Post by Danielle Basch on Dec 2, 2017 18:09:41 GMT -5
East Acacia Avenue
El Segundo, CA
Thursday evening, November 30, 2017
We open on Danni LeBlanc, sitting on the hood of Donovan’s car with a can of Faygo Root Beer in her hand. She lifts it up to her mouth, tilting it all the way back before pulling it away. As she shakes the can, the last drop rattles around against the inside. After a little bit of a pout, Danni hops off of the hood and starts to walk down the street. Off in the distance behind her, the voices of some of the residents can be heard conversing amongst themselves, calling out for people to “hit the lights.” As this call rings out, one by one, the houses along either side of the street blaze to life, lighting up for a brief moment before once again shutting off.
Danni: You know, I talk a lot about remembering where you come from. Not because I like living in the past, but because I have always believed that every step you take along that journey, every twist, every turn, and even every roadblock along the way helps to shape who you are. It’s why you never hear me say that if I could go back and do things differently, then I would. Because the truth of the matter is, I wouldn’t. Everything I’ve done; from the people that I’ve met to the places that I’ve traveled, has led me to this point in my life….
She reaches into the car through the open driver’s side door, emerging with the West Coast Genesis South Bay Championship. She slings it over her shoulder, beaming with pride as she clutches the center plate.
Danni: The South Bay Championship.
This right here is the payoff that has made my five-year career in this sport worth all of the heartache and frustration. This is the end result of everything I’ve worked for. And yet…
Danni gazes off into the distance, as if trying to look ahead into the future. She has a dreamy, yet serious look in her eyes.
Danni: And yet, I know that even now, my journey is FAR from over. Every step I take just gets me one step closer to the next milestone in my life. I could stop here, but then I know that I’d miss out on whatever’s coming just ahead.
She shakes her head.
Danni: No… I HAVE to keep moving forward.
I can’t change what happened at Unscripted two weeks ago. Am I pissed because it ended in a count out? You’re damned right, I am! I would have much rather it had come to a more decisive end, but I can’t dwell on it. I have to push forward. I have to focus on my next match… against you, Austen.
I know more than anyone what it’s like to be in the kind of mood that you’re in. You know this. You push, and you push, and you push, but like a hamster on a wheel, you just don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere, right? It’s enough to make you want to rip your hair out and scream at the top of your lungs.
But instead of dwelling on what you DON’T have, remember what you DO have. I’ve been wrestling for five years now… you’re still just starting on your career. You’ve got your whole career ahead of you. And yeah, in the unpredictable business that is professional wrestling, there’s no telling just how many years we can keep this up. All we can do is keep going, and eventually, everything will work out. Like the old saying goes, it’ll all be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
She smirks as she comes up to a recycling bin sitting on the curb. Seeing that it’s full of aluminum cans, she tosses her own empty can into the bin with the others.
Danni: Yeah, it’s not my bin. But it beats carrying around an empty soda can!
She arches her eyebrow, shrugging her shoulder as she keeps walking. Eventually, she reaches the end of the cul de sac. There, the two houses that stand on either side of the street have their decorations covering their half of the short retaining wall, meeting in the middle in a blend of red and green tinsel. She takes a seat on the retaining wall, letting her legs stretch out in front of her. Crossing her legs at the ankles, she lets out a sigh and continues.
Danni: Seriously, Austen. I know you’re frustrated, but you’re the only one that can pull yourself out of that funk. You can’t judge your own pace by the pace that everyone else is going. For every up, there’s bound to be a few downs. Maybe more than we want, but such is life. All you have to do is just keep pushing forward, past the bad shit, and you WILL make it to the other side.
As for me, yeah, I’ve got the championship, but I won’t be satisfied until I’ve actually proven that I’ve earned this belt. Yeah, I pinned the champion to get it, but my last match ended in a count out, and that’s not good enough for me. But I’m not letting it drag me down. For as long as I hold this belt, I’m going to keep fighting to show the South Bay that they have a worthy champion representing them.
The houses at the end of the cul de sac each light up their holiday displays, illuminating the scene with a brilliant, multi-colored glow. After a moment, and some inaudible conversations among the residents, the houses go dark again, illuminated only by the homes’ porch lights.
Danni: At Hype, you and I will square off in the ring once again. Yet there’s one thing where I’ll have to disagree with in terms of what you said. You said that our match not being for the title takes the pressure off. Not for me, it doesn’t. I can’t afford to half-ass ANY match, title or non-title. No matter the stakes, I have to give it everything I have, or else I don’t deserve to call myself a champion. And it goes without saying that I expect the same out of you.
From up the road, Danni spots the towering frame of her fiancé Donovan standing on the sidewalk, waving at her to come over. She waves back, hopping down from the wall. Before she starts back down the street, she pats the center plate of her championship belt.
Danni: See you in La Jolla, Austen. And remember. There’s only one direction to go… FORWARD!
With a bounce in her step, Danni makes her way down the street as the scene fades to black.