Issue #64: "Friends"
{It’s the post CC events from Doha. Roxi sits in her locker room dejected, as Keira enters, slams the door, and punches the wall in frustration.}
Keira – I told you she wasn’t being honest! I told you!
Roxi – Kiera! Enough!
Keira – This is so stupid. Now she stole the title. Now she’s laughing at us. She backstabbed us like Amanda did!
Roxi – I said that’s enough, Keira! You let your temper get the best of you tonight. We didn’t even need to be here!
{Keira gets wide-eyed, and even angrier than before.}
Keira – Are you saying this is MY fault?
Roxi – I told you, to let me handle this, I begged you, to let me handle it! And you couldn’t control yourself for one week!
Keira – SHE BETRAYED US! She’s played us for fools for a month straight. I told you, right after she attacked the first time, that this was who she was. And you didn’t want to believe me!
Roxi – I didn’t want to believe you, because I wanted to give Amy the benefit of the doubt, and not rush to conclusions!
Keira – And look at the situation now!
{Roxi looks up at Keira, angry at first, but then she turns away from Keira, and her head drops. Keira takes a moment to compose herself, licks her lips and sighs.}
Keira – I… I’m sorry. I know that… I screwed up by trying to attack Amy. We both have had our share of rotten luck recently. I think this whole Amy thing is just… It’s was so shocking and overwhelming that… we’ve lost track of everything.
Roxi – ….
Keira – And, I can’t stand it when someone hurts you. I’ve seen it too many times. And NOBODY hurts you. I will make sure nobody ever hurts you, ever again!
Roxi – Keira, I’m not a child! I can take care of myself!
Keira – I know but –
Roxi – No, Keira. I know you mean well. I do. But this is something I have to deal with on my own. I asked you to let me deal with this, and I meant it.
Keira – I will not stand by and watch someone do this to you!
Roxi – It’s too late. The match is me, and Amy, and you are barred from ringside.
Keira – I…. Barred?!
Roxi – Yes. I told you that this was my fight, not yours. Now, I’m going to deal with it.
{Roxi sighs, looking at her bags on the floor. She stands up, brushing her hair out of her face, she looks over at Keira, a blank look on her face.}
Roxi – Come on, let’s go.
Keira – Roxi…
Roxi – I said let’s go Keira. We’ve had more than enough trouble come our way tonight. I don’t want anymore.
{Keira can only look on at Roxi grabs her bags and begins to leave. Keira hurriedly grabs hers, and walks out.}
I never want to think that my trust is misplaced. For a long time, I believed that Amy Marshall was my friend. I believed that she was genuine is her love for me and my wife. I guess I was still in a state of shock last week. I didn’t want to believe that Amy Marshall was that person who would simply use my trust and love against me. And use it she did. First, she uses the lights out move to hide her movements, then she apologizes, not meaning a word she said, and attacks me again. Heck, I apologized for Keira’s anger, I didn’t want any revenge before I knew what kind of person Amy truly was.
I have always believed Amy to be a good person. I was one of her biggest fans. And this is what happens to someone who is a friend of Amy Marshall. You get turned on, when you have something she wants. This whole time, I believed that this was not simply about a championship belt. All because Amy Marshall wants to be remembered. It’s not enough I guess that she’s a triple crown winner, it’s not enough that Amy’s one of the standout bombshells, she’s already earned a spot when it comes to being a top bombshell on anyone’s list for crying out loud. No, Amy’s need to be something important has apparently poisoned her mind so much so that she would attack me, instead of just asking for a championship match.
Because that’s all she ever needed to do. Had she simply come to the ring like Jessie did a few months ago, and say, hey, Roxi, give me a title shot, or, I want a match for that bombshell’s internet championship and I would have gladly accepted. Not only because Amy is my friend, not only because she’s a great wrestler, and a great challenge, but because she’s earned it. But no. Amy Marshall decided that sneak attacking me at every turn was the way to get what she wanted. It makes me even sadder because Amy’s good enough that she didn’t need to do this. If she believes she’s got some kind of psychological edge now, she’s dead wrong. The reason I have been silent on social media, and let her trash me as much as she wants, is to maybe try and open her eyes and look at the person she’ become. People are changing left and right around here and it just makes me sad. Sad because this could have all been avoided, but Amy Marshall wanted to take it down this path. And so now, she’s going to have to deal with the harsh consequences that come from it.
{Inside Roxi and Keira’s hotel room, Roxi plops her bag down, and sits on the bed kicking off her shoes. Keira also puts her bag down and sits on the bed, as she looks at Roxi, who turns towards the window. Keira reaches out to touch Roxi, but pulls back.}
Keira – Are you…. Still mad at me?
Roxi – No.
Keira – I’m sorry. You know how I get.
Roxi – I said I wasn’t mad.
Keira – You can’t hide it from me. I know you. I’m sorry I got you title stolen.
Roxi – You didn’t. I did. Please, let’s not discuss this anymore.
Keira – I let you down.
{Roxi can’t help but turn back to Keira, and hug her as tears start flowing from Keira.}
Roxi – Hey… listen to me. I know how protective you are of me. And it hurts me too that Amy would do this. I may not have said anything, but yeah, it hurts me too. I know I said we’d take care of everything, and we’d face any problem together, but this one, this one is mine.
{Keira wipes away the tears from her face and sniffles.}
Keira – I was… just doing what you would do.
Roxi – What I would do?
Keira – If someone tried to hurt me…. You would protect me.
Roxi – Someone would have to kill me to hurt you again.
Keira – That’s how I felt. Especially since it was someone like Amy. I felt so… betrayed. I felt so angry. I just… I lost my cool, and I’m sorry. I hate seeing you hurt.
Roxi – I’m mad too, Keira. Probably more mad than you are. I cannot, express to you how angry I am at this whole thing. I never wanted something like this to happen. Never. I never expected it. But more than anything, more than anything in this world, what I want is for you to be safe, and no be drug into anything because of me. I never want you to have to fight my battles for me. Even though I know you would, and I would do just the same for you.
Keira – I know. I just… was just so sick to my stomach from what happened. And to see you, not really respond, I… I thought maybe she had gotten to you…
Roxi – No Keira, Amy just made me mad. But if her stealing the championship makes her feel like she accomplished something, then so be it. She’s the one who has to live with that. There are far more important things in my life, than a championship belt. She didn’t beat me for it, she simply stole it. And I’m going to get it back at Into the Void. I promise.
Keira – I know you will.
Roxi – So, let’s not waste any more time arguing or talking about the past. We’ve got more important things to do this week. But let’s start by getting some rest, okay?
Keira – Okay.
{Roxi and Keira share a kiss, as the scene fades.}
I’m going to address one Tim Staggs since he’s another in a long line of people who believe that I am fake. That I am no sincere in my hopes that people have good days, or I don’t really care if anyone has a good night, and that I am, apparently, obsessed with sex. And of course, that’s not true at all. I wouldn’t say things for the attention. I don’t do things, simply to get noticed. I’ve seen hundreds of times that I am the lucky one because my friends allow me to be in their lives. I have been invited to weddings and parties and all that, because I am a friend to people. I have never expected gratitude or appreciation for anything I’ve done or said. That’s what being a hero is all about. It’s the job that’s the reward. But apparently, like so many others, Tim Staggs believes I only do this for the attention. Because Tim doesn’t know me, or what I do, or simply doesn’t care to remember. It wasn’t long ago that Tim was cheering me on. He may think anyone remembers it, but I do. Tim Staggs was rooting for me to punch Delia in the face, just for him. I know that for a fact. But because Tim has adopted this new persona, everyone seems to be fake to him. I was there trying to talk his mother out of murdering people because of their manipulation of Tim, by them, to get to her. I didn’t do that, because I wanted Tim’s respect, or his mother’s friendship. I did it because it was the right thing to do. A concept that seems lost on some folks these days. But I digress, the point is, Tim believes me to be fake, because he doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know what I do for people that’s not all over twitter. He doesn’t know the people that I talk to, or what I do for them to help them in their time of need. So, I’m sorry to Tim for whatever it was I did to him, but I stand by who I am, and what I believe in. I am not fake, I have never been fake. I’m sorry you feel the way you do Tim, but that’s the truth.
Amy Marshall has proven herself to be fake. Much like Tim, his Mother, and everyone else I considered a friend, I supported Amy. I was her fan through and through. Even when she didn’t believe in herself, when she was being bested by the Mean Girls, I was there for her. I always told her she could beat them. And you know what, she did! She beat Delia. She succeeded where everyone else failed. And I was right there to offer my congratulations, love and support. Because that’s the kind of person I am. And low and behold, after all that, this is where we stand now. All because Amy Marshall, is a shallow person. I pity her at this point. I really do.
{We re-open inside of Roxi and Keira’s highrise condo, as Roxi slips her costume on, preparing for a patrol. Roxi makes it to the window, looking out as Keira stands in the doorway, a loaf of garlic-bread in her hand.}
Keira – Where are you going? Dinner’s almost ready!
Roxi – I’m going on patrol really quick, just a quick zip around the city, make sure everything is okay.
Keira – Just be quick, this baked pasta is almost done.
Roxi – I will. I promise. Love you!
{Roxi blows Keira a kiss before pulling her mask over her face and flying out the window. Roxi makes a quick lap checking for anything out of the ordinary. She sees nothing, but goes in closer as she makes laps around the downtown area. Finally, door on a rooftop swings open catching Roxi’s eye. She studies it for a moment, and lands near the door. The door shuts rapidly, as Roxi manages to toss a stone into the door to keep it wedged open just a crack. Roxi walks over, hearing the footsteps of someone running down the stairs. Roxi jerks the door open and gives chase, heading down the stairs, and seeing another door slam shut. Roxi runs over and opens that door, into a pitch black room. Reaching into her belt, she pulls out a flashlight. She can only make out a few feet in front of her, as she moves the flashlight about, unable to really make out anything.}
Voice – Hey!
{Roxi swings the flashlight in the direction of the voice, only to have a pail of water tosses her direction. Roxi stumbles and loses the flashlight, and then the sound of an electric buzz is heard, as Roxi feels the prongs touch her back as she’s shocked by a cattle prod! She groans and moans in pain as the water of her whizzes and crackles as her body convulses. Soon enough, she stops shaking, and moving altogether.}
Unknown Person – You should have investing in night vision…
{A short time later, Roxi is shown still out of it, tied to a chair, unmasked, and gagged. Her head is laying against the head of the chair, as the door opens in front of her. An unknown person walks in, a glass of water in their hand. }
Unknown Person – Wake up, sleeping beauty.
{The person tosses the water in Roxi’s face to wake her up. Startled, Roxi goes into a coughing fit and shakes the gag loose.}
Roxi – *Cough* What are you trying to do… drown me?
Unknown Person – I could have just killed you Roxi.
Roxi – How do you know…
{Roxi looks around and notices her predicament.}
Roxi – Well, that answers that question…. So, why didn’t you?
Unknown Person – Because…. I have a use for you…
{The person takes a step forward, into the light as Roxi’s eyes widen.}
Roxi – Claire!
Claire – Yes. You really need to learn to mind your surroundings. It was so easy to lure you in.
Roxi – What do you want?
Claire – Believe it or not, I actually need your help.
Roxi – I’ve been trying to help you for a long time Claire.
{Claire backhands Roxi across the face.}
Claire – I told you, we’re even for that, until I decide to kill you.
Roxi – Then what could you possibly need my help with?
Claire – I thought we were friends?
{Roxi shakes her head in disbelief.}
Roxi – You WERE my friend. I wish you still were my friend. But you came after me. You tried to kill me, you tried to kill my wife.
Claire – Because of what you did to me! But… but… I’m not here to drudge up the past.
Roxi – Then what is it?
Claire – One of your super skanky friends is messing around in my business.
Roxi – So?
Claire – You, are going to make sure she doesn’t find anything.
Roxi – Why should I do anything for you?
{Claire feigns heartbreak.}
Claire – Does our friendship mean nothing to you?
Roxi – You’re calling making me wait until you try to come and kill me a friendship? Harold poisoned your mind Claire. If you let me help you….
{Claire this just just slaps Roxi across the face.}
Claire – You are going to help me. That’s what friends do. You know, quid pro quo.
Roxi – How is this quid pro quo?
Claire – You help me, I help you.
Roxi – I know what it means, how are you helping me with any of this?
Claire – You do this for me, I don’t kill you.
Roxi – That’s not quid pro quo, that’s silver or lead.
Claire – Eh, they’re interchangeable. My best friend in the world isn’t going to let me down, is she? Once again?
{Roxi is stung by those remarks.}
Roxi – I’m sorry Claire. I can’t say it enough.
Claire – I don’t want your sorrow, or your pity. I want you to help me.
Roxi – I…. who are we talking about?
Claire – Some chick, in blue and white.
{Roxi’s eyes narrow.}
Roxi – Sapphire.
Claire – Yeah, that’s it. You know her?
Roxi – You could say that.
Claire – Aww…. You have juicy details?
{Claire gets real close, mocking Roxi by putting her hand up and cupping her ear.}
Claire – I love juicy details.
Roxi – Very funny. What the hell do you want me to do about it?
Claire – I’ve moved my operation out of the city. You keep her away from there, and we’ll be square.
Roxi – How am I supposed to do that? She and I aren’t friends of partners.
Claire – All the more reason for you to help me! I’m your friend, and she isn’t!
Roxi – You AREN’T my friend. You’re a lunatic that was once my best friend!
{Claire places her boot between Roxi’s legs on the chair, using it to push the chair back and forth.}
Claire – I could just kill you right now. And then go kill Keira, Your mother, your sister… and then JB, and Keira’s sisters. All of them.
Roxi – If you hurt them, I will –
Claire – So, you agree! Excellent!
{Claire takes her large hunting knife and undoes Roxi’s bonds.}
Claire – So, you do whatever it takes to keep Sapphire away from my operation on the west side of the outskirts of town, and I won’t kill you and everyone you love…. Right now…
Roxi – Ugh…..
{Roxi stands up, clutching each wrist, shaking them out.}
Roxi – Fine. I’ll do what I can.
Claire – I’m so happy!
{Claire gives Roxi a huge bear hug, and spins her around. After putting her down, Claire hands Roxi her mask, and then elbows Roxi in the ribs, and tosses her through the window.}
Claire – I’ll be in touch!
{Roxi stops herself in mid-air from falling too far, puts her mask back on and flies back home. Coming in through the window, it’s obviously later than she has promised. Keira is waiting in the kitchen, sitting at the table with a full plate sitting across from her.}
Keira – Did you get lost?
Roxi – No. I… I had….
{Keira arches a brow, clearly not wanting to hear Roxi’s excuse.}
Roxi – I got a little tied up is all. Met an old friend.
Keira – Oh, is that right?
Roxi – Keira, I’m really sorry. I…. I need to talk to you about this.
Keira – Tell it to the pasta and garlic bread!
{Keira gets up, furious as Roxi tries to explain. She makes her way into the bedroom.}
Roxi – Keira is was Claire!
{Keira stops, and turns back to Roxi with a look of disbelief on her face.}
Keira – Excuse me?
So now it comes to this for Amy Marshall. She has attacked me, taken advantage of me, and now, stolen my championship. I have been biding my time and really assessing this whole situation. That’s why I haven’t given Amy the “fight†she wants on twitter. I don’t need to say anything more about her, and the current situation. She has been able to one up me at every turn, and that, and I foolishly have allowed that. I trusted Amy Marshall to do the right thing. I trusted that Jessie would stay out of this, and I’m hoping it remains that way. I don’t want to have to deal with Jessie, but I know if Amy will stoop as low as to just steal my championship, then I’ll be looking out for Amy to try and use Jessie to get what she wants. It’s sad that it’s come to this. I expected so much more from Amy Marshall after all this time. And this is what I get for it. A back-stabbing, betraying thief.
I thought you were my friend Amy. I was wrong, and now, you have chosen to make yourself, my enemy. I don’t have many of them, but those that have put themselves on this level, they don’t really get off of it. There whole reason I have tried to be nice, and be understanding with people, is because I have a side I don’t like to show. I have a side that I don’t bring out in public. Keira knows that she pushes my buttons, but she knows not to push too far. This isn’t to sound intimidating, or tough, but you’ve pushed way too many buttons Amy, You put that knife in my back and I can never forgive you for it. So I want you to go ahead and take this championship everywhere with you. I want you to enjoy this week and next week. Go ahead and mock me all you like on social media and whatnot. Laugh it up with what few friends you have left. Because you will realize very quickly at Into the Void, once you look across the ring from me, and you look in my eyes…
I’m going to tear you apart.
You want a fight, you will get all the fight you want Amy. All the fight and then some. This is not going to be me, just beating you and taking my title back, this is not going to be just me putting you in your place and getting revenge for the past month. No, I’m going to prove a point at Into the Void. I’m going to prove that friend, or foe, it will take more than what you have to beat me. It will take more than anything you can dish out to take my internet championship. You may have it in your possession right now, but you know you’re not the champion, and as the week, turns into days, and as the days turn into hours until we meet, I just hope you realize how screwed you really are. Once that bell sounds, I will unleash all of my anger, frustration, and sadness onto you. All the pain you caused me, will come back to you ten-fold. That is what awaits you at Into the Void.
Then, when it’s all said and done, and I take back what’s rightfully mine, when I beat some sense into you in Dubai, I will stand up, look down at you, and despite all you’ve done. I will put my hand out to shake your hand. Despite you proving to be a horrible friend, and at this point a desperate person. I don’t hate you. I will be willing to forgive what you tried to accomplish here. I’m going to prove that I am better than you in the ring, and then better than you outside of it too. Because that’s the kind of person I am. But if you don’t want to accept that, if you still want to test me, then we can go from there. And Amy, I’m not sure that even you want to go there with me.
But we’ll cross that road when the bell rings and the match is over. For now, I just will wait patiently, bide my time until we hit Dubai, and then, as I told you Amy, it’s game on. And that will result, in you getting your pretty ass kicked by me. You didn’t break anything Amy, you simply poked the bear up from her slumber. And that’s a choice that you will sorely regret. It didn’t have to be this way Amy. This is what you wanted, so this is what you’re going to get.
Game. On.
