Healing: Part 5

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Scene 1

Off Camera

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With Taking Hold of the Flame less than a week away, Marie Annabelle Jones is anticipating the biggest challenge of her professional career.  She hopes to pull off the near impossible task of not only retaining her United States Championship in a triple threat match against Tyler Tucker and Regan Street but also to go on later in the evening and win the Taking Hold of the Flame battle royal to earn her spot in the main event of Rise To Greatness.

Championship glory is not necessarily on Marie’s mind.  Unlike some competitors in this sport who feel they have to prove each and every night how good they are, Marie is not that self-conscious.  She knows how good she is and does not feel she has to prove it to anyone.  Marie is a competitor, brought up in a competitive family of wrestlers.  She has been to the top before, she has been a world champion before, and she wants desperately to be a world champion again.

Perhaps more important even than that is the United States Championship.  It may not be a world championship but it holds a special place in Marie’s heart, for she earned the title shot fair and square via Fatal Fortunes and then went on to defeat Tyler Tucker fair and square to become United States Champion.  In that sense, this championship symbolizes the completion of her journey towards redemption.

Thus Marie wants to do right by this championship.  She does not want to use it as a mere stepping stone or springboard to bigger and better things.  Before she can even think about the battle royal or being in the main event of Rise To Greatness, Marie wants to focus on being the best damn United States Champion she can be; and that means making sure Tyler Tucker gets his fair shot and making sure that the championship doesn’t fall into the hands of someone like Regan Street.

With less than a week before this big championship defense, Marie has decided to stop by and pay a visit to one of the most important people in her life; her mother, Angelica Jones.

Marie’s relationship with her mother has always been a roller coaster.  There would be good years and there would be bad years.  Marie blames it on her own damnable sense of justice.  Her mother would do something that appalls Marie so much that she cannot see the fact that her mother was doing it for the good of the family.  But Marie’s sense of right and wrong nearly led to mother and daughter having a fractured relationship.

Her sense of right and wrong also led Marie to making some bad decisions, mostly because she wanted to make things right but her emotions led her to taking the wrong avenue to correcting those wrongs done to her.  There were times she sought to punish her own mother for crimes she felt her mother committed.

It’s the same thing Kimberly did, for Kimberly tried to hurt Angelica for the same reasons.  The difference is Kimberly was mentally unstable.  Marie tried to hurt her own mother while she was in her right mind.

Yet each and every time that Marie and her mother have had their disputes, they would always seem to find their way back to one another.  They would always find a way to correct whatever problems they have had with one another.

Now Marie finds herself in a situation that its own unique challenges.  She is facing the reality of having to be mediator, or even the one who has to bring the black sheep of the Jones family back into the fold; that being her twin sister, Kimberly.

Kimberly has institutionalized herself in a mental hospital, hoping there she could get the mental help she needed.  Kimberly had hoped that, after she was given a clean bill of mental health, she would be accepted back into the family.  For that’s what she wants, that’s what she’s always wanted; acceptance.

But Marie knows how difficult this will be.  Kimberly tried to hurt them for so long on so many occasions.  It will not be easily forgotten or forgiven.  Still, Marie wants to do whatever she can to help.  She knows what it’s like to be in Kimberly’s position, wanting forgiveness, wanting a reunion with her mother.  The difference with Marie is that her mother wanted to be reunited with Marie.  There is no guarantee that Angelica wants to be reunited with Kimberly.  There’s no guarantee that Angelica will even trust Kimberly.  But still, Marie wants to try.

That’s what brings Marie to Boston, Massachusetts, specifically the home of her mother, Angelica Jones.  Kimberly is nearing the point of mental stability and she still hasn’t had a visit from her mother.  While she understands the distrust, Marie still feels disappointed that her mother has not yet gone to visit Kimberly in the institution.  In fact, Marie is the only Jones family member to visit Kimberly since she institutionalized herself, and that speaks ill of the Jones family as a whole.

The French doors open and Marie and Angelica enter into the dining room area.  They had been outside, walking around Angelica’s garden, and now are coming inside to continue their chat.  Marie has yet to approach her mother with the touchy subject of Kimberly Williams.  That debacle is still yet to come.

The dining-room was 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.

Guests are not coming.  Marie knows that her mother, the ever illustrious Angelica Jones, enjoys the finer things in life.  To a degree, Marie understands this.  A lifetime of hardship, trial, and tribulation that Angelica had to live through has made her believe that she has earned this decedent lifestyle.  Marie has a sense of that pride running through her veins, as well.  She may not been left wanting for much growing up, but she still had pains and heartaches of her own, many caused by her own twin sister Kimberly Williams, and some caused by Angelica herself.

Marie is dressed in a tropical print peplum hem lace-up back mini sundress.  Her feet are encased in black sandals.  Her mother, Angelica Jones, is wearing a bohemian print spaghetti strap v-neck maxi dress.  Angelica is wearing simple flip flops.

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

Marie does as she is told, sitting down and waiting patiently for her mother to get the wine.  Her mother is quite the wine drinker.  Angelica always has quite the variety but has a strong preference towards the reds.  Marie anticipates a red wine and, sure enough, Angelica reaches into the refrigerator and produces a bottle of Cabernet sauvignon.  Smiling pleasantly, the elder Jones pours some of the wine into Marie’s glass.  Then she pours some wine into another glass, presumably for herself.  Angelica then sits down as well.  Angelica picks up her glass and holds it up for a toast.

“A toast,” Angelica begins “to my daughter, and what hopefully will be a successful night for her at Taking Hold of the Flame.”

Marie chuckles lightly. “Yeah, we’ll see…”

The clink glasses together before taking their first sips of the wine.

“You have a magnificent garden out there, mom.”

“Thanks,” Angelica says, sighing, “Lindsey was more of a green thumb than I was, so now that she’s gone I’m not sure how much longer I can maintain it.”

Angelica is trying to hide it, but Marie still notices the pain on her mother’s face when Lindsey Carter is brought up.  Lindsey was Angelica’s ex-wife who went missing not too long ago.  Ever since then she has been dating Aphrodite Noel.  Angelica has seemed happier lately but still, the pain is there, underneath it all.  And that’s not to mention the slow rift happening between Angelica and her own sister Kayla.  Angelica and Kayla have been very close and now, partially due to Angelica’s relationship with Aphrodite, they have slowly begun to drift apart.

Marie feels almost stuck in the middle.  She wants her mom to be happy and she believes her mom has every right to date and to see whomever she wants.  But at the same time she can understand why Kayla may not trust Aphrodite.  It’s the same reason why Angelica may not trust Kimberly and may not be as willing to accept Kimberly back into the fold.

Still, Marie will try.

“So tell me, how is my grandson doing?”

“Sean?” Marie smiles from ear to ear. “He’s wonderful, as always.  Do you have any idea what he’s started doing now?”

Angelica shrugs her shoulders. “No clue.  Tell me.”

“Well he always watches Breakdown in hopes of catching a glimpse of mommy or grandma or is great aunt Kayla in action.” Marie says, before taking another sip of wine and then setting her glass back down. “Now he’s begun practicing the moves on Arthur.”

“Practicing the moves?!” Angelica can’t help but laugh a little. “Poor Arthur…”

“Yeah, I think we might have a third generation star in the making.” Marie says with a wink.

“Yeah, maybe.” Angelica takes a sip of her wine. “I still remember the day you told me you wanted to follow in my footsteps and become a pro-wrestler.”

Angelica sets her wine glass back down and sighs. “Kayla trained you.  I could’ve killed her for that because I didn’t want you to become a wrestler.  I didn’t want to see my little girl get hurt.  I fought for a living so that you wouldn’t have to, so that you could grow up in the lap of luxury the rest of your life.”

Marie reaches out and squeezes her mother’s hands tightly after taking them into her own. “You only wanted what you thought was best for me.”

“But now look at you.” Angelica smiles with the pride of a mother. “You are the SCW United States Champion.  Clearly, I was wrong about you.  And while it may be about ten years late, I just want to apologize for trying to stop you from achieving your dream.”

“That’s all in the past,” Marie says, shaking her head “you only did what you thought was right.  Besides, it isn’t like I’m a saint.  So please, don’t beat yourself up.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Angelica says pulling a hand away so that she can take another sip of her wine “maybe you’re right.”

“I know I’m right,” Marie says confidently “and speaking of the past, there is another grudge you need to let go of.”

“Oh?” Angelica asks, arching her brow.

“Kimberly Williams.” Marie states defiantly. “You have to let go of whatever grudge you still have regarding her.”

“There is no grudge.”

Before Marie can say or do anything, Angelica stands up and storms past Marie and exits the dinning room.  Marie rolls her eyes and stands up to give chase.

“Mom, wait!”

Marie follows her mother into the living room.  Its walls are beautifully decorated in a lavish French styling, it had a large, silvery grey, silky carpet, and the furniture was covered with dark green silky material.  Into this reticence pieces of futurism, Omega cushions and Van-Gogh-like pictures exploded their colors.

The furniture was high end and bespoke.  Every piece was hardwood and harked back to the Victorian era, but not a scrap in the house was more than a year old. The fabrics were spotless and color-coordinated in muted natural hues.  It looked comfortable and practical but by no means plush. It was the perfect place to entertain polite company.

Angelica stood by the mantle of the fireplace.  Marie cautiously approaches her mother.

“Mom, we need to talk about Kimberly.”

Angelica turns around with a photograph in hand, a photograph she had taken off the mantle.  She hands it to Marie who takes it and looks at it.  This is a photograph of Marie’s youngest sister, Kelly Jones.

“Mom, this is Kelly.  Why…”

“Kelly is not here, I’m letting her father spend time with her today.” Angelica sighs, it is clear that is tough for her. “But I wanted you to see her because I wanted to make a point.”

Angelica narrows her eyes. “Do you remember when Kimberly broke into my house and threatened Kelly’s well being?”

Marie cannot deny it.  She remembers that moment all too well because, after all, Marie was there when Kimberly perpetrated that heinous act.  Granted, Kimberly was not in her right mind, but it was still done.  Marie nods her head.

“Yeah, I remember.”

“Thankfully she did not harm Kelly, but then years later she kidnapped you.” Tears start to form in Angelica’s eyes. “I still have no idea what she did to you then, but it was enough that it gave you amnesia for awhile.”

Angelica points a finger at Marie. “She hurt you.  She hurt my daughter…”

“But mom, Kimberly is your daughter too.”

“I don’t give a damn if she’s my daughter!” Angelica shuts. “She hurt you and I cannot forgive her for that!”

Marie rears back and slaps her mother right across the face.  Angelica was not expecting this reaction at all and it causes her to stumble backward, bumping into the mantle of the fireplace.  The elder Jones rubs her stinging cheek.

“Marie, I…” she pauses as she tries to find the words “…what was that about…?”

“That’s me telling you to quit being a damn hypocrite!”

“Hypocrite?” Angelica appears genuinely confused.  Marie doesn’t buy it and shakes her head.

“Don’t play innocent with me.  You murdered my father.  You took a gun and put a bullet through his head.”

She points an accusatory finger at Angelica. “I do not have a father and it is your fault!  I could disown you, I could kick you out of my life forever and I would be justified.  No one would question it.  But you asked for my forgiveness.”

Marie shakes her head. “I didn’t forgive you, not at first.  It took me a while get over it, but eventually I moved on.  Eventually I did forgive you.  Now will I ever forget what you did?”

After a long, tense pause Marie shakes her head again. “Never, I will never forget.  But I can forgive.”

She holds up the photograph of Kelly. “Yes, this is your daughter, but you have another daughter named Kimberly Williams and she is in a mental institution right now.  I didn’t put her there, she put herself there because she realizes she did wrong and she wants to better herself in the hope of becoming a part of this family and more importantly being accepted by the mother she never knew.”

“I know all of that, Marie.”

“Then why the hell haven’t you gone to visit her?” Marie demands. “I visit her frequently because she is my sister and I want to support her.  Unfortunately, despite the progress she’s making, she is also losing hope.  She’s beginning to believe that even after she’s…fixed, if you will…that her own mother still won’t have a damn thing to do with her.”

Marie takes in a deep breath and sighs. “It all boils down to this.  You murdered my father, you asked forgiveness, and I forgave you.  Kimberly didn’t kill me; she may have hurt me, yes, but she didn’t kill me, and she is now asking forgiveness.  How the hell can you ask forgiveness for a damn murder but you refuse to grant forgiveness to your own flesh and blood for doing something far less egregious?”

Angelica sighs as she walks over to the cream colored sofa and sits down.  Marie follows her over to the sofa, sitting down next to her.  Marie places a hand on her knee.

“If you don’t forgive Kimberly, do you know what that makes you?”

“A hypocrite.”

Marie nods her head. “Exactly.  You need to move on from this, mom.  You need to let go of this pain so the family can heal, so we can heal.”

There is a long, tense moment as Marie gazes into her mother’s eyes.  Angelica has a strong poker face, so Marie isn’t quite sure what her mother is thinking right about now.  Eventually, though, her mother finally breaks her silence…

“Ok…”

“Ok…what?” Marie asks, curiously.

“Ok, I’ll try to forgive her.  I’ll try to work through it.  You’re right, I did worse things than Kimberly ever did and you forgave me, others forgave me, and it would be hypocritical of me not to forgive her.”

“Will you go visit her at the hospital?”

“Marie, look…”

“Did you listen to a damn thing I just said?!” Marie asks as she grows frustrated. “Your daughter is losing hope right now because you won’t go see her.  Drop the grudge and go see her.”

“This isn’t just about the grudge.” Angelica states.

“Then what is it?”

Angelica sighs. “You know I spent time in a sanitarium because of the horrible things I did, but unlike Kimberly who checked herself in, I was forced in.  I still have nightmares about my time in the mental institution.  And I hate to admit it, but…”

Angelica’s voice trails off and Marie notices it. “What is it?  What do you hate to admit?”

“You’re going to think less of me.”

“No I won’t.” Marie shakes her head. “I promise.”

“You are normal, Marie.  People like me and Kimberly, we’re broken people.  We’re damaged, perhaps beyond repair.  That’s why you were my favorite.  You were always my favorite.”

Marie’s eyes grow wide in shock at this sudden revelation. “I was your favorite…”

“I didn’t want to have a favorite but I couldn’t help it.  You were my favorite because you were normal.  You grew up to be the person I wish I could’ve been, but I know that deep down inside I’m more like Kimberly.”

“This…” Marie shakes her head “…this isn’t right.”

Marie stands up immediately. “I have to go, mom.”

Marie makes her way out of the living room.  She hears her mother calling out for her…

“Marie, wait!”

Marie has made her way out into the hallway and to the front door.  She turns to find her mother not too far behind.

“Marie, please stop…”

“Just promise you’ll go see Kimberly.  We can talk about the rest of this later, ok?”

Angelica sighs and nods her head. “Yeah, I promise.”

With that, Marie opens the door and makes her exit, slamming it shut behind her.

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Scene 2

Off Camera

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The SCW United States Champion Marie Annabelle Jones is set to defend her championship at Taking Hold of the Flame against Regan Street and Tyler Tucker in a triple threat match.  It will be a tough task ahead for the redheaded leader of the #GingerNation, considering in a triple threat match she won’t have to be pinned or made to submit in order to lose her championship.  But Marie wouldn’t have it any other way.  She will back down from no challenge and right now, Regan is not just a challenge but a threat as well.  She’s been threatening for quite a while now, breathing down the neck of Amy Chastaine when she had the belt, then turning her attention to Tyler Tucker when he won it, and now Marie is the target of Regan’s frustrations now that Marie is champion.  The best way to end this once and for all is to defeat both of them in a triple threat match.  Plain and simple.

Being the United States Champion is special to Marie because she truly feels she earned this championship.  She didn’t need to skip ahead of the line, she didn’t need any favors, and she didn’t need to use any cheap tricks.  She won it the old fashioned way; through hard work and determination.  After winning this championship, she finally felt she was back on the right track and she isn’t about to lose this title so soon.

By contrast, it’s been a few hours since Marie Annabelle Jones heard it straight out of her mother’s mouth; the statement that she always knew to be true but never expected to hear.  Her mother, Angelica Jones told her that she is the favorite and, to be honest, Marie isn’t quite sure what to do with this information.  She doesn’t want to be the favorite.  She doesn’t want to be favored by her mother at the expense of her sisters Kimberly, Jessica, and Kelly.

It just isn’t right.

It started with what was supposed to be a simple visit to see her mother, Angelica Jones, at Angelica’s home in Boston, Massachusetts.  It was there that Marie confronted her mother with the hard truth that she needed to let go of the grudge she held against her own daughter, Marie’s twin sister Kimberly, and to forgive her and go visit her in the mental institution where Kimberly currently calls home.

Angelica didn’t want to hear any of it and a heated conversation ensued.  It came to blows when Marie had to strike her own mother in order to knock some sense into her but, at the end of it all, Angelica did agree to at least find it in her heart to forgive Kimberly and she promised to go visit her; but not before Angelica made the startling revelation that Marie was her favorite.

Favorite what?  Favorite child, Marie assumes, and if that is the case, then is that the favorite between just her and Kimberly or favorite child of all four girls?

Yet somehow she knew it, or at least she strongly suspected it through her mother’s words and actions.  There were many times when Angelica said that Marie was the “glue” that held her together mentally.  Statements like that implied that Marie was the favorite.  Even Jessica accused Marie of being the favorite.  But Marie had never heard Angelica actually admit it.

Until now.

Sunlight streams in through a bedroom window on a bright and beautiful day in Boston, Massachusetts.  The warm rays beat down upon the beautiful, lovely body of Marie Annabelle Jones, which just so happens to be covered up by a thick comforter and blankets that are a plain chocolate brown color.  The bed that the US Champion is lying in is a king size bed.  The rest of this room is just as plain as the bed and sheets, with cream colored walls and matching cream colored carpeting.  There is one sole nightstand on one side of the bed.  The warmth of the sun's rays keep Marie warm as she stares up at the ceiling.

“Are you ok?”

“Huh?”

Marie had been deep in thought but the masculine voice distracts her.  She turns her head ever so slightly to find her husband, Arthur Pond, has quietly entered the room.  He was so quiet about his entrance that she never even noticed.  Marie smiles warmly at him.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You’ve been up here for a few hours by yourself ever since you got home from visiting with your mother.” Arthur begins, recalling the events of the day. “And you never even told me what went down.”

“I didn’t? Oh well…”

Without thinking, Marie swings her legs over the sides of the bed and places her feet upon the floor, pausing just for a moment to gain her bearings before pushing herself up onto her feet, standing up to full length.  Arthur happens to notice that her sundress from earlier is on the floor.  He frowns and turns to look up at the pile of clothes on the floor next to her sandals.  He then looks back up at Marie with a smirk on his face.

The Phoenix, the SCW United States Champion, begins to slowly, as if in a daze, walk towards the bathroom door.  She stops right at the bathroom door, turning towards a closet, which she opens to reveal a full length mirror on the inside.  She gazes at her reflection in the mirror and what she sees pleases her; a beautiful figure of sexy femininity attired in sexy black lace panties and bra.

“Don’t get me wrong, because I’m not complaining at all,” Arthur motions to the pile of clothes on the floor and then back up at his underwear clad wife “but what’s up?”

“Going to bed.”

“Bed?” Arthur checks his watch. “It’s only six o’clock.”

“Going to bed…early.”

“Very early.” Arthur points out as he looks towards the window. “It’s still sunny out.”

Arthur can detect that something is wrong, that something is clearly on Marie’s mind and it has her distracted.  He approaches her slowly.  He turns her around to face her, so that he can look at her in the eyes.

“What’s wrong, babe?”

“Nothing.” Marie pulls away from Arthur’s grip. “I just need to go to bed.”

Marie walks past Arthur and over to the bed.  She steps back into the bed and lies down, covering up with the comforter.  Arthur sighs as he walks over to Marie and sits down on the edge of the bed, turning his head so he can look down at his wife, who is still rather distant.

“You’re lying.” He says with a knowing grin. “You can’t lie to me and get away with it.”

“Arthur, I love you…”

“I love you too.”

“…but,” she sits up and stares him in the eyes “you have no idea what it’s like to be a Jones.”

She shakes her head. “No idea.”

“No, I don’t understand,” Arthur says with a wry grin “but you could help me understand.”

“Seriously?” Marie rolls her eyes. “You can’t understand, Arthur.  How can you understand what it’s like to be a part of a famous wrestling family, a second generation wrestler to boot.  People look at us Jones women as if we were royalty and had it all.  What they don’t get is that crap we have to put up with behind the scenes.  What the world does not know is how fucked up each and every one of us is!”

Arthur frowns. “I take it that visit with your mother didn’t go so well.”

“Damn right it didn’t go very well!” Marie snaps at Arthur angrily out of frustration.

“Sorry, Marie…”

“Don’t apologize.” Marie shakes her head as she tries to regain her composure. “It isn’t your fault.  It’s just that…that…”

Tears form in Marie’s eyes “…just when I think things are getting better with my family, something else comes up to screw everything up!”

“Is it safe to assume your mom doesn’t forgive Kimberly?”

Marie shrugs her shoulders. “Hell if I know!”

“She didn’t say?” Arthur asks with curiosity on his face.

“Well, she says she forgives her,” Marie states “and she says she’ll go see her in the mental institution.”

“That’s great!” Arthur says with a grin. “That’s what Kimberly wanted, am I right?”

“Yeah, but what’s the point in seeing your daughter when you don’t even like her?”

Arthur frowns. “Angelica doesn’t like her own daughter?”

“It isn’t like that,” Marie says, quickly correcting herself by shaking her head “I think a part of her does like her, just like she likes Jessica, Kelly, and myself, but…”

“But what?  What is it?”

Marie sighs “…she doesn’t like us equally, Arthur.”

“Wait a minute…” Arthur blinks his eyes several times, he is clearly puzzled “…what?”

“Let me break it down for you,” Marie begins “Kimberly is her least favorite.  She doesn’t trust her because of the things she did in the past to try and hurt the family and she’s having a difficult time forgiving her.  Then there’s Jessica…”

“Your half sister.”

Marie nods her head “…yeah, Jessica.  Her father is Andreas Lasiewicz, a known hothead and a very violent wrestler.  Jessica inherited that hotheadedness and so she rates just above Kimberly in mom’s eyes.  And as for Kelly…”

Marie shrugs her shoulders “…I don’t know what she may have done, her father is also a bit of a hothead, and he abused mom, so maybe that’s it?  I know Kelly did nothing yet to draw mom’s ire.  She’s still just a teenager.”

“So where does that leave you?” Arthur asks.

“Do the math, Arthur.” Marie states. “I’m her favorite.  I’m mom’s favorite.”

Arthur shakes his head “I find it hard to believe that your mom plays favorites.”

“Believe it.” Marie says as she lies back down, tears rolling down her cheek. “Mom has a favorite and I’m it and it kills me!”

Arthur lies down on the bed next to Marie, placing an arm around her to comfort her. “It’s ok, babe.  I’m here.  Just let it all out.”

“Jessica used to tell me I was the favorite and I never believed it.” Marie says through tears and sobbing. “Slowly I grew to suspect it but still I didn’t want to believe it.  But to hear my own mother say that she treats her children differently.  I just…”

She sighs “…I’m just not sure what to think about my mother any longer.”

“I can see why this is a problem.” Arthur says plainly. “You’ve never been one to want to have things just handed to you.  You want to earn things the right way, the hard way.  You don’t want to get treated any differently just because of who you are.”

He runs a hand through her long red hair. “And that’s what I love about you.”

“It’s why I l value the United States Championship right now more than anything else I’ve won in recent years.” Marie states. “I earned it through hard work and determination, no tricks and no games, and it was the fulfillment of my redemption.  But shit like this makes me wonder…”

She shakes her head “…did I earn any of this?  Or did I just get all of my opportunities because of my last name?”

Arthur chuckles. “Babe, seriously?  If opportunities were decided in that way then someone named Street would be holding every damn SCW championship, but instead we have only one Street even fighting for a title at Taking Hold of the Flame and that’s just because YOU and Tyler Tucker allowed her into the match.”

Marie smirks. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.  But still, if I’m right about Kimberly not being so well thought of in mom’s eyes, won’t that make things difficult when she goes to see her?  And how will mom possibly forgive her?”

“Marie, look at me,” Arthur states definitively “your mom obviously does not like Kimberly right now.  From what you’ve told me, that much is apparent.  She has to work through that herself right now.  She and Kimberly will have to find that bond, if that’s even possible, but only those two can do it.”

He kisses her on the forehead. “You’ve done everything you can do for them, Marie.  You’ve done far more than what anyone else would’ve done, believe me.”

“Maybe,” Marie sighs “but I still can’t help but think I can do more…”

“There’s only one thing you need to be worrying about regarding your family right now,” he holds one finger “your Aunt Carolyn.”

“Oh yeah…” Marie’s voice trails off “…I forgot.”

“That’s going to be very tough for Kimberly, a lot tougher than visiting Kimberly will be for Angelica.  And Kimberly is brave for agreeing to see her Aunt Carolyn.”

Arthur takes Marie’s hands into his own and squeezes. “This meeting could go a long way to deciding Kimberly’s mental progress, her future even.  She’ll need your strength and support, Marie.  She may need you more than your own mother needs you.”

Marie sighs and nods her head. “I know, everyone needs me…but there’s just one of me…”

“But you can do it because you’re so strong mentally and emotionally.  You’ve been to hell and back and come out ok.” Arthur grins. “You’ll be fine, Marie.  I believe in you.”

“I’m glad one of us believes in me.”

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On Camera

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Taking Hold of the Flame is all about having that one opportunity, one chance to reach out and grab that brass ring, and if you’re good enough, talented enough, and maybe even lucky enough, you can reach out and grab hold of that opportunity, win the battle royal, and go on to face the SCW World Champion in the main event of Rise To Greatness.

I am entering the Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royal and I have just as much of a chance as the other thirty-nine superstars at possibly winning it all.  And believe me, I will do my best, I will perform at my best, and you will get the best of The Phoenix in that battle royal.  But the question is, will I be the one out of those thirty-nine to make the most out of that opportunity?

Personally, I think I can and I will, because I’m on a legitimate roll lately when it comes to opportunities.  Fatal Fortunes gave me an opportunity to earn a United States Championship match and I took full advantage of it by defeating Craig Thomas and Shane Lawson in a triple threat match.  Then came Supreme Saturday and my opportunity against Tyler Tucker for the United States Championship itself.  And once again, I took advantage of the opportunity…

...I took advantage and now I proudly represent Supreme Championship Wrestling as its United States Champion.

Don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to yet another opportunity coming up at Taking Hold of the Flame, I am looking forward to taking advantage of that opportunity and possibly earning a shot at the SCW World Championship at Rise To Greatness, but I am proud to be the SCW United States Champion.  This championship I now hold has a special meaning to me because of what it represents.

I won this championship o my own, the right way, without any outside interference from anyone, without using any cheap underhanded tactics or tricks.  It proved to me that I can get the job done my own.  I proved to myself and the world what you can do with just a little hard work and determination.

This United States Championship represents the end of a journey towards redemption; my own personal redemption in the eyes of my family, the eyes of the fans who I had once betrayed, and in my own eyes, when I felt I needed to take shortcuts to get ahead.  This United States Championship is symbolic of the end of that journey back.  This championship means the world to me.

I knew that winning the United States Championship brought a few extra things with it; a bonus in my way, which is always good.  I doubt anyone will complain about extra pay.  It brings with it more publicity and the chance to represent Supreme Championship Wrestling on a much grander stage.

What I didn’t realize was that winning the United States Championship meant I was going to be harassed by Regan Street.

Seriously, Regan has been obsessing over this gold strap ever since Amy Chastaine won the United States Championship back in November of last year.  She hounded Amy over and over on Social Media, making an ass out of herself with daily twitter wars all in some half-assed attempt to force her into a title match.

Then Tyler Tucker became the United States Champion and it was the same shit, shame story, only this time it was Tyler Tucker who was the victim of her obsession.   And why?  What purpose?  Because he was granted an opportunity?

Seriously, Regan, what did you want Amy and later Tyler to do?  Just hand the title over?  Apologize?

“Oh, I’m sorry SCW gave me this opportunity, I’m sorry I EARNED this opportunity.  Here, YOU take this opportunity.  I’ll wait.”

Then I defeated Tyler Tucker to become United States Champion and you attacked me from behind.  Well, the same message that Amy Chastaine gave you, the same message that Tyler Tucker gave you, is the same message that I am giving you right here and right now…

…bullshit!  I earned my spot.  I earned my spot through hard work, dedication, and determination.  I wasn’t about to hand over my opportunity and I’m damn sure not about to hand over my championship without a fight!

You believe that you deserve more opportunities than what you’ve been given and you are absolutely right.  You believe that you have been unfairly passed over by Supreme Championship Wrestling in favor of others.  And even then, I’d be inclined to agree with you in certain situations.

What you need to understand, Regan, is that’s not the way you go about earning opportunities.  You earn opportunities by overcoming any and every obstacle placed in your way.  But you, you refuse to do that.  You want to cheapen yourself by taking shortcuts, by attacking people from behind, and whining on twitter like a little bitch.

Now you are getting a title shot, at Taking Hold of the Flame, and what’s sad is that I know you could’ve earned this title shot without cheapening yourself, without lowering yourself to these cheap tricks.  Hell, all you had to do was ask me for a title shot and I would’ve granted you one immediately.   As a member of a famous wrestling family myself, I respect the Street family and I would’ve been proud to compete against you.

But no, you didn’t want to do the easy thing and ask.  You preferred to attack me instead.  That’s fine.  If you want to fight we can fight.  It doesn’t have to be about respect.  Whether you respect me or not is irrelevant at this point.  I’m just a champion with a title to defend.

Now since we’re on the subject of respect, I would be remiss if I didn’t show you an example of true respect and that brings us to the third part of this equation, that being Tyler Tucker.

Tyler and I may not have a great deal of experience against one another.  Hell, we’ve only had one match against each other since I’ve been in SCW and that was when I beat him for the United States Title.  But my mom and aunt Kayla had many matches against him and Craig Thomas.  The Sisterhood told me of those battles and told me about how good Tyler and Craig both were.  The Jones Family grew to have a deep respect for what Adrenaline Rush was capable of.

Tyler Tucker broke away from tag team wrestling, going out on his own in singles competition.  He worked hard, he busted his ass, and he earned a shot at the United States Championship.  He pushed Amy Chastaine to her limits once, failing to get the job done, but on the second try he took advantage and defeated her for the US Title.

Who would’ve expected Tyler Tucker would be the SCW United States Champion?  No one, no one except for Tyler Tucker.  Tyler expected it, he believed in himself and that’s all he needed to succeed.  Tyler Tucker is the image of what hard work, determination, and believing in yourself will get you.

You definitely believe in yourself, Regan.  And there’s no questioning your talent and ability.  But you can’t go around bullying your way into whatever opportunities or matches that you want.  Granted, your actions did earn you an opportunity this time at Taking Hold of the Flame, but the opportunity for you isn’t for the United States Championship.  You can forget about any chance of winning the championship because it won’t happen.

The only opportunity you have is the opportunity to learn a lesson courtesy of myself and Tyler Tucker.  We’re both sick and tired of seeing you whine, bitch, and moan on social media, on Breakdown, and to the high heavens about the supposed unfair treatment you’ve received.  So we’re just going to kick your ass from one side of that arena to the other.

I wouldn’t worry about Kimberly, I wouldn’t worry about Adrenaline Rush, you need to worry about your own well being, Regan.  You’ve pissed a lot of people off and two of those people will be in that ring against you at Taking Hold of the Flame.

Tyler, you and I are definitely on the same page at least in one regard; the United States Champion deserves better than to be held by an obsessive lunatic like Regan Street.  Just like you, I will do everything in my power to make sure she does not walk out with the championship…

…however, when push comes to shove, and it comes down to the two of us, understand that I will also do everything in my power to retain this championship.  I’ve fought too hard to earn this championship, I have a deep respect for this championship, and it would cheapen it if I were to give you anything less than my absolute best performance.

I don’t fight to keep this championship just because I love the glory and the spotlight of being champion.  I fight because I respect the spirit of competition and I respect the tradition of this great championship in this great company.

This championship represents my resurrection as a competitor.  Just when I thought I was down and out, just when I thought I was finished, Supreme Championship Wrestling proved to be the land of opportunity and I used that opportunity to rise up from the ashes just like the mythical phoenix to become SCW United States Champion.

If you think I’m going to relinquish that without a hell of a fight then you’re crazy.  And you’re crazy if you think that I’m going to let this new opportunity I have before me at Taking Hold of the Flame pass me by.

This opportunity I have goes beyond defending the United States Championship, it even goes beyond the Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royal.  I once thought I was The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling but I lost the right to call myself that.  Now, in one single night, I have the opportunity to earn that right once again by pulling off the near impossible.  And you’d better believe it, right here and now, that I will sacrifice everything I have in my heart and in my soul, every ounce of sweat, every drop of blood, to accomplish this task…

…first I will defeat Regan Street and Tyler Tucker to retain the United States Championship…

…then, later on in the night, I will also win the Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royal.  I will be SCW United States Champion, I will be in the main event of Rise To Greatness competing for the SCW World Championship…

…and I will once again be The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling.