Fatal Fortunes 2020

April 12, 2020 – New Orleans

Jordan: Hey mom…

I stood there looking face to face with a woman I’d uprooted from my home. The one she tried to pass off as her own. She looked more worn down than I’d ever noticed before. The wrinkles. The marks around her eyes. It was so hard to hate someone as much as I did when she looked like complete shit. But I still did. She looked distraught. Lost. Broken down.

Christina: K… Kylie. You’re here.

Jordan: You have to stop following me.

Christina: I’m not following you. I… I’m not really.

I tilt my head to the side, giving her a knowing look. She’s full of it. I know it. She knows I know it. She shakes her head and sighs at me.

Christina: I’ve been trying to track you down. I’ve got nowhere to go. I’m sorry, Kylie. Please. Let me stay with you at your new place.

Jordan: Heh… new place?

I smile and cross my arms as I shake my head back and forth.

Jordan: Mom. There isn’t a new place. At least not a new place that involves you. And you shouldn’t be standing around looking for me. Because this is the last time.

Christina looks at me in complete confusion. Her eyes slowly narrow and her mouth hangs open slightly. Just enough that I can see the damage the meth did to her teeth.

Christina: The last time for what, Kylie?

Jordan: It’s the last time we speak. At least in person. I’m moving.

Christina: Moving? But what about that girl? Jackie.

Jordan: Jaina… and…

I look down for a moment and swallow and then look directly into her brown eyes.

Jordan: I don’t know. I’ve decided to do something and honestly, I don’t know how she’ll react. I’m taking a real chance here. Gambling on myself. But all my life, I’m the only person who truly believed in me. So many people have used me. To get what they want. To… fix situations to be a certain way. I’m putting a foot down. I’m grabbing this thing by the throat and I’m calling my shot. I don’t know what will happen, but I know Jaina might not like it.

Christina stares at me, still so confused. I knew much of what I was saying didn’t register with her. Including any reason why I would try and cut her off like this.

Jordan: For a while now, I’ve been letting everyone else make decisions for me. I made some on my own. Maybe they weren’t right, but they were my decisions. Mine to own and my mistakes to bear the burden of. But I want that power to make those decisions and to deal with the consequences and take a step outside of this world where it feels like someone has strapped chains to my wrists.

Christina: I don’t understand.

Jordan: Just listen to me.

I shoot her a serious look and she backs down and goes quiet.

Jordan: I should have never let you live with me. Jaina is a part of me that’s a good thing. She had faith in me and faith in you and she really wanted things to work out. They just didn’t. I knew they wouldn’t. You’re just… you’re like a disease. The only cure is just to leave you in my past.

Christina sucks her lip in and bites it. I imagine she must feel defeated right now. No one wants to be talked to like this. But I’m getting it off my chest.

Jordan: I never want to see you again. I wish I could say I was sorry for feeling this way, but you wrote this in stone when you beat me around as a kid. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. You’re not a mother. I had no father. It’s just… me. So this is it. This is goodbye.

I turn to start walking off and she reaches out and touches my arm.

Christina: You don’t have to do this. Please don’t. I’ll get better. I need help.

I look at her for a moment before looking down at the ground. I bite my lip this time and try to hold down the emotion boiling to the surface.

Jordan: You’re going to have to get that help from someone else.

Her hand slowly retreats from my arm back to her side and I give her one last look before I start walking toward the gym and leaving her behind me. As I reach the gym I look in to see Wyatt working with a patron on the inside. I turn back to look down the hill where Christina was to see she’s gone. I swallow hard and wipe away a tear before heading for my car to leave.

April 22, 2020 – Santa Monica

Cold Blooded was a whirlwind of emotions. I lost the Adrenaline Championship. Peyton Rice defeated me. Again. When the match ended, I wasn’t even mad. I was just — blank. It was the best match we’d ever had together. Yet, still, she beat me anyway. I walked up the ramp while she celebrated with a few fans tossing out some encouraging words. I gave Peyton one last look with a smirk. An hour later, I was right back down at ringside as Jake and Sienna fought. I held Sienna’s hand high. And then, I made my choice. I planted her into the ground and I fled. It was a blur. I didn’t talk to Jaina, Bree, Jake, no one. I just left. After a few days in a Chicago hotel I took off to Los Angeles to meet Kathryn Pearson at her shop to see the designs she had made for my gear. She had offered to let me stay at her Santa Monica home for a few days to get some social interaction. Seeing Abi right now didn’t feel like the right move. The shop was quaint from the outside as I walked in and looked around. It was empty, as she’d promised. As I looked around, an unfamiliar voice piped in from behind me.

Kathryn: Back this way, Jordan.

I saw Kathryn, prettier than social media seemed to indicate, disappear to a back room behind the counter and made my way back there. We introduced ourselves officially there and shared a laugh at how this had all been arranged via Twitter.

Jordan: I guess it’s so 2020.

I trailed off and felt myself going distant for a moment as Kathryn told me about the designs. At some point I realized she’d stopped talking and was staring at me. I looked at her and she had a brow raised.

Kathryn: What’s going on in your head because you stopped looking at this design a while ago. Is it not what you wanted?

Jordan: No! No, god Kathryn. It’s perfect.

Kathryn. So what is it then? And please, you can call me Kath. What’s going on, sweetie?

Kath sat down on the counter near the designs we were checking out and looked over at me.

Jordan: I’ve got a lot on my mind, honestly.

Kathryn: Yeah. I saw you lost your match. It’s always tough to lose a title.

I laughed softly.

Jordan: It’s not even that.

Kathryn: The thing with Sienna then?

Jordan: Yeah, that. And the repercussions of it. I have a feeling I just blew up a big part of my life.

Kathryn looks confused and raises a brow. I looked at her and smiled at the reaction.

Jordan: My girlfriend is, uh.

Kathryn: Bree’s niece. I know.

Jordan: I’m just making an educated guess here that Jaina is going to be unhappy with me for standing up for myself against Sienna.

Kathryn: That… doesn’t make any sense when you say it that way.

I sigh and look down.

Jordan: Well, we’ve been dealing with some other issues as it is, but believe me. She is so entangled in thinking like Bree that she thinks an attack on Sienna is a personal attack on Bree, which will somehow be an attack on her as well.

Kathryn looks confused as she nods along and then hops off the counter and walks toward a fridge.

Kathryn: That was enough to make me want to drink.

She retrieves a bottle of wine and two glasses and pours and offers one of them to me. I hesitate at first, but take the chilled wine and take a sip. Sweet. It was perfect.

Kathryn: Ok, why don’t you try this on so we can see how it looks and where I might need to make some adjustments and then we can talk more about it.

Kathryn left the room for a moment and I stripped down to just my underwear, placing my clothes and my bra on the nearby counter where my glass of wine was at. I stood in the mirror holding the gear up to my chest and smiling. I appreciated the work. I knew I would stand out in it. I put the bottoms on and then looked at myself in the mirror. In the reflection I saw Kath walk in and then her eyes looked at the mirror, seeing my bare top.

Kathryn: Oh! Sorry!

I turned toward her and she quickly retreated from the room. As embarrassed as she was, I just laughed to myself and put the top on. It was a little loose, but as she had said before, it was a work in progress. I poked my head back into the shop where she was leaning against the wall and sipping wine with one hand while holding the other up to her face, still embarrassed at walking in on me I’d guess.

Jordan: I’m all dressed. And come on, not like you haven’t seen something like that before.

Kathryn: Doesn’t mean I was trying to invade your personal space or anything.

Jordan: Not sure that exists with me.

I smile and she laughs and waves me back into the room and starts looking over the outfit, taking some notes.

Kathryn: So I know this is probably awkward after I just saw you half naked, but did you think about my offer? No reason for you to spend a week by yourself when you could relax on the beach.

Jordan: I actually brought enough to stay. I know it’s probably crazy. But I’m just going to say yes and recharge for a few days. If that’s still ok.

Kathryn: Of course it’s still ok. I have the place to myself.

I took a sip of my wine. Then a sigh came out of me.

Jordan: I don’t know what I’m going to do if things with Jaina and I go south because of this.

Kathryn looks up at me and then grabs a safety pin off the counter as she makes an adjustment to the outfit.

Kathryn: Well, there’s not much you can do. You’ll just have to keep moving forward. Regardless of what happens between the two of you. Please though, find yourself something better than a hotel to live in. If you come out here you can stay with me. I sort of know what you’re going through.

I took another drink to finish off the wine and set the glass on the counter.

Jordan: Did I make the wrong choice?

Kathryn: What?

Jordan: What I did. Going after Sienna like that.

Kathryn stops what she’s doing and stands up, staring into my eyes.

Kathryn: Does it feel like you did?

I let it ruminate in my head for a moment as I thought about it. Then, I shook my head confidently.

Jordan: No.

Kathryn: Only you can answer that either way. I think the world knows the situation you were in at this point. There wasn’t a single path you could take that wouldn’t have some kind of consequences. Now, did you take the path of least resistance?

I look down and laugh, breaking the eye contact between us. I look up to see Kath smiling at me.

Jordan: Pretty sure someone will try to kill me as a result of this.

Kathryn: Oh please. You’ll do fine.

At least someone was confident I’d be fine. I wasn’t so sure. Something in the back of my mind told me I’d struck the death blow on my relationship with Jaina. Maybe it had been building to this anyway with the mistakes I had made between her and I. I was trying to be a better person. I knew I was flawed. But for once I knew I’d something I had to do.

April 29, 2020 – Providence, Rhode Island

In the days following Cold Blooded, Jaina and I didn’t speak. We exchanged a few texts. She told me we needed to speak after I’d tweeted that I was in Los Angeles. She said we’d meet before the next show to talk about things. As production set up for Breakdown, I saw Jaina on the other side of the catering area. I looked around the room and locked eyes with someone familiar. Bree Lancaster. See scowled and turned her back on me quickly, walking away with Scott in tow. I looked down and away. Bree’s reaction gave me a grim feeling about what was coming.

Jaina: Hey…

I snapped my head back up to look at Jaina and smiled softly.

Jordan: Hey…

Jaina: Let’s take a walk.

I nodded and followed Jaina, not knowing fully what to expect. She walked down the hallway in front of me and then found an open room and walked inside. When I got inside, she closed the door and then let out a sigh.

Jaina: I’m not sure how to start this.

I swallow hard and look down.

Jaina: I had a lot of time to think over the past week and a half. I probably should still be shocked, but somehow I’m not. How could you just do something so reckless without telling me? I don’t need an answer for that.

She stops me before I can even speak.

Jaina: We got engaged and we were so happy. And then you started questioning things. You asked me if I thought we were going too fast when you were the one to propose. All of the stuff with Abi started happening. All the secrets. The lies. Then this… and you top it off by hiding in Los Angeles all week. Like you wouldn’t know how that makes me feel?

I cross my arms and lean back into the nearest wall. Looking up at her and biting my lip.

Jordan: I’m sorry. I needed to clear my head.

Jaina: You should have come and found me and explained yourself. Explained why you did this. You changed everything.

Jordan: I had to stand up for myself. The things Sienna was doing to me… how can you expect anyone to just stand by and let it happen.

Jaina: Bree was trying to help.

Jordan: She was just blindly falling in line with whatever Sienna was saying to do. At least that’s how it felt. What was I supposed to do?

Jaina sighs and shakes her head.

Jaina: I don’t know. But it wasn’t this.

She closes her eyes and breathes deeply.

Jaina: I feel like I don’t even know you anymore. Or maybe I never really knew you at all.

Jordan: Jaina… there’s no way you think that. I haven’t changed at all. Bree just…

Jaina opens her eyes to look at me. It looks like she’s practically fighting back tears.

Jaina: Bree, what? Took care of you? Mentored you? Did everything she could to make sure you were the best version of you that you could possibly be? You were lost last year and she stepped in and picked you up.

Jordan: But when Sienna started messing with my family, she did nothing. She wanted me to just let Sienna and Chris destroy him. They targeted him, because of me. They didn’t even consider my feelings about that. They didn’t think about anyone but them. Even if they said it was for me… it wasn’t what I wanted.

Jaina lets out a sigh, seemingly ignoring my defense of my actions.

Jaina: I had dreams for us. Of getting married. Buying our own home. Spending a lifetime together. Experiencing all of that, together. But you poured gasoline on us, lit a match and walked away while the flames just burned it to ash. And for what?

Jaina reaches into her shirt and pulls out the necklace I gave her. The one that she wears her engagement ring on. She holds it tightly and looks down at it.

Jaina: I really thought this would be different. Like, I thought you were the one.

Jordan: Jaina…

I watch as a tear streams down her cheek. She reaches behind her neck with both hands and unclasps the necklace and then places it on the table between us.

Jaina: I don’t want to marry you anymore.

My legs feel suddenly weak, like they could buckle underneath me. My heart sinks from my chest into my stomach. My eyes start to water immediately. I speak but my voice is shaking.

Jordan: Jaina, no!

Jaina: I’m sorry.

Jaina struggles to speak. Her voice breaking with every word.

Jaina: You clearly chose your family, so now… I’m going to stand behind mine.

She turns to leave me and I reach for her.

Jordan: No, Jaina, wait!

She shrugs off my hand and opens the door, giving me one last look with her cheeks glistening from the constant streams of tears. Then she walked through the door. And it felt like she was gone forever. I leaned down into the table in front of me, sobbing quietly to myself. I scooped up the necklace and ring in my left hand and looked down at it, wiping my right arm across my face. The longer I looked at it, the angrier I got. At myself. At Sienna. At Bree. I balled my hand into a fist and slammed it into the table. I looked up at my reflection in the glass on the front of a framed poster on the wall. I looked like a mess. This was the last time those bitches would ever interfere with my life without consequence.

April 30, 2020 – Santa Monica

I told management I needed a few days to sort some things out. The breakup of Jaina and I wasn’t exactly a secret backstage. Jaina had supporters on social media rallying behind her before she even broke things off between us. So I returned back to Los Angeles. Back to Kathryn’s place. I flew in early, still drunk from the night before, retrieved a key from under the mat, and went back to bed. Late that night I woke up, a little hungover from my night of drinking at the bar with Asher, and found Kath sitting at her kitchen table. I sat down across from her, wearing a hoodie and short shorts and leaned down against my arms.

Kathryn: That bad?

Kath gave me one of those half smiles. I tried to smile back but I think it came back as more of an awkward frown or something. Especially based on the way Kath was looking back at me.

Kathryn: It’s all going to be fine, sweetie. You’re young and freaking beautiful. You’ll get past all of this.

Jordan: It was just… quite a lot to deal with.

Kathryn nods to me and folds her hands on the table.

Jordan: I probably should find a place to live. I don’t think I should be taking advantage of your hospitality.

Kathryn: Oh, don’t feel that way. You can stay here longer. It’s fine. I have this house and all of this space. It’s also not the first time I’ve let someone stay with me for awhile. I like having company here.

I nod and lean up on my elbows, finally managing somewhat of a smile.

Jordan: I’ll probably look around and see what’s out there. Just in case.

Kath pulls her phone up onto the table.

Kathryn: I could help with that. I know where to look. What’s your price range?

Jordan: I don’t know, probably 3.

Kath grits her teeth together.

Kathryn: Yeah maybe here is your best option for now. There’s not going to be a place outside the absolute slums that you can afford for $3,000 a month.

I let a soft laugh escape and get a confused look back.

Jordan: No like $3 million. Like buying a house. Actually settling on a place for awhile.

Kathryn: Do you have that kind of money? I’d heard you inherited a little bit, but I didn’t think you had that much.

I reach into my hoodie pocket and pull out my phone, going into my banking application and opening up my account balance. Then I slide the phone Kath’s way. She looks down and picks it up. Then I watch her jaw drop.

Kathryn: Oh. Holy shit!

Jordan: And that’s why I wanted to give you money for letting me stay here.

Kathryn: Wow! I did not expect to see that many zeros. And, no, you still can’t pay me for staying here.

I roll my eyes as she slides the phone back to me.

Jordan: You’re too fucking nice. I appreciate all of it.

Kathryn: Don’t worry about it. This is a judgement free zone.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Kathryn: I think you should stay here for awhile. I don’t think you should rush anything.

Kath stands up and walks over to my side of the table and I instinctively stand up, confused at what is happening. She grabs me in a hug. I laugh.

Jordan: What are you doing!?

Kathryn: You looked like you needed someone to grab you and squeeze you and just tell you: girl, it’s gonna be ok.

I squeeze her back and put my chin on her shoulder.

Jordan: Thank you. I think I’ll stay awhile longer.

Kath let her hold on me go, but kept her hands on my shoulders for a moment. It lingered. And then she dropped her hands to her side.

Kathryn: Do you want to talk about that promo you dropped in the ring last night?

I scratch at my arm and shrug.

Jordan: What about it?

Kathryn: Where did that come from?

Jordan: Just speaking the truth I guess. Crowd was enjoying it so I was having fun with it.

Kathryn: It was kind of a drop the mic moment, don’t you think?

I smile and then laugh. I can tell that was part of her aim. She’s just trying to get this all off of my mind. She smiles back.

Kathryn: I was watching the show waiting for one of those two to come stomping out from the back throwing a tantrum.

I giggle at that and then run a hand through my hair.

Jordan: I have a feeling we will see plenty of tantrums coming from them soon enough.

Kath smiles and reaches over to reassuringly squeeze my hand as she walks into the kicthen and away from me. To the outside it was probably strange. On the one hand, Kath and I barely knew each other at this point. But sometimes when you drop a bomb in the middle of your own life you get forced to make new decisions. As unusual as it might seem, Kath has committed herself to being someone I could talk to and rely on. Just like that, my life was basically starting over.

May 2, 2020 – Santa Barbara

I told Kath if I was going to live here I needed to establish a workout place. She told me she had an idea and gave me an address. I Uber’d there without a second thought and on arrival I noticed it was AnteUp. I knew it as a school, but I was trusting Kath on this one. I stood outside for a moment and pulled my phone out, finding a nearby wall to lean on.

Abigail: I’d been wondering when you were going to call. Based on some tweets, I had a feeling you are not only here in LA. But also…

Jordan: Yeah let’s not talk about that part of it.

Abigail: Sorry.

Jordan: It’s fine I just…

I sigh into the phone.

Abigail: What’s wrong?

Jordan: I understand you are probably wondering about you and I in all of this. I need some time.

Abigail didn’t respond.

Jordan: I didn’t expect this to fuck me up as much as it did. I think I just need to be single and figure this out. Enjoy life attachment free.

Abigail: I… understand. It’s not as if I expected you to just run here and leap in my arms or anything. Especially since you’ve been here over a week already based on what I can tell.

Jordan: I’m sorry I didn’t say anything.

Abigail: That’s ok.

It went sort of awkwardly quiet between us for a moment.

Jordan: Hey, I need to go into this gym and check it out.

Abigail: Before you go.

Jordan: Yeah.

Abigail: I figured this was going to all happen a while ago. Just make sure you watch out for yourself. This isn’t going to be easy to deal with. This is going to be worse than what you dealt with against Infamous. Be ready.

I sighed into the phone and let out a soft bit of laughter.

Jordan: I am.

Abigail: That’s ok. Do you. Go live the single life. What you should have done when… you know. If that’s what you feel you need, I support you. During this process I’m your friend, nothing more. We can hang out. You can’t stay the night. Nothing physical. If you’re going to sleep with other women, we can’t go there. I don’t want to know about any escapade you entertain unless I ask. This is what’s best for me. Hope you understand.

Jordan: I understand… thanks for being understanding. I gotta go, boo. Bye.

I hung up the phone right as a familiar face stepped outside and looked at me, crossing his arms.

Jordan: David?

David: Jordan. Welcome to AnteUp.

I look at him a bit curiously as I put my phone away.

Jordan: Why does it feel like you were expecting me to be here?

David: Because I was. Someone called me and told me you were coming to check the place out and wanted to make sure you got the best tour possible.

Jordan: Someone as in Kath. Got it.

I laugh and he smiles and nods. Then he gestures with a head nod and we walk in. The place was like BlackOut Academy turned up to 11. Top-notch facilities, so much space. This would be more than just working out at CrescentCity fitness. I could instantly see myself improving skills at this place and not just working on my core. Dave and I walked the facility together with him explaining how it all works and what they would expect from me if I planned on working there. It was all going to be an easy adjustment in my mind. We approached a ring and stood on the outside watching a few working out and he turned to me.

David: How are you holding up?

I sighed and looked down.

Jordan: I don’t know. I didn’t expect to lose my girlfriend out of this. Or fiance or whatever. It doesn’t matter.

David: Wait, what? I was talking about Sienna and Bree. Jaina and you broke up?

I nod. A deep sigh escapes me. Saying it out loud only made it more true.

David: And hold up. Backtrack here for a second. You were engaged?

I look up at him, but I don’t say anything. I know he is shocked at this development.

David: Don’t take this the wrong way, but weren’t you two only together for a couple months or something? Sounds a little like… nevermind.

My brow raised and I turned toward him.

Jordan: Like what?

David: Uhh… it just reminds me a bit of everything that I heard backstage about Blake and Bree back when that all happened. But nevermind that. I’m sorry to hear about you and Jaina. You’ll get past this. Just focus it on something else. Bring it here and work on your craft. Maybe you’ll find that one thing that can help you overcome whatever you’re about to deal with in terms of Sienna and Bree. Because they’ll come for you and they won’t let up.

I nod to him and turn my attention back to the ring.

Jordan: It has been a strange couple of weeks. That’s for sure. But that’s good advice. Maybe I can just throw myself into my work and get through it all. I just know that I’m in this alone.

David: Alone? What about Jake?

Jordan: Uh… not sure. We haven’t talked a ton since this all happened. We are kind of fighting beforehand, too.

David: Just regular sibling stuff.

Jordan: I don’t know about that.

David: Trust someone who grew up with siblings. You fight. It doesn’t change the fact that you’re still brother and sister. Even if you’ve known for just a little bit. Jake cares about you like he’s known you his entire life. Trust me on this. I know Jake is a little eccentric at times. But he’s a good guy. He’ll give you everything he has, even when he knows it won’t be enough. It doesn’t matter to him. He loves the people he loves.

I look down and cross my arms, letting out a sigh.

Jordan: Even so. Two people can’t take on the whole corrupt world of ugly bitches that stand on the other side.

David laughs and scratches his neck as he looks down at me.

David: I think if it comes down to that, Jordan, you’d be awfully surprised who would be willing to stand on your side to take them on. But for now, focus on you. There’s no reason to try to predict what’s coming. Control what you can control right now. I know people are probably going to write you off, but… you’ve got this. Someone doesn’t have the kind of year you’ve had so far on accident.

I shoot him a reassuring smile at his compliment and nod to myself. It felt good to have people supporting me so strongly after what I’d just gone through. It was too easy for me to believe in my head that I was about to be left out in the cold, on my own, forced to face these issues without any support. Dave was right though. I had Jake in my corner no matter what. And others could be there without me even knowing it.

David: So like I said before. You don’t need to pay us anything to work out here. We allow anyone from SCW to come here and work out for free. We keep it open with the classes and the training. If any classes catch your eye, you could sign up, but otherwise, what you do here is completely up to you.

Jordan: That’s perfect. I love the place. I can’t believe a place like this exists.

David: Well, we put a lot of work into it. It’s what we wished was around when we were trying to break into the business. I inherited the place where I did my training, the owner was kind of a father figure to me when I was younger and he left it to me in his will when he passed, but it’s a glorified run down boxing gym. It’s still open, back in Boston, but I wish it got more use so I could justify dragging it into the twentieth century, let alone the twenty first…

I laugh and shrug. Running a hand through my hair.

Jordan: I learned how to do this shit in a basement in Omaha, Nebraska. The guy wanted me to jump off the corner onto him and I went through the ceiling on accident. But this place is pretty amazing. If you ever need help with anything here or even there in Boston. Let me know. I have… resources.

David smiles at my remark and I can’t help but laugh.

David: You don’t have to play the rich card here. Don’t worry about that. If you want to help, we’d be glad to have you put on a guest seminar for the students. If you see something and you want to offer a student some advice, go for it. It’s all appreciated. Trust me, some of these kids are amazed just seeing you here right now.

I take a moment to look around and realize there are indeed a few students stealing glances our way and wondering why the hell I’m here in the first place. I feel like I’m probably blushing. Sad, considering I perform in front of thousands of people every week. But then again, I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a position where someone would look up to me in that manner.

David: Anyway, I’ve got to check on some things. Why don’t you take a look around on your own. Too bad you didn’t come ready to work out.

Dave gives me a pat on the back and walks away. I take a step toward the ring nearby and lean against the apron, watching the action unfolding in the ring. I watch as a girl counters a move from another and unleashes a Yakuza Kick that made me question my own kicking abilities in the ring to absolutely floor the guy she was sparring with. Another guy slides under the bottom rope and gives her a high five, jumping around and celebrating erratically. She walks over to the corner I’m at and rolls under the bottom rope and to her feet, grabbing a bottle of water and taking a sip. She stops and looks at me. I look back, trying to figure out where I’ve seen her.

Jordan: Regan’s cousin!

Delilah grinned and took another drink of water.

Delilah: Am I that easy to bloody forget?

Jordan: I don’t think we’ve ever really met before. Just Twitter stuff. And, sorry. It has been a long and rough week.

Delilah nods and brushes sweat covered hair out of her face, still breathing hard from her workout.

Delilah: Might have heard something about that, mate, see you all the time backstage, company you kept and stuff, you know.

She holds her hand out and smiles. I take it and smile back.

Delilah: Well then. I’m Delilah.

Jordan: Nice to officially meet you. Oh… I’m Jordan.

I laugh and she does, too. I’m unsure why I’m coming across so awkward.

Delilah: Me and Hugo are getting ready for the next round of the World’s Best tournament.

She turns and points to the young man who gave her the high five and I see him moving around all fidgety by himself. I smile politely.

Delilah: You want to watch us? See if you have any advice? You don’t really look like you’re here to work out.

She giggles and I look down at myself, remembering I’m once again wearing a t-shirt and very short jean shorts.

Jordan: Yeah I just came to check out the place. I’m going to start training here.

Delilah smiles like she’s waiting for me to say something else.

Jordan: Oh, and yeah… I’ll stick around and watch.

Delilah: Woot woot! Cheers mate, let’s do this!

Delilah puts her water back on the apron and hops up on it herself and sits on the middle rope, lifting up the top rope and looking down at me.

Delilah: Whatcha waiting for? Come on in, coach.

Delilah smiled and winked at me. I laughed at her remark as I climbed in and watched her walk over to the one she called her babe and started talking to him. Maybe I really could do this. If this is starting all over, it felt like I was at least off to the right start. My past would never go away completely. I was sure it would always haunt me when I least expected it. But I would deal with it when it happened. For now, I could focus on what was right in front of me. A new path for training. New friends. New people. New opportunities. This time around, I was going to make better decisions.

Promo

A video opens on the Santa Monica Pier. Jordan sits at a table filming herself with her phone like usual. She is wearing sunglasses and it looks like she’s in a bikini top.

Should we title this one: The Death of Jordan Majors. Chapter 1?

Jordan laughs and some laughing is heard off screen before Jordan shrugs and just smiles.

Wow, Sienna Swann. Wow! It’s almost like you cared for me at all. Incredible to hear your thoughts on me finally unleashed to the world. The thoughts you’ve had all along. Now I feel like I know for sure that somewhere up in that thick head of yours that everything I’ve done here is because of you. Oh, but actually Sienna. Rewind the tape if you can. Take a closer look. You’ve never done anything for me. But I did just about anything you asked me to do for you. At Taking Hold of the Flame last year I was basically playing defense for you against Selena. The End of the Year Invitational you and Bree wanted to drag me out of fighting for myself to make sure you had the best chance to win. But this was never the give and take of a normal friendship. This was all to take what you need and give me the satisfaction of association. There was no building up in the ranks. This was it.

Jordan smiles to herself and looks off camera at someone else who is sitting close by and shakes her head.

You didn’t want me to be anything more for you than a soldier. Well, I don’t just want to be someone’s little errand bitch. I don’t want to be Chris Cannon. You wanted to take credit for basically everything I’ve done here like you had a hand in it. But nothing I’ve accomplished here has been thanks to you. Not even thanks to Jake. So what if my road has been more difficult. I’m not surrounding myself with yes men just to get shit done. I’ll do it my own way. You’ve tried everything in your power to pave a path to whatever you want and half the time you seem to come up empty. So really, I’m just the next person for you to blame.

Jordan snags a tall glass off the table in front of her and sips from a straw. Still smiling and looking like she’s trying not to laugh.

I don’t want you to think that I don’t take you seriously when you threaten me, woman who refers to herself as a celestial being, but the problem is you have just ingrained yourself in my mind as a shitty, typical politician. You surround yourself with people to do things for you. And then you whine and complain every time something doesn’t go your way. Don’t get me wrong, we all get upset when we lose or something goes badly. But you start dishing out blame left and right in a battle of he said and she saids. Nothing is ever, Sienna Swann’s fault. Well, maybe this is. Maybe you made this decision for me in your actions. Remember when you were going to fire me for coming to Bree’s aide? Remember how you responded to that by attacking my brother? What a strange leap from point A to point B. And somehow you said that was all for my benefit?

Jordan shakes her head to herself as she looks directly into the phone.

It’s honestly pretty pathetic. For all the being the Star of Right the Hell Now shit, didn’t you buy that Trios contract you used to set up the impossible to lose match that you ended up losing? I think if we just compare resumes for 2020 alone… honestly you might be even more pissed off when you start to think about it. You’ve been a star for a long time. I’m turning heads and I’ve been in this business for like two years, sweetie. And none of it has been as a result of you. Poke me all you want about losing to Peyton Rice for a third time, but the truth is I’m sure Peyton would have loved to win the buy-in when she was on my team. She didn’t. I made it to the finals of Trios and yes, I didn’t win. But I also didn’t buy a contract so… you can calm down a few notches now and I’ll allow you to take a moment to breathe. I’m sure you’re just seething with anger over this.

Jordan leans her arms on the table and holds the camera closer to her face.

I’ll get my win over Peyton soon enough. The one you hold so dear. But I’m going to beat you first. I’m going to watch all that hatred and resentment you have for me blow up in your own face. You can try to kill me. You can send the whole damn goon squad you have in your back pocket at me. I’ll just keep getting up over and over and over again. You think you hate me right now? By the end of this I’m going to be a stain on your legacy. You manipulative bitch. You’ve had this coming for so long. I’m going to be the one that makes sure you get what you really deserve.

Jordan takes her sunglasses off and looks into the camera as she moves it away from her face slightly.

Bree. What can I even say to you now. I thought what we had was friendship. But it occured to me that our friendship just couldn’t survive whatever Sienna needed you to do. I appreciate that you had a vision for me. But your vision for me wasn’t Sienna’s. And it’s so painfully obvious that whatever she wants would have been the final answer. Because in almost every case it is only about what she wants. You will concede the case and just let whatever happens happen. It’s sad to me. Because I loved you like a sister. Your mentorship was never meaningless to me. But I had to evolve. I’ll never evolve if I’m wearing the chains you and Sienna want to put on me. I can’t live with restrictions. I chose freedom.

Jordan shrugs and forces a laugh out as she shakes her head.

And what did it cost me? Almost everything. My issue was directed at Sienna. For that reason you are angry with me. I can tell you are. You sent my… fuck it. My fiance broke off our engagement because of something I did to Sienna. It was labeled as an attack on her family. That’s insanity. What’s even more insane is I somehow knew it was a risk when I made my decision. It becomes so clearly obvious that I don’t matter to either of you. And I never really did. Not as much as you’ll pretend you did. Anything you say to the contrary now, it’s just meaningless to me. It’s empty words at this point.

Jordan puts her sunglasses back on and looks off to the side for a moment before focusing back in.

We’ve been through a lot together. A lot of moments in my life. I leaned on you as a friend. I never required anything of you other than just being a friend. When we first started spending time together, that’s all it was. But politics took over. Friendship became business. And I should have known that from the very first time you asked me for a favor. When did I ever do anything other than staying in my place? You both watched as all of Infamous came after me because that was just my problem. My brother comes and helps me and you all let me know your opinion that he was worthless and holding me back as quickly as you could. You were both trying to mold and manipulate me into what you wanted me to be for your benefit. That’s over now.

She shakes her head and sighs.

It’s funny because from the moment I first started spending time around you, Bree, you were telling me how much Abigail was manipulating me. I guess it takes a good manipulator to spot one, huh? I just hope everyone else that has had their minds twisted by your words and actions finds out before it’s too late. Clearly it has already influenced some pretty important decisions. I might never be able to forgive you for that. This was always meant to be more of a message to Sienna. But is there a difference between the two of you at this point? The longer you look the harder it is to figure that out.

Jordan sits back in her chair, bringing the camera with her.

So I guess that means next time we see each other it won’t be all smiles and happiness. It will just be me dragging your self-righteous, overly pretentious ass around the ring and wearing you out. I won’t enjoy it as much as I wish I would. Our history will always be what it was before you decided to pick one friend over the other. You did what you had to do. Now, I will too.

Jordan pauses and brings a straw to her lips for a moment. Her camera turns enough to see a tattooed brunette sitting next to her.

One of those meetings could happen this week or next. You never know what could happen with Fatal Fortunes. It truly is luck of the draw. Or I suppose in the case of one of you if we get paired up, it’s bad luck for you. No matter what happens, I need a place to channel all of this right now. I’ll go out and win any title or climb any structure or swing any weapon. It really doesn’t matter to me at this point. The Adrenaline Championship is gone. My usual group of friends is gone. Now I am truly on my own. I get to forge my own path. I suppose I’m as ready for that as I can be. What else do I have to lose at this point?

Jordan looks over at the person sitting with her and half grins.

I guess they’ve taken my fiance. My title is gone. My momentum is supposed to be down to nothing. Heh, I guess I’ll just have to show up and turn the whole show on its head. In my heart I’d like nothing more than to see one of these bitches get forced into a match with me. No matter what match shows up for me in these next two weeks, I will do everything I possibly can to show both of them that they don’t own me. They don’t control me. I’m taking back my life.

Jordan pushes her sunglasses to her forehead and looks directly into the camera.

I beat Ravyn on my own. I survived a merciless onslaught from Infamous. I outlasted Ace Marshall in the buy-in. I won the Adrenaline Championship. I did that without the help of any of you. I am indeed the star of the future and I’m still the star of right now. One loss didn’t cause that to fade. One action at Cold Blooded made it burn even brighter. I’m not running from you and your minions. I’m coming for you. You can take that to the bank, bitches. Because Jordan Majors… is money.

Jordan grins and winks and slides the glasses back over her eyes, casually putting the straw to her lips before ending the video.