FOREVER
RICKY OCTAVIUS MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Peyton Rice can look back at this year as being a successful one in the SCW but her heart was always with EMERGE, the place that gave her the first break she had and was able to come about and really break some records, never losing the EMERGE Championship and leaving her legacy in a promotion that still talks about her. Peyton didn’t think that she would ever be back in EMERGE at least competing but when the Ricky Octavius Memorial tournament was announced, she jumped at the opportunity right away. She wanted to honor Ricky, show just how much she loved and what he meant to her. There were a lot of things going on though both in the ring and outside. The injure to her boyfriend, Alistaire Allocco was definitely on her mind, there was the reemergence of Kelcey Wallace which Peyton knew about long before she made it public.
Moving in with Owen Cruze was a big step, she needed to get out of the house and that of course was also another heavy burden on her, people would talk, she didn’t care, the fact that there were too many memories with Ricky was taking its toll on her mentally. Always worrying about her dad, Warren Downing showing back up who ran the escort service Peyton once worked at before wrestling to get through school and take care of her father.
Things were rough until the day she never thought would happen.
Owen’s Home
Hollywood Hills, CA.
It had been a rough traveling week for Peyton and Owen, both were non-stop all the way up until the SCW Clarity PPV. Peyton was exhausted, she had passed out on the couch watching TV. She had on a pair of work out shirts, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt. Her flip flops on the floor with her long sandy blonde hair down and nails polished white. She lied on her stomach as Owen came home and saw her asleep on the couch, her hand and foot hung off the side, he gently placed her foot up on the cushion, then took the remote control from her hand and lifted it up on the cushion as well. Owen then grabbed a blanket and placed it over her, as he had just come home from working out, usually Peyton goes with him, but he left earlier than normal. He walks into the kitchen and grabs himself a protein shake, sits down on the love seat next to the couch, making sure that Peyton was okay. He started flipping through the channels when he could see a car approach the gate, Owen stood back up and looked, it was Jennifer Helms. He wasn’t expecting her but at the same time, he wouldn’t mind seeing her, always thought she was nice and beautiful. He walked to the door as she pulled in, getting out of her car, she was wearing jeans, a red blouse and flip flops, her nails were polished a matte red and her hair hangs down. He noticed a bruise on her face and wrists bandaged up…
Owen: “Jennifer? What the hell is going on?”
He tries to help her, but she smiles, kissing him on the cheek….
Jennifer: “Where’s Peyton?”
Owen: “She’s asleep on the couch, been a long week.”
Jennifer: “We need to wake her.”
Owen: “Jenni…. What’s going on? Are you okay? You look hurt.”
Jennifer: “I’m hurting but right now I need to speak with both, together.”
Owen nodded, helping her into the house. They walk into the house, Owen escorting her into the living room. Jennifer sees Peyton dead asleep on the couch. Owen nudges Peyton a few times before she finally opens her green eyes and tries to get her bearing, she sits up a bit shocked, covered by a blanket, not remembering how she was covered up….
Peyton: “I…uh…. I must’ve passed out on the couch. Owen, when did you get home?”
Owen: “A little while ago, Jennifer is here and she wanted to talk to us, she told me to wake you up, sorry.”
Peyton: “No… no… it’s fine. I… Jennifer? What happened to you, is everything alright?”
Jennifer: “Yeah… I’m okay.”
Jennifer gets on her knees on the floor, grabbing Peyton’s hands who is confused as to what is exactly going on. Owen sits next to Peyton on couch as Jennifer’s eyes start to tear up some…
Owen: “What happened?”
Peyton: “Jenni, what is wrong?”
Jennifer: “I have something to tell you.”
Peyton: “What is it?”
She swallows some, as her voice had started to break up, the tears started to stream down her cheeks worrying both Owen and Peyton. Jennifer collects herself and takes a deep breath….
Jennifer: “We got him.”
Peyton: “We got who?”
Owen: “Jennifer?”
Jennifer: “We got him……”
Peyton now starts to tear up as Owen’s eyes widen….
Jennifer: “We caught Ricky’s killer….. we got that son of bitch.”
Peyton covers her mouth, shaking before starting to cry, she drops to her knees and hugs Jennifer as Owen looks on, he has tears in his eyes too as Jennifer reaches over and grabs his hand pulling him in….
Jennifer: “We got him….. we finally got him.”
The three continue their embrace, this was news that neither Owen nor Peyton expected…..
Twenty Minutes Later
Jennifer sipped some tea, after telling the story of what had happened and that Lancelot Crane was the one who killed both Ricky and her sister, Jennifer felt so much weight lifted off her shoulders. It was early evening, she had spent half the day with the LAPD and finally convinced Regan to go see Owen and Peyton, the Helms home was only fifteen minutes from his house on the other side of the canyon. As they talked, Jennifer lied her head down on Owen’s lap, before going home, Peyton was in the kitchen…
Jennifer: “I need to get back to my parents, I’m not driving back to the loft tonight. It took a miracle from God just to convince my mom to let me come here without her.”
Owen: “You know that you can stay here long as you want Jenni.”
Jennifer: “I appreciate the invite Owen, I shouldn’t even be laying on your lap, just felt a bit groggy.”
Owen: “Just take a second and when you feel up to it, I can take you home and we can get your car tomorrow. I think Pey is ordering Chinese, stay and have dinner with us.”
Jennifer: “I don’t want to impose.”
Owen: “Jenni, you’re not.”
Peyton walks out and sits down in the love seat. She smiles seeing Owen attending to Jennifer especially after everything that happened with Christian in recent weeks. Jennifer closes her eyes for a second and let’s out a sigh, Owen glances over at Peyton who winks…
Peyton: “Seriously Jen, stay for a bit.”
Jennifer: “Mmmm…. Yeah.”
Peyton: “good. I need to call my dad and tell him the news; I rather hear it from me then the news.”
Owen: “That’s a good idea. Hey Jenni….”
She doesn’t respond, fast asleep on his lap, he looks up at Peyton who sees Jennifer sleeping. This time, Peyton grabs the same blanket and covers her up…
Peyton: “Her body couldn’t take it anymore. She has been through hell.”
Owen: “I know…..”
Owen brushes a few strands of hair from her face….
Peyton: “She got him. Her and Regan…. Even Sienna. They caught him. Giving peace back to Ricky, to her sister and we don’t know who else that monster killed. She is special, a good kid, like you… who deserves better. Everything she has been through, would have broken most people. Her family abandons her after she loses her sister, then takes so much time to adjust living with the Helms and we both know that Regan isn’t the easy person to please. I don’t know Owen; I hate to be like this but we are blessed she’s in our lives.”
Owen: “I know.”
Owen removes another strand of hair, gently rubbing the bruise on her face…
Owen: “That bastard hit her.”
Peyton: “Yes, but he’s in jail now and hopefully for life. Owen, you have been through a lot too, you guys have a lot in common. She likes you.”
Owen: “Yeah… not like that.”
Peyton: “Right.”
Peyton gets out of her chair, slips on her flips flops and grabs her phone…
Owen: “What did I say?”
Peyton: “It’s not what you said, it’s what you think, Owen. Time to move forward. You know what I mean. Chinese will be here in half an hour.”
Owen was going to respond and instead he laid his head back with Jennifer comfortably asleep on his lap. Peyton went upstairs to her room, she closed the door, kicked off her flip flops and sat on the bed, opening her phone to facetime her father. It rang a few times before finally he picked up…
Ray: “Hey pumpkin, how are you?”
Peyton: “Hey dad.”
Ray: “What is wrong, I can tell that something is bothering you.”
Peyton: “Dad, something happened today, and I need to tell you before it breaks out on the news.”
Ray: “What is it?”
Her eyes start to tear up again, lips quiver, just thinking about Ricky and how he died at the hands of that maniac saddened her, it also angered the gorgeous Rice. She brushed her hair back and took a deep breath….
Ray: “Now you are worrying me, what is going on.”
Peyton: “Dad, they arrested Ricky’s killer.”
Ray: “Wait…. What?”
He turned away, nodding, it was his way of fighting those same emotions that Peyton was feeling. She tried to smile some and show a little comfort to her father….
Peyton: “Yeah, it was Lancelot Crane, the famous photographer. I will tell you all the details later, but I had to call and let you know.”
Ray: “I… I don’t know what to say. I hoe they throw that piece of shit in jail for life.”
Peyton: “Me too. Everything is going to be alright now, dad. Everything will be alright.”
Ray: “I know but I always knew that pumpkin. Maybe you can tell me all about it later.”
Peyton: “I will, promise. For now, though, I want to digest all this in, Jennifer is here, she went through a lot with this maniac, so I want to be here for her.”
Ray: “I understand, give her and Owen my love. How is Alistaire doing?”
Peyton: “He’s recovering, like I said dad, everything is going to be alright. He will be back sooner rather than later hopefully, until then, all we can do is wait.”
Ray: “I know sweetheart. Okay, are you sure everything is alright?”
Peyton: “Yeah, I’m taking it easy tonight, probably go to bed early. I love you dad.”
Ray: “I love you too.”
Peyton hangs up and sits there for a moment. She stands up and walks over to the drawer and opens it, there is a small box there which she takes, it has a ring in it. Holding it for a moment, it is the engagement ring that Ricky had bought her and never gave it to Peyton until his brother gave it to her after the funeral. She tries to hold back her tears, raising the ring to her lips and kissing it…..
Peyton: “They got him Ricky….. they finally have him.”
She closes her eyes and holds the ring close to her heart, thinking back to the last time she saw him….
Two Weeks Before Ricky’s Death
Santa Monica, CA.
Peyton stood out at Santa Monica Pier looking out at the ocean. Wearing jean shorts, a black top button halter top and matching wedge sandals, her nails Frenched and long sandy blonde hair hanging down waited for Ricky to bring back a couple of shakes, he wore a tight Under Armour tee, jeans and sneakers. He comes up to her and hands Peyton the shake…
Ricky: “Cookies and Cream just like you asked.”
Peyton: “Thanks babe. Okay, so why did you ask me out here? The last conversation we had I told you, leave the Beauty Factory, they are only going to manipulate you.”
Ricky: “I know, and I took your word as gold, Peyton. Look, what happened between us was screwed up. There were outside forces involved….”
Peyton: “That you say.”
Ricky: “I hope that you believe me here.”
Peyton: “Okay, fine…. I believe you. I also told you that there is no way I could see you again Ricky if you are tied to those people. Look, I love you, that never wandered, I have ALWAYS loved you, but I was hurt and yeah, sure time heals all wounds, it wasn’t the best of times either. I want to be friends and who knows after that, but I want to make sure that I don’t get hurt again.”
Ricky lowers his head and nods…
Ricky: “I will do whatever it takes to prove you different, that I promise. I am not going to stop fighting Peyton, for us? No way, I will fight until the bitter end, I hope you know that.”
Peyton: “I do know that Ricky and I want you to know that the Beauty Factory will never allow us to be happy and together without them trying to recruit me and that won’t happen.”
Ricky: “I actually asked you here because I wanted to tell you that I’m quitting the Factory.”
She looked surprised…
Peyton: “Why?”
Ricky: “Because of you. This is more important and since we broke up I have this void that needs to be felt, one that for the longest time I can’t seem to get over and it is you. Peyton, I think of the future and every scenario in my head has you in it.”
Peyton: “Ricky….”
Ricky: “Please tell me you think the same?”
Peyton: “I do, and I love you, I wouldn’t dream of spending the rest of my life with you, but things need to change, they can’t be this way until they do, please understand?”
Ricky: “I do understand. Give me a chance to fix it, that is all I ask.”
Peyton nodded and leaned in, kissing him on the lips….
Peyton: “You have that chance.”
She smiled, rubbing his cheek gently as Peyton turned and started to walk toward the bench to sit down. It was then that Ricky decided it was not the right time to propose to her. Their first date was on the Pier, it was a special place for both. He tucked the ring back in his pocket and smiled, spending this time with her was better than any…..
Present Time
Holding the ring to her heart, Peyton started to cry. Had she done something, things could have been different, and it will be a guilt she will live wit the rest of her life.
A Few Days Later
Ricky’s Gravesite
Peyton stood there staring at the tombstone. She wore jeans, thong sandals and a cute black halter top. Her long-straightened hair hung down and nails polished white. She laid some flowers on the edge and looked around. It was quiet….
Peyton: “You know they are having a Memorial for you, right? Oh, I bet you’re just sitting back right now laughing, nudging me and saying… “Hey Pey-Pey, No Pressure.”, Yeah I know Ricky, no pressure, would look bad if the person closest to you would lose but know what? I’m okay with that. There are a lot of good people in this tourney that want to honor your name. I hope that you realize how much you are loved and missed which is why I cam here. They caught Lancelot Crane, Ricky. They got him and I know that makes you smile. Jennifer told me what happened, how you put yourself in danger for her and….”
Her lips start to quiver, and she begins to cry….
Peyton: “…. You had to be the hero…. Why? I know why, because you are Ricky Octavius, the bravest man I have ever met. You lost your life trying to protect another and I will make sure the world knows. I will no doubt make certain that everyone knows the what ultimate sacrifice you made to help and save Jennifer, the same you would have done for all of us. Maybe I am selfish, because you are no longer here with me. I miss you Ricky, but I have tried to move on and it’s harder than I ever imagined. I have this though….”
She reaches into her pocket and takes out the engagement ring….
Peyton: “…. Ricky, I now know what you were trying to do that day on Santa Monica Pier and my answer is “Yes”. I will marry you as soul partners until the day I die and see you again. I am going to leave this here with you because I want Ricky for you to give it to me when I see you, so we can dance one more time. I’m going to win this for you. For US…. And know that I love you so much.”
She places his ring on the tombstone after kissing it. Peyton presses against the rock and lowers her head, she hears someone coming behind her. Peyton stands up and turns to see Kelcey Wallace there in jeans, boots and a black jacket, her long hair hangs down. Peyton covers her face as she begins to cry, Kelcey walks over and embraces her….
Kelcey: “He knows, and he will be watching.”
Peyton: “They caught the bastard.”
Kelcey: “I saw.”
Kelcey sees the ring on the tombstone and smiles, kissing Peyton on the forehead and brushing her hair back….
Kelcey: “I have never believed anyone is truly gone. My mother, father, Ricky…. They live in here.”
Kelcey points to her heart….
Kelcey: “Forever.”
Peyton nods, turning to the grave and the ring…..
Forever.
SCENE FADES
REC:
“I honestly didn’t know how hard this was going to be. I had been preparing for months both emotionally and physically at the toll it would take on my mind and body. It’s no secret that out of all the participants in the tournament, I was the closest to Ricky, we were a couple, very intimate, chances are we would have wed eventually because you know when you find someone, and automatically feel like they are your soulmate.
That is what Ricky Octavius is to me.
When he passed, part of me died with him, there was a huge part of my career that was involved with Ricky, we trained together in Ante Up Academy, eventually fell in love, we did our best to keep it professional in the ring and be our crazy selves outside it. Ricky was my lover, partner but most importantly he was my best friend. I will always blame myself for what led to this and nothing will change that. Every single waking moment of my life, all I think about is ow I could have done things differently. The good news is this past week, Ricky’s killer was caught thanks to Jennifer Helms, Regan Street and Sienna Swann. It was such a huge burden that was lifted, the unknown is gone and now what memories I have is all that is close to my heart.
That is why this Tournament is the most important venture I have ever been a part of.
This is about honoring Ricky, his life and legacy, it is about remembering a great man that was a friend to us all which also made him some enemies. Ricky loved this sport; he was so dedicated and humbled to be a part of it. He made a promise to his mom before she died that he would make her proud….
Ricky you did that and so much more.
When I look at the talent and the roster of this tournament, I was the FIRST to throw my name is, EMERGE is still my home, this was the place that gave me the break I was looking for. I needed this company to help me believe that I belonged. Ricky loved EMERGE too, he was always talking about coming here, unfortunately his Beauty Factory Contract wouldn’t allow him to compete. I know though that had he been given the chance, EMERGE would have been a much better place for it. This tournament is no easy task, I have Madeleine Masters, an up and coming BlackOut Academy graduate that wants to shock the world in the first round and take me out of the Tourney. Honestly Madeleine, I would be devastated if that happened but happy for you….
But I will only say this once and it is very uncharacteristic of me saying it for I have always believed that anyone can beat anyone at any time….
I’m sorry, I can’t and won’t let you beat me.
I don’t think that many of you realize just how important this is to me. I don’t care about any belts or trophies, or even being called the tournament winner, instead this is my final gift to Ricky, to show him by putting his mind at ease that I will be okay. I know that I will see him again someday and I want to grab that trophy and hand it over smiling, knowing that he knew too, that I was going to be okay. Chris Cannon, Danny Darko, Donovan Street, Konrad Raab, Sundown, Sierra Swann, Desiree Devna, KALI, Melissa Killgraves, Alistair Taylor, Willow Wilkes, AJ Helms, Jennifer Helms and everyone else that I didn’t name, they all have their reasons here, why they came to compete. For many, it is to wrestle one more time for Ricky, to celebrate the life and the journey while cut short, doing so a HERO. See, Ricky died, sacrificing himself for his friends, to help one of us in need. It didn’t surprise when I heard how he passed, I cried for hours because for one moment, I wished I was there to grab his hand, bringing him close to me, whispering in his ear….
You are my hero.
That’s the thing about Ricky, he was everyone’s.
Round by round, match by match, this is NOT about SCW, whatever is going on there stays there, this is about Ricky Octavius and the tournament to recognize him for who he is. If some jerk like Alistair Taylor who played a part in our relationship problems, that I learned about long after his death or Willow, The Unforgiven or anyone else want to come in here and think they are going to disrespect or blemish anything that Ricky has done have another thing coming for I will NOT allow that to happen. I love this sport, I try to give people the benefit of the doubt but if you think for one minute that I will stand by and watch the memory of the man I love be desecrated for some idiot looking for some attention or their fifteen minutes of fame?
You have another thing coming.
Thank You for doing this EMERGE. You have nothing but my respect for this gesture. We all loved Ricky and I know that no matter what happens in this tournament, that for one night, we can all come together, putting our differences aside by wrestling in a showcase of talent and respect for one of our fallen. As for me? I am here to do what Ricky and I spent two years training for, showing the world that this is another chapter in his life and legacy.
Ricky is not gone, never be forgotten….
Living in our hearts and minds, proud of what we are doing, wishing he could be a part of it.
Ricky, you know what I am about to say, right?
I’ll show them all, Peyton Rice is not just another Pretty Face.
I love you Ricky, this is for you.”
/REC
Peyton Rice 