be here.”

“You’re late!”

Malachi spins around as his jaw just drops as Bella sits on a desk, legs crossed but the way she looks.... “Dear Penthouse...”

Long blonde hair is trapped up in a tight bun, her glasses sit at the tip of her nose and the outfit....tight black skirt, white shirt and stilettos....red.

“Sit down already, we don’t have much time.”

“I...I was kinda hoping to drop Luka off before....”

“I SAID SIT!”

And Mal doesn’t think twice....and neither does Luka. “Oh yeah...HER YOU LISTEN TO!” Luka just looks up at him and gruffs.

She looks looks at the two of them with her arms crossed.

“She started it...”

“Shut up already. I thought about what you said...I gave honest thought to it and while it’s very obvious that I am indeed a bit of a goodie two shoes, you brought up an amazing point. I tend to overachieve especially when I want something.” Bella stops and looks at Malachi who is just sitting there quietly, legs crossed in front of him and his hands clasped right at his lap. “You ok?”

“Mmmhmm...” Mal seems to be completely speechless at the moment. ....something to remember.

“Ok” she just paces around him and if he could swivel his head around he would, “So, maybe I do need to bring out that meanstreak a little bit more. I could sit here all day and boast about the fact that I have my All honors, Summa Cum Laude from 2 of the most prestigious universities in the world. I have the smarts and can damn near be Rain Man especially when it comes to random facts and figures. BUT, what am I missing? Is it that killer instinct? Well...I don’t think it’s that either. I want that shot at that damn belt and what lengths I’m willing to go through to get it, ESPECIALLY to make a point to the other Bombshells that are very quick to write me off.”

Focus on Luka....she hasn’t budged either, she just tilts her head to the side.

“They have been pushing me and pushing me and I always fall short to get a chance and now...like they think I’m gonna be scared of teaming up with you against Candy and a grizzled British vet is going to somehow do what? Keep me from wanting a shot at that Rollette Title?!?! I mean, maybe if I was Bobbie Dahl looking for one handout after another, hitting up Twitter on a daily basis to make sure people know that I supposedly deserve....instead I want matches, better matches, stronger matches” And she walks over to Mal and leans in with a smirk cause she knows what this is doing to him, “And I know you, I know how motivated you can be. Hence the get up, consider this a treat...we win this and I have outfits far more evil than this one. I want this win Mal, I NEED this win and if that means putting Crippler back on the shelf, if that means hurting one of my favorite people to get what I want...I’m gonna do whatever it takes because I don’t ask for favors. I earn what I get. We crystal?”

“As glass.” is all he can muster out.

“Good, now, I’m going to give you a few to...” she glances down, “...calm yourself. I’ll be waiting...” she places a gentle kiss on his cheek and walks away.

Mal just looks down at Luka with his eyes are huge. “God help me, your mom is EVIL!” he just carefully breathes as the camera fades out.

 A year ago....this wasn’t even on the map. A year ago, I was in a very different place. The idea that I would be in not just one but two wonderful places, living a dream....to me, it was a pipe dream.

A lot of people say things can change quickly and in an instant. In my case, that moment was just a few days following Christmas.

Choices had to be made, I spent from age 12 to that moment doing what was asked or what was expected.

Or at least what I thought was expected of me.

I HATED ME!

I didn’t hate anyone and the one person I needed I hated.

And we know what a strong word hate is.

There are dislikes, like you dislike certain foods, or styles....OH And for those that wear sandals with socks....I REALLY dislike you. BUT for me to hate ME?!?! And why?

All because I let myself get distracted by other people and force feelings out and I got hurt. I should have stuck to my fucking guns....and instead I made an ass out of myself. The why and what happened is irrelevant...but I didn’t know how to deal with it. For the first time in...EVER, I felt completely alone.

I’ve talked about my mother Laura Phoenix being my hero, I’ve talked about my step-father Nick being my inspiration....they both for me have always set a bar so high for me as a standard. But there is one person that I never really touched on....that is my grandfather, Jeffery.

Now see, my Grandfather is one man that has been vilified in my mother’s world a few times. Because then, he thought he knew better for his children. He tried in vain to push them towards something he thought was good for them. Always had good intentions but just went the wrong way about it. ESPECIALLY with me. That is a story for another time, because I don’t want to paint him in the wrong light. Let’s just say when mom found out she was pregnant with me and then the family found out, Civil War was declared in the O’Neil household. Very historically AND Marvel-esque style....minus all the cool toys.

ANYWAYS, when my grandmother passed away a few years ago, my grandfather really had these moments of epiphany. But when I say he is my angel? I mean it. Every moment of it. Because there was one moment that NO ONE knew about until now....


~*~*~*~December 28th, 2018~*~*~*~

I found myself just wandering New York. School was out, family was busy and I was alone in my own thoughts. I owned up to my own stupid brain and now I found myself not sure what to do next. I seriously fucked this one up. Way to go Elizabeth.

I just kept my eyes down, I just kept walking. I was numb and if I got hit by a car, I wouldn’t give a fuck. I deserved it.

But something made me stop....

I looked up...and found myself on a bridge.

“Well...hello Brooklyn” I don’t even recognize that voice.

Yeah, that one. I’ve never been on the Brooklyn Bridge before and I lived in this city since I was 12, curiosity got the better of me. I needed to look over the edge.

I stepped onto the ledge to get a better look down. And then the dark thoughts came.

There is not a fucking soul that would need me. What the fuck have I done to deserve a chance to even keep going.

You know...that whole jazz.

What I don’t see is behind me a car has been following me pretty much the whole way, they stopped, a door opened and as fast they could, they grabbed me by the arm.

“ELIZABETH MARIE! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!?!”

I couldn’t stop myself, I struggled against whoever the hell had me. “LET ME GO!”

“STOP IT SWEETHEART! IT’S ME!”

I seem to step up and look up to the face of my Grandfather....his big brown eyes looking like he’s scared out of his mind.

“Grandpa?”

“Yeah, yeah it’s...What the hell do you think you were doing?”

“I- ...I was just looking over the edge.”

“You were doing a lot more than that! Explain yourself!” I could hear it, he was completely frightened out of his mind. I never heard him like this before. “Why would you even think about that? Do you know what it would do to everyone?”

“....I’m...” and I couldn’t stop it, the tears just flowed and I clung to him and I lost it.

I don’t know if he was caught by surprise that his granddaughter even gave a fleeting thought that she didn’t think she was worthy of anything...or that I just completely lost it into his expensive suit in front of God and everyone but he just wrapped me up in a hug and pulled me in so tight that suddenly the numbness was replaced by warmth. “I got you sweetie...”

“I’m so sorry grandpa....I just....”

“I know, your mother called me and told me most of the story....”

“I feel so worthless.”

“Why?”

“Because I took a chance and ended up with nothing but pain. I don’t know what is going to happen next.” I look around and for the first time I realized what I almost did. “I don’t even know how the hell I ended up here! I am a mess, I am so lost right now.”

“Ok ok...calm down. One thing for sure, you got your mother’s gift for the dramatic babble” he just sighs and looks at me “Your grandmother was so much better at this than I was, she’d know exactly the right thing to say. But when I see my beautiful intelligent granddaughter that I stupidly almost lost out on doing something like this, I can’t help but wonder if I could be doing more for you.”

I just shook my head, “Like what? You do so much for me already. I know you are trying to make up for things that happened...”

“It’s more than that. Bella...I spent so much time worrying about the views of others that I lost out on a lot of things with your grandmother. When I had my heartattack...before your mom found out about...well let’s just say I had a lot of eye opening moments. I let my pride get ahead of things that mattered the most. Pride is a hell of a thing, it’s almost a drug. It will drag you into the darkest parts and it will...well it will fuck with everything.”

“Grandpa! YOU SWORE!” I have never heard anything harder than hell or damn or even the occasional son of a bitch!

“Yeah I know...don’t tell your mother or uncle because they will never let me live it down....but you are so use to things falling into place that what happened a few days ago came as a shock. And you knew what you were walking in to. You set yourself up for failure almost on purpose, didn’t you?”

I just shrug, “I thought maybe...I don’t know. I just needed to see and I got my hopes up and got stomped on. Christian called me a damned fool, but I had to see. I guess things got really screwed up. I have no way of fixing them either.”

“Well...maybe not, but time heals wounds. As does getting out of this city.” he smirks at me, “I keep hearing all this talk about you picking up and going to Paris...and yet...you are still here.”

“There’s more to it than just grabbing everything and going. There’s money and a place to live....”

“And you have a rich grandpa and I KNOW Levi has offered to help you too. But little girl...I think it’s time you ran away from home.” and with a smile he wraps his arms around me and leads me back to his car.

“Grandpa....thank you.”

....you too grandma....thank you.


~*~*~*~I Overcame....you can too~*~*~*~

“One year ago....I almost didn’t exist. I almost did something really fucking stupid.”

I’m in Vegas....VEGAS! Yeah I know, been here once already this year....but...

“VEGAS!!!! You just never know where the hell things are going to lead” pointing to my chest “I took a leap of faith instead of a leap off a bridge and where I ended up is here. What I’m saying is you never know what will happen when you give up so easily. You push and you push and you push. Things haven’t always gone my way but I’ll be a mother fucker if I am not extremely happy to prove A LOT of bitches wrong. Amelia Hogan, that’s your problem. You have been playing the pity party on social media and the moment you didn’t come away with a win, you are very much ready to just give up. Well, I’m not. I’m here. I’m here to prove things to myself,”

I take a deep breath and sigh, “I’m also out to fuck with people’s pride. Yours is on my list. And 2020 has quite the outlook, don’t it? I’m one of the most talked about Bombshells since I came to SCW. All I had to do was take a leap of faith. That’s what you need to get. It’s a chance to not commit career suicide and actually fucking fight me! I’m done glad handing people. I can be besties some other time because I can’t be the prideful one anymore. I am done letting people fuck with my pride. I’m done having pride confused with determination. And that’s where I’m going to get you.”

I just shrug, “I know, I know....I’m sounding a little pissed off right now....and I am. I should be on a different path because I let pride get to me.....well....fuck pride. It’s gotten me nothing but problems. NOW, I’m the problem. And I’ll make sure they know what is in store for 2020. I’ll see you out there Amelia....if your pride will let you.”

And with a simple wink the camera fades to black.

 Last Week

Quiet.

It’s so damn quiet.

It’s 4am and I’m wide awake. Wide awake and sober. Now how in the fucking hell did this happen?

I had so much to drink after we got back from the arena that I don’t even remember much of the rest of the night. I’d like to say the reasons for my actions were just the pain of getting my ass kicked by Sam and Sierra....but honestly it wasn’t. I have been very much mentally beating my own ass for no reason. It just wasn’t my time yet. I tried, I failed....so why the hell does it hurt?

Looking around the darkened room, just a glimmer of the city lights coming through the curtain, I sit up slowly because the last thing I need is to have the whole world spin out from under me. I have enough bullshit going wrong, I don’t need to be throwing up on the bed or Mal, who is passed out to the world. I don’t want to wake him up so I try to carefully slide out but just before I get to my feet I feel a hand reach out.

“And just where do you think you’re going?” I look back and I see through the dark his blue eyes staring at me.

“I just wanted to find my phone and get some water. I’m cotton mouthed like crazy.”

“If you’d look, everything is right there beside you, love. Along with the 3 backup bottles on the floor. Bring your ass back here.”

This was not the first time he’s had to deal with me like this, he knows the routine, he picks but he cares and if he knew I told you this, he’d probably kill me. I don’t fight him though and just curl back into him. I just lay there in silence in his arms. “I can hear that brain of yours. You are having amazing matches, you know that? You are impressing a lot of people....”

“I just can’t seem to fucking win when I need too. I’m pathetic.”

“Hey now, no you’re not. You didn’t need to win this. You were given a chance to step up and drew one hell of a tough challenge having to take on Sam and Sierra like that. That is no easy task and someday you’ll get there.”

I just look up at him and smirk, “I still feel like I’m missing something. I don’t know...maybe I’m just too nice sometimes.”

“Well, the only person I have ever seen you actually hate is the sick twisted mother fucker that put you through hell. Which only makes me wanna stay on your good side because you are just plain scary when you honestly want to try and hurt someone the way they hurt you.”

I can’t help but laugh a bit rather bitterly and curl into him because that whole situation brings up so many issues, “Yeah well, after he kidnaps and keeps you from your family and tries to fuck with your mind, all bets are off. But something Sierra said kinda stuck with me.” I can hear his eyes roll, “Quit it...”

“I didn’t say anything!”

“No, but I heard those eyes roll in the back of your head. I know you and her don’t see eye to eye but at least let me get it out before you go all Malachi.” I just hear him sigh in defeat, “But she said something along the lines of how nice the women are to each other. Like no one wants to be hated but just kiss each others asses. I mean in a way, she’s right. We all for the most part don’t hate each other....except for maybe Bobbie...especially since she took it upon herself to attack everyone on the show tonight.”

“Which I cannot wait to see how you girls deal with that.”

“OH It’s coming...but knowing what is coming next week, where I have to face a woman that pretty much watched me grow up and a girl that has been nothing but sweet to me since she joined SCW....” I just shrug, “I guess I just need to find that inner bitch.”

“Oh, you mean the same one that keeps me on my toes, sasses me non-stop and forces me into having dinner at your mum’s next week?” and he is in full on laugh mode.

“HEY! You like mom!” I just push myself up and look at him in shock

“Yeah I do, your step-father however, does not like me at all, no matter what I do. And with sharp instruments around the table, I feel like I need kevlar going into that house.” he just smirks “BUT! I do it because I need to experience this whole Thanksgiving thing and I know if I don’t I’m never going to stop hearing it from you unless I tie you up, put duct tape on your mouth and throw you in the closet. AND EVEN THEN, you will find some way to escape and drag my ass there kicking and screaming.”

I just glare, “Better believe it Oscar. But I see what you are saying. My tencasious ass, when I put my mind to something, always finds a way to make it work. And if it’s any consolation, after dinner everyone is going to be so exhausted from stuffing themselves stupid we can escape early and maybe go get some shopping done?”

He just shakes his head and just deadpans “I’d rather not...”

“I knew you were going to say that. So when we get home tomorrow....good thing mom brought over all those boxes, we can even get the decorating done.” and Mal just groans.

“Why haven’t I smothered you in your sleep yet?”

“Cause you looooooooooove me and all my crazy nerdy ways!”

And there’s the sigh of defeat and I just laugh and curl up to him again with a giant smile on my face as he kisses the top of my head.

“Yeah, you still love me.”


He was right, no matter what I seem to find a way to get what I want in any situation when I really really want it. Either that or he just proved that he is a complete softy when it comes to me. Either way I can really wear a person down with just the sheer anticipation of how relentless I can be. I can be a straight in pain the ass about it. ....maybe I can use that same evil power that has been bestowed upon me to actually battle a woman I adore and a sweetheart.

Can I really be that bitch?

Mean Streak Equals Win Streak & Title Shot?
3 days later

I mean, Bobbie Dahl got herself noticed when she started pissing people off...but I’m not that kind of person. LOOK if I have a problem with you, I’m gonna tell you straight to your damn face. But either fucking way, I may curse like a sailor, I may give people (mostly Mal) a barrell of shit most of the time, but I am not a mean person. ....until you piss me the fuck off or go after my family.

“SWEET FUCKING CHRIST! How the hell is your mom friends with this woman?!?!”

We’re out in public....in the middle of a major shopping area....and that was very fucking loud.

“What? Let me guess, Candy?”

“SHE THINKS I’M THAT SHITHEEL SECURITY JACKASS THAT LOOKS LIKE MY BROTHER!”

“I told you Candy is different. She’s sweet...just not...all there? This is the same woman that kept putting a dollar into a change machine, thinking it was a slot machine, and screaming she won every time it gave her 4 quarters. She’s harmless, she doesn’t mean to be insulting.” I hand Mal some bags to make him stop looking at his phone, “Someday she’ll get it right and you’ll almost be insulted that she did because you got used to the whole other thing. Don’t worry about.”

“You mean she’s the idiot version of the dweeb Spinelli?”

I just sorta shrug, “Sorta?”

He just looks down at all the bags. “Why couldn’t we just order this shit online? It would have been a whole lot fucking easier.”

“Because I don’t Christmas shop online unless I cannot find what I’m looking for someone. Amazon gets enough of my business, at least I can support local shops.” He’s grouchy, he’s irritated. YUP! SHOPPING WITH MAL! ....should make this shit into a series. “Look, I know you are bored, I just got one more shop to go into and I promise we’ll go home and you can work your frustrations on a punching bag.”

“Promise?”

“Promise, go find coffee, text me the location and I’ll meet you there in, 15 minutes...30 tops.”

“Bells...” That warning tone.

I just give him a kiss, “15.”

With that we part ways and I drag myself into the next shop just browsing around when the sound of something catches my attention, a replay from last weeks show. “Great, now I have to relive this shit in public? I gotta get through this somehow but it’s like living a fucking nightmare over and over again. God dammit, what the hell do I gotta do to get a fucking chance at something? Do I need to turn into a complete twat like Bobbie? I’m not the bad guy but fucking hell, maybe I should be the in your face one of that damn triple threat against Candy and Amelia. I don’t want to be mean but what the hell else do I have? If I want a real shot at the Roulette title and a chance at redemption against Sam....I don’t have a choice. ....Do I?” I am just talking to thin fucking air....and I just pull myself out of the store and walk. “Somehow I need to get the fuck out of this slump....I want that title shot....I...I’m gonna fucking end up in the nut house. BUT, I gotta do this. ....can I be the bad guy? Do I want to be a champ? OF COURSE I DO! But I gotta do this first....I gotta...”

The sound of my phone brings me out of it....

“I gotta do this....as much as it hurts....”

But first coffee.

And then match.

And then Sam.

 “ALOHA!” ....picture that in Stiches’ voice. It works so much better.

Gonna say this right off the bat, China was...insane. Like Bat shit crazy...there were clowns, and contortionist, flame throwers, sword swallowers...only thing missing was a fucking kitchen sink and I’m sure it was somewhere under that ring.

For those playing the home game, my family has been in turmoil for months. I wanna try and Readers Digest this because my family goes beyond just my mom, my step-dad and my little brother. I even have a step-sister out there somewhere, I hope someday she finds us. BUT when you grow up in this world of wrestling, you gain yourself a whole different family. Uncles and Aunts that aren’t exactly related...at least at the moment. Those are the Russows and I know most of you know who they are. Levi and Jesse have been pretty much my uncles for like the last decade. Jesse actually will be here in just a few days time...but that’s a different story for a different time.

Levi has always been there for me, he’s basically been almost a 3rd father for me (AGAIN, it’s another story for another time). So we came at odds over several different reasons, I’m sure you guys can guess what was the biggest one.

Either way, I noticed something though, something I couldn’t quite figure out that was going on with him, it was dark and I took it upon myself to find out why the hell out of all the people in the world I couldn’t get through to him...and what was dubbed “The chairshot heard around the world” I took a shot in the dark....literally. That was my welcome into the world of wrestling. Clobbering one of the most influential individuals in my life, over the head with a steel chair.

I also dared him to call me a “whore” to my face....which he did....a week later. Before dousing me in gas and trying to light me on fire.

We’re a loving bunch.

But in all this, we have a common enemy, someone that had him under control. I don’t want to say his name because it’s like Beetlejuice....say his name enough and he pops up like a jack-n-the-box from hell. So that’s why we went to China this past week, we were out to free Levi....and oooooooooohhhhhhhhh boy did we. If you want to see it, just let me know...I will show you that shit over and over again because nothing brings the psycho out on me than a fucker that kidnapped me and tried to fuck with my head almost a decade ago. There is so much I need to explain but for now, things are peaceful....

Until this weekend....

I did say “for now”....


~*~ Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean ~*~

International Date Line flying is so much fun. I’ve lost track of what day is it by now....I think it’s Thursday...maybe Friday, but I don’t know. I’m just for the first time in a long time, completely relaxed, which is good considering what I was like beginning this week. I was so caught up in what happened at Climax 250 with my first loss, I was so worried going to China...I was convinced I was going to be straight out mad by the time we reached Hawaii.

But now, Mal and I are on a plane somewhere over the Ocean. He keeps glancing over at me as I am nose deep in a book.

“Quit it.” I say not even looking up.

“Quit what?”

“Quit checking on me. I’m fine Mal.” I say flipping the page.

He just sighs and grabs my hand, interlacing his fingers with mine, “After what happened last night, I can’t help it. I’m still looking over my shoulder even though we destroyed that son of a bitch.”

I close my book, keeping a finger indexing my spot, “Babe, I know. It’s gonna stick with us for a while what happened there. But we can’t be worried about him. We’re heading to Hawaii! I’ve never been there. Even then, it’s business. Always business. And you’re so wound tight that I could pin your shoulders to your ears and you wouldn’t feel any different.”

He just glares at me “Considering I don’t have holes in my ears...”

“People say you’re numb from the neck up anyways, so would you even be able to tell?” I say with a smirk on my face.

He just shakes his head trying to hold in his smirk, “Good lord, why do I put up with it?”

I just shrug my shoulders, “Either you have completely fallen head over heels for me or you are straight glutton for punishment. Either way, you asked for that one.”

“I just don’t understand how the hell you are so calm about what happened. Especially everything that lead up to it.”

“Because at the end of the day, I have other things I need to focus on. High Stakes is huge for both of us and I’d rather put my focus on what is coming, not what has past. One is being worried about you going into your match against your brother in a steel cage match and the other is my match with Andrea. I slipped hard against Sam and I drove you nuts for about a week after that. I can’t be doing that to myself or to you. I learn and I keep moving, it’s how I’ve always done things and it’s what I should have been doing from the moment I got beat at 250.” All that came out of my mouth without even taking a breath. I have had it with beating myself over one moment in time. I owe people an apology for how I reacted and I know this. “In fact, I’m sorry for the way I was after that. It’s not me, I just got shocked by it.”

“No apologies are needed, love. Everyone’s first loss sits hard with them for a while.” and with that he brings my hand up and kisses it, “And I don’t need you worrying about me and this match with Lach. It’s my thing.”

“Until the bell sounds and we transport you both to the local hospital.” I say with a smirk.

“Until it gets to that point, don’t you worry your sassy arse about it.” he says with a kiss on my head, “Go back to reading your book. I’ll stop disturbing you.”

“You are such a horrible liar,” he just sighs mumbling something about always needing to have the last word, as I open my book and continue on with my reading.

I knew what was coming and even he wouldn’t deny it. But we live by the sword and we die by the sword.

It’s just what we do.


~*~ Put yourself in the moment ~*~

“I cannot stress this enough....you put so much focus on your past and it’s going to keep you there.”

I’m sitting alone at the moment, I just found myself a corner and placed myself there. Needing a moment.

“Yes, your past is just a mold of what you were made from. You go through your life and you add, or you subtract. It’s not a finished product. You can blame yourself, you can blame your parents....hell some even blame society for you being a complete fuck up and it will never ever change the fact that you, YOURSELF, has free fucking will to make a moment stand out the most.”

I look up and just smirk, “A series of chances, I’ve talked about this many times, you take those chances and you make them yours. That is what High Stakes is for me. I took a chance bringing myself to Sin City. A place that, while my name was known, there was no legacy to stand on. Look, there is always talk about generations upon generations of the legacies around here. While I do tout myself as “Second Generation Not to be Fucked With” I don’t sit on that knowing that I am capable of so much more.”

I bring myself up to my feet and glance up and down the halls “Andrea Hernandez is not to be taken lightly and I know that. She also knows that I’m not someone that is just going to try and tell a sob story to garner sympathy. I’m FUBAR ok? And in case you didn’t know what that means, it stands up for “Fucked Up Beyond Repair”. But that is what made this lovely, sassy creature that stands before you. It’s what gives me the gumption to do the transcontinental back and forth insanity. It’s what makes me want to stand up to assholes that try and control me. It’s what gives me every reason to throw caution to the wind and do whatever it takes to win.”

“So it’s as simple as this Andrea, nothing fucking personal but you are in my fucking way and I really don’t like that. I’m not going to glance to my past to look for answers and live there. I’m going to push myself to be better than that day in and day out because I work too fucking hard to sink all my money in therapy sessions and while I don’t mind getting drunk, going there constantly is something I wouldn’t exactly call a life. I have an entire world to see and I have a list of shit I wanna do and one right now is to get a out-right chance to win the Roulette Championship.” I glare into the camera and I just smirk, “My legacy is honestly just showing the world that despite the look of what I came from, I am so much more than the sum of my parts. I’m sorry if that is a slap in the face of some people but there it is. I know I’m going to be constantly learning. I know my nerves are going to get me in trouble here and there. I know I’m a young ambitious...some would say impetitious pain in the ass...but I know that at the end of High Stakes IX, I will come high or hell water be the one standing with my hands raised. Past be damned....it’s my time to shine.”

And that’s all there is to it.

 You have to learn to pace yourself
Pressure
You're just like everybody else
Pressure
You've only had to run so far
So good
But you will come to a place
Where the only thing you feel
Are loaded guns in your face
And you'll have to deal with
Pressure

Ah, yes....that familiar situation. Ok Elizabeth, you brought this shit on yourself and went boasting on twitter...

Put up or shut up time, woman.

In the gym for a long while since we got back from Ireland. We were there for a whole week, just to unwind from our crazy schedule but I’ve been slackin’. I don’t like to workout when I’m on vacation and now...I’m freaking out....a little....

....ok....a-fucking-lot. When I get like this, I throw myself into the situation to the point where it’s almost frenzy like. In college it was hours upon hours of reading and writing. Forgetting to eat, barely sleeping....I’ve been known to pull being up for 48 hours and living off of caffeine....and nothing but caffeine. It’s dangerous, it’s stupid and usually I end up sleeping for a whole day after I do it. Followed by a whole day of me eating.

......I need help.

“Well ain’t that the understatement of the century!”

I look down at a smirking Malachi who’s propped up just enough where he could see what I was writing, “And what have I told you about looking over my shoulder when I’m writing?” as I’m closing my book “It’s getting to a point with you, I’m gonna need to keep a spray bottle nearby.”

“And watch how fast that bitch gets chucked if you do, love” he says with some laughter in his eyes. He kisses my shoulder “You really need to get some rest, I know you got this crazy notion in your head about overworking yourself but it won’t do you any good in a ring to be physically exhausted and you know it.”

“I know....and believe me, I have tried in vain....after a while my eyelids hurt from forcing them shut,” I put the book down on the side and scooch down in bed a bit. “Just still a bit in shock about how...fast this is all going for me. First it was a Hall of Famer and now a champion.”

“Non-title match love...no pressure.” he says rather dismissively.

I just glare at him, “Bullsh-” and before I can even finish he just kisses me.

“Bells, you are a perfectionist. One of the few things that drives me absolutely bonkers but that is what drives you to be the best and I get that. But you are going to put yourself to the nuthouse putting all this pressure on yourself.”

I just sigh and curl up into him “I hate it when you’re right”

“I don’t get a victory like this very often so I’m just going to take it and shut up.” he says laughing wrapping his arms around me.

“By God, he can be taught....” laughing followed by me getting popped with the closest pillow he could get his hands on.

“Sassy. Never. Ends!” I finally get my hands on the pillow and snatch it from him.

“Then do something about it!”

.......we’ll save you from the rest of that....

You’re welcome.

You used to call me paranoid
Pressure
But even you can not avoid
Pressure
You turned the tap dance into your crusade
Now here you are with your faith
And your Peter Pan advice
You have no scars on your face
And you cannot handle pressure

I’m amazed this place is still standing. The hurricane messed up the Bahamas but they get use to it.....and rebuild....

“You ever seen The Truman Show? That scene where things go all crazy, they leave, turn around and come back and nothing is absolutely wrong? .....spookulur” I say looking down the beach. “So the last couple weeks I’ve kicked back and relaxed. Went on a trip that didn’t require a wrestling ring....though we somehow ended up in a place with a wrestling ring during our trip. I still can’t believe that I managed to beat Amy in the ring and heaven knows I learned a lot just being there. Apparently somewhere, somehow I’ve impressed someone. Not only do I have a match already for High Stakes but this week could lead to bigger things down the road. I kinda feel bad for Sam Marlowe. Here she is trying to prepare herself for her title defense and she’s in a constant battle, possibly looking at her next opponent after Bobbie....that’s if she can get past her. I thought I was a little nuts...well...I am. BUT! Possible challenger after possible challenger....for future defenses. Just yikes! But that is something you just deal with.”

“So Climax 250 is huge, there isn’t a lot of places that get to even 100 let alone 250 episodes and to have this be the go home to the High Stakes it makes it even bigger.” I just smile, “I look at it this way, if I keep making strides in all the right places by possibly beating Sam before her big defense, awesome...but I can’t help but wonder if I need to start looking over my shoulder. I know I gotta be pissing people off by now and I’m putting pressure on myself to only be better in the ring but also showing people that even though I’m still young in my career, I’m not going to back down from someone that wants to step to me. I’m actually kind’ve want it to happen, for some reason. I don’t want to cause problems because let’s face it, the Roulette Championship competition is pretty damn thick....and it’s used as almost a catapult to bigger things....like chances at Alicia and the Women’s Championship. Something that I’m not ready for....not yet anyways.”

I take a deep breath and look out to the ocean, “I’m not one to make waves....but I do love to influence them and if by some stroke up luck I manage to find my way to a win at 250 against a reigning champion like Sam Marlowe, then by all means I would love nothing more than a shot at it. I’m also putting pressure on myself day in and day out to be better and better. 6 months ago, I was just a college kid, not even sure what my next step was. But now, now it’s a challenge to see how many people I can truly shock by winning or even performing at my best. Mal was right, I am a perfectionist...” and I just sigh, “And I won’t settle for second place. If that takes points off my humble meter then fucking let it. But sometimes, you have to draw the line somewhere...and winning at 250 and in Hawaii, that’s where the line was drawn, that’s the next line to jump. Whether Ms. Sam Marlowe likes it or not”

All grown up and no place to go
Psych 1, Psych 2
What do you know?
All your life is Channel 13
Sesame Street
What does it mean?
I'll tell you what it means
Pressure



Song that inspired the craziness: Billy Joel - Pressure

 Well.....

Here I am. You wanna know a secret? I really REALLY hate these introductions.

Some of you know me or at least have seen me trolling around. Hell some of you know of my family and the legacy I get to carry around like an extra 2000 pounds of bullshit. I sorta brought it on myself about 3 months ago. I could have just as easily stayed away from being apart of this world but I was drawn back into it. I got the hell out of school, FINALLY, and started an amazing adventure. The story getting there is a lot more interesting but it’s gonna take a bit to get there.

So welcome to my journey Sin City Wrestling.....hope you know what you got yourself into.


3 years ago
New York City

It’s been a few months since my grandmother had passed away suddenly. Cancer. Fuck Cancer. Took her quickly and shook up the entire family. My mother took the brunt of it the worst. She tried to bury herself in wrestling but it did nothing but make it worse. So, her, along with my step-father decided to walk away from wrestling, but their school was still a thing but still had them both insist that I’d put it on the back burner because they wanted to make sure I did it the right way.

Not that I already wasn’t planning on doing that but I really wanted to follow in their footsteps.

“Mom come on! I can attend NYU on a part time basis, it’ll just take a little longer to get my degree, I’m already a year ahead of most of them anyways with all the classes I took in high school.” 17 year old me....good lord, what was a thinking? Look at that short brown hair. Glasses. Ok, so I still wear the glasses.

My mother, Laura Phoenix, just looks up at me from behind a desk that is just not suited for her. She had to help my grandfather keep things together because as much as she’s been taking it hard, my grandfather was a mess. “Bella, we have been over this time and time again. You need to go full time. And don’t try going to kiss up to Levi because we all came to the same agreement. I need you to have the best chance and that is full time in college.”

I just sigh and sit rather roughly in a chair....the pain was worth it. “This is dumb! It’s not like I still won’t be going but I really want to train full time. I want to start seeing this world. Having another how many years shoved in a text book isn't going to do that."

"Elizabeth Marie Madison!".....all three. Yeah she's irritated with me. She just sighs and sits back, “I can’t tell you what to do, you are 18. I want you to really think about this though. You see how much pain Nick is in. Levi too. College for you, full time is going to be an amazing time for you. This whole time, you’ve been asked a lot of, watching over Jack and the twins. The whole time, you kept a straight A average in high school and got a full ride. I don’t want you to blow that opportunity, angel. And who knows, it could lead to some amazing chances for you. You’re not going to be stuck in New York forever.”

“...I suppose. I’m just....I really want to train.”

“Well...between myself, Nick....the Russows” she smiles. “Don’t worry kid, your legacy will wait. But who knows what this will lead too?”

Paris....it led to Paris.

My last semester, one of my greatest adventures was getting to travel and study in Paris! Something I almost didn’t even do because I loooooooooove to second guess myself. Life has a funny way of pushing you towards things too, because that is exactly what it did. It just bitch slapped my ass like I owed it money.

January, I packed up almost everything, said my goodbyes and off I went. ....and within 2 months, I finally found ...me. Do not misunderstand me, I love my family. They have never said I can’t do something, I’ve just always had to....I don’t want to say “wait”, but put my wants to the side.

Enter Mal.

I get that he isn’t well liked. When you create as much chaos as he has in SCW (and I’ve pretty much seen it all) against one of the most well like guys on the roster? ...you’re gonna get some heat. But that’s not the man that I met in Paris. He’ll proudly admit he is an asshole, all day, every day. There is so much to explain and so little time so let me just say since March, we have been on this wonderful adventure together....and we’ll call it that....for now.

“You’re rambling again, love.”

“I’M GETTING THERE! My promo Malachi....shoo!”

“Ok, but seriously, they wanna know, go to freaking twitter.....it’s all there.”

“OSCAR!”

“I’m going...I’m going...sheesh!”

....now where the hell was I before I was so rudely interrupted?

“Hey Sassy Lass!”

Like I said on twitter, I had seriously been thinking about joining Mal in SCW for at least the last 3 months. I wasn’t sure if I could really pull off being where I was and being here but I couldn’t stop myself. Talking with Mark Ward on the cruise, having fun just hanging out and watching the show, I needed to know. Can I really do this?

I’m so used to being hunted that it was almost refreshing to just hanging out with a bunch of people where I wasn’t looking over my shoulder constantly! When the announcement came down, I think it kinda caught Mal by surprise because we had discussed it but he actually didn’t know that I had the contract in hand before we even left the cruise ship.

When the news broke it was kind of a fun moment.


About a week ago
Inside the gym

Bella, now 21, now with that cotton candy pink hair, currently rocking a high ponytail and jamming out to one of her favorite bands that is currently blaring in her headphones as she runs on the treadmill. Her phone completely silent because she is focusing where she needs too and the camera focuses on the amount of text messages and phone calls that are coming in but she remains oblivious to it. We see Malachi walking through, holding his phone in shock.

“Uh...Bells?”

No response from her, not even a glance.

“BELLA!”

.....nadda.

Mal just can’t help but shake his head...almost 6 months with this girl, still amazed by her level of focus. He carefully crosses behind her and steps up on the treadmill, carefully inching his way closer and just about mid stride he wraps his arms around her and lifts her up.

“AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK!!!!”

Mal can’t help but laugh a bit as she reaches up and pulls her headphones out.

“Mal, that shit is not funny!”

“Little funny, besides I couldn’t get your attention any other way.”

“It couldn’t wait til I was finished?” she looks down and sees his phone in his hand “I take I missed something big?”

“Aye love....you mind stopping this so I can put you down?”

“OH!” still in his arms reaches down and pulls the emergency stop and he lowers her safely to his feet. She just turns around and clutches her chest. “My poor heart. Don’t ever do that to me again”

“Oh so dramatic. I wasn’t going to let you fall and you know it. I’m also not going to let you move until you explain to me what this was about.”

He shows opens his screen up and shows her the big announcement on twitter.

Sin City Wrestling @SCWrestling1
Second signing of the week? Done
We are more than pleased to announce the signing of @PWSBellaPhoenix! Bella Madison is someone Mark Ward spoke about at the press conference and now it's a done deal. Give Bella a follow now. #WelcomeBella

“Ohhhhhh ....that.”

“That? I mean, we had talked about it, I know Mark brought you up in the press conference....were you going to tell me?”

“I figured I’d let you be surprised just like everyone else.” Bella looks back and picks her phone up out of the cup, “Apparently everyone is shocked.” Bella looks up at him and can’t really judge what he’s feeling, “....you’re not mad at me are you? I mean, it’s kinda late, I’ve already been told I’ll have a match in Aruba.”

Malachi looks at her and cracks a smile, “I signed with PWS for you, and you signed with SCW for me. When the hell did you even get the contract?”

“I had it before we got onto dry land. Right after the show, when you were in the room...I ran into Mark when I was hunting down some Jameson for you,” Bella smiles and wraps her arms around his neck. “I wanted to tell you, but you were in a mood so I decided to wait. Needless to say...I got sidetracked with everything else that was going on...sure you’re not mad?”

Mal just kisses her lightly “Not mad, I think you are slightly mad as in like the hatter.”

Bella just sticks out her tongue and smirks, “It just took you almost 6 months to figure that out? I’m slacking!”

“Ok, sassy. I’ll let you get back to your workout.” Mal steps away from her and hops off the treadmill, “You know, you’d be done by now if you were up with me at 6am.”

“I have never been, nor will I ever been a morning person! You’d have to IV my ass with caffeine every morning!”

“Not like I already don’t do that now!”

“OUT! You distract me!”

“I’ll do more than that later!” he gets out before he reaches out real quick, pinches her ass and takes off running and laughing.

“GAH! DAMMIT!” Bella reaches and chucks her water bottle at him slightly missing him. “Jerk.”


Present Day
On the White Sandy Beaches of Aruba

“Paradise. Pure and absolute paradise” We see Bella sitting on the sand and just takes it in. “You know it’s weird, as the daughter of wrestlers, you’d think that I would have had the chance to take in these sights when I was a kid. I really didn’t. So when I get these chances now, you are damn right I’m going to take it.”

She just kicks back and stares out. “Ok Sin City, I know you want me to talk about this match, and it’s sorta weird. All I gather is that Ms. Apple Coren is a high-society socialite...and with those words I almost immediately think Khardashian. ....I hate those bitches.” she laughs, “I hate them because when they, as in people, realize that I don’t exactly come from the slums, that’s what I get compared too. Yeah, that’s right bitches, I come from money. I just don’t show it or flaunt it like some people do. I rather people recognize me for being a no-nonsense sassy....as some put it “Second Generation Not To Be Fucked With” asskicker.”

She just smirks, “See, this is what I hate...I know NOTHING but what I was told. Apple thinks she’s owed the world....me? I just wanna take it by the balls and show it who the real boss is. And Apple....ok...I need to get this out...WHO THE FUCK NAMES THEIR KID APPLE?!?!!? Bella is a nickname for me. But seriously??? APPLE?!?! What, did your parents conceive you under a tree and got hit in the head with one? I mean, if you were a boy, would they have named you Newton? Or Issac?”

She just sighs, “Ok sorry...I had to....that has been driving me nuts for DAYS! I couldn’t take it. But seriously, I don’t know you, but from what I was told, you weren’t already going to like me.” She just shrugs, “Sweetie, get. In. line. Last I heard, there were a few getting matching jackets. Nothing up to your standards I’m sure. But hey, we can’t always have it all.”

And with that she stands up and turns to look at the camera “And that Sin City, is my introduction. Sassy, Second Gen....and ready to make waves. Kinda what I do best....both in and out of the ring. ....hope you know what you got yourselves into. ....heaven only knows....I’m still trying to figure that shit out”