Post by The Dropkick King on Apr 2, 2017 0:33:50 GMT
I was on your porch, the smoke sank into my skin.
So, I came inside to be with you.
And we talked all night
About everything we could imagine.
Cuz come the morning I'll be gone
And as our eyes start to close
I turn to you and I let you know that I love you
March 30th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
One of the most difficult drives you can make in the state of Louisiana was across the Pontchartrain Causeway at night. The bridge is a little under twenty-four miles long, which is the longest continuous over-water bridge in the world, and it has a few portions where the bridge resembles a roller coaster with a few rises and dips in elevation. Eye strain is a common problem when you’re staring at the same road with no change in scenery for nearly half an hour, maybe longer if there’s traffic. The wind can affect drivers more than usual as there is nothing to slow it down. Rain makes the drive even scarier. A few accidents occur on the Causeway, which usually results in a few vehicles helplessly crashing into Lake Pontchartrain below. Survival rates are not very good for those who do.
While Adrien Cochrane has driven across the bridge countless times, it’s always a drive that makes him nervous, especially with such precious cargo curled up in the passenger seat and sound asleep. As he keeps his pace at fifty miles an hour set on the cruise control, he slips his right hand back inside the left hand of his girlfriend, Stacy Sterling, as she remains sound asleep.
Adrien: “I thought it was the passenger’s job to stay awake with the driver.”
The wrestler shakes his head, chuckling a little bit to himself. It was the first chuckle or even a smile all day. Just earlier that afternoon, Adrien learned about some things said by his student and trusted ally as the day of their match gets closer and closer. But at this point, Adrien wasn’t sure that ally was the correct term when referring to Kenzie Rydell.
Nineteen miles to go. The dashboard of Adrien’s car pings, stating that it was going to require a refuel soon. Looking at the display, it shows that Adrien had thirty miles of gasoline left in his tank. In light of this notification, Adrien decides it would be a good idea to stop at the first gas station once he reached the town of Mandeville past the northern terminus of the bridge.
Stacy shifts a little bit without waking, possibly trying to figure out if there was a possible position for her to be comfortable in the passenger seat of the sedan. But even as she is fast asleep, Stacy recognizes the hand that was holding hers belonged to her boyfriend, holding it slightly tighter. If there was one person who could help Adrien forget about what was going on in his life, even for a brief moment, it was the woman to his right.
Sixteen miles remaining. Adrien quickly glances at the clock to see that it’s almost eleven at night. Part of him wonders if there were any updates going on with what Kenzie is doing since Eddie showed him all the tweets she said about him a few hours ago. Even if it was safe for him to check his phone to look at Twitter...which if there was ever a drive where checking your phone was risky, it was this bridge...almost no one gets a signal in the middle of the Causeway. Perhaps that was by design.
But that doesn’t stop Adrien’s curiosity. While all he really is doing is steering and staring at the infinitely dark scenery except for the concrete of the bridge visible from the headlights. The northern shore of the lake would normally be visible from where Adrien was on the drive as he approaches the twelve miles left mark. So while there are no other stimuli for Adrien to focus on, Adrien’s mind wanders, and what else could it wander to but Adrien’s dilemma at hand?
Ten.
Adrien: “What’s going to happen now?”
Adrien’s question was barely a whisper as it was directed at no one. Would he continue being Kenzie’s mentor? Would she continue being a part of his life after all that was done? What about Adam? He showed support for Kenzie over Adrien when this was just a regular match between Adrien and Kenzie with no real drama attached to it. Did Kenzie’s actions today change his loyalty any? And what about his status residing in Adrien’s downstairs bedroom if he took Kenzie’s side on her comments?
Four. Mandeville was starting to be visible in the distance.
In the end, Adrien knew he didn’t have any of the answers to these questions. He wasn’t even sure how to feel about everything. Was he hurt? Was he angry? It was almost as if Adrien’s emotions were battling it out in the back of his mind for dominance, fighting to be the exact way Adrien felt about this whole debacle. Since he hasn’t seen Kenzie since the launch of her videos, he wasn’t even sure how he would react the next time he saw her. Hell, he isn’t sure how he will react the next time he even spoke to her.
The car passes the toll booth for the southbound commuters going in the opposite direction. The wheels of Adrien’s Mercedes-Benz was on solid ground in St. Tammany Parish. Adrien knew that if took a left at the first road possible exiting the bridge, he can get to a Chevron station to fill up his car. He pulls up to the station, stopping beside pump four. As soon as he steps out of the car, he takes his wallet out of his pocket to pull out his American Express card so he can stick it in the card reader. Before he locates the card, he hears a car door open then close.
Adrien: “What the hell...Adam?!”
Sure enough, Adam Sanders was kneeling on the ground, attempting to sneak past Adrien while he was distracted. Adam almost opens his mouth before Adrien quickly covers it with his hand before quickly whispering to him.
Adrien: “Shhh, you’re going to wake Stacy. Come over here…”
Adrien ushers Adam near the door of the gas station so they can speak without the risk of waking up his girlfriend.
Adrien: “Okay, we should be good here. What the hell are you doing, Adam?! Were you hiding in the back of the car the entire time?”
Adam’s eyes widen a little bit. As the young Michigan native has had issues with in his wrestling career, he became a deer in the headlights. With his voice failing him, he simply nods in response to Adrien’s question.
Adrien: “Okay, let me rephrase the question. Why were you hiding in my backseat, Adam?”
The Awkward One dusts off his jeans and t-shirt before finally speaking. His voice trembles with anxiety and nervousness.
Adam: “I didn’t know where you were going and was curious, thought I wouldn’t exactly be someone you would want to see considering current events, plus I didn’t want to be alone at the house where my mind might dwell a bit too much on how all of this was going to affect me and thought maybe you would…”
Now that Adrien got Adam to finally speak, the floodgates were opened. The Dropkick King felt compelled to cut off the poor kid so he could calm down a little bit.
Adrien: “Okay, okay...I get it. Adam, you could have startled everyone. If you would have startled me while I was driving on the Causeway, that could have been pretty dangerous.”
Adam: “I know, I know. But in my defense, I didn’t know you were coming up here to Mandeville. Wait...why are you pulling out your phone.”
Adam notices Adrien pull out his iPhone from his pair of blue jeans and start tapping away on the phone before placing it against his ear.
Adrien: “I’m calling Eddie to come pick you up and take you home. He lives on this side of the lake so it might be best you just crash there for the night anyway.”
Adam quickly lowers Adrien’s arm, removing the phone from his ear, perhaps the bravest thing Adam had ever done. Adrien shoots Adam a bit of a surprised look, not sure if he was impressed by the out-of-character action by Adam or to glare at him for daring to do that.
Adam: “Please don’t. I really need to talk to you, Adrien. And also have to pee, which is why I tried to sneak out of the car. I didn’t think your drive would be so long…”
Adrien: “Okay, make it quick please, Adam. It’s getting late and we’re on a tight schedule.”
Adam: “I want to tell you that I don’t approve of what Kenzie was saying.”
Adrien: “Well that’s good to hear.”
Adam: “I’m not done. I’m still supporting her completely, even if I don’t agree with what she said. As important as you are to me, Adrien...which I want to emphasize just how important you are to me, you let me live in your house, you came to help me when I was kidnapped, you are my mentor...but as important as you are to me, Kenzie is the love of my life.”
As Adam kept explaining what he wanted to tell Adrien, Adrien was still confused as to Adam’s exact purpose.
Adrien: “I’m not sure I’m getting the whole point here, Adam.”
Adam takes a deep breath before continuing.
Adam: “I don’t want any of this to change anything with me and you. I don’t want issues between my girlfriend and someone I look up to more than anyone else in my life to screw up some highly treasured friendships. And I’m not talking about just yours and mine.”
At this point, Adam was staring at his feet, afraid to make eye contact with Adrien after his sentence. Adrien takes a seat on the curb they were standing near and pats on the curb for Adam to do the same.
Adrien: “Listen, this business can bring out some of the worst in some people, especially when their careers cross paths which have the unfortunate effect of making ambition turn into selfishness. But I would never hold someone responsible for actions of another, Adam.”
Adam: “I’m not just talking about me.”
Adrien: “I’m getting to that.”
Adam: “Sorry. Go on, sir.”
Adrien: “In the end, if I’m going to teach you two, something I have to teach you guys is that your actions have consequences. Now, I can appreciate that you are trying to defend your girlfriend. I get it. I don’t expect you to turn on someone you love as much as you love her just because of circumstances like this. I would probably do the same for Sleeping Beauty over there if she was ever in such a situation where she did something like this.”
Adrien points back at his car where both men can see Stacy Sterling still asleep.
Adrien: “But my job is to make sure you both know that when you do something like she did, she needs to take responsibility for what happens. Even if this is the last thing I do as her mentor and teacher.”
An uneasy expression comes across Adam’s face as Adrien mentions the possibility that Adrien’s role being a mentor to Kenzie could be over. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Adrien.
Adrien: “I’m just not sure I’ll ever be able to trust her again, Adam. While I was respecting the position you are in from all of this, I hope you can take a moment to think about mine.”
With an even more sullen demeanor than previously, Adam nods slowly. Adrien pats the twenty-three-year-old on his back in an attempt to reassure him.
Adrien: “Listen, I know things are going to change. I know they don’t seem positive right now. I get that. But you have to understand that just because these changes don’t feel like they are positive things now, it could be what’s best for everyone in the long run. Let’s just focus on getting through the weekend, see what happens, and work from there, okay?”
Adam takes another deep breath before softly responding. His response didn't exactly express full confidence in everything, but he didn't feel as though there was anything else to be gained from this conversation.
Adam: “Okay.”
Adrien: “If you really want to come with me, just stay out of the way when we get to our destination, okay? Go use the restroom while I fill up the car. And don’t wake up Stacy when you get back in the car.”
Adam: “Yes sir.”
Adrien turns back towards his car, once again pulling out his credit card. As Adrien places his wallet back in his pocket, an object falls out of Adam’s pocket. Adam quickly turns around to see if Adrien sees what just happened and feels slightly relieved as he notices the Dropkick King is just whistling as he grabs the gas pump.
Adam: “Phew, that was close…”
Adam grabs the engagement ring he dropped on the ground and quickly puts it back in his pocket before anyone has an opportunity to see it. He pats his pocket nervously before remembering the whole reason he left the car and enters the gas station.
Well, my dad was sick,
And my mom, she cared for him.
Her love, it nursed him back to life.
And me, I ran.
I couldn't even look at him
For fear I'd have to say goodbye.
And as I start to leave
He grabs me by the shoulder and he tells me,
"What's left to lose? You've done enough.
And if you fail, well, then you fail, but not to us.
'Cause these last three years, I know they've been hard.
But now it's time to get out of the desert and into the sun.
Even if it's alone."
March 31st, 2017
Cameras: ON
“And we’re live, Adrien.”
Shrouded in the darkness of night, Adrien Cochrane bit his lower lip, almost as if he was hesitating from speaking at first. The trees surrounding the area block the moonlight from assisting the visibility of the camera, while the only the light is coming from behind the camera pointed at Adrien. After looking down for a few seconds, Adrien looks into the camera with a cold stare and his head still lowered.
“Kenzie, I’m disappointed in you. You have revealed your true colors to me, Kenzie, and I have to say, you had me fooled for a couple of years now. Seeing as Ally Morrow only fooled me within the span of a few hours, but you...we go as far back as EXODUS Pro.
“Let’s take a walk down memory lane for a moment to the year 2015. You decided to approach me as EXODUS was airing their last episode. You asked me to be your guide, your teacher, and your mentor. You were part of a tag team called The Awkward Express, though you disagreed with Ashleigh Powell on the naming of the team. You gushed about how I was a hero to you, a role model if you were. I was flattered especially since I saw potential in you. I saw me when I was younger in you, still trying to find my way into wrestling.”
A deep breath precedes the next words to leave Adrien Cochrane’s mouth.
“I was wrong.”
As the camera continues rolling, the silhouettes of the trees around Adrien slowly become more defined. He raises his head, returning to an angry glare at the camera.
“I’ve been wrong before. Chris Marks is the most famous example of someone I missed on. But I thought you were better than Chris Marks. I thought you were better than any of the people I’ve ever taken on. And I’m not talking about some win-loss record either, Kenzie, or a list of accomplishments. I’m referring to what’s right here.”
The Dropkick King points at his heart.
“I’m referring to the kind of person you are. I’m referring to the integrity that I thought you held so dear to me. And I know what you’re wondering, Kenzie, why do I think you’ve lost your integrity? Let’s take a look at that word for a moment. Integrity usually means having strong moral fiber and being truthful. If something I did over a year ago when I decided to spend a few months to go through some rigorous training off the grid until I felt like I was where I wanted to be. If you felt as though that decision made me unworthy to you, then why follow me to #FSociety? Why contact me almost immediately after I returned when Eddie signed me to my new deal? Why is it that one of the first words you said to me when I got back on June 25th, at 1:53 am central time were ‘I missed you’ about an hour after you offered to teach me about Pokémon Go instead of all these hot takes that have conveniently come out when you’re booked against me?
“And since I’ve kept a lot of what happened during that training close to the chest, let me shed some light about those couple of months. I was not in my cabin in the woods. I wasn’t even in the Contiguous United States. The worst part is: you knew that. When I came back to society, it was in San Francisco across the country, remember? I had the big beard and long hair because I wasn’t just forty miles away from home. You even called me a mountain man for the time I spent up there, but I guess hiding alone in a cabin fits your narrative a little bit better. If you really want me to be open and forthright, I was in Alaska, not Northshore Louisiana. Way colder up there. Also, I thought it was obvious but apparently I have to outright state that I wasn’t alone up there. I had some of the finest martial arts instructors passing down their teachings to me, not just with just simple attacks but allowing me to tap into my inner strength. And what was wrong with that decision exactly? The company I was signed with closed its doors. I had no commitments after my canceled match with Chuck Matthews. And I didn’t up and disappear out of nowhere, I straight up told everyone that I was going on a training excursion. Including you. I didn’t go to the mountains to hide from my problems. I was there to FIX the problems I saw.”
Something else begins to take shape behind Adrien. It was the aforementioned cabin.
“Oh yes, my cabin. I’m actually quite impressed you found it again. Most people have a hard time finding it even if they have been here once. It took Jessica Matthews the fourth time before she figured out the path from the road to here. Eddie still has issues locating it. Let me give you some background on this cabin. I built this cabin, by hand, four years ago when I was married to Adrianna Rivers. The intent of this cabin was supposed to be a romantic getaway away from everything. In the fall, this is one of the most beautiful parts of Louisiana and with the windows opening right where some of the trees can drop their golden and crimson colored leaves. It’s facing in the direction of one of the most gorgeous sunsets one could ask for. Oh and don’t worry about revealing the location. We’re a little north of the town of Covington, everyone! A few miles north of Lake Pontchartrain which is the lake north of New Orleans! We’re just a little off of Highway 25 not that far from Lake Ramsey! Which is a puny little pond compared to Pontchartrain but whatever...
“Of course, my divorce happened before completion of the cabin. The only significant others of mine to enjoy this space was the aforementioned Jessica Matthews and, as of a few hours ago, Stacy Sterling. Hence, our Twitter silence. Don’t worry, Eddie has kept me updated about everything you’ve tweeted. Nice backpedaling attempt on Twitter, by the way, Senator. By the way, if you really wanted to connect to the internet while you were out here, you really should have turned on the hotspot.”
Adrien swings open the door to his cabin and grabs a small box. Adrien points to the button on the top of it.
“You hit this button right here and instant Wifi. It runs on Verizon towers which still actually gets a signal here. Just because AT&T doesn’t reach here on your phone, doesn’t mean we are completely in the dark ages over here.
“You then decided to take a few more creative liberties with the story of the truth to benefit yourself. You mentioned the loss of my championship to Tyson Gregory in that triple threat match. You went on a rampage about how you couldn’t believe I decided to come to my cabin after losing my championship instead of sitting around, talking to you and Adam about my loss. Except I did have a long talk with Adam at the hotel immediately preceding the match by the pool. We then spent an entire plane ride, followed by an entire evening at my house after the loss. When did I come here? When I woke up and saw Becky was gone, NOT after losing the championship. See, maybe you simply forgot about Alaska, but I actually woke you and Adam up shouting Becky’s name in hysteria. That’s just outright ignoring facts, Kenzie dear. But I get it. You have a narrative of alternative facts separate from the truth you're trying create here.
“I think the worst part of all of this is how sudden you are with all of this. Like you were secretly plotting to do this all along. When you needed me to hunt down who kidnapped Adam, I was the one you turned to. When you needed financial help, you asked me for the loan. When you wanted advice on the tag team title match, you came to me. Why do all of these things if you were harboring this toxic grudge against me? You apparently haven't had respect for me in a long time based on the timeline of all of these events, but you stood by me this entire time. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Why stand in the ring with me when I declare my intent to fight for the locker room if it was this easy for you to sell me out? I knew you were ambitious but it is exactly as I told Hutch Lanahan, you can't sacrifice your values just to take the path of least resistance. You're better than that.
“Or at least I thought you were. I don't even know you anymore, Kenzie. Because the Kenzie I knew wouldn't compromise her values in light of this match. The Kenzie I knew would have stepped into that ring and fought me as hard as she possibly could without trying to stab me in the back. All of these shots you’re taking at me, Kenzie, will have ZERO impact on the final result so there’s something much more than just this.
“And you know what...the Kenzie I knew would have actually stood up to the man who is the real enemy here. Not once in your speech where you attempted to sell me out, not a single mention of the man who is punishing you. Not a single mention of the fact that part of the reason that I am even standing up to Chris Night is for you, Kenzie. All these attacks that Ally and anyone lands on me, I’m taking it for you. All the booking decisions that Night throws at me for standing up to him, I’m taking it for you. Even Chris Night decides it’s worth the huge sticker cost and fires me from #FSociety entirely, I’m doing it for you, Kenzie. Because I care...or cared, I’m not sure where I am right now with you...about you and the other people on this roster who deserves to have a voice that isn’t afraid to take anything they throw at me so they can be heard. Are you willing to be that voice for the downtrodden and targeted, Kenzie?
“If you’re willing to betray me just because I’m the guy booked against you and it benefits your career, you’re not.”
After a few moments, Adrien starts walking to a different part of the cabin, near the windows Adrien mentioned can see the sunset.
“I never abandoned you, Kenzie. I have NEVER abandoned you. I went on a vacation to better myself after Inferno closed when I would have otherwise sat around doing nothing. I became introverted for a few hours after I had my heartbroken on top of the career things that was going on. Neither of those things was abandoning you. The fact you could even say such things about me is quite hypocritical because when it comes to abandoning people, you’ve done it a lot more than I have. When Adam was missing but we didn’t know why, what did you do? You considered yourself on the market and that utterly destroyed him when he found out how important he was in your life when he was held captive. You abandoned me when you decided you didn’t want to just learn from me but all these other people that you thought were going to bring to higher heights that I ever could.
“And you know what? Adam forgave you. I forgave you. You, on the other hand, figure that you are above me because you felt slighted by things that had nothing to do with you. Instead, you hold on to this grudge and lash out the moment you’re in a position where it benefits you most to distance yourself from me. Funny enough, you used the exact verbiage that Chris Night used while you were trying to rationalize your actions: I’m trying to help you. Do you think the man who threatened to send his goons to harm your beloved Adam is the man you want to model yourself after?
“And what was that you said on Twitter? I would run to this cabin as soon as lose a title match? First of all, glad you still have confidence in my abilities to win championships. Yes, that was sarcasm. Thanks for helping me realize that every time you said something along the lines of ‘I still #Believe’ was utter bullshit like everything else you’ve been spouting. And secondly, let’s take care of this little misconception of yours.”
Adrien pulls out a matchbox out of his jean pocket.
“We spent a good chunk of the night removing everything from the cabin. If you can’t tell, it’s about three in the morning right now. All of it is in a storage facility near Eddie’s home and not too far from here. This little wireless hotspot was the last thing in this house that has any value. And with some firefighters on standby off camera, let’s take care of this little ‘problem’ you think I have.”
The Dropkick King strikes the match. As soon as he sees the flame light up, he tosses it into the window of the cabin. Within a few moments, the flame inside the cabin grows as Adrien starts to walk away from the cabin. While Adrien is now off camera, he continues to speak with the focus is entirely on the burning cabin.
“There. No excuses. Now I want you to realize that I have one last lesson to teach you, Kenzie. It’s what you wanted me to do the entire time I’ve known you: to teach you to be a better wrestler and a better person. Your last lesson from me is this: there are consequences for your actions. You’ve made your bed, Kenzie. Now it’s time to sleep in it. When you step into that ring with me, there will be no more hesitation like I thought I would have. This will be you taking responsibility for what you’ve said and what you’ve done. And make no mistake, Kenzie Rydell, I will win this match. There isn’t a single person on this roster that I know better inside the ring than the person I’ve trained with more times than matches throughout my career. There isn’t anything you can do that I haven’t seen you try before, Kenzie. I know your blind spots in the ring like the back of my own hand.
“And just like I have to my cabin, you have lit a fire inside of me, Kenzie, that will drive me to make sure that you will not leave Anarchy the victor. Not because you’re a Paragon of Mediocrity but because this is what you’ve brought upon yourself.”
Adrien’s voice ends but the video keeps rolling, showing the cabin slowly burning to the ground. After a few minutes, there isn’t much left to the cabin, and fortunately, none of the nearby areas ignited from the flames. A few more minutes and the nearby firefighting teams start spraying water until what was once Adrien’s cozy paradise away from the world was nothing more than smoldering ash.
So, now here I sit in a hotel off of Sunset;
My thoughts bounce off of Sam's guitar.
And that's the way it's been
Ever since we were kids, but now,
Now we've got something to prove.
And I, I can see their eyes,
But tell me something, can they see mine?
'Cause what's left to lose? I've done enough.
And if I fail, well, then I fail but I gave it a shot.
And these last three years—I know they've been hard.
But now it's time to get out of the desert and into the sun;
Even if it's alone.
I was on your porch last night, the smoke it sank into my skin.
So, I came inside to be with you.
And we talked all night
About everything we could imagine.
Cuz come the morning I'll be gone
And as our eyes start to close
I turn to you and I let you know that I love you
March 30th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
One of the most difficult drives you can make in the state of Louisiana was across the Pontchartrain Causeway at night. The bridge is a little under twenty-four miles long, which is the longest continuous over-water bridge in the world, and it has a few portions where the bridge resembles a roller coaster with a few rises and dips in elevation. Eye strain is a common problem when you’re staring at the same road with no change in scenery for nearly half an hour, maybe longer if there’s traffic. The wind can affect drivers more than usual as there is nothing to slow it down. Rain makes the drive even scarier. A few accidents occur on the Causeway, which usually results in a few vehicles helplessly crashing into Lake Pontchartrain below. Survival rates are not very good for those who do.
While Adrien Cochrane has driven across the bridge countless times, it’s always a drive that makes him nervous, especially with such precious cargo curled up in the passenger seat and sound asleep. As he keeps his pace at fifty miles an hour set on the cruise control, he slips his right hand back inside the left hand of his girlfriend, Stacy Sterling, as she remains sound asleep.
Adrien: “I thought it was the passenger’s job to stay awake with the driver.”
The wrestler shakes his head, chuckling a little bit to himself. It was the first chuckle or even a smile all day. Just earlier that afternoon, Adrien learned about some things said by his student and trusted ally as the day of their match gets closer and closer. But at this point, Adrien wasn’t sure that ally was the correct term when referring to Kenzie Rydell.
Nineteen miles to go. The dashboard of Adrien’s car pings, stating that it was going to require a refuel soon. Looking at the display, it shows that Adrien had thirty miles of gasoline left in his tank. In light of this notification, Adrien decides it would be a good idea to stop at the first gas station once he reached the town of Mandeville past the northern terminus of the bridge.
Stacy shifts a little bit without waking, possibly trying to figure out if there was a possible position for her to be comfortable in the passenger seat of the sedan. But even as she is fast asleep, Stacy recognizes the hand that was holding hers belonged to her boyfriend, holding it slightly tighter. If there was one person who could help Adrien forget about what was going on in his life, even for a brief moment, it was the woman to his right.
Sixteen miles remaining. Adrien quickly glances at the clock to see that it’s almost eleven at night. Part of him wonders if there were any updates going on with what Kenzie is doing since Eddie showed him all the tweets she said about him a few hours ago. Even if it was safe for him to check his phone to look at Twitter...which if there was ever a drive where checking your phone was risky, it was this bridge...almost no one gets a signal in the middle of the Causeway. Perhaps that was by design.
But that doesn’t stop Adrien’s curiosity. While all he really is doing is steering and staring at the infinitely dark scenery except for the concrete of the bridge visible from the headlights. The northern shore of the lake would normally be visible from where Adrien was on the drive as he approaches the twelve miles left mark. So while there are no other stimuli for Adrien to focus on, Adrien’s mind wanders, and what else could it wander to but Adrien’s dilemma at hand?
Ten.
Adrien: “What’s going to happen now?”
Adrien’s question was barely a whisper as it was directed at no one. Would he continue being Kenzie’s mentor? Would she continue being a part of his life after all that was done? What about Adam? He showed support for Kenzie over Adrien when this was just a regular match between Adrien and Kenzie with no real drama attached to it. Did Kenzie’s actions today change his loyalty any? And what about his status residing in Adrien’s downstairs bedroom if he took Kenzie’s side on her comments?
Four. Mandeville was starting to be visible in the distance.
In the end, Adrien knew he didn’t have any of the answers to these questions. He wasn’t even sure how to feel about everything. Was he hurt? Was he angry? It was almost as if Adrien’s emotions were battling it out in the back of his mind for dominance, fighting to be the exact way Adrien felt about this whole debacle. Since he hasn’t seen Kenzie since the launch of her videos, he wasn’t even sure how he would react the next time he saw her. Hell, he isn’t sure how he will react the next time he even spoke to her.
The car passes the toll booth for the southbound commuters going in the opposite direction. The wheels of Adrien’s Mercedes-Benz was on solid ground in St. Tammany Parish. Adrien knew that if took a left at the first road possible exiting the bridge, he can get to a Chevron station to fill up his car. He pulls up to the station, stopping beside pump four. As soon as he steps out of the car, he takes his wallet out of his pocket to pull out his American Express card so he can stick it in the card reader. Before he locates the card, he hears a car door open then close.
Adrien: “What the hell...Adam?!”
Sure enough, Adam Sanders was kneeling on the ground, attempting to sneak past Adrien while he was distracted. Adam almost opens his mouth before Adrien quickly covers it with his hand before quickly whispering to him.
Adrien: “Shhh, you’re going to wake Stacy. Come over here…”
Adrien ushers Adam near the door of the gas station so they can speak without the risk of waking up his girlfriend.
Adrien: “Okay, we should be good here. What the hell are you doing, Adam?! Were you hiding in the back of the car the entire time?”
Adam’s eyes widen a little bit. As the young Michigan native has had issues with in his wrestling career, he became a deer in the headlights. With his voice failing him, he simply nods in response to Adrien’s question.
Adrien: “Okay, let me rephrase the question. Why were you hiding in my backseat, Adam?”
The Awkward One dusts off his jeans and t-shirt before finally speaking. His voice trembles with anxiety and nervousness.
Adam: “I didn’t know where you were going and was curious, thought I wouldn’t exactly be someone you would want to see considering current events, plus I didn’t want to be alone at the house where my mind might dwell a bit too much on how all of this was going to affect me and thought maybe you would…”
Now that Adrien got Adam to finally speak, the floodgates were opened. The Dropkick King felt compelled to cut off the poor kid so he could calm down a little bit.
Adrien: “Okay, okay...I get it. Adam, you could have startled everyone. If you would have startled me while I was driving on the Causeway, that could have been pretty dangerous.”
Adam: “I know, I know. But in my defense, I didn’t know you were coming up here to Mandeville. Wait...why are you pulling out your phone.”
Adam notices Adrien pull out his iPhone from his pair of blue jeans and start tapping away on the phone before placing it against his ear.
Adrien: “I’m calling Eddie to come pick you up and take you home. He lives on this side of the lake so it might be best you just crash there for the night anyway.”
Adam quickly lowers Adrien’s arm, removing the phone from his ear, perhaps the bravest thing Adam had ever done. Adrien shoots Adam a bit of a surprised look, not sure if he was impressed by the out-of-character action by Adam or to glare at him for daring to do that.
Adam: “Please don’t. I really need to talk to you, Adrien. And also have to pee, which is why I tried to sneak out of the car. I didn’t think your drive would be so long…”
Adrien: “Okay, make it quick please, Adam. It’s getting late and we’re on a tight schedule.”
Adam: “I want to tell you that I don’t approve of what Kenzie was saying.”
Adrien: “Well that’s good to hear.”
Adam: “I’m not done. I’m still supporting her completely, even if I don’t agree with what she said. As important as you are to me, Adrien...which I want to emphasize just how important you are to me, you let me live in your house, you came to help me when I was kidnapped, you are my mentor...but as important as you are to me, Kenzie is the love of my life.”
As Adam kept explaining what he wanted to tell Adrien, Adrien was still confused as to Adam’s exact purpose.
Adrien: “I’m not sure I’m getting the whole point here, Adam.”
Adam takes a deep breath before continuing.
Adam: “I don’t want any of this to change anything with me and you. I don’t want issues between my girlfriend and someone I look up to more than anyone else in my life to screw up some highly treasured friendships. And I’m not talking about just yours and mine.”
At this point, Adam was staring at his feet, afraid to make eye contact with Adrien after his sentence. Adrien takes a seat on the curb they were standing near and pats on the curb for Adam to do the same.
Adrien: “Listen, this business can bring out some of the worst in some people, especially when their careers cross paths which have the unfortunate effect of making ambition turn into selfishness. But I would never hold someone responsible for actions of another, Adam.”
Adam: “I’m not just talking about me.”
Adrien: “I’m getting to that.”
Adam: “Sorry. Go on, sir.”
Adrien: “In the end, if I’m going to teach you two, something I have to teach you guys is that your actions have consequences. Now, I can appreciate that you are trying to defend your girlfriend. I get it. I don’t expect you to turn on someone you love as much as you love her just because of circumstances like this. I would probably do the same for Sleeping Beauty over there if she was ever in such a situation where she did something like this.”
Adrien points back at his car where both men can see Stacy Sterling still asleep.
Adrien: “But my job is to make sure you both know that when you do something like she did, she needs to take responsibility for what happens. Even if this is the last thing I do as her mentor and teacher.”
An uneasy expression comes across Adam’s face as Adrien mentions the possibility that Adrien’s role being a mentor to Kenzie could be over. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Adrien.
Adrien: “I’m just not sure I’ll ever be able to trust her again, Adam. While I was respecting the position you are in from all of this, I hope you can take a moment to think about mine.”
With an even more sullen demeanor than previously, Adam nods slowly. Adrien pats the twenty-three-year-old on his back in an attempt to reassure him.
Adrien: “Listen, I know things are going to change. I know they don’t seem positive right now. I get that. But you have to understand that just because these changes don’t feel like they are positive things now, it could be what’s best for everyone in the long run. Let’s just focus on getting through the weekend, see what happens, and work from there, okay?”
Adam takes another deep breath before softly responding. His response didn't exactly express full confidence in everything, but he didn't feel as though there was anything else to be gained from this conversation.
Adam: “Okay.”
Adrien: “If you really want to come with me, just stay out of the way when we get to our destination, okay? Go use the restroom while I fill up the car. And don’t wake up Stacy when you get back in the car.”
Adam: “Yes sir.”
Adrien turns back towards his car, once again pulling out his credit card. As Adrien places his wallet back in his pocket, an object falls out of Adam’s pocket. Adam quickly turns around to see if Adrien sees what just happened and feels slightly relieved as he notices the Dropkick King is just whistling as he grabs the gas pump.
Adam: “Phew, that was close…”
Adam grabs the engagement ring he dropped on the ground and quickly puts it back in his pocket before anyone has an opportunity to see it. He pats his pocket nervously before remembering the whole reason he left the car and enters the gas station.
Well, my dad was sick,
And my mom, she cared for him.
Her love, it nursed him back to life.
And me, I ran.
I couldn't even look at him
For fear I'd have to say goodbye.
And as I start to leave
He grabs me by the shoulder and he tells me,
"What's left to lose? You've done enough.
And if you fail, well, then you fail, but not to us.
'Cause these last three years, I know they've been hard.
But now it's time to get out of the desert and into the sun.
Even if it's alone."
March 31st, 2017
Cameras: ON
“And we’re live, Adrien.”
Shrouded in the darkness of night, Adrien Cochrane bit his lower lip, almost as if he was hesitating from speaking at first. The trees surrounding the area block the moonlight from assisting the visibility of the camera, while the only the light is coming from behind the camera pointed at Adrien. After looking down for a few seconds, Adrien looks into the camera with a cold stare and his head still lowered.
“Kenzie, I’m disappointed in you. You have revealed your true colors to me, Kenzie, and I have to say, you had me fooled for a couple of years now. Seeing as Ally Morrow only fooled me within the span of a few hours, but you...we go as far back as EXODUS Pro.
“Let’s take a walk down memory lane for a moment to the year 2015. You decided to approach me as EXODUS was airing their last episode. You asked me to be your guide, your teacher, and your mentor. You were part of a tag team called The Awkward Express, though you disagreed with Ashleigh Powell on the naming of the team. You gushed about how I was a hero to you, a role model if you were. I was flattered especially since I saw potential in you. I saw me when I was younger in you, still trying to find my way into wrestling.”
A deep breath precedes the next words to leave Adrien Cochrane’s mouth.
“I was wrong.”
As the camera continues rolling, the silhouettes of the trees around Adrien slowly become more defined. He raises his head, returning to an angry glare at the camera.
“I’ve been wrong before. Chris Marks is the most famous example of someone I missed on. But I thought you were better than Chris Marks. I thought you were better than any of the people I’ve ever taken on. And I’m not talking about some win-loss record either, Kenzie, or a list of accomplishments. I’m referring to what’s right here.”
The Dropkick King points at his heart.
“I’m referring to the kind of person you are. I’m referring to the integrity that I thought you held so dear to me. And I know what you’re wondering, Kenzie, why do I think you’ve lost your integrity? Let’s take a look at that word for a moment. Integrity usually means having strong moral fiber and being truthful. If something I did over a year ago when I decided to spend a few months to go through some rigorous training off the grid until I felt like I was where I wanted to be. If you felt as though that decision made me unworthy to you, then why follow me to #FSociety? Why contact me almost immediately after I returned when Eddie signed me to my new deal? Why is it that one of the first words you said to me when I got back on June 25th, at 1:53 am central time were ‘I missed you’ about an hour after you offered to teach me about Pokémon Go instead of all these hot takes that have conveniently come out when you’re booked against me?
“And since I’ve kept a lot of what happened during that training close to the chest, let me shed some light about those couple of months. I was not in my cabin in the woods. I wasn’t even in the Contiguous United States. The worst part is: you knew that. When I came back to society, it was in San Francisco across the country, remember? I had the big beard and long hair because I wasn’t just forty miles away from home. You even called me a mountain man for the time I spent up there, but I guess hiding alone in a cabin fits your narrative a little bit better. If you really want me to be open and forthright, I was in Alaska, not Northshore Louisiana. Way colder up there. Also, I thought it was obvious but apparently I have to outright state that I wasn’t alone up there. I had some of the finest martial arts instructors passing down their teachings to me, not just with just simple attacks but allowing me to tap into my inner strength. And what was wrong with that decision exactly? The company I was signed with closed its doors. I had no commitments after my canceled match with Chuck Matthews. And I didn’t up and disappear out of nowhere, I straight up told everyone that I was going on a training excursion. Including you. I didn’t go to the mountains to hide from my problems. I was there to FIX the problems I saw.”
Something else begins to take shape behind Adrien. It was the aforementioned cabin.
“Oh yes, my cabin. I’m actually quite impressed you found it again. Most people have a hard time finding it even if they have been here once. It took Jessica Matthews the fourth time before she figured out the path from the road to here. Eddie still has issues locating it. Let me give you some background on this cabin. I built this cabin, by hand, four years ago when I was married to Adrianna Rivers. The intent of this cabin was supposed to be a romantic getaway away from everything. In the fall, this is one of the most beautiful parts of Louisiana and with the windows opening right where some of the trees can drop their golden and crimson colored leaves. It’s facing in the direction of one of the most gorgeous sunsets one could ask for. Oh and don’t worry about revealing the location. We’re a little north of the town of Covington, everyone! A few miles north of Lake Pontchartrain which is the lake north of New Orleans! We’re just a little off of Highway 25 not that far from Lake Ramsey! Which is a puny little pond compared to Pontchartrain but whatever...
“Of course, my divorce happened before completion of the cabin. The only significant others of mine to enjoy this space was the aforementioned Jessica Matthews and, as of a few hours ago, Stacy Sterling. Hence, our Twitter silence. Don’t worry, Eddie has kept me updated about everything you’ve tweeted. Nice backpedaling attempt on Twitter, by the way, Senator. By the way, if you really wanted to connect to the internet while you were out here, you really should have turned on the hotspot.”
Adrien swings open the door to his cabin and grabs a small box. Adrien points to the button on the top of it.
“You hit this button right here and instant Wifi. It runs on Verizon towers which still actually gets a signal here. Just because AT&T doesn’t reach here on your phone, doesn’t mean we are completely in the dark ages over here.
“You then decided to take a few more creative liberties with the story of the truth to benefit yourself. You mentioned the loss of my championship to Tyson Gregory in that triple threat match. You went on a rampage about how you couldn’t believe I decided to come to my cabin after losing my championship instead of sitting around, talking to you and Adam about my loss. Except I did have a long talk with Adam at the hotel immediately preceding the match by the pool. We then spent an entire plane ride, followed by an entire evening at my house after the loss. When did I come here? When I woke up and saw Becky was gone, NOT after losing the championship. See, maybe you simply forgot about Alaska, but I actually woke you and Adam up shouting Becky’s name in hysteria. That’s just outright ignoring facts, Kenzie dear. But I get it. You have a narrative of alternative facts separate from the truth you're trying create here.
“I think the worst part of all of this is how sudden you are with all of this. Like you were secretly plotting to do this all along. When you needed me to hunt down who kidnapped Adam, I was the one you turned to. When you needed financial help, you asked me for the loan. When you wanted advice on the tag team title match, you came to me. Why do all of these things if you were harboring this toxic grudge against me? You apparently haven't had respect for me in a long time based on the timeline of all of these events, but you stood by me this entire time. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Why stand in the ring with me when I declare my intent to fight for the locker room if it was this easy for you to sell me out? I knew you were ambitious but it is exactly as I told Hutch Lanahan, you can't sacrifice your values just to take the path of least resistance. You're better than that.
“Or at least I thought you were. I don't even know you anymore, Kenzie. Because the Kenzie I knew wouldn't compromise her values in light of this match. The Kenzie I knew would have stepped into that ring and fought me as hard as she possibly could without trying to stab me in the back. All of these shots you’re taking at me, Kenzie, will have ZERO impact on the final result so there’s something much more than just this.
“And you know what...the Kenzie I knew would have actually stood up to the man who is the real enemy here. Not once in your speech where you attempted to sell me out, not a single mention of the man who is punishing you. Not a single mention of the fact that part of the reason that I am even standing up to Chris Night is for you, Kenzie. All these attacks that Ally and anyone lands on me, I’m taking it for you. All the booking decisions that Night throws at me for standing up to him, I’m taking it for you. Even Chris Night decides it’s worth the huge sticker cost and fires me from #FSociety entirely, I’m doing it for you, Kenzie. Because I care...or cared, I’m not sure where I am right now with you...about you and the other people on this roster who deserves to have a voice that isn’t afraid to take anything they throw at me so they can be heard. Are you willing to be that voice for the downtrodden and targeted, Kenzie?
“If you’re willing to betray me just because I’m the guy booked against you and it benefits your career, you’re not.”
After a few moments, Adrien starts walking to a different part of the cabin, near the windows Adrien mentioned can see the sunset.
“I never abandoned you, Kenzie. I have NEVER abandoned you. I went on a vacation to better myself after Inferno closed when I would have otherwise sat around doing nothing. I became introverted for a few hours after I had my heartbroken on top of the career things that was going on. Neither of those things was abandoning you. The fact you could even say such things about me is quite hypocritical because when it comes to abandoning people, you’ve done it a lot more than I have. When Adam was missing but we didn’t know why, what did you do? You considered yourself on the market and that utterly destroyed him when he found out how important he was in your life when he was held captive. You abandoned me when you decided you didn’t want to just learn from me but all these other people that you thought were going to bring to higher heights that I ever could.
“And you know what? Adam forgave you. I forgave you. You, on the other hand, figure that you are above me because you felt slighted by things that had nothing to do with you. Instead, you hold on to this grudge and lash out the moment you’re in a position where it benefits you most to distance yourself from me. Funny enough, you used the exact verbiage that Chris Night used while you were trying to rationalize your actions: I’m trying to help you. Do you think the man who threatened to send his goons to harm your beloved Adam is the man you want to model yourself after?
“And what was that you said on Twitter? I would run to this cabin as soon as lose a title match? First of all, glad you still have confidence in my abilities to win championships. Yes, that was sarcasm. Thanks for helping me realize that every time you said something along the lines of ‘I still #Believe’ was utter bullshit like everything else you’ve been spouting. And secondly, let’s take care of this little misconception of yours.”
Adrien pulls out a matchbox out of his jean pocket.
“We spent a good chunk of the night removing everything from the cabin. If you can’t tell, it’s about three in the morning right now. All of it is in a storage facility near Eddie’s home and not too far from here. This little wireless hotspot was the last thing in this house that has any value. And with some firefighters on standby off camera, let’s take care of this little ‘problem’ you think I have.”
The Dropkick King strikes the match. As soon as he sees the flame light up, he tosses it into the window of the cabin. Within a few moments, the flame inside the cabin grows as Adrien starts to walk away from the cabin. While Adrien is now off camera, he continues to speak with the focus is entirely on the burning cabin.
“There. No excuses. Now I want you to realize that I have one last lesson to teach you, Kenzie. It’s what you wanted me to do the entire time I’ve known you: to teach you to be a better wrestler and a better person. Your last lesson from me is this: there are consequences for your actions. You’ve made your bed, Kenzie. Now it’s time to sleep in it. When you step into that ring with me, there will be no more hesitation like I thought I would have. This will be you taking responsibility for what you’ve said and what you’ve done. And make no mistake, Kenzie Rydell, I will win this match. There isn’t a single person on this roster that I know better inside the ring than the person I’ve trained with more times than matches throughout my career. There isn’t anything you can do that I haven’t seen you try before, Kenzie. I know your blind spots in the ring like the back of my own hand.
“And just like I have to my cabin, you have lit a fire inside of me, Kenzie, that will drive me to make sure that you will not leave Anarchy the victor. Not because you’re a Paragon of Mediocrity but because this is what you’ve brought upon yourself.”
Adrien’s voice ends but the video keeps rolling, showing the cabin slowly burning to the ground. After a few minutes, there isn’t much left to the cabin, and fortunately, none of the nearby areas ignited from the flames. A few more minutes and the nearby firefighting teams start spraying water until what was once Adrien’s cozy paradise away from the world was nothing more than smoldering ash.
So, now here I sit in a hotel off of Sunset;
My thoughts bounce off of Sam's guitar.
And that's the way it's been
Ever since we were kids, but now,
Now we've got something to prove.
And I, I can see their eyes,
But tell me something, can they see mine?
'Cause what's left to lose? I've done enough.
And if I fail, well, then I fail but I gave it a shot.
And these last three years—I know they've been hard.
But now it's time to get out of the desert and into the sun;
Even if it's alone.
I was on your porch last night, the smoke it sank into my skin.
