Well, this was unexpected...
Not the timing of the supercard, the people who have been here a long time sort of works out when it's time to get ready for a huge show, but opposition. Deep down J2H actually agreed with the long overdue attempt at making new stars, he also knew that it wasn't always the higher ups fault that it didn't work out, sometimes people thought they were already made men and didn't have to work, and somehow trailed off, but Jamie Dean was the last person he thought he'd be facing at Inception II. Just weeks before, he scoffed at the idea when Amy Marshall suggested it on Twitter that Jamie should face him, and now it's a reality.
He didn't believe that her tweet had made the bosses think, he knew Amy had zero influence about what went on in SCW, so the "they got a title shot because someone asked" people, yes, I'm looking at you Alexis Staggs.... God it feels weird saying that, and no, I won't ease up on her cause Austin lost his mind, anyway, back on track here. Jamie Dean was put in a position to earn it, and that's what he did. J2H half expected him to earn it, to come through for some reason, but didn't believe it would happen.
The roster is full of potential talent in his mind, not only the ten men who had a chance to be in the position that Jamie Dean sits in, he could see potential in so many, yet he knew so many would become lazy and fade away. To him, they didn't have the mental side to their game.
Being the best isn't about showing up, getting in the ring and winning, it's about doing your homework, committing to the cause, to the career path you've chosen because you want to be the best, and that's what he did.
Sitting in his Beverly Hills home, the familiar surrounds start to emerge as J2H sits on the sofa in his huge living room, his eyes firmly planted on a notepad in his left hand, a pen in his right hand. He taps the top of the pen on the back of the page, his eyes burning in to the page as his eyes move from word to word. His eyebrows lower as the words slowly feed in to his mind. Breathing deeply and quickly sighing, he closes his eyes to let the thoughts run through his mind. Melody walks past him, walking in front of him and past him for a second, throwing a casual glance in to his direction but stops and takes one giant step backwards. She spins ninety degrees to face and him and looks down at him, scratching the side of her head as she looks at him with his eyes closed.
J2H: I know you're there babe.
Melody grins as she looks at him with his eyes still firmly shut. She attempts to deepen her voice, and putting on a British accent, trying to do her best Simpson impression.
Melody: What was that, sir?
J2H's eyes fire open, a look of shock on his face as he half expects to see Simpson standing in front of him, only to be met with the reality of a giggling Melody. A sigh of relief escapes his lungs as the images of the outside world starts to become more clear and sees Melody in full focus.
J2H: Your Simpson impression is getting better. I almost thought for a second that it was him. x
Melody covers her smile as she moves next to J2H, sitting next to him on the sofa and putting her head on his shoulder.
Melody: I can't like Jam, he's been giving me tips so I can scare you like that. Fun, right?
J2H: As much fun as sitting on a hedgehog.
A yawn escapes his lungs as he stretches his shoulders back, leaning in to the comfortable sofa. Melody puts her hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Melody: Why don't you get some sleep J? You didn't sleep well last night, and I heard you get up at 3am.
He brushes off Melody's comment with a quick shake of his head, looking at her through his tired eyes.
J2H: No, I'm fine. I need to get this done, I need to find a weakness or two so I can focus on overcoming Jamie Dean.
Melody leans backwards a little bit, pulling some distance between her face and the champions face, her blonde hair falling slightly over her forehead. She brushes it behind her ear as she looks at him with one raised eyebrow.
Melody: I've never seen you like this when it comes to an opponent, even a new opponent. Usually you're fine, and confident.
He turns his head towards her, his eyes in line with her very own.
J2H: Oh I'm confident Mel. I'm confident I can walk in to any federation up and down this country, hell, in the world and beat their champion with relative ease, but something about Jamie Dean that makes things unpredictable. The fans are behind him as much as they were behind Despayre. He fits the mould of a top champion, he's fresh, young, and people could see him lead SCW in to a new era. More to the point Mel, I can't find any weaknesses with him.
Melody squeezes J2H's shoulder as she looks at him with slight concern. She knew in her heart that this is not the way he acts before any championship match. She knew that there was something more to it.
Melody: Come on Jam! This is what you're good at! You can pick people apart in your sleep. You know he has a weakness somewhere there.
Her motivational words fell partly of deaf ears as the thoughts of how bad he would look losing to Jamie Dean ran through his mind like a steam train with failed breaks.
J2H: I'm not too sure he does Mel, look at this.
J2H lifts the notepad to eye height and hold the words towards Melody, allowing her to see what he wrote.
Melody: What is all of this?
He taps the pen on top of the top page, the firm sound of pen against paper jumps in to the air.
J2H: This is what I wrote before Sunday's Battle Royal, I wrote this as soon as every man was announced to be in the match. One of them had to win it so I sat there and I got ready for whoever it may be. I listed a few weaknesses.
Melody's eyes read the words, reading them out loud.
Melody: Blade Alexander - can't handle the pressure, once quit SCW three days before headlining a supercard, lucky to even be allowed back.
J2H: Very fucking lucky to be allowed back.
Melody: Samuel Devereux, lost spark since becoming a father and cheating on his wife with another man.
J2H: His head was never gonna be in the game. That man lives a fucked up life.
Melody: Joshua Acquin - hahahahahahaha... Really Jam?
A smile crosses over the young man's face as he looks at Melody.
J2H: Yeah, I mean come on, beat him before and if I listed all his weaknesses, I'd have run out of paper. The guy was always an unfunny joke.
Melody continues reading down the page, her hand squeezing the champions leg.
Melody: Samuel McPherson, likely to get lost in the ring without Raab holding his hand and guiding him through the match. Inexperienced in single matches.
J2H: I bet that guy don't sneeze unless Raab tells him to. Maybe we can report Raab or something for taking advantage of a fucktard.
Melody's mouth opens wide as she looks at J2H with disbelief.
J2H: What? He is a fucktard.
Melody: I'm just gonna move on J because it's not fair to comment like that. James Tuscini, way too slow, moves list that comes right out of the 60s, doesn't move with the times.
J2H: I should have wrote greasy fingered pia boy who will slip over the top rope because his hands are to greasy to hold on.
Melody rolls her eyes at his jab towards Tuscini and continues to read.
Melody: Calvin Harris, not the man who won all those titles in the past, bum knee, easy to take out with one kick.
J2H: He impressed me considering he was a one legged man in an ass kicking contest.
Melody can not help but smile at that comment before continuing.
Melody: Xander Bishop, keyboard warrior, too much of a rookie in SCW to even be considered a threat in this match.
J2H: And he wasn't a threat, all talk, or what you can understand of it.
Melody: He's got some talent. He's looked impressive so far.
J2H flicks the hair from the side of his face as he smirks at Melody, quickly shaking his head at her.
J2H: He got pushed too soon and will probably crumble. Feel free to continue.
Melody: Steve Ramone, there's a reason Ramone hasn't been at the top in his SCW career and been around the bottom level... Because he sucks! Probably be too worn out jerking off to his bitches movies.
J2H: Well it's true. Surely what the silly bastard is doing backstage is illegal.
Melody: It's gross J. Makes me feel sick.
J2H: Makes everyone in the world feel sick. No one wants to think of him doing that.
Melody: I'm just gonna keep reading before I end up being sick all over the place.
J2H: Good call babe.
Melody: Jeremiah Hardin, The Fallen's bitch, will try too hard to impress them and lose concentration. Spent so long hiding behind his uncle in a tag team, will be tired in about three minutes.
J2H: Not too bad with these predictions so far, eh?
A proud smile crosses J2H's face as he looks at Melody, his eyebrows raised
Melody: So far so good. One more name left on the list. Jamie Dean...
Melody looks up towards J2H before looking back at the writing pad.
Melody: Babe, there's just a question mark there.
J2H waves his finger towards Melody.
J2H: That is the problem babe. Jamie was the one man going in to that battle royal that didn't mind about the out come, he relaxed, played his game and won and he is the one person that could come in to the match against me with the same attitude. He's took the pressure off himself and that takes out so many potential weaknesses. He's not gonna over think it, he's gonna be relaxed, the pressure of being in a main event match, well co main event, isn't gonna bother him in the slightest. When people come in to these matches, they think of worse case scenarios and they shit themselves because they want it so bad and I can pick them apart. Jamie Dean is not gonna worry about that or the fact that when it comes to big match experience, I got him beat.
Melody: I think you're over thinking this. Jamie is good, but he's been in a tag team for a long time. The longer you make the match go on, the more tired he will become.
J2H bites his lower lip as he looks at Melody.
J2H: So drag him on, and use everyone's weakness against him. Tiredness. He'll have nowhere to go, no one to tag out to. I've put myself through bigger, longer matches than he has.
Melody: Exactly.
A smile crosses J2H's face as he leans in towards Melody, kissing her on the forehead.
J2H: I've seen and done it all and he's done nothing. The guy hasn't held a single title at all. I mean for me to go down to his level, I will have to sit on the floor.
Melody: Now that's the champion I love.
J2H smiles at Melody but a huge yawn leaves his mouth and hits the daytime air. He looks at Melody with an apologetic look on his face.
J2H: Sorry.
Melody: I think you need a little sleep.
J2H stretches back on the sofa.
J2H: I think you're right and you're right about this match too. I was born... to.... be..... a wrestler.
He trails off through another yawn, his eyes closing firmer this time.
J2H: I couldn't imagine being anything else....
That's about as much as the tired champion can manage before drifting off in to a world of dream and fantasy, the real world left long, long behind..
Now you know when someone says they can't imagine being anything else? Right before they leave reality to enter the dream world? You know what's gonna happen, right? Oh good. It's like thinking of that certain person as you drift off, the odds are they're bound to feature in your subconscious somehow. Well this is no different... The last thing he said was about not imagining being anymore else, but what if he was? What if he had no privileged life, no popularity, no money and was just a normal every day person? Let's find out shall we?
TAP TAP TAP!
"Huh?"
TAP TAP TAP!
"James, wake up!"
His eyes start to open, daylight flooding in to his blurred vision as his mind tries to remember where he is, but sadly nothing flows back. He looks around his surrounds, seeing himself behind the wheel of a parked vehicle. Looking around the grubby interior, confusion rains over him, more so as he looks at the torn upholstery to the passenger seat. He pulls down the rearview mirror, a shock to see his apparel is old grey overalls zipped to the top, covered in oil and grease. Looking away from the mirror and down his front, he sees the name James stitched in to the left side of his clothes.
TAP TAP TAP!
The tapping pulls his attention to the window where a familiar face greets him.
James: Despayre?
Indeed Despayre stands waving at the man who is known as J2H. He looks closer at the man who knew as a wrestling rival and in the other man's eyes, a friend. Looking down at the man's name badge, he sees the name written on it.
James: Joshua...?
Joshua smiles at him.
Joshua: Did you fall asleep in there again? I thought you was not going to stay up and play video games all night tonight.
A confused look crosses his face as he stares towards the man he knows as Despayre, happily being called Joshua.
James: What's going on?
He opens the truck door and steps outside, looking around at the area, a cul-de-sac if you will of a few stores, a comic book store, a mini supermarket, a computer game retailer and a towing company.
Joshua: Well, what's going on silly is that I was going to meet you for lunch, like we've done every day for four years, but like most days, I found you asleep in your truck because you spent all night playing video games and yelling at those guys online.
More confusion runs over him as he shuts the truck door and looks around.
James: What guys online?
Joshua: I don't know, that Mark guy and that Chris guy. I've never spoke to them, but you say they run some online game that you're a part of and spend hours at night playing.
James raises his eyebrow and looks at him, his eyes glancing around again at the stores, looking closer at the towing company and reading the name out loud.
James: Simpson's Towing.... What the?
Joshua scratches his head as James looks at the building with his mouth open.
Joshua: Why are you looking like that? You've worked there for five years, it shouldn't surprise you that much.
James spins around, finally taking a look at the vehicle he just exited to finally see it as a tow truck, with the name Simpson's Towing on the side. Joshua quickly grabs him by the shoulder.
Joshua: We better get in to the diner before you end up late for work again. I'm so glad the comic book store is closed this afternoon so I don't have to go back to work.
Joshua leads James towards the diner door, James' eyes still looking at the towing company door. He eventually turns around to face the open door, held by Joshua and the two walk in. Looking around, an unimpressed look crosses his face.
James: Why do we even come here? This place looks dirty.
Joshua: Because you've been in love with the waitress here forever so you make us come here every day.
James: I am?
Joshua points to a waitress, her back towards them as she stands conversing with men of the college age, dressed in blue jackets with a the letter L stitched in. Her blonde hair is pulled up in two pigtails. She turns around to James and Joshua, James' mouth opening wide.
James: Melody....
Indeed, the woman strikes a stunning resemblance to Melody Grace, and her name tag reflects that, the name Melody written across it. She rolls her eyes as she looks towards the two taking a seat at the counter.
Joshua: Your dream woman who you haven't had the nerve to ask on a date ever since you've been my best friend.
She walks towards the two behind the counter, chewing gum and muttering to herself
Melody: Great, these two losers again.
James looks curiously towards Joshua, but Joshua shrugs it off.
Joshua: She calls us that every day, the words have lost all meaning.
James: I ain't a loser, this girl loves me.
Joshua: What planet are you living on? Cause it's not this one ol' buddy o' mine.
Melody stops before the two of them, looking them up and down and she lifts a notepad.
Melody: Let me guess, the guy who doesn't know how to brush his hair there wants a burger with no onions and a cherry coke, and bleach blonde here wants a burger with everything and a normal coke.
Joshua: Correct!
Melody rolls her eyes, turning towards a window towards the kitchen, ripping the order off the notepad and putting it on the counter.
Melody: Jake, loser one and loser two want their usual.
A man appears at the window, his bald head just looking through the window. He looks down at the ticket and strokes his goatee beard before looking at James and Joshua. James cranks his neck back as he looks at the man.
James: Rage?
Joshua: I wouldn't call him that, but he was pretty made when you sent back the burger last week for getting it wrong.
A slow shake of the head comes from James as Melody puts two sodas in front of the two, not even acknowledging their existence before turning and walking back towards the college boys. James eyes trail her as she walks across behind the counter, her elbows on it and blowing bubbles from the gum.
Joshua: You might wanna close your mouth James, a fly might just fly in there and choose to stay.
James looks around the place before turning back to Joshua.
James: In a place like this, I wouldn't be surprised if there's more than just flies around here.
Both men take a sip of their drinks in front of them, James trying to get his bearings. He knew this wasn't his life but it someone felt like it was, like it was familiar. A minute passes and the ding of a bell can be heard and Melody returns to Jake at the window, placing two burgers on the ledge in front. Melody moves towards them and picks them up, turning around on her heels and placing the food in front of them along with the bill.
Melody: I hope you two are gonna tip today. I don't work here for charity.
Melody walks away, moving back to her clearly favourite crowd and both men pick up their burgers, taking big bites out of them. Joshua places his down on the plate in front.
Joshua: I don't know what you see in her.
James: Well she must be worth seeing because this food ain't all that.
He begrudgingly picks up his burger again, taking another bite out of it and places it back down on the plate. Joshua does the same as James goes for his drink.
Joshua: We better hurry up with these today, my dad will be picking me up soon, and you'll be late back to work, and you don't want to deal with Mr Simpson shouting at you again. Last time he shouted at you, the comic books fell off the shelve and it took me all afternoon to pick them back up.
James picks up the burger again, the third bite almost finishing it off. He quickly wipes his mouth as he turns back to Joshua, who is quickly eating through his burger.
James: Simpson is a pussy cat, he always has been, he don't scare me.
James picks up his burger and takes the last bite out of it, looking at the surprised look on the face of Joshua. Joshua puts down his burger and looks at James.
Joshua: Last week, you told me he grabbed you by the ankles and shook you upside down for scratching that car.
James eyes widen as he looks across at Joshua on the stool next to him, but before the two can continue, a car horn is heard from outside, causing Joshua to look through the window.
Joshua: That's my dad. I gotta go, it's your turn to pay today, right?
James: I guess so.
Joshua quickly finishes off the burger and takes a couple of gulps of his drink as James looks through the window, noticing the driver of the car to look a lot like Synn. He impatiently hits the horn again as Joshua jumps off the seat and moves to the door, he quickly looks back at James.
Joshua: You better move it, you're late for work. Have a good one buddy! Same time tomorrow.
With that, Joshua moves out of the door and towards his fathers car. James reaches in to his pocket, looking down at the bill. He reaches in to his pocket, pulling out a bunch of one dollar bills and counts through, throwing them all down on the counter and reaching in to his pocket, pulling out some change and placing it on top before walking towards the door and outside. He glances across at the tow truck company and sighs. He takes the short walk towards the door and pushes it open, to see a man in a suit and tie behind the desk, a cigar hanging out of his mouth as he looks towards James. James stares back at him.
James: Simpson?
The man sits up straight in his chair and looks James up and down.
Simpson: That's Mr Simpson to you boy, and you're late again for the second time today.
His barking tone forces James to take half a step back as the bigger man stands up, pressing his hands on the desk in front.
James: I'm sorry, erm Mr Simpson, I erm...
Mr Simpson slams his hand down on the desk, causing James to jump.
Simpson: I don't want your excuses boy! You've been late five times this week! Twice of them today and I'm not gonna sit here and let you do that! You're on thin ice James and I have no problem throwing you through that damn window if you screw me around again! Are we clear?
James: Ummm, yes sir.
Mr Simpson settles back in his chair, looking at James.
Simpson: But you can redeem yourself a bit now little man, because we got a repo going on and let me tell you, this little bastard has been as slippery as an eel. Many people have tried to repo this car, but we're gonna take the money, and by we, I mean me, because I'm wealthy and you're a poor little pissant, but if you get this one for me James, you might find yourself with a ten dollar bonus.
James: Oh, erm, thank you Mr Simpson.
Mr Simpson picks up a file and hands it to James, who opens it and looks at the green non descript car with the personal registration plate CNR MPHY. Mr Simpson hands him a scrap of paper.
Simpson: Last seen parked outside a bar and there's the address. Don't let me down or you will seriously regret it!
James quickly shuffles backwards out of the door, the file in hand.
Let's fast forward a bit shall we?
A little while later, James is seen in the cab of the tow truck, looking across to the right at the green car in parking lot. He looks at the registration before looking down at the file. Nodding his head in confirmation, he quickly checks for people around. Spying no one, he moves the tow truck around and in to position, hitting a button inside the cab to lower the wench. He grabs the file from the truck and opens the door, jumping out and moving around to the back, only to see a man sitting on the trunk at looking at James. The camera can only see the back on the man as he sits on the trunk and James looks down at the file.
James: Mr Murphy?
James looks up and see the man properly as the camera moves around it. James sighs as he closes the file and looks blankly at him.
James: Connor Murphy...
Indeed, another familiar face joins our story as Connor Murphy sits on the trunk of the car.
Connor: In the flesh laddie. Now it looks to me that you're trying to steal my car.
James: Not steal, repossess, it seems there's a repossession order on it, and I've been sent to get the car, you can sort it out by....
Connor puts his finger to his lip, causing James to stop talking. Connor calmly reaches in to his top pocket and pulls out a packet of cigarettes and a lighter. He takes one out and places it between his lips and lights it before blowing smoke at James.
Connor: Now many have tried to take my car and there it is, sitting there still, and they've been a lot tougher than you are.
Connor slides off the trunk of the car and stands looking at him.
James: I got a job to do.
Connor: And I got somewhere to be.
James tries to move past Connor but Connor pushes him to the ground. He laughs at the fallen James and flicks his cigarette next to James as he moves towards the drivers seat and jumps in. He rolls down the window and looks out at James on the floor.
Connor: Better luck next time kid!
Connor speeds up, sending dust from his tires over James as he shoots past. James looks around as he stands up, dusting himself off and slowly shaking his head.
James: Mr Simpson is not gonna like this.
Oh how right you are young man, as we movie in to the office of Mr Simpson. James sheepishly walks through the door, causing the cigar chomping Mr Simpson to look up from his desk, looking through the clear shop front. He looks towards James with narrowed eyes.
Simpson: I don't see a car outside James, a car worth a lot of money.
James wrings his hands with nerves, looking across at him with his head slightly bowed.
James: The thing is Mr Simpson, I got there and I found the car, but the guy was there. He attacked me and got in the car and took off. I tried to look for him but he was gone.
Simpson: ENOUGH!
James jumps backwards as Mr Simpson's voice fills the room.
Simpson: I have had just about enough of you as I can take! You're late for work every single day of your pathetic sad little life. You spend the entire day yawning or drooling over that little blonde thing across the road, and don't deny that because I've seen it when I was going to much better places to eat, the kind of places you could never afford. More than anything James, YOU JUST COST ME MONEY! I don't like losing money and you have just made me lose a hell of a lot of money, so take tomorrow off, take the week off, take the year of because you're fired!
A look of shock appears on the young mans as he puts his hands out in front of him in a pleading manner.
James: But....
Mr Simpson raises his hand, stopping James from talking anymore, the tone of his voice becoming much quieter and much more dangerous.
Simpson: Not another word, get out before you no longer have the option of walking out through the door, but the window on the other hand....
James backs off, his eyes on Mr Simpson as he reaches for the door handle and slowly backs out, his now former bosses icy stare locked on to him. He stepped out of the building, feeling safer, yet moved away at a brisk pace. A sigh escaped his lungs as he stopped outside the diner.
James: What am I mean to do now?
He turns his head, glancing through the window towards Melody, the college frat boys still standing in the diner, seemingly with their own desires to charm the waitress. He grits his teeth firmly as he looks through the window.
James: Screw it, what's the worst that could happen?
With a sense of determination, J2H walks through the door and towards the counter, a renew purpose driving him forward. Melody turns around, catching his eye as she walks towards him.
Melody: Not you again, thanks for the quarter tip.
Sarcasm drips from her voice as she smirks at him, but his determination pushes him on.
James: How about you drop the attitude and just listen for a minute.
The comment shocks not only Melody, but James himself. Impressed with his forcefulness, he continues.
James: This has been one of the worst days of my life, but it's gotta change sometime, and this is the time, so I'm thinking that me and you should go out sometime.
Melody looks at him, not quiet believing what she just heard.
Melody: Like on a date?
James: Yeah, on a date.
Melody nods her head as if she's considering it, but bursts out laughing at him, wiping the confident look off his face. She turns her head to her college favourites.
Melody: Oh my God! This loser just asked me out on a date!
Within seconds, the college boys join in with her laughter, pointing at the now crushed James. He looks to the floor, looking for the proverbial hole to swallow him up but nothing comes...
His eyes fire open, the laughs of the crowd although not real, still stung in his body, rushing through him, the waves of embarrassment and disappointment running through every nerve in his body. He looks around confused, thankfully seeing his living room where he fell asleep a short time sooner. He turns his head to his right, seeing Melody's head on his shoulder. He looks down see Dexter the Duck on Melody's lap, even his eyes half closed. Whispering to himself, he can't help but smile.
J2H: I wouldn't want this any other way.
The camera fades out.
Now before I start this scene, this is strictly off camera, use it against me at your peril!
This is where we pick up shortly after Melody's bombshell to J2H on Monday morning. Talk about light the fuse and watch it burn quickly, because his mind was racing faster than it has done in recent times. He's always had a lot to think about, he brings it on himself half the time with the paranoid thoughts that rush through his head at times about current and former SCW stars, but this has knocked the young man for six.
The look on his face as he comes on to the camera tells the story of a man who was trying to processes something major, this was something major, this was life changing. Melody hadn't said much after the earth shattering news that in nine months they could be parents - Also a moment that was off camera, so fuck knows how someone on Twitter thought it was right to make a pregnancy comment shortly after Melody's main promo aired - off camera means off camera!
Anyway, I digress, J2H sits stony faced on the front porch of the house, the door behind him slightly ajar as he sits on the steps, waiting outside for Melody to join him. He couldn't wait another minute to get her to the doctors to find out once and for all which test was right. The feelings that ran through his body just by laying his eyes on a false pregnancy test, and a positive pregnancy test were feeling he'd never felt before in such quick succession.
Confusion, blankness, more confusion, disbelief, acceptance, joy, happiness, composure, clarity, realism.
All hit him like waves crashing quickly in to a sea wall one after the other in quick, strong bursts, but eventually a deep clearly breath brought him around to finding out immediately what was going on. He wasn't the most patient person in the world and this only served to prove that.
His eyes looked around the outside of his grounds, darting from the fountain in the driveway, to the row of winter blossoms lining the road leading towards the house and on to the front gate that bared the initials "J2H", a custom feature from day one of becoming J2H. He looks around, talking softly to himself.
J2H: Me.... a father?
A questioning tone falls from his lips as he narrows his eyes, trying to come to terms with what may be.
J2H: I've never imagined myself as a father, I mean why would I imagine myself as a father? I haven't been in the same room as my own father in years, what kind of father would I even make? Its not like I actually had a great teacher. By the time I was ready to learn how to be a man, he'd fucked off long before that, and he wasn't exactly around enough for me to learn anyway.
Dexter the duck waddles from the partly opened door behind him. He walks next to J2H and turns his head, looking at the SCW World champion.
Dexter: QUACK!
J2H turns his head towards Dexter, looking down at the duck with lowered eyebrows.
J2H: What do you want?
Dexter: QUACK!
Dexter shakes his tail feathers and looks to sit down next to him on the step.
J2H: Knew you was gonna say that. I know she thinks you can say more put that's the best you got.
J2H looks in front of him, looking out at the grounds and pulling his knees closer to his chest. He rests his elbows on his knees, cupping his hands under his chin and looking towards the graveled ground. Slowly, he turns his head towards Dexter.
J2H: I don't even like you that much, I don't even look after you that much, how can I do the same to a kid?
Melody wasn't listening but I think hearing J2H liked Dexter even just a little would have set her kind heart racing, considering he often remarks about Dexter becoming someone's dinner.
J2H: I had no role model to look up to, unless you count Simpson, but he more took care of doing everything I needed done, rather than did the father thing you teach kids, and my dad, he was a bastard Dexter, he cared more about golf and fine malt whiskey that he did about his own family. He made my mother the way she become, I know he did. What if it's genetic?
Doubts flooded his mind that if it was to be, he would even be capable of being a role model to someone when he never really had one of his own. What if parenting was genetic and he would have inherited the traits of his own father, asleep inside until awoken by the actually thought of being a parent. He knew Melody was stronger than his own mother, he knew she wouldn't be broken down like his was and neither did he want to try to, but the story of J2H's mother would be a tale for another day. He knew Melody would be a perfect mother and that alone brought a smile to his face, offering hope that he would be alright, that he could at least learn from watching Melody's mothering instincts.
Yes, she would be a perfect mother, but what if he couldn't match up.
The thoughts of what being a parent, especially while in baby and infant age hit him hard. Could he handle getting up in the middle of the night? Could he physically do all the horrible things you need to do as a parent? Can he deal with the smell, with the constant threat of being pissed on, of vomited on? He's never thought about that before, did his dad have the same thoughts and was that why Simpson was hired? How could he possibly defend the world Title in SCW and come home beaten and bruised and be able to lift his own child?
SCW...
He moves his cupped hands to the side of his head as he closes his eyes, running his middle finger and forefinger on the side of his temples, slowly circling them anti clockwise
The thought of Melody lining up for her first headlining show at a supercard and knowing there's no way that SCW officials will allow her to complete in that condition would absolutely destroy her soul. We've seen it before where someone announced her pregnancy in her promo and was instantly dropped from a bombshell championship match, J2H knew that this would happen to Melody and break her spirit in so many ways. Even the thought of parenthood would dull to her in the drowning sea of disappointment. It meant both their careers would be over for a while. He would refuse to let Melody stay at home alone with a baby while he went where ever SCW sent him.
He may not have a clue about parenthood but one thing he did know for sure is that he would not let Melody take care of a baby alone, he would not do as his own father did and become absent in his child's life.
Wait... hold on, it might be...
Before his train of thought can continue, Melody Grace walks from the inside of their home, her footsteps causing J2H to turn his head backwards and looks up. He stands to his feet, reaching out and taking hold of Melody's hand.
J2H: Ready?
Melody doesn't reply but a simple nod indicates a yes. The two step off the step and start to walk away as the camera fades out to black.
I guess you wanna know what's going on, huh? Guess you gotta wait until Melody's promo airs.
Selling a match, it's what we're in this business to do, and that is what puts people in arenas, which often mean long, long hours for the most dedicated in our sport, the ones at the top because they've worked to be there. Supercards mean most champions are running around like crazy, wrestlers are appearing on television shows, press conferences and like today, J2H will be spending part of his Wednesday on the Radio, The Freddy Coleman show on KSPN, a Los Angeles branch of the famous ESPN. The host, Freddy Coleman himself sits on once side of a table, huge microphones in front of him and the other side of the table for his on coming guest, J2H himself. J2H walks through the door of the studio, comfortable with the scene as he's been in many of them. He is dressed in plain white pants and a thick zipped up jacket, black with red trim, and a baseball cap. He reaches out a hand to Freddy, who stands up as a commercial plays.
Freddy: Freddy Coleman, nice to meet ya.
J2H nods politely at the man as they shake hands.
J2H: Just call me J.
Freddy points to the chair next to J2H and J2H accepts the unspoken invitation to sit down. He quickly picks up a nearby headset and places it on his head, readjusting the microphone towards himself.
Freddy: I see you've been in studios before.
A nod comes from the champion as he looks at the man.
J2H: One or two, I know how all this stuff works.
A producer from behind a glass panel to one side knocks on the window, causing the two men to look towards him. He starts counting down from five on his hand, causing Freddy to fumble for his own headset and sits in front of his own microphone. The producer points at Freddy and he starts to talk.
Freddy: And we're back here with ya at KSPN 107. Earlier today, we promised you a major guest in the sporting world and he's now sitting right here in front of me. Welcome to the show SCW World Champion, J2H. Welcome to the studio J.
Instantly kicking in to media mode, J2H quickly responds.
J2H: Nice to be here Freddy.
Freddy: Let's get straight in to this J, because I know you're a busy man and this is not your last media meeting of the day. People know you from your character on television, but don't know the real you, so tell us something that we don't know about you?
J2H smiles, rubbing his chin and looking at the host.
J2H: What you see is what you get with me. I don't do the character thing, I do the me thing. I get up and people see me for who I am and if they don't like it, I'm not the one with the issue here. I think if there's anything people don't know about me, it would probably be that I'm a massive fan of old movies, the classics. People seem to think there's no depth to me, but these people don't live at my house, ya know?
A nod comes from Freddy's direction
Freddy: What's your greatest accomplishment outside wrestling?
J2H: Probably that I'm still breathing, that I am alive and haven't had too many worrying moments in my life. There's a lot of bad things happening in this world, the fact that not too much bad has happened to me is a big thing to me. I ain't stupid enough to sit there and think that it might not happen in the future, but I'm smart enough to appreciate that it's been a good ride so far. Being able to get out of bed after all the work I've done and the insane work stuff I've done is a big accomplishment to me.
Freddy: I did some research today, and I couldn't find too much about you from your pre wrestling days. So what was your fondest memory growing up?
J2H looks up, as if searching for something to appear in his mind. There's a reason he hasn't spoke so much of his past or personal life before, but this was not the time to tell it.
J2H: I think Christmas time with someone who works for me now, Simpson, was one of my fondest memories. When I was a kid, he'd always seem more excited at Christmas than I was, come to think of it, he still is right now.
J2H can't help but laugh a little.
J2H: He'd always be the one who would dress up as Santa and sit around with me while I opened presents and seem more excited at what I got than I did. He'd spend hours just putting stuff together for me, when I was one of those kids that was happy playing with boxes at the time.
Freddy smiles at the comment, and J2H joins him in that sentiment, he did have fond memories of childhood, but most of them included Simpson in one way or another.
Freddy: Music is a big part of your profession, but do you have a favourite song right now?
J2H shakes his head at the question, looking at the host.
J2H: Not really. I mean I don't get time to listen to music so much anymore, unless I'm hitting the gym, but at that point it's all just background noise. I'm so busy at the moment with promoting SCW, with a home life, it's tough at times to even just sit down, put some music on and kick back. I spend at least three days a week around fan and interviews, then weekends it's off to where ever the shows are.
Freddy: It does seem like a tiring lifestyle.
J2H: It is, but when it comes down to it, I can see why I'm in demand more than others. I'm good at what I do, I'm the guy the fans wanna see, it doesn't matter if they boo when in the arena or ask for photos outside, the fans wanna see me one way or the other.
Freddy: If you found yourself stuck on a deserted island, what three things do you have with you?
This one took some thought, only one thing came to mind instantly.
J2H: Well Melody, that's a given, cause she is the light to my darkness and I would have probably found a way to burn the whole damn island down within minutes. I'm thinking probably an unlimited supply of beer would be nice to have around, and a boat, cause I ain't gonna wanna stay on that island.
The two share a laugh before Freddy continues.
Freddy: You mentioned your girlfriend just then, how is home life with Melody?
He smiles at the question, looking the eager host up and down.
J2H: I couldn't ask for more. Things have been going better than I expected. It's the first time I've lived with someone like that and it was a bit of an eye opener to start, but I soon started getting used to walking in to rooms and seeing stuff that never used to be there.
He laughs out loud as he looks at the smiling host.
J2H: Seriously, I couldn't ask for more... Melody and I have a good understanding, we are both really busy at times but we try and do the simple things like dinner every night, even if it is at ten at night, when I've just got home, or even if it's at 3pm before either of us are out for whatever reason afterwards. I adapted better than I thought I would.
Freddy: Melody was in a movie fairly recently, that wrapped up, but the hype seemed to fade away, what happened there?
There's a time for diplomacy, and this wasn't it.
J2H: I don't know, maybe they wasn't impressed with the leading man or something, but it all went quiet and nothing has been said since.
Freddy: Will Melody be making more movies?
J2H: I can honestly say I hope not, because last time nearly pulled us apart from distance and working with people I can not stand, so I really hope that was her big role and that was it. Melody can do anything she wants, but people in the movie business are creeps and working with some people who I can't stand will just blow up in our faces. The last one nearly drove us apart, hopefully we won't be in that situation again. It's not good for either of us. I know she wants to make her own way in life, but the last movie paid well regardless of the fact nothing really happened after it was finished, so it's good seed money to do whatever she wants.
Seeing how serious the mood has just become, Freddy decides to move on with more wrestling related topics.
Freddy: Let's talk business, lets get down to talking wrestling. If SCW was to start daily shows, who would you car pool with?
J2H: Man, I got a tour bus and everything.
Freddy: Really?
J2H: Yeah, perks of being a champion with money really. You have to be damn lucky to step on to that thing, it's got everything, and room to sleep a lot of people. I think it's pretty much reserved to like me, Melody, Simpson, and that's about it. I mean I'd let Rage travel on it, Austin Parker too, but the thing is beast mode. I wouldn't have to sit in a car with people I don't really like.
Freddy: I read that you was interested in getting a former SCW World Champion, Simon Jones, to come back and face you. What's the story behind that and do you think it will ever happen?
J2H: The story is Simon was the last man to defeat me over a year ago, and I wanted to bury that demon. I've become a better wrestler over the last year and I have proved that time and time again. I would have been happy taking Simon on, beating Simon Jones and getting rid of one regret from my pre God like life that I created after that defeat. It drove me on a lot, and now that memory needs to be buried. Do I think it would happen? Not a chance. I could offer the man a million bucks in cash tomorrow to come and face me at a future event, and he'll still say no. I could offer him that money and give his family a free vacation on the cruise ship show we do every year, and he'll say no. I tried, he wasn't interested.
Freddy: Is there anyone in the wrestling world that you think have achieved more than they should have?
Without hesitation, he answers quickly.
J2H: Yeah, Drake Green.
Freddy looks slightly confused at the speed of the answer, and decides to push the issue.
Freddy: The movie star? Wasn't he a wrestler before the movies, so the movies couldn't have a baring on his wrestling career?
J2H: He mixed it up a bit, but the guy don't deserve to ever be known as a former SCW champion. He's always been a snake and I've called him on it a million times to no response. The man is full of himself, but the fans lap it up. If only they knew what he was really like, and they wouldn't listen when I told them that he used them for his own personal gain. Boo me, cheer me, I don't give a damn, I will always be who I am, but Drake Green was a fake for the fans and should never be considered an SCW champion. The guy is a flake, shows up when his movie career bombs and people take him back with open arms, he gets popular again, gets cast in some awful movie and he's gone again. He uses SCW to launch himself and that is disrespecting the business, it's disrespecting my kingdom.
He grits his teeth and Freddy quickly moves on to stop the icy atmosphere building.
Freddy: Tell us about the upcoming SCW Show, Inception II
J2H: It's being held on the twenty second in Las Vegas, Nevada's Gold Coast Casino, which is kinda like the home base for SCW. It might be small but it will always be a place SCW calls home regardless. There's eight belts on the line, my Melody is headlining and hopefully going to get what she deserves and walks away with the top women's title and I'm in a match defending my World Championship against a guy called Jamie Dean. I know, I say that a lot and people say who but he's there.
Going against everything he truly feels, J2H chooses to take the route that's good for business, rather than take the opportunity to destroy Jamie Dean. Still plenty of time for that.
J2H: Jamie beat nine other guys to get to this spot, this will be the biggest match of his career. H
