Post by K.I.S.S. on Feb 4, 2015 22:17:42 GMT -6
Stepping from her front door, Bethany Kenyon checks her phone for messages and steps up to her old warhorse of an SUV. She looks down at the silver along the lower part of her near twenty-five-year-old Ford Explorer and brushes a chip off the front driver’s quarter panel, near the wheel well.
Bethany Kenyon: You look like you need a touch-up job, Mama, but we’ll get it taken care of.
She nods solemnly as she steps inside and fires up the engine.
Bethany Kenyon: Don’t worry, Mama, you’re still runnin’.
She smiles and then puts the car into gear as she checks for any traffic or other people around. Satisfied, she pulls out into traffic and drives towards Jeszika Gautier’s house. Ten minutes later, she pulls up and nods, noticing that only Jeszika’s Camaro is here, sitting inside the closed garage. Bethany turns off her vehicle, steps out and walks up to the front door. Knocking, Bethany glances in the side window but sees no movement. She shrugs, produces her own key to the house and lets herself inside.
Bethany Kenyon: Jezzy? You up yet?
She moves inside, looking around as she goes.
Bethany Kenyon: Jezzy?
In the living room Jeszika's eyes snap open at the sound of the voice.
Jeszika Gautier: B?
Bethany nods, turning from the kitchen towards the living room.
Bethany Kenyon: Did you sleep on your own couch?
Jeszika Gautier: I uh... we crashed out watching a movie...
Bethany stops, still in the hallway.
Bethany Kenyon: We? Oh... shit... I'm sorry, um, are y'all decent?
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah, we're decent... enough...
She giggles a little looking down at herself, she was wearing his shirt over top of a g-string. Kris, on the other hand, was wearing just his jeans. Jeszika's packed suitcases still sat untouched on the floor next to the couch and both of them had messy hair from their slumber. Bethany remains where she was, now smirking.
Bethany Kenyon: You're wearing just his shirt and your thong, aren't you?
Jeszika Gautier: Mind reader or x-ray vision, creepy lady?
Bethany snickers.
Bethany Kenyon: Experience...
Jeszika giggles.
Jeszika Gautier: Hey, it’s not like that. Nothing happened, we just fell asleep... that's all.
Bethany can't help but laugh.
Bethany Kenyon: Jezzy, I've been to enough of your slumber parties to remember shirt changing games even when they didn't lead to anything but awkward hangovers in the morning.
Jeszika Gautier: Touché!
The stunned look on Kristian’s face strikes Bethany as being completely priceless.
Kristian Devereaux: Shirt... changing... games?
Bethany finally walks into the room.
Bethany Kenyon: We've done many silly things like that, granted, usually tequila was involved...
Jeszika Gautier: Many, many silly things... spin the bottle was always the most fun though... or truth dare or promise…
Kristian nods slowly.
Bethany Kenyon: You should have seen the look on her face the first time she got us all loaded enough to play strip poker...
Jeszika giggles.
Jeszika Gautier: Admit it, you loved it.
Bethany shrugs.
Bethany Kenyon: Honestly, I would if I could remember much of the game...
Jeszika Gautier: Good point. Maybe we all need to do it again some day... minus the loaded part...
Kristian starts to respond when Bethany shakes her head laughing.
Bethany Kenyon: She's kidding, Kristian. We only ever did that when we were really, really high. Ash would probably not be cool with that at all…
Jeszika Gautier: Not at all.
Kristian nods and Bethany frowns momentarily.
Bethany Kenyon: Is this something we shouldn't be talking about?
Jeszika Gautier: What do you mean?
Kristian Devereaux: No, no, it' fine, I'm just not used to waking up in strange places and then having people talk about it like it's nothing out of the ordinary is all.
Bethany grimaces ashamedly.
Bethany Kenyon: Sorry...
Jeszika Gautier: Strange places?
She looks over at him.
Jeszika Gautier: You calling my house strange how huh?
Kristian Devereaux: No, Ma'am, I'm calling waking up on your couch, strange.
Bethany shakes her head and everybody laughs.
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah, “Odd places we fall asleep; episode one,” huh?
Bethany shrugs playfully.
Bethany Kenyon: Least you'll remember these.
Jeszika Gautier: Very true…
She cocks her head.
Jeszika Gautier: So what brings you here? And don't tell me it's cause you wanted to see my ass in all it’s glory. Kris might get jealous if you do.
Bethany grins playfully.
Bethany Kenyon: Ok, I won't tell you, then.
Kristian Devereaux: I believe she's got you there, Miss Jezzy.
Jeszika throw the cushion off the couch at Bethany.
Jeszika Gautier: Haha, very funny.
Bethany grins, nodding knowingly.
Bethany Kenyon: Nik said she was gonna…
Suddenly, her phone goes off.
Bethany Kenyon: And there she is…
She brings the phone up to her ear and nods.
Bethany Kenyon: Yeah, she’s here.
She punches a button and holds the phone out. Within seconds, Nikki’s voice comes roaring out of the speaker.
Nikki Peltier: Jez?
Jeszika Gautier: Hey, Nik, what's up?
Nikki Peltier: Have you guys actually watched the show?
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: No...
Jeszika shakes her head as well.
Jeszika Gautier: Nope, been asleep since I got home last night.
Nikki Peltier: You're gonna wanna see this part.
Bethany's phone dings with the receipt of a file. Bethany plays and the footage of the guy watching Jeszika in the dressing room plays for them.
Bethany Kenyon: Ho-ly...
Jeszika shakes her head.
Jeszika Gautier: Bastard...
Kristian frowns.
Kristian Devereaux: He went to your show?
Jeszika Gautier: Obviously... and tapped into the cctv in my locker somehow... creepy fucker...
Bethany stares at the screen, looking uneasy.
Bethany Kenyon: How much more did he see?
Kristian Devereaux: Did y'all get dressed in that room too?
Bethany nods.
Jeszika Gautier: So he could have been watching any of us...
She trails off as a thousand thoughts start to race through her mind.
Jeszika Gautier: But he chose to show me...
Shaking her head, she looks up to Bethany and Kristian.
Jeszika Gautier: Why? Why me?
Nikki's voice comes back over the speaker.
Nikki Peltier: I'm sorry, Jezzy... I just thought you needed to know...
Jeszika Gautier: It’s ok, Nik, I'm not gonna let this bastard get to me. He can watch me all he wants but he won't get me... ever...
She instinctively moves closer to Kris
Bethany Kenyon: Has Carrie seen it?
Nikki sighs.
Nikki Peltier: Yes...
Jeszika Gautier: How's she taking it?
Nikki Peltier: Not well...
Bethany's eyes close almost instinctively.
Bethany Kenyon: She's not... sober... is she?
Nikki Peltier: No.
Jeszika looks down.
Jeszika Gautier: How bad is it?
Nikki Peltier: I'm sorry, I looked away for a second and she was out the door. She beat me back to Prey by a few minutes...
Bethany Kenyon: Nik... how bad?
Nikki sighs.
Nikki Peltier: She's got an open bottle of Jack... and i know she has something else before i got here.
Jeszika Gautier: Look after her, Nik. If anyone can help her, you can. Do whatever it takes to keep her safe, please?
Kristian frowns slightly.
Kristian Devereaux: You don't think... we should...?
Jeszika Gautier: He's clearly watching me. I don't want to lead him to her right now...
Bethany Kenyon: I could go over there, it's on my way back to my place and Brody.
Jeszika Gautier: Ok, God this is bad timing to be getting with her... I always fuck things up and being danger to those I love... I warned her. I warned you too, Kris. I am a danger magnet... I can never do this shit right...
Kristian and Bethany both hug her immediately even as Nikki's voice comes over the phone.
Nikki Peltier: Jezzy, don't you DARE take this on yourself as being your fault! You haven't done anything but love them!
Jeszika Gautier: That's the problem... me loving people bring danger into their life...
Kristian Devereaux: She's right, this is not your fault.
Jeszika Gautier: We don't know that for sure. it's clear this guy is targeting me. There's gotta be a reason right?
Bethany Kenyon: That means it's his fault, his problem, his doing, Jezzy.
Jeszika Gautier: I suppose you’re right, I just wish I knew what his deal was.
Nikki Peltier: I think we'd all like to know that one, Jezzy.
Jeszika Gautier: I suppose one day we'll find out..
Jeszika sighs.
Jeszika Gautier: You know what? Fuck him! I'm just gonna go on living my life... who is he to make me change how I live? This is my house my life and I'll do what I god damn please!
Nikki Peltier: So... is one of you coming?
Jeszika Gautier: How about we all go? If you just wait for me to get dressed a bit more appropriately.
Nikki's voice pauses and then comes back.
Nikki Peltier: Ok... she looks like she's slowing down...
Bethany nods to her phone.
Bethany Kenyon: We'll be there, Nik.
Jeszika Gautier: See you soon, Nik.
Bethany hangs up and as they start to move, the doorbell rings and Jeszika frowns.
Jeszika Gautier: Ash joining us, is she?
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: No, Billy had a doctor's appointment for something...
Jeszika Gautier: Guess I better answer it.
She heads to the door, not caring that she's wearing very little and opens the door. She finds a courier standing at the door, long black wavy hair, blue eyes, dark features, creepy but hot.
Courier: Delivery for Miss Jeszika Gautier?
Jeszika Gautier: I am she.
The man nods and hands her a box with a ribbon and bow on it. She signs for it and he leaves.
Kristian Devereaux: What is it?
Jeszika Gautier: I'm not sure.
She frowns.
Jeszika Gautier: After the last package I got... I'm not sure I wanna know...
Bethany Kenyon: Does it have a note on the outside?
Jeszika nods.
Jeszika Gautier: It does.
Jeszika opens the note, and almost immediately drops the whole thing.
Kristian Devereaux: What is it?
Bethany walks over to her, frowning worriedly.
Bethany Kenyon: Jez?
Jeszika nods.
Jeszika Gautier: It’s him...
Bethany instinctively hugs Jeszika.
Bethany Kenyon: Oh, Honey...
Kristian comes walking over as well.
Kristian Devereaux: Makes you really look forward to Valentine's Day now, doesn't it?
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah... not...
Bethany looks down at the spilled delivery and pats her friend on the shoulder.
Bethany Kenyon: Are you... gonna want me to just go now?
Jeszika just stares at the floor and what’s left of the package.
Jeszika Gautier: I... I don't know, part of me wants to stay here, to help protect Carrie. Stay here with Kris can help keep me safe... but...
She sighs, steeling herself.
Jeszika Gautier: Fuck him... lets go!
Bethany nods slowly, looking as motherly as she possibly can without even trying to do so consciously.
Bethany Kenyon: You're sure?
Jeszika nods
Jeszika Gautier: I can't let this man rule my life.
Bethany nods, then turns to Kristian.
Bethany Kenyon: You coming too?
Kristian nods.
Kristian Devereaux: This is family, right?
Bethany smiles at him.
Bethany Kenyon: Yes, yes she is.
Jeszika Gautier: My car or yours, B?
Bethany shrugs.
Bethany Kenyon: Mine’s got more room, yours goes faster…
Jeszika grins and Bethany can already see where this is going.
Jeszika Gautier: I don't mind getting cozy.
Kristian and Bethany nod and they follow Jeszika to the garage. A few seconds later, the garage door lifts up and Jeszika’s Camaro roars down her driveway, allowing them to peel out down the road.
A few hours later, Bethany sits at her laptop, Brody Montgomery lying behind her on her couch asleep with the television showing a life performance of Metallica from 1989 further behind him. The laptop sits on what would pass for a dining room table or a work desk if bethany actually had need of such things. Truth be told, it’s just a table that sits here waiting to be used for a thousand different things when people come over. Bethany glances back at Brody and nods as the webcam turns on.
Bethany Kenyon: Mixed emotions…
She nods and turns back to the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: That’s what I feel all the time about damn near everyone and everything that I know.
Allowing her head to droop slightly, Bethany even snickers at herself. She looks up and shrugs as if she can hear criticism already.
Bethany Kenyon: Big shock, right? Bethany Kenyon is gonna sit here and let her heart bleed out in public…
She pauses, taking a deep breath even as she sighs with apparent melancholy written all over her.
Bethany Kenyon: Again…
Managing a defiant smile, Bethany looks back up into the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: If you don’t like it, then turn this off right now because it’s who I am and I’m not changing anytime soon. I am who I am and that’s just it is.
A groaning sound comes from the couch and she quickly glances back. As her gaze meets the couch, she sees Brody roll over so that he’s now facing the back of the couch instead of the television.
Bethany Kenyon: And there lies Exhibit A…
She slowly turns back to face the camera, hoping Brody won’t wake up any time soon.
Bethany Kenyon: I love seeing him there just like I’m sure Talon and Sentinel can say similar things about each other like that. Being able to see your love having a moment’s peace in the middle of all the chaos swirling around…
Trailing off, Bethany pauses to glance back at Brody again.
Bethany Kenyon: But, much like you had to I’d imagine, I have to watch and wonder… and worry that the next time he wakes up, it’ll be because the pain overwhelmed him or his mind couldn’t take what all has happened to him and he’ll be in an agony I have no idea how to even begin to help him with.
She sighs and turns back to the camera again.
Bethany Kenyon: When I look at this match, I have mixed feelings in almost the same way. On the one hand, I’m excited to get in there with somebody who’s not trying to kill me just because they can, somebody who has no ill motives and if something bad happens, hey, it was nothing personal.
She shrugs knowingly.
Bethany Kenyon: I mean, shit happens, right?
Glancing down, Bethany can’t help but feel a little ashamed.
Bethany Kenyon: But I also have to admit, I’m scared.
She glances up with a small knowing, wry, smile that shows she’s really not happy at all about it.
Bethany Kenyon: Yeah, I know, we’re not supposed to admit things like that, but why lie when if I try to say Sentinel doesn’t scare me, you’ll all call me on it in a second anyway?
Nodding, she looks dead into the camera as if her life depends on it.
Bethany Kenyon: So, yeah, I’m scared because I know, Sentinel is three times my size, God knows how much stronger and hits like a freight train on steroids doing a thousand miles an hour and that’s just when he’s practicing on dummies that won’t hit back. And on top of that, now he’s pissed and looking for an outlet for that pent-up aggression and I get to be the lucky one to stand across from him and invite him to do whatever he feels like at the time in the name of competition. He might not hate me right now but he will when the bell rings and he’ll stay that way until it rings again and I know there is a distinct possibility that there will be nothing I can do about it…
Another groan from the couch area causes bethany to look back for a second before turning her attention right back to the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: If that wasn’t enough, I also know Joshua McBride and his band of merry misfits AND Aerynn and HER band of whatever you wanna call Gealtachta could all show up at any second and decide we need to be made examples of because…
She shrugs knowing no real answer is going to be forthcoming.
Bethany Kenyon: That just hasn’t happened enough and apparently their point just hasn’t been made yet and there is a part of me that almost hopes they do just so I can fight next to you instead of against you… but any time I catch myself thinking that, I immediately feel ashamed because I should be above that! I should welcome the chance to get in the ring with you and yet I can’t help…
Struggling, she bites her lip and looks down.
Bethany Kenyon: Earlier today I saw a good friend of mine drunk out of her mind and loaded out of her gourd on cocaine because she was as scared of somebody as I am of you and I had to ask myself, who am I to tell her she shouldn’t be doing that if I can’t make myself stand up on my own two feet, look you as close to in the eye as physically possible for me and say, “You’re on, Sentinel, I’ll see you in the ring!” march my happy ass down there and go to war?
Steeling herself, Bethany looks back up into the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: The answer was simple, I was nobody to tell her that. If I couldn’t woman up, face the monster in front of me then I couldn’t tell her a damn thing about facing hers and I will be damned if I let that happen!
She stands up from her chair and nods.
Bethany Kenyon: Sentinel, you are one scary piece of work that is absolutely one of the best, if not THE best, in UWA, championship belt or no and I’m not letting anything some creepy as stalker, Joshua McBride, Aerynn Donnelly, or even what her boys did to us last week when they cost us our championships stop me from getting in that ring and doing everything I can possibly do to keep you from making me just another body lying on the side of the road on your way to the top! So hit me with whatever you got, hit me with whatever you can and I’ll see what I can hit you with and we’ll see which of us deserves to be called the best! World Title match waiting for me or not, if I can’t get past you, it doesn’t matter what’s waiting for me later.
She nods, squeezing her hand into a fist.
Bethany Kenyon: I wanna see the big dog’s teeth because if I can live through that, I can live through anything!
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Bethany Kenyon: You look like you need a touch-up job, Mama, but we’ll get it taken care of.
She nods solemnly as she steps inside and fires up the engine.
Bethany Kenyon: Don’t worry, Mama, you’re still runnin’.
She smiles and then puts the car into gear as she checks for any traffic or other people around. Satisfied, she pulls out into traffic and drives towards Jeszika Gautier’s house. Ten minutes later, she pulls up and nods, noticing that only Jeszika’s Camaro is here, sitting inside the closed garage. Bethany turns off her vehicle, steps out and walks up to the front door. Knocking, Bethany glances in the side window but sees no movement. She shrugs, produces her own key to the house and lets herself inside.
Bethany Kenyon: Jezzy? You up yet?
She moves inside, looking around as she goes.
Bethany Kenyon: Jezzy?
In the living room Jeszika's eyes snap open at the sound of the voice.
Jeszika Gautier: B?
Bethany nods, turning from the kitchen towards the living room.
Bethany Kenyon: Did you sleep on your own couch?
Jeszika Gautier: I uh... we crashed out watching a movie...
Bethany stops, still in the hallway.
Bethany Kenyon: We? Oh... shit... I'm sorry, um, are y'all decent?
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah, we're decent... enough...
She giggles a little looking down at herself, she was wearing his shirt over top of a g-string. Kris, on the other hand, was wearing just his jeans. Jeszika's packed suitcases still sat untouched on the floor next to the couch and both of them had messy hair from their slumber. Bethany remains where she was, now smirking.
Bethany Kenyon: You're wearing just his shirt and your thong, aren't you?
Jeszika Gautier: Mind reader or x-ray vision, creepy lady?
Bethany snickers.
Bethany Kenyon: Experience...
Jeszika giggles.
Jeszika Gautier: Hey, it’s not like that. Nothing happened, we just fell asleep... that's all.
Bethany can't help but laugh.
Bethany Kenyon: Jezzy, I've been to enough of your slumber parties to remember shirt changing games even when they didn't lead to anything but awkward hangovers in the morning.
Jeszika Gautier: Touché!
The stunned look on Kristian’s face strikes Bethany as being completely priceless.
Kristian Devereaux: Shirt... changing... games?
Bethany finally walks into the room.
Bethany Kenyon: We've done many silly things like that, granted, usually tequila was involved...
Jeszika Gautier: Many, many silly things... spin the bottle was always the most fun though... or truth dare or promise…
Kristian nods slowly.
Bethany Kenyon: You should have seen the look on her face the first time she got us all loaded enough to play strip poker...
Jeszika giggles.
Jeszika Gautier: Admit it, you loved it.
Bethany shrugs.
Bethany Kenyon: Honestly, I would if I could remember much of the game...
Jeszika Gautier: Good point. Maybe we all need to do it again some day... minus the loaded part...
Kristian starts to respond when Bethany shakes her head laughing.
Bethany Kenyon: She's kidding, Kristian. We only ever did that when we were really, really high. Ash would probably not be cool with that at all…
Jeszika Gautier: Not at all.
Kristian nods and Bethany frowns momentarily.
Bethany Kenyon: Is this something we shouldn't be talking about?
Jeszika Gautier: What do you mean?
Kristian Devereaux: No, no, it' fine, I'm just not used to waking up in strange places and then having people talk about it like it's nothing out of the ordinary is all.
Bethany grimaces ashamedly.
Bethany Kenyon: Sorry...
Jeszika Gautier: Strange places?
She looks over at him.
Jeszika Gautier: You calling my house strange how huh?
Kristian Devereaux: No, Ma'am, I'm calling waking up on your couch, strange.
Bethany shakes her head and everybody laughs.
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah, “Odd places we fall asleep; episode one,” huh?
Bethany shrugs playfully.
Bethany Kenyon: Least you'll remember these.
Jeszika Gautier: Very true…
She cocks her head.
Jeszika Gautier: So what brings you here? And don't tell me it's cause you wanted to see my ass in all it’s glory. Kris might get jealous if you do.
Bethany grins playfully.
Bethany Kenyon: Ok, I won't tell you, then.
Kristian Devereaux: I believe she's got you there, Miss Jezzy.
Jeszika throw the cushion off the couch at Bethany.
Jeszika Gautier: Haha, very funny.
Bethany grins, nodding knowingly.
Bethany Kenyon: Nik said she was gonna…
Suddenly, her phone goes off.
Bethany Kenyon: And there she is…
She brings the phone up to her ear and nods.
Bethany Kenyon: Yeah, she’s here.
She punches a button and holds the phone out. Within seconds, Nikki’s voice comes roaring out of the speaker.
Nikki Peltier: Jez?
Jeszika Gautier: Hey, Nik, what's up?
Nikki Peltier: Have you guys actually watched the show?
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: No...
Jeszika shakes her head as well.
Jeszika Gautier: Nope, been asleep since I got home last night.
Nikki Peltier: You're gonna wanna see this part.
Bethany's phone dings with the receipt of a file. Bethany plays and the footage of the guy watching Jeszika in the dressing room plays for them.
Bethany Kenyon: Ho-ly...
Jeszika shakes her head.
Jeszika Gautier: Bastard...
Kristian frowns.
Kristian Devereaux: He went to your show?
Jeszika Gautier: Obviously... and tapped into the cctv in my locker somehow... creepy fucker...
Bethany stares at the screen, looking uneasy.
Bethany Kenyon: How much more did he see?
Kristian Devereaux: Did y'all get dressed in that room too?
Bethany nods.
Jeszika Gautier: So he could have been watching any of us...
She trails off as a thousand thoughts start to race through her mind.
Jeszika Gautier: But he chose to show me...
Shaking her head, she looks up to Bethany and Kristian.
Jeszika Gautier: Why? Why me?
Nikki's voice comes back over the speaker.
Nikki Peltier: I'm sorry, Jezzy... I just thought you needed to know...
Jeszika Gautier: It’s ok, Nik, I'm not gonna let this bastard get to me. He can watch me all he wants but he won't get me... ever...
She instinctively moves closer to Kris
Bethany Kenyon: Has Carrie seen it?
Nikki sighs.
Nikki Peltier: Yes...
Jeszika Gautier: How's she taking it?
Nikki Peltier: Not well...
Bethany's eyes close almost instinctively.
Bethany Kenyon: She's not... sober... is she?
Nikki Peltier: No.
Jeszika looks down.
Jeszika Gautier: How bad is it?
Nikki Peltier: I'm sorry, I looked away for a second and she was out the door. She beat me back to Prey by a few minutes...
Bethany Kenyon: Nik... how bad?
Nikki sighs.
Nikki Peltier: She's got an open bottle of Jack... and i know she has something else before i got here.
Jeszika Gautier: Look after her, Nik. If anyone can help her, you can. Do whatever it takes to keep her safe, please?
Kristian frowns slightly.
Kristian Devereaux: You don't think... we should...?
Jeszika Gautier: He's clearly watching me. I don't want to lead him to her right now...
Bethany Kenyon: I could go over there, it's on my way back to my place and Brody.
Jeszika Gautier: Ok, God this is bad timing to be getting with her... I always fuck things up and being danger to those I love... I warned her. I warned you too, Kris. I am a danger magnet... I can never do this shit right...
Kristian and Bethany both hug her immediately even as Nikki's voice comes over the phone.
Nikki Peltier: Jezzy, don't you DARE take this on yourself as being your fault! You haven't done anything but love them!
Jeszika Gautier: That's the problem... me loving people bring danger into their life...
Kristian Devereaux: She's right, this is not your fault.
Jeszika Gautier: We don't know that for sure. it's clear this guy is targeting me. There's gotta be a reason right?
Bethany Kenyon: That means it's his fault, his problem, his doing, Jezzy.
Jeszika Gautier: I suppose you’re right, I just wish I knew what his deal was.
Nikki Peltier: I think we'd all like to know that one, Jezzy.
Jeszika Gautier: I suppose one day we'll find out..
Jeszika sighs.
Jeszika Gautier: You know what? Fuck him! I'm just gonna go on living my life... who is he to make me change how I live? This is my house my life and I'll do what I god damn please!
Nikki Peltier: So... is one of you coming?
Jeszika Gautier: How about we all go? If you just wait for me to get dressed a bit more appropriately.
Nikki's voice pauses and then comes back.
Nikki Peltier: Ok... she looks like she's slowing down...
Bethany nods to her phone.
Bethany Kenyon: We'll be there, Nik.
Jeszika Gautier: See you soon, Nik.
Bethany hangs up and as they start to move, the doorbell rings and Jeszika frowns.
Jeszika Gautier: Ash joining us, is she?
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: No, Billy had a doctor's appointment for something...
Jeszika Gautier: Guess I better answer it.
She heads to the door, not caring that she's wearing very little and opens the door. She finds a courier standing at the door, long black wavy hair, blue eyes, dark features, creepy but hot.
Courier: Delivery for Miss Jeszika Gautier?
Jeszika Gautier: I am she.
The man nods and hands her a box with a ribbon and bow on it. She signs for it and he leaves.
Kristian Devereaux: What is it?
Jeszika Gautier: I'm not sure.
She frowns.
Jeszika Gautier: After the last package I got... I'm not sure I wanna know...
Bethany Kenyon: Does it have a note on the outside?
Jeszika nods.
Jeszika Gautier: It does.
Jeszika opens the note, and almost immediately drops the whole thing.
Kristian Devereaux: What is it?
Bethany walks over to her, frowning worriedly.
Bethany Kenyon: Jez?
Jeszika nods.
Jeszika Gautier: It’s him...
Bethany instinctively hugs Jeszika.
Bethany Kenyon: Oh, Honey...
Kristian comes walking over as well.
Kristian Devereaux: Makes you really look forward to Valentine's Day now, doesn't it?
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah... not...
Bethany looks down at the spilled delivery and pats her friend on the shoulder.
Bethany Kenyon: Are you... gonna want me to just go now?
Jeszika just stares at the floor and what’s left of the package.
Jeszika Gautier: I... I don't know, part of me wants to stay here, to help protect Carrie. Stay here with Kris can help keep me safe... but...
She sighs, steeling herself.
Jeszika Gautier: Fuck him... lets go!
Bethany nods slowly, looking as motherly as she possibly can without even trying to do so consciously.
Bethany Kenyon: You're sure?
Jeszika nods
Jeszika Gautier: I can't let this man rule my life.
Bethany nods, then turns to Kristian.
Bethany Kenyon: You coming too?
Kristian nods.
Kristian Devereaux: This is family, right?
Bethany smiles at him.
Bethany Kenyon: Yes, yes she is.
Jeszika Gautier: My car or yours, B?
Bethany shrugs.
Bethany Kenyon: Mine’s got more room, yours goes faster…
Jeszika grins and Bethany can already see where this is going.
Jeszika Gautier: I don't mind getting cozy.
Kristian and Bethany nod and they follow Jeszika to the garage. A few seconds later, the garage door lifts up and Jeszika’s Camaro roars down her driveway, allowing them to peel out down the road.
A few hours later, Bethany sits at her laptop, Brody Montgomery lying behind her on her couch asleep with the television showing a life performance of Metallica from 1989 further behind him. The laptop sits on what would pass for a dining room table or a work desk if bethany actually had need of such things. Truth be told, it’s just a table that sits here waiting to be used for a thousand different things when people come over. Bethany glances back at Brody and nods as the webcam turns on.
Bethany Kenyon: Mixed emotions…
She nods and turns back to the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: That’s what I feel all the time about damn near everyone and everything that I know.
Allowing her head to droop slightly, Bethany even snickers at herself. She looks up and shrugs as if she can hear criticism already.
Bethany Kenyon: Big shock, right? Bethany Kenyon is gonna sit here and let her heart bleed out in public…
She pauses, taking a deep breath even as she sighs with apparent melancholy written all over her.
Bethany Kenyon: Again…
Managing a defiant smile, Bethany looks back up into the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: If you don’t like it, then turn this off right now because it’s who I am and I’m not changing anytime soon. I am who I am and that’s just it is.
A groaning sound comes from the couch and she quickly glances back. As her gaze meets the couch, she sees Brody roll over so that he’s now facing the back of the couch instead of the television.
Bethany Kenyon: And there lies Exhibit A…
She slowly turns back to face the camera, hoping Brody won’t wake up any time soon.
Bethany Kenyon: I love seeing him there just like I’m sure Talon and Sentinel can say similar things about each other like that. Being able to see your love having a moment’s peace in the middle of all the chaos swirling around…
Trailing off, Bethany pauses to glance back at Brody again.
Bethany Kenyon: But, much like you had to I’d imagine, I have to watch and wonder… and worry that the next time he wakes up, it’ll be because the pain overwhelmed him or his mind couldn’t take what all has happened to him and he’ll be in an agony I have no idea how to even begin to help him with.
She sighs and turns back to the camera again.
Bethany Kenyon: When I look at this match, I have mixed feelings in almost the same way. On the one hand, I’m excited to get in there with somebody who’s not trying to kill me just because they can, somebody who has no ill motives and if something bad happens, hey, it was nothing personal.
She shrugs knowingly.
Bethany Kenyon: I mean, shit happens, right?
Glancing down, Bethany can’t help but feel a little ashamed.
Bethany Kenyon: But I also have to admit, I’m scared.
She glances up with a small knowing, wry, smile that shows she’s really not happy at all about it.
Bethany Kenyon: Yeah, I know, we’re not supposed to admit things like that, but why lie when if I try to say Sentinel doesn’t scare me, you’ll all call me on it in a second anyway?
Nodding, she looks dead into the camera as if her life depends on it.
Bethany Kenyon: So, yeah, I’m scared because I know, Sentinel is three times my size, God knows how much stronger and hits like a freight train on steroids doing a thousand miles an hour and that’s just when he’s practicing on dummies that won’t hit back. And on top of that, now he’s pissed and looking for an outlet for that pent-up aggression and I get to be the lucky one to stand across from him and invite him to do whatever he feels like at the time in the name of competition. He might not hate me right now but he will when the bell rings and he’ll stay that way until it rings again and I know there is a distinct possibility that there will be nothing I can do about it…
Another groan from the couch area causes bethany to look back for a second before turning her attention right back to the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: If that wasn’t enough, I also know Joshua McBride and his band of merry misfits AND Aerynn and HER band of whatever you wanna call Gealtachta could all show up at any second and decide we need to be made examples of because…
She shrugs knowing no real answer is going to be forthcoming.
Bethany Kenyon: That just hasn’t happened enough and apparently their point just hasn’t been made yet and there is a part of me that almost hopes they do just so I can fight next to you instead of against you… but any time I catch myself thinking that, I immediately feel ashamed because I should be above that! I should welcome the chance to get in the ring with you and yet I can’t help…
Struggling, she bites her lip and looks down.
Bethany Kenyon: Earlier today I saw a good friend of mine drunk out of her mind and loaded out of her gourd on cocaine because she was as scared of somebody as I am of you and I had to ask myself, who am I to tell her she shouldn’t be doing that if I can’t make myself stand up on my own two feet, look you as close to in the eye as physically possible for me and say, “You’re on, Sentinel, I’ll see you in the ring!” march my happy ass down there and go to war?
Steeling herself, Bethany looks back up into the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: The answer was simple, I was nobody to tell her that. If I couldn’t woman up, face the monster in front of me then I couldn’t tell her a damn thing about facing hers and I will be damned if I let that happen!
She stands up from her chair and nods.
Bethany Kenyon: Sentinel, you are one scary piece of work that is absolutely one of the best, if not THE best, in UWA, championship belt or no and I’m not letting anything some creepy as stalker, Joshua McBride, Aerynn Donnelly, or even what her boys did to us last week when they cost us our championships stop me from getting in that ring and doing everything I can possibly do to keep you from making me just another body lying on the side of the road on your way to the top! So hit me with whatever you got, hit me with whatever you can and I’ll see what I can hit you with and we’ll see which of us deserves to be called the best! World Title match waiting for me or not, if I can’t get past you, it doesn’t matter what’s waiting for me later.
She nods, squeezing her hand into a fist.
Bethany Kenyon: I wanna see the big dog’s teeth because if I can live through that, I can live through anything!
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