Post by Adrien | Adam on Jun 28, 2018 22:35:30 GMT -5
Please give off camera points to Tasmin Richards, Betsy Granger, and Adrien Cochrane
Date: Monday, June 25th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
Tasmin Richards slowly pulls into the parking lot of the San Diego apartment complex in which a certain co-worker of hers resides. She pulls into a parking spot right next to the green 1999 Chevy Metro, owned by her friend, Adam Sanders. She twists the key to disable the engine to her falling apart lime green Subaru Impreza before stepping out. His car is here so he had to be home, right?
Her long platinum blonde hair was tied up away from her face where a nervous grin shined through with a pink lipstick as her hands fumbled together. She approaches the door and attempts to twist the doorknob, but it’s locked. Adam hasn’t been responsive on his phone either, which is what prompted Tasmin to drive this way in the first place. She decides to call out from the front door while knocking on it.
Tasmin: “ADAM! I KNOW YOU’RE THERE! I CAN HEAR THE MUSIC!”
She presses her ear against the door and can hear the faint sound of his television. His phone begins to ring, but he must have hit the ignore button because it doesn’t ring any more than three seconds. It’s enough proof for Tasmin that he had to be inside.
Tasmin: “Please, I know you're there. I don't want to be standing out here all night, and day, and night again. But if that's what it takes, I'll do it! You know I will!”
Her pleas must have worked because the door unlocks, and the door swings open. After all, he cares way too much about Tasmin to just let her sit out there all day and all night just because he was feeling not himself. Adam Sanders looks a bit disheveled with his brown hair all over the place, his shirt unbuttoned and untucked. He looks like he hasn’t slept since the Tag Team Trials match where Remi attacked Adam after the loss. Tasmin’s jaw dropped as she saw him, her eyes welling up a little. Seeing her reaction to his current state causes Adam’s eyes to widen. He attempts to speak at first but couldn’t when he sees her eyes welling up.
Adam: “I…”
The former Long Beach Champion leads Tasmin inside the apartment. Adam’s phone was clearly visible on the coffee table with five missed calls from Tasmin, five from Adrien, four from Eddie and Jessica a piece, three from Betsy, two from Kenzie, one from Austen, and a text message from Rebecca Saint. He finally gains the composure to speak to the woman who just flew across the country to find him, and waited for him to show up for the past twenty-four hours before she was convinced by Eddie to spend the night in a hotel around the corner.
Adam: “I’m sorry about the mess and...well, the fact that I was trying to build a metaphorical brick wall between me and everyone...”
Tasmin: “Look, I can’t. I mean I don’t. Adam, I don’t want you to think you have to talk to me, but I just have this feeling. I need to be here with you.”
She pauses and smiles lightly trying to ignore the feeling of wanting and needing to hold him. Adam drops into his seat on the couch, running his hands through his messy hair before letting out a bit of a sigh.
Adam: “I know. It’s just...I trusted Remi. And I trusted Izzy. A couple of months ago, they were all I had in that locker room. Now I don’t have either of them and it makes me feel like I can’t trust anyone anymore. How do I know I’m not going to get struck in the face with a chair by you next? When will Adrien and Eddie get sick of dealing with me? When will this get to a point where I really am on my own…”
Adam props his head up with his hands, elbows resting on his knees as he blankly stares forward. He’s clearly exhausted, both physically and emotionally. This whole mess has messed with his head to the point where he is confused with everyone in his life. He didn’t verbally express it but he was even concerned Betsy Granger or Jessica Sears were going to turn their backs on him, but their ties to him weren’t something he’s really discussed with Tasmin yet.
Tasmin: “I don’t think Adrien and Eddie could ever get sick of you. They’re your family. Sometimes, people don’t know how worthy someone is of their time. Remi surprised me. Izzy though….she was never good enough for you, Adam. …I don’t know if I am either…”
Tasmin blushes and smiles, looking away with her hands clasped together. Adam breaks his blank stare into nothing and glances back at Tasmin.
Adam: “You have been nothing short of perfect to me, Tasmin. And I don’t even know what I did to deserve how good you’ve been to me.”
He pulls himself back up from the couch to stand once more. He glances back at his phone and sees all the missed calls from everyone that’s tried to reach out to him. It’s something to try to think as a positive...that he mattered to this many people, but then again, Remi was worried about Adam when the break-up with Izzy happened.
Adam: “I got all these calls from people. They were worried. And then you went the extra mile...you knocked on my door after flying from coast to coast and wouldn’t take no for an answer. How do I know I’m even worthy of you?”
Tasmin: “Honey, I’m just a simple girl from a backwater town in England. I’m nothing too special or perfect. You and I just...clicked. And I see people hurt you and get mad, like really angry…but, I’m not the type to turn my back on someone I care about and have grown to...really, really like...”
Adam turns back to Tasmin. He opens his arms for her. The only thing he wanted right now was a Tasmin hug. While he felt guilty for making her do this, he’s happy she found her way back into his living room.
Adam: “I’m sorry I had to make you come all the way over here just to check on me.”
Tasmin steps forward and squeezes him tight.
Tasmin: “I was coming over anyway. We spend so much time together people think we’re married…”
She laughs nervously and blushes redder than before. Adam squeezes her back and, for the first time since they met, kisses her on the forehead.
Adam: “I mean, it’s getting to that point where people are going to make comments like that. But...I’m glad we’ve been spending all this time together. I wouldn’t trade it for the world…”
Tasmin: “I wouldn’t either. I have never felt this comfortable with someone. Never had feelings for someone to grow like this so fast. I just don’t want to scare you…”
She chuckles and sighs deeply.
Adam: “You’re not scaring me. And trust me, I scare easily. I would have been scared away by now if you were going to.”
He takes a deep breath and says one more thing before breaking their embrace. He looks into her eyes and attempts to make sure he gives her the proper amount of gratitude. His eyes began welling up as much as hers were when she first walked in. But in the end, he can only really allow two words to escape, even though he wanted to say so much more.
Adam: “Thank you.”
Date: Monday, June 25th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
Adam Sanders was no superhuman. Obviously, if he was, he wouldn’t have fell victim to what happened to Remi Fontaine if he had some odd ability to read minds or superhuman abilities that are useful for combat. He’s not super fast, able to move things with his thoughts, or able to control any form of elements. He was just a regular guy. He requires glasses or contacts to be able to read anything far away. He has a hard time speaking in front of large groups of people and sometimes even to random strangers. Even his friends can unintentionally set off his introverted, awkward side. There is a reason he has the Twitter handle he has.
But there was one thing of his that was extremely heightened, and that was his hearing.
“Hmmm?”
He hears a vehicle pulling up to the parking lot of his apartment complex. The direction of it sounds like it’s close to his vehicle. Innocent curiosity makes him slip free from Tasmin Richards, who had fallen asleep shortly after they were reunited. Poor girl hadn’t slept very well while she was away from Adam and the exhaustion set at the moment, her mind was at peace.
He looks over the window and sees the blonde hair of someone he knew very well stepping out of a rental car after parking right next to Adam’s beat-up Chevy Metro. Adam whispers under his breath as to not awaken Tasmin from her much needed slumber.
Adam: “Adrien? Why is he...oh…”
Adam pats his pockets and remembers he has Adrien’s American Express credit card.
Adam: “I would assume he wants this back…”
Wanting to let Tasmin sleep, Adam quietly exits his apartment to meet Adrien Cochrane, the man who trained him in the art of professional wrestling, outside. But what Adam wasn’t expecting is that Adrien had company with him. This person was not the usual blonde female that Adrien typically travels with but instead someone who much stronger ties to Adam than she does to Adrien…
Betsy: “ADAM SANDERS, AS I LIVE AND BREATHE!”
Ignorant to the fact that Tasmin was asleep inside, Betsy rushes past Adrien and playfully tackles her best friend as she greets him in her usual boisterous nature. Both of them fall over and Betsy immediately sits on Adam’s chest and noogies him mercilessly. Even though Adam tries to push her off, Betsy isn’t done punishing him for disappearing after his match. She leans forward and pins his arms down with her legs. A wicked grin crosses her face and she sticks her finger in her mouth before handing out the wettest Willy she could muster.
Betsy: “That’s for getting everyone all up in a fuss. King Drama Awkwardness.”
Finally, she climbs off him and sits Indian legged on the floor in front of him. Adrien Cochrane, who was caught a little off guard by Betsy Granger’s reaction to seeing Adam, chuckles a little bit.
Adrien: “For the record, I didn’t expect her to do that upon seeing you.”
Adam eventually gets back to his feet, dusting off his jeans as soon as he is upright once more.
Adam: “Yeah, this was actually kinda tame compared to some of the things she’s done in the past. I still remember the time I had to replace the doorknob to that very door up there when I only locked my door to keep Kenzie out after the break-up and...well, Betsy didn’t like that.”
He looks down at his best friend, who attempts a look of innocence while sitting on the asphalt of the parking lot.
Adam: “It’s good to see you, Betsy.”
Betsy grins over at Adam, dropping any pretense of innocence. Springing to her feet, she grabs him and pulls him into a big bear hug.
Betsy: “Of course it is. It’s good to see you, runaway.”
While she had him, she smacks him upside the head as Gibbs would do to DiNozzo.
Betsy: “Okay, I’m good now. Next time you run off, pick up your damn phone and at least give us a clue as to where you are. You know I’m always going to hunt you down.”
Adam hesitates a little bit before replying.
Adam: “I’m sorry. It’s just...after seeing Remi do that right after everything that happened to Izzy. I just...I wasn’t sure if I could trust anyone anymore. I was worried that one of these days, one of you two would slam a chair into my skull and…”
He’s cut off by his mentor.
Adrien: “Nonsense.”
Adrien’s tone was more fatherly and stern compared to what most hear from him. The Dropkick King’s blue eyes were darting at Adam’s. It felt as though they were piercing him.
Adrien: “Listen, people are going to change. Yes, you will trust the wrong people at times. It’s going to happen. Remember, I once let CHRIS MARKS live with me and train under me before you came along. And when people show their true colors to you like this, the best thing for you to do is to remember that there are people in your life that you CAN trust. Betsy has known you since you were dozing off to sleep in Algebra II in college, and she had to wake you when you started snoring. I’ve housed you, trained you, and treated you like a member of my family, because you are pretty much one to me. If no one else in your life, Adam...if you trust NO ONE ELSE in your life, it should be me and Betsy.”
Adrien glances at the window to his apartment, knowing who beat them to Adam’s place.
Adrien: “And there will come a point where that list will include the woman who dropped everything to track you down and find you before we could.”
Adam’s head lowers. He knows Adrien is right. He had no reason at all to doubt Betsy or Adrien at all. They were the two who have done the most for him since he met them both.
Adam: “I’m sorry. Both of you…”
Betsy’s face had changed several times during this back and forth between Adam and Adrien. The sunny smile had turned to thunderclouds as Adam admitted to fearing she or Adrien would slam a chair into his head. It cleared up again as Adrien set him straight, but there was still a hard glint in her green eyes. At his apology, Betsy sniffs loudly and throwing her nose up into the air, marched into the apartment uninvited. She opens her mouth to get loud but stops dead in her tracks when she spots Tasmin fast asleep on the couch. She turns as Adam and Adrien appear in the doorway. Pointing towards the outside, she marches right back out and heads towards the little playground set up for the children in the area. The two men exchange a glance and shrug, following the bossy blonde woman.
Betsy: “For one thing… If I was going to attack you, it wouldn’t be with a chair. If I was going to turn my back on you, I would stab you in the chest and look dead into your eyes as the light of life left them.”
Her lower lip comes out in a pout.
Betsy: “For another, you know full damn well, if I’m ever going to give you a reason to not trust me… Oh, who am I kidding? You’re the brother I never had. I would never give you a reason not to trust me. You think I didn’t know where you were when you ran off?”
She glares up at him as she falls ungracefully onto a swing.
Betsy: “I always know how and where to find you. And once again, I didn’t tell a soul. Everyone else found out on their own. I didn’t tell Adrien or Jaime. Nobody. As if I would. Pfft…”
Out of words and deflating like a ball, Betsy glares up at Adam and raspberries at him.
Adam: “I know. I just wasn’t thinking straight. And I figure I know how they did find me…”
Adam reaches into his pocket and pulls out Adrien’s credit card, handing it back to him with a look of guilt on his face.
Adam: “I’ll repay you for the charges, I promise.”
Adrien: “I’m not worried about the charges. I was just worried about you, Adam. Your safety and well-being were more important than a few hundred dollars, and it always will be. Rosalyn couldn’t even find you.”
Adam shakes his head a little bit.
Adam: “I figured Jessica would turn to her. I had to make sure she couldn’t track my phone.”
He looks back up at Betsy, still apologetic in his expression.
Adam: “It’s why my phone was turned off and why I wasn’t answering it.”
Adrien: “We were worried, Adam. Including Jessica and Rosalyn. Eddie too. He was trying to figure out where you went the entire night. And he had everyone yelling at him to find him. Hell, Dean Matthews was even frantic about finding you. Cass Baumer, for Christ's sake, was worried about you!”
Adam glances back at the apartment window again.
Adam: “How bad was it when she couldn’t find me?”
They both knew who he meant by that pronoun. Betsy crosses her arms and starts to swing softly.
Betsy: “She was frantic. I don’t know how much behind Twitter, but she was determined to find you. I’m glad she did…”
She trails off as her thoughts run away from her again. Staring off into space, she begins speaking without thought, something she only did around Adam.
Betsy: “That’s a good girl up there, Adam. You know me, I’m always going to judge the women in your life as if I were your bossy, blood-related big sister. Tasmin… I approve very much, especially after this weekend.”
Her nose scrunches slightly.
Betsy: “I even defended her against Cass the… Nope, I won’t name-call, not this time. I just want you to know that.”
Betsy kicks at the dirt under the swing.
Betsy: “I was curious to see what she would do… She didn’t disappoint. I’ve been watching her, studying, researching… Well, you know how I do. Hang on to this one, yeah?”
Adam nods his head a little bit as the lights around the complex begin to flicker on as the sun began to set.
Adrien: “I know the Richards family isn’t exactly a family filled with good people, but Tasmin is the exception. Kayla and Jaxon, yeah, I just got done fighting them as they were part of the Destroyers. But Tasmin is different and sees you for the good person that you are. And she has proven that she cares a lot about you, even missing her siblings wrestle last night to try to track you down.”
Adrien finally places his wallet back in his pocket after putting the credit card back in its slot.
Adrien: “We’re here for you, no matter what, Adam. You know we will always fly across the country if you need us, such as we did today. Just remember that there are people who care about you, okay?”
Adam nods once more. He sighs after a few nods.
Adam: “I’ll do better to remember that.”
Betsy pauses and stares so hard at Adam, he could probably feel holes burned into his face where her eyes were.
Betsy: “I think it will be best for your health if you remember it. I’m not afraid to knock you around with a heavy book. We can make this just like Algebra class…”
Her tone was finally light as the mischievous gleam returned to her emerald eyes. She rises from the swing and advances on him menacingly. Nothing happens as the best friends stare at one another until Betsy boops him on the nose out of nowhere.
Betsy: “Now! I want to meet this girl face to face, properly. How long has she been asleep? I’m thinking I could wake her up the way I used to do when you’d oversleep in your dorm.”
Adam remembers those days vividly. There was usually a lot of banging on the door and yells of “ADAAAAAAAAMMMM!!!!!” coming from the hallway.
Adam: “She’s been asleep maybe an hour or so. Apparently, she couldn’t sleep at all when she was looking for me, even when Eddie arranged a hotel for her to stay at last night.”
Adrien: “Might have to wait another day, Betsy.”
Adrien looks at Adam’s face and recognizes it: Adam has barely slept since the match as well.
Adrien: “I think everyone here needs to move forward with today and get ready for the day ahead of us tomorrow.”
Sanders realizes that it is almost nighttime now.
Adam: “I promise, you’ll get to meet her soon, Betsy. I know she wants to meet you. And a more formal meeting with you one day, Adrien, that doesn’t involve Kayla Richards wanting to murder you.”
Adrien: “I’m used to being a target for stuff like that. But yeah. One day, we can arrange that.”
Opening her mouth to protest, Betsy starts to object… That is until her stomach rumbles loudly. Slapping her hand over it, she purses her lips and nods.
Betsy: “Oh fine… Take me for food, Adrien. Apparently, I’m hungry.”
Hugging Adam tightly one more time she whispers something for only him.
Betsy: “Love you, kiddo. Next time you want to run off like a jackass, give me a chance to stop you, okay?”
Adam whispers back, giving a weak smile as his best friend hugs him tightly.
Adam: “Love you too, Bets. I’ll try to do that.”
As soon as the hug breaks, Adrien places his hand on Adam’s shoulder. His blue eyes no longer felt like a piercing gaze but more calming than previous.
Adrien: “I’m here if you need anything, okay? You got my phone number, Eddie’s phone number, the gate code to my house, you can hide at my house for all I care if you really need it. Just remember, I will always be in your corner, okay?”
With a quick pat on the shoulder, Adrien turns to the sound of what sounds like “Dropkick Man, I’m hungry” but Adam couldn’t quite make it out that clearly. He watches as Betsy and Adrien get into the rental car and drive off to get themselves something to eat as he walks back into his apartment. He glances down at his couch and sees that Tasmin’s sleep was completely undisturbed by their visit. He smiles a little bit as he gently pulls a stray blonde hair back out of her face, admiring how adorable the twenty-year-old is as she slumbers.
Adam: “I probably haven’t properly said this, Tasmin, to you. And perhaps I will soon when you can actually hear me.”
He speaks with a gentle, hushed voice as though to allow her to keep sleeping.
Adam: “I’m not sure I can really quantify how, but you’ve really changed my life, Tasmin. The past couple of weeks, all the time I spent with you...watching movies, silly little games, cooking for one another even though I’m still learning how to make certain things, and when we go to sleep at night and you’re right there with me...it’s been some of the best moments I can remember…”
He pauses. He slowly blinks as Tasmin keeps sleeping.
Adam: “I hope one day I can make you feel like you’re appreciated. Make sure you realize just how important you are to me because...well...you are, Tasmin. And I just hope you’re in my life a long time.”
Adam bends over and lifts the West Coast Genesis South Bay Champion and begins carrying her. He maneuvers through the apartment, past the kitchen and bathroom until he reaches the solitary bedroom in the apartment. He carefully enters the room, making sure Tasmin’s head misses the doorframe, before placing her in the bed. He pulls the comforter and covers Tasmin with it, repositioning her head on the pillow for her comfort. After all of this movement, Tasmin was still asleep.
Adam: “Good night, Tasmin.”
Adam reaches down and presses his lips against Tasmin’s forehead. Feeling quite tired himself, he starts to walk around to the other side of the bed. He hasn’t really gotten a proper rest since Remi attacked him. He climbs into the bed and pulls the comforter over him as well. As soon as he places his head on the pillow, he feels Tasmin roll in his direction, grabbing him with one arm, yet still sleeping. Her eyes remain closed, but her mouth curves into a little smile. Adam smiles a bit as he sees this and pulls her closer with his arm. He begins to close his eyes as he hears the dreaming Tasmin mumble. It was only a word, but it was a word that gave Adam a huge wave of comfort as he began to drift off himself. The word?
His name.
I've got another confession to make, I'm your fool
Everyone's got their chains to break holdin' you
Were you born to resist or be abused?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Are you gone and onto someone new?
Date: Monday, June 25th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
Tasmin Richards slowly pulls into the parking lot of the San Diego apartment complex in which a certain co-worker of hers resides. She pulls into a parking spot right next to the green 1999 Chevy Metro, owned by her friend, Adam Sanders. She twists the key to disable the engine to her falling apart lime green Subaru Impreza before stepping out. His car is here so he had to be home, right?
Her long platinum blonde hair was tied up away from her face where a nervous grin shined through with a pink lipstick as her hands fumbled together. She approaches the door and attempts to twist the doorknob, but it’s locked. Adam hasn’t been responsive on his phone either, which is what prompted Tasmin to drive this way in the first place. She decides to call out from the front door while knocking on it.
Tasmin: “ADAM! I KNOW YOU’RE THERE! I CAN HEAR THE MUSIC!”
She presses her ear against the door and can hear the faint sound of his television. His phone begins to ring, but he must have hit the ignore button because it doesn’t ring any more than three seconds. It’s enough proof for Tasmin that he had to be inside.
Tasmin: “Please, I know you're there. I don't want to be standing out here all night, and day, and night again. But if that's what it takes, I'll do it! You know I will!”
Her pleas must have worked because the door unlocks, and the door swings open. After all, he cares way too much about Tasmin to just let her sit out there all day and all night just because he was feeling not himself. Adam Sanders looks a bit disheveled with his brown hair all over the place, his shirt unbuttoned and untucked. He looks like he hasn’t slept since the Tag Team Trials match where Remi attacked Adam after the loss. Tasmin’s jaw dropped as she saw him, her eyes welling up a little. Seeing her reaction to his current state causes Adam’s eyes to widen. He attempts to speak at first but couldn’t when he sees her eyes welling up.
Adam: “I…”
The former Long Beach Champion leads Tasmin inside the apartment. Adam’s phone was clearly visible on the coffee table with five missed calls from Tasmin, five from Adrien, four from Eddie and Jessica a piece, three from Betsy, two from Kenzie, one from Austen, and a text message from Rebecca Saint. He finally gains the composure to speak to the woman who just flew across the country to find him, and waited for him to show up for the past twenty-four hours before she was convinced by Eddie to spend the night in a hotel around the corner.
Adam: “I’m sorry about the mess and...well, the fact that I was trying to build a metaphorical brick wall between me and everyone...”
Tasmin: “Look, I can’t. I mean I don’t. Adam, I don’t want you to think you have to talk to me, but I just have this feeling. I need to be here with you.”
She pauses and smiles lightly trying to ignore the feeling of wanting and needing to hold him. Adam drops into his seat on the couch, running his hands through his messy hair before letting out a bit of a sigh.
Adam: “I know. It’s just...I trusted Remi. And I trusted Izzy. A couple of months ago, they were all I had in that locker room. Now I don’t have either of them and it makes me feel like I can’t trust anyone anymore. How do I know I’m not going to get struck in the face with a chair by you next? When will Adrien and Eddie get sick of dealing with me? When will this get to a point where I really am on my own…”
Adam props his head up with his hands, elbows resting on his knees as he blankly stares forward. He’s clearly exhausted, both physically and emotionally. This whole mess has messed with his head to the point where he is confused with everyone in his life. He didn’t verbally express it but he was even concerned Betsy Granger or Jessica Sears were going to turn their backs on him, but their ties to him weren’t something he’s really discussed with Tasmin yet.
Tasmin: “I don’t think Adrien and Eddie could ever get sick of you. They’re your family. Sometimes, people don’t know how worthy someone is of their time. Remi surprised me. Izzy though….she was never good enough for you, Adam. …I don’t know if I am either…”
Tasmin blushes and smiles, looking away with her hands clasped together. Adam breaks his blank stare into nothing and glances back at Tasmin.
Adam: “You have been nothing short of perfect to me, Tasmin. And I don’t even know what I did to deserve how good you’ve been to me.”
He pulls himself back up from the couch to stand once more. He glances back at his phone and sees all the missed calls from everyone that’s tried to reach out to him. It’s something to try to think as a positive...that he mattered to this many people, but then again, Remi was worried about Adam when the break-up with Izzy happened.
Adam: “I got all these calls from people. They were worried. And then you went the extra mile...you knocked on my door after flying from coast to coast and wouldn’t take no for an answer. How do I know I’m even worthy of you?”
Tasmin: “Honey, I’m just a simple girl from a backwater town in England. I’m nothing too special or perfect. You and I just...clicked. And I see people hurt you and get mad, like really angry…but, I’m not the type to turn my back on someone I care about and have grown to...really, really like...”
Adam turns back to Tasmin. He opens his arms for her. The only thing he wanted right now was a Tasmin hug. While he felt guilty for making her do this, he’s happy she found her way back into his living room.
Adam: “I’m sorry I had to make you come all the way over here just to check on me.”
Tasmin steps forward and squeezes him tight.
Tasmin: “I was coming over anyway. We spend so much time together people think we’re married…”
She laughs nervously and blushes redder than before. Adam squeezes her back and, for the first time since they met, kisses her on the forehead.
Adam: “I mean, it’s getting to that point where people are going to make comments like that. But...I’m glad we’ve been spending all this time together. I wouldn’t trade it for the world…”
Tasmin: “I wouldn’t either. I have never felt this comfortable with someone. Never had feelings for someone to grow like this so fast. I just don’t want to scare you…”
She chuckles and sighs deeply.
Adam: “You’re not scaring me. And trust me, I scare easily. I would have been scared away by now if you were going to.”
He takes a deep breath and says one more thing before breaking their embrace. He looks into her eyes and attempts to make sure he gives her the proper amount of gratitude. His eyes began welling up as much as hers were when she first walked in. But in the end, he can only really allow two words to escape, even though he wanted to say so much more.
Adam: “Thank you.”
I needed somewhere to hang my head without your noose
You gave me something that I didn't have but had no use
I was too weak to give in, too strong to lose
My heart is under arrest again, but I break loose
My head is giving me life or death, but I can't choose
I swear I'll never give in, I refuse
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel, you trust, you must confess
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Date: Monday, June 25th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
Adam Sanders was no superhuman. Obviously, if he was, he wouldn’t have fell victim to what happened to Remi Fontaine if he had some odd ability to read minds or superhuman abilities that are useful for combat. He’s not super fast, able to move things with his thoughts, or able to control any form of elements. He was just a regular guy. He requires glasses or contacts to be able to read anything far away. He has a hard time speaking in front of large groups of people and sometimes even to random strangers. Even his friends can unintentionally set off his introverted, awkward side. There is a reason he has the Twitter handle he has.
But there was one thing of his that was extremely heightened, and that was his hearing.
“Hmmm?”
He hears a vehicle pulling up to the parking lot of his apartment complex. The direction of it sounds like it’s close to his vehicle. Innocent curiosity makes him slip free from Tasmin Richards, who had fallen asleep shortly after they were reunited. Poor girl hadn’t slept very well while she was away from Adam and the exhaustion set at the moment, her mind was at peace.
He looks over the window and sees the blonde hair of someone he knew very well stepping out of a rental car after parking right next to Adam’s beat-up Chevy Metro. Adam whispers under his breath as to not awaken Tasmin from her much needed slumber.
Adam: “Adrien? Why is he...oh…”
Adam pats his pockets and remembers he has Adrien’s American Express credit card.
Adam: “I would assume he wants this back…”
Wanting to let Tasmin sleep, Adam quietly exits his apartment to meet Adrien Cochrane, the man who trained him in the art of professional wrestling, outside. But what Adam wasn’t expecting is that Adrien had company with him. This person was not the usual blonde female that Adrien typically travels with but instead someone who much stronger ties to Adam than she does to Adrien…
Betsy: “ADAM SANDERS, AS I LIVE AND BREATHE!”
Ignorant to the fact that Tasmin was asleep inside, Betsy rushes past Adrien and playfully tackles her best friend as she greets him in her usual boisterous nature. Both of them fall over and Betsy immediately sits on Adam’s chest and noogies him mercilessly. Even though Adam tries to push her off, Betsy isn’t done punishing him for disappearing after his match. She leans forward and pins his arms down with her legs. A wicked grin crosses her face and she sticks her finger in her mouth before handing out the wettest Willy she could muster.
Betsy: “That’s for getting everyone all up in a fuss. King Drama Awkwardness.”
Finally, she climbs off him and sits Indian legged on the floor in front of him. Adrien Cochrane, who was caught a little off guard by Betsy Granger’s reaction to seeing Adam, chuckles a little bit.
Adrien: “For the record, I didn’t expect her to do that upon seeing you.”
Adam eventually gets back to his feet, dusting off his jeans as soon as he is upright once more.
Adam: “Yeah, this was actually kinda tame compared to some of the things she’s done in the past. I still remember the time I had to replace the doorknob to that very door up there when I only locked my door to keep Kenzie out after the break-up and...well, Betsy didn’t like that.”
He looks down at his best friend, who attempts a look of innocence while sitting on the asphalt of the parking lot.
Adam: “It’s good to see you, Betsy.”
Betsy grins over at Adam, dropping any pretense of innocence. Springing to her feet, she grabs him and pulls him into a big bear hug.
Betsy: “Of course it is. It’s good to see you, runaway.”
While she had him, she smacks him upside the head as Gibbs would do to DiNozzo.
Betsy: “Okay, I’m good now. Next time you run off, pick up your damn phone and at least give us a clue as to where you are. You know I’m always going to hunt you down.”
Adam hesitates a little bit before replying.
Adam: “I’m sorry. It’s just...after seeing Remi do that right after everything that happened to Izzy. I just...I wasn’t sure if I could trust anyone anymore. I was worried that one of these days, one of you two would slam a chair into my skull and…”
He’s cut off by his mentor.
Adrien: “Nonsense.”
Adrien’s tone was more fatherly and stern compared to what most hear from him. The Dropkick King’s blue eyes were darting at Adam’s. It felt as though they were piercing him.
Adrien: “Listen, people are going to change. Yes, you will trust the wrong people at times. It’s going to happen. Remember, I once let CHRIS MARKS live with me and train under me before you came along. And when people show their true colors to you like this, the best thing for you to do is to remember that there are people in your life that you CAN trust. Betsy has known you since you were dozing off to sleep in Algebra II in college, and she had to wake you when you started snoring. I’ve housed you, trained you, and treated you like a member of my family, because you are pretty much one to me. If no one else in your life, Adam...if you trust NO ONE ELSE in your life, it should be me and Betsy.”
Adrien glances at the window to his apartment, knowing who beat them to Adam’s place.
Adrien: “And there will come a point where that list will include the woman who dropped everything to track you down and find you before we could.”
Adam’s head lowers. He knows Adrien is right. He had no reason at all to doubt Betsy or Adrien at all. They were the two who have done the most for him since he met them both.
Adam: “I’m sorry. Both of you…”
Betsy’s face had changed several times during this back and forth between Adam and Adrien. The sunny smile had turned to thunderclouds as Adam admitted to fearing she or Adrien would slam a chair into his head. It cleared up again as Adrien set him straight, but there was still a hard glint in her green eyes. At his apology, Betsy sniffs loudly and throwing her nose up into the air, marched into the apartment uninvited. She opens her mouth to get loud but stops dead in her tracks when she spots Tasmin fast asleep on the couch. She turns as Adam and Adrien appear in the doorway. Pointing towards the outside, she marches right back out and heads towards the little playground set up for the children in the area. The two men exchange a glance and shrug, following the bossy blonde woman.
Betsy: “For one thing… If I was going to attack you, it wouldn’t be with a chair. If I was going to turn my back on you, I would stab you in the chest and look dead into your eyes as the light of life left them.”
Her lower lip comes out in a pout.
Betsy: “For another, you know full damn well, if I’m ever going to give you a reason to not trust me… Oh, who am I kidding? You’re the brother I never had. I would never give you a reason not to trust me. You think I didn’t know where you were when you ran off?”
She glares up at him as she falls ungracefully onto a swing.
Betsy: “I always know how and where to find you. And once again, I didn’t tell a soul. Everyone else found out on their own. I didn’t tell Adrien or Jaime. Nobody. As if I would. Pfft…”
Out of words and deflating like a ball, Betsy glares up at Adam and raspberries at him.
Adam: “I know. I just wasn’t thinking straight. And I figure I know how they did find me…”
Adam reaches into his pocket and pulls out Adrien’s credit card, handing it back to him with a look of guilt on his face.
Adam: “I’ll repay you for the charges, I promise.”
Adrien: “I’m not worried about the charges. I was just worried about you, Adam. Your safety and well-being were more important than a few hundred dollars, and it always will be. Rosalyn couldn’t even find you.”
Adam shakes his head a little bit.
Adam: “I figured Jessica would turn to her. I had to make sure she couldn’t track my phone.”
He looks back up at Betsy, still apologetic in his expression.
Adam: “It’s why my phone was turned off and why I wasn’t answering it.”
Adrien: “We were worried, Adam. Including Jessica and Rosalyn. Eddie too. He was trying to figure out where you went the entire night. And he had everyone yelling at him to find him. Hell, Dean Matthews was even frantic about finding you. Cass Baumer, for Christ's sake, was worried about you!”
Adam glances back at the apartment window again.
Adam: “How bad was it when she couldn’t find me?”
They both knew who he meant by that pronoun. Betsy crosses her arms and starts to swing softly.
Betsy: “She was frantic. I don’t know how much behind Twitter, but she was determined to find you. I’m glad she did…”
She trails off as her thoughts run away from her again. Staring off into space, she begins speaking without thought, something she only did around Adam.
Betsy: “That’s a good girl up there, Adam. You know me, I’m always going to judge the women in your life as if I were your bossy, blood-related big sister. Tasmin… I approve very much, especially after this weekend.”
Her nose scrunches slightly.
Betsy: “I even defended her against Cass the… Nope, I won’t name-call, not this time. I just want you to know that.”
Betsy kicks at the dirt under the swing.
Betsy: “I was curious to see what she would do… She didn’t disappoint. I’ve been watching her, studying, researching… Well, you know how I do. Hang on to this one, yeah?”
Adam nods his head a little bit as the lights around the complex begin to flicker on as the sun began to set.
Adrien: “I know the Richards family isn’t exactly a family filled with good people, but Tasmin is the exception. Kayla and Jaxon, yeah, I just got done fighting them as they were part of the Destroyers. But Tasmin is different and sees you for the good person that you are. And she has proven that she cares a lot about you, even missing her siblings wrestle last night to try to track you down.”
Adrien finally places his wallet back in his pocket after putting the credit card back in its slot.
Adrien: “We’re here for you, no matter what, Adam. You know we will always fly across the country if you need us, such as we did today. Just remember that there are people who care about you, okay?”
Adam nods once more. He sighs after a few nods.
Adam: “I’ll do better to remember that.”
Betsy pauses and stares so hard at Adam, he could probably feel holes burned into his face where her eyes were.
Betsy: “I think it will be best for your health if you remember it. I’m not afraid to knock you around with a heavy book. We can make this just like Algebra class…”
Her tone was finally light as the mischievous gleam returned to her emerald eyes. She rises from the swing and advances on him menacingly. Nothing happens as the best friends stare at one another until Betsy boops him on the nose out of nowhere.
Betsy: “Now! I want to meet this girl face to face, properly. How long has she been asleep? I’m thinking I could wake her up the way I used to do when you’d oversleep in your dorm.”
Adam remembers those days vividly. There was usually a lot of banging on the door and yells of “ADAAAAAAAAMMMM!!!!!” coming from the hallway.
Adam: “She’s been asleep maybe an hour or so. Apparently, she couldn’t sleep at all when she was looking for me, even when Eddie arranged a hotel for her to stay at last night.”
Adrien: “Might have to wait another day, Betsy.”
Adrien looks at Adam’s face and recognizes it: Adam has barely slept since the match as well.
Adrien: “I think everyone here needs to move forward with today and get ready for the day ahead of us tomorrow.”
Sanders realizes that it is almost nighttime now.
Adam: “I promise, you’ll get to meet her soon, Betsy. I know she wants to meet you. And a more formal meeting with you one day, Adrien, that doesn’t involve Kayla Richards wanting to murder you.”
Adrien: “I’m used to being a target for stuff like that. But yeah. One day, we can arrange that.”
Opening her mouth to protest, Betsy starts to object… That is until her stomach rumbles loudly. Slapping her hand over it, she purses her lips and nods.
Betsy: “Oh fine… Take me for food, Adrien. Apparently, I’m hungry.”
Hugging Adam tightly one more time she whispers something for only him.
Betsy: “Love you, kiddo. Next time you want to run off like a jackass, give me a chance to stop you, okay?”
Adam whispers back, giving a weak smile as his best friend hugs him tightly.
Adam: “Love you too, Bets. I’ll try to do that.”
As soon as the hug breaks, Adrien places his hand on Adam’s shoulder. His blue eyes no longer felt like a piercing gaze but more calming than previous.
Adrien: “I’m here if you need anything, okay? You got my phone number, Eddie’s phone number, the gate code to my house, you can hide at my house for all I care if you really need it. Just remember, I will always be in your corner, okay?”
With a quick pat on the shoulder, Adrien turns to the sound of what sounds like “Dropkick Man, I’m hungry” but Adam couldn’t quite make it out that clearly. He watches as Betsy and Adrien get into the rental car and drive off to get themselves something to eat as he walks back into his apartment. He glances down at his couch and sees that Tasmin’s sleep was completely undisturbed by their visit. He smiles a little bit as he gently pulls a stray blonde hair back out of her face, admiring how adorable the twenty-year-old is as she slumbers.
Adam: “I probably haven’t properly said this, Tasmin, to you. And perhaps I will soon when you can actually hear me.”
He speaks with a gentle, hushed voice as though to allow her to keep sleeping.
Adam: “I’m not sure I can really quantify how, but you’ve really changed my life, Tasmin. The past couple of weeks, all the time I spent with you...watching movies, silly little games, cooking for one another even though I’m still learning how to make certain things, and when we go to sleep at night and you’re right there with me...it’s been some of the best moments I can remember…”
He pauses. He slowly blinks as Tasmin keeps sleeping.
Adam: “I hope one day I can make you feel like you’re appreciated. Make sure you realize just how important you are to me because...well...you are, Tasmin. And I just hope you’re in my life a long time.”
Adam bends over and lifts the West Coast Genesis South Bay Champion and begins carrying her. He maneuvers through the apartment, past the kitchen and bathroom until he reaches the solitary bedroom in the apartment. He carefully enters the room, making sure Tasmin’s head misses the doorframe, before placing her in the bed. He pulls the comforter and covers Tasmin with it, repositioning her head on the pillow for her comfort. After all of this movement, Tasmin was still asleep.
Adam: “Good night, Tasmin.”
Adam reaches down and presses his lips against Tasmin’s forehead. Feeling quite tired himself, he starts to walk around to the other side of the bed. He hasn’t really gotten a proper rest since Remi attacked him. He climbs into the bed and pulls the comforter over him as well. As soon as he places his head on the pillow, he feels Tasmin roll in his direction, grabbing him with one arm, yet still sleeping. Her eyes remain closed, but her mouth curves into a little smile. Adam smiles a bit as he sees this and pulls her closer with his arm. He begins to close his eyes as he hears the dreaming Tasmin mumble. It was only a word, but it was a word that gave Adam a huge wave of comfort as he began to drift off himself. The word?
His name.
Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel
The life, the love you'd die to heal
The hope that starts the broken hearts
You trust you must confess
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
I've got another confession, my friend, I'm no fool
I'm getting tired of starting again, somewhere new
Were you born to resist or be abused?
I swear I'll never give in, I refuse
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel you trust, you must confess
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?