[Sam Marlowe]

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“All play and no work makes Sam Marlowe a straight C student.”

The comment floats in the air of the small hotel room where Sam Marlowe can be seen, a pair of dark grey lulumon yoga pants riding low on her hips with a rather worn hoodie over a black midriff shirt.  In front of her is an open laptop with a pile of books around it. Pulling her bare foot up to rest on the rather cheap looking chair, she reaches across to press play on a youtube playlist.  Suddenly Todrick Hall’s voice can be heard while she pulls a book towards her.

Intent on the page, the ringing of a skype call is ignored for a moment by Sam.  Suddenly the ringing of the phone beside the laptop joins the ringing of the skype call which Sam looks towards but then rolls her eyes as she reaches over to pause the music then taps answer on Skype.  The window of the caller opens to reveal Cyn Marlowe who can be seen smirking at her sister.

“Y’all took long enough to answer Sammi.  If I didn’t know better, I would say you are trying to avoid talking to me,” snarls Cyn in a sickly sweet voice that makes Sam cringe.  The sneer on Cyn’s face widens to a smile as the leans towards the window.  â€œSo I thought that I would call and talk to you about the Blast for the Past tournament and the utter delight of you teaming with your little friend Benny.”

Sam takes a slow breath as she runs her tongue across suddenly dry lips that taste faintly of vanilla.  â€œThanks I think,” she offers while raising one eyebrow before pulling her other foot up to the chair and leaning one elbow on the table and letting her chin rest against her hand.  â€œSo how are things in Houston?” asks Sam.

Cyn sighs as if speaking about it tires her out.  â€œIt is just dreadfully boring if you must know Sammi.  I mean I am here with nothing to do because Daddy and Mother are on their little vacation to…well somewhere they wanted to go.  I think they said it was Jamaica or Japan or something that started with J,” answers Cyn.  â€œI wasn’t paying attention when Daddy said where they were going.  But I was paying attention when he told me about you and what you have been up to in Sin City Wrestling.  Did you really let Christian Underwood do that to you, a Marlowe?  Samantha Annalise Marlowe, how dare you let yourself be degraded like that?”

“Listen Cyn, it isn’t a problem anymore.   Besides, Christian Underwood is my boss and well not doing what he said would have voided my contract,” replies Sam.  

“You should have quit right then and there!” exclaims Cyn, her hands slapping out of sight on her table top.  Sam once more cringes at the violence of the response.  Cyn leans back and brushes her hands over her hair to smooth it down and then smiles once more.  â€œOh I forgot who I was talking to for a second there.  Well since it is in the past, let’s just let it go shall we?”

“Yeah we shall,” says Sam.  â€œSo since we have gotten that out of the way, could I maybe get back to work on this report I am working on.  I have training I still have to get done and I already gave myself a day away from working on it.”

“Silly Sammi, I can’t let you do that because we have so much to talk about considering that I have the wedding to plan and my fiancé is being sooo difficult so I need someone to help me,” pouts the redhead in the window which makes Sam sigh.  â€œI know you would help me Sam, I have NO ONE else.”

“But I thought…”

“You do that too much Sammi.  Think that is,” offers Cyn.  â€œI just want you to listen and let me deal with this situation!”

Sam lowers her head and begins to nod slightly.  â€œOkay Cyn, what are you needing to get off your chest?”  With her head still in her hand, Sam moves the book she had been reading into her lap and she glimpses down at it as Cyn begins to speak.   Every few moments, Sam looks up and nods as if trying to understand what Cyn is saying before looking back into the pages.  Getting drawn into the play, Sam is surprised by a shriek in her headset from Cyn.  

“Sam, I just told you that I need someone to pay attention to me!” snaps Cyn.  â€œIf Mother were here, she would make you listen to me.“

“You know what Cyn, you are right, if Moms were here she would make me talk to you but since she isn’t…” says Sam with a smile as she reaches for the mouse pad of the laptop only to have Cyn stop her with a raised eyebrow and finger.  Sam pauses for only a moment then swipes on the laptop.  â€œAs much as I would love to stay and chat, I have a match to get ready for and need to get this report started.  So I am gonna say good…”

Cyn interrupts Sam as she is talking.  â€œWhy don’t you talk to me about your match Sam.  Who are you facing and please don’t say talk about that jacka…”

“Cyn, don’t talk about Ben like that, he is my friend and I won’t stand for it,” warns Sam as she glares at her sister who holds up her hands in mock surrender.

“Okay okay, I’ll not say another word about that person,” says Cyn with an eyeroll.  â€œSo who are you facing in the first round?”

Sam puts the book from her lap onto the table and then focuses on Cyn who appears to be listening intently.  â€œWell, I am facing Remi and someone called Jordan Williams.  Ben says that Jordan taught him a lot about wrestling and that he won this thing before and that we will have a good match against the pair.  Guess I don’t have to really worry about Jordan Williams, he is Ben’s problem but I have to face Remi and she is a tag team wrestler already.  But lately she and her sister haven’t really been doing well in the tag ranks so I think that I might have a shot at beating her although I am probably rusty from not wrestling too much lately yanno.”

Sam had taken her eyes off Cyn as she spoke, her focus moving to the faded flowery curtains of the hotel.  On the screen, Cyn can be seen to lean back and pull a nail file into view, sawing it softly across well-manicured fingernails in a lazy fashion before pushing her hand out of view to check on it as she mutters ‘mmhmm’ to Sam’s comments.   “So this Remi, is she any good?” Cyn mutters as she begins to file her nails again.

“Gosh yeah, I guess you could say she is pretty good.  I mean she has been not winning as much as I am sure that she would like to but Doc says she is good and I trust him.”

“And just who is Doc?” demands Cyn.

“Oh that’s Ryan Keys,” admits Sam as she offers a smile to the computer.  â€œHe’s another friend of mine in SCW.  I think that he and Remi might be ummm…well according to twitter they appear to be very…close,” says Sam with uncertainty.  â€œEither way, I am going to have to really be prepared for this match.  I can’t let Ben down you know.”

“Of course you can’t,” replies Cyn.  â€œAfter all don’t you remember what happened with your partner last year Sammi.  Wasn’t it you that cost Rage the match and his shot at the Heavyweight title?  And I am sure that Benny wouldn’t want to lose out on his shot either.  But we both know that when you get into matches where it is going to count, you choke don’t you?  You did it last year and I am hoping that you won’t let that affect you going into this year’s tournament.”

Cyn can see the effect of her comments as she watches the smile on Sam’s face fade with each word which only makes Cyn’s smile widen.  Suddenly, Cyn straightens as a phone ringer can be heard.  She looks at the Iphone 7 she pulls into view and then with an apologetic look at Sam, she waves the phone.  â€œI have to take this Sammi…we’ll talk again soon.”

Without saying good bye, Cyn can be seen to reach across and close the chat window and the sound of Skype shutting can be heard.  Sam glares at the screen in disbelief as she reaches to her own mousepad and closes the skype window.  Snarling slightly to herself as she mumbles about Cyn just trying to get under her skin, Sam pulls her books towards her and flips the top one open.  Trying to get into it, Sam tries to breathe normally but anger tenses her body and finally explodes as she slams the book closed and then tosses it across the room.

“That’s it, day is ruined, might as well work some of this anger off,” says Sam as she makes her way to her feet.  Moving to her suitcase, she pulls out a pair of socks and sits herself down on the bed to pull them on and stands to slide her feet into a pair of running shoes that are laying on the floor in front of the television.

Locking the computer, she reaches down to the rather worn bag that was resting against the table leg.  Pulling it up, she moves towards the small in room refrigerator and pulls it open to grab a bottle of water from it and then with a slam, closes it and moves to the door.  Opening it, she steps outside the motel room and towards the rental car sitting there as the door closes and locks behind her.  She gives the car a look then shrugs as she pulls the bag’s straps over her shoulders and begins to look around before setting off at a slow jog along the pavement of the sidewalk.

About twenty minutes later, Sam pulls open the door of the arena where she can see activity happening where the ring crew can be seen to be setting up the six sided ring.  Moving along the hallway, she finds the work out area where she stops and looks around.  The mats are barely set out as well as any weights or machines that could offer her any challenge.  Angrily she sets down her bag and stuff her hands into the pockets of her hoodie as she kicks at the mat.

From the sound room nearby, Pussy Willow can be seen walking out with her cameraman who she is talking to softly.  A rather colorful comment catches her attention, the southern accent making it sound refined which draws a laugh from Pussy who pats the cameraman’s shoulder and motions him to go on as she redirects her feet towards the redhead standing there, hands in pockets.

“Sam, what are you doing here?” asks Pussy with a look of surprise on her face as Sam turns with a growl.  â€œAren’t you supposed to be getting ready to write that report you were telling me about?”

“Hey Pussy, have to admit, my mind isn’t on the report right now.  Hell I could chew nails thanks to Cyn and her call earlier,” answers Sam with a snort of anger.  Pussy nods sagely as she pats Sam on the shoulder.  â€œSo here I am looking to do some working off of my anger and not a heavybag anywhere to be seen.”

Pussy looks around the room as Sam motions.  All she can see is the mats.  Moving to stand in front of Sam, she gives her friend a look and then jerks her head towards the middle of the room.  â€œI ain’t a heavybag but I can hold up my hands and you can shadow box if that will help,” she offers only to have Sam shake her head.  

“Sorry but I would be afraid to hit you Pussy,” says Sam.   “I guess I will just run off my anger.  Besides, I have to go and do some studying once my mind clears…”

Pussy moves closer as she puts her hands on the shoulders of Sam who lets her voice fade away.  â€œI have got a better idea Sammi…I’m here and you are here and well what better way to work out your feelings that by doing an interview with yours truly,” says Pussy with a satisfied smirk.  â€œI promise that you can say whatever it is you want and we can edit it later.  Ooo and why don’t we do it in a sit down at the announce table at ringside?  Say yes!”

Pussy’s enthusiasm begins to break through the shell of anger as Sam looks back towards the ringside area and then at her friend.  â€œAren’t they busy setting up the ring?”

“Of course they are but the crew will be more than willing to let us have the ringside area since union rules say that have to have a fifteen minute break right about now.  So let’s go and we can get this done then you can go back to doing your studying or whatever it is you need to do tonight.  Come on,” answers Pussy as she turns Sam and points her towards the arena bowl where the workmen can be seen putting up the ring.  The two women move into the arena and down to ringside where the announce table can be seen, empty for the most part as the ring techs give the two a strange look.  Pussy smiles at them and then jerks her thumb in the direction of the catering table.  â€œBreak time boys!” she offers with a smile.  â€œTell em Pussy sent ya and grabs some drinks from the truck.”

The crew give Pussy and Sam a thumbs up and the group of guys heads up the ramp towards the back as Pussy perches herself on Belinda’s seat while Sam leans against the ring apron.  Pussy crosses her legs and leans towards her friend.  â€œOk Sammi, let’s chat,” she says.

Sam gives Pussy a look and then smiles slowly.  â€œAnd what shall we ‘chat’ about?” she returns.

“Let’s see, tell me about how you felt when your name was put into the tournament,” offers the interviewer.  â€œYou accused Ben of punking you and that was hilarious!”

Sam brings both hands up to her face to hide her embarrassment which only makes Pussy laugh harder.  â€œOh em gee Pussy, why would y’all bring that up.  Only lucky thing is that Ben ain’t bringing it up anymore.  I couldn’t believe it when I found out.  I mean I was on the sh…bad books of Christian Underwood and there weren’t any ways I was going to get off of ‘em I thought.  But Mr Mark Ward named me to the tournament and y’all could have knocked me over with a feather when I realized that it was true that I was gonna be in the tournament this year and with Ben Jordan as my partner.”

“I gotta ask Sam,” says Pussy as she looks around the empty area where they were.  â€œAre you happy to be teaming with Ben or would anyone have been an okay partner?”

Sam waggles a finger at Pussy who gives her a ‘who me’ look that only makes Sam shake her head.  â€œBefore you say anything else, you know that I had no intentions of being in the tournament until I was named to it but now that I am, you have to say that I really got the luck of the draw to so speak.  Looking at everyone that signed up for the Blast from the Past, teaming with Ben is the best possible partner to have to go all the way.  We are friends and there ain’t anyone else I would like to team with in the tournament…well except maybe Jamie Dean or Ryan Keys.”

“Speaking of Ryan Keys, you are facing his girl Remi on Sunday for the bombshell side of the match,” says Pussy.  â€œDo you think that will be a problem or do you think you won’t have to worry much about her?”

“I am sure that Ryan has probably told Remi that I am someone that she needs to be worried about.  After all, he’s a good friend too but I am pretty sure that he is going to be cheering for both of us and if it were me, I would be for sure,” says Sam as she once more leans against the apron.  â€œThat is something you really have to be careful of when you are involved with coworkers I suppose.  Good thing I don’t have to worry about that huh?”

“True,” offers Pussy.  â€œBut I need to tell you that Remi isn’t the only one that you guys will need to look out for.  She’s had her partner replaced with Jordan Williams and he was the first superstar to win the inaugural Blast from the Past.”

“Yeah, I don’t know who that is and well I am pretty sure that Ben knows who it is and what he is going to have to do to beat him.  That is why I am putting my trust in Ben for his part of this team.”

“Are you saying you don’t always have faith in your partner?” inquires Pussy with a waggle of her eyebrows.

“I will always have faith Pussy,” returns Sam without really answering the question.  â€œBut let me say this, I ain’t going to let anyone down this time.  This time, I am going to go all the way to the finals and win.”

Ms Willow smiles as she slides off the table as she sees the crew coming back.  â€œWell I guess our girl talk time is done so do you feel any better?”

Sam takes a long slow breath and lets it go slowly.  â€œYou know what, yeah, I do feel better.  Thanks Pussy.”  Sam straightens and moves away from the ring apron to join her friend as the pair of them walk away from the ringside area before disappearing behind the curtain where the crew had returned from.  The pair makes it back to the hallway and stop near the doors to the outside.  Sam reaches down to the bag that she had left there and put it over her shoulder.  With a final smile for her friend, Sam pushes at the door’s handle and opens it to the outside before offering a quick wave and walks through it to let it slam behind her.

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Sam Marlowe is Live…

Hello to all of you and let me just say that I can’t wait for this year’s Blast from the Past.  As you know, last year I made it to the semi finals of this tournament only to lose.  This year I am looking forward to going all the way and winning this thing.  

Now I am sure that all of you are chattering about the fact that I wasn’t even supposed to be in this thing and that I am just a lucky lil cowgirl that gets to once more try out her luck in the tournament by the grace of God…or Mark Ward as the case may be.  And I would have to say you are right, I am lucky but I also know that you make your own luck which is what I am fixin’ to do on Sunday.

Another stroke of luck is being teamed with one of my best friends here in Sin City Wrestling, Ben Jordan.  What can I say about that, oh gosh, lots.  I mean there are those that are saying that Ben and I are the dream team for this event and that we stand the best chance to win it all.   If I was someone that brags about things, I would definitely say we are the team to beat.  

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  This is just the first round and I don’t want to jinx it by saying that we will be the ones to win.  I am going to focus on the matches round by round with each one the only thing that I need to worry about.  But that also means that I am going to consider each match in each round as if it is the finals of the Blast from the Past.  

I say that because each team that is entered in the tournament could potentially be the winners on skill alone and if I let my cockiness let me not push myself, then hell, I don’t deserve to be in the tournament.  And you can be dang sure that I ain’t going to let Ben down.  Not this week and not ever.

Speaking of this week, Ben and I are facing Jordan Williams and Remi from Team Technicolor.  And in the tournament, it is superstar against superstar and bombshell against bombshell so I am not the one that has to deal with Jordan Williams even though I know that Ben has a past with him from what I hear, Ben is going to be giving his all.

So that leave Remi and I and I want to talk directly to her about this week.  Remi, as much as you and I don’t know each other very well as we have run in different circles I have to admit that you are a helluva wrestler.  And that means that I am going to have to step up my game to counter the fact that you have wrestled more recently than I have and that I have some ring rust to knock off.  But don’t you worry, I am ready willing and able to do that.  

Most others would be tearin’ y’all down Remi.  And I know that I have to do what needs being done to win the match but that doesn’t mean that I can be disrespectful of you.  You and I are both very capable in that ring and when we face each other across that ring, will you think that I will be thinking that you aren’t going to be a challenge?  

You are definitely going to prove to be a challenge but I like challenges and I am looking forward to stepping in the ring with you.  But I am also looking forward to winning this match and moving on to round two just as I am sure you are.  I am going to say though that as much as you want to win, I want it just that little bit more.  

So Remi, let me just say this…Good luck to you and Jordan because between the four of us, we are going to light up the night and when we are finished and the dust settles, you still have my respect.  And I offer this right now, when Ben and I win, know that you gave us a fight that I won’t ever forget.

I’ll see you Sunday night in the ring Remi.

Live feed is over