The Story: Part One

[Tritch.]

W H A T   C O M E S   A F T E R   T H E   O R I G I N   S T O R Y

10/16/15

Atlanta, Georgia

The Brute Camp (formerly Golden Gloves Gym)

I know what you’re thinking. Something like you’re probably used to doing that or… or… just another Friday morning for Becky. Well, you’re wrong. I got this incredible body through hard work and healthy nutrition, bitch. Because the truth is, I hate… puking. It makes my throat burn, it smells bad, and it is so not cute.

“You’re okay. Just let it out,” he wasn’t trying to patronize me, but it felt like it. In fact, I think this might be the first time Mason Mannion has ever been genuine to me. Kinda ni- here we go again. “Jesus, Bex. What did you eat last night?”

He called me Bex. Nobody calls me that but my brother. It felt weird hearing it come from him, but he probably just said it as a subtle way of calling me a little, female version of Rex. I run a finger through my hair, finally falling backwards away from the toilet bowl to lean onto Mason’s legs. Looking up at him with a frown, he offers that goofy smile in return. “I think I’m nervous.”

“Of course you’re nervous, kid. You’re making your big debut next week. All eyes are going to be on you, including mine and Rex’s,” he helps me to my feet, but his words are only making my nerves worsen. Maybe I shouldn’t have rushed into this. Three months ago I didn’t know a suplex from a DDT, and now I’m stepping into the ring with a girl who, while she only made her debut a few months ago, has lived the business since she was little.

“Stop psyching her out. You’re going to do great, Becky. I believe in you,” Rex’s voice calmed me. Whenever he spoke it brought a smile to my face, and this time was no different. Mason handed me a paper towel and I sneakily wiped a bit of, well… you know, from my face before walking up to him.

“Are we going to keep pushing it hard through the weekend?” I was already considering skipping school today, just posting up here in the gym with Rex and Mason and training from sun up til sundown. But I know Rex thinks me finishing high school is more important than a few extra hours of training.

“Nah, well- when we’re here, I’m going to push you hard. But we’re going to cut back to one session now. You need rest more than anything, you don’t want to outdo yourself before the big day,” he says as he grabs a white wash cloth and splashes water on his face.

“What do you want me to do if I see Katie?” Rex groans, turning off the water and sighing as he wipes his face with a dry towel.

“I’m your trainer, not your life coach,” he began to walk back out to the training area, setting a towel on my shoulder. “Who you’re friends with is up to you, I’m just going to make sure you’ve got what it takes to win matches.”

I expect a smirk or a wink or something, but the look of dejection on his face tells me everything. Something definitely happened, but he won’t tell any of us what it was. I looked up at Mason with a disgruntled look and he just shrugged. “Hey, I’m teaching him how to people, not her.”

~ *** ~

The camera comes to life, a dimly lit light in the back and the black cloth of a t-shirt covering most of the lens. The sound of a throat clearing can be heard and then the cloth moves on the screen to reveal the smiling face of Becky Santiago. She waves at the camera and then spins around in her chair, before settling back in front of the lens.

Hey guys! I’ve been thinking about making this video for a while, but I wasn’t really sure what to do, or… say. I’ve been training for a couple of months now, but no amount of time in the ring gets you ready for this, even though it seems like it’s just as important as what you do in the ring. Personally, I’d like to let what I do in the ring speak for me. And maybe it will, but until then I guess I have to do this.

So hi Kennedy. I’m looking forward to our match a lot, and as much as I want to I’m not going to try to claim that it’s more important to me than it is to you. Your family has been in this business for three generations, so I can only imagine the amount of pressure on you to succeed. And to be completely blunt, I’ve only known what this business is for a couple of months.

People probably look at me and see some teenage brat, and a few weeks ago they might’ve been right. But just because I’m young, and just because I haven’t known about this business as long as others, doesn’t mean I haven’t fallen just as in love with it as all of you are. The way that I feel when I’m in the ring learning is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

So I’m going to keep learning, and I’m going to keep fighting. And eventually I’ll prove to everyone that I’m not just the little blonde brat that they all see. Kennedy, I’m going to throw everything I’ve got at you, and I know you’re going to do the same. And no matter what happens in the end, I hope that we can both be happy with what we left out there, because that’s what this is all about right? Leaving it all in the ring.

See you in Greensboro.

She winks and leans forward, reaching up to the computer. With her other hand she blows a kiss at the lens, and then the screen turns black.

~ *** ~

“That felt awkward,” my face frumples as I spin around in my chair, glancing at Mason in the doorway.

“Yeah, it looked awkward,” he smirks at me shaking his head before walking out into the gym. I follow him out as he hops up onto the canvas, turning around to me. “But it’ll come to you, you just have to give it time.”

“You’re probably right, but… should I even upload it? I can probably just shoot something again,” I grab a water as I pass by the counter and fall down into a steel chair.

“You can’t, you recorded it live. It’s already out there,” I laugh at his response but when he looks at me quizzically I realize it wasn’t a joke. My heart starts to beat faster so I quickly pull out my phone, opening my Facebook page to see that it’s true. The video is already out there, already getting views, already- “What? What’s wrong?”

“If this is already out there, then-” the bells connected to the front door jingle and my heart sinks. I clamp my eyes shut, crossing my fingers and holding my breath as I slowly turn around, but when I open my eyes. “Mom, I can explain.”

~ *** ~