Immediately following her loss to Andrea Hernandez, all Bobbie could do was head backstage. Referee Jacob had tried to check on her, seeing if she was alright, but she simply rolled out of the ring and headed up the ramp, while Andrea celebrated in the ring.
People had tried to get her attention as she walked backstage. But she chose to ignore them all. She headed straight to where the locker rooms were set up and just wanted to gather her things. She had let it happen again. She had let herself get beat, and it was starting to drag her down all over again.
Once she makes it to the locker room, she doesn’t even bother changing out of her ring gear. She doesn’t want to be there any longer than she already had been. She walked over to her duffel bag, gathered up her things and tossed them in her bag before zipping it closed, and tossing the strap over her shoulder.
She heads out of the room only to bump into two of her favorite people, Fenris and Ty. Fenris takes one look at her, and her duffel bag, and glares at her.
Fenris: Where the hell are you going?!
Bobbie: Not tonight, Fen. I’m not in the mood!
He tries to take her duffel bag from her, but Ty holds his arm out and stops him, just as Bobbie pulls back to avoid the same.
Ty: Jan…
Fenris: What?! The show isn’t even over and she’s trying to leave!
Bobbie: What’s the big deal?! I need to be alone!
Fenris: Bullshit! You’re lost and you’re sulking. You don’t need to be by yourself at all!
Fenris grows more frustrated and Bobbie rolls her eyes. Ty, however, plays the middleman and tries to get Fenris to be a little nicer. If that is even possible.
Ty: Jan, let me handle this. You get too worked up, and that doesn’t help anything.
Fenris grumbles and mumbles something in Icelandic under his breath. Ty then turns to Bobbie, and tries to plead with her.
Ty: Bobs, even though he’s not being nice about it, he’s right. You don’t need to be alone. You should hang around your friends. Hang around us. Stay until after the show and we can all go out. You did great out there, regardless.
Bobbie laughs and shakes her head.
Bobbie: I lost, Ty! I didn’t do great out there! I lost, and because some new chick beat the number one contender to the Bombshell Roulette Championship, knowing Mark Ward and Christian Underwood, they’ll go and add her to my match at High Stakes IX!
Ty and Fenris look at one another and shake their heads. Fenris steps forward and holds out his hand, and Bobbie looks at him confused.
Fenris: Give me your phone.
Bobbie: What? Why?!
Fenris: So I can do what you’re too fucking afraid to do and call Artie! That’s why!
Bobbie rolls her eyes and shakes her head. She takes a step back, refusing to hand over her phone.
Bobbie: Absolutely not! Besides, I’ve TRIED calling him! He won’t answer, so there’s no point anymore! Just give it up already!
Fenris mutters something in Icelandic again, no doubt some sort of swearing, but Bobbie doesn’t care. Ty holds him back, and turns back to Bobbie.
Ty: Bobs, listen. We know you’re upset, and you’re having a tough time lately, but you shouldn’t give up. And you certainly shouldn’t let this loss against Andrea bother you so much either. Just stick around and hang out with us after the show. For us?
Ty practically pouts his lip out, but Bobbie shakes her head, again. She lowers her head and very sadly, refuses.
Bobbie: Sorry, boys. I’m just not in the mood to be around anyone tonight. You guys have fun without me.
As Bobbie goes to step around them, Fenris tries to stop her, but Ty stops him. He just shakes his head and the two let Bobbie leave, though Fenris hardly agrees with the decision.
Fenris: What the hell?! You really think letting her mope around by herself is a good idea?!
Ty: No. But forcing her out when she doesn’t want to go isn’t a good idea either. She’ll come around, Jan. Just give her time.
Fenris: Screw that! I’m tempted to jump on a plane, and go to that town they’re from just to drag Artie’s ass back here!
Ty just laughs and the two walk away down the opposite direction.
Just outside the arena...
Bobbie’s hotel is within walking distance of the Andros Beach Club. Even knowing that, Bobbie would normally get a cab to go back, but tonight she did something different. Tonight she decided to walk, allowing her a few minutes to clear her head before getting back to her room for the night.
She walks along the beach, listening to the waves crash against the shore and watching couples walk hand-in-hand together just ahead of her. It was something she had never experienced. This tour was about work, true, but for so many others who brought along their family and loved ones, it also brought on a whole new experience.
Before her match tonight, she had told herself she would turn her mood around, because even though her parents or Artie weren’t there, she had her friends to keep her occupied and distracted. And just this past week, they had all gone on various adventures around the island, experiencing everything it had to offer.
Bobbie and Fenris were the only two in the group who were brave enough to don their scuba gear and go for a little underwater adventure of the dangerous Blue Hole. As everyone sat nervously aboard the boat, waiting for them to return from below the water, the tour guide was almost prepared to call them in as lost at sea. That is until Bobbie broke to the surface first, shortly thereafter followed by Fenris!
Bobbie: Hot damn, that was fun! You guys missed out!
She immediately pulled off her mask and was helped back onto the boat, and Ty helped Fenris just behind her.
Tour Guide: How on earth did you guys manage to make it out alive? You’ve got to be the first people to do so.
Fenris cracks a smile as he and Bobbie look at one another.
Bobbie: Ya’ll are just a bunch of amateurs! You’re just not as strong-willed as me and Fenris, here.
Fenris: That was quite an adventure! Even though you couldn’t keep up…
Bobbie cracks a smile of her own.
Bobbie: Oh, Fenris...that was on purpose, honey. That ass of yours looks mighty fine in that wetsuit!
Fenris narrows his eyes as everyone else lets out a chuckle.
A while after, when the boat had returned to the marina and the group left, they all decided to head to the beach. They’re seen walking along the beach, just arriving to a clear spot to enjoy some downtime. Fenris and Dani head over to the clearing to set up their towels, chairs and an umbrella, with Aron and Ty not far behind them. Bobbie trails behind a little ways, Fenris’ canine companion, Kyssa, walking just beside her.
Bobbie: Ya know, Kyssa, this week hasn’t been so bad, I suppose. As grouchy as Fenris is, he’s been the main one doing his best to keep my mind off of things.
Bobbie looks down at Kyssa, talking to the white siberian husky. Kyssa looks up at her with those icy blue eyes and tongue hanging out, almost smiling at her. Bobbie smiles back and pats her on the head.
Bobbie: Don’t get me wrong, though, Ty and Aron have done their part, too! And let me tell you...God bless all three of them for coming from families with good genes. I just wish Ty would get that cousin of his to come back around…That would guarantee I’d all but not think about Artie, if only for one night.
Bobbie lets out a chuckle and Kyssa barks. Up ahead, she spots Ty getting ready to go swimming Nd her smile grows.
Bobbie: Girl, you wouldn’t even have to ask for my steak next time if you were to somehow steal Ty’s trunks. You think you could do that for me?!
Kyssa barks again before running off behind Ty as he heads towards the water. Bobbie joins Dani and Fenris, Fenris having already started to relax to get his tanning session on.
A little while later, Kyssa did, in fact, manage to steal Ty’s trunks while in the water. After giving Kyssa a treat for a job well done, Ty stares towards Bobbie still shielding himself. Fenris is holding his trunks hostage and Bobbie reminds him of the fact.
Bobbie: Hey, Ty! If ya want them back, ya gotta come get them!
Fenris applauds her and Dani chuckles. Ty can be heard yelling as he decides what to do…
Present Day
Honolulu, Hawaii
The memories had replayed in her mind many times over the last couple of weeks. She could not deny that she had the best group of friends she had ever had, but following her loss to Andrea Hernandez, she couldn’t snap herself out of the funk she was in. She just...didn’t care. She had arrived in Honolulu earlier in the week and aside from required promotional appears beginning, she had spent all of her free time holed up in her hotel room, much to the chagrin of the boys.
This morning is actually the first time she’s had any social interaction outside of High Stakes IX promotional appearances. Fenris and Ty had all but dragged her out of her room and decided to take her out to lunch.
As the boys ate, Bobbie just stared down at her food, pushing it around with her fork. Fenris grumbled and Ty placed his hand on his shoulder for a moment, deciding he would break the silence instead.
Ty: Bobs, you need to snap out of this. We’re really worried about you. Now you’re not even eating? C’mon…
Bobbie set her fork down and leaned back. She shrugged and looked up at Ty.
Bobbie: You don’t need to be worried, Ty. I’m just not hungry at the moment. I’m fine. I’ve actually made a decision, and I think after High Stakes IX, I’ll be even better.
She seems to perk up a bit and Ty and Fenris look at one another, relief spreading across their faces.
Fenris: Thank fuck. It’s about time you decided to call that kid. We’ve been telling you for weeks!
Ty: Good for—
Bobbie shakes her head.
Bobbie: I’m not calling Artie, guys. I’m leaving him alone, actually.
Ty: Then what…?
Bobbie: I’m quitting SCW. After High Stakes, I’m letting Mark and Christian know.
A loud *CLINK!* follows as Fenris drops his fork right on his plate and ge and Ty stare at Bobbie, shocked. Fenris’ eyes narrow and Ty can’t stop Fenris from speaking up this time.
Fenris: The fuck you are! That’s the stupidest decision you could ever make!
Bobbie: I’ve already made up my mind, Fenris. I’m not enjoying this anymore, so it’s time I head back home, find my own place and do something different with my life. I’ll be right back. I need to run to the ladies’ room.
Bobbie quickly excuses herself from the table. Fenris is in a rage, quickly spouting off phrases in Icelandic. A few moments later he quiets down as he realizes that Bobbie left her phone on the table! He wastes no time in reaching for it and scrolling through her contacts!
Ty: What are you doing?!
Fenris: What she’s too chicken shit to do herself and should have done weeks ago!
Coal City, Illinois
Artie is seen walking around his room, packing what appears to be an overnight bag. His face tells his side of the sad situation between he and Bobbie, as clearly this is not a situation he wanted to be in either. Just as he is about to head to the bathroom to grab some of his personal toiletries, his phone rings. He turns back and heads over, grabbing it from off his dresser.
Artie: Hello…?
He almost expected it to be Bobbie again, and a part of him wanted it to be her, but it wasn’t. He didn’t recognize the number, and answered the call anyway.
Artie: Oh, hi, Fen…Wait. Slow down...What happened?
Artie listens intently as on the other end, Fenris tells his story. His eyes almost bug out of his head and he frantically heads back over to his closet to gather more clothes.
Artie: I-I’ll be there as soon as I can! Thank you for calling me!
He ends the call and tosses his phone back on the bed, gathering more clothes and getting his suitcase…
Back in Honolulu, Bobbie has just returned to the table. She catches Fenris just as he’s ending the call and looks at him suspiciously.
Bobbie: Who were you just on the phone with?!
Fenris brings up his phone history and turns the phone around to show Bobbie. Her eyes widen as she plops back down in her chair.
Bobbie: Fenris! I don’t need you to get involved in this! I told you I’m fine!
Fenris: Bullshit you’re fine! You said you’re quitting SCW and we’re not going to let that happen.
Ty: So we decided an emergency call to Mister Self Help is just what you needed. Your appointment is this evening. Your welcome…
Mister Self Help? Yes, the boys had the perfect cover, as they booked her an appointment with Mister Self Help, and hopefully by the time her session was over, Artie would be here. Bobbie leans back in her chair and folds her arms, pouting. Meanwhile Fenris and Ty send each other a quick satisfied grin, knowing that all will be well-hopefully-once Artie arrives.
With just one week left until her Bombshell Roulette Championship match against Sam Marlowe, you’d think Bobbie would be spending all of her free time training and preparing for such a big opportunity. Sure, Bobbie had never been one for “proper” training in the past. And by proper, I mean the whole gym setting, going up against an opponent in a sparring session. You know. Kinda like Fenris does. Or majority of the SCW roster.
With as much as she has been wanting this opportunity, one would think she would change things up a bit and do absolutely everything in her power to be ready for this match. Right?
Wrong.
The camera opens up, focused solely on a large, rather comfortable looking sofa. Positioned even more comfortably on said sofa, is none other than Bobbie Dahl herself, a solemn expression on her face as she stares down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs and fingers.
Bobbie: I know what people think of me, really. They can talk highly of me all they want, but in reality, I know they don’t like me. They find the idea of a fat girl like me being on the roster laughable. Embarrassing. Mark Ward is thinking it. He said it in so many words in the past when Christian hired me back. I don’t have the same talent that so many others offer the roster.
She stops talking for a moment, letting the words cut her deeply. The sadness written on her face shows how much she has been struggling lately. A far cry from the fun bubbly Bobbie Dahl we had all grown to know just a few months ago.
Bobbie: It’s no secret how terrible I was my first go around in SCW two years ago. I was awful. The resident historian in SCW likes to point that out week after week. Out of what, five matches, I had only won a single one. And that was out of sheer luck if you ask me. Pinning two women at once?! I still don’t know how the hell I did it!
She manages to crack a smile as the memory of Summer XXXtreme V floods back into her mind. The night she had pinned both Cadence Carter and Otaki to claim her first victory in SCW. But the smile fades quickly as she looks back down to her hands.
Bobbie: Even after that I was still considered a joke on the roster. I went on to lose to Trinity Jones and Mercedes Vargas before taking time off from SCW after my Dad had his heart attack. He insisted he was alright, and maybe he was, but I couldn’t get myself to return to SCW after that. Not until this year at least…
She trails off for a moment and then clears her throat. She takes in a deep breath and gathers her thoughts before she continues baring her soul.
Bobbie: At first, my return wasn’t going to be anything but behind the scenes. Giving Fenris and Ty a little boot up their behinds to get their problems sorted out, kiss and have one hell of a make up party, if you catch my drift. Hell, Fenris didn’t even like me at first, but things changed I guess. I started hanging out with him and Ty, gaining a couple of new friends in the process. And as grouchy and intimidating as Fenris is, he was one of the true supporters I needed. Especially with Artie not being around now.
Even though the camera doesn’t zoom in, you can see a tear form in the corner of her eye. She immediately wipes it away, trying her best not to start blubbering like a baby right then and there.
Bobbie: And it was starting to work. Fenris, Ty, Jack and even Emmie in the state she is in, all started to build me back up. They gave me a confidence booster I desperately needed when I was feeling the most alone I had ever felt. They did their best to distract me from the one thing that was bringing me down the most, and it was starting to work. I had other people cheering me on to make proud when I went out to the ring to fight in my matches.
She narrows her eyebrows, going back to just two weeks ago, the week before the go-home edition of Climax Control. Her match against Andrea Hernandez.
Bobbie: And look what happened? I built myself up. I was confident...not cocky like Andrea seems to think I was, going into that match against her. I was ready and truly believed that I would be the one to knock her down a notch or two and feed her her first loss in SCW. But I failed. I failed myself. And I failed Fenris, Ty, Jack and Emmie. They’re all doing great. Going out and winning matches. And me? I’m becoming a failure, and someone who even Mark Ward is pointing out to be a miserable human being.
She lets out a sigh, adjusting her position on the sofa and takes in a deep breath. So much on her mind, and most of it is truly starting to take its toll on her.
Bobbie: So how am I supposed to feel going into this match against Sam Marlowe? How am I supposed to feel confident knowing she already holds two victories over me, and everyone thinks so highly of her and sees how much she has accomplished in SCW these past few years? Where do I even start?
Her hands go from finger twiddling to fists clenched, almost turning white knuckled.
Bobbie: I’ve never been a champion before. Hell, a title wasn’t even on my radar two years ago when I was in SCW. The thought was laughable to everyone, even me, I was that bad. But now? This year? After coming back and having four wins in a row, I started thinking, hey...I could do that. I deserve it just as much as anyone. I had improved my wrestling skills and it was showing that much.
She looks up showing intensity in her eyes for a moment.
Bobbie: I want to prove everyone wrong. I want to prove that despite my size and me being different than everyone else, I can overcome the odds. I want to win the Bombshell Roulette title so bad, just to shove it in the haters faces, and maybe even smack Jessie Salco upside the head with it once or twice. Since the bitch can’t stop insulting me every chance she gets!
She rolls her eyes and when her thoughts trail off, the expression on her face turns back to sadness and doubt. The exact opposite of what she should be feeling.
Bobbie: But how do I do that? How do I go up against Sam Marlowe with confidence and beat her? How do I walk out with the Roulette Championship in my possession, finally? This is the time when everyone else would be sitting here, talking down on their opponent. Finding anything trashy and horrible to say against them, just because that is what everyone expects.
She laughs and shakes her head.
Bobbie: But I can’t do that. I can’t sit here and find any fault with Sam Marlowe, because I’d be lying if I did. The girl is SCW’s sweetheart. She’s the current and three-time former Bombshell Roulette Champ. She’s a two-time former Bombshell Champion. She’s a former Mixed Tag Team Champion. Talk about accomplished athlete, right? And let’s not even begin to talk about how she managed to do all that while apparently taking college classes at the same time!
Bobbie brings her hands up to her head, grasping at her hair as she thinks about her upcoming match. She closes her eyes and takes in a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself before losing control.
Bobbie: The girl is a friggin’ rock star if there ever was one and people LOVE her. How can I possibly find anything bad to say about her just because people expect me to? I’ve tried and tried, and it never works. That girl is as near to perfect as there possibly is!
Bobbie closes her eyes and takes in another deep breath. When she opens her eyes she looks towards the camera, and the next words out of her mouth are the most serious words she has ever spoken.
Bobbie: Which is why I want to BE her. Well...be like her, I should say. She’s skinny. She’s beautiful. She’s accomplished. Everyone loves her. And she is the Bombshell Roulette Champion. She’s everything I’m not. How could I not want that?
Her expression fades again, and she looks back down to her hands, twiddling her thumbs again.
Bobbie: But despite all that. Regardless of how much support I have, or how badly I want to win the title and beat Sam at High Stakes, there’s one thing that would help me even more. The one thing that is missing that would make all of this doubt just disappear. Well...one person anyway. And that’s Artie…
Saying his name almost breaks her heart all over again.
Bobbie: Whenever Artie was around, it didn’t matter if I won or lost. He was always there supporting me. He always had my back. Now that he’s not? Well...I don’t know if I stand a chance going into this match against Sam. Everyone else thinks I can beat her and I know THEY support me. So, how do I accept that as enough, because I’m don’t think Artie is coming back…
She looks up, as if waiting for an answer. A long silence follows, and her eyebrows narrow again before she looks past the camera and speaks her next words.
Bobbie: Have you even heard a word I just said?!
The camera pans back to find Despayre, in his Mister Self Help attire, with a notepad and crayon in hand. He looks up and directly at Bobbie.
Mr. Self Help: I’m sorry. Could you repeat that part?
Bobbie: Which part?
Mr. Self Help: After I asked how you were…
Mr. Self Help blinks his eyes, waiting for her to answer. Bobbie’s jaw drops open and she stares at him for a moment. She throws her hands in the air in frustration, before standing up from the sofa and heading towards the door, storming out.
Bobbie is back in her hotel room following her latest session with Mr. Self Help. She had hoped it would help turn things around and give her some guidance leading into her match against Sam Marlowe next week, but she had stormed out. Perhaps she overreacted, she thought, but it was too late.
She’s currently laying back in the bed, the remote to the TV in her hand, as she flips through the channels, trying to find something to watch. A ray of sunshine peeks through the curtains, which she had drawn over the windows to hide any sunlight for now. And despite being in Hawaii, where there was plenty to do- promotional duties included, Bobbie was uninterested.
As she continues surfing through the channels, there is a knock on the door. She rolls her eyes, but ignores. She continues clicking on the remote, not finding anything interesting to watch.
The knocking comes again about a minute later.
Bobbie: I’m busy! Come back later!!
She shouts loud enough, hoping they’ll go away. But they don’t. They continue knocking on the door, eventually leading to downright pounding until she’s had enough. She shuts the TV off, throws the remote down and stands up from the bed. She storms towards the door, ready to give whoever is there a piece of her mind.
Bobbie: Fenris, if that’s you! Quit pounding on my door and go pound—
She stops immediately as she opens the door angrily, expecting to see Fenris. But it’s not Fenris standing there at all. No. There before her, an awkward smile on his face and waving to her is Artie!
Bobbie: You’re not Fenris…
And a thought dawns on her. She looks out the door, down either direction of the hall, expecting to see someone else, when Artie speaks up.
Artie: She’s not here. We should talk…
Bobbie leans back into her room, standing in the doorway and just stares at Artie. He blinks, waiting for her to invite him in, but she doesn’t and they both end up standing there in an awkward silence as she decides what to do.
TBC…
