Post by gvb on May 9, 2023 15:59:50 GMT -6
3x22 IT WON'T BE LONG
The Principal’s Office
April 27th. 2023
6:32 PM
The camera took us inside Gian’s office. The principal was not alone, sitting in front of him on the other side of the desk was Ava Grimes, tapping her fingernails on the mahogany table nervously.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
I’m sure she’ll be here soon.
He said, nodding at Ava’s hand. The Team Strike student immediately stopped, crossing her arms on her chest.
Ava Grimes:
Whatever. I just want to get over this asap. I still don’t understand why I’m here, you already know my request.
She huffed, seemingly annoyed.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
I do, but Reign has to agree to it as well. That’s how contracts work, all parts have to sign off on it. I already had Elsa and Vincent agree, now we need Reign.
He calmly explained, but Ava didn’t look too convinced.
Ava Grimes:
Well, she doesn’t need me to hand her the pen, right? You could have just…
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
No, but I don’t have all day, Ava. I need you here so that we can find a solution quickly in case Reign doesn’t agree with the stipulation you picked.
Reign Reyes walked into the office, dripping with sweat. Dressed in a sports bra, yoga pants and with her ear buds still firmly in place, it was obvious she’d rushed over from a workout. She was breathing a little heavy as she gave Ava a quick, surprisingly polite, nod before looking towards the principal and removing one of her ear buds.
Reign Reyes:
Hey. Sorry I’m late. What’s this about?
She didn’t sit. In fact she seemed in a rush to get back to her training. Gian picked the top sheet from a small stack of papers and placed it in front of Reign.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
Your match against Ava at Zeitgeist. She requested it happen inside a steel cage, I need your signature at the bottom of that contract, unless you have reservations. Which, considering your history with Ava and her recent injuries, would be perfectly understandable.
Ava Grimes:
She never held anything back, it would be hypocritical to start now, don’t you agree?
Reign picked up the sheet of paper, her dark eyes scanning the page as she read the words to herself. When she was finished she placed it down on the desk and looked over at Ava rather matter of factly.
Reign Reyes:
Steel cage match where the winner is determined by escaping the cage first? Or steel cage match where pinfalls and submissions still count and the cage is basically a weapon?
Ava Grimes:
Escape only. No fluke roll-up wins, I heard you’re quite the expert at those.
Ava replied quickly, flashing the fakest of smiles at her former best friend. Reign wasn’t phased by the comment or the smile. In fact, she shrugged before replying rather candidly.
Reign Reyes:
I’m pretty sure I’m an expert when it comes to getting pinned by the Scoop. I get where you’re going with that though, I can’t remember the last time I won an important match cleanly. As for the cage match…
Reign motioned towards the contract and shrugged once more.
Reign Reyes:
That’s fine. It’s preferable actually. I thought you were going to be so consumed by revenge that you’d opt for the most brutal match possible. A basic cage match where the objective is to escape? That’s fine by me. I’m more than happy to get you hung up in the ropes and then exit gracefully. No harm, no foul.
She looked towards Gian with a smile.
Reign Reyes:
Where do I sign?
Gian pointed at the dotted line at the end of the page. Reyes was about to sign it when a chuckle coming from the left stopped her.
Ava Grimes:
Oh I’m sure that tying me up has always been your dream… But that’s never gonna happen.
She stood up from the chair, getting in Reign’s face.
Ava Grimes:
The cage is actually there to keep people out and make sure nobody comes to rescue you. It would be a true shame if someone interfered in another one of your matches, right?
Reign squinted a bit, tilting her head sideways as if she were confused by something Ava said.
Reign Reyes:
You do realize that there are no rules and no disqualifications in a cage match. So if someone wanted to run down to ringside, climb into the cage and interfere with the match, it’s perfectly legal. Your logic is a bit fuzzy.
Reign leaned around Ava so that she could speak directly to Gian.
Reign Reyes:
Have you seen her medicals? Are we sure she got her head checked properly?
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
Of course, she has been cleared by her doctor and we had two different specialists looking into her record, they all agree that she’s good to go.
The principal replied in a serious tone, slightly anticlimactic and in contrast with Reign’s sarcastic tone.
Ava Grimes:
It’s not like a regular match would stop anybody, I can tell you that from experience.
Grimes replied with a smirk, clearly referring to how easily she eluded security and attacked Reyes during her match against Alice at Anarchy In The UK.
Ava Grimes:
At least the cage would buy me some time, or allow someone else to stop whoever wants to interfere.
Reign Reyes:
Right. The notion that anyone would interfere on my behalf is idiotic but so is this match so I guess it fits.
Reign pointed towards the contact, again addressing Gian.
Reign Reyes:
And where on that contract do I add my own stipulation? In order for me to agree, Ava needs to wear headgear during the match. Nothing over the top, just the headgear boxers usually wear while sparring. Do we need to get lawyers involved to add that or is that something we can just write in and initial?
Ava Grimes:
ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?
She blurted out, slamming her fist on Gian’s desk.
Ava Grimes:
I already signed so many waivers that my hand started cramping up, I ain’t wearing no goddamn headgear! Get it through that thick skull of yours, I’ve been cleared, I don’t need no protection. So sign that damn contract already and let’s get done with this.
Reign sighed, much like a parent would when frustrated with their child.
Reign Reyes:
Ironically it’s your thick skull that landed you in the hospital long term to begin with. You came back too soon from a head injury that I caused, so you’ll have to excuse my leeriness. Here’s the thing, I don’t really need you to wear headgear because there’s no way in hell I’m hitting you in the head, which we both know pretty much eliminates my entire arsenal of moves. My hope was to isolate one of your legs and maybe submit you with the figure four, as an homage to my grandfather. But you’ve removed that option, haven’t you? So we can have the match in a ring, in a cage, in a cell… hell, we can have it while surrounded by exploding barbed wire… but it’s not going to be the match you want because it’s not going to be the version of me you want to beat. You already said that’s fine though. You’re happy to use me as your punching bag and at this point I’m happy to oblige. Why? Because I too just want this over with. You ruined it and you’re either too dumb or too angry to see it. I used to care. Now I don’t. There is one thing I want from you though. One thing you need to do if you want me to sign any contract against you… tell me why you’re so upset.
Reign snatched up the pen before looking Ava in the eyes.
Reign Reyes:
Tell me why we ended up here and if I believe your answer, I’ll sign the contract. If not, have fun in the cage by yourself.
Another nervous laughter came from Ava.
Ava Grimes:
You’re truly a piece of work.. This is what you always wanted, a big match between the two of us on a grand stage. Isn’t this why you kept taunting and mocking me? To “sell” this match? To add that drama that would get people hooked? And now you’re pulling out… Why exactly? Because I got upset? Of course I fucking did, what were you expecting me to do? To smile and play along while you were using me to build your persona? To sit there and let you mock and ridicule me while I couldn’t defend myself? We were friends, you shit on all that and somehow it’s my fault? Fuck you, Reign.
Reign’s voice was filled with emotion when she responded. Anger, sadness, frustration… it was all there.
Reign Reyes:
No, it’s not your fault. All of this is my fault and whether you choose to believe it or not I’ve owned it. I was wrong to go off in that interview like I did. I’ve said as much. I apologized a million times over for that. I went back. I reviewed what I said and I put myself in your shoes as best I could and it was shitty. I was shitty. So you shoulder zero percent of the blame when it comes to starting this. It was me. All me and I’m not proud of it. What I do hold you accountable for, is how you treated me in the aftermath.
Reign’s voice cracked a little.
Reign Reyes:
Why, Ava? Why is it only now that I’m standing in the same room as you able to say these things to you? Why’d you freeze me out? If we were friends why didn’t you at least extend me the courtesy of hearing me out before banishing me? Before you decided my apology was bullshit and my words weren’t worth your time? My actions during that interview were selfish, egotistical and short sighted. I reacted out of anger and spit venom that you didn’t deserve. But every time I tried to apologize you told me it wasn’t good enough. You told me I didn’t understand. Time after time I begged you to help me understand, to help me see it through your eyes, but you wouldn’t. It was like you needed to be mad at me. Like you needed it to fuel your recovery. So I leaned into it. I did. I thought maybe you and I could make something of it. A marquee match at a major event and now here we are.
Reign motioned towards the unsigned contract.
Reign Reyes:
You’re right though, I don’t want it anymore. I tried to control the narrative but I never anticipated how angry you’d become. You want the truth? Your reaction was incredibly immature. But I still love you. I know things haven’t been easy for you. You leaned on Sammy as the only person you could trust and then I came along and turned that dynamic on its head. When you finally accepted me I betrayed you… and that sucks. So for the final time, I’m sorry. Not that it matters and not that you care but I am sorry.
She glanced at the contract and sighed.
Reign Reyes:
I’m sorry I can’t give you what you want. I thought I could. I thought I could stand across from you, put on my big girl pants and play the villain, just like I have been these past few months. I can’t though. I’ve hurt you enough already. Some intentionally, some unintentionally. Maybe me walking away hurts you now. If it does, then once again I’m sorry.
Reign’s eyes fell on Gian.
Reign Reyes:
I’m not signing this or any contract if she’s standing across the ring from me. My bad if that ruins any plans you may have. I tried to push the Academy to the forefront during my time here. In some ways I think I have and in others I think maybe I set it back a little. If you need to bench me until graduation that’s fine. I’m happy to work with Helena and continue to learn. I think I’ve given all that I can give and taken all I can take from this place anyways.
Reign settled her gaze on Ava one last time.
Reign Reyes:
Face Alice if you can. She’ll give you the return to the ring you deserve.
With that Reign turned to head for the exit.
Ava Grimes:
I hate you…
Silence fell inside the room as soon as those three words left Ava’s lips. Reign froze on the doorstep, her mouth ajar in shock, looking like those words from her former best friend took the shape of a knife stabbing her right through her heart. Even Gian looked at Ava in disbelief. As for Grimes, she was doing her best to hold back, keeping her head low and clenching her fists. This inner struggle gave her voice a cold tone, fraught with emotional pain.
Ava Grimes:
It’s not really a shock, considering who’s the father figure you’re looking up to. He must be so proud of you, hell he even offered you a spot in his band of douchebags. The same group that kidnapped and beat up your boyfriend just to throw Gavin off his game. The same group who beat up your friend -our friend CJ- just to distract his cousin during a match .
Ava never turned around to look at Reign, she didn’t even lift her gaze from the floor.
Ava Grimes:
You hated that so much that you did the same thing. You used me, you used my injury just to get under Sammy’s skin, you used his love for me for your own benefit. What kind of person does that to the one they love? What kind of person does that to their best friend? You’re no better than Jack or Julian, actually you’re worse than them. At least they are aware of what they’re doing, they own their shit and face the consequences, while you… You just run away.
Finally she raised her head to look at Gian.
Ava Grimes:
I’m sorry I wasted your time, Gian. Let me know if you have anything else for me. Or not, I don’t really care anymore.
Turning around, she walked out of the room passing by Reign without even looking at her. For her part Reign looked defeated, her posture slumped and her head hung as she rubbed her temples before calling out after Ava.
Reign Reyes:
Jack or Julian would take the match. They'd finish the job. I'm not them. Without anyone else, maybe. But not with you.
But Ava was well on her way down the hallway already. Maybe she didn’t hear what Reign said, maybe she did and didn’t give it too much weight. As a matter of fact, that last sentence fell on deaf ears.
Triple Threat Match
Leon Alexander VS Sammy Grimes VS Missy Propaganda
WINNER: Sammy Grimes BY: Pinfall (The Crowning), 9:22 |
Triple Threat Match
Brighton Lancaster VS Kyle Ashton VS Clementine Smith
WINNER: Brighton Lancaster BY: Pinfall (The Reverb), 9:03 |
Triple Threat Match
The Rizz VS Alice Wagner VS Adrianna Garcia
WINNER: Alice Wagner BY: Submission (Severed Wings), 7:13 |