One More Chance

It’s Trios time yet again and I can’t help but think about last year.  Sienna Swann and I had a bond, we were almost like kindred spirits in a way, due to our careers being threatened because of neck injuries.  I knew what she had gone through, she knew what I had gone through.  We wanted to win for one another and despite Lexi Von Aaron’s eccentricities, we knew that we had what it took to get the job done.  We knew we could go all the way.  I even had an idea of what I wanted to use my Trios on: a world title shot.

Yeah, ok, it’s lame and unoriginal, I know; but in my fifteen plus year career I have only held two world titles.  I was itching for another opportunity, one last chance at one final run.  One last chance to prove those two world titles weren’t flukes, that I was a legitimate main event player; that I was in my sister’s league.

Funny thing about hopes and dreams is that they all too often get dashed.  My hopes of a Trios Contract and maybe a world title shot were dashed.  But not just my hopes, Sienna’s and Lexi’s as well.

Not that I care much for Lexi, but she’s another story for another time.

I did feel responsible for the loss.  Right or wrong, fair or unfair, I couldn’t help but place most of the blame for that loss on my own shoulders.  For fifteen years I’ve been competing!  For fifteen years I have busted my ass and honed my skills and I should have been able to get the job done for my team!  But we didn’t get the job done.  I felt like a failure.

Now I’m not worrying myself over what to do with the Trios Contract.  At least not right now.  I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.  I’m glad I have an opportunity to right a wrong.  I have an opportunity to turn back the clock and rewrite history.  Only this time we’re not getting knocked out early.

We’re going all the way.

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Scene 1

Off Camera

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It was a terrible day; a day of mourning and sorrow for the entire Jones-Snow Household.  There was much weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Many tears were shed on this volatile day of tribulation.

Or to put it in laymen’s terms, The New England Patriots lost the Super Bowl and Kayla Jones, as per the norm, threw a major fit.

She looks quite peaceful now as she sleeps soundly in her first class seat next to her husband Trenton Snow.  Wearing denim jeans, black boots, and a Tom Brady autographed jersey, Kayla is the picture of peace and solitude.  It’s amazing to think that this beautiful creature has the potential to have so much stored up energy to be a real firecracker when she’s awake.  And that’s on a good day.  Today was not a good day for Kayla.  Her beloved Patriots lost and she has a difficult time dealing with her team losing.

For Kayla’s sake, and partially in a selfish way, for his own patience, Trenton secretly hopes that his loving (and long-suffering) wife will sleep through the whole flight back to Massachusetts.  Or at least most of the flight.  The last thing the youngest member of The Sisterhood needs to worry about right now is one stupid football game.  Not when there are bigger prizes over the horizon, a prize that, for her, is bigger than any Lombardi Trophy.

The Trios Tournament is on February 18^th and once again Kayla Jones was selected to participate.  Once again Kayla Jones was selected to team with Sienna Swann.  That makes two years in a row these athletes were on the same side in a Trios Tournament.  Last year they came up short of pulling off the victory.  Then they had Lexi Von Aaron as a partner, who you could argue was potentially a little distracted with an AJ Helms obsession.  This year they have a very green rookie but a rookie with a lot of pedigree, being that he comes from the Cruze Dynasty.

Sienna, Kayla, and Owen could very well get the job done.  They could earn those Trios Contracts.  And while Kayla doesn’t care really what Owen or Sienna will do with theirs, Kayla has thought long and hard about what she will do with hers.  But it doesn’t matter, and it won’t matter, if they cannot first win the tournament itself.

Trenton knows how badly Kayla wants this.  It’s something she has constantly brought up over the course of the year since last Trios.  She wants redemption.  But redemption can come later.  Sleep right now.

“mmmm….” Kayla groans ever so lightly.  Her eyes flutter as she turns to look over at her husband Trenton, who smiles warmly at her. “How long did I sleep?”

“Not long.  Maybe about half an hour.”

“Did The Patriots win?”

“No…” Trenton says with a disappointed sigh “…still didn’t win, Kay.”

“DAMN IT!” Kayla exclaims, drawing a few curious gazes from other passengers. “I was hoping that I’d wake up and it’d all be a nightmare!”

“You said that the last two times you woke up.” Trenton says with a light chuckle.

“Oh hush!” Kayla retorts, turning her head away from her husband.

“Sorry, babe, but this year just wasn’t their year.  There’s always next year.  Tom Terrific is signed for another year, right?”

“At least one more year.” Kayla says, nodding her head. “But football is a full contact sport, you know that.  How many more years, how many more Super Bowls, will they have?”

“Really?” Trenton says with a frown. “These are the Patriots we’re talking about.”

“Yeah, they are the Patriots, but they are also still human beings.  They have their limitations.  And I don’t mean just Tom Brady.  Everyone, down to the place kicker, they all have limitations.  They won’t last forever because a football player’s career is shorter than most careers.  If you lose you can’t help but ask yourself will you ever make it back; you know?”

“It sounds like you have experienced a little bit of this before.” Trenton states with an arched brow.

“It’s the story of my life.” Kayla says with a disappointed sigh.  She then holds up two fingers. “I’ve held two world championships in my fifteen year career.  TWICE in my career I have been at the top of the wrestling mountain.”

“Most never get there.” Trenton answers back. “You should be proud.”

“And I am, but I know I can get back there.  But I have to create my opportunities.  Rarely will opportunities fall into my lap.  Take Trios for instance…”

“Here we go…” Trenton rolls his eyes.

“Listen!” Kayla snaps back, silencing her husband. “Trios is a random drawing.  I was lucky to get to participate in Trios last year and I had every intention of making the most of my opportunity but I failed.  I let down Sienna Swann and the other one…”

“Lexi Von Aaron.” Trenton chuckles.

“Yeah, her.  I just so happened to get lucky enough to be drawn for Trios AGAIN…and shockingly enough with Sienna Swann AGAIN!  This is my chance at redemption, Trenton.  This is my chance to make it up to Sienna for last year.  This is my chance to finally win Trios and maybe, just maybe, use it to get back to the top.  But if I lose?” Kayla shrugs her shoulders. “Who knows?  I may never get another shot at Trios.  Hell, who knows if I’ll get another shot ever again.  Fifteen years is a long time, Trenton.  It’s even longer when you have had a broken neck.”

“Don’t talk like that, Kay.” Trenton guides her head back around so that they are looking at one another.  Tears are already forming in Kayla’s eyes and rolling down her cheeks.  Trenton then kisses her on her lips. “You still have a lot to give to this business, Kay.”

“Do I?” Kayla sighs, reaching up to wipe tears out of her eyes. “I wish I could believe that but…but…”

She shakes her head “…my career is nearly over, Trenton.  I have to accept that.  I have twin children to raise.  If I keep this wrestling up, if I don’t know when to quit, I may end up breaking my neck again only this time I’ll be paralyzed from the neck down.  I don’t want to end up that way.  I want to be able to play with my kids, with Paige and Duncan.”  She sighs deeply. “If I don’t start spending time with my children soon, my children may not want to be with me.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself.” Trenton runs a hand through her long, silky soft red hair. “You are a wonderful mother.”

“Am I?  I compete for Supreme Championship Wrestling and Global Championship Wrestling, while at the same time being the head of my own managerial agency.”

“You’re handling it all just fine.” Trenton says with a slight scoff in his voice. “I mean, doesn’t Oliver Hardy manage the agency for you?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that Andreas, my children’s father, spends more time with them than I do.  A lot more time.  That alone should tell you that I’m not doing my job.” Kayla shakes her head. “So no, Trenton, I don’t have a lot left to give.  I need to make my move here and now.  This Trios Tournament may very well be my last chance.”

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Scene 2

Off Camera

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It’s been a few days since the Super Bowl.  Kayla Jones has gotten over her New England Patriots losing to the Philadelphia Eagles (or so she claims) and has moved on to more important matters at hand; specifically, the upcoming Trios Tournament.   Kayla realizes that she will have to be at her very best in order to get the job done, to lead her team of Sienna Swann and Owen Cruze to victory and earn Trios Contracts.  That’s what brings her to this place, a place that is all too familiar for an athlete like her; alone in a gym on the outskirts of Boston, Massachusetts.  She is training by herself, decked out in red adidas pants, white sneakers, and a plain white t-shirt.  Her long red hair is pulled into a ponytail in the back.

Ok, so that may be slightly untrue.  The redheaded Boston native isn’t completely alone.  Her five year old daughter, Paige Shawna Lasiewicz is there with her.   Kayla wants to spend more time with her children and she is using this singular opportunity to do just that.  Her son, Duncan, can’t be here today, but her daughter is here and Kayla was hoping that little Paige would learn a thing or two about the “family business” if you will.

Alas, the child is playing on her iPhone and clearly isn’t paying attention to the intense moments that is her mother, the woman with the educated feet Kayla Jones, striking hard and fast at the heavy bag dangling from above.

This year’s Trios is just as much about her children as it is about her.  Kayla is at the point in her career where she realizes that her time is running out.  She can’t keep up this pace that she is currently going.  She wants to make one final push to do something really great and to have her name etched into SCW’s history books.  More importantly, she wants to spend time with her children, and maybe make her children proud of her.

It’s difficult, though, when her daughter isn’t even paying attention.

After driving her foot into the heavy bag with several more roundhouse kicks in a row, the redhead stops her exercises, turns around to face her daughter, and places her hands upon her hips.  She tilts her head to one side and frowns as she stares incredulously at her daughter.

“Paige?”

“Huh?” The child looks up at her mother and smiles. “Oh, hi mommy…you done?”

“No, I’m not done.” Kayla sighs and motions to her daughter’s iPhone. “Are you enjoying your game?”

“No game, mommy.  Just talking to Duncan.”

“Talking to Duncan?” Kayla asks curiously, tilting her head to one side.

“Text messages!  Silly mommy!”

“Right, silly mommy…” Kayla shakes her head as she walks over to her daughter and pats her on the head “…you know, I never had a phone like that when I was your age.  You should be thankful.”

“Oh I am!  I love the phone!”

“I can tell, but aren’t you interested in what mommy does?”

“I know what you do, mommy.” The child says with a big grin on her face. “I see daddy and Aunt Mags do it all the time!”

“Right…”

Kayla Jones sighs with a sense of disappointment in her voice.  Paige, as well as her brother Duncan, truly do know a good bit about wrestling already, but that’s from following their father Andreas and his sister Magdalena.  Most of their knowledge comes from their father’s family, not from Kayla’s, not from the famous Jones family, and Kayla can’t help but blame herself due to her absence from her children’s life.

She walks back over to the heavy bag and starts laying into it with lefts and rights, both kicks and punches.  She unleashes her agitation and angst upon the bag.  It’s the best thing she can think of to do right now.  She’s so focused that she doesn’t even hear the door to this gym opening…

“Easy there, tiger.”

Kayla is startled at first.  Paige barely even twitches, but as Kayla turns her attention away from the bag and towards the door, spotting her older sister Angelica there in the doorway, Paige also perks up and drops her phone, running over to visit Angelica with a big hug.

“Auntie Angelica!”

“Hi there, sweetie.” Angelica says with a smile on her face. “Are you keeping your mother company?”

“Uh-huh.  She’s beating up a bag!”

Kayla rolls her eyes.  Even her own sister seems to rate higher than her.  Angelica just chuckles and looks up at Kayla.

“Beating up a bag, sis?”

“Preparing for Trios.”

Right, well you can ease up, I think.” Angelica remarks. “You do have a pretty good team.  Sienna Swann is amazingly talented.  And Owen Cruze may be a young rookie but he’s got the pedigree that’ll make him great.  You guys should win.”

“Should win…we SHOULD have won last year but didn’t.” She shakes her head. “I’m taking no chances this time.  This time, we’re going to win and I will hold up my end of the bargain.”

Angelica frowns, furrowing her brow curiously.  She looks down at her niece Paige and kisses her on the head. “Why don’t you give your mommy and me some private time to talk, ok?”

“Sure, Auntie Angelica!” Paige skips off happily, stopping by the pick up her iPhone first.  Once she out of earshot Angelica storms over to Kayla and folds her arms over her chest.

“What’s wrong, Kay?”

“My time is up, Angelica.” Kayla admits sadly. “I’ve known it since Sunday.”

“Oh stop that!” Angelica exclaims. “Don’t go telling me that the Patriots losing has gotten to you this damn much!”

“I’m being serious!” Kayla insists. “I’ve been at this game for over fifteen years now, Angelica.  I’ve lost years off of my life because of this sport.  Broke my neck once because of this sport.  And I recognized what I’ve already lost…time away from my family, time away from you and my children…and for what?  A few titles?”

“I guess it’s something we all have to think about someday, but…”

“No buts, Angel.” Kayla shakes her head as she interrupts her sister. “I mean it, I’m making one final push to do something great, and maybe Trios is that final push.  That’s why I’m not accepting anything less than victory.”

Angelica stares at her sister for what seems like an eternity before breaking the silence.

“You’re serious then, aren’t you?”

“As serious as a heartbeat.”

“Then just do me one favor.”

“What’s that?”

Angelica smirks. “Kick their teeth down their throat.”

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On Camera

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Opportunities to reach up and grab that brass ring, opportunities to win the big one do not come very often in this sport of professional wrestling.  There are some who get those opportunities but just can’t seem to win the big one and still others who never get the opportunity at all.  I guess that’s what makes the annual Trios Tournament so special.  It isn’t just the matter of the randomly assigned teams, although seeing sworn enemies on the same side is fun, as is seeing dream teams that you never get a chance to see on the same side otherwise is also fun…oh no, the real reason Trios is so special is because even if you do despise and detest your partners, you will work with them for one night only, because you realize that if you manage to pull off a miraculous upset win in this single elimination tournament, you will be in the driver’s seat; you will have the opportunity of a lifetime…

…an opportunity to book any match you see fit.

Just look at what Trios did for the winners last year.  Gable Winchester used his to become Adrenaline Champion.

Ace Marshall used his to put the Adrenaline Championship on the line in the End of the Year Battle Royal, giving himself and so many others an opportunity.

Then there’s quite possibly the biggest cash-in of them all; Jake Starr using his to run the championship gauntlet, along the way winning the tag team titles and the world title all in one night.

You can do so much with a Trios Tournament win.  Your career in Supreme Championship Wrestling can turn on a dime, you can take off like a rocket to the moon just by winning this tournament.

But therein lies the catch.  You have to win.  Those who lose, those who come up short, don’t get anything and are forgotten.  It’s very much like the Super Bowl in the NFL.  You only remember the Super Bowl winner, not the loser.  And Trios is like the Super Bowl in many other ways.  The Super Bowl, like Trios, just comes along once a year.  You have only one opportunity per year to win that tournament…and that’s IF you get selected to participate…I’ve been lucky enough to be selected twice now.  And if you lose a Trios Tournament, much like with the Super Bowl, you have to wait an entire year to try to get back to that spot and win it again.

And pro-football, like pro-wrestling, they’re both contact sports.  With the potential for injury, and the amount of competition we’re up against there’s never a guarantee you will make it back.  If you make it into Trios, you should count yourself lucky.  You should bust your ass to try and win because you may never get another opportunity at Trios.

I have been pretty damn lucky to get two opportunities.  One I squandered. I have another shot now.  Will I squander it?  Hopefully not.

I know how serious of a matter this is.  I know probably better than anyone else because, for starters, I’ve had injuries.  My first and most serious neck injury was the wake up call.  My first few moments of coherence after the neck injury had me wondering if I would even walk again let alone compete in a squared circle.

Secondly, I have been wrestling for over fifteen years now.  That’s ancient for professional athletes.  I often times find myself wondering just how much gas I have left in the tank?  How much time do I have left to devote to professional wrestling?  How much do I have left to give to the SCW universe?

I want to spend time with my children…my twins, Paige and Duncan…but time on the road has made it nearly impossible to spend as much time as I’d like.  To put it bluntly, I know my time in this sport is drawing to a close.  It may end this year, it may end next year or the year after that, but soon it will end.  And I know that I won’t have many more opportunities like this one.

How many more times will I get selected for Trios?  And look at my last team compared to this one.  Sienna Swann has been on both.  And Lexi may be insane and Owen may be new, but Lexi is damn good and Owen has it in his blood.  You’re not going to get as lucky as I’ve been to get two great teams like this.

My luck will run out, my time will run out eventually.  How much time is left for a fifteen year veteran like myself?

Let’s take a trip back in time to February of 2017, last year’s Trios Tournament; I was teamed with Sienna Swann and Lexi Von Aaron.  We had a game plan, we had a strategy, and we knew that we would make it all the way.  We knew that we would go the distance.   It certainly started off well enough when I managed to superkick Manvel’s head off, subsequently pinning him as we advanced past him, Tommy Valentine, and Tyler Tucker to make it to the semi-finals.

Unfortunately that’s where our journey came to an end.  We got beat by Syren, Bree Lancaster, and Merrick Wiseman.  Granted, Lexi Von Aaron took the fall and the old saying is that you win as a team and lose as a team but I can’t help but blame myself for that loss.  I cannot help but ask myself if I had prepared more, if I had worked out and trained more, would things have turned out differently for us?

That’s not going to happen this year!

It isn’t going to happen this year because I want this Trios Contract now more than ever and more than anyone else selected for this opportunity.  Helena Merriman is still new, still young, and still has a lot left to give.  Amy has been with us a while but even she still has many years left on the clock whereas I’m not guaranteed that.  And even though I could care less about Ravyn Taylor, she also has plenty of time to add more to her illustrious career.

I’m not guaranteed that extra time, so I NEED this opportunity more than them!

I won’t waste anyone’s time by going down the list of each and every athlete entering this tournament, but the fact is that they know if they’re young, they’ll have plenty of opportunities ahead of them in what will hopefully be a long career.  And if they’re veterans, then they’ll know that they’ve had plenty of opportunities already and they’ll get plenty more where that came from.

I’m not guaranteed any of that and that’s a fact.  I have to make my opportunities and The Trios Tournament is my opportunity.  It’s the same opportunity that a young kid like Owen Cruze has, an opportunity of a lifetime to make the world remember him forever not for being the son of someone else but for being himself…for being the first Owen Cruze.

This is an opportunity for an excellent athlete in Sienna Swann to prove that she is worthy of world title contention.  She just hasn’t had the opportunities handed to her.  But with Trios she can create her own opportunity and take that next step to a world championship.

And me?  What can I do with this Trios Contract?

The Trios Tournament itself would prove to the world, and more specifically myself, that I am one of the best ever, that I am far from being Angelica’s sidekick in The Sisterhood.

No offense intended to Angelica.

And maybe, just maybe, I could use that Trios Contract to reach up and grab that brass ring I spoke of earlier?  It’s cheesy, it’s corny, and many of you would call it an unoriginal use of a Trios Contract.  But I don’t really care.  I think using it for a world title shot is an excellent idea.  Do you know how many world championships I’ve won in my fifteen year career?

Two.

Do you know how many times I got to challenge for a world championship in my career?

Two.

On the one hand I could spin that pretty damn good by saying I’ve won every one on one match where I challenged for the world title.  But dig a little deeper and you realize that I’ve only received two one on one opportunities at the world championship.

It’s sad.  And the truth is, I deserve it.

Sienna, Owen, and I all want this.  We want it badly.  And I really want it.  I want it so bad that I can taste it.  And the three of us, we’re going to make our own opportunities by mowing through the competition in the Trios Tournament.

I think that about wraps things up here…except I think I’m forgetting something important…

…oh yeah!

Sienna, Owen, and I are going to kick their teeth right down their throat!

Concerns

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Present Day

Off Camera

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It’s early in the morning of the second day of 2018.  Few people are up and about right now at this early time of the day. Most are still in bed, enjoying a decent sleep.  But Kayla Jones cannot afford to rest on her laurels.  2017 was not the best of years for The Sisterhood.  Sure, they did manage to win back the SCW World Tag Team Championship from the Honor Code in 2017, but they lost the belts right back to Cruze and Helms almost immediately after winning them.  From then the sibling pair went on a long losing streak that only recently snapped with victories over a local talent tag team, The Network, and finally against Team Desire.

Tomorrow the superstars of Supreme Championship Wrestling will kick off 2018 with its first Breakdown event of the New Year and Kayla Jones is bound and determined to whatever she can to make sure that the New Year kicks off the right way for herself and her sister.  But 2018 begins with a singles match for Kayla, a match against former SCW World Champion Thirteen.

Winning builds momentum and any win she can pick up, especially a win over someone like Thirteen, would be huge for The Sisterhood going into 2018, but there is something else that bothers Kayla Jones as she makes her way across the red carpeted floor of the hallway of her hotel room where she is staying in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.  The Steel City is playing host to Breakdown and that’s what brings Kayla and her sister to this hotel.

You wouldn’t know it based on the look on her face, but Kayla is concerned.  She is very concerned.  Kayla has a reputation for being the more mentally and emotionally strong member of The Sisterhood.  It seems as if nothing ever bothers her but the truth of the matter is that she is just good at hiding it better.  Her sister, Angelica, is very emotional, and she almost always lets things bother her more than they should.  Evidence of that is the fact that Angelica spent time in a mental institution due to the harsh experiences of her life.  Kayla had equally harsh experiences but she’s never had any outward mental issues.  She’s always kept them to herself.

This is one instance that Kayla cannot just keep bottled up, not after the conversation she had with her niece, Marie Annabelle Jones just the other day before the trip to Boston…

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Flashback

Off Camera

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Marie and Arthur don’t live too far away from the rest of Marie’s family.  They are very close and they remain in close proximity in Boston, Massachusetts.  So it shouldn’t be any surprise that a few minutes drive away is the home of Kayla Jones.  Arthur Pond was right, Kayla Jones also seems to have her head on straight. She also seems to have her bearings.  No major issue or crisis seems to bother her right now.  Perhaps Kayla is the one other Jones with a clear head who could relate to what Marie is going through right now and could offer her some much needed advice.

This is what brings Marie to the home of Kayla Jones on this day.  Kayla and her niece are in the dining room, which is quite exquisite. The walls were covered with a shimmering gold paper and in the middle of the ceiling above the carved oak table was a candelabra. Down the center of the table was a runner with Celtic design woven in gold and green into the fabric itself. At the end of the table were floor to ceiling french doors, left slightly ajar to let in the scented summer air. The polished silver cutlery was heavy to the hand and shone brightly in the early evening light. At each place stood a tall empty wine glass and there were beautifully folded napkins to match the runner. All that was missing was the food and the guests, but there are no guests coming.  This is just all for show; Kayla, after all, enjoys the finger things in life.

“Find a seat, Marie.” Kayla states, motioning to the table. “I’ll get the wine.”

“No thanks, Aunt Kayla.” Marie answers, declining the offer by shaking her head. “I just through sharing a bottle with Arthur.”

“Fair enough.” Kayla grins knowingly. “But I hope you don’t mind if I have some for myself.”

“Knock yourself out.”

Kayla reaches into the refrigerator and produces a bottle of Cabernet sauvignon.  Smiling pleasantly, the elder Jones pours some of the wine into a glass.  She places the bottle of wine back into the refrigerator and then takes her glass of wine and sits down at the table across from her niece.

“You never did tell me the purpose of this trip.” Kayla begins, breaking the ice. “Not that I’m complaining, I always love it when you visit, but you never do visit,” Kayla winks at Marie “so you can see why I might be confused.”

“Yeah, I do,” Marie answers with a chuckle “and you’re right, I came here with a purpose.  I need your advice.”

“I’ll help you in any way I can, Marie.” Kayla takes a sip of her wine.

“Mom is losing her mind, I think we both can see that…”

Kayla sighs and nods her head, agreeing with her niece.  Marie then continues.

“…then there’s Kimberly, who has always had a hard time remaining stable, and while I’ve tried to help her, it’s obvious that she still isn’t completely well…”

“Do we even know if she’ll be better at all?” Kayla asks.  As soon as she says this she notices Marie wince.   Feeling a tinge of guilt, realizing that Marie does care about Kimberly even if Kayla herself may not trust Kimberly, Kayla shakes her head. “Sorry, Marie.  That came out wrong. I didn’t mean it.”

“No, it’s ok aunt Kayla, because you’re right, we don’t know if Kimberly will ever be ok.  Then there’s Jessica, who is suffering from a mental break of her own.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t look good for the Jones family right now.” Kayla remarks. “So what’s your point?”

“I can’t help but feel partially responsible and I want to help in some way.”

“Oh Marie,” Kayla chuckles and shakes her head “first of all, you being responsible for any of that is laughable.  Your mom snapping the way she has is because of what we found out about our parents, your grandparents.  That secret is what caused her mind to go.  Not you.  There were also outside forces impacting both Kimberly and Jessica.  You had nothing to do with that situation, either.”

“But couldn’t I have made a difference had I been there for them?”

“Perhaps, but you shouldn’t feel guilty for it.” Kayla takes a sip of her wine.

“Regardless, I was taught by mom that we as members of the Jones family need to be there for one another and I want to do something make this better.  But…” Marie sighs and shakes her head “…the priest and Arthur both are warning me against that.”

“Are they really warning you against that?” Kayla asks. “I find it unlikely that Father would suggest you ignore family.”

“But Arthur did specifically tell me that if I put too much time into this, if I invested too much effort into fixing the family, that my career might suffer.  Aunt Kayla, I’m prepared to make whatever sacrifice is necessary to help this family, to help my mom and my sisters.”

“I see.” Kayla answers with a warm grin. “Well, now that I know the whole story let me disappoint you by saying that I agree with Arthur and Father.”

“What?!” Marie exclaims. “You can’t be serious!”

“Very.” Kayla states. “Look, family is the most important, but your career ranks right on up there.  And if your mother was in her right mind, I don’t think she’d want you to sacrifice what amounts to a world title shot for her.”

“But…”

“Listen to me, Marie.” Kayla states strongly. “You came in fourth place in that battle royal to qualify for the contender series.  You qualified but you placed FOURTH.  Then you lost a triple threat against Alistair and Ace.  I would be damn proud to say that my niece was the SCW World Champion but to even get the title shot, let alone win the title, you need to pick up the pace in this contender series.  You can’t let yourself be distracted.”

“But I can’t ignore my family.” Marie insists.  “Never again ignore my family.  I did that before it cost me.”

“No one is asking you to ignore your family.  I think we all just want you to find a balance between your family and your career.”

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Present Day

Off Camera

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Kayla was originally content with just letting Angelica be Angelica and ignoring the whole situation.  But after given time to think it over, Kayla has decided that it may be a good idea to confront her older sister, to try and help her in any way she can.

That is what family is for, right?

Kayla stops in front of one of the hotel room doors. Kayla reaches into her pocket and produces a key card; Angelica gave Kayla a spare key card to her room just as Kayla gave Angelica a spare key to her room.  She inserts the key card and she hears the door unlocking.  Kayla pushes it open and then steps inside, letting the door shut behind her.

“Angelica?”

Kayla walks further into the room.  She finds her older sister on the bed wearing a beautiful black white ruched mesh adorned corset with a subtle pleated frill at the top and trim along the bottom line to add a very elegant lady feel, coupled with lace sheer thigh high stockings complete the look.  Kayla chuckles lightly, which catches the attention of Angelica who sits up quickly and turns to stare at her younger sibling.  Kayla has a smirk on her face.

“You certainly look comfortable.  Enjoying yourself?”

“You really are not as funny as you think, sis.” Angelica answers as she swings her legs over the side of the bed she was lying on, sitting up straight so she can look her sister in the eyes as they talk. “And you can knock off the smart ass attitude around me.”

“Oh but didn’t you know?  I’m a bitch.” Kayla says, walking further into the room. “You should know this by now.”

“I do know this.” Angelica says, grinning wickedly.  Angelica then pats the bed, motioning for Kayla to sit down next to her.  Kayla nods and sits down on the bed next to her older sibling. “What I don’t know is why you decided to come over?  You do realize that you woke me up early this morning?”

“Bullshit.” Kayla states definitively. “You never sleep in.”

“Fine, you got me,” Angelica rolls her eyes “but a girl can try, can’t she?”

“Not you; you never break your habits.”

“I could sleep in if I wanted to.  It isn’t like I have a match for Breakdown tomorrow.” She pokes her sister in the chest. “But you do.  Thirteen, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.” Kayla responds, nodding her head.

“Well if you’re trying to recruit me so I’ll help you prepare for that match you’ll have to wait.” Angelica motions to her lingerie clad body. “Obviously I’m not dressed for any sort of strenuous activity.”

“Actually, there is one strenuous activity you ARE dressed for, sis.” Kayla says with a wink and a wicked grin.

“Shut up!” Angelica says, her cheeks going flush red. “That’s between me and Aphrodite.”

“Right and you should keep that to yourself at all costs,” Kayla says shaking her head vehemently, “I don’t want to know what you and her do in your private time.  I don’t even want to think about it.”

“You still don’t like her, do you?” Angelica asks inquisitively.

“I don’t trust her, Angel.  There is a difference.”

“A lot of people told you that Trenton wasn’t to be trusted.  But you married him.”

“True enough...” Kayla’s voice trails off.

“Right, well you just sit there,” Angelica stands up “and I’ll go to the bathroom, get changed into something a little more decent, and then we can be on our way.”

“Actually,” Kayla stands up and stops Angelica “you can sleep in if you want, after we talk, that is, because I didn’t come to drag you out of bed and help me train.  Trenton is a wrestler himself and a former world champion to boot, he can help me with that.”

“Oh,” Angelica’s face furrows into one of confusion “so what do you need to talk about?”

“To put it bluntly,” Kayla sighs “you…”

“Me?!”

“Yes, you.” Kayla nods her head. “Listen, Angel, your daughter came to me the other day.  Marie is very worried about your mental stability.  She can tell that you’re just about ready to snap if you haven’t snapped already and, to be honest…”

Kayla’s voice trails off again as she isn’t sure she wants to finish that statement.  Angelica finishes it for her.

“…you’re worried about me too?  You think I’ve snapped?”

“You haven’t been the same since the European Tour, Angel.” Kayla points out with tears forming in her eyes. “I’m sorry but whatever happened to you in Europe, it’s changed you.  It’s affected your mind.”

“I’m sorry too, Kay, but I found out that our parents lied to us all our lives, not to mention both of them abandoned us to boot.  Knowing that you’ve been living a lie and that you’ve been adoring and idolizing a liar is enough to drive anyone crazy. So can you blame me?”

“I don’t blame you, sis.” Kayla remarks, shaking her head. “I just think that you need to consider getting professional help.”

“No!” Angelica shakes her head. “I will not go back to the loony bin!  I will not!”

“No one said you had to be institutionalized again!” Kayla exclaims, placing her hands on her older sister’s shoulders in order to calm her. “I just suggested you get help.  That’s all.”

Kayla gazes deep into Angelica’s eyes and notices tears forming as she begins to cry.

“I’m scared, Kay.”

“Scared of what?”

“I’m scared that if I do go get help…professional help…that I will potentially get sent back to a mental institution, and that I won’t get out.”

“Oh, Angel…” Kayla embraces her sister in a tight, loving, sisterly hug “…I know you’re frightened, I know, but for the sake of the family, and for your own health and well being, you should at least consider getting help.”

Kayla breaks the embrace and then shakes her head. “Getting help doesn’t automatically mean being institutionalized.”

After a long pause Angelica sighs and finally nods her head. “Ok…”

“Ok?”

“Ok, I’ll consider it.  But that’s all I can tell you right now, Kay.  I’ll consider it.”

==========

On Camera

==========

Goodbye 2017, I’d say it’s been fun but I’d be lying; the United States political system in a nightmare scenario, so many musical legends dead, shootings everywhere, and my New England Patriots actually got beat by the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs of all people!

And that’s not even to mention the tumultuous year 2017 was for The Sisterhood.  We did manage to win the SCW World Tag Team Championship from Shaun Cruze and AJ Helms. The supposedly unbeatable Honor Code was beaten by The Sisterhood, proving that we still belonged in the upper echelon of this tag team division.  That was nice.  But then we lost them right back to Cruze and Helms and was on a losing streak a mile long ever since.

Thankfully we snapped that losing streak before 2017 came to a close.  Still, 2017 was not kind to my sister or myself so I say goodbye and good riddance to 2018.  And trust me, I am definitely looking forward to a new and oh so prosperous year. I am looking forward to creating opportunities and making waves in 2018.

That’s right, I am.

Yes, The Sisterhood does have plans for 2018.  We still want those tag titles and we want to be three times the SCW World Tag Team Champions.  I think our recent victories over Team Desire and The Network have proven that The Sisterhood is still a force to be reckoned with in the tag team division and you had better believe that we will hold true to our New Year’s Resolution of making sure 2018 is our year.

But I am a part of The Sisterhood, so making 2018 OUR year can begin with me and it will begin with me reminding the entire wrestling world that Kayla Jones is more than just a tag team wrestler.  I have a great singles track record as well.  I can take anyone down on my own.

It just takes one kick to the face and you’ll be out cold on the mat.  Flat on your back.

So I thank SCW management for giving me the challenge of having to deal with Thirteen on Breakdown from Pittsburg.  I thank SCW management for letting me face someone like Thirteen because this is my chance to compete against a former world champion, because not only do I get a chance to test myself against one of SCW’s best, but also two things will happen to me when…not if…I beat him:

I’ll be bringing all the momentum in the world to The Sisterhood.

I’ll force the world to sit up and take notice of what Kayla Jones is capable of.

So Thirteen, I wish you the best of luck, we’re definitely going to have a hell of a match, but I’m going to have to play spoiler to your party.  I’m coming to win and I’m coming to kick your teeth right down your throat.