A soft buzzing can be heard in the dark room. There is a darker shape in the room that can be heard to mumble and groan softly as a shadow moves across to tap across the place the buzzing can be heard before it is cut off. The shadow moves further to tap on the touch sensitive lamp that lights the room in a soft glow that reveals a slowly rising Sam Marlowe dressed in a white button down that is rumpled from sleep. The blanket falls to her waist as she looks around the room with half open eyes.
“Good morning sunshine,” she says to the empty room before spinning to set her feet on the floor. A hand rises to flip sleep tangled red curls over her shoulder and rub at her eyes as she yawns then shakes her head slightly.
Straightening up, she walks towards the curtains that cover the window to the outside. Reaching up with both hands she yanks to open the curtains and bathes herself in the faint sunlight of sunrise. Turning away from the window, Sam moves once more to the bed and then flops onto it to once more cuddle the pillow.
A buzz starts to be heard again which has Sam grumbling before rolling over and grabbing the cell phone that rests on the bedside table. Pulling it towards herself, she looks at it, her finger pressing the home button that brings the phone to life to reveal some bubbles indicating messages and notifications. Sam pulls a pillow up and gets comfortable to read them. Suddenly there is a beep that indicates a call on the phone that has Sam scrambling to answer it.
“Hello,” she says as she listens to the person on the other end. “What’s up Daddy?” She presses speaker as she pulls away the phone and sets it on the bed.
“Sammi, princess, when do I need a reason to call my daughter?” demands Philip Marlowe, a chuckle heard in his voice. “But since you asked, I am calling to tell you that Cyn’s baby is here. You are an aunt to a baby girl. Your mother just called from the hospital and said that Marlowe Victoria Christopher is doing well.”
Sam smiles confusedly at the name. “Marlowe Christopher? Interesting choice of name isn’t it?” asks Sam as she gets to her feet. “Congratulate Cyn and Monty for me since I can’t be there right now.” Sam sighs softly as once more she moves towards the window and looks out over the strip. Turning back to toward the bed she speaks up again. “How have you and moms been?”
“Your mother is worried about you and so am I if you must know. We haven’t heard from you for a while and well, short of coming out there, we need you to call more. But the serious question, how are you princess? This pandemic has you locked up doesn’t it?” her father asks knowing her diabetes makes her more susceptible to the covid virus.
“I have had more tests than I should and so far, not even a sniffle. SCW is really taking care of us. It just makes me a little cabin crazy if you must know. I mean I do get out to the gym upstairs or the pool but I miss being able to just go anywhere I want is getting to me,” she admits. “And the fact that I am stuck here without…” Sam’s voice trails off as she doesn’t complete the thought.
Her father picks up the catch in her voice and fills the silence. “So, haven’t had a chance to talk to Colton huh?” he demands.
“Is it that obvious Daddy?” answers Sam, a half smile crossing her face as she moves to grab a brush on the dresser. “I get to talk to him and we facetime but with him stuck in Canada and me caught here..I miss him is all,” admits Sam. She begins to brush her hair into a semblance of order as she sits beside the phone once more.
“Hopefully this will be over sooner than later Sammi,” her father says in sympathy. “Then once that happens you two will be back together and the two of you will come home for a visit before you once more start to travel again for your jobs. Your mother has got plans for that…and speaking of your mother…”
Sam can hear a phone ringing over her father speaking. “You go get that Daddy…I have some training to do and breakfast to get. Love you Daddy,” Sam says before she reaches to end the call after her father replies ‘love you too princess’. Getting to her feet she moves toward the bathroom when a soft knock gets her attention. Moving to the door, she peeps through the eyepiece to see that room service had arrived. She looks at the clock then standing behind the door, she opens it to let the server who has picked up the newspaper in front of her door into the room.
“Good morning ma’am,” he says as he pushes the cart into the room. “I have your breakfast here.” Wheeling it to a stop, he turns to spy Sam hiding slightly behind the door. “Have a good day,” he continues as he moves towards the door where he pulls out a leather billfold with the receipt inside for her signature.
“Thanks,” answers Sam as she reaches out to sign the bill that he presents her. Once her signature is on the paper, he bows his way out of the room and Sam lets the door close softly before she moves to the cart to pull the cover from the dish to reveal eggs benedict and fresh fruit. Taking a strawberry from the bowl, she savors it before grabbing the tray and moving to place it on the table. Sitting down she is just about to dig in when once more her phone goes off.
“Who could that be?” she muses outloud before pushing away from the table and heading to the bed. Looking at the name that comes up, she backs away with a shake of her head. Sitting back down, she begins to eat her breakfast and avoids answering the phone.
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Sam moves down the hallway, the gym door her target. Dressed in a singlet over a cut out shirt with rainbow following a unicorn across the chest. Her converse shoes cover a pair of slouch socks. In one hand is a towel and water bottle hanging on one finger as her other hand carries her phone with a dangling pair of earbuds thrown over her neck. Walking into the gym, Sam looks around to see people training on the various machines which only makes her search for an out of the way machine to work out on.
Seeing a treadmill half hidden to one side, she makes for it and sets the bottle of water into the drink holder before she looks it over and sets a rather middle of the road speed. The hum of the machine is heard as she sets aside the towel and climbs on the treadmill, her feet on the sides as she sets her phone into the second cup holder after pressing play on a playlist. She jumps on, slipping slightly before she finds the rhythm of the machine and sets off on a run that takes her nowhere.
Pussy Willow walks into the room as she smiles and looks at everyone. Spying the redhead in the corner, she makes a beeline towards her and stops in front of the machine as she gets the attention of the woman running.
“Sam!” she exclaims. “I never expected you to be here. You don’t tend to be around people much anymore what with you taking extra special precautions with the virus. So why are you here now?” she asks as she moves to mount the treadmill beside Sam who hasn’t stopped running but had reached up to remove her earbuds.
“Totally didn’t hear what you said there Pussy,” teases Sam with a wink.
“I said that you never seem to be around people anymore. Social distancing or turning into a muppet?” Pussy teases back.
“Don’t you mean hermit?” replies Sam to which Pussy giggles. “No, that is a crab!” she answers which has Sam joining in with the laughter. Pussy begins to run with Sam only at a slower speed as she turns to look at the redhead. “Sam tell me that you are here training for the match this week. After all you only got your first win of the year at the supercard and now you have to keep this up or people are going to be writing you off again. So you have to be ready.”
Sam nods as she looks straight ahead. “I am getting ready Pussy, trust me I am tired of having to hear the jokes and taunts and the fact that no one respects me. So, I figure that I need to really push myself and earn what I did have before.”
Pussy nods in agreement. “You’re right Sam, you have to push yourself. After all you are getting back on a winning streak and your opponent this week isn’t a slouch at all for all she is a rookie in SCW. Tallyn I am sure won’t go easy on you at all.”
Sam spares only a glance at Pussy who has faced forward and doesn’t see the wince from the redhead. “I am pretty sure she is going to put me in my place because that is what she does. She talks like a veteran and is very vocal about her abilities from what I have seen. And she has reason to be because look at what she has done here in SCW since she joined,” says Sam with confidence. “I am sure that she is going to be someone that will go places here.” Pussy gives her friend a look and is about to say something but Sam continues to talk. “But this week she is going to be in the ring with me and I have to tell you that I am feeling pretty good about the challenge because it pits me against someone that is just like me, well, the rookie me. Oh my gosh…that makes me the ring veteran doesn’t it. Dang, I feel old.”
Pussy loses a step at the comment from Sam who sounds so downhearted at the old comment. “Positively ancient you are Sam,” she taunts.
“Thousands of comedians out of work and you trying to be one Pussy?” demands Sam with a put upon look which only has Pussy laughing harder. “Besides she is going to be looking to make a name for herself by being able to say that she beat me because I have some kind of reputation.”
“I guarantee Sam that she will talk about the fact you have been losing if that is what you mean by a rep,” offers Pussy as she stops the treadmill she is on and then lets the slowing surface bring her to the edge. She looks over to see Sam continue to run on her machine. Pussy moves to stand in front of Sam to offer her a sympathetic look when she sees the redhead bite her lip. “Sam I was just teasing you know,” she offers which gets a slow smile from Sam.
“Oh I know you were and I realize that you aren’t saying that to hurt me Pussy,” answers Sam as she slows the treadmill then steps off to grab the towel and brings it to her neck to rub at the dampness there. She moves around the handle of the machine and grabs the bottle of water. Walking past Pussy, Sam moves towards another machine that seems to be out of the way of everyone. The leg press machine has about one hundred and fifty pounds which Sam checks. Nodding slowly, she sits down and places her feet on the lift plate.
Pussy arrives behind her and then leans against the machine as Sam begins to press the plate to lift the weights. She has a sad look on her face which has Sam glancing up at her. “Don’t worry Pussy, I am not hurt at all. Let me rephrase that…the truth hurts but it is something I need to hear. I have to admit that I have been half assing it lately. I haven’t been taking this as seriously as I should be. And if that means that I need to hear the painful truth, then tell me that truth to motivate me,” Sam says. “But I want you to know Pussy that you can’t hurt me more than I have been beating myself up.”
Pussy looks at her friend. “You have been beating yourself up Sam?” she demands with a look of surprise. “I mean I have seen you in that ring kicking rear and taking names and lately you haven’t really been one hundred. So what has changed huh?”
“At Blaze of Glory I realized that the only person that could beat me was me. Jessie proved to me that the fight and the fire is there but I had dialed it back. I realized that I have to turn that burn up. Which means I have to be more on the ball in the ring and that has to continue with Tallyn this week at Climax Control.”
“You know what you need to do?” demands Pussy as she moves towards a bag that is sitting nearby. Reaching inside, she pulls out a small camcorder and waves it at Sam. “You need to put it right out there in a promo that will tell everyone what is about to happen at the show this week in your match.”
Sam shoots Pussy a look as one eyebrow rises ever so slightly. “Is there nowhere that camera goes?” taunts Sam to which Pussy’s smile widens and her head moves back and forth as Sam laughs. “Okay Pussy, I’m game.” Pussy moves to the front of Sam who goes back to doing leg presses as she is looking into the camera. Pussy counts her down and Sam begins to speak.
“Tallyn, I am here preparing for our match,” says Sam as she motions to the machine. “You know I think that you are a pretty good rookie here in SCW and I have loads of respect for you given that you have some skills in the ring. Now that doesn’t mean that I am going to let that worry me any but I do want to give credit where credit is due.” Sam takes a long slow breath as the plate lands in the starting position and Sam turns slightly as Pussy moves around the machine to keep Sam front and center.
“I have to admit that I am definitely on the upslope of a comeback attempt that I know I am going to have to really fight for. See I am done being the butt of every bombshells’ joke. You want an easy win, you just have to face Sam Marlowe or Jessie Salco and that is something that is easy in SCW. And I for one will admit for the first few months of this year, that was true for me. Now not so much because I have tasted victory and it was so sweet to get the win at Blaze of Glory. Now three weeks later, I get into the ring with you and I am ready to taste that again,” offers Sam as she reaches for the bottle of water and brings it to her lips.
Pussy moves closer as Sam brings her foot to rest on the seat in front of her and wraps her arms around her knee.
“I want you to know that I am not going to be taking you lightly, oh no. I have seen what you are capable of and trust me I know just what you are going to be bringing to this match. And I respect that. I know that I should be here saying just how bad you are going to lose to me because I am just that good but if you have seen me in that ring, I don’t hold back and I don’t have to tell you that is just what I am going to do when you are across the ring from me,” muses Sam, talking to camera as if Tallyn were standing right in front of her.
“I have decided that I am going to continue my search towards moving to a contendership and this week sadly it will be you that is the bump in the road that won’t be slowing me down. Not that you will be laying down for me to win, I fully intend to have that be the end result in our match, me moving on with a win and you laying on the mat looking up at the ring lights. Sorry, with this virus, it is not ring lights, it is the harsh fluorescents of the GO Gym.”
“I have been hearing that you think that you are God’s gift to the bombshell division and maybe you are and maybe you can back that up but trust me when I tell you, I see you as just another Bombshell that I have to face and put down to continue on a winning streak. And trust me when I tell you that I am going to be coming right at you with very bad intentions. As Daddy says, there will be some furniture movin’ going on in this match because this ain’t going to be technical, it is going to be a fight that I am going to win. And if that is the case, let me say sorry now,” says Sam as a smile begins to break over her face. “Let me also say good luck Tallyn. The way I am feeling right now, you are going to need it.”
More people enter the gym which has Sam looking towards the door. Getting to her feet, she grabs her bottle of water and towel and moves to head towards the door which has Pussy rushing after her with her forgotten phone. “Sam, where are you going?” she calls out which has Sam turning towards her.
“It’s getting crowded in here and I feel like my sugar is dropping and I need to get something to raise it. But thanks Pussy, really appreciate the work out and the camerawork. I will talk to you later,” says Sam as she turns and heads out of the gym leaving Pussy to look around as she presses stop on the camera and then puts it away before shouldering the bag and following Sam out of the gym.
