Post by Tyrant Warstein on Mar 7, 2021 16:50:22 GMT -5
Chapter 9: A Nexus Being
“Hey Mom.”
I lean on the counter in my mother’s kitchen inside her San Francisco home. The house looks like it’s straight out of the 80’s. Wood paneling on the walls, all sorts of off white paint, and the linoleum flooring.
“I’m coming.” Edith Boyle, my mother calls from the other room. The scraping of something against the floor echoes in the hallway.
“Do you need any help?” I ask.
“No. I’m almost there.” She turns the corner. Well she wheels around the corner. Both legs are in casts, and there are rub marks on them from the walls. “Do I look like I need help?”
“I mean.”
“Shush boy. I’m still your mom.” She reaches over to smack me but couldn’t quite reach. “I brought you in…”
“And you’ll take me out.” I smile. “Well that’s if you don’t get t-boned on an intersection. Right?”
“Funny.” She gave me a crinkled face. “How’d your proposal go again?”
“Ouch mom… but not doing that was kind of your fault.” I chuckle to hide the pain.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever.” She spins the chair around and bashes her leg into the table. “Fuck.”
“Mom, you need to relax. That’s why I’m here.. you know to help.” I grab the back of the chair and wheel her into place. “And that’s why I hired live-in help. Because I’m it going to be here much longer.”
“No Shawn. I don’t want that.” She pleaded with me for just a second.
“Want? No. Need? Yes.” I grab a glass of coffee off of the counter and set it across from her. “That’s why I have to go clear out the spare bedroom. They will be here this afternoon.”
“Just don’t.”
“Nope. Sorry Ma. You’re under my roof. My rules.” I smile as that’s the first time I’ve been able to use that line. I begin to walk away towards the hallway. “By the way, hate the way you’ve decorated the house.”
Walking down the hallway I look at all the photos she has hanging. All family photos that end when I was about ten, when dad left and I’ve seen him once in passing since.
I open the door to the bedroom and it’s nothing much. Bed, nightstand, old tube TV, with a VCR and a few tapes on top of it. I grab one of the tapes and blow the dust off of it. The particles hang in the air.
“You know what I find funny?” I ask no one in particular. “I find it absolutely hilarious that some people seem to think that Big Drip are some sort of serious threat to Legacy. I mean I get it they beat… who exactly to get to this point?” I drum my fingers across my chin.
“Go ahead and think on that for a moment. What have you done to even begin to stake a claim at what I fought for? This isn’t going to be for the faint of heart. I’m going to beat you just the way your daddy should’ve. I’m going to make an example out of you, Sauce. See I was perfectly fine cruising along winning, enjoying the fruits of my labors, and then the Myo incident happened.” I shake my head and smile. “It was right then that fun Shawn left the building. I wasn’t about to be made a fool of anymore. I was more than content hanging out in the tag division. It’s fun here. It’s relaxed here, but most importantly… no one can touch Legacy.”
“And in just classic booking fashion here Legacy is split up for the evening and left to fend for ourselves. Let me let you in on a little secret.” I lean forward holding the VCR tape in my hand. “If you think we are good as a team… we are even better by ourselves. I was brought up as a singles wrestler. It’s all I’ve ever known. And I’m fucking great at it. I can’t say the same about you. I saw that you said on Twitter you were going to take this more seriously.”
“Good I’m glad. I want you to bring your best. I want you to have all the confidence in the world. I need you to have that, otherwise it wouldn’t be nearly as fun for me. I can’t describe the feeling I get when I watch someone hype themselves up so much that they forget the single biggest thing in this industry. There can only be one winner or loser…. well mostly.” I roll my eyes. “Sometimes it’s just easier to avoid confrontation and ruin someone’s life instead. Shucks, I can’t ruin your life any more than I already have, yeah? Well let’s find out then.”
I look over the tape and it reads ‘Summer 1995’. I put the tape in the VCR and press play. The screen comes into focus, but I couldn’t help thinking about what happened to the ring box after I had lost it.
The sky blue box comes into frame as the taillights from the car begin to fade away. A female hand slowly picks up the box and an audible sigh is heard. “Well what do we have here?” The Grecian tones of Osira Themis hang in the air as she holds the box in her hands. “Well let’s see what's inside this little thing.” With curiosity getting the better of the younger Themis, she slowly takes the lid off of the box. Nestled inside is a ring fit for a princess. The only thing missing was the large diamond centerpiece. Emblazoned down the side are diamonds, all set perfectly in the pristine white gold band. “Did he run out of money?” The younger Themis thought to herself, as she just shakes her head in disbelief. “What...does she have to earn the prize? Is she not good enough for the whole thing?” Osira takes the small box and heads back towards the party, tossing the box in her hands flippantly. As she opens the door she notices everyone still gathered. Atara is conversing with Noah over by the DJ Booth, while Sloane has taken up residence by Jax and Seb, enjoying the conversation as laughs are all around. Betsy and Raven are dancing to the music blaring. The rest of the Themis family are scattered throughout the gathering, as Osira walks right up to the booth. “Give me the mic” Osira demands from Noah. “Oi cunt…” Noah looks at her with a puzzled expression on his face. “A please would be nice.” “Listen, give me the microphone and I’ll make sure you stay a baritone.” She smiles with a devious demeanor on her face. “Or I’ll castrat…” “Osira.” She was cut off by Atara. “Be nice to Noah.” “Yeah. Be nice to me.” Noah smiles widely in a very childish manner. “Just kill the music and give me the mic. I need to address the room.” A serious tone from Osira, which isn’t all that far from the norm. Noah reaches down and grabs the mic. Tapping on it a few times, as the loud bellows from the feedback reverberate throughout, as all eyes fall on Noah. He quickly points to Osira while holding his hands up. With a quick press of a button the music stops. Osira rolls her eyes as she walks to the middle of the room. “Hello everyone.” The fakest of smiles is plastered on her face. “I’m just glad that we are all here tonight. I want to thank the man who brought us here to celebrate Legacy. Shawn…” Osira holds her hand out, gesturing towards everyone. She begins to nod her head. “That’s right. The man who brought all of us here tonight, couldn’t stay. He’s having mommy issues.” Osira places a hand under her eye and mimics crying. “Whatever. Don’t you all find it just a tad bit convenient, that he brings us all here just for him to run out in such a rush? Leaving all of us here to..” Osira shivers her shoulders. “Mingle with one another?” “Like you…” She points to Sloane. “What are you doing here? Do you meet a quota? I’ve never seen you in the same room with Shawn or anyone here for that fact, yet you were determined worthy enough to be here? Seems kind of suspicious if you ask me.” “And why is my entire family here?” Once again she gestures towards everyone gathered. “Well we all know why Legacy is here. Him and his unhealthy attachment to them. Calling them his family.” “Family… huh…” Osira turns to her sister Atara. “You. You are the reason we are all here.” “O, stop it.” Atara tries to get her younger sister’s attention. “No.” Defiantly Osira continues on. “Look around the room, sister. Is this a typical Shawn Warstein gathering?” She walks over to the table where all the drunk ladies are set up. “Where’s the bourbon? Where’s the whiskey? Come on sister, you had to have known something was up from the second you walked into this place.” “It’s no secret that he prefers to spend his time with you away from everyone. He thinks he’s protecting you. The White Knight himself.” She scoffs and smiles. “Even though he can barely save himself. So tell me sister… what’s this all about?” “Just drop it Osira.” Atara snarls at her younger sister. “No one knows why we are here.” “We don’t?” Osira turns towards James and Betsy. “Surly his tag team partner…” “Oi cunt!” Noah interjects. “My apologies.” Osira shrugs. “Surely his GOOD tag team partner, and the woman he calls his sister know what’s happening?” Both Betsy and James shake their heads. “Thought so. Anyone not a part of the Themis family know why we are here?” Osira points towards Atara. “That doesn’t include you dear sister.” Most everyone gathered around, shake their heads. “Well let me tell you.” Osira retrieves the box from her pocket and holds it out for all to see. “Our dear friend Shawn was going to…” Atara grabs the microphone from Osira. As the two struggle for a second before Osira forcibly takes control. “He gathered all of us here to propose to my sister.” The look on everyone’s face quickly changed. Some were stunned, others were left with their mouths agape. “That’s right sister. He brought everyone here to propose to you.” Osira tosses the ring box to Atara who holds it in her hands like a small frail bird. “The junkie.”The hatred for Shawn coursing through her voice. “The degenerate. The scum on the name Themis. The man only concerning himself with his own ego and pride… wants to claim a goddess as his. Pathetic, it’s why πατέρας isn’t here. Go ahead sister. Open it up and see how much he truly cares for you.” Atara begrudgingly opens the box, and finds exactly what Osira saw earlier. An ornate ring missing its center stone. What Osira didn’t know was that Shawn had given Atara that diamond several months ago. It didn’t take Atara long to put the pieces together. “Couldn’t even…” as Osira continues but falters off as Atara hands the box to James. “James make sure he gets this.” Atara then turns her attention to Osira. “That’s enough. You can stay if you want, but this right here, what you're doing, is done. I won’t allow you to kick him while he’s down.” “He doesn’t deserve you.” Osira snarls. “He never deserved you.” “Thank you for your input on my relationship, but please keep it to yourself when you’re in a room filled with people that would die for him. Look around sister. You’re not getting the reaction you expected.” Osira grumbles to herself and tosses the mic back to Noah. The reaction wasn’t what she was looking for, because as soon as she was done Noah began to play music again, the party continued well into the evening, with only a few people talking about the earlier events. With the ring firmly in the hands of James Raven the camera cuts to static. |
The VCR comes to a sudden stop as I shake the cobwebs loose from my head.
“Man that would be fucked up that if that happened. Right? Could you imagine if someone ruined that for you, without your knowledge?” A slight smirk across my face. “Like imagine if you had this grand plan for yourself, only for someone to come along and ruin it to make themselves feel better about their own short comings. I know that shouldn’t be what this is all about, I should be talking directly to you.”
“Ok then.” A quick shrug. “Fuck you Sauce. I don’t know you. I don’t respect you. I think you’re an overhyped piece of living breathing shit. Like if you left tomorrow I wouldn’t bat a fucking eye. I would literally feel nothing. I can’t allow myself to even think of you as on equal footing with me, James, Betsy, the guy in catering, the one kid who for some reason buys your mix tapes. You are somehow lower than..” I gasp. “The Strader Family.”
“Too far I know. No one is that low, but that's just me letting you know where you stand. It’s Legacy, fifty feet of shit, Project Honor, then another thirty or so feet, and then Drip and Knox jockeying for position. Damn there I go again.”
The tape in the machine begins to rewind itself, this was clearly a top of the line machine when it first came out.
“See what’s going to happen on Friday, is going to be real simple. I’m going to dominate you. I know it. You know it. My mom knows it. Your mom knows it. Hell your mom already called me asking me to take it easy on you.” I shake my head in disappointment. “I told her, I can’t do that. I can’t allow your loving, doting son to ever think for one measly second that he is in my realm. She cried knowing that eventually You’d fall victim like so many other rappers in the industry…”
“Well I guess you’d have to be considered in the Industry for that to count. Sure a few teens will be upset, but you’d be like every other aspiring artist. Here today forgotten tomorrow. If that was a bad scenario…”
“I wonder what the worst case would be?”
Once again the VCR begins to play. I get lost in my own head and replay a scenario in my head that may or may not have happened.
| The sky blue box comes into frame as the taillights from the car begin to fade away. A female hand slowly picks up the box. “Hmmm, what’s this?” Atara Themis holds the box in her hands gently, as she looks up only to find no one around her. “I swear that man would lose his head if I wasn’t around.” She places the small box in her purse and heads back towards the party. Each step she takes weighs heavily on her mind. Does she look inside the box? Or does she not? The trepidation on her face was palpable. As soon as she walked back into the party she was greeted by a clearly tipsy Betsy Granger. “There you are.” Betsy slings an arm over Atara’s shoulder. “Did he get out of here okay?” Before Atara could answer Betsy could sense something was wrong. “Are you okay dear?”[/b_2 Betsy grabs ahold of Atara’s hand and asks once more as Atara zones out for a second. “Helloooo, earth the Atty. is anyone home? Are you okay?” “Yeah.” Atara shakes the cobwebs loose. “Of course dove. I’m fine. He’s fine. Let’s just continue this party yeah?” The evening goes about how you’d expect from a Legacy party. Drinks flowing through the night, people slowly funneling out. First the Themis family leave in a large group, followed by Betsy and Raven playfully embracing each other as they wave bye to everyone. Jax ends up carrying Noah out over his shoulder. Leaving just Atara and Sloane. “Hey girly, you ready to head out?” The bubbly personality of Sloane is readily evident and never hidden from sight. “Yeah. Just give me a minute.” “Whatever you need. I’m going to go order the Uber.” Sloane begins to talk away while pulling out her phone. Suddenly she stops. “Are there even Ubers out this far in the boonies?” “What?” Atara quickly looks up towards Sloane. “Oh Dove, there aren’t Ubers out here. Shawn set up a driver service. Just go out front and let the guys know.” “How would you know that? You weren’t a part of any of the set up.” Sloane quickly questions the Grecian. “If there’s one thing I know about Shawn, he will always make sure his friends get home safely. There’s alcohol, there’s a driver service.” Atara assures Sloane. Sloane nods and heads out towards the front of the house. Leaving Atara sitting in the remnants of the party by herself. Atara pulls out the blue box from her purse and holds it in her hands. Trepidation in her eyes as she wonders whether she opens it and breaks the trust of Shawn, or not and live blissfully ignorant of its contents. There’s no way of actually knowing what is in there, or if it’s actually for her. Atara continues to play with the box, tossing it between her hands. With each catch, she thinks to herself. ‘Yeah, open it.’ Toss ‘No, you don’t need to’. She tosses the box high into the air. It hangs suspended for what seems like an eternity, and she snatches it out of the air. “Eff it.” Atara takes to top off of the box and freezes for a moment. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Yeah of course she knew something was up tonight, and Shawn had been particularly insistent on the happenings of the evening. Atara slowly pulls out the ring and examines it closely. Thoughts swirling around in her head. ‘No, no, no, no. I’m not ready.’ ‘Am I ready?’ ‘Why now?’ ‘Does it matter?’ ‘He loves me’ ‘So much so he’s willing to do this?’ She continues to stare at it for a moment, before sliding it on her finger. As she holds her hand up, the jewels on the sides sparkle in the light. As she runs her finger over the empty center spot a smile finally comes over her face. ‘He really does plan for everything’ ‘Such an asshole’ ‘But I do lov….’ Atara is taken aback from her own thoughts as Sloane bursts back into the room. Atara quickly pulls her hand down and behind her back. “Atty, the car is here.” “Okay Dove. I’m right behind you.” Sloane quickly nods and bounces off out of the room. She takes one last look at the ring on her finger before placing it back in the box and covering it up. Atara takes a deep breath and follows Sloane to the car. They drive away into the night. **Several Days Later** The sun rises and a single ray shines on the face of the sleeping Atara. She gently lifts the arm that’s draped over her and sets it down. She rolls out of bed and quietly begins to dig inside of her purse. She pulls out the blue box as a slight smile comes across her face. Atara begins to search around the room. ”Now if I was Shawn and I was hiding something in here, where would I put it?” Atara walks right for the closet and swings the door open. “Well…. if he thought he lost it….” Atara places the box on the shelf right in front and gently closes the door. She climbs back into the bed and drapes Shawn’s arm over her once again as she nestles in next to him, leaving home none the wiser. As the camera cuts to static. |
A smile slides across my face as I sit there and nod. The pale glow of the CRT Television illuminating my face.
“She never said No. Well in my head she never said no. Yet when it comes to Drip, that’s all you get are No’s. Isn’t that right?”
“No, we don’t want to sign you to our label, we already have Dirt Nasty and Jamie Kennedy signed.”
“Listen here Bubba Sparkles, we don’t think you’re marketable.”
“I just wish you had a quarter of the talent as Whitey Ford. Pass.”
“We aren’t interested in a boy rap band right now. Maybe if you had teamed up with Paul Wall we could discuss this more.”
“After a while I know it hurts. Constantly being told that you aren’t worth some people’s time, or that you just don’t have what it takes.” I suck in air and click my tongue while nodding my head. “However it’s the truth. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that I think you’re not worth my time. Hell I don’t think anyone really is, but that’s me. A certified legend in this industry. I’ve garnered that respect. I’ve earned the ability to say…”
“Sauce, you are not worth my time.”
“So where in the grand scheme of things does that leave us? I can easily just decide not to show up. Not to give you my full attention. I can easily say, Project Honor this one is on you, and do what I always do. Yet how is that fair to you? I mean you didn’t ask for this…” I raise an eyebrow. “And if you did then you are dumber than even I think. So I’ll just assume you didn’t ask for this, irl make things that much easier for you in the long run.”
“So where do we all go from here? I have absolutely nothing to prove to anyone, anywhere at any time… you however do. You have prove you’re not a joke. That you are capable of winning, alone, without help, and against someone who you know deep down inside is light years ahead of you. I think you’re just going to come up a tad bit short…” I snicker to myself. “Well insert ‘That’s what She said.gif’ right here and let me move along to my next point.”
“What do Dirt Nasty, Jamie Kennedy, Bubba Sparxx, Whitey Ford, and Paul Wall all have in common?” I hum the Jeopardy theme song for a bit then snap my fingers. “If the answer was ‘Who are people who are more respected in the Rap Genre and have one more hit than Big Drip’ then you would be correct.”
“What? You didn’t think I was going to go the white rapper route? Nah…. that’s not like me. Good music can come from anywhere, just not from you. You’re so caught up on what people think about you that you cater to their whims. Okay then, I’ll accept one simple fact…”
“You may have the drip and sauce.”
“But I’ve got the juice.” I ponder for a second about what could possibly be next. When suddenly The VCR begins to whir again, and suddenly begins to play again.
| The sky blue box comes into frame as the taillights from the car begin to fade away. A female hand slowly picks up the box, by the pink color of the nail polish it readily apparent who has picked up the box. “Hmm…. that’s sus…” Sloane mutters to herself as she inspects the box. “This looks important.” A few seconds pass when curiosity gets the better of the Bubblegum Princess. She slowly opens the box and nearly drops it once she sees what’s inside. “Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!” Sloane squeals with excitement. “He was going to do it! He was actually going to do it!” Sloane begins to jump up and down when a sudden realization hits her. “If this is here, and he’s not, oh no! I’ve got to be the one to make sure this stays a secret. Until I can get it back to him.” Sloane begins to nervously tap on her chin with her free hand. “Okay… so he’s always all over the place. Travels constantly all over the world. We don’t talk all that much outside of twitter and the occasional phone call.” “Maybe Seb will help…” Sloane turns towards the party then stops and turns back towards the street. “No he’d post it to twitter immediately and ruin everything.” Slone begins to pace back and forth in the middle of the driveway. Constantly looking back at the party and then stopping right before heading back to the driveway. “Noah! I’ll give it to Noah….” Again she stops herself. “No. He’d tell her right away. Especially if Shawn wasn’t around.” “Jax?” Sloane’s eyes begin to rock back and forth as if she’s playing out the interaction in her head. “I don’t think he cares enough about it, but then again I don’t think he cares enough to not care either.” “Dammit Shawn, why is everyone in Legacy useless in this one scenario!?” Sloane huffs and stomps her foot. “Sure they can win titles, dominate basically anywhere they go, but keeping a huge ultra mega secret… I wouldn’t trust them with my coffee order.” Sloane continues her pacing. “I’m such a ditz. I’ll just call him. He will know what to do. He has a plan for everything. Wouldn’t be surprised if he has a plan for the plan’s plan.” Sloane pulls out her phone, and scrolls down to Shawn’s name. The light of the phone glows in the dark, as the low rumbling of the music is heard off in the distance. “Pick up. Pick up. Pick up.” With each passing second Sloane becomes more and more frustrated. “Hey, you’ve reached my voicemail. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you…. and no Noah you can’t take the slide with you to New York.” Shawn’s voice rings through her phone and quickly a beep is heard. “Hey Shawn. Quick question. I’ve got this box yeah? It seems like really important. What should I do with it? Call me back ASAP, well when you’ve got time…. It’s Sloane by the way.” She hangs up the call and continues to be flummoxed. “Hey Dove.” Sloane was caught off guard and didn’t notice Atara come up behind her. Sloane whips around and quickly conceals the box behind her back. “Heeey, Atty. what’s up?” Nerves cause Sloane to not make eye contact with Atara, who clearly senses something is amiss. “Everything okay Sloane?” Atara places a hand on Sloane’s shoulder, which she quickly pulls it away. “Relax Dove, just tell me what’s up. Was it something Noah said? I’ll take care of him, just come back to the party.” No it wasn’t Noah.” Sloane fiddles with the box in her hands. “I think I’m just going to call it an early night.” “Are you sure?” “Yeah. I don’t feel right. Think I might be coming down with something.” A quick obviously fake cough into her shoulder. Only for a second is the box exposed and it catches the eye of Atara. “What’s that?” She questioned as she reached for the box. “Nothing.” Sloane pulls the box back. “I just gotta go. Can you go get Seb for me?” “Of course.” A puzzled look comes across the face of Atara as she turns and walks back towards the party. “Whew that was a close one.” Sloane wipes her brow and huffs. After a few moments Sebastian comes walking down the driveway with a look of disappointment on his face and holding his arms out. “Shush, we gotta get to Dallas. Don’t ask questions. We will be there for a few hours and then we are leaving.” The two of them flag down one of the cars from the driver service and disappear from the party unbeknownst to the rest of the people at the gathering. **The Next Afternoon** A black Mercedes pulls into the driveway way of Shawn Warstein’s Dallas home. As the car comes to a stop, sitting in the driver’s seat is an unknown man, but in the passenger seat is Sloane. Only for some reason she’s not wearing a stitch of pink, and adjusts the jet black wig adorning her head. I’ll be just a minute, I’m just dropping this off and then you can take me back to the airport.”She smiles at the driver and exits the vehicle. She stands at the door, finger hovering over the doorbell before she pushes it and looks around making sure no one can see that she’s there. After a brief pause the door opens up. “What do you want?” The voice of Shawn’s younger son Jacob asks while opening the door. “Better yet, how’d you get past the gate?” Shocked and taken aback Slone smiles and peeks into the home. “Is Shawn here?” “Yeah.” Jacob nods. “He’s upstairs shooting a promo. Who are you? And does Atara know you’re here? Because it would be really bad for dad if you chose not to answer either of those questions.” “Listen kid…” Sloane pulls out the blue box and hands it to Jacob. “Shawn left this at the house he rented. It looks super important. I’m just dropping it off. Can you be a good little man and make sure he gets it?” “Don’t placate me… I’m not an idiot” Jacob grabs the box and without hesitation opens it up. “Oh…. Um…. yeah I’ll make sure he gets this.” “And mum’s the word?” Sloane asks. “Obviously. That it? Are we done here?” Jacob looks up at Sloane. “Listen here you little…” Jacob doesn’t wait for her to finish before shutting the door in her face. Sloane is angry for a second but then smiles. “That’s definitely his kid… and he has no clue what he’s getting into with Atara. Good luck kiddo, you’re going to need it.” Sloane turns from the doorway and walks towards the car that is patiently waiting, as the camera cuts to static. |
“That’s what all of this is about isn’t it?”
I lean forward and turn off the TV. The light from the nightstand is the only thing lighting up the room.
“See Sauce it all comes down to one thing and one thing alone. Family. Do I consider Sloane my family? I do. She’s like that overly happy cousin that is happy for everyone. She’s the one that no matter the situation she’ll have my back.”
“I pity people that don’t have what I do. I really do. I wish that people could see what drives me. What pushes me forward. Yet all everyone ever sees is the arrogance. The ego. The bad.” I lick my lips and shake my head. “They don’t see everything that goes into being me. I’ve been at this longer than you’ve been alive kid. Twenty years of busting my ass to get here.”
“All the time away from my kid. The long hours away from them. Missing out of birthdays, holidays and major moments. All so I could provide for my family. All so they wouldn’t have to live like I did growing up. All so they could be proud of what I’ve done.”
“So yes excuse me if I’ve got a bit of an ego. Or I’m arrogant. I’ve earned that right. I’ve fought for the right to look at someone standings across from me and immediately judged them for what they are. Do you know what most people are, Sauce?”
“Most of the time they aren’t worth my time, nor my effort. Yet here the two of you are… trying to take something that is MINE. Trying to show the world that we are the One Hit Wonders… still one more than you I might add… shit I already said that. Oh well. You had the same opportunity to take this title from us. We all competed in the same tournament. Only one team walked out with them, and you’re looking at one half of them.”
“I’m going to enjoy watching you fail, again and again and again and again… just because that’s all you’ve ever been. A fucking failure. A joke. A smear on this industry. Hell you don’t even want to be here. This is something you’re using to get your name out there and that’s because ‘baby you got no money’.”
“It’s people like you, who don’t want to be here, but instead use it as a means to an end is what really pisses me off. James and I have spent our lives working at this, and to see you two handed this opportunity, sickens me. I wish I could say that you being in this spot was nepotism, at least then there would be a solid reason.”
“I know you don’t know what nepotism is Sauce, and I’m not here to teach English. Google it.” I once again am getting whiplash from shaking my head. “Never send a child to do a man’s job. Someone call CPS.”
Suddenly the TV Turns on and the tape begins to play. I grab the remote and smack it a few times, as the video begins to play once more.
The sky blue box comes into frame as the taillights from the car begin to fade away. A female hand slowly picks up the box. “Oh dear.” Betsy holds the box in her hand. “What were you planning, Shawnzy?” She carefully opens the box. Her mouth drops. A sudden burst of excitement and a joyful scream. Which turns into her swirling around in a circle, while bouncing up and down. “He was going to do it!!!” Her eyes dart all around not noticing anyone around. “Shit….” The realization that Shawn had in fact misplaced the ring hit Betsy hard. Thankfully for her she had excellence waiting, but she needed to tell James. Betsy hurriedly walks back to the party. She shoves past several people, making sure to not disturb them too much. She reaches James who is holding a glass of somehow pink bourbon. “James…”Betsy grabs him and spins him around. “James we need to find Shawn.” “Relax Betsy, I’m sure he’s fine.” Raven sets his glass down and grabs Betsy by the waist. Pulling her in closely. “Don’t worry about him right now. Let’s just celebrate for the night and we can check in with him in the morning.” “No.”Betsy peels his hands away. “You don’t get it. This was never a celebration for Legacy.” “Yeah I know he’s arrogant, and it was eventually going to be all about him, but now.” James smiles and flags down the bartender for another round. “It’s all about us. Well us minus Shawn.” “Damn it James.” She stops her foot to the ground. “If you’re not going to help me then I’ll just get…” Betsy surveys the room. Not a single person there would be a benefit to her on this mission. “I’ll just do it myself.” “Do what you gotta do Thanos.” James leans over and gives the obviously frustrated Betsy a kiss. “Now go forth and set the timeline right!” James smiles as Betsy rolls her eyes and walks out of the party and right into the blue phone box that is Excellence. With a bright flash, the phone box disappears. **Meanwhile several Days later at Shawn’s Dallas home** “Wakey wakey.” The gentle touch of Betsy on the passed out Shawn. Empty liquor bottles strewn about the floor. Shawn mumbles something under his breath. “GET UP SHAWN!” Betsy rolls Shawn off of the couch. With a loud thud he falls to the ground. “Wha—-Ow… dammit!” Shawn slowly sits up and begins to rub his eyes. “What is your problem? Do you have any idea what time it is?” “Of course I do… do you?” She reaches down and helps Shawn to his feet. Clearly hungover Shawn points to the other room and they walk towards the kitchen. “What do you want ‘sister mine’?” Opening the fridge and burying his head deep inside Shawn questions. “When were you going to tell me?” Betsy cocks her head. “Tell you what?” Shawn pulls himself out of the fridge and raises an eyebrow towards Betsy. “Don’t play stupid ‘brother mine’...” Betsy reaches into her pocket and slides the ring box across the counter. Shawn catches it before it falls to the ground. “Now I ask again, when were you going to tell me?” “Huh. So that’s where that went.” Shawn shrugs and smiles. “What do you want me to say Bets…” Before Shawn could continue Betsy lunged in for a hug. Shawn manages to get her to back away after a moment. “I’m just so happy for you! And for her! And for…. well I don’t know who else Shawn! I’m just so excited to be a bridesma….” “Clearly it didn’t happen Bets. So you’re just gonna want to calm down with all of that.” Shawn smiles at Betsy. “Sorry. I’m happy you’re excited I truly am, but I don’t know when I’m going to have the opportunity to do it again.” “Don’t talk like that.” A small look of worry comes over Betsy’s face. “It’s not that I don’t WANT to.” Shawn looks down at the floor. “It’s I’m scared ‘sister mine’. What if she says No? What if she laughs in my face?” “Oh ‘brother mine’..” Betsy wraps an arm around Shawn’s shoulder. “You can’t plan the unplannable. If she says No, then you put it out there…. but Shawn… what about when she says yes?” “I guess….” Shawn gets a perplexed look on his face and before he could answer Betsy chimes in. “You never thought about that side huh?” Betsy nods and then smiles. “When she says yes, you've got a lot to learn.” “I know.” Shawn smiles. “But at least you’ve got me to guide you through everything, yeah?” “You’re right. Thanks.” Betsy and Shawn both smile at each other as the camera cuts to static. |
“And that’s just it?”
I lean back and lay down on the mattress in the guest room.
“You’ve obviously missed the point in all of this haven’t you? You’re sitting there confused as fuck right now aren’t you? You don’t see the thread that has been spun this entire time have you? Yeah herpes eventually attacks the brain, if left untreated.”
“It’s called the butterfly effect… no not Kallie. The actual meaning.”
“It’s where one small insignificant thing can change the future into many different outcomes. Yet what we’ve all witnessed since I’ve come to Project Honor is that I am a NEXUS moment in time and space. I am a constant that cannot be changed.”
“I am a moment that cannot be changed. Much like how the ring always found its way back to me.” I pull out the small blue box and toss it in the air and catch it. “Shawn versus Sauce will always end the same. There is no other way. There is no Dr. Strange and fourteen million different possibilities. This is one moment in time that cannot be changed.”
“Sauce I need you to listen very closely when I talk.” As I sit up on the bed. “I am going to beat the ever loving brakes off of you. I’m going to embarrass you so much, that no female would ever touch you again. I don’t like what I’m about to do to you…” A quick shrug. “I lied. I’m going to savor every second that you’re in the ring with me. Begging and pleading for the end to finally come. And when that time comes…”
“I’ll be seen as a kind tyrant as I end your time in the match. I’ll eventually relent and give you mercy…. then again, probably not. You haven’t earned or deserve mercy. You deserve euthanasia.”
The television fizzles out as I stand up, place the ring box in my pocket and quickly straighten the rest of the room. Placing the VCR and tapes into the closet. I head down the hallway and see my mom at the table. She looks up from her book and smiles. A knock on the front door draws my attention. As I open the door there stands Atara.
“Surprise!” Atara leaps into my unsuspecting arms, as I cradle her closely. My mother wheels her way towards the doorway and clears her throat.
“If you’re the help I don’t need it.” My mom snarls as Atara confusedly looks at her.
“No mom, this isn’t the help. This is Atara…” II quickly respond to diffuse the situation.
“Ohh.” My mother pulls me down by the shoulder and whispers into my ear. “She’s cute. Don’t fuck it up.”
“I‘ll try not to..” I said as I pulled away and began to lead the smiling Atara into the house. We all sit down at the kitchen table, as I place one hand on top of Atara’s and the other holding into the ring box in my pocket. As the camera finally fades to black.
