Annie's Story 043

[Deleted]

Friday 11th March,
It was just going to be a pit stop; Annie arrived home from her brief stay in North Carolina where she was visiting Chase ahead of what was supposed to be his LDFC debut – although the match never came to fruition – and now she just had to pack her bag ahead of the trip to England on Saturday.

And she could have the house to herself while doing so, since Dom was up in Boston trying to cross another name off his list. So Annie dropped her small travel bag on the sofa before she made her way through to the kitchen at the rear of the house.

She carries an envelope in her hand that her agent had sent her a few days ago; Annie was promised some of Marcus St Croix’s work so she could judge for herself, and make an informed decision.

Those photos are removed from the envelope and placed on the table, Annie looking at each one, not knowing quite to think. “I need coffee,” she says out loud to herself as she stumbles across the hard floor towards her beloved Keurig; coffee will always cure what ails Annie Zellor, even seeing her best friend go through a glass table in that death match recently, or her fiancé having his first match cancelled, or dealing with the stresses of planning a twenty-first birthday party, a wedding, and trying to make major career decisions…

“More wedding stuff, huh?” Dom says as he approaches the kitchen table.

Annie looks around in horror; he’s supposed to be on his way to Boston to meet Cobalt, that’s what he said in his text message! “No, Dom!” she protests, but it’s too late.

“That’s…” Dom chuckles to himself as he takes the first photo in hand, “…what kind of wedding are you planning?”

“No. You weren’t supposed to see those…” Annie whines as she tries to grab the photos out of Dom’s hand. And fails.

Harter browses through the small collection. “Monica Sims, September 2015. Roos Van Montfort, January 2014. Alyssa Arce, July 2013. Amanda Cerny, October 2011…” he pauses, “…if you didn’t want me seeing these then I have some bad news for you, I’ve seen them all before, kiddo.”

As he tosses the photos down on the table, Annie scrambles to collect them all together and put them back in the envelope away from prying eyes. She knows Dom’s going to ask questions now, and despite herself Annie hasn’t thought of a decent explanation for any of this. She braces herself for the inevitable though. “You want a coffee?” he asks, causing Annie to do a double take.

“Uh, yes please…” she hesitates, “…I was just gonna make a cup.”

“I thought I heard you say something about coffee,” Dom jokes as he grabs the K-cups down from off the shelf. The pair of them stand in silence as the coffee brews, but before long they each have a cup in their hands. “So…” he starts, “…you’re quiet.”

“It’s nothing,” Annie lies, “just a long few days.”

“I get that; I saw the GFP show, and the LDFC show,” Dom says before taking a sip of coffee. He sighs contentedly. “And now someone’s sending you naked photos in the mail, that’s got to be annoying!”

Her head bows down as Annie looks into her cup, averting her gaze from her roommate. “…don’t you have a plane to catch?” Annie asks after a pause; the joke apparently didn’t go over too well with her.

“I’ve got time,” Dom reassures her, “and bad joke, I’m sorry. But something’s bothering you, kiddo, you can talk to me if you want to. You know that.”

“I know, Dommy,” Annie starts, still looking down at her cup of coffee, “but right now all I wanted to have to do was plan my birthday party, and my wedding, and instead I’ve got this…” she casts her eyes down towards the envelope and sighs, “…and I can’t, Dom, I just can’t.”

She sobs gently as Dom puts down his coffee and hobbles across the kitchen to take Annie in his arms. Her face pressed against his chest as the tears begin to slowly trickle down her cheeks and against the fabric of his t-shirt. “Look, your birthday party was pretty much planned months ago. You’ve booked the package you want for the wedding, you’ve got your dress, the invites are sent out. You practically just need to show up now…” Annie cracks a wry smile, “…so whatever this new issue is, you’re going to be able to handle it. Ok?” He gives her an extra tight squeeze. “Now, what’s the problem?”

“Well…” she starts, wiping some tears from her eyes as the scene fades out.

---

Tuesday 15th March,
“Heyyy guys”, Annie waves at the camera, albeit the one on her phone that she’s holding in her other hand. Annie doesn’t appear to be heavily made-up – it’s a travel day, after all – although her hair has been straightened and is hanging over the straps of her grey tank top; a wide smile plastered on her face as she reclines back in her seat on the plane. “It’s just a change of location for this video ‘cause I dunno when I’m gonna be home next to record like I normally do. And right now we’re somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, and I’m here with Molly and Emily…” Annie spins the phone around to where the two aforementioned women are huddled over Molly’s tablet watching a wrestling video of some sort, “…say hi, guys!”

“Hi!” they both chant in unison as they wave at the camera. One of the benefits of flying in Molly’s private jet means they get the sort of privacy needed to do this in peace.

The camera turns back to a giggling Annie as she lowers her hand from in front of her mouth. “We’re on our way back from our appearance in SSWA last night, where The Whitest Girls You Know advanced to the semi finals of the Titan of Trios tournament. And that was, like, just the thing I needed after some of my recent matches. ‘Cause I’m not gonna lie, what happened at Canadian Stampede with Savannah really annoyed me…”

“It just sucks when someone you thought was your friend turns around and betrays you like that. But it’s done, and Savannah won like she reminded us last week on Vertigo.” Annie kinda shrugs, one corner of her mouth curling upwards as she does so. “I guess the only thing I can say right now is good luck in your match against Izzy; if there’s anybody who can take that Legacy title from her, it’s probably you.”

“And I hope you do…” Annie pauses, “…’cause like I said after Canadian Stampede, I’m not finished with you yet, Savannah.” She winks at the camera and giggles, raising her hand over he mouth once more. As the laughter subsides, Annie pushes her hair back behind her ear before she continues talking. “But after the pay-per-view, and what happened in GFP where I got attacked by three people…”

“And saved by The Crimson Baroness. Again!” Molly calls out from across the way, causing Annie to scowl momentarily; it’s true that The Crimson Baroness has saved Annie from two three-on-one beatdowns during the recent GFP shows, for reasons still unexplained to the general population.

“Thanks Molly…” Annie chirps, “…but after all that, the victory over the New Bird Order last night and this upcoming match against Ruby Tyler on Saturday night have just got me ready to rock again!” Annie exclaims, loudly, as she pulls a #grrface for the camera; the devil horns are raised, the eye brow lowered, and her lip curled upwards, before she giggles again.

“Like, after seeing what she did on the last episode of Vertigo – where she successfully debuted against that creep, Nero, and saved Kevin Hardaway from Yun and Cami! Seriously, that’s an amazing way to debut in a new company!” Annie states, “I had heard stories about Ruby before she signed with FGA, but it’s just really nice when the stories are not only true, but they’re good stories too. ‘Cause I know that Ruby and Kevin had problems…” Annie pauses, wondering if that’s the right word, “…in Exodus Pro. That’s putting it really lightly isn’t it? I don’t wanna undersell everything those two have been through together, ‘cause I hear it was intense. And it was so heated, and violent, and probably more, uh, extreme than any rivalry I’ve been through in my career.”

“Ruby may not even like him that much – despite what the fan fic says! But after all that, she can still save him from Yun and Cami – and seriously, I thought those two were still beefing!” Annie’s eyes widen in confusion as she stares at the camera with her mouth agape. “But to, like, borrow a phrase from my friend, that’s just unsmurfy! I know me and Kevin had sorta issues last time he was here in FGA,” she says referring to her elimination from the 2014 Gold Rush Rumble, “but I don’t wanna see that sorta thing happen to him. So thank you, Ruby, for running those two off.”

“It’s nice to see someone else willing to put themselves in harm’s way to save someone even after everything they’ve been through,” Annie would juxtapose it with her own saving of Dom Harter at Final Frontier, but this fact will escape her mind until it’s too late, “and that’s one of the reasons why I’m really looking forward to Saturday night.”

“And for the chance to welcome Ruby Tyler to FGA, and maybe show her what she can expect from the competition here. ‘Cause I know she’s faced the likes of Savannah, Aries, and Hardaway before,” Annie counts them off with her fingers, “but there’s so many competitors here she’s never faced before. So many first times she’s got coming. And I can remember what it was like coming to FGA after being in HKW, and just trying to get a grip with things here. So I’ll try and help Ruby get, like, the lay of the land around here.”

“And there’s no better way to do than by giving her a match to remember! I’ve said it before, but just two wrestlers going out there and putting on a show for the fans. Putting on a match that my Anniemaniacs in Salem, Virginia, and those watching at home on WGN America, will enjoy!” Annie gives the camera a thumbs up to accentuate the cheap plug. “Where we’re not trying to maim or kill each other, we’re just , like, striving to win, and be the best wrestler on the night. That’s the sorta match I love being in. And hopefully I can continue turning my 2016 around; the win last night was amazing, but I know I need to pick myself up by the bootstraps here in FGA…”

“I can’t make any more excuses for what’s happened so far – with Salem, the tag match, losing at Canadian Stampede – but I know I can do better. I know I’m letting all of my Anniemaniacs down, but I promise you all – I guarantee – you’ll be proud to be an Anniemaniac again soon. And it’ll start this Saturday night against Ruby Tyler.” Annie gesticulates for emphasis, “‘Cause I’m going out to that ring and giving that match everything I have. Even if I have to pop Ruby POW!” she feigns a hook at the camera, “Right in the kisser!” she giggles once more.

“See you Saturday!” Annie waves good-bye before giggling again as the scene fades to black.

---

Monday 14th March,
“And I’ve bought my dress already,” Annie says with a smile, “look, I’ve got a picture I can show you…” she reaches into her pants pocket and pulls out her cell phone. Laurel watches on as her friend unlocks her phone to access the gallery app. Once in, Annie pulls up the photo of a stunning white satin gown in an hourglass cut, with Swarovski-beaded lace over a plunging bodice, and a flared train. The smile on the youngster’s face grows wider as she gazes at the gown she’ll wear on her special day in two months time.

“Looks nice, hon,” Laurel replies as she studies the dress.

“I know right,” Annie enthuses, “but I’m only gonna get married once so I gotta make it as amazing as possible. And the chapel we’re using lets us use a pink cadillac to get from there to the Vegas sign, but Chase doesn’t want us to have the Elvis impersonator to sing a coupla songs. And Katie says you girls have made plans for the bachelorette party…” Annie nudges her friend.

Laurel smiles as she laughs. “Hah… Iunno anything about that, I’m sure. But lemme just say if you had your heart set on an least one Elvis impersonator over the time of your wedding week, you might be disappointed.”

“You could always get your jumpsuit out,” Annie suggests, shyly, “sing a li’l Viva Las Vegas with me.”

“Hm, I do enjoy wearing jumpsuits… Can we do it ironically? Slowed way down? Like… lounge or bluegrass or something?”

“Oh my God, can we do it like Shawn Colvin did!?” Annie exclaims in excitement

“Iunno,” shrugs Laurel, frowning a little, “I didn’t know she’d done it… I was just, y’know, thinking of something that takes the piss out of the materialism of the original...”

“She did this, like, down tempo cover, kinda folksy-popsy, maybe a li’l R&B-sy,” Annie tries to describe the cover song, her hands flailing as she talks. In the end, however, she looks perplexed as she sighs. “I dunno, it was in The Big Lebowski if you can remember how that goes.”

“One of the many, many films I don’t think I’ve ever seen sober,” laughs Laurel quietly.

“Never ever?” Annie sounds shocked. “I only watched it ‘cause Dom wanted to one night; it’s kinda weird, though…” she pauses, “...and speaking of weird, there’s something else I kinda need to talk to you about, you know, besides the wedding…”

Laurel shuffles back a bit, brow furrowing for just a moment at the hesitancy in Annie’s voice and asks, “Oh yeah?”

The serenity of the garden does little to put Annie at ease; it’s changed somewhat since she sat out here on New Year’s Eve with Kickass Smurf, watching the firework displays - maybe Jay finally cut out some more of the weeds and roughage, it’s tough to tell. And even though she knows it’s just the two of them out there, Annie still has to look around to make sure nobody is listening in to their conversation. “Umm,” she starts, her voice wavering, “I got an offer to appear in a magazine and I dunno what to do about it…”

As she raises an eyebrow, Laurel’s mouth closes. She’d been about to name particular magazines - International Journal of Wrestling, maybe - but her young friend’s tone is implying that it’s something very different. So she simply asks, “Which one?”

Annie stays quiet for a moment longer than necessary for the pause to be dramatic, her lips quivering as she takes a deep breath in. As she looks into Laurel’s eyes she speaks the name, “Uh, Playboy…” it comes out quieter than she wanted, “...Playboy want me to model for them.”

Laurel can’t help but giggle slightly at how self-conscious Annie is being about this. “Oh aye?” she grins, laughing lightly, “What d’you say?”

“I dunno,” Annie replies before realizing that doesn’t answer the question. She lowers her head and brushes some hair back behind her ears, buying herself some time, “I said no, but my agent told me not to be so dismissive and I should maybe think about it some more. ‘Cause, like, they’re doing non-nude magazines now, and they wanna do a girl next door feature, and a lot of wrestlers have done Playboy apparently…” she sounds flustered, “...and they sent me their latest issue and it’s not too revealing I guess. And they promised I wouldn’t have to do anything I’d be uncomfortable with - but it’s, like, a dirty magazine or whatever!”

The reply from Laurel is even and calm, and takes a little time as she thinks over her answer before replying. “Look… there’s only one reason you ever should do something like this, an’ that’s because you want to. Don’t let your agent decide for you. Don’t let the magazine people pressure you or anything like that; it’s your life, it’s your body. Whatever you do with it, you’re in control. Never let anyone else try to have it.” She hunches up slightly. “If you want to do it - not because you feel like you should, or because other people are telling you you should, but because you want to, inside, then that’s the only person’s opinion on it who matters.”

“Do I wanna, though?” Annie asks. “Like, I know it’s Playboy - they’re a nudie mag, and I don’t wanna be a nudie model. But now they don’t do nudes anymore! That issue they sent me had like three buttcracks in it, and that’s it…” she shrugs, “...otherwise it’s one long cologne advert with some articles. But then it’s like, they’re doing a Girls Next Door issue and they want me outta everyone who wants to be a Playboy model. And they want me to be a Playmate, so it’s like I’ll be Miss July 2016, and I can carry that with me for the rest of my life. And the extra exposure of me being in there might help my modelling in the future, or bring new fans to FGA…” another sigh as Annie pauses to catch her breath, “...so I dunno a reason why I don’t wanna say yes.” She pauses again, then asks, “Would you pose if they asked you?”

Without particularly considering it, Laurel replies, “No. I would turn ‘em down. But just because that’s what my decision would be doesn’t mean yours necessarily has to be the same.” She scratches the grass for a moment, then continues, “Listen, it sounds like you’re lookin’ for a reason to not do this. Is that because you just don’t want to an’ are worried you can’t find a good enough excuse, or is it that you do want to but you’re worried about what people are gonna think?”

“I dunno what I want. Like I said, I told my agent no when she told me about it,” Annie pauses, “I dunno, I might be worried about what people are gonna think of me. Dom said he thinks I should, ‘cause it’s like conquering my fear of people judging me - just being all like, here I am! Like I did with entering deathmatches after all the nigh--” she stops herself, “--nevermind. Honestly, though, would you think any different of me if I posed for Playboy?”

“No… I mean, you know I ain’t exactly a fan of Playboy. But I ain’t gonna look down on you if you do decide to do it.”

“Even if you see my buttcrack in a magazine?” Annie asks in semi-jest, before giggling. A devious glint in her eye as she does so.

Laurel laughs and nudges Annie with her elbow, saying, “I’ve seen more in the locker room… if you do it, just remember, it’s your body an’ that means you’re the boss. Don’t let anyone make you do or show anythin’ unless you want to.”

“That’s different, there’s not millions of eyes looking at me in the locker room. And I dunno if I’m ready for that…” Annie admits with a sigh, “...but that’s Chase, you and my Dad who’ll both support me whatever I do, though. Maybe I just need to think about it some more?” Annie looks over to her friend for guidance once more.

“I think so,” nods Laurel as she slips her arm around Annie, “It sounds like you’re still a bit mixed up about it. Just take your time an’ work out how you feel about it deep down. In...” She smirks mischievously, “...here…” and she jabs her fingers into Annie’s midsection and starts tickling.

“Stop!” Annie exclaims through the fit of giggles, “Laurel, stop, please!”

“Yo, buddies,” the voice shouts out from the other end of the garden, “we’re about to leave for Newcastle. You coming?” Kickass Smurf is there waiting for them as Laurel lets Annie go with fake reluctance. She helps her back up and the two head back up the garden, and the scene comes to an end.



EDIT: All characters appear with permission