Post by Adrien | Adam on Jan 4, 2018 3:17:58 GMT -5
(The following characters were written by their respective handlers: Kenzie Rydell, Jazmyn Rain, and Adam Sanders)
Date: December 30th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
The first night is always the hardest. Adrien Cochrane arrived at his home late Friday night and for the first time in over a year, he arrived there alone. This was due to the events that took place shortly before the wedding of Robbie and Candice Rayder when he and Stacy Sterling decided to go their separate ways after the wedding. The plane ride home was hard, sure. But Adrien was used to traveling alone at this point. The difference was what happened when he opened the gate to his home and he was greeted the moment he left his car. The moment he stepped out of his car the night before, it was eerie to him how quiet everything was. To open his door, see all the lights off in his home, the echo of his keys dropping in the glass bowl near the entrance bouncing off the walls of the corridor ahead of him. The only sound that he heard throughout the entire night as he was trying to get as much sleep as he could was the sound of his own breathing and heart beating.
The next morning, Adrien rolls out of his bed, looking over his shoulder. But the other side of the bed was empty. Adrien rubs his temples before his hands eventually start sliding through his own hair.
Adrien: “Well, I made it through the first night.”
He puts on the first shirt he can reach for in his closet before he steps out of his bedroom and starts walking down the stairs. He’s thankful he didn’t put shoes on this time to hear the booming reverberation of his footsteps going down the stairs like he heard going up the stairs. Any sort of sound that reminds him of just how empty and lonely his home is when it is only him, he wants the sound completely eradicated.
He walks into the kitchen, flipping the switch to turn on his electric kettle as he grabs his mug from off the counter, placing a tea bag in it and a small dose of honey. The moment it started boiling, he fills the mug with the water from the kettle. It was at that moment that he could hear the faint sound of his gates opening in the front of his home.
Adrien: “Who the heck…?”
Adrien left his phone upstairs in his room so he had no choice but to see who this visitor was the old-fashioned way. The moment he opens his front door, Kenzie Rydell wraps her arms around the three-time World Heavyweight Champion and pulls him close.
Kenzie Rydell: “Are you okay?!”
It takes Adrien a moment to realize who’s arms were around him.
Adrien: “Kenzie? What the heck are you doing here?”
Adrien was genuinely surprised. Kenzie just fought in an hour-long Iron Woman match almost twelve hours ago. Regardless, she was here to see her mentor, probably after hearing the big news yesterday when she was about to hit the ring. Dropping her arms to her side, Kenzie released the hug before softly speaking up again.
Kenzie: “I just heard about what happened and I thought maybe I should check up on you? That’s not overstepping my boundaries, is it?”
Adrien: “You’re not. Yeah, after Cass made it public, I figured it was only a matter of time before you or someone else showed up on my doorstep. And here you are.”
Adrien sighs as he notices the slight limp on the left foot of his young protege as she breaks off the hug between the mentor and protege. Adrien opens the front door a bit more to let Kenzie in the house as he addresses the limp.
Adrien: “You look like you shouldn’t be putting any weight on that foot of yours. Come inside. I’ve still got...well...her crutches from when she broke her foot if you need them.”
Kenzie nods and follows The Dropkick King into the Chalmette home with a certain familiarity that comes with living in one of the spare bedrooms for a few months. Her fingertips trail across the couch as she walks past it, looping around to sit on the furniture with a worried expression.
Kenzie: “My ankle’s not that bad. Really. What matters most is you right now, okay? What matters most is how you’re dealing with all this.”
Adrien raises an eyebrow at Kenzie at her response.
Adrien: “I mean, I recall two years ago when you were in this exact room after getting a concussion from Ash…”
Kenzie: “We’re not talking about that right now, okay?!
Kenzie snaps back at Adrien until she takes a deep breath to calm herself down. Adrien steps into the kitchen briefly to grab his cup of tea that he was preparing prior to her arrival. He reenters the living room, having given Kenzie a few seconds to regather her thoughts.
Adrien: “Alright, fine. Ask your questions.”
Kenzie: “... Do you need anything? Is there anything that I can do that might be able to help?”
Adrien slowly takes a seat before sipping on his hot cup of earl grey.
Adrien: “I’m not really sure what can be done. Honestly. I mean, if you have any ideas, I’d be open to hear you out.”
Kenzie: “Well, I know when I broke up with Adam, spending time with friends and family helped me. I mean, spending your time sulking isn’t going to lead to anything good, right?”
She pauses and thinks for a moment.
Kenzie: “Not that it’s any of my business what you decide to do with your free time, I mean.”
Adrien takes a deep breath, setting his mug on the coffee table.
Adrien: “Well, I mean, we still did that wedding even though the break up happened earlier in the day. We didn’t tell anyone there that we weren’t together. In fact, I almost made it home without anyone finding out about it.”
With a sigh, Kenzie glances down at the black Nirvana mug filled with tea.
Kenzie: “How come you wanted to keep it such a secret? You weren’t… embarrassed, were you?”
Adrien: “I didn’t want Robbie and Candice to remember the biggest day of their lives as the day that their best friends were no longer dating one another. I don’t know, I’m not exactly the type to publicize my personal business a whole lot. Think about how long it took me to even tell people me and Stacy were dating.”
Kenzie: “You know people were bound to find out eventually. I’m not saying it was right for someone else to reveal what you wanted to reveal when you were good and ready but I’m just saying…”
Adrien: “It is what it is. I knew that if Cass found out, she was reporting it. I might as well have handed a statement to TMZ at that point. I’m not sure how Cass found out, but it’s in her nature to do that. I’m not too worried about it. It’s out there, people know, facts are facts. Not like it was some sort of made up fiction. There’s nothing I could have done about it. No sense in worrying about it.”
Adrien picks up the mug and takes another slow sip.
Kenzie: “I suppose you’re right.”
Adrien nods his head, wanting to make sure he shifts as much blame off Cass Baumer as he could. While he didn’t like that everyone found out from her tweet, it was almost as if he expected her to do so the moment she found out. When people act as you expect them to, it’s harder to be angry about it. Plus, he was too busy dealing with other emotions of his to worry about being angry at a reporter who didn’t say anything false, to begin with.
Kenzie: “My suggestion... and you don’t have to take my advice whatsoever… is you shouldn’t have to feel like you need to isolate yourself to feel better after something like this. You’ve got friends and family who care about you deeply. You got people from all over the globe worried about you. You’ve got other outlets like music and wrestling to pour your emotion into and that might be the trick to making everything okay again. ... Right?”
Adrien takes a deep breath before another sip of his tea. He sets the mug down once more and looks at Kenzie once more.
Adrien: “Everyone handles things differently. Everyone has their own little way of coping with things. Yeah, maybe you are right about being alone with my thoughts not exactly being an ideal coping mechanism. Perhaps you’re right about music and wrestling and friends and family. Believe me, not too long from now, Alexis or Eddie or both are gonna barge through that door. I’ve probably got at least ten text messages on my phone upstairs which I don’t want to read. Because the moment I do...it becomes real. It’s why I haven’t been on Twitter a whole lot. Like, in my mind, it didn’t happen until I really accept that it did. And I don’t know...I’m holding out hope a little bit that I’m going to open my eyes and be right back in that hotel room before the wedding before we ended up having that talk that determined we were moving on and going our separate ways.”
Kenzie tried to search for the right words.
Kenzie: “I just wanted you to know that if there’s anything you need… Whether it’s to vent or you just need to let it out or you even need a shoulder to cry on… I’m here. I’m a phone call away and I can show up within a few hours notice."
She spoke genuinely to the man who trained her in the past.
Kenzie: “Just remember that, okay? Remember you’re not alone in this.”
Adrien: “I know. I appreciate it. I really do, Kenzie.”
Adrien’s shoulders tense up a little bit as he thinks about all of the lonely thoughts that had been rushing through his head the past twenty-four hours. He sucks on his lower lip before nodding his head.
Adrien: “I guess I’m just still in the first stage of the stages of grief. You know, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance…”
Kenzie: “Just be careful when you get to the anger phase. I don’t wanna hear about a shirtless musician running around, destroying things in the New Orleans area on the news!”
Adrien: “No, that’s Iggy Pop’s schtick.”
Kenzie laughs, smiling at the fact that Adrien seems a little happier, even if it was probably only on the surface.
Kenzie: “Remember. Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
Adrien: “Cliches? Really, Kenzie? Actually, no, that’s totally up your alley. Forget I said anything.”
Kenzie: “I just like inspirational quotes, okay?! They help me.”
Adrien glances over at a #Believe shirt that’s hanging over one of the chairs in the kitchen.
Adrien: “Yeah, I don’t really think I have room to talk about inspirational quotes, do I?”
Kenzie: “Not at all.”
She grins wide. She tries to stand up on her sore ankle and attempts to walk over to hug Adrien once more.
Adrien: “I really do suggest keeping as little weight on that ankle of yours as possible.”
The Dropkick King still returns the hug though.
Adrien: “Yeah, yeah, I love you too and all.”
There is a smile from The Dropkick King. But the hug was interrupted by the front door opening once more. Adrien’s back was turned to the door, but Kenzie got a good look at the visitor who was entering Adrien’s house.
Kenzie: “Adam?!”
Adam: “Kenzie?! Wha...what are you doing here?”
Adrien Cochrane turns around and sees West Coast Genesis wrestler and ex-boyfriend of Kenzie, Adam Sanders, standing at the entrance of the house.
Adrien: “Adam? I didn’t think you were coming.”
The rest of this scene can be found right here
Date: January 3rd, 2018
Cameras: OFF
Just before sunset, fellow Guardians member Jazmyn Rain approaches Adrien Cochrane’s house after having spent some time in Hawaii. While things are going well for her at the moment, she knows that things have been quite difficult for the Guardians lately due to events on the recent episode of Dissension along with the group losing a member. Jazmyn gets close to the door, but before she can be within knocking distance, she pauses, hearing a noise in the distance.
Jazmyn: “What’s that song? Oh…”
Jazmyn raises her eyebrows recognizing Adrien’s singing voice and she follows the singing until she sees him trimming the hedges at the side of his house. She’s feeling a bit awkward as she doesn’t know what to do in the moment, but she ultimately decides to approach him.
Jazmyn: “I’m not… interrupting anything am I?”
It takes a second for Adrien to notice Jazmyn was even there. Eventually, she registers on his peripheral vision and takes out the earbuds that were playing the Death Cab for Cutie song he was screaming the lyrics to for all to hear.
Adrien: “Oh...Jazmyn...sorry, I didn’t realize you were coming…”
He places the shears back on the cold grass and shuts off the music playing in his ears.
Adrien: “Sorry, I wasn’t expecting company today. Yeah, come inside. It’s quite chilly out today…”
Jazmyn: “You can say that again. It’s obviously a far cry from Hawaii.”
Adrien: “Believe me, it’s usually warmer here. Temperatures in the thirties are not that commonplace here. It’s warmer inside. Here…
Adrien quickly opens the front door with Rain following him. Going from thirty-five outside to seventy-two degrees inside the house was a quick change for both of them. Adrien begins to take off his coat and place it on the hook.
Adrien: “Need me to get that for you?”
Jazmyn: “Yeah… thank you…”
Jazmyn takes a second to remove her coat, handing it off to Adrien so he can put it on a hook adjacent to where he just put his.
Jazmyn: “So… you may already know why I decided to drop in so randomly…”
Adrien: “Well, lost matches at Dissension, losing Honey in the Guardians, or my very public break-up...I’m going to assume it’s one of the three…”
Adrien tries not to sound too negative by putting a positive tone to his sentence, but it was definitely forced.
Jazmyn: “You’re in the ballpark, more two and three though. We can always bounce back from our losses especially those we had to cope with at Dissension, but the latter two?”
Jazmyn pauses and sighs.
Jazmyn: “Gosh, talk about a can of worms and a can of rotten corn. I admit I felt kind of awful knowing that while I was having a great New Year’s, you and Jess weren’t doing as well.”
Adrien knows something Jazmyn doesn’t. But he certainly was going to be the one to tell her.
Adrien: “Jessica is doing better than you probably suspect. She’s got a strong support group, even outside the Guardians. She’ll be okay.”
Jazmyn nods, acknowledging the words she just heard.
Jazmyn: “Good to hear. But still, I understand you’re going through so much with the Stacy ordeal and all, and we’re all definitely feeling the loss of Honey. Such a shame with her… Honey, I mean. One day she’s with us all, the next she’s gone. But even she seems okay and at the end of the day, we’re going to grow stronger from this. I don’t know how, but we will. You on the other hand…”
Jazmyn pauses, expressing a pout on her face that indicates concern.
Jazmyn: “...you’ve taken it in the chin harder than all of us lately. How have you held up?”
Adrien sighs a little bit as he reaches for a beverage in his refrigerator. He turns back to his friend with the fridge still open.
Adrien: “Want anything to drink?”
Jazmyn: “I’m alright. Thanks.”
Adrien shrugs his shoulders as he twists open the cap to a BodyArmor drink.
Adrien: “I’m taking everything day by day. I was so lost in the thoughts of my break up with Stacy that I just felt like I was already too stunned to react to Honey’s release. It was literally hours apart, you know? It still...doesn’t quite feel real to me. I think it probably won’t until I walk into...what venue in Cleveland are we even wrestling in again…?”
Jazmyn: “The Quicken Loans Arena… gosh, I can tell it’s clouded your mind. This is where I’m worried. You just said it. It won’t feel real until you walk into that building. But when it DOES feel real, then what? How bad will it hurt? I’m worried that it’ll hurt so much that it might even cost you your I Quit match and lord knows that disrespectful little brat needs to be taught a lesson!”
Adrien: “Well, I’ve spent less time worrying about what I’m watching on Netflix with Stacy on Thursday nights and watching the matches where Melina was able to beat Julianna a bit more attentively. More time in the gym without Stacy texting me she misses me and wants me to come home and be super with her.”
Jazmyn: “That does sound good, but how ready are you to face this when you get there? It’s one thing to prepare, it’s another thing to experience. I don’t have much doubt that you’ll be able to pull through all of this soon enough. This is your first wrestling match since the break up after all.”
Adrien glances back at the wall where a picture of him wearing the PCW World Heavyweight Championship belt around his waist about six years ago. He remembers what happened in the days leading up to it as well.
Adrien: “I can win a match after a break-up. I have before. I can separate what’s going on in the ring and what’s going on inside my personal life.”
The Dropkick King tries to sound as confident as he can as he tries to reassure Jazmyn that he was going to be fine in terms of his focus on a very important match to him.
Adrien: “I need to win this match for the two Guardians we have lost. The Young Cubs deserve that.”
Jazmyn: “I agree, they do and when it’s all said and done, they’ll have that. Are you sure, like REALLY sure? I’m torn myself. I want to believe you, trust me on that. There’s a part of me that does and that thinks maybe I’m worrying too much, but there’s another part that for whatever reason, believes that there’s something you’re not telling me. It’s just this weird vibe. Maybe I’m wrong and I’m worrying too much about you?”
Adrien takes a gulp of the tropical punch flavored sports drink before placing the bottle back on the counter.
Adrien: “I mean, I don’t think there’s anyway I can prove that to you until I step into the ring with Julianna...am I right?”
Jazmyn: “I suppose you have a point there…”
Jazmyn takes a brief pause, trying to sort through her thoughts.
Jazmyn: “But the fact that you were singing ‘Black Sun’ by Death Cab for Cutie when I got here tells me a completely different story than what you’ve been telling me. Does it not? Do you see why I’m concerned despite you trying to reassure me that things will be okay?”
Adrien looks into Rain’s eyes. There was pain in Adrien’s icy blue eyes, yes. But he was not blinking as he replies to his friend and ally.
Adrien: “I didn’t say there was nothing wrong. I’m just saying it won’t affect my in-ring performance.”
Jazmyn: “It still wouldn’t hurt to talk about what’s wrong, though, yeah… I know what is wrong.”
Adrien: “I figured it was self-explanatory…”
Jazmyn: “Look, I’ve been around long enough. I’ve had my fair share of breakups and heartbreaks. Someone I had feelings for even played a role in having my GCW Global Championship taken from me and before that, I’ve been cheated on…”
Jazmyn takes a somewhat dramatic pause.
Jazmyn: “...twice…in fact… Sure, that’s not exactly what happened with you and Stacy, I admit that. It wasn’t a ‘betrayal’ sort of break up from what I know between you two. But I do have a story about the guy that cost me the title so long ago. It took me so long to get over him. It affected my psyche for a while. For a couple of months, it made something I love doing, this sport, such a pain to deal with because every time I stepped in that ring during that time, I kept being reminded of him and what he did to me. You can say it won’t affect you in the ring, and it may be true, but there’s a cloud floating over you for a while until you come to grips with what happened. Once I dealt with my situation head on… and in the ring in fact... I was able to do that. You’ve got to come to grips with the pain as soon as you can. I know it’s incredibly difficult at first, but WE...Josh, Jess, and I… need you to do so! So whatever you’re feeling right now, don’t run from it. Fight it! I know you can! Julianna will be nothing in comparison. I don’t want to ramble too much. I hope you know where I’m getting at.”
Adrien listens to Jazmyn’s rambling, as much as she tried not to get into rambling territory. But he sees that there is an earnest concern for Adrien in her words. He nods his head a bit, knowing that she’s coming from a place from her own personal experience. But Adrien has had some personal experience as well.
Adrien: “I’m not sure if you know Kenzie Rydell. She is one of the two students I have running around the wrestling world. The other one being Adam, who I know you know. Anyway, she was here a couple of days ago. And I told her the same thing I’m going to tell you. Everyone handles grief differently. We all have our coping mechanisms. We all react differently to different things. It’s all case by case. Circumstances on what happened to alter how each and every story ends.”
Jazmyn nods, understanding completely.
Jazmyn: “You’re right about that. Thanks for the brief refresher course on something I learned during my college days!”
Jazmyn laughs, lightening the mood somewhat.
Jazmyn: “I know however you’ll cope will do you well.”
Adrien: “I didn’t say that. I locked myself in a cabin in a wooded area after my last break up until Eddie and Kenzie had to track me down and drag me back home. Then again, I also lost my dad and #FSociety title within a few days of each other so that might have had an impact on that reaction.”
Jazmyn: “Oh… well…”
Jazmyn sorts through the words she just heard for a brief moment.
Jazmyn: “Just know this. It won’t have to get to that point this time around, obviously, but we’re always going to be there for you. If you need any, or heck, even all of us, you know where to find us. We’re all going to be there, in Cleveland, fighting for each other. We’ll help you cope with this, I promise! If there’s anything I can do, you know I’m here! Just remember that you are not alone in this!”
He nods his head once more.
Adrien: “I know. I know. And I thank you for that. Josh and Jessica too, even though they aren’t here right now. I know the four of us can depend on one another through whatever madness our lives drag us through. And oh my, there is a lot of madness going on in our lives, ain’t that for sure…”
Jazmyn: “You don’t need to say that twice.”
Adrien: “I appreciate you coming all the way down here to check on me. I know I’m a bit out of the way for you to do such a visit. Literally the opposite direction from Cleveland, in fact…”
Jazmyn: “It’s alright! Really! I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page because we’re going to have to be just like we were at Warfare recently to sort through this madness.”
Adrien: “I believe in the team. You’re going to win against Jack Tillman and take that championship from him. Jessica is going to Aurora and Alex just what she’s made of. Josh is going to teach Damon exactly why he was a champion not too long ago. And I’m going to make a very shrill witch scream the words ‘I quit’ as loud as she screams all those insults at the four...or I guess six if you want to count what she said to Alechs and Honey...of us. We’re going to get through this.”
Those were are music to Jazmyn’s ears as she cracks a smile.
Jazmyn: “Darn right we will!”
Adrien: “And I will promise you this, Jazmyn. No amount of personal tragedy will prevent me from making someone who deserves to be put in a position where she has to scream those words. I will do whatever it takes to silence Julianna DiMaria.”
Jazmyn: “Good! And you know I’ll do whatever I need to do in order to pry that Five Lakes title out of Jack Tillman’s hands. That one won’t be just for me either, that will be for Josh also for the way the bastard cheated him out of the title months ago!”
Adrien: “I believe in you.”
At this point, he doesn’t even need to point at a #Believe shirt to make his point. It’s become a bit, albeit a lame bit. But endearing to the other Guardians, nonetheless.
Jazmyn: “Thank you, and the feeling is mutual the other way, of course!”
Cochrane thinks back to the earlier topic. He sighs a little bit.
Adrien: “I think the biggest problem is that I’m now living all by myself in this four bedroom house on fifteen acres of land with a music building and a practice ring in another little building out in the back…”
Jazmyn: “Well, if it helps any, I don’t mind staying the night tonight and doing some work in that practice ring tomorrow!”
Adrien nods that head.
Adrien: “I think that will help a lot. I’ll get the downstairs guest room ready for you. I think me not being alone right now is a good idea right now…”
Jazmyn: “No worries, for the moment, I’m here.”
Jazmyn smiles, reassuring the positivity of the current moment. Adrien seems a bit more relaxed at the moment.
Adrien: “Thank you. I have gumbo that I cooked last night and...let’s just say Louisianians can’t make a small pot of gumbo. It’s physically impossible…”
Jazmyn: “Perfect. I was starting to feel hungry in fact!”
Adrien: “I’ll get it warmed up on the cooktop. I can have rice made in just a few minutes too. I might send some of this home with you since I have so much of it…”
Jazmyn: “It all sounds good! Let’s get to eating, shall we?”
Adrien removes a large pot from his refrigerator and places it on the gas cooktop on his island. He ignites the burner underneath it.
Adrien: “I mean, it’s gonna take a minute…”
We're falling faster than we can fly
Forgotten seconds out on Sunset Drive
And I hold on tight
But not enough to hold you back
It feels like the moon
Is spinning off into outer space without you
This room is such a lonely place without you
I wish that we could save today
But I know we can't stay the same
And I keep pushing you away
Don't wait for me
Don't wait for me
Home is such a lonely place without you
Home is such a lonely place
Date: December 30th, 2017
Cameras: OFF
The first night is always the hardest. Adrien Cochrane arrived at his home late Friday night and for the first time in over a year, he arrived there alone. This was due to the events that took place shortly before the wedding of Robbie and Candice Rayder when he and Stacy Sterling decided to go their separate ways after the wedding. The plane ride home was hard, sure. But Adrien was used to traveling alone at this point. The difference was what happened when he opened the gate to his home and he was greeted the moment he left his car. The moment he stepped out of his car the night before, it was eerie to him how quiet everything was. To open his door, see all the lights off in his home, the echo of his keys dropping in the glass bowl near the entrance bouncing off the walls of the corridor ahead of him. The only sound that he heard throughout the entire night as he was trying to get as much sleep as he could was the sound of his own breathing and heart beating.
The next morning, Adrien rolls out of his bed, looking over his shoulder. But the other side of the bed was empty. Adrien rubs his temples before his hands eventually start sliding through his own hair.
Adrien: “Well, I made it through the first night.”
He puts on the first shirt he can reach for in his closet before he steps out of his bedroom and starts walking down the stairs. He’s thankful he didn’t put shoes on this time to hear the booming reverberation of his footsteps going down the stairs like he heard going up the stairs. Any sort of sound that reminds him of just how empty and lonely his home is when it is only him, he wants the sound completely eradicated.
He walks into the kitchen, flipping the switch to turn on his electric kettle as he grabs his mug from off the counter, placing a tea bag in it and a small dose of honey. The moment it started boiling, he fills the mug with the water from the kettle. It was at that moment that he could hear the faint sound of his gates opening in the front of his home.
Adrien: “Who the heck…?”
Adrien left his phone upstairs in his room so he had no choice but to see who this visitor was the old-fashioned way. The moment he opens his front door, Kenzie Rydell wraps her arms around the three-time World Heavyweight Champion and pulls him close.
Kenzie Rydell: “Are you okay?!”
It takes Adrien a moment to realize who’s arms were around him.
Adrien: “Kenzie? What the heck are you doing here?”
Adrien was genuinely surprised. Kenzie just fought in an hour-long Iron Woman match almost twelve hours ago. Regardless, she was here to see her mentor, probably after hearing the big news yesterday when she was about to hit the ring. Dropping her arms to her side, Kenzie released the hug before softly speaking up again.
Kenzie: “I just heard about what happened and I thought maybe I should check up on you? That’s not overstepping my boundaries, is it?”
Adrien: “You’re not. Yeah, after Cass made it public, I figured it was only a matter of time before you or someone else showed up on my doorstep. And here you are.”
Adrien sighs as he notices the slight limp on the left foot of his young protege as she breaks off the hug between the mentor and protege. Adrien opens the front door a bit more to let Kenzie in the house as he addresses the limp.
Adrien: “You look like you shouldn’t be putting any weight on that foot of yours. Come inside. I’ve still got...well...her crutches from when she broke her foot if you need them.”
Kenzie nods and follows The Dropkick King into the Chalmette home with a certain familiarity that comes with living in one of the spare bedrooms for a few months. Her fingertips trail across the couch as she walks past it, looping around to sit on the furniture with a worried expression.
Kenzie: “My ankle’s not that bad. Really. What matters most is you right now, okay? What matters most is how you’re dealing with all this.”
Adrien raises an eyebrow at Kenzie at her response.
Adrien: “I mean, I recall two years ago when you were in this exact room after getting a concussion from Ash…”
Kenzie: “We’re not talking about that right now, okay?!
Kenzie snaps back at Adrien until she takes a deep breath to calm herself down. Adrien steps into the kitchen briefly to grab his cup of tea that he was preparing prior to her arrival. He reenters the living room, having given Kenzie a few seconds to regather her thoughts.
Adrien: “Alright, fine. Ask your questions.”
Kenzie: “... Do you need anything? Is there anything that I can do that might be able to help?”
Adrien slowly takes a seat before sipping on his hot cup of earl grey.
Adrien: “I’m not really sure what can be done. Honestly. I mean, if you have any ideas, I’d be open to hear you out.”
Kenzie: “Well, I know when I broke up with Adam, spending time with friends and family helped me. I mean, spending your time sulking isn’t going to lead to anything good, right?”
She pauses and thinks for a moment.
Kenzie: “Not that it’s any of my business what you decide to do with your free time, I mean.”
Adrien takes a deep breath, setting his mug on the coffee table.
Adrien: “Well, I mean, we still did that wedding even though the break up happened earlier in the day. We didn’t tell anyone there that we weren’t together. In fact, I almost made it home without anyone finding out about it.”
With a sigh, Kenzie glances down at the black Nirvana mug filled with tea.
Kenzie: “How come you wanted to keep it such a secret? You weren’t… embarrassed, were you?”
Adrien: “I didn’t want Robbie and Candice to remember the biggest day of their lives as the day that their best friends were no longer dating one another. I don’t know, I’m not exactly the type to publicize my personal business a whole lot. Think about how long it took me to even tell people me and Stacy were dating.”
Kenzie: “You know people were bound to find out eventually. I’m not saying it was right for someone else to reveal what you wanted to reveal when you were good and ready but I’m just saying…”
Adrien: “It is what it is. I knew that if Cass found out, she was reporting it. I might as well have handed a statement to TMZ at that point. I’m not sure how Cass found out, but it’s in her nature to do that. I’m not too worried about it. It’s out there, people know, facts are facts. Not like it was some sort of made up fiction. There’s nothing I could have done about it. No sense in worrying about it.”
Adrien picks up the mug and takes another slow sip.
Kenzie: “I suppose you’re right.”
Adrien nods his head, wanting to make sure he shifts as much blame off Cass Baumer as he could. While he didn’t like that everyone found out from her tweet, it was almost as if he expected her to do so the moment she found out. When people act as you expect them to, it’s harder to be angry about it. Plus, he was too busy dealing with other emotions of his to worry about being angry at a reporter who didn’t say anything false, to begin with.
Kenzie: “My suggestion... and you don’t have to take my advice whatsoever… is you shouldn’t have to feel like you need to isolate yourself to feel better after something like this. You’ve got friends and family who care about you deeply. You got people from all over the globe worried about you. You’ve got other outlets like music and wrestling to pour your emotion into and that might be the trick to making everything okay again. ... Right?”
Adrien takes a deep breath before another sip of his tea. He sets the mug down once more and looks at Kenzie once more.
Adrien: “Everyone handles things differently. Everyone has their own little way of coping with things. Yeah, maybe you are right about being alone with my thoughts not exactly being an ideal coping mechanism. Perhaps you’re right about music and wrestling and friends and family. Believe me, not too long from now, Alexis or Eddie or both are gonna barge through that door. I’ve probably got at least ten text messages on my phone upstairs which I don’t want to read. Because the moment I do...it becomes real. It’s why I haven’t been on Twitter a whole lot. Like, in my mind, it didn’t happen until I really accept that it did. And I don’t know...I’m holding out hope a little bit that I’m going to open my eyes and be right back in that hotel room before the wedding before we ended up having that talk that determined we were moving on and going our separate ways.”
Kenzie tried to search for the right words.
Kenzie: “I just wanted you to know that if there’s anything you need… Whether it’s to vent or you just need to let it out or you even need a shoulder to cry on… I’m here. I’m a phone call away and I can show up within a few hours notice."
She spoke genuinely to the man who trained her in the past.
Kenzie: “Just remember that, okay? Remember you’re not alone in this.”
Adrien: “I know. I appreciate it. I really do, Kenzie.”
Adrien’s shoulders tense up a little bit as he thinks about all of the lonely thoughts that had been rushing through his head the past twenty-four hours. He sucks on his lower lip before nodding his head.
Adrien: “I guess I’m just still in the first stage of the stages of grief. You know, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance…”
Kenzie: “Just be careful when you get to the anger phase. I don’t wanna hear about a shirtless musician running around, destroying things in the New Orleans area on the news!”
Adrien: “No, that’s Iggy Pop’s schtick.”
Kenzie laughs, smiling at the fact that Adrien seems a little happier, even if it was probably only on the surface.
Kenzie: “Remember. Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
Adrien: “Cliches? Really, Kenzie? Actually, no, that’s totally up your alley. Forget I said anything.”
Kenzie: “I just like inspirational quotes, okay?! They help me.”
Adrien glances over at a #Believe shirt that’s hanging over one of the chairs in the kitchen.
Adrien: “Yeah, I don’t really think I have room to talk about inspirational quotes, do I?”
Kenzie: “Not at all.”
She grins wide. She tries to stand up on her sore ankle and attempts to walk over to hug Adrien once more.
Adrien: “I really do suggest keeping as little weight on that ankle of yours as possible.”
The Dropkick King still returns the hug though.
Adrien: “Yeah, yeah, I love you too and all.”
There is a smile from The Dropkick King. But the hug was interrupted by the front door opening once more. Adrien’s back was turned to the door, but Kenzie got a good look at the visitor who was entering Adrien’s house.
Kenzie: “Adam?!”
Adam: “Kenzie?! Wha...what are you doing here?”
Adrien Cochrane turns around and sees West Coast Genesis wrestler and ex-boyfriend of Kenzie, Adam Sanders, standing at the entrance of the house.
Adrien: “Adam? I didn’t think you were coming.”
The rest of this scene can be found right here
I love the lightning but hate the rain
Tomorrow's frightening but not today
Wish I could slow down time
But not enough to slow you down
I feel like the moon
Is spinning off into outer space without you
The universe an empty place without you
I wish that we could save today
But I know we can't stay the same
And I keep pushing you away
Don't wait for me
Don't wait for me
Home is such a lonely place without you
Home is such a lonely place
Date: January 3rd, 2018
Cameras: OFF
Just before sunset, fellow Guardians member Jazmyn Rain approaches Adrien Cochrane’s house after having spent some time in Hawaii. While things are going well for her at the moment, she knows that things have been quite difficult for the Guardians lately due to events on the recent episode of Dissension along with the group losing a member. Jazmyn gets close to the door, but before she can be within knocking distance, she pauses, hearing a noise in the distance.
Jazmyn: “What’s that song? Oh…”
Jazmyn raises her eyebrows recognizing Adrien’s singing voice and she follows the singing until she sees him trimming the hedges at the side of his house. She’s feeling a bit awkward as she doesn’t know what to do in the moment, but she ultimately decides to approach him.
Jazmyn: “I’m not… interrupting anything am I?”
It takes a second for Adrien to notice Jazmyn was even there. Eventually, she registers on his peripheral vision and takes out the earbuds that were playing the Death Cab for Cutie song he was screaming the lyrics to for all to hear.
Adrien: “Oh...Jazmyn...sorry, I didn’t realize you were coming…”
He places the shears back on the cold grass and shuts off the music playing in his ears.
Adrien: “Sorry, I wasn’t expecting company today. Yeah, come inside. It’s quite chilly out today…”
Jazmyn: “You can say that again. It’s obviously a far cry from Hawaii.”
Adrien: “Believe me, it’s usually warmer here. Temperatures in the thirties are not that commonplace here. It’s warmer inside. Here…
Adrien quickly opens the front door with Rain following him. Going from thirty-five outside to seventy-two degrees inside the house was a quick change for both of them. Adrien begins to take off his coat and place it on the hook.
Adrien: “Need me to get that for you?”
Jazmyn: “Yeah… thank you…”
Jazmyn takes a second to remove her coat, handing it off to Adrien so he can put it on a hook adjacent to where he just put his.
Jazmyn: “So… you may already know why I decided to drop in so randomly…”
Adrien: “Well, lost matches at Dissension, losing Honey in the Guardians, or my very public break-up...I’m going to assume it’s one of the three…”
Adrien tries not to sound too negative by putting a positive tone to his sentence, but it was definitely forced.
Jazmyn: “You’re in the ballpark, more two and three though. We can always bounce back from our losses especially those we had to cope with at Dissension, but the latter two?”
Jazmyn pauses and sighs.
Jazmyn: “Gosh, talk about a can of worms and a can of rotten corn. I admit I felt kind of awful knowing that while I was having a great New Year’s, you and Jess weren’t doing as well.”
Adrien knows something Jazmyn doesn’t. But he certainly was going to be the one to tell her.
Adrien: “Jessica is doing better than you probably suspect. She’s got a strong support group, even outside the Guardians. She’ll be okay.”
Jazmyn nods, acknowledging the words she just heard.
Jazmyn: “Good to hear. But still, I understand you’re going through so much with the Stacy ordeal and all, and we’re all definitely feeling the loss of Honey. Such a shame with her… Honey, I mean. One day she’s with us all, the next she’s gone. But even she seems okay and at the end of the day, we’re going to grow stronger from this. I don’t know how, but we will. You on the other hand…”
Jazmyn pauses, expressing a pout on her face that indicates concern.
Jazmyn: “...you’ve taken it in the chin harder than all of us lately. How have you held up?”
Adrien sighs a little bit as he reaches for a beverage in his refrigerator. He turns back to his friend with the fridge still open.
Adrien: “Want anything to drink?”
Jazmyn: “I’m alright. Thanks.”
Adrien shrugs his shoulders as he twists open the cap to a BodyArmor drink.
Adrien: “I’m taking everything day by day. I was so lost in the thoughts of my break up with Stacy that I just felt like I was already too stunned to react to Honey’s release. It was literally hours apart, you know? It still...doesn’t quite feel real to me. I think it probably won’t until I walk into...what venue in Cleveland are we even wrestling in again…?”
Jazmyn: “The Quicken Loans Arena… gosh, I can tell it’s clouded your mind. This is where I’m worried. You just said it. It won’t feel real until you walk into that building. But when it DOES feel real, then what? How bad will it hurt? I’m worried that it’ll hurt so much that it might even cost you your I Quit match and lord knows that disrespectful little brat needs to be taught a lesson!”
Adrien: “Well, I’ve spent less time worrying about what I’m watching on Netflix with Stacy on Thursday nights and watching the matches where Melina was able to beat Julianna a bit more attentively. More time in the gym without Stacy texting me she misses me and wants me to come home and be super with her.”
Jazmyn: “That does sound good, but how ready are you to face this when you get there? It’s one thing to prepare, it’s another thing to experience. I don’t have much doubt that you’ll be able to pull through all of this soon enough. This is your first wrestling match since the break up after all.”
Adrien glances back at the wall where a picture of him wearing the PCW World Heavyweight Championship belt around his waist about six years ago. He remembers what happened in the days leading up to it as well.
Adrien: “I can win a match after a break-up. I have before. I can separate what’s going on in the ring and what’s going on inside my personal life.”
The Dropkick King tries to sound as confident as he can as he tries to reassure Jazmyn that he was going to be fine in terms of his focus on a very important match to him.
Adrien: “I need to win this match for the two Guardians we have lost. The Young Cubs deserve that.”
Jazmyn: “I agree, they do and when it’s all said and done, they’ll have that. Are you sure, like REALLY sure? I’m torn myself. I want to believe you, trust me on that. There’s a part of me that does and that thinks maybe I’m worrying too much, but there’s another part that for whatever reason, believes that there’s something you’re not telling me. It’s just this weird vibe. Maybe I’m wrong and I’m worrying too much about you?”
Adrien takes a gulp of the tropical punch flavored sports drink before placing the bottle back on the counter.
Adrien: “I mean, I don’t think there’s anyway I can prove that to you until I step into the ring with Julianna...am I right?”
Jazmyn: “I suppose you have a point there…”
Jazmyn takes a brief pause, trying to sort through her thoughts.
Jazmyn: “But the fact that you were singing ‘Black Sun’ by Death Cab for Cutie when I got here tells me a completely different story than what you’ve been telling me. Does it not? Do you see why I’m concerned despite you trying to reassure me that things will be okay?”
Adrien looks into Rain’s eyes. There was pain in Adrien’s icy blue eyes, yes. But he was not blinking as he replies to his friend and ally.
Adrien: “I didn’t say there was nothing wrong. I’m just saying it won’t affect my in-ring performance.”
Jazmyn: “It still wouldn’t hurt to talk about what’s wrong, though, yeah… I know what is wrong.”
Adrien: “I figured it was self-explanatory…”
Jazmyn: “Look, I’ve been around long enough. I’ve had my fair share of breakups and heartbreaks. Someone I had feelings for even played a role in having my GCW Global Championship taken from me and before that, I’ve been cheated on…”
Jazmyn takes a somewhat dramatic pause.
Jazmyn: “...twice…in fact… Sure, that’s not exactly what happened with you and Stacy, I admit that. It wasn’t a ‘betrayal’ sort of break up from what I know between you two. But I do have a story about the guy that cost me the title so long ago. It took me so long to get over him. It affected my psyche for a while. For a couple of months, it made something I love doing, this sport, such a pain to deal with because every time I stepped in that ring during that time, I kept being reminded of him and what he did to me. You can say it won’t affect you in the ring, and it may be true, but there’s a cloud floating over you for a while until you come to grips with what happened. Once I dealt with my situation head on… and in the ring in fact... I was able to do that. You’ve got to come to grips with the pain as soon as you can. I know it’s incredibly difficult at first, but WE...Josh, Jess, and I… need you to do so! So whatever you’re feeling right now, don’t run from it. Fight it! I know you can! Julianna will be nothing in comparison. I don’t want to ramble too much. I hope you know where I’m getting at.”
Adrien listens to Jazmyn’s rambling, as much as she tried not to get into rambling territory. But he sees that there is an earnest concern for Adrien in her words. He nods his head a bit, knowing that she’s coming from a place from her own personal experience. But Adrien has had some personal experience as well.
Adrien: “I’m not sure if you know Kenzie Rydell. She is one of the two students I have running around the wrestling world. The other one being Adam, who I know you know. Anyway, she was here a couple of days ago. And I told her the same thing I’m going to tell you. Everyone handles grief differently. We all have our coping mechanisms. We all react differently to different things. It’s all case by case. Circumstances on what happened to alter how each and every story ends.”
Jazmyn nods, understanding completely.
Jazmyn: “You’re right about that. Thanks for the brief refresher course on something I learned during my college days!”
Jazmyn laughs, lightening the mood somewhat.
Jazmyn: “I know however you’ll cope will do you well.”
Adrien: “I didn’t say that. I locked myself in a cabin in a wooded area after my last break up until Eddie and Kenzie had to track me down and drag me back home. Then again, I also lost my dad and #FSociety title within a few days of each other so that might have had an impact on that reaction.”
Jazmyn: “Oh… well…”
Jazmyn sorts through the words she just heard for a brief moment.
Jazmyn: “Just know this. It won’t have to get to that point this time around, obviously, but we’re always going to be there for you. If you need any, or heck, even all of us, you know where to find us. We’re all going to be there, in Cleveland, fighting for each other. We’ll help you cope with this, I promise! If there’s anything I can do, you know I’m here! Just remember that you are not alone in this!”
He nods his head once more.
Adrien: “I know. I know. And I thank you for that. Josh and Jessica too, even though they aren’t here right now. I know the four of us can depend on one another through whatever madness our lives drag us through. And oh my, there is a lot of madness going on in our lives, ain’t that for sure…”
Jazmyn: “You don’t need to say that twice.”
Adrien: “I appreciate you coming all the way down here to check on me. I know I’m a bit out of the way for you to do such a visit. Literally the opposite direction from Cleveland, in fact…”
Jazmyn: “It’s alright! Really! I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page because we’re going to have to be just like we were at Warfare recently to sort through this madness.”
Adrien: “I believe in the team. You’re going to win against Jack Tillman and take that championship from him. Jessica is going to Aurora and Alex just what she’s made of. Josh is going to teach Damon exactly why he was a champion not too long ago. And I’m going to make a very shrill witch scream the words ‘I quit’ as loud as she screams all those insults at the four...or I guess six if you want to count what she said to Alechs and Honey...of us. We’re going to get through this.”
Those were are music to Jazmyn’s ears as she cracks a smile.
Jazmyn: “Darn right we will!”
Adrien: “And I will promise you this, Jazmyn. No amount of personal tragedy will prevent me from making someone who deserves to be put in a position where she has to scream those words. I will do whatever it takes to silence Julianna DiMaria.”
Jazmyn: “Good! And you know I’ll do whatever I need to do in order to pry that Five Lakes title out of Jack Tillman’s hands. That one won’t be just for me either, that will be for Josh also for the way the bastard cheated him out of the title months ago!”
Adrien: “I believe in you.”
At this point, he doesn’t even need to point at a #Believe shirt to make his point. It’s become a bit, albeit a lame bit. But endearing to the other Guardians, nonetheless.
Jazmyn: “Thank you, and the feeling is mutual the other way, of course!”
Cochrane thinks back to the earlier topic. He sighs a little bit.
Adrien: “I think the biggest problem is that I’m now living all by myself in this four bedroom house on fifteen acres of land with a music building and a practice ring in another little building out in the back…”
Jazmyn: “Well, if it helps any, I don’t mind staying the night tonight and doing some work in that practice ring tomorrow!”
Adrien nods that head.
Adrien: “I think that will help a lot. I’ll get the downstairs guest room ready for you. I think me not being alone right now is a good idea right now…”
Jazmyn: “No worries, for the moment, I’m here.”
Jazmyn smiles, reassuring the positivity of the current moment. Adrien seems a bit more relaxed at the moment.
Adrien: “Thank you. I have gumbo that I cooked last night and...let’s just say Louisianians can’t make a small pot of gumbo. It’s physically impossible…”
Jazmyn: “Perfect. I was starting to feel hungry in fact!”
Adrien: “I’ll get it warmed up on the cooktop. I can have rice made in just a few minutes too. I might send some of this home with you since I have so much of it…”
Jazmyn: “It all sounds good! Let’s get to eating, shall we?”
Adrien removes a large pot from his refrigerator and places it on the gas cooktop on his island. He ignites the burner underneath it.
Adrien: “I mean, it’s gonna take a minute…”
We're falling faster than we can fly
Forgotten seconds out on Sunset Drive
I wish that we could save today
But I know we can't stay the same
And I keep pushing you away
Don't wait for me
Don't wait for me
I wish that we could save today
But I know we can't stay the same
And I keep pushing you away
Don't wait for me
Don't wait for me
Home is such a lonely place without you
Home is such a lonely place
Home is such a lonely place
