Annie's Story 051

[Deleted]

Tuesday 27th August
“Heyyy guys,” Annie chirps from her position atop a locker room bench; she’s been training this morning, as evident by her hair being tied back in that high ponytail, the remnants of sweat on her forehead, as well as the red sports bra and black pants. With her elbows resting on her knees, Annie is hunched forward as she speaks. “Above & Beyond has come and gone; we’ve got a new World champion, a new number one contender, so congratulations to both Chandler and Zero! But now we get to look forward to a double header weekend, with one show in Irvine, California on Saturday night, and the first ever Axxess Network special, First Wave! Live from Honolulu in Hawaii!” Annie says in excitement, before breathing a sigh of relief.

“That’s where I’ll be defending this–” she grabs the belt up from next to her on the bench, holding it above her lap with both hands, “–my Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship, in a match against Salem Cartier. On the same night that Fujiko Mine takes on Riley Owens, Nest takes on Terrence Tillman, The Turks go against TROUBLE, Zero and Cyncity have their rubber match, and it’s Johnny Cannon versus Chris Bond in the main event.”

“It’s literally stacked!” she exclaims. “And I know there’s matches on there that most fans are looking forward to; they wanna see the tag match, they wanna see Cyncity kick Zero’s butt, they wanna see Chris Bond get his revenge for being injured for eight months. But I’ve got two things I wanna get outta First Wave. First, I wanna defend this title. I wanna get another defense to my name as I try and become the best Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion in FGA history, and beat Izzy’s record. And second, I wanna try and steal the show…”

“And people laugh at that…” Annie shakes her head, “…and they tell me that we can’t steal the show, ‘cause everybody knows the tag match is why people are gonna watch the show on Sunday night. Like, people have been telling me wrong stuff a lot lately, but this one stuck in my head. ’Cause, and I’m gonna let you in on a li’l secret here … the phrase ‘steal the show’ comes from the theatre, when someone unexpectedly outshines the stars. Or, like, in the context of wrestling, the match that nobody expects to be the best, gets more interest than the others.”

“So when me and Salem, the woman who just competed in the elimination chamber on HKW’s Divine Supremacy, who was one of the favourites to win that match, the woman who had an awesome series of matches against Jimmy Page earlier this year, the former HKW Bloodlust and Cyber Champion! When we step in that ring with the intention of stealing the show, you better believe it’s not just possible, it’s what we’re gonna do!” She states, loudly. “When this belt – when any belt – is on the line, I’m no slouch. I’m a fighting champion, it’s what I do, it’s what I always do – no matter what lies other people are telling about me…”

“And there’s been a lot of those lately too…”

“Amirite, Spencer?” Annie hisses, “‘Cause I didn’t fight tooth and nail to beat Izzy and Savannah to get this title so I could just hand it over. I didn’t give Molly hell and make her tap out so people can tell me I’m not a fighter. Not that Spencer Burke would believe me though. Nah, as far as he’s concerned I’m just the wild child who low blows people and hits them with brass knuckles. And apparently that’s what Salem should worry about!”

“And do you know the worst thing about what you said to me recently, Spencer? It’s the hypocrisy of how you treated me after what happened last year. When you demonized me for throwing something someone did in their face. But you wanna take shots at me, go ahead. You wanna try and take me down a peg or two, go ahead. But you wanna call me a cheater, or a thug, just ‘cause of one or two mistakes…” Annie shakes her head, “…not gonna happen. But it’s not just Spencer; I got name dropped on HKW’s Divine Supremacy a coupla times, I’ve had people going hard at me on Twitter telling me I turned on my friends, I’ve even had Kenshin freakin’ Takamura … telling me that I’m a lowkey bitch!” The term is said with venom.

“Friends? Some friends they are; ‘cause I remember back before Burning Sky when a number one contender match got interrupted. And I remember saying both those teams could get a title match so Project Venom didn’t spoil anything for anyone…” Annie shrugs, “…and I remember winning that fatal fourway match cleanly. Another title defense in the bag, but I’m not a fighting champion, am I? It doesn’t matter that we held those belts for a combined eleven months; our first match as a team and we were able to beat the GFP Jr. Tag Champs! We defended those belts against the Ayanos, and against Project Venom. We unified those titles to become the first NKP Tag Team Champions, by beating Shane Atwater and Kickass Smurf! Then we defended in this fatal fourway tag match.”

“And what happens? My friend calls me a pornstar ‘cause I was gonna appear in Playboy. Dumbass, pornstars are in porn movies. Playmates like me are more like glamour models if anything, but even then it’s non nude! But supposed good friends slut shame me. Good friends force unfollow me on social media, and tell me to basically go eff myself … ‘Cause that’s what happened. But I’m the bad friend, right?”

“Maybe it’s ‘cause I didn’t always get on with my tag partner – you’ve all seen her in LDFC, you know we’re very different people. But I tried to get her to change; I wanted her to fight clean so when she says she’s an NKP Tag Team Champion, RISE Champion, GFP Deathmatch Winner, LDFC Tag Team Champion, Carolina Cup winner – people couldn’t say she just cheated to win every time! Like they were doing! Obviously I’m just a terrible person for trying to change her. So when I was threatened to kick her ass for hitting someone I thought was a friend with those brass knucks, I musta been in the wrong. Or the next show, when she hit me in the jaw for trying to stop her attacking my former friend…”

“What a coincidence, the match ended in hijinx,” Annie repeats the derogative tweet that was aimed in her direction, “it’s not like I was even expecting a thank you. And after all that, I tell TCB that I don’t wanna be her partner; I don’t wanna let this match end in hijinx again. And after I fight for fifteen minutes with all my heart; when I have one of them ready to tap before her partner makes the save, when I have one dead to rights before her partner breaks up the pin at two and a half…” Annie shakes her head, “…if that’s using the belts as props, you got me. If that’s not being a fighting champion, then I dunno what is.”

“But they then let TCB walk down that aisle, and they were gonna stand there and watch as she attacked me. Even after all I’d done. So, yeah, I saw red and I hit that friend with the brass knucks. And you can call it being two faced, but I was pushed to that point. For three years I’ve done everything by the rules; I’ve even fought deathmatches without swinging weapons, I won this Legacy title in a no DQ match without swinging a goddamn weapon! And I don’t expect someone like Spencer Burke to understand all that; it’d need him to think about something instead of going for the easy score. Instead of trying to gang up on me. That’s why when Salem came to the ring, he asked her what she thought about it all…”

“‘Cause he thought Salem was gonna back him up!”

“He thought Salem was actually gonna form a critical opinion. As if she hasn’t done the same damn thing as I did. As if she didn’t once beat a guy to unconsciousness in the ring. Even if she hadn’t, what was she gonna say? I was wrong for doing it, but when her wife breaks someone’s kneecaps, or when her wife kidnaps someone, that’s ok? Come on, Spencer, think!”

“But nobody warns me about what kinda opponent Salem might turn out to be. Nobody thinks what lengths she’s gonna go to so she can finally win this belt. ‘Cause she failed the last time she challenged for it, didn’t she? What’s stopping Salem from doing what her opponent did that night, and cheating to win? What’s stopping Salem from sinking to their level to try and get a better deal than having to face Yun, or Cami Magna on pay-per-views. She’s done it before, she’s surrounded by people who do it time after time, after time, after time!”

“Maybe if she does it might help steal the show. When Salem Cartier cheats to become the new Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion. When Salem finally steps out from the shadows here in FGA, and starts wrestling with her full potential. Well I’m not gonna be a push over, I’m not gonna get walked on, Salem. You want this belt, you better bring the heat. You better bring you’re a-game, ‘cause that’s the only chance you have of leaving with this belt. Otherwise at First Wave, you’re just gonna get popped POW! Right in the kisser!” Annie stands back up and walks away off screen, adding only, “I needa calm down…” before the scene comes to an end.

---

Off Camera

He slept like crap last night. The constant tossing and turning, the profuse sweating that’s surely left a ring on the bed - did he even sleep in a bed? His eyes refuse to open to help him identify his surroundings. His arms refusing to move, to help push him upwards from his supine position. No, Chase Dupree isn’t feeling that well this morning. With an elongated groan, Chase cocks his head up off the pillow, managing to half open his eyes as he inspects the room - if indeed it is a room, and not an alchemist’s laboratory that got converted into a dump for a hippy commune.

The first thing that catches his eye is a hand painted wooden sign above the doorway proclaiming “Best Care Anywhere”, and from there his gaze drifts across the walls, the floral mural covered over with posters for arthouse movies, indie bands and vintage Japanese and Mexican wrestling shows. Every surface including the floor is piled with junk - clothes, makeup, CDs, alcohol bottles, arts and crafts supplies and all kinds of miscellaneous stuff he can’t identify through his sleep-clogged eyes. The curtains are thin, but still not letting much light through thanks to the feather boas and tinsel hanging down in front of them. Chase glances up and catches a giant rainbow flag on the ceiling directly above him, and reflecting it on the wall behind the headboard, a framed map of North Wales drawn on holographic purple foil.

“Cho,” he gasps in amazement, unsure of what to make of his new found surroundings. But his attention is drawn away by a sound.

Somebody coughs, hacking and phlegmy, and he glances down to the other end of the bed. From beneath the covers a tangle of black hair emerges, and a tattooed hand pushes it back off the person’s face. She narrows her eyes at Chase, not angrily, just trying to see properly.

”Hey,” rasps Laurel.

Chase’s eyes widen in shock; he certainly didn’t expect to see Laurel Anne Hardy in his bed - or is he in her bed? Either way, he never in a million years thought it would happen. “Hey,” Chase manages to mutter, “Uh ... what we was doing last night?” he croaks.

Laurel coughs again and holds up a hand for a moment. ”Scuse me… sorry...” She grabs a yellow smiley face cup, raises it to her mouth, and spits into it with a painful-sounding cough. She sigh and flops back for a second then forces herself back upright. Chase averts his gaze at the sight of her bare breasts, albeit only momentarily before Laurel covers herself with the bed sheet. ”We did… uh… oh Jesus, there was a lot of E goin’ around…”

“Ecstasy?” He asks, his voice ripe with shock and dismay. He’s never fancied himself as much of a party animal; Chase has never even done any illegal drugs, unless you count the odd bout of underage drinking.

”Yeah,” replies Laurel, not particularly registering his tone, ”Did you have any coke? I don’t think you did?” She hunches herself over for a moment. ”Fuckin’ hell, last night was a bit madder than I was plannin’ on. To think I was just thinkin’ a few drinks down the pub, yeh?”

“I…” it’s all a bit much to take in right now as Chase stammers, trying to find the words he wants. He checks under the sheet, seeing that he too is naked as the sinking feeling hits his gut. “...where my drawz? We both naked, yeah?” The panic is beginning to set in as Chase tries to remember what happened last night; he can remember going to the pub, starting out at the White Lion for a few rounds of Rekorderlig - that’s what Annie told him, anyway. Annie? Where is she? Chase can’t let his wife catch him in bed with another woman. “No, no, no,” he mumbles under his breath, “did we … you know?”

Laurel shoots him a wry smirk as she snatches up a Gramatik T-shirt from the floor and pulls it over her head. ”You don’t remember, do you?” She rolls her upper body off the side of the bed for a moment, roots through a pile of clothes, then tosses him up his underwear.

The bedroom door opens and closes without much noise as both Chase and Laurel turn their heads to see who it is. His heart sinks as Chase sees his wife standing there; he doesn’t even notice her state of undress as she pushes the door shut gently, trying to not make more noise. Annie, wearing only an oversized Smiths t-shirt navigates her way through the piles of clothes towards the bed, where she kneels down next to Chase. “Mmmorning,” she mews, before kissing him gently on the lips.

Chase’s panic is quickly replaced by confusion as he looks up at his smiling wife … who just caught him naked in bed with her best friend. He goes to say something, his mouth open to speak, but Annie turns away from him and towards Laurel, who is now lying back down. “And good morning to you too,” Annie says as she leans over her best friend, giving her the same kind of kiss she just gave Chase. He can only sit there in stunned silence, marvelling at the sight before him.

”Morning,” replies Laurel, but she doesn’t move, neither blocking nor reciprocating the kiss. Her eyes are closed and one hand is resting on her head. She coughs again slightly and then yawns.

“Don’t look so shocked,” Annie chastises her husband playfully, that devilish smirk on her face as she sits across the bed from him. “You saw us do worse last night…” she remarks as a memory comes back to Chase; he can remember being in the ladies toilets of the Kings Arms when Annie wished him a happy birthday, before she started making out with Laurel. Before she passed Laurel across to Chase to do the same again.

Chase turns a shade of red as he looks down at Laurel, who’s still lying there, not having moved much in the last minute and a half. “So … we?” Chase asks, unable to formulate a complete question. Annie nods her head, replying with a soft “Mmhmm,” before she giggles behind a raised. “Like, it was a double birthday present for you both.”

Once again, Laurel yawns. ”That was a fuckin’ weird night,” she mumbles sleepily.

“You can say that again,” Chase replies.

”I can’t even think about it right now to be honest,” admits Laurel, ”I’m still fuckin’ asleep. I need a coffee an’ a shit before I can do anything. Then...” She lifts her head and glances at Chase for a moment. ”Then I can worry about last night.”

“I dunno, I had fun,” Annie replies as she smiles at her husband. Again, she crawls across the bed towards him, taking Chase’s face in both hands as she kisses him, deeper and longer than before. “Didn’t you like it?”

“Cher, I can’t ‘member what happened…” Chase states, matter-of-factly. The smile fades from Annie’s face as she slumps down into a seated position. “...last thing I ‘member is … we did some shots, yeah? Downstairs, here. After the club. Then you lead me and Laurel upstairs, and here we are.”

“But,” Annie whines, “it was supposed to be a night you’d never forget. I know you’ve always liked what we’ve done with Katie and Kimmi,” she says openly, disregarding what Laurel may or not know about the subject, “so I thought we might do something a li’l bit wilder. More naughty. And you can’t remember any of it?” Annie asks in desperation. She was just happy that Chase paid any attention to her last night, which is more than he’s done the last couple of times they’ve met Kimmi. Now he’s saying he was blackout drunk during it, which hurts Annie.

“Sorry, cher,” Chase answers.

”You’ll remember more as the day goes on,” chips in Laurel, slurring and sleepy.

Annie grabs her cell phone from off the bedside table, unlocking it quickly as she finds the gallery app. She turns the screen to Chase as a video starts up; he smiles to himself at the sight of both Annie and Laurel kneeling before him, but Annie interrupts his train of thought. “Excuse me…” she says as she rushes off the bed, holding her stomach as she leaves the room again. Chase still has hold of the phone, though, as he browses through the gallery. Various photos and videos of the three of them in increasing states of intoxication, in a variety of positions together. But he keeps scrolling past where he should, until he finds himself staring at the image of his wife on her knees. Chase looks up to where Laurel is laying, either dozing or close to it, as he turns the volume down low. He takes a deep breath before pressing play, listening as his wife says the words he dreads to hear. “Are you filming this, Dommy?”

And that sinking feeling returns to the pit of his stomach as Chase closes the gallery app. The cell phone is dropped in front of him, landing undamaged on the bedding as the young Cajun slumps backwards against the headboard. He had feared Annie was cheating on him, suspecting that was the reason she was so open and willing to indulge him in these threesomes with her friends. But to see it … just like in the Lakeland hotel room after All Star Showdown … Chase can’t help but pick up the phone again. He finds himself watching the video almost in it’s entirety, hating himself for putting himself through this. Hating himself more for actually enjoying it.

Annie re-enters the room in much the same way as she did previously, closing the door gently behind her as Chase looks up from the phone. “Cher,” he beckons her over, “what say you we make some fresh memories this morning, yeah?” Chase asks, and that devilish smirk crosses Annie’s face once more. They don’t even notice if Laurel is asleep or not, it’s not that important to their decision making right now. They’ll make love right there and then whether she likes it or not...