THE CRUSH: PART II
The young, beautiful and exciting Peyton Rice, the woman now known as “Pretty Perfect” had surprised many by making it to the end of the tournament and now was in the finals to face off against a very hungry and dangerous man that was looking to prove something after what many say was a failed run at the SCW. For Peyton though this was her chance to become a Champion and impress the SCW, show why the future roster member was the real deal, a graduate of the Ante Up Academy.
In her personal life, Peyton was being mentored and trained by Kelcey Wallace, the four-time SCW World Champion and future Hall of Famer. There was also her father, Ray, the former Firefighter that is now confined to a wheel chair, worried about her health. A relationship with Ricky Octavius that was healthy and a good friend like Jason Dillinger ho obviously had a crush on her but she refused to believe that.
Chicago, IL.
3.29.18
Emerge Invasion was just a few days away, Peyton had arrived a few days earlier, Kelcey had also wanted to be there, get an early start on preparing for the biggest match of her young career. In her short tights, knee pads, tank top and sneakers, Peyton once again tries to lock up with Kelcey who has on leggings, a sports bra and tights, she quickly drops her and backs up, Peyton gets up to her fours as Kelcey walks around…..
Kelcey: “Get up.”
She starts to tremble a little, grinding her teeth and slow to get back on her feet….
Kelcey: “Come on Peyton, stand back on your feet love, you are faster, smarter and more agile than Dylan Cent….”
Peyton lowers her head, the strands of sweaty hair covering the sides of her face. Her fingers with the glossy finish on her nails grips the mat some, Kelcey can tell there is something wrong, Peyton NEVER gives up, she never takes this long to continue the fight…..
Kelcey: “Are you hurt?”
The young prodigy doesn’t respond….
Kelcey: “I said are you hurt!?”
The silence coming from Peyton says it all, all she could think about was the moment that brought her spirits down and it happened last night…..
15 Hours Ago
Boka Restaurant
One of the finest restaurants in the city on Halsted Street, it took some time for Peyton to embrace the fact her mother, Jolene had asked her to dinner. A famous interior designer, Jolene Price was a name everyone knew. While still living in Arizona, she traveled a lot and it just so happened Peyton’s mother was in Chicago for one more day before flying back out. Peyton wore black slacks, a matching halter top and open toed heels, her nails polished white and long brunette hair hanging down. She was a splitting image of her mother who wore a blue blouse, white slacks and matching pumps…
Peyton and her mother hadn’t talked much since her father’s accident, Jolene left after six months, she couldn’t handle the pressures and responsibilities that came with her husband being crippled from the tragedy…..
Jolene: “I’m happy you came.”
Peyton grabs her glass of wine, slowly taking a sip and nodding….
Peyton: “Thanks for inviting me mom.”
Jolene: “I know that you and I haven’t talked much lately, I always want to be a part of your life, I hope you realize that. I understand you may not agree with some of the choices I made.”
Peyton: “Mom, you left dad, you left me and even Siobhan.”
Jolene: “Your sister is almost out of college. How is that going by the way?”
The young brunette takes another sip from her wine when the waiter places some appetizers on the table…..
Peyton: “I dropped out.”
Jolene: “You dropped out, why… why?”
Peyton: “College doesn’t pay for dad.”
Jolene: “Peyton, you were modeling…”
Peyton: “I stopped that. I can go back anytime.”
Jolene: “Is this what your father was talking about? This wrestling?”
Peyton: “Yes, this wrestling and it may not pay all the bills right now mom, at least with dad’s pension from the Fire Department, the disability and the money I do make which isn’t much but at least I saved from modeling, he can at least have a roof over his head, he doesn’t have to worry about missing a meal and I can get a nurse to care for him even if he refuses. Someone has to take care of him, mom.”
Jolene shakes her head and sighs, now taking the glass of wine herself and sipping….
Peyton: “Why?”
Jolene: “Why what, Pey?”
Peyton: “Why did you leave us?”
Jolene: “I didn’t leave you. I…”
Peyton: “No mom, you left us when dad was hurt, when we needed you the most. All that fell on me. How the hell was I supposed to support myself in college and dad? Do you know how disappointed he was that I left school to pursue wrestling? I could have modeled, I chose this, and I will succeed in it, I have a chance to win the Championship in a few days. I’m doing this for dad, for us. I get it mom, you are traveling all over the states, your designs are mainstream, great but you forgot us.”
Jolene: “Damn it Peyton, I did not. I made a choice because I couldn’t bare to see the man that was so strong and such a polarizing figure become so pathetic. Your father drove me nuts and I couldn’t handle it, I just couldn’t. I tried, and it was the hardest thing I ever had to do. You can judg….”
Peyton cuts her off…..
Peyton: “Judge you? Oh, I’m going to judge you mom. What kind of wife leaves their husband in their greatest time of need?”
Jolene: “That is not fair, Peyton. Your sister understands….”
Peyton: “Of course she does mom, Siobhan couldn’t wait to get out of the house. Maybe I’m just too loyal to dad, I hate seeing him this way as he tries everyday to walk. He holds out hope that one day he will, and it kills me because each passing day I know he won’t. You don’t get it mom, you have moved on and try to sympathize with me and even with dad. He was going through a rough patch and it wasn’t fair.”
Jolene: “I know it upsets you, let’s just try to have a nice dinner and hopefully one day you understand and accept why I had to leave. Okay?”
Peyton: “You know what mom, thank you for this…. But I lost my appetite.”
The gorgeous Rice stands up….
Jolene: “Peyton… no, please stay. Let’s talk it out and have a dinner together. Tell me about this wrestling thing, maybe I can watch it….”
Peyton: “It’s fine mom. We both know how this ends tonight.”
She places her napkin down and walks out, Jolene sighs and sips her wine, shaking her head at how this evening with her daughter, with so much hope and promise, turned out….
Chicago, IL.
3.29.18
It almost seemed like Peyton had given up, Kelcey even thought she was hurt but before she knew it, Peyton looked up at her, Kelcey squatted down, the two came face to face….
Kelcey: “Are you hurt?”
Peyton shakes her head “no”….
Kelcey: “Good. You better not be giving up love and wasting my time.”
Peyton: “I’m ready….”
Kelcey: “Bollocks, you are not ready. Dylan Cent is hungry, he is nasty, and I was in the SCW during his tenure and the man can hit like a bloody gorilla. You can’t take that Peyton, so you will have to use your speed to beat him. He out matches you in every category. I made that mistake with Selena Frost. I made that mistake with Ravyn Taylor. I made that mistake with Ace Marshall. Get your head out of your ass and get up.”
Peyton: “I have a lot on my mind.”
Kelcey: “What?”
Peyton: “My mom and….”
Kelcey: “Peyton, I am the last person to be a cold-hearted bitch to you but your mother in this situation is irrelevant. You need to block all of that NOW from your mind. I have had some serious proble3ms in my personal life and I had to wrestle through them, I expect the same. Dylan Cent has something to prove and he will run over you to do it! Now get on your feet love and forget everything right now on concentrate on the EMERGE Championship.”
After a few moments, Peyton stands back up, she takes a deep breath and brushes her hair back, looking away for a moment as Kelcey paces a little….
Kelcey: “Attack me.”
Peyton: “I can beat him.”
Kelcey: “Yeah? I’ve been in the ring with him, right now? You can’t. Attack me.”
Peyton: “You don’t believe me?”
Kelcey: “Make me one. Attack me.”
Peyton: “You don’t get it….”
Kelcey gets right up to her face…..
Kelcey: “No love, that’s the problem, I do get it.”
She doesn’t say another word and backs up. Standing there for a moment before Peyton finally starts to pace and locks up with Kelcey again…..
A Few Hours Later….
Peyton sits at the edge of the bed in her hotel room, barefoot with her tights and top on, ready to take a nap and shower. She had her phone out, talking to her boyfriend, Ricky Octavius….
Ricky: “You don’t sound okay.”
Peyton: “I’m fine. My mom upset me last night, I carried it over into training, I messed up. Kelcey put me back on track. I just don’t want to fail her. Are you coming?”
Ricky: “I’m heading to the airport now, I’ll be there in a few hours, then we can go out and have fun, okay beautiful?”
Peyton: “Okay…. See you then. Love you.”
Ricky: “Love you too.”
Peyton hangs up, smiling for the first time today, Ricky usually does that to her. She lies down and falls asleep almost instantly….
Three Hours Later
Peyton’s green eyes shoot open, she sits up a little disoriented looking at the clock, she quickly grabs her phone and reads the text message….
Sorry babe, missed my flight, I’ll be there first thing tomorrow. Love you, call me later.
Peyton’s eyes narrow, she throws the phone on the bed and stands up, heading to the showers. After spending about an hour getting ready, she has on jeans, a black halter top and open toed heels, her nails polished white and hair hanging down all made up ready to go out. The gorgeous brunette grabs her phone and sees a text from Jason Dillinger….
Just flew into town, do you and Ricky want to hang out?
Peyton calls him back instead, after a few rings he answers the phone….
J-Dilly: “Didn’t expect you to call me back.”
Peyton: “Hey J-Dilly, it’s nice to hear a friendly voice. Been crazy the last 24 hours. Ricky missed his flight, he’s coming tomorrow.”
J-Dilly: “So? What do you say, dinner and Wrigley Town?”
Peyton: “That actually sounds like a great idea. I’m so down for that.”
J-Dilly: “Pick you up in 30?”
Peyton: “I’ll be here.”
She hangs up and smiles, disappointed that Ricky is not coming but at least she gets to spend time with her good friend, Jason Dillinger.
He removes the phone from his ear, he then dials, another manly voice with a British accent answers the phone….
Voice: “Yeah mate?”
J-Dilly: “Color me impressed again. You are worth every penny. So, what happened this time?”
Voice: “New York is a dangerous city, a bloke like Ricky can’t be too careful, he may get mugged.”
J-Dilly’s eyes widen before smirking, he hangs up, stepping out of the car and heading into Peyton’s hotel.
New York City, NY.
Present Time
Ricky slowly opens his eyes, he doesn’t even know how he got there. Looking around, confused he is in some forest, the middle of nowhere, robbed of his possessions. A man watched from the distance, he smirks and starts to walk back to his car….
That man is Alistair Taylor.
SCENE FADES
“PRETTY PERFECT” PROMO
MY TWO “CENTS”
REC:
“It is hard to imagine how far I have come in such a short period of time. When I chose EMERGE, it was to better myself as a wrestler, take that next step in my journey and make the best of it. Did I intend to become the EMERGE Champion?
Yes, I always had full intentions to one day be wearing that gold, I do not settle for anything else.
I am humble and a realist though. My reasons are different than Dylan Cent’s. Going through Kim Williams and before that three wrestlers who are guaranteed future stars, I look across the ring at a man who calls himself the “Centerpiece”. Dylan Cent has been to the big dance, he understands what it takes to be an SCW Superstar, some call him a failure, others feel he needed to step away for a while and come back stronger, that he did. His attitude is different, he doesn’t lack an ounce of confidence, he already is declaring himself the winner and your first EMERGE Champion?
That’s fine, he has a right too and let’s all be honest with one another, he’s favored to win big. Thing is Mr. Cent, I know you will talk about being “Pretty” and being “Perfect”, two notions that probably have no place in wrestling, right?
Tell that to Kelcey Wallace.
I have never been in the ring with an actual SCW Superstar, you are my first. To say that this is the biggest match of my career and my toughest is an understatement. See, Mr. Cent, you have beaten wrestlers that I can only dream of. I don’t have those memories, my resume is small, not even a page, there is no one outside a few wrestlers here in EMERGE or in the UWA Cruiserweight Division who I have beaten. Was I a former Champion?
Yes.
Do I have the heart of a lioness?
Yes.
The determination to wrestle King Kong to the ground?
Yes.
Can I beat you, Mr. Cent?
YES.
I respect what you can do in the ring sir, that’s about it, thinking I’m a pushover, the champagne is already on Ice, the streamers, cake and the parties started. Should I congratulate you now? How about I just concede, shake your hand and walk away, save myself the beating?
No, Mr. Cent.
I’m going to ruin your party, this arrogance, claiming you’re what the EMERGE brand needs? It ends now. I made a commitment to this sport, I want the chances you were given, the only difference?
I won’t mess them up.
It starts with you and when Invasion is over, they will crown a NEW EMERGE Champion….
Not a “Centerpiece”, not a former SCW Superstar….
Just some girl from Arizona…..
That on this night?
Was “Pretty Perfect”.”
/REC
Peyton Rice 