Post by Kenzie Rydell on Apr 2, 2017 0:38:09 GMT
DATE: 03/31/17
SCENE NUMBER: 01
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
Once the video begins to play, you watch as a lone Kenzie Rydell stands on the roof of her apartment in the heart of San Jose, California. Firmly in the palm of her left hand is a string and attached to the string is a red balloon. It hangs over her calmly, swaying like a buoy in a wide open ocean. She smiles softly, wearing a black sundress that waved in the wind that whistled constantly in the background. The sunset rose behind her, and as she began to speak, you began to listen.
"Bravery."
It was a simple word, but it captivated your attention as you watched the YouTube video.
"Bravery isn't about being fearless. It's about acknowledging your fears and pressing forward, even when you know there's a chance you could fail."
The sunrise made the sky look golden in color instead of blue, a beautiful sight that bounced off of the shiny balloon in the palm of Kenzie's hand.
"I look forward and I see my opponent... my friend... and I can admit to all of you ... I'm afraid."
You knew immediately that she was talking about her upcoming match with Adrien Cochrane on the second episode of #FSociety season two.
"I'm afraid that I'll let this grand opportunity slip through my fingers. I'm afraid I'll lose one of my closest friends just because I was trying to be just like everybody else. I'm afraid the last bell will toll and I'll be right back where I started a few weeks ago — fallen to my knees, trying to pick up the pieces of my fractured career."
As she paused, Kenzie dropped down to her knees with her digits still firmly wrapped around the string. The balloon continued to bob through the air, the wind tilting it to the side a little. On her knees, her eyes looked saddened. She continued to spill her heart and state every single fear she had while she held that balloon as tight as she possibly could.
"I'm afraid once this match against Adrien is over, I'll fade away into the background. I'm afraid that we won't win this war against The Inferno Network at all and I'm afraid what that would mean for me. I'm afraid to be selfish. I'm afraid that when it's all said and done... when my wrestling career is over and I'm looking over everything I achieved... it will be a short list."
Her head tilted downward, passionately speaking from the heart despite the fact that this would be seen by countless people as soon as she uploaded it, yourself included.
"I'm afraid to show weakness. I'm afraid to show too much strength. I'm afraid I'll start drinking again. I'm afraid City Of Sin will happen again and no one will EVER take me seriously..."
At NGW City Of Sin - the worst night of Kenzie Rydell's whole career - she let her drinking control her. She lost a championship match in a humiliating effort in the main event in front of everyone on live television, and she's been trying to forget it ever since.
"I'm afraid I'll lose my boyfriend. I'm afraid I'll lose my apartment. I'm afraid I'll have to move in with my parents again. I'm afraid I'll make another mistake, and I'm afraid I'll say something wrong. I'm afraid that people won't like me. I'm afraid that one day, they'll all understand that I'm just some waitress who wanted to make something of her life. I'm afraid one day; they'll all see that I'm just an ordinary girl pouring her heart for wrestling... who has to train twice as hard to even remotely stand on the same level as everyone else..."
Her eyes looked back up into the camera, locking with your own as she finished her list with emotion drenched into every syllable.
"I'm afraid to fail. I'm afraid that even in the unlikely chance that I can succeed... when I finally touch greatness, personify greatness... I won't be myself anymore."
She stayed on her knees as she spoke, wiping her eyes of the tears that nearly fell with her bare arm. It took her a few moments to collect herself again but once she did, she continued.
"It's okay to be scared every once in a while. That's normal. I owe all of you watching some honesty, and to tell you the truth? I'm really nervous going up against Adrien Cochrane this Sunday, for all the reasons I've mentioned and more..."
She took a deep breath, smiling softly as she glances at the red balloon above her.
"That's why I invited all of you to join me for this little silly ritual Spencer and I thought up."
She chuckled softly as the camera slowly panned across the rooftop to see several other local people from the California area standing with red balloons in the palms of their hands. Some were old, some were children, and others were middle aged. Each of them watched as Kenzie continued to speak, getting back up to her feet with the balloon of her own still clutched within her grasp.
"Thank you all for responding to Spencer's social media campaign. It means a lot that you guys took the time out of your busy day to do this with me. Spencer's going to record this and upload it to my YouTube channel tomorrow, so say hi to the audience!"
Spencer panned the camera across the mass of people waving and cheering as the lens captured them on screen. They all waved hello to you, cheering loudly and saying hello in their own unique ways. Of course, the little kids were the most vocal. They waved in front of their parents as they saw the camera, happily greeting you and anyone else watching in the future. Their numbers were large, but not substantial.
"Does everyone have their balloons?"
The crowd of people all nodded their head and collectively answered yes. That is, except for a little 5 year old boy in a sky blue jacket.
"Um. No... I let go of mine by accident. I'm sorry..."
"It's okay."
Kenzie turned to Spencer.
"We brought extras, didn't we?"
"Yeah. Just hang on. I'll be right back."
The cameraman set down his camcorder on a small nearby table so a lower shot of Kenzie could be seen while you waited for him to come back. Kenzie awkwardly stood there, trying her best to make small talk that wasn't on-script with the people.
"Sooo... Are you guys ready for the next episode of #FSociety Anarchy?"
Of course, given the fact that they saw Spencer's social media campaign in the first place meant they were fans of #FSociety, even if the little kids weren't allowed to watch the extreme hardcore matches. You were pretty sure those kids found a way to watch those matches against their parent's wishes, though. Where there's violence to be seen, there's a little kid who wants to see it.
"While Spencer's busy downstairs and we're just up here waiting, let me try to explain what we're doing up here, okay?"
Kenzie pulled the string down and clutched the red balloon itself between both of her lanky hands.
"On this table over here - where Spencer left the camera - are some markers. Be careful, they're permanent! Oh, and we don't have enough markers for all of you, so you're going to have to share."
As you watched the crowd of people rush to the table in a less than orderly fashion, your view started to change as Spencer picked up the camera again.
"So I got the extra balloon. And a couple others just in case the wind prematurely blows—"
"If you're going to finish that sentence with a pun not appropriate for kids, I swear to God I'm going to hire a new cameraman, Spence."
She was kidding. You could tell by the sound of her voice and the wide smile on her face.
"— just in case the wind prematurely blows another balloon out of someone's hand, Kenz. You need to get your mind out of the gutter and into the sewer where it belongs."
Of course, Kenzie rolled her eyes with a little giggle and focused on the task at hand instead. She happily handed the extra balloon to the little boy with the sky blue jacket who let go of his balloon too early, and as he smiled wide in response, Kenzie took her place in the center once again.
Before she continued to talk to the crowd, though, she gave her attention to you - the viewer.
"Oh. For everyone watching this in YouTube Land, you can do this too. Just listen, okay? It might help you. Who knows?"
Now she looked back at the crowd.
"Okay. So now that you're all ready, I want you to write something on your balloon. It can either be a fear you have, a traumatic event you want to get over, maybe someone passed away and you want to try to move on with your life... It can be anything you want it to be. Just remember you'll be letting go of it today."
You knew Kenzie wasn't stupid. She knew that it wouldn't magically help people get over all their problems today, but she most likely hoped that it would at least help them feel a little better about letting go sooner rather than later. It wasn't a big gesture, but it mattered to her. You could see it in the sincerity she exuded the whole time she talked to the group with pure joy on her face.
.
The camera caught the young boy who lost his balloon the first time scribbling the word 'clowns' with a black marker onto the latex surface. A mother wrote down the name of her late husband of many years and an older gentleman wrote about the time someone robbed him at gunpoint. A young woman who looked to be in her early 20s quietly wrote the word 'rape,' but her face was thankfully hidden behind another man's head to save her from embarrassment or ridicule in the future. Everyone else wrote their own unique words and ideas on their respective balloons, and as Kenzie finished her own, she glanced at Spencer to see him doing the same.
Once everyone was done, Kenzie watched everyone look back up at her with the balloons in their hands.
"I won't waste any more of your time. I'm going to count backward from five, and when I say go, I want all of us to let go! Ready?"
She started the countdown.
"FIVE!"
...
"FOUR!"
...
Before Kenzie could keep going at a slow pace, Spencer suddenly interrupted quickly.
"THREE TWO ONE, GO!"
Kenzie hesitated, watching as everyone else released their balloon including Spencer. With a pensive expression, she glanced up at the beautiful sight of all the red balloons grouped together high up in the air. The crowd hooted and hollered at the sight, cheering loud as they let go of their fears and their problems. The red latex kissed the golden sky in an elegant display of grace and passion. The glorious display was met with a single rogue balloon that followed with Kenzie's writing on the side, and as they all touched the clouds, the video came to an end with Spencer having the last word.
"Took you long enough, Kenz. Heh."
DATE: 04/01/17
SCENE NUMBER: 02
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
"So, are we ever going to talk about this?" Kenzie asked Spencer with raised eyebrows from the passenger seat, curious to see what he would say.
"Talk about what?"
Spencer acted oblivious, dryly answering the question as he drove across the highway towards Phoenix, Arizona at the speed limit. Of course, that meant just about everyone was going to pass them like their car was in park.
"What you told me yesterday. That you were—"
"You see that white van? He just cut me off! And it looks like his blinkers are busted too, see? They're not working."
"You know damn well nobody ever uses their blinkers except us," Kenzie grumbled at Spencer's scathing sarcasm. "Now stop changing the subject and—"
"Hey! Buddy!" He shouted out the open window on the driver's side to the white van on the left side of them now. "You oughta take your car back to the shop. Those blinkers of yours aren't working!"
The van continued to drive, either ignoring Spencer completely or having not heard him in the first place.
"Spencer! You can't just start trouble like that. What if they have a gun?"
"We already took down a guy with a gun this week, 'member? Pretty sure karma's on our side here. 'Sides, you know damn well I'm in the right."
Kenzie huffed, resting her fist on her chin as she looked out of her own window, the wind gently blowing her hair back. Those hazel eyes opened wide. She thought she saw a single red balloon in the far distance, but it could have been her imagination.
"I just don't get why you don't want to talk about it, Spence. Do you not trust me or something?"
Spencer paused.
"Of course I trust you."
"Then why are you so aloof lately?"
He turned to her for just a couple seconds, eyes flickering back to the road over and over as he spoke.
"Does it change anything between us, Kenzie? Does my sexual orientation somehow change the way I do my job? Does it change the fact that we've been friends since high school?"
Spencer's words were dry and concise.
"I mean, no. But—"
"Then why do you feel the need to want to talk about it?"
"Spencer, what you told me is a huge deal. You realize that, right?"
"It's not."
Kenzie was surprised at how difficult he was being.
A short moment of awkward silence overtook the two until Spencer started speaking again.
"Reality isn't a Lifetime movie, Kenz. Revealing you're gay isn't always some momentous occasion with a full ticker tape parade complete with dancers and floats. Sometimes it's just as menial as telling someone your favorite sports team or that you ate oatmeal for breakfast."
"Spemcer... You told me for a reason. Didn't you?"
"I told you because it was the one thing Austin had on me. I took away the strongest weapon he had. Now we just need to worry about the second weapon - the pistol the police just gave back to him on a silver platter."
Kenzie didn't know what to say, staring at her lap as she thought about his words for a while.
"Why didn't you want to tell me? Did I do something wrong?"
"I knew you would overreact — just like this. Now let me focus on the road."
DATE: 03/31/17
SCENE NUMBER: 03
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
Once the second promo finally began, you watched as Kenzie stood on the rooftop of her apartment. The balloons were long gone, as were the participants of the ritual, and as she fixed her sundress before getting ready to speak, she didn't look nearly as happy as she did earlier.
"Adrien... is everything I want to be, but at the same time... I don't want to be him"
Kenzie's honesty cut like a serrated knife through margarine, unbelievably so.
"I look at his success, I look at his unwavering morality, and I see a man I can look up to. He's one of the biggest heroes in my life, and that will never change. And at the same time, I feel like... I feel like he takes the success for granted every once in a while."
Kenzie squinted her eyes tightly, trying to see the camera lens through the bright sunlight glaring in her eyes..
"Adrien touched greatness. He might even personify the word, considering everything he's achieved. Championship after championship, a beautiful girlfriend on his arm in Stacy who loves him very much, and he's still a good person. He has a fledgling music career on the side, he's got an assistant in Eddie Walker who would do anything for him if it meant Adrien would find that much more success, and he's practically living in a mansion of an estate. And still... I don't think he's happy."
Her voice trailed gently as she uttered the words. It wasn't anger. It wasn't pity. It sounded like the words of a concerned friend to you.
"And maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I've been reading him incorrectly, but... Not everything's been great for him. He's dissatisfied with the efforts he made in Inferno Wrestling and before Stacy, his love life wasn't doing too great. Believe me; I can sympathize."
"The man is like a father to me. He lets me live in his house in New Orleans from time to time, and he treats me like part of the family. It's just that I feel like he's gotten so used to the big house and the cabin in the woods, the main events and the championship opportunities that now... Everything just blends, you know?"
She smiled softly, still on that flat rooftop with her eyes glued to you through the screen.
"Let me make this abundantly clear: Just because we disagree doesn't mean I have any hatred towards him. I still support him in everything he does, but that doesn't mean I have to sugarcoat the things on my mind. I feel like, what kind of friend would I be if I just praised the ground he walked on? What kind of person would I be if I treated him like a legend on a constant basis? I have massive respect for the guy, but with this match hanging over our heads, I feel like I'd be giving everyone - including Adrien himself - a disservice if I just went easy on him and didn't do my best."
You could sense the honesty in her words, a small smile climbing to her lips.
"Like I said, I can't be the only one who thinks he's gotten too used to the success, right? I feel like he expects it now. He expects to win, and maybe that makes losses so hard on him. Maybe that's why he fled to the cabin when he lost the #FSociety Championship. Maybe that's why he couldn't take the fact that he couldn't take the Inferno Wrestling Las Vegas Championship from Chuck Matthews. You get so used to one thing, and the alternative just ruins you emotionally."
"I used to expect to lose when I first became a professional wrestler. We're opposites, in that respect too. I could have shrugged off a loss like it was nothing, but for Adrien? That's the apocalypse. That's the world collapsing around him. That's 'it's time to abandon ship' kind of pain he's feeling, I'm sure. I've seen it myself."
"Now... I've gotten better. I'm learning how to be more confident. And sure, maybe there's a downside. Maybe being too confident can cause you to make mistakes. Maybe it's best to find a middle ground between cocky and pessimistic. I'm working on finding that balence for my own sake, and hopefully so can Adrien."
She looked down towards the gray floor beneath him, taking a step back so she could plop down and sit with her legs extended outwards. Her back connected with the leg of the chair that held the markers, fingers gripping the cold metal with her left hand behind her.
"'It's not personal, it's business.'"
"That's the motto we keep hearing, isn't it? Those are the words touted by every wrestler before they step foot into the ring with their eyes locked on someone they consider a friend? It's cliche, but there's some merit in those words, right? I mean, this is a scheduled wrestling match. We can't just walk out and disappoint the fans, can we? We can't just disobey Chris Night like that either. We owe it to everyone to show who would win in a fight - Kenzie Rydell or Adrien Cochrane."
You could see the excitement in her eyes as she said the words 'Kenzie Rydell or Adrien Cochrane.'.
"I don't blame you for this match, Adrien. I don't blame you for the fact that Chris Night decided to pull the rug from under us and make this the opening match instead of the main event. I've been pestering Chris Night just as much as you have, so it's partially on me, but I just don't think we should even care."
She chuckled just a little at the thought of it.
"Look... This match is happening. It doesn't matter if it's the first match or the last match, it's still the main event to me. We know Allyson Morrow is going to successfully retain her championship in the triple threat match, let's be blatantly honest there. Say what you will about her questionable morals, but everyone knows she can win without breaking a sweat. Me and you? Nobody knows who's coming out the victor. Nobody knows who's walking out with their hands held high, not even me. I'm sure everyone automatically picked you as the winner. You have the most experience and with the most exposure in everything you've done, they would think that. Hell, if I wasn't in this match, I'd predict you were going to win, but..."
"You see this as a punishment. You see it as another match without a meaning against the little girl you trained when she first came into wrestling professionally. You see it as Chris Night pushing you into doing something you don't wanna do, but me? I see an opportunity. I see a match against a fucking legend, and I see a chance to finally prove that I belong in the same sentence as you do — and not the sentence 'Adrien is better than Kenzie' either."
She smirked, chuckling just a little.
"I want us to be equals. Maybe not in experience, but in the way we carry ourselves in the ring. I want people to compare us side by side and look forward to Adrien vs. Kenzie II once it's over, and I want people to recognize that we're both very different people at the same time. You're a high flyer with a technical flare and I'm a quick martial artist striker constantly improving her repertoire."
"Am I worried you're going to blow me out of the water with your experience advantage? Absolutely. I'd be stupid not to even consider the thought. I've seen you work over a thousand times. I've trained with you in the ring. I know you're not someone to be underestimated. Yet, I know you'll still see me as the rookie you've watched back in Inferno Wrestling. I know you'll treat me with kid gloves and blame this entire match on Chris Night when you should be concerned with what we're about to do in that ring on Sunday night."
"So forget about Night. Forget about The Inferno Network. Forget about the revolution until the match is over. Right now, the only thing I want you to worry about is me, okay? And I say that with all the respect in the world."
She wasn't kidding. She meant what she said about the respect too, even if Adrien probably wouldn't take it that way just by listening.
"This isn't a sideshow act. This isn't something you can automatically predict. While I'm constantly improving, constantly adapting one step at a time as I learn the ropes more and more, you're always going to be at the level you're at now. With twelve or so years under your belt, suffice it to say, I don't think the cabin is going to teach you any new fighting styles any time soon, but you know what?"
"I still want to fight you. I want to fight you for the challenge. I want to fight you because it's the biggest match I've ever had thus far, and I want to fight you because I've proven I can go against wrestlers way more experienced than me when I defeated Aurora Graves and Chuck Matthews."
"I want to fight you because I need this more than you ever will! You beat me, and what happens? What does it earn you? You beat a former waitress. You beat the girl you trained. You still go forward and have your #FSociety Championship match, and nothing changes, but if I can beat you? If I can find it within me to defeat you fair and square in the middle of that Phoenix, Arizona crowd?"
"The student beats the mentor! The sophomore beats the veteran! The new girl beats another fucking legend, and I can finally get a little closer to touching greatness like I wanted to do since I started watching wrestling on my couch with my dad back home as a kid! And the best part? You still have your #FSociety Championship match. I didn't deter your career whatsoever. And isn't that the best ending? Isn't that the one that will sell more tickets for the both of us?"
"They'll come to see me when they want to see the up and coming rookie keep rising up the ranks one by one, and they'll come see you win the #FSociety Champion point blank in front of everyone! They'll want to watch you bounce back and reach your full potential, and then?"
She smiled wide, her words ladened with pride.
"I earn my way to the top! Adrien Cochrane vs.Kenzie Rydell II with the #FSociety Championship on the line! Chris Night will be forced to make us the main event then. And it all goes full circle."
With a serious expression, she repeated the words from earlier in a whole new context.
"It's been said a million times in a thousand different ways, but..."
"'It's not personal, it's business.'"
"I wish you the absolute best, Adrien. Good luck. I'd say you're gonna need it, but I'm the one who's gonna need all the luck in the world to make what I'm saying a reality, huh?"
"You're still my hero, but I have to do this for my own career's sake. I hope you understand. And when it's all over, I hope we can have even more respect for one another than we've ever had."
As she finished speaking and the YouTube video was coming to an end, a single red balloon floated from right to left in the background right behind tKenzie.
DATE: 04/01/17
SCENE NUMBER: 04
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
"I lied," Spencer suddenly spoke up as they continued to drive along the highway a long time after he last spoke. It must have been fourty-five minutes since they last uttered a word to each other, and as Spencer suddenly woke Kenzie up from her half-asleep daze, she answered him.
"You lied about what?" Kenzie's eyebrows quirked.
"I told you because I wanted to tell you," he finally admitted, saying it with the same dryness he'd use in a conversation about what to get at the grocery store. "I haven't told anyone else. Well, besides Austin."
"I still don't understand why you told him at all, Spence. He seemed like a real shady guy. Was he different back in the University?"
"He was practically a different person back then," Spencer admitted, sighing heavily at the thought. "We... Dated for a while. Back in college. Least, I think we were dating. Might've just been a fling to him. I got no fucking clue what goes on in that man's mind anymore."
"So then why did he threaten to tell everyone you were gay before you could? Are there really people out there that get their jolly's off just telling people personal information they shouldn't?"
"You have no idea, Kenzie," Spencer responded, showing some more emotion now as he drove the straight-away highway. "There's killers and rapists in the world. There are pedophiles who like having sex with innocent kids. So, yeah. There are some people who would rather tell people they shouldn't and carry an empty gun for kicks. Apparently."
Kenzie paused, absorbing Spencer's words for a moment.
"Thanks for being honest with me," she smiled softly.
"It's no problem," he squeezed the steering wheel a little tighter to change lanes. "You know what i wrote on my balloon before I let it go? 'Keeping secrets.'"
"Yeah?" Kenzie smiled a little wider, looking out of the passenger side window. "I'll try not to force you to talk to me, though. I know that's probably annoying. I'll just wait until you're ready to talk to me about it next time."
Spencer just quietly grunted in approval, humming almost with a soft nod.
"What about you? What did you write down and let go, Kenz?"
"Mediocrity."
DATE: 04/01/17
SCENE NUMBER: 05
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
As soon as you saw the newest Kenzie YouTube video, you noticed it was unusually short. Your interest was piqued. Once you clicked the thumbnail and the video was done buffering, you noticed Kenzie was sitting on her hotel room bed with a rather unusual attire. An oversized Sarah Lacklan t-shirt looked like it was a poncho on her, and as she began to speak with an exaggerated ridiculous tone, you were flabbergasted.
"Raise the colors! Hoist the banner! The red! The black! Ride the flames! Gotta burn in that revolution!! "
The tomfoolery continued, and as Kenzie attempted to say the words with a straight face, you could tell it wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
"Wrestlers ruin wrestling! The Inferno Network is the only way to go! Chris Night is the fearless leader who will evolve wrestling to new heights, and I - Kenzie Rydell - will fight on his behalf in order to ensure a brighter future for all of #FSociety and the rest of the wrestling world as a whole!"
You were shocked to see her take such a suddenly different stance!
"So fuck all of you! It's not like you ever mattered to me. Nothing matters to me! The only thing that matters to me is championships and money. And violence! Lots and lots of violence! Friends don't matter. Family doesn't matter, either. 'Cause I'm ruthless! I'm the GOAT and don't you ever forget it!"
No, you noticed she wasn't calling herself the greatest of all time. She was specifically calling herself a goat. You were shocked and appalled by such behavior coming from Kenzie Rydell and so deeply offended by her scathing insults that you almost ended the video right then.
"I'm the personification of greatness and I will stop at nothing to make sure—"
...
That's when you noticed something was wrong. You started to have such sneaking suspicions because she burst out laughing. You wondered what the meaning of this grandiose outburst could be until she said the words...
SCENE NUMBER: 01
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
Once the video begins to play, you watch as a lone Kenzie Rydell stands on the roof of her apartment in the heart of San Jose, California. Firmly in the palm of her left hand is a string and attached to the string is a red balloon. It hangs over her calmly, swaying like a buoy in a wide open ocean. She smiles softly, wearing a black sundress that waved in the wind that whistled constantly in the background. The sunset rose behind her, and as she began to speak, you began to listen.
"Bravery."
It was a simple word, but it captivated your attention as you watched the YouTube video.
"Bravery isn't about being fearless. It's about acknowledging your fears and pressing forward, even when you know there's a chance you could fail."
The sunrise made the sky look golden in color instead of blue, a beautiful sight that bounced off of the shiny balloon in the palm of Kenzie's hand.
"I look forward and I see my opponent... my friend... and I can admit to all of you ... I'm afraid."
You knew immediately that she was talking about her upcoming match with Adrien Cochrane on the second episode of #FSociety season two.
"I'm afraid that I'll let this grand opportunity slip through my fingers. I'm afraid I'll lose one of my closest friends just because I was trying to be just like everybody else. I'm afraid the last bell will toll and I'll be right back where I started a few weeks ago — fallen to my knees, trying to pick up the pieces of my fractured career."
As she paused, Kenzie dropped down to her knees with her digits still firmly wrapped around the string. The balloon continued to bob through the air, the wind tilting it to the side a little. On her knees, her eyes looked saddened. She continued to spill her heart and state every single fear she had while she held that balloon as tight as she possibly could.
"I'm afraid once this match against Adrien is over, I'll fade away into the background. I'm afraid that we won't win this war against The Inferno Network at all and I'm afraid what that would mean for me. I'm afraid to be selfish. I'm afraid that when it's all said and done... when my wrestling career is over and I'm looking over everything I achieved... it will be a short list."
Her head tilted downward, passionately speaking from the heart despite the fact that this would be seen by countless people as soon as she uploaded it, yourself included.
"I'm afraid to show weakness. I'm afraid to show too much strength. I'm afraid I'll start drinking again. I'm afraid City Of Sin will happen again and no one will EVER take me seriously..."
At NGW City Of Sin - the worst night of Kenzie Rydell's whole career - she let her drinking control her. She lost a championship match in a humiliating effort in the main event in front of everyone on live television, and she's been trying to forget it ever since.
"I'm afraid I'll lose my boyfriend. I'm afraid I'll lose my apartment. I'm afraid I'll have to move in with my parents again. I'm afraid I'll make another mistake, and I'm afraid I'll say something wrong. I'm afraid that people won't like me. I'm afraid that one day, they'll all understand that I'm just some waitress who wanted to make something of her life. I'm afraid one day; they'll all see that I'm just an ordinary girl pouring her heart for wrestling... who has to train twice as hard to even remotely stand on the same level as everyone else..."
Her eyes looked back up into the camera, locking with your own as she finished her list with emotion drenched into every syllable.
"I'm afraid to fail. I'm afraid that even in the unlikely chance that I can succeed... when I finally touch greatness, personify greatness... I won't be myself anymore."
She stayed on her knees as she spoke, wiping her eyes of the tears that nearly fell with her bare arm. It took her a few moments to collect herself again but once she did, she continued.
"It's okay to be scared every once in a while. That's normal. I owe all of you watching some honesty, and to tell you the truth? I'm really nervous going up against Adrien Cochrane this Sunday, for all the reasons I've mentioned and more..."
She took a deep breath, smiling softly as she glances at the red balloon above her.
"That's why I invited all of you to join me for this little silly ritual Spencer and I thought up."
She chuckled softly as the camera slowly panned across the rooftop to see several other local people from the California area standing with red balloons in the palms of their hands. Some were old, some were children, and others were middle aged. Each of them watched as Kenzie continued to speak, getting back up to her feet with the balloon of her own still clutched within her grasp.
"Thank you all for responding to Spencer's social media campaign. It means a lot that you guys took the time out of your busy day to do this with me. Spencer's going to record this and upload it to my YouTube channel tomorrow, so say hi to the audience!"
Spencer panned the camera across the mass of people waving and cheering as the lens captured them on screen. They all waved hello to you, cheering loudly and saying hello in their own unique ways. Of course, the little kids were the most vocal. They waved in front of their parents as they saw the camera, happily greeting you and anyone else watching in the future. Their numbers were large, but not substantial.
"Does everyone have their balloons?"
The crowd of people all nodded their head and collectively answered yes. That is, except for a little 5 year old boy in a sky blue jacket.
"Um. No... I let go of mine by accident. I'm sorry..."
"It's okay."
Kenzie turned to Spencer.
"We brought extras, didn't we?"
"Yeah. Just hang on. I'll be right back."
The cameraman set down his camcorder on a small nearby table so a lower shot of Kenzie could be seen while you waited for him to come back. Kenzie awkwardly stood there, trying her best to make small talk that wasn't on-script with the people.
"Sooo... Are you guys ready for the next episode of #FSociety Anarchy?"
Of course, given the fact that they saw Spencer's social media campaign in the first place meant they were fans of #FSociety, even if the little kids weren't allowed to watch the extreme hardcore matches. You were pretty sure those kids found a way to watch those matches against their parent's wishes, though. Where there's violence to be seen, there's a little kid who wants to see it.
"While Spencer's busy downstairs and we're just up here waiting, let me try to explain what we're doing up here, okay?"
Kenzie pulled the string down and clutched the red balloon itself between both of her lanky hands.
"On this table over here - where Spencer left the camera - are some markers. Be careful, they're permanent! Oh, and we don't have enough markers for all of you, so you're going to have to share."
As you watched the crowd of people rush to the table in a less than orderly fashion, your view started to change as Spencer picked up the camera again.
"So I got the extra balloon. And a couple others just in case the wind prematurely blows—"
"If you're going to finish that sentence with a pun not appropriate for kids, I swear to God I'm going to hire a new cameraman, Spence."
She was kidding. You could tell by the sound of her voice and the wide smile on her face.
"— just in case the wind prematurely blows another balloon out of someone's hand, Kenz. You need to get your mind out of the gutter and into the sewer where it belongs."
Of course, Kenzie rolled her eyes with a little giggle and focused on the task at hand instead. She happily handed the extra balloon to the little boy with the sky blue jacket who let go of his balloon too early, and as he smiled wide in response, Kenzie took her place in the center once again.
Before she continued to talk to the crowd, though, she gave her attention to you - the viewer.
"Oh. For everyone watching this in YouTube Land, you can do this too. Just listen, okay? It might help you. Who knows?"
Now she looked back at the crowd.
"Okay. So now that you're all ready, I want you to write something on your balloon. It can either be a fear you have, a traumatic event you want to get over, maybe someone passed away and you want to try to move on with your life... It can be anything you want it to be. Just remember you'll be letting go of it today."
You knew Kenzie wasn't stupid. She knew that it wouldn't magically help people get over all their problems today, but she most likely hoped that it would at least help them feel a little better about letting go sooner rather than later. It wasn't a big gesture, but it mattered to her. You could see it in the sincerity she exuded the whole time she talked to the group with pure joy on her face.
.
The camera caught the young boy who lost his balloon the first time scribbling the word 'clowns' with a black marker onto the latex surface. A mother wrote down the name of her late husband of many years and an older gentleman wrote about the time someone robbed him at gunpoint. A young woman who looked to be in her early 20s quietly wrote the word 'rape,' but her face was thankfully hidden behind another man's head to save her from embarrassment or ridicule in the future. Everyone else wrote their own unique words and ideas on their respective balloons, and as Kenzie finished her own, she glanced at Spencer to see him doing the same.
Once everyone was done, Kenzie watched everyone look back up at her with the balloons in their hands.
"I won't waste any more of your time. I'm going to count backward from five, and when I say go, I want all of us to let go! Ready?"
She started the countdown.
"FIVE!"
...
"FOUR!"
...
Before Kenzie could keep going at a slow pace, Spencer suddenly interrupted quickly.
"THREE TWO ONE, GO!"
Kenzie hesitated, watching as everyone else released their balloon including Spencer. With a pensive expression, she glanced up at the beautiful sight of all the red balloons grouped together high up in the air. The crowd hooted and hollered at the sight, cheering loud as they let go of their fears and their problems. The red latex kissed the golden sky in an elegant display of grace and passion. The glorious display was met with a single rogue balloon that followed with Kenzie's writing on the side, and as they all touched the clouds, the video came to an end with Spencer having the last word.
"Took you long enough, Kenz. Heh."
DATE: 04/01/17
SCENE NUMBER: 02
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
"So, are we ever going to talk about this?" Kenzie asked Spencer with raised eyebrows from the passenger seat, curious to see what he would say.
"Talk about what?"
Spencer acted oblivious, dryly answering the question as he drove across the highway towards Phoenix, Arizona at the speed limit. Of course, that meant just about everyone was going to pass them like their car was in park.
"What you told me yesterday. That you were—"
"You see that white van? He just cut me off! And it looks like his blinkers are busted too, see? They're not working."
"You know damn well nobody ever uses their blinkers except us," Kenzie grumbled at Spencer's scathing sarcasm. "Now stop changing the subject and—"
"Hey! Buddy!" He shouted out the open window on the driver's side to the white van on the left side of them now. "You oughta take your car back to the shop. Those blinkers of yours aren't working!"
The van continued to drive, either ignoring Spencer completely or having not heard him in the first place.
"Spencer! You can't just start trouble like that. What if they have a gun?"
"We already took down a guy with a gun this week, 'member? Pretty sure karma's on our side here. 'Sides, you know damn well I'm in the right."
Kenzie huffed, resting her fist on her chin as she looked out of her own window, the wind gently blowing her hair back. Those hazel eyes opened wide. She thought she saw a single red balloon in the far distance, but it could have been her imagination.
"I just don't get why you don't want to talk about it, Spence. Do you not trust me or something?"
Spencer paused.
"Of course I trust you."
"Then why are you so aloof lately?"
He turned to her for just a couple seconds, eyes flickering back to the road over and over as he spoke.
"Does it change anything between us, Kenzie? Does my sexual orientation somehow change the way I do my job? Does it change the fact that we've been friends since high school?"
Spencer's words were dry and concise.
"I mean, no. But—"
"Then why do you feel the need to want to talk about it?"
"Spencer, what you told me is a huge deal. You realize that, right?"
"It's not."
Kenzie was surprised at how difficult he was being.
A short moment of awkward silence overtook the two until Spencer started speaking again.
"Reality isn't a Lifetime movie, Kenz. Revealing you're gay isn't always some momentous occasion with a full ticker tape parade complete with dancers and floats. Sometimes it's just as menial as telling someone your favorite sports team or that you ate oatmeal for breakfast."
"Spemcer... You told me for a reason. Didn't you?"
"I told you because it was the one thing Austin had on me. I took away the strongest weapon he had. Now we just need to worry about the second weapon - the pistol the police just gave back to him on a silver platter."
Kenzie didn't know what to say, staring at her lap as she thought about his words for a while.
"Why didn't you want to tell me? Did I do something wrong?"
"I knew you would overreact — just like this. Now let me focus on the road."
DATE: 03/31/17
SCENE NUMBER: 03
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
Once the second promo finally began, you watched as Kenzie stood on the rooftop of her apartment. The balloons were long gone, as were the participants of the ritual, and as she fixed her sundress before getting ready to speak, she didn't look nearly as happy as she did earlier.
"Adrien... is everything I want to be, but at the same time... I don't want to be him"
Kenzie's honesty cut like a serrated knife through margarine, unbelievably so.
"I look at his success, I look at his unwavering morality, and I see a man I can look up to. He's one of the biggest heroes in my life, and that will never change. And at the same time, I feel like... I feel like he takes the success for granted every once in a while."
Kenzie squinted her eyes tightly, trying to see the camera lens through the bright sunlight glaring in her eyes..
"Adrien touched greatness. He might even personify the word, considering everything he's achieved. Championship after championship, a beautiful girlfriend on his arm in Stacy who loves him very much, and he's still a good person. He has a fledgling music career on the side, he's got an assistant in Eddie Walker who would do anything for him if it meant Adrien would find that much more success, and he's practically living in a mansion of an estate. And still... I don't think he's happy."
Her voice trailed gently as she uttered the words. It wasn't anger. It wasn't pity. It sounded like the words of a concerned friend to you.
"And maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I've been reading him incorrectly, but... Not everything's been great for him. He's dissatisfied with the efforts he made in Inferno Wrestling and before Stacy, his love life wasn't doing too great. Believe me; I can sympathize."
"The man is like a father to me. He lets me live in his house in New Orleans from time to time, and he treats me like part of the family. It's just that I feel like he's gotten so used to the big house and the cabin in the woods, the main events and the championship opportunities that now... Everything just blends, you know?"
She smiled softly, still on that flat rooftop with her eyes glued to you through the screen.
"Let me make this abundantly clear: Just because we disagree doesn't mean I have any hatred towards him. I still support him in everything he does, but that doesn't mean I have to sugarcoat the things on my mind. I feel like, what kind of friend would I be if I just praised the ground he walked on? What kind of person would I be if I treated him like a legend on a constant basis? I have massive respect for the guy, but with this match hanging over our heads, I feel like I'd be giving everyone - including Adrien himself - a disservice if I just went easy on him and didn't do my best."
You could sense the honesty in her words, a small smile climbing to her lips.
"Like I said, I can't be the only one who thinks he's gotten too used to the success, right? I feel like he expects it now. He expects to win, and maybe that makes losses so hard on him. Maybe that's why he fled to the cabin when he lost the #FSociety Championship. Maybe that's why he couldn't take the fact that he couldn't take the Inferno Wrestling Las Vegas Championship from Chuck Matthews. You get so used to one thing, and the alternative just ruins you emotionally."
"I used to expect to lose when I first became a professional wrestler. We're opposites, in that respect too. I could have shrugged off a loss like it was nothing, but for Adrien? That's the apocalypse. That's the world collapsing around him. That's 'it's time to abandon ship' kind of pain he's feeling, I'm sure. I've seen it myself."
"Now... I've gotten better. I'm learning how to be more confident. And sure, maybe there's a downside. Maybe being too confident can cause you to make mistakes. Maybe it's best to find a middle ground between cocky and pessimistic. I'm working on finding that balence for my own sake, and hopefully so can Adrien."
She looked down towards the gray floor beneath him, taking a step back so she could plop down and sit with her legs extended outwards. Her back connected with the leg of the chair that held the markers, fingers gripping the cold metal with her left hand behind her.
"'It's not personal, it's business.'"
"That's the motto we keep hearing, isn't it? Those are the words touted by every wrestler before they step foot into the ring with their eyes locked on someone they consider a friend? It's cliche, but there's some merit in those words, right? I mean, this is a scheduled wrestling match. We can't just walk out and disappoint the fans, can we? We can't just disobey Chris Night like that either. We owe it to everyone to show who would win in a fight - Kenzie Rydell or Adrien Cochrane."
You could see the excitement in her eyes as she said the words 'Kenzie Rydell or Adrien Cochrane.'.
"I don't blame you for this match, Adrien. I don't blame you for the fact that Chris Night decided to pull the rug from under us and make this the opening match instead of the main event. I've been pestering Chris Night just as much as you have, so it's partially on me, but I just don't think we should even care."
She chuckled just a little at the thought of it.
"Look... This match is happening. It doesn't matter if it's the first match or the last match, it's still the main event to me. We know Allyson Morrow is going to successfully retain her championship in the triple threat match, let's be blatantly honest there. Say what you will about her questionable morals, but everyone knows she can win without breaking a sweat. Me and you? Nobody knows who's coming out the victor. Nobody knows who's walking out with their hands held high, not even me. I'm sure everyone automatically picked you as the winner. You have the most experience and with the most exposure in everything you've done, they would think that. Hell, if I wasn't in this match, I'd predict you were going to win, but..."
"You see this as a punishment. You see it as another match without a meaning against the little girl you trained when she first came into wrestling professionally. You see it as Chris Night pushing you into doing something you don't wanna do, but me? I see an opportunity. I see a match against a fucking legend, and I see a chance to finally prove that I belong in the same sentence as you do — and not the sentence 'Adrien is better than Kenzie' either."
She smirked, chuckling just a little.
"I want us to be equals. Maybe not in experience, but in the way we carry ourselves in the ring. I want people to compare us side by side and look forward to Adrien vs. Kenzie II once it's over, and I want people to recognize that we're both very different people at the same time. You're a high flyer with a technical flare and I'm a quick martial artist striker constantly improving her repertoire."
"Am I worried you're going to blow me out of the water with your experience advantage? Absolutely. I'd be stupid not to even consider the thought. I've seen you work over a thousand times. I've trained with you in the ring. I know you're not someone to be underestimated. Yet, I know you'll still see me as the rookie you've watched back in Inferno Wrestling. I know you'll treat me with kid gloves and blame this entire match on Chris Night when you should be concerned with what we're about to do in that ring on Sunday night."
"So forget about Night. Forget about The Inferno Network. Forget about the revolution until the match is over. Right now, the only thing I want you to worry about is me, okay? And I say that with all the respect in the world."
She wasn't kidding. She meant what she said about the respect too, even if Adrien probably wouldn't take it that way just by listening.
"This isn't a sideshow act. This isn't something you can automatically predict. While I'm constantly improving, constantly adapting one step at a time as I learn the ropes more and more, you're always going to be at the level you're at now. With twelve or so years under your belt, suffice it to say, I don't think the cabin is going to teach you any new fighting styles any time soon, but you know what?"
"I still want to fight you. I want to fight you for the challenge. I want to fight you because it's the biggest match I've ever had thus far, and I want to fight you because I've proven I can go against wrestlers way more experienced than me when I defeated Aurora Graves and Chuck Matthews."
"I want to fight you because I need this more than you ever will! You beat me, and what happens? What does it earn you? You beat a former waitress. You beat the girl you trained. You still go forward and have your #FSociety Championship match, and nothing changes, but if I can beat you? If I can find it within me to defeat you fair and square in the middle of that Phoenix, Arizona crowd?"
"The student beats the mentor! The sophomore beats the veteran! The new girl beats another fucking legend, and I can finally get a little closer to touching greatness like I wanted to do since I started watching wrestling on my couch with my dad back home as a kid! And the best part? You still have your #FSociety Championship match. I didn't deter your career whatsoever. And isn't that the best ending? Isn't that the one that will sell more tickets for the both of us?"
"They'll come to see me when they want to see the up and coming rookie keep rising up the ranks one by one, and they'll come see you win the #FSociety Champion point blank in front of everyone! They'll want to watch you bounce back and reach your full potential, and then?"
She smiled wide, her words ladened with pride.
"I earn my way to the top! Adrien Cochrane vs.Kenzie Rydell II with the #FSociety Championship on the line! Chris Night will be forced to make us the main event then. And it all goes full circle."
With a serious expression, she repeated the words from earlier in a whole new context.
"It's been said a million times in a thousand different ways, but..."
"'It's not personal, it's business.'"
"I wish you the absolute best, Adrien. Good luck. I'd say you're gonna need it, but I'm the one who's gonna need all the luck in the world to make what I'm saying a reality, huh?"
"You're still my hero, but I have to do this for my own career's sake. I hope you understand. And when it's all over, I hope we can have even more respect for one another than we've ever had."
As she finished speaking and the YouTube video was coming to an end, a single red balloon floated from right to left in the background right behind tKenzie.
DATE: 04/01/17
SCENE NUMBER: 04
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
"I lied," Spencer suddenly spoke up as they continued to drive along the highway a long time after he last spoke. It must have been fourty-five minutes since they last uttered a word to each other, and as Spencer suddenly woke Kenzie up from her half-asleep daze, she answered him.
"You lied about what?" Kenzie's eyebrows quirked.
"I told you because I wanted to tell you," he finally admitted, saying it with the same dryness he'd use in a conversation about what to get at the grocery store. "I haven't told anyone else. Well, besides Austin."
"I still don't understand why you told him at all, Spence. He seemed like a real shady guy. Was he different back in the University?"
"He was practically a different person back then," Spencer admitted, sighing heavily at the thought. "We... Dated for a while. Back in college. Least, I think we were dating. Might've just been a fling to him. I got no fucking clue what goes on in that man's mind anymore."
"So then why did he threaten to tell everyone you were gay before you could? Are there really people out there that get their jolly's off just telling people personal information they shouldn't?"
"You have no idea, Kenzie," Spencer responded, showing some more emotion now as he drove the straight-away highway. "There's killers and rapists in the world. There are pedophiles who like having sex with innocent kids. So, yeah. There are some people who would rather tell people they shouldn't and carry an empty gun for kicks. Apparently."
Kenzie paused, absorbing Spencer's words for a moment.
"Thanks for being honest with me," she smiled softly.
"It's no problem," he squeezed the steering wheel a little tighter to change lanes. "You know what i wrote on my balloon before I let it go? 'Keeping secrets.'"
"Yeah?" Kenzie smiled a little wider, looking out of the passenger side window. "I'll try not to force you to talk to me, though. I know that's probably annoying. I'll just wait until you're ready to talk to me about it next time."
Spencer just quietly grunted in approval, humming almost with a soft nod.
"What about you? What did you write down and let go, Kenz?"
"Mediocrity."
DATE: 04/01/17
SCENE NUMBER: 05
CAMERA STATUS: ON / OFF
As soon as you saw the newest Kenzie YouTube video, you noticed it was unusually short. Your interest was piqued. Once you clicked the thumbnail and the video was done buffering, you noticed Kenzie was sitting on her hotel room bed with a rather unusual attire. An oversized Sarah Lacklan t-shirt looked like it was a poncho on her, and as she began to speak with an exaggerated ridiculous tone, you were flabbergasted.
"Raise the colors! Hoist the banner! The red! The black! Ride the flames! Gotta burn in that revolution!! "
The tomfoolery continued, and as Kenzie attempted to say the words with a straight face, you could tell it wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
"Wrestlers ruin wrestling! The Inferno Network is the only way to go! Chris Night is the fearless leader who will evolve wrestling to new heights, and I - Kenzie Rydell - will fight on his behalf in order to ensure a brighter future for all of #FSociety and the rest of the wrestling world as a whole!"
You were shocked to see her take such a suddenly different stance!
"So fuck all of you! It's not like you ever mattered to me. Nothing matters to me! The only thing that matters to me is championships and money. And violence! Lots and lots of violence! Friends don't matter. Family doesn't matter, either. 'Cause I'm ruthless! I'm the GOAT and don't you ever forget it!"
No, you noticed she wasn't calling herself the greatest of all time. She was specifically calling herself a goat. You were shocked and appalled by such behavior coming from Kenzie Rydell and so deeply offended by her scathing insults that you almost ended the video right then.
"I'm the personification of greatness and I will stop at nothing to make sure—"
...
That's when you noticed something was wrong. You started to have such sneaking suspicions because she burst out laughing. You wondered what the meaning of this grandiose outburst could be until she said the words...
"APRIL FOOLS!!!"
