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The soft drumming of rubber against the wood of a desk beats in time with a very soft feminine sounding hum of a rather out of date Disney lovesong. The only other sounds in the room are the soft snuffle of a small ball of fur resting on the lap of the young woman and the barely audible sound of each page as it is turned. While she rests her head on her hand, the soft red curls of Sam Marlowe move against her cheek as she mouths the words of the sonnet in front of her.
Dressed for comfort, Sam appears very student like and not the Bombshell Roulette champion she is. The last few weeks of sitting at home and returning to her studies has caused a lack of care on how she looks. Her hair is piled on the top of her head with tendrils falling along her cheek and around her ears. A pair of reading glasses slides perilously close to the tip of her nose which prompts her to drop the pencil in her left hand and push them up her nose just as the sound of the SCW Climax Control theme blares into the semi silence causing a yip from Askem in Sam’s lap. The phone dances slightly across the desk as Sam fights to catch the hyper fox from falling and grabbing the telephone at the same time.
“Hello there,” answers the redhead after pressing the button to open the call. She listens intently to the voice on the other end. “It is? Wow!” Listening again, she nods and speaks softly in a pause, “Can you hang on for a moment…”. Sam picks the yipping Askem up and reaching down, she sets him on the floor and straightens once more to continue the conversation, this time pressing the speaker button allowing the sound of an English accent to fill the room.
“I have to tell you Sam, I had to contact you since you are holding the Bombshell Roulette championship and part of me is doing this because Christian Underwood has this jones about keeping you down for some reason,” offers the now recognizable Mark Ward with a chuckle. “So Sam, tell me that you are going to give a thought to a return.”
Sam bites her lip as she lets her eyes drop to the book open on the table. “Well,” she mutters as she offers a lopsided grin to the screen. “I am still working towards my schooling however,” she continues before looking up to see the Bombshell Roulette title belt resting on a shelf on display. The belt itself brightens Sam’s smile. “I can’t not comeback and defend the title that you gave me the opportunity to win.”
Mark gives her a serious look as he draws a knuckle across his chin as he listens to Sam who turns her eyes towards the phone. “I can understand that and if school is what you want…” Mark’s voice trails off slightly as he offers a side eye at the camera of his videolink.
“Oh no Mr. Ward, I definitely think that I got the fire still,” says Sam as she leans closer to the camera. “I mean, I fought like heck to keep wrestling and I won’t let you or Mr. Underwood down. You can be guaranteed that Sam Marlowe will definitely be back in the only wrestling company that gave me my career to begin with. So…when do you need me back? I mean I am going to have to get back in the ring and work off the rust but with the motivation I have,” offers Sam with a bright smile before continuing, “I’ll be back with bells on!”
“One would hope you would be wearing more than bells,” teases Mark Ward with a wink. Sam can’t help but blush a bright red at his comment. “I will be faxing the papers over today. By the way, the return will start with the Blast for the Past tournament. We will be making the draws very soon. Speaking of draws, will you be entering this tournament? You made it all the way to the finals last year and I am sure that this year you will have that little tug to see your name in the finals again and get that title shot you so deserve.”
Once more Sam bites at her bottom lip as her eyes lose focus slightly as memories of last year’s tournament goes through her mind. A soft cough from the screen brings her attention back to Mark Ward who has a curious look on his face as he waits for Sam’s response which is not long in coming.
“Of course, I want to be in the tournament sir,” vows Sam. “Win or lose, I think I got what it takes to go all the way.”
“That is what I like to hear young lady,” offers Mark. “We will be announcing when the draw will be had but I think you need to know that we will have our SCW Twitter guy live tweeting the draw so watch for the Twitter announcement.”
“Will do Mr. Ward,” says Sam as she reaches for the phone only to be stopped by Mark holding up a hand.
“Welcome back to Sin City Wrestling Sam,” he says before bringing his hand up and disconnecting the call.
“Thanks,” says Sam in disbelief as she ends the call on her end. Getting to her feet, she moves toward the shelf holding the Bombshell Roulette title. Reaching up, she slowly pulls it down, the belt unravelling in front of her as she looks at it and then flips it gently onto her shoulder. One hand moves to caress it in place as she catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
“Once more onto the breach…” Sam quotes.
Turning full on to gaze at her reflection, a bright smile begins to cross Sam’s face as the other hand moves to embrace the belt. With one last look in the mirror, she pulls the belt off her shoulder and gently brings in both ends of the belt and clutches at the faceplate as she thinks about the return. Her eyes light up as she looks up again before posing with the belt held high in the mirror as if winning it once more. Wrapped in the memory, she is brought out of it by the yip of Askem at her ankle. Looking down she nods and reaches for the small fox and pulls him up to snuggle against her chest, his paw resting on the belt.
“I am back and there will be no stopping me this time!” she vows as Askem punctuates the comment with a yip which produces a giggle from Sam as she moves out of the room while muttering to Askem who seems to yip in reply.
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“You will never guess what my friend Ben did…”
Sam Marlowe can be seen walking along the path that surrounds the home in Maine that Ben Jordan has just bought. She appears to be taking in the orchard by the home imagining just what it might look like covered in blossoms or in the fall with ripe fruit…whatever fruit trees they were. She sighs and slides her hands into the pockets of the University of Nevada hoodie she had worn for the trip out to this house.
“Hey Ginge,” can be heard but it doesn’t penetrate the concentration that Sam has. “Ginge…” Ben repeats as he sets a hand down on the shoulder of the redhead making her jump and turn on Ben with a glare.
“Don’t you know you aren’t supposed to sneak up on people like that Prat! Y’all nearly scared me to death,” she growls.
Holding up hands in a mocking surrender, Ben can’t help but laugh at the reaction of Sam which only serves to break the frown and makes Sam shake her head with a laugh. Turning back to the fruit trees, she takes the scenery in as Ben moves beside her.
“So, how do you like the orchid?” he asks.
“Orchid…what orchid?” asks Sam in wonder. “Have you taken too many shots to the head? There is no orchid here.”
Ben’s eyebrows come together as he looks over the trees and then down at Sam. “Ok Stevie Wonder, you can’t tell me you don’t see it.”
Sam reaches up to run a hand through her hair, brushing it over her shoulder as she tries to figure out what it is that her friend is talking about. It’s Ben’s turn to grumble as he takes in the trees and moves to point them out to Sam.
“That orchid Ginge…what orchid did you think I was talking about?” he demands as realization passes over Sam’s face and a bright smile covers the giggle that is fighting to get out. “Oi, now what are you on about with that smile?”
Sam is nearly doubling up with laughter and is unable to speak clearly as she flings her hand up to point at the trees. “Are you saying…THAT is the orchid?” she asks between gulps of air. Ben nods and crosses his arms over his chest as Sam lays a hand on one arm. “Ben darlin’ that ain’t no orchid.”
“If you are so smart assed…what is it then?” he returns with a raised eyebrow.
“If I had to guess, I would say it is an apple orchard,” replies Sam. “An orchid is a flower…those are trees. So it is an orchard, not orchid.”
“You say potato, I say vodka,” grumbles Ben good naturedly. Putting a friendly arm over the shoulder of Sam, he turns her towards the house. “So, I hear that you are making a comeback to SCW Ms Bombshell Roulette champion.”
Sam nods with her hands in her pockets once more. “Yeah, got the call from Mark Ward but I am not sure that Christian Underwood will be happy with me coming back. But I can’t help wanting to come back after all, I fought so hard to keep my career in the company after what Monte and Cyn put me through,” offers Sam with a slight shrug.
“The dragon aint coming back with ya is she?” asks Ben with a shocked look of fear before he strikes a superman pose and which once more sets Sam off into giggles. “WHAT!?!”
“You ain’t gonna believe this but last I heard the drag…I mean Cyn up and eloped,” offers Sam only to be interrupted by Ben who holds up a hand.
“You are telling me that dragon lady found someone to put up with her?” ask the Cockney in disbelief. “Who had the deathwish?”
“Believe it or not, Daddy said it was Monte,” mutters Sam which has Ben leaning in close.
“Can ya say that again Sam? I can’t believe my ears. I thought I heard you say it was Monte,” responds Ben with a laugh. “You must be barmy yeah?”
Sam sighs before shaking her head in the negative. “I wish I was but nah, the pair are as thick as thieves now and Moms is totally loving them. There go the holidays I guess.”
“interesting turn of events if you ask me,” offers Ben. “Just means you can come and celebrate with Nan and me.”
“I’d love that Ben, she’s a darlin’,” replies the redhead as she moves towards the house where the car is in the drive. “But right now, it is too early in the year for those thoughts. Only thinking about the SCW return and the fact that I need to get back into shape. And for that, I gotta head back to Vegas asap. There is a certain fox I need to talk to. So, think we are ready to head back to civilization?”
“Let’s find Jamie in this place and we can go. Although I am sure he is already trying to match the carpets with the drapes or some such nonsense,” jokes Ben as he and Sam move to enter the house calling Jamie’s name.
Days later, Sam wanders into the Staggs Dungeon where she spies a young girl resting in a wheelchair near the ring as she talks to a familiar person perched on the ring apron. Neither have seen the redhead in quite a while but a low whistle escapes the woman on the ring apron and a smile crosses her face.
“Well look what the wind blew in,” offers Vixen Staggs as she lightly leaps down off the ring apron as Eden spins the wheelchair around with a giggle as she responds with “Don’t you mean look what the cat dragged in? Mommie Vixen?”
“Sweetie, that’s a record by the band Poison ma cherie,” answers Vixen who is wearing her regular gear of tights and a Spike tee tied off around her midriff.
Sam looks around at the gym and only sees youngsters training and none of the other Staggs anywhere. “Hey Vix, came back to get some training in seeing as I am making a return to the ring.”
Vixen gives Sam a disbelieving look. “You signed with what company?” she asks. “I thought that with SCW closing you were going to be going back to school and finishing up with your masters.”
Sam ducks her head and runs a hand through her hair to pull it back into a high ponytail. “I’m coming back to SCW,” she mumbles around the hair tie as she pulls her hair back then taking the tie, secures it in one long curl.
“Hahahaha…look at you being funny Sam,” says Vixen as she shares a look with Eden. “Sin City Wrestling closed its doors after Full Circle.”
“Actually Mommie Vixen,” Eden says as she rolls closer. “SCW is reopening…I heard it from O’Malley who also is wrestling there. He said it was opening with the Blast from the Past tournament. Hey Sam, did you sign up for the tournament?”
The young girls enthusiasm gives Sam a chance to offer a wide grin as Vixen just looks at her and shakes her head. “So you are back in SCW? Do you think that is a good idea? After all, last we saw, Christian Underwood, Cyn and Monte were out to take your career away.”
Sam has the grace to blush and nod. “But I saved my career by beating Cyn and at Full Circle I won back the Bombshell Roulette championship. Mark Ward called me up and he said he wanted to bring me back to defend the title and be part of SCW and you know how I love me a challenge like the Blast from the Past.”
All right Sam, if you say so. Which means that I guess you are here for a couple of beatings or so to get ready. Allons-y!” exclaims Vixen as she points to the ring. Sam knows the drill and heads towards the ring and rolls inside as Vixen moves towards it and Eden rolls to the timekeeper table.
Setting her Ipad down, Eden rings the bell as Vixen has rolled into the ring and gets to her feet. The two bombshells begin to circle in the ring as Eden reaches for the Ipad and begins to record the session.
After a half an hour, Sam holds up a hand as she doubles over breathing heavily. “How in the hellfire have you been beating me so much…Ain’t you retired Vix?” demands Sam as she drops to the canvas and rolls out of the ring. Moving towards a rather battered cooler, she opens it and pulls out a water and holds it up in offer for Vixen who nods yes and moves to lean against the ropes.
“Just because I am not in the ring every week doesn’t mean you lose your skills. I still get in the ring and spar and I am still teaching the youngsters that come here looking for training,” begins Vixen as she reaches between the ropes for the bottle of water that Sam is holding out. “Besides, I have to keep in shape to chase after the twins.”
Sam looks around. “Speaking of which, where are those little darlin’s?”
Vixen laughs. “Darling little devils you mean? They are with their father at their swimming lessons. And Eden is here to help me with some files we need to put together aren’t we petite?”
Eden nods before a beep sounds on the Ipad in her lap. Looking down, she can see that there is a twitter post from SCW. She picks up the Ipad waving for Sam and Vixen to join her. “They are announcing the teams for Blast from the Past. Who do you want to team with Sam?”
“If I had to choose I would probably say Ben given that he is one of my best friends but anyone in the tournament would make a great partner,” offers Sam diplomatically as the first team is announced and her name isn’t mentioned.
Suddenly another ding sounds as the second team is revealed. Sam’s eyes widen when she hears that she is partnered with Caleb Storms. Vixen can see the look in Sam’s eyes and pats her on the back. “Hey, anyone in the tournament will be a great partner, right?” offers Vixen
“That’s right…” replies Sam as she and Eden and Vixen continue to watch the draws. After all sixteen teams have been revealed, Sam straightens and offers Vixen a look. “Shall we dance once more?” sjhe teases which only brings a laugh to Vixen as Sam rolls in the ring.
“Only if you think you can handle it,” jokes Vixen as she climbs into the ring to face Sam before locking up with her as the bell is rung by Eden.
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Sitting on the trunk of her beat up green Chevy, Sam has the winds sending tendrils of red curls framing her face. Dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a halter under a light varsity jacket, Sam is relaxing against the windshield and looking up at the stars in the sky in the middle of nowhere where the lights of the city couldn’t hide the twinkling stars. Watching the night sky and a streak of light that races across the heavens, Sam begins to speak as if she is talking to herself but there is a camera mounted to the side where a small red light is flashing…
“Who would have thought it. Sin City Wrestling making a return after Full Circle. And not just a return, a return with a Blast…a Blast from the Past. How ironic to think that the one place that everyone thought was done, rises like a phoenix from the ashes and starts things off with the most iconic tournament to ever grace a wrestling federation. “
Sam turns to look at the camera and offers it a smile and motions like she is about to reveal many secrets.
“When I got that call from Mark Ward about making a return to SCW, I will admit, I seriously thought that I wouldn’t be coming back. See I started back at school with all intents of making a go of it now that SCW was closed but then my phone rang, Mark Ward was telling me that SCW was back and do you know how long it took me to think about what I wanted to do? Let me tell you that was the longest two minutes of my life if I am honest. See soon as he told me that SCW was back, all it took was the idea of getting back in that ring and giving it my all once more. After that thought, nothing was going to come between me and what I consider my destiny and that is SCW.”
“Don’t get me wrong, there is some heck of a bunch of bombshells in the company that everyone would give their left…arm to face in the company and the majority are in the Blast from the Past including yours truly, the Bombshell Roulette champion.”
Sam smiles as if she can hear the comments of the fans of SCW at the moment.
“I can hear what you are thinking. You think ‘why are ya coming back Sam?’ What do you have to prove? Let me tell you what I have to prove.”
Sam rises up slowly to turn to face the camera, her hand brushing into her hair as she leans against the windshield, her varsity jacket open slightly to reveal her shirt.
“I am coming back to prove once and for all I have what it takes to get back to the top of the bombshells. Right now I have the Bombshell Roulette title and a tag partner for this Blast from the Past tournament and the desire to win it all. Last year I made it all the way to the finals in the BFTP and I came real close to tasting the win and getting my shot at the Bombshell title which I have held before and will hold again. But I missed it by that much…”
Sam holds her index finger an inch away from her thumb and offers a smile at the camera.
“Now most of you people out there had your fingers crossed that a Ben and Sam team up was in the cards and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping for that too but this year I am teaming up with Caleb Storms and from what I hear, he is a heckuva competitor. So Caleb, nice ta meet ya and good luck to us in the tournament. But as much as I want to talk to you about my partner, I am afraid that I have to talk about something that is about to get real.”
Sam looks into the distance again mesmerized by a shooting star before she speaks once more.
“So new start and new opponent. But this is an opponent that everyone seems to make out to be the big bad. Raynin of the Fallen is one helluva wrestler. I have seen what she is capable of and I have a healthy dose of respect for her. But that begs the question, does she have the same for me?”
“Y’all see, I am the current Bombshell Roulette champion and as such, I am prepared for anything that could happen in the ring, outside of the ring…in the back or if need be, anywhere in that arena or out that I need to defend myself or this title.”
Sam holds up the Bombshell Roulette title with what looks like a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Raynin, you don’t know me very well but if you ask anyone you would know that I don’t know some things when it comes to wrestling. Things like I don’t know when to quit, I legit don’t know when to stop and I especially don’t know what my limits are. You see you may think that I am a nothing in that ring, or worse, that I am your next victim. Maybe I am but question is do you think I am? Because I have to tell you Raynin, just when you think you have made me your victim is when you will take the biggest fall…see what I did there?”
Sam can’t help but chuckle as she once more looks into the camera lens.
“Never say die, I used to think that described my philosophy in the ring and you know what Raynin, that is the best advice I could give myself. And it works actually. I mean I get into that ring and I literally will give my life for the fans. I will bleed when I need to and I will overcome any obstacle put in front of me.”
“I guess at Climax Control number two hundred and one, that obstacle is you Raynin. My next question has to be, do I go over you in this tournament or through you? Given the fact that this is a mixed match tag team and I am teamed up with Caleb Storms and we are facing you and Nick Steen, a rookie who seems to be real enthusiastic to be in the ring, I think this is going to come down to you and me. And when it does, I have to tell you Raynin, I got mad respect for you and what you can do. But I have even madder respect for me and my skills.”
Sam adjusts her relaxed pose once more and lays the belt over her hip.
“I want to tell you something Raynin. Between you and me, I’m a fan of yours. I know I talk a great game and all but a little part of me in that ring will be fangirling it up and believe you me, I will enjoy it for sure so thank you for giving me a fight to remember on the return of SCW. But the rest of me, the ninety nine percent of Sam Marlowe that is going to beat the holy Hannah out of you on Climax Control, she’s more than a fan, she is an equal. So bring what you got Raynin, bring your Nick Steen and I will bring Caleb Storms. You bring your little entourage that you can’t seem to live without and I will bring the fans…you know, the ones that drive me to win in the ring with their cheers…you bring your Fallen attitude and I will bring the fire and fury of one Samantha Marlowe, Bombshell Roulette champion and may the best woman win Sunday.”
With that, Sam slides down the trunk of the car as her feet hit the desert sand. Walking to the camera, she leans down and offers it a kiss before pressing the button to stop the recording. Packing up the camera, Sam tosses the bag into the backseat of the Chevy before sliding inside and starting the engine.
The last thing seen is Sam reaching for the radio as Champion by Carrie Underwood begins to blare into the night as the red taillights fade off into the distance.
