“Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”
~ Muhammad Ali
It was a day like most others for the parents of the students who attended John S. Park Elementary. The weather had grown blessedly warmer, the chilly winds of winter having given wayside to those warmer currents of spring. And while mornings and nights were still relatively chilly by comparison, the afternoons such as now had temperatures more befitting to spring, rising today to the mid-eighties with a clear blue sky and not a cloud to be seen. And here many of the hands on parents were,parked in the guest parking lot, ready to pick up their respective children while the yellow school buses lined the road in front of the school building, ready to bring the children home for parents who were unable to do as the others.
Resident SCW Bombshell and reigning Internet Champion Tempest was one of those lucky few whose schedule allowed her to personally pick up her stepdaughter Anela.Even were she unable, she would have found someone else - someone she trusted from the GO Gym, to do so for her as she preferred Anela not to ride the bus. Having gotten custody of her dear Malulani’s daughter so recently, she just wanted to handle everything herself. At least until the day arrived when Anela might tell her she wanted to ride the bus.
And even then.
Nevertheless, Tempest was waiting outside, leaning against the side of her Transverse while many other parents remained in their cars in the comforts of the air conditioning provided. Tempest’s reason for not doing the same was almost comical to anyone that knew her – or could see her. She didn’t want Anela to miss her, but considering that she stood taller than the vast majority of the rest of the adults present, even the men, the chances of that happening were slim. She scrolled idly on her phone, while stealing glances toward the school and waiting for the bell that would begin the weekend and send the children out. That was when she almost started when her phone started to vibrate.
Tempest frowned, as few ever called her save for her family in Hawaii. She checked the caller ID and as it turned out, it was none other than Gabriel Stevens on the other end. With a swipe of the thumb, she accepted the call and held it to her ear.
Tempest: Gabriel, what can I do for you?
Gabriel: Alleyne, I have a question for you, and maybe a favor if I may be so bold?
Tempest: A favor, hug? Boy you are bold! But go ahead, shoot.
Gabriel: You’re leaving for Flagstaff with us tomorrow afternoon, right?
Tempest: Yeah, last time I checked. Why?
Gabriel: Well, that’s where the favor comes in. Odette and I have to make a quick trip out of Vegas to Reno and we’ll be back first thing in the morning. Considering the kids will be with us for the flight tomorrow, we were hoping to keep them in Vegas for the night. Is there any chance you could watch Lucas and Hazel tonight?
Babysit? Her? Tempest pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it briefly to make certain that not only did she hear correctly, but she was talking to the person that she thought she was. Soon enough, she returned to the call and answered.
Tempest: Yes, of course. God knows you’ve watched Anela enough so it’s the least I can do. Synn and Despy not available I take it?
Gabriel: Well Synn and Despy are already in Flagstaff. Apparently Angel wanted to scope out the arena early to get a good spot for his and Mackenzie’s betting table.
Tempest frowned and just as she was about to ask…
Gabriel: And don’t ask. I’ve learned not to. And Aron has the flu and probably won’t be making it to Flagstaff so I didn’t want the kids staying with him and K and risk getting sick.
Tempest: Aww! And after them, you thought of me!
Gabriel: Well… you know.
Tempest: Sure, bring the kids over soon as you can. But you should know I’m going to have company tonight and I’m not sure if you want the kids around him or not.
There was a brief pause following this nugget of a revelation, until Gabriel finally broke the stiff silence while from her end, she heard the tell-tale sound of the school bell finally sound.
Gabriel: Mercer?
Tempest: Yes, Austin is bringing his kids over. Haven’t seen the big lug for awhile so thought we’d take the kids out. We can include Lucas and Hazel but if you…
But before she could finish her sentence, Gabriel had the foresight to interrupt her train of thought. Gabriel was above all else, a consummate businessman where the sport of professional wrestling was concerned. He knew most of the men and women of SCW inside and out, Austin included. While he did not understand the close bond that had formed between his student and a man that had made life a relative hell for two of his other students, but that was not for him to judge. He knew that Austin was probably Tempest’s closest friend in the business where she had so few and for that, he was more than grateful.
Gabriel: Look, I’ll be honest. I don’t like the man for everything that happened between him and Carter and Kristjan. But I also know that it’s in the past and if Carter and Kristjan can move past it, so can I. Besides, one thing I know about Mercer is he’s as full of bullshit as he is bravado. He’s a good dad and likes kids so I have no real objections.
Tempest: Alright, drop them off as soon as you can. I’m picking Anela up now.
Gabriel: Will do, and Alleyne? Thanks.
Tempest: Pleasure.
And that being said, she ended the call just as her nine year old stepdaughter approached the car, carrying her book bag with a smile on her face. The fact that it was Friday and the start of the weekend, no doubt. Tempest pushed herself away from the vehicle as Anela approached.
Tempest: Well, looks like we’re going to have two more guests this evening?
Opening the SUV door and shoving her bag into the back, Anela looked up to her ‘mom’ with a wide eyed wonder.
Anela: Who?
Tempest: That was Gabriel on the phone. Seems Lucas and Hazel will be spending the night tonight.
Anela: Really??
Her smile was bright enough to light a room were they not out of doors and standing in the Vegas sunshine. Tempest strongly suspected that Anela was sporting something of a crush on Lucas but that was neither here nor there. So she just nodded to which Anela then frowned.
Anela: Was Synn or Fenris busy?
Tempest just made a face and nudged a giggling Anela to the open door of the car as she rounded about to climb into the driver’s side. Once inside, Tempest looked to the young girl to her right and gave her a little nudge to the arm.
Tempest: Maybe you'd like to invite another friend or two to go out with us tonight?
But to that suggestion, all Anela could do was shyly shake her head in the negative.
Tempest: Are you sure?
Anela just nodded that she was, in fact, quite certain. Hanging out with Lucas and Hazel would be quite enough and add Austin’s own kids to the equation and all would be just fine for her. Tempest just turned away, somewhat deflated, and she turned the key to the ignition to begin the journey home.
**********
Maile: Alleyne?
The face of her sister-in-law, sister to her deceased husband, filled the screen of her phone as Face-timed her.This would be a surprise to anyone that knew either woman as it was evident for years that they did not get along from the moment Malulani had brought her home. His family considered it a betrayal to his late wife who had died three years ago, as if they believed the widower should have remained alone - perhaps forever. Maile was one of Tempest’s primary antagonists even to this day in how she now cared for and raised her niece.
But right now, there was nobody else that Tempest believed she could turn to for the advice that she had sought after.
Tempest: Listen, I’m sorry for calling you. I know I’m probably the last person right now you were expecting a call from.
To which Maile just raised her brows and shrugged one shoulder in slight acknowledgement to the truth behind the assumption.
Tempest: But I wasn’t sure who else I could talk to.It’s about Anela.
Maile: Anela? Is she alright??
Tempest: Yes, she’s fine. At least, I think she is.
Maile: You think? You mean you don’t know?
Tempest: Give me a br- look. It’s not like that. I’m still new to this whole other thing, okay? It’s just… I have a question I need to ask you.
Maile: … Okay…?
Tempest took one last glance into her apartment living room and saw as the three children, her own Anela and Gabriel and Odette’s children, Lucas and Hazel, were busying themselves watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on the television.The kids were thoroughly engrossed in the film so she took that opportunity to step into her bedroom and close the door behind her.Only then did she find it =within herself to ask her sister-in-law…
Tempest: You helped take care of Anela when she was living with your mom,right?
Maile: Yes, Keanu and I were living with her at the time. So?
Tempest: When she was in school there… Did Anela have many friends?
Maile: What do you mean?
Tempest: I mean, did she have a lot of friends?
Maile: She had a few I guess. Two or three kids she would visit at their house or bring them home to stay over. Why?
Tempest: It’s just … I was concerned. She has a couple friends here but hasn’t really gone to any great lengths to make any more. Her dad was always so outgoing, he could make friends anywhere so I was hoping…
Maile: That this trait would be passed down from father to daughter?
This time it was Tempest who did not answer vocally but with a slight shrug and a nod of admission.
Maile: Alleyne, listen to me. And I know you’re not going to like hearing this but all things considered, you should. Yeah it’s a fact that my brother was what you might call a social butterfly. … But Kaia wasn’t.
Kaia. Anela's mother and Malulani’s first wife. It was something of a sore subject when her name was brought up because it was normally used as a weapon against her by Malulani’s family but this time?Not so much. At the stiffening of her shoulders, Maile held up a hand.
Maile: Relax, would you? You asked me for advice, so here I am giving it to you. Anela is exactly like her mother was. An introvert. She had a couple of close friends and for her, that was enough. Just like Anela. Not every kid has this huge circle of friends surrounding them at every given moment. I didn’t.
The temptation to say something scathing and witty was overwhelming but for the betterment of their shared love for Anela, Tempest managed to resist it.
Maile: Anela may or may not ever grow out of that introverted shell. Either way, so long as she’s happy and healthy, that’s all that should matter, yes?
Tempest finally exhaled as she heard the doorbell ring from outside of the room. She nodded and found herself saying what she believed formerly to be impossible.
Tempest: Thanks … Maile.
Maile blinked and leaned back at the waist.
Maile: Could you say that again? I want to set this to record or else nobody will believe it!
Tempest: Bitch…
Maile: Do you want to be the pot or the kettle?
There was something left unspoken between the two women, but the slight smirk on Maile's face was enough to speak volumes at a possible burnt bridge being on the mend. Tempest nodded and ended the call before she turned to open the door to find Anela racing for the front door to answer it. She swiftly pulled it open without first asking who it was, a big no-no where tempest was concerned and it would be addressed later.
But that was the first time Anela was meeting Austin James Mercer and her head tilted all the way back to look up at him with wide eyes.
Anela: Wow…
Tempest smiled at her stepdaughter’s initial reaction to Austin, his mere presence on par with her own to draw such an overwhelming reaction. But that was where his intimidation factor seemed to end when in a personal setting as the 6’6” Superstar took the initiative to kneel down on one knee, bringing himself (almost) to eye level with the little girl before him.
Austin: And you must be Anela.
Indeed she reverted to being a shy little girl once more, merely nodding. Austin was intimidating but quite handsome in his own right. And more than anything else, he was a stranger to her. But he was her mom’s best friend from what she understood and that was enough to trust him and (slowly) warm up to him. Anela nodded as Austin extended a hand and wrapped his fingers around her own in a gentle greeting as Tempest arrived at their side. Austin stood up to his full height and turned at the waist to look down at the two children who had arrived alongside him. His five year old son Marcus and three year old daughter, Ellie.
Austin: You two remember Alleyne?
It might be a little more difficult for the three year old to recall when her dad took her brother and her to Hawaii to recover emotionally from their mom’s sudden and unexpected death. Tempest asked no questions when she opened her home to them and worked tirelessly to help the children and their dad recover from the loss. The two kids stepped further inside and spotting what was playing on the TV across the apartment, Marcus pointed excitedly.
Marcus: Harry Potter!
And before his dad could stop either of them, not that he would have, Marcus and Ellie raced inside to join Anela, Lucas and Hazel in watching the movie! That was when Austin saw who else was present and he cast a questioning look to his friend and she just beckoned him to follow her to the kitchen.
Austin: Those Gabriel’s kids?
He asked as they entered the kitchen and Austin turned to lean at the waist against the bar counter so he could both speak privately with Tempest whole keeping an eye on his own kids. Tempest backed against the bar at his side and nodded.
Tempest: Yeah, they’re staying with me for the night as a favor to Gabriel and Odette so they’ll be joining us.
Austin: Hunh. Five kids and two adults. I guess a regular restaurant is out. We’ll have to find some place more kid friendly.
Tempest: if you think I’m going anywhere near the inside of a Chuck E. Cheese…
Austin snorted back a laugh, knowing the very idea of this amazon being inside of any place with an animatronic rat was as foreign as mustard on French fries.
Austin: I was actually thinking more along the lines of Adventuredome.
Tempest frowned but Lucas, who must have perfect hearing to overhear the adults' conversation from across the apartment and while the movie was playing, sat upright with wide, hopeful eyes.
Lucas: Adventuredome!? We’re going to Adventuredome!?
Tempest looked back and forth between the excited Lucas who had practically ran up to them for confirmation and back to Austin.
Tempest: What exactly is Adventuredome?
Austin: Basically it’s an indoor amusement park. Has everything; rides, games … food?
Lucas: It’s the greatest thing EVER!
By now the excitement had grown contagious toward the other children even if they didn’t know exactly what they were being excited about. Austin’s son Marcus looked up at his dad.
Marcus: Can we go, dad?
Austin: Well you know, it's not up to me?
And one by one, everyones’ heads turned to Tempest.
Marcus: Can we go Auntie Tempy?
Which caused Tempest to do a comical double take at what she had just been called. And she wasn’t alone as then three year old Ellie joined in with the childlike pleas.
Ellie: Pleeease Auntie Tempy???
Before she knew what she was doing or saying, Tempest looked heavenward and exhaled sharply in an admittance of defeat.
Tempest: Fine! We’ll go to …Adventuredome!
A collective “hooray”erupted from all of the children before they turned and rushed to (hopefully) finish the movie before going on their grand adventure. Austin smirked quite brazenly as Tempest S-L-O-W-L-Y turned her head to look at him.
Tempest: Auntie Tempy? That was your doing,wasn’t it??
To which Austin only answered by raising a hand and pinching a thumb and forefinger closely together…
CLANG!!!Marcus looked up from the film.
Marcus: What was that!?
Austin: Nothing!
He answered, rubbing the back of his head with a grimace of pain as Tempest dropped the skillet back onto the stove.
Sunset Crater Volcano -
Flagstaff, AZFriday was here, and with it - the weekend that the SCW Universe had been awaiting with much anticipation! Blaze of Glory XII was only two days away and with it, the Superstars and Bombshells of Sin City Wrestling would be putting on a fourteen match spectacular. Many fans had already made the trip to Flagstaff from as far away as Japan for this weekend in the Grand Canyon State. The majority of the SCW stars and staff alike had by now arrived in preparation for the coming event.Some to engage in last minute preparations, some to conduct interviews and meet n greets, while others took time to kill two birds with one stone by seeing one of the beautiful sights of this Golden State while speaking up on what was to come.
The Sunset Crater National Monument was a volcano landmark that last erupted in the year 1085. And while she was not exactly what you would calla science nerd, enough so to take much of an interest in volcanoes or when they last split the ground open to spew forth lava, Tempest was quietly an admirer of scenic beauty, and this one spot provided something that would forever be remembered.
She sat on a rock, one leg drawn up with her knee against her breast while overlooking the volcano itself, while the sky itself had slowly started its descent from day to dusk. The sky was not colored in many hues of reds, oranges,yellows and pinks while the scattered blues through the clouds overhead allowed for the twinkle of the coming stars this far from the city's lights. The calm was blissful, an apt ambience for what was to follow.
“I think we know by now how these things work. This is usually the part where the random person - in this case, myself - would speak up and talk about the match that I’m scheduled to compete in, and more importantly, the opponent. It’s the usual set up for people to put words to action and talk about all of the dreadful things you intend to do to the man or woman standing opposite of us while also usually throwing some shade and risking the ire of the censors and opposition both. You want to break down your opponent mentally with promos such as this before you set foot inside of the ring to destroy them physically. I should know.God knows I’ve done all of the above often enough but this time…”
She unwrapped her arms from around her bended leg and held up one hand, a single forefinger extended.
“Except for this time. Oh don’t get me wrong, we will eventually get to the obligatory threats and promises but in the meantime, we’re going to do something a little unusual. We are going to start this one by first and foremost, my speaking to Crystal Zdunich the woman before I address Crystal Zdunich, the wrestler - and in two days, the challenger to my Internet Championship. So…!”
Tempest clapped her palms together in readiness.
“You're going to have to look past the fact I am neither a psychiatrist nor am I the sort who wears her heart on her sleeve. I don't usually speak up in regards to feelings, whether it be someone else’s or especially my own! But here we are and I suppose there's a first time for everything. Now, I don’t know you Crystal, aside from our encounters that we’ve had in previous years. I know you by reputation and your own actions and for many, that would be enough to go by.So pardon me if what I’m about to say is too rough but girl…? You’re trying too hard.”
“At least in regards to trying to develop budding friendship with any one of the many who post randomly on social media, but lately it seems a person can’t spend a day just browsing or posting something without you jumping in, trying to either get noticed or get involved. Whichever works better in your own favor. If you’re trying to get noticed well then, congratulations! You’ve succeeded admirably! Except in this case, it might not be such a positive thing because while you might be getting noticed, that's not always a good thing .Especially for a woman with your history. The people you have been trying to get to notice you already know you from your past actions, both the good and the bad –but it’s always the bad things that we remember most. Isn’t it? So drawing attention to yourself by just randomly showing up and acting like nothing bad has happened between yourself and them might be doing you more harm than good. You’re basically painting a giant target right on your back without even realizing it.”
“If you’re doing this to try and get involved well then…”
She closed her eyes and grimaced, shaking her head.
“Girl, it’s not working. If anything, you’re alienating people more than you’re working in convincing them to let you join their little circle of friends. You have stabbed so many people in the back so many times that nobody with any wits about them is going to trust you enough to welcome you with open arms because there's the perpetual fear you have a knife in the same hand that could be embracing them!”
“Then there’s this habit of yours where you are always calling some random woman in SCW your best friend. First you do it with Kayla Richards. Then you move on and start calling Kat Jones your best friend.Now if the rumors are true, Alexandra Calaway is next on your bosom buddies radar. Now granted you can have more than one close friend and call them your best friends, but it’s pretty suspect that until you started popping up and addressing them from out of nowhere, when before you had never interacted with them. You just pop on and say ‘Hi bestie!’ and give a goofy wave and smile of excitement and more often than not, the intended target of your friendship seems just as surprised as the rest of us are. Which leaves me wondering if any of these women are or were even aware that they were your…”
Air quotes.
“Close and dear friend.”
Tempest held her arms out, hands up in wonder.
“Who the hell knows? I guess my point is what I said at the very start. You try too damn hard to get people to like you or to be your friend or even both! You worry too much about what people think of you and whether or not they even like you. WHO CARES!? Worrying about shit like that can slow down decision-making and decrease risk-taking, creativity, innovation …whatever!
“Look at what happened that time when you wheeled that cake out to celebrate yourself! Crystal, that just screamed narcissism and look how that turned out! You ended up being tossed out of the ring like a goddamn lawn dart by…”
Tempest suddenly cleared her throat and fiddled with her hair before resuming her thought process.
“Well it's not important who did it. The thing that people remember the most was not that you were sharing cake as a means of self gratification! They just remember the night you went and took a header in that cake in front of the world!If you continue on with being the ‘Pick me’ girl of SCW, the only thing you’re going to accomplish is you’re going to live your life on the terms of those people you surround yourself with rather than your own!”
“And now…”
Tempest then stretched her legs out to their full, impressive length and gripped the edges of the rock she had been perched upon.
“Now we are going to address Crystal Zdunich … the actual wrestler and challenger. And Crystal? I have to say that after everything has been said and done and you won that social media poll to overtake Alexandra Calaway and become my challenger in Flagstaff? You have done nothing – nothing – to bring this match to everyone’s attention other than wear that expression like you just stepped off a street curb and saw a bus barreling down in your path! And I guess… you are, but I guess I just expected more, you know? I don’t know what exactly. Just more. Oh sure, you sat at ringside and watched me bury your wife through the mat but anyone can sit at a relatively safe distance and watch a catastrophe taking place. You didn’t even stand on the table and try to distract me or talk trash for what I did to Seleana, really. Smart girl – just disappointing.”
“The Crystal Zdunich I remember was this vain, gold hungry shrew that would step on the back of a nun if it meant getting any closer to a title shot. Now I get it.You say you’re not that woman anymore and you’re working overtime to prove to everyone else around you that you're a changed woman and not the woman who sold her own wife out for a world title shot. So tell me…”
Tempest clasped her hands together and leaned in closely.
“How’s that working out for you? Since you were named my challenger for Blaze of Glory XII, and by the way there is no chance in hell that you will ever convince me you didn't lead some kind of campaign to get all of your fans and friends to vote for you and stuff the ballot box! Anyway... you’ve pretty much become the punching bag for the Bombshell division. You lost to Harper Mason for god's sake! That fact alone coupled with how little enthusiasm you’ve shown for this opportunity, well let’s just say that I was surprised when the lineup was announced officially and you and I weren’t the opening act! So here is what you and I are going to do.”
“You are going to forget all about this ‘nice girl Crystal act that you’ve been shoving down everyone’s throats. Nobody is buying it anyway. You have turned back and forth between Good Crystal and Bad Crystal so many times that even Mercedes Vargas would be unable to come up with the correct number of times! If you know what’s best for you, you will not come to the ring and be the same Crystal Zdunich that has been crashing and burning for the past five weeks! No, you are going to come inside of that ring and stand opposite of me and be the woman I know damn well that you are capable of being!”
“You are going to be the Crystal Zdunich that has won literally every championship save for the Mixed Tag Team titles! You are going to be the Crystal that earned her way into the Hall of Fame! The one thing I want more than anything is a challenger that can help me improve on being a champion. The old Crystal was capable of doing just that. Because if you are anything but the absolute best that you can be… Trust me chicky.”
She stood up and glared down into the camera.
“It will not end well for you!”
That being said, she adjusted her jacket and calmly walked off-camera, having had her say. The last thing seen was the camera trailing upward and focusing on the stars above.
