Under Attack 2020

October 9, 2020 – Santa Monica

After some rigorous early morning training, I plopped down on the couch with an ipad to study some of the actions of Lucas Knight and Chris Cannon, the team. It had been a few weeks since Kath returned home with her injury and there were days she just didn’t really want to do much. This was one of them. The house was quiet, so I knew she was in that kind of mood. She was probably upstairs laying in bed and Cookie was probably… well, I’m not sure where she was. Just minutes into a little bit of study, I could hear the faint sound of Kath’s voice hollering for me. I skipped up the steps to our bedroom, which seemed to be in a bad location considering her current injury, and pushed my way into the bedroom.

Jordan: What’s up, boo?

Kathryn: Kylie, great. You are here.

Jordan: As usual?

Kathryn: I figured Cookie might come in here and this could get, I don’t know, interesting?

Jordan: How so?

Kathryn: Nevermind that. They need me to check in on something down at the shop and I was wondering if you could do it?

Jordan: Me?

Kathryn: Yeah, who else?

Jordan: One of your managers?

Kathryn: This goes above them. I need it to be you. Just head down there for me and give me a call when you get there and I will fill you in on the rest.

Jordan: And you’re 100 percent sure about this idea?

Kathryn: Of course. I trust you entirely, babe.

I stomped back down the steps after the conversation and took a deep breath. How was this going to work? I know. My driver. Did I mention Vihaan had given me his personal number so I could get his driving services at any time? Of course I threw in a little extra cash here and there for these services. He just knew how to get the job done, and I HATED driving around LA. Hell, I even made Jaina drive me around Kenner back in the day. So this was necessary as far as I was concerned. I looked him up and hit the call button and waited.

Vihaan: Yo mama!

Jordan: Vihaan, what did I say about this?

Vihaan: Oh, I am very sorry Miss Jordan.

Jordan: It’s fine. It’s… not, but it is. Where are you? Are you close?

Vihaan: I’m always close to you.

Jordan: Ok that’s scary!

Vihaan: I am here for your protection. I have tried to protect so many others, but they always turn me away for reasons I will never understand.

Jordan: Maybe you creeped them out?

Vihaan: I am not a creep!

Jordan: No of course not. But you are creepy.

Vihaan: Like a ghost? You want me to be ghost for you Miss Jordan?

Jordan: I think we’re getting off track here, don’t you?

Vihaan: Right. What do you need from me?

Jordan: Kath needs me to swing by the shop and check into something. I need a quick ride down there because I have a lot of work to do.

Vihaan: Is Miss Cookie coming?

Jordan: I don’t know, why?

Vihaan: She always has a way of cheering me up. From the way she walks and what she wears…

Jordan: Ah, well I’d prefer you keep your eyes on the road this time. How soon can you be here?

Vihaan: I’m about to pull up to your house right…

The line went dead silent for about 10 seconds before I pulled the phone away to make sure we were still connected. I walked to the front of the house and looked outside, but I didn’t see his car. I shook my head and rolled my eyes and just hung up without bothering to ask and walked back toward the couch to gather my tablet for some watching in the car. What I found instead was Cookie, watching that very tablet. She noticed me looking down over her and looked back at me with a smile.

Cookie: What’s up?

Jordan: Waiting for Vihaan and wondering where you came from…

Cookie: Vihaan!? Oh, is it an adventure? Can I go?

Jordan: I mean, of course you can!

Cookie: Oh, and I came from human reproduction. You see, Daddy Dreams and Mommy Dreams got together and they–

Jordan: I know how it works!

Cookie: Ok!! Sorry, I wasn’t sure if you did so you do it all wrong.

I shook my head and sighed softly before letting out a laugh.

Cookie: What? We all know what you and Kath are doing isn’t going to create any babies.

Jordan: It definitely won’t. Not that we’re trying. But you know not everyone is hooking up to make kids. I mean, you and Derek have an entire sales operation based on that, right? And you two don’t have kids so… god I’m thinking about it now.

Cookie: What’s that?

I was thinking about how Cookie and Derek work and what Derek must have that keeps Cookie coming to the yard. I scrunched up my face as the thoughts started flooding in again and then I put up a hand and shook my head.

Jordan: Nothing. Where is Vihaan?

Cookie: Maybe he got lost?

Jordan: He’s been here how many times?

I peered out the front of the house and still saw no car. No Vihaan. I turned back to Cookie.

Cookie: Have you ever seen those movies where they commit a crime and get in those great chases with the police. When they’re trying to hide and lose them in their tracks with fancy driving? That’s probably what Vihaan is doing.

Jordan: That’s an insane thing to come up with.

Cookie: Well, what idea do you have?

Jordan: He probably exaggerated how close he was.

Cookie: Ok, that’s fair.

Cookie looked down and crossed her arms.

Cookie: But what if Vihaan tried to steal that woman away from her man finally and he’s escaping them and that’s why he isn’t here? They could be trying to take him down right now and murder your driver!

Jordan: Well, that girl was his sister.

Cookie: WHAT?

Jordan: Yeah, you didn’t know that?

Cookie: Vihaan is weird.

Jordan: You have no idea, boo. No idea.

Just then my phone started ringing and I saw Vihaan was calling me. I brought it to my ear.

Jordan: Yes?

Vihaan: Now!

I hung up and shook my head, rolling my eyes. I waved to Cookie and we left the house and got in the car. We watched the tablet together despite Vihaan’s suggestions that we talk about his personal life instead. The only interruption to us game planning was Vihaan’s typical stunt driving. I swear the man was put on this earth to drive in a Fast and the Furious movie. It felt like he was trying to drift at times. When we turned, he would always get as close to the curve as possible. He told me he was shaving valuable seconds off so I had more time to spend outside of the car. He was something else. As we approached the shop, Vihaan started to slow down and peered out the passenger window cautiously. I looked out and saw a cop car parked with a pair of officers in it. Vihaan drove right past the shop and turned down the next street and started speeding.

Jordan: V? What the hell, man!?

Cookie: I knew it! He’s on the run!

Vihaan: Hold on! I’m taking a shortcut.

Jordan: You already drove past the shop. This is a scenic route now.

Vihaan grabbed the hand brake and turned the wheel hard to the right and went speeding down a narrow alley. In what seemed like seconds, a large box truck turned down the alley from the other direction and started toward us. Vihaan slammed on the brakes so hard I thought the seat belt was going to rip through my torso and looked back as he shifted the car in reverse and started driving the opposite way at a high speed. I reached down and grabbed Cookie’s hand, my eyes wide as Vihaan turned the wheel hard to the left as we exited the alley and his tires made a loud screeching noise as we came to a stop. I popped my seat belt and opened the car door as fast as I could and stumbled out and to the ground.

Vihaan: Miss Jordan? We aren’t at the shop yet?

Jordan: We.. we’ll walk. Thanks, Vihaan. Can you just… park up front and wait for us?

Cookie giddily jumped out and pulled me to my feet and we walked to the shop and headed in. I called Kath and found out she needed me to reset her password on her computer so she wasn’t locked in. All of that for something so small. I laughed at her and told her she better tell me what it was next time. When I walked back into the office, Cookie was talking to someone that seemed somehow familiar. I leaned out for a better view and when I saw the person’s full face and features I nearly fell down.

Jordan: Izzy!? I… what… you…?

Izzy: Speechless as always, Ky.

Cookie: Who’s Ky?

Izzy: Me and your friend Cookie were just meeting. So she’s your famous tag partner. Two real-life, world famous professional wrestlers are standing right here in this shop.

Jordan: Stop… why are you here?

Izzy: What? Your long lost friend can’t show up to say hello? I’ve been here for a week hoping to run into you.

Jordan: How did you know where I was?

Izzy: Do you think you’re hard to find?

Cookie: I’m sorry, who is Ky?

Both Izzy and I looked at Cookie. Whatever was on our faces was enough to make her smile and turn around and chat with the shop staff instead. I looked back at Izzy. She had more tattoos than I remembered. Her hair was shaved on one side and all hung down. Her eyes were as green as ever. She caught on to what I was doing and smirked.

Izzy: Is that your new best friend then? Well past the days of calling me your bestie I guess.

Jordan: That was a long time ago. I had to move on with my life.

Izzy: So I see. You went from dating a child to a pre-menopausal poser still hanging on to her past. It’s like you’re in a constant life crisis or something.

Jordan: Stop!

Izzy: Or maybe it’s like I always said to you back when we were in Chicago. You’ll never be someone who can stick with something long term. You always need something more. You never had that problem with me around though, did you? Once I rescued you from that tramp that was trying to run you and your career into the ground.

Jordan: I said stop!

I felt someone grabbing my arm and turned to my left to see Cookie latched on to me. The look in her eyes said it all. She didn’t understand what was happening here and she was worried.

Cookie: Let’s go…

Izzy: Follow your friend. Run away. You already knew how to do that anyway though don’t you?

I gritted my teeth and felt Cookie pulling me away.

Cookie: Come on.

Jordan: I didn’t ask for you to come here. Why are you here?

Izzy: I’m not going anywhere, Ky. When you’re ready to talk to me… I’ll be around. I really love this store by the way. Tell that 40-year-old woman you share a bed with that she did a nice job with this place.

A mere moment later, I was being dragged out the front door by Cookie. She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward Vihaan’s car and opened the door for me, waiting for me to climb in the back and then following behind me. I looked down for a moment and sighed heavily before turning to look at Cookie.

Cookie: What the hell was that? Are you Ky?

Jordan: Yes, of course I am. You know my name is Kylie.

Cookie: I do?

Jordan: We talked about this…

Cookie: And what just happened there?

Jordan: That girl, her name is Isabelle. She was my best friend in Chicago. We used to wrestle together and travel around the Midwest. I didn’t like who I was around her though. Everything that ever went wrong while I was in Chicago seems like it was somehow attached to her.

Cookie: This is it!

Jordan: What!?

Cookie: This is that issue you needed to be like Sienna!

Jordan: Cookie… no… this is not something we want to deal with.

Cookie: Well, either way, you might have a choice. It sounds like she’s sticking around for more confrontations like that.

Jordan: God I hope not.

Cookie: What was that thing she said though? About the woman trying to control you?

Jordan: Ugh… when I was in Chicago I met this woman named Meghan. We ended up dating. She’s like, my first real relationship. At some point, Izzy figured out that people were trying to contact me to offer me contracts for bigger promotions. It turned out she was serving as a sort of agent or manager and they were all being funneled through her. She was turning down opportunities for me.

Cookie: Well, that sucks. Good thing Izzy told you. That’s probably why you’re here and we’ve become great friends.

Jordan: Like I said. It’s complicated.

I leaned back into my seat and turned to look at her. I smiled and reached over, putting my hand on top of hers.

Jordan: Seriously, thanks for hauling my ass out of there.

Cookie: That’s what a tag partner is for.

Jordan: That’s what a best friend is for!

We both smiled and giggled and Cookie grabbed the tablet and held it up and I nodded.

Jordan: Vihaan, drive us home. Please!

Vihaan: Yes, Miss Jordan. Can we talk about something I’m having trouble with?

Jordan: How about we shelve that for tomorrow’s drive?

Vihaan: We’re going somewhere tomorrow?

Jordan: Maybe…

I looked at Cookie and smirked and she turned on her tablet and pointed on the screen to Chris Cannon. Yep, the guy who I spent a few months verbally destroying over his affiliation with Sienna. That seemed to be over now. But should I still be worried about how he feels? Is he still the man capable of destroying me even without Sienna’s rage behind him? I guess I need to worry about that first. What Izzy is doing here? That needs to be saved for later.

October 10, 2020 – Santa Monica

The whole confrontation at Kath’s shop weighed heavily on my mind the entire night. Cookie tried to keep me focused on scouting Chris and Lucas, but it was hard to ignore that someone from my past had shown up with a vengeance yet again. I couldn’t help but think about the way my mom had not so gracefully reared her ugly head in New Orleans when things seemed to be going so well. In so many ways, my future problems were connected to that. But also, it taught me a certain resiliency. Maybe I was still living off of that. Either way, it led me on a wreckless path that I should have ignored completely. I should have gotten off that bus before it drove off the overpass and crashed into the fiery inferno it became. But I didn’t. And here we are.

Still, lessons learned right? I learned from that experience and the only choice I had was to grow. Today was a new day. I could move past the issues from the day before and focus on what Cookie and I needed to get done. The training plan we had was producing gains. It was all her planning and commitment to it that was driving it forward. I was just being committed and supportive and it was working. Everyone saw how much better Cookie and I were as a unit against the Big Asses. But somehow this match felt like it could be a turning point. A win put us in control of our future. A loss? Then we’d have even more work to do. As I crawled out of bed I was scared to see Cookie sitting in our bedroom watching us sleep.

Jordan: Ahh! Cookie!?

Cookie: Yes?

Jordan: How long have you been sitting there? Were you watching us?

Cookie: I’ve been thinking…

Jordan: Umm… ok?

Cookie: About that Izzy girl…

Jordan: What about her?

Kathryn: Who the fuck is Izzy and why is Cookie in our room?

Cookie: Oh, good morning Kath! I’m just been waiting for JoJo to wake up.

Jordan: JoJo? Who the? What the?

Cookie: JoJo… that’s what Peyton called you on Twitter. So I assumed it was your nickname. Hey, we should be called Cookie and JoJo.

Jordan: Yeah, I’m not sure I like that nickname that much. It sounds like…

Kathryn: A 90’s R&B band.

Cookie: All my life. I prayed for someone like you!

Kathryn: Yep, that’s where I’d heard it.

Cookie: And I thank god, that I… that I finally found you.

Kathryn: Cookie! Stop!

The room went dead silent and Kath grabbed my shoulder and turned me toward her.

Kathryn: Who is Izzy?

I stared down at Kath, propped up on her arm and looking up at me. I didn’t know what to say or how to even start describing this.

Cookie: Jordan’s hot ex-girlfriend. She was at your shop waiting for her.

Kathryn: You’re being stalked by an ex-girlfriend you never told me about?

Jordan: NO! No. She’s not a… well… she’s… ugh.

Kathryn: Spill it, babe. What’s the story here?

Jordan: Ok, Izzy was my best friend in Chicago. We had dreams of making it big together and traveling the world as a bad ass tag team.

Cookie: Oh, but that’s us now!

Jordan: Right. Anyways, we were La Luchadora and The Raven. No relation to the Ravyn we all know and… well, know. But then I unmasked. I became Jordan Majors and I started getting attention. She hated it. She started trying to interfere or get involved deeper than before. So she started sneaking around and uncovered a plot from my then-girlfriend to sabotage all my offers. They wanted to keep me there because I had started to become a draw. They were trying to make sure there was no chance I would be exclusive to some other company. When she told me this, I was furious with her. I didn’t believe her. She reacted harshly. Accused me of trusting the wrong people. Not trusting my best friend was it for her. She cut me off right then and there and began giving me the cold shoulder.

Cookie: Ok, hold on. You became Jordan Majors? Haven’t you always been Jordan Majors?

Kathryn: Dear lord, Cookie. How did Daddy Dreams manage with you.

Cookie: With unconditional love and lots of hugs and kisses. He’s a great daddy.

Jordan: Kath, I already told Cookie about some of this yesterday when it happened. She pulled me out of there before it got any worse.

Kathryn: And you didn’t think telling me would be important?

I looked down and sighed. I shrugged my shoulders and then turned to look at her.

Jordan: You’re dealing with enough right now. I didn’t want you to be dealing with anything else.

Kathryn: Babe, I know it has been a very trying time for this whole family over the last several weeks, but you need to know you can tell me anything at all. One call and I can make sure they have this “Izzy” removed from the property around my shop and we don’t have to worry about it. I don’t understand why your mind didn’t go right there. Unless…

Cookie: Unless!? Oh, I love a good mystery. Unless what, Kath?

Kathryn: Do you not want her to go away?

Again, I was silent. I had words there, but they just weren’t coming to me.

Jordan: Who wants breakfast?

Kathryn: Kylie! No. What is it?

Jordan: I don’t want to face the reality of her opinions about me. She says things that are so hateful. So… venomous. But I can’t help but remember the Izzy that was there for me in ways no one had ever been before. It’s like a weakness of mine. I still see the good in her just like I still see the good in Bree.

Cookie: What about Sienna?

Jordan: There’s no goodness in her. Never has been and never will be.

Kathryn: Yeah, well that right there is why you and Bree will never be able to see eye-to-eye again.

I paused to think about that. I smirked slightly and shrugged. Kath also didn’t know that I had a recent run in with Jaina. No one but Jaina did as far as I knew. Jaina and I had even texted a little back and forth. That was harmless though. Izzy, she was something different. She was right here and it sounded like she planned on making it a habit to run into me if she could. That could create some problems, I assumed.

Jordan: Just… don’t worry about Izzy. Let me take care of all of that. I know how she operates. I can handle it.

Kathryn: Are you sure?

I smiled and nodded. I reached down and gave Kath a reassuring squeeze on her thigh and it elicited a smile back from her.

Jordan: Now, don’t you move. Cookie is coming with me and we’re going to scrounge up some breakfast.

I walked down stairs with Cookie a few paces behind and immediately into the kitchen where I began to dig around for something to make for breakfast. I eyed ingredients for muffins and started to grab them and carry them to the kitchen counter. As I read the recipe on the back of the bag, I caught Cookie’s eyes staring at me.

Jordan: What?

Cookie: You lied to Kath.

Jordan: How did I lie?

Cookie: You’re downplaying Izzy being around like it’s no big deal. But she didn’t see all of that go down. I did. This is going to be a problem. I can already sense it.

I was a little taken back by Cookie’s assessment of the situation. This wasn’t the usual fun-loving Cookie standing in the kitchen with me. She was cautious and carefully considering the words she was saying.

Cookie: I love you, and I don’t want to see you make a choice you regret. Are you sure you can handle anything she throws at you.

Jordan: I’m positive. I mean, I think I am.

Cookie: You think? Girl, you’ve got to be positive about this one.

Jordan: I don’t know. I…

I let out a sigh and put the bag of blueberry muffin mix on the counter.

Jordan: I feel bad for her. She had all these dreams and I left her in the dust without another word. And all she ever did to me was be honest and try to help. She wanted to see me make it. I left her behind.

Cookie: Did you leave her behind? Or did you get an opportunity that you couldn’t pass up? There’s a few ways to look at that. It feels like you’re only looking at the scenario that makes you the bad guy. I’m sure Izzy was happy or even proud to see what you did and even what you’ve accomplished. Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out for people. But some of us get that lucky big break. The rest of us… we get sent back to the back of the line and we have to try all over again. Maybe we never make it. Maybe… we make it somewhere else. I don’t know. Point is, you’re only looking at this in one way. I think it’s a little more complex than that and I think you know it.

I leaned down into the counter, bent over and looked at the stairs to see if Kath was coming downstairs. I leaned back and looked at Cookie.

Jordan: Of course it’s complicated, but I don’t expect her to be any harm. She just… showed up yesterday and it freaked me out. That’s all. It reminded me of my mom all over again.

Cookie: Well… is she worse than your mom?

Jordan: No. God, no! It would take a lot to be that bad.

Cookie: Well it takes that bad for you to punch someone in the face. So… that must be pretty bad.

I smiled and rolled my eyes.

Jordan: Hey though, why are you so concerned about this. Like, what about it has you on edge like this. I’ve never seen you like this.

Cookie: We have plans, Jordan. I want us to win this tag league. I want to do that alongside my best friend. And that doesn’t work if my best friend is having her life all messed up by some wackadoodle chick from Chicago. So focus up Majors.

I turned my head away and smiled just as Cookie’s hand smacked my butt hard enough to make me jump and let out a loud, puppy-like yelp. I turned bright red, maybe as red as the handprint spot on my butt and shyly smiled.

Jordan: Yo!? What the hell!?

Cookie: Just a little Saturday morning motivation to get the weekend going. Let’s go see what we can figure out about these two dudes who’s asses we’ve got to kick next weekend.

Jordan: Ok, but no twerk offs this time.

Cookie: Listen, babe. If Chris Cannon tries to toss his booty out at me in the center of that ring, you better believe I’m tossing mine right back. Have you seen him?

Jordan: He’s a dick! And you’re married.

Cookie: He’s a reformed dick. And there ain’t nothing wrong with looking at something that good.

I chuckled as Cookie reached past me and grabbed the ingredients so she could start prepping the muffins. One thing was true, Izzy could be a problem. But I have gotten pretty good at solving problems on my own lately. Well, kind of. This is one I was confident I could solve. I just needed to understand why she was really here and what her angle was. It didn’t matter much because I probably wouldn’t see her for a while anyway. I hoped Kath wasn’t doubting me for not telling her about it before she found out from Cookie. I should get used to that with Cookie around. She only knows how to bring the truth to any conversation. The too much information kind of truth. It didn’t matter. In this case I was better off for having her there to spill it. I just couldn’t help but wonder though, will all of our encounters be as harsh as this one was?

October 13, 2020 – Los Angeles

Life got back to normal for the next few days, and then I had to get back to work since there was no Breakdown this week before Under Attack. I took off for the studio in the loving hands of Vihaan’s expert driving skills and prepared for another day on set. I arrived pretty chipper for another day as the enigmatic Brittany. Yes, she was essentially just an adult version of Little Red Riding Hood, but I knew she was going to come across as such a badass when this show releases. At least I hoped. As I entered, I immediately noticed the absence of Mike. He was the production guy who had been assigned to guide me through some of the process a few weeks back. As I scanned the room, I noticed other new people standing around too. Eventually, my eyes centered on our director, Tim, and he waved me over to him.

Tim: You’re early today. I like that Majors.

Jordan: Where is Mike? I was trying to see where I needed to go first this morning.

Tim: You don’t need a Mike to know that the first thing you’re going to do when you arrive on my set is go to hair and makeup so they can turn you into our Red.

Jordan: Ok, I just thought I was always supposed to talk to him when I arrived.

Tim: Well, Mike isn’t here anymore so that’d be awfully difficult.

Jordan: Holy shit!? He died?

Tim: What!? No! I fired him.

Jordan: WHAT!?

I looked away, running a hand through my hair.

Jordan: Great, now I’m gonna have that reputation that I get people fired.

Tim began laughing at me and put his arm around me to direct me down a hallway.

Tim: Mike was fired for reasons beyond just that. But, there will be another Mike. For now, I’m assuming you noticed other new people around too?

Jordan: Yeah… almost thought I was in the wrong studio until I saw you. What’s going on?

Tim: We’re kicking this shit into high gear, doll. Brownie called me personally and she said “Where is my show with the discount Kennedy Street at right now?” And I told her we had a lot of work to do.

Jordan: Gee, thanks.

Tim ribbed me and laughed a bit before crossing his arms.

Tim: For all we know you’re gonna be even better than Kennedy when this show wraps and goes to the streaming service. Netflix is pretty finicky these days about what does and doesn’t get a second season. If we get a second season, we’ll all probably get raises and better opportunities and all your wrasslin buddies will be jealous of your newfound success as an actress. How does that sound?

Jordan: Any of my colleagues being jealous of me? Well, that sounds like a fantasy.

Tim: Make it reality then. Only thing stopping that is you. Well, and the people who see a superhero show based on fairy tales and think it looks like shit. But I think we have a chance.

I flashed him a half smile and swept some hair behind my ear.

Tim: Get into hair and makeup and get your costume on so we can start getting this shit rolling, ok?

He clapped a few times as he walked away, only to turn around at the last second before I entered hair and makeup and point at me.

Tim: Got a lot of new people in that department, too. So be nice to them.

I walked in and sat down in the chair I usually sat in and waited for the friendly brunette to come and start putting my face on. She was young and petite. She reminded me so much of Jaina it was almost uncomfortable at times. I would focus on her in the mirror and just be like, woah, what are you doing here? But only for that flash second. I moved my face left to right and examined my skin before drumming my fingers lightly on the edge of the chair. My phone buzzed and I pulled it into my lap to see a crazy picture from Cookie. She was trying out some sort of yoga and it had the most hilarious results. I heard my artist approach as I responded and smiled.

Jordan: Morning Ashley!

Woman: You’ve never called me Ashley before…

I froze in place. I swear in that moment I must have been shaking. I was staring down at my phone as my eyes slowly peered up at the mirror. There was no freaking way, right? It couldn’t be. My head rose all the way to look at the woman in the mirror who was looking back at me. Her hair was swept to one side, revealing the undercut that left one side of her head shaved to a buzz cut length against her scalp. She leaned forward over my shoulder, showing off the tattoos that adorned her neck and some on the shoulder shown off by her tank top. Her lips were as black as ever as they curled into a sort of half-smirk.

Izzy: Surprise, bitch.

I turned in the chair to look at her. I had a lot I wanted to say, but I knew I needed to maintain some sort of composure in this professional environment. So all she was seeing was a pissed off, blond-haired woman sneering at her. She put two hands on my shoulders and turned me back as she grabbed a brush and then started brushing out my hair.

Jordan: Why the fuck are you here?

Izzy: What? You the only one allowed to live out her dreams?

Jordan: What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Izzy: You moved on with life, Ky. I did, too. I learned hair and makeup. And I’m pretty fucking good at it. Did you really think I came all the way to LA to mess with you? Do you really think you’re so damn important that I would uproot my life for that?

Jordan: If you weren’t, then why did you say you’d been coming to the shop hoping to run into me?

Izzy: It’s not as complicated as your mind is trying to make it. I knew I’d gotten this job and I knew I would be doing your makeup. So I came to find you to let you know in advance so when you showed up and saw me it wasn’t so shocking. I didn’t anticipate you being such a stuck up bitch, though.

Jordan: Me!? You verbally attacked me! You tried to dress me down in front of my friend and my girlfriend’s employees!

Izzy: Well, maybe I have some issues with you from the past that were wearing on me and I just wasn’t sure how to deal with them. I didn’t plan to rip you apart with my words, but when I saw you that venom flowed to my tongue and it felt so good to put you in your place.

I grabbed at the ends of the chair with both hands. I looked down and saw my knuckles, white as they strained at the force. I hated this woman right now. And she had somehow weaseled her way into a position where she had to work with me. I bit my lip and looked down, only for Izzy to tighten the grip on my hair and pull me back up.

Izzy: Come on. We’ve got to get you made up.

Izzy stepped around in front of me and looked at my face as she grabbed a brush. She was about to put the brush in my hair when she stopped.

Izzy: You look upset. You look like you might cry. That’s only going to make this take me much longer.

Izzy squatted down in front of me and looked up at my face.

Izzy: I know you’re pissed at me and I’m pissed at you. We have to put that past aside to do this professionally. I worked my ass off to get this job and I had to do all of that after you left my ass high and dry in Chicago because you didn’t trust me to help you. But believe it or not, I want you to be successful in this weird ass show because it would help me. This is the biggest opportunity I’ve ever had. And when I do this I don’t have to be backdropped on to a table or shoved off the apron or kicked in the head by some green little girl that doesn’t have this shit figured out yet. You’re living your dream. I’m trying to live mine. So let’s just try and drop this petty shit for a moment so I can finish your hair and makeup without getting fired.

She stood back up and walked back behind me. Looking at me in the mirror, she swallowed.

Izzy: Unless you’re just gonna run and ask the director to fire me as soon as this is done.

I could have done that, too. It would have been so easy. Bye bye, Izzy. Go the fuck back where you came from and leave me the hell alone. Exactly what I would like to say to her right now. Maybe it was petty, but I wanted to be petty when it came to her. It wasn’t just the one issue between us, it was the months of bile that followed after. It was her knowing someone from SCW was there watching me and going into business for herself and trying to make me look weak. She failed, and I think it still pissed her off as much as it did me that she even tried it. I shook my head no and she methodically got to work on my hair. We sat silently that way, too. The entire time she did my hair. It was only when she came around to do my makeup and we were face-to-face at a close level that I broke the silence.

Jordan: So… umm…

Izzy: So?

Jordan: Have you still been in Chicago all this time?

Izzy: Yeah. Until I moved out here. I was doing some stuff for some stage shows there.

Jordan: You stopped wrestling?

Izzy: Heh. Haven’t wrestled since you left for SCW.

Jordan: Wait, why?

Izzy: They were pissed at me for what happened in our match.

Jordan: Oh.

Izzy: Don’t “oh” me. I know you were pissed, too. Don’t pretend like we don’t know each other well enough to know exactly what the other one was thinking. We had real heat between each other over that shit with your girlfriend. I wanted to ruin your big night and instead I made you look like a fucking star. Just my luck. I swear, Ky. Some girls have all the luck. Look at you. They signed you without even knowing Jake Starr was your damn brother. They wouldn’t have signed me if Jake was my brother and we’d grown up together.

Jordan: So you hate me because I’m successful?

Izzy: Don’t be a conceited bitch.

Jordan: I didn’t mean for it to come across that way. But nothing about being in SCW has been easy. I’ve lost almost as much as I’ve won. Any success? It’s come in spurts. It’s short lived. I’ve never had time to celebrate any of it or just breathe. It’s here and gone.

I snapped my fingers and looked at her before shaking my head.

Izzy: Ky… you got your ass kicked by that Sienna chick two times and people love you more for it. If you don’t think you are successful then you are way too damn hard on yourself. It’s not all about what you win and lose. Sure, winning championships would be fantastic. But you’ve always had this problem. You had to win. You had to be right. People are going to watch this show, no matter how bad it is, just to see you in it. Maybe not as many people as would watch you friend Cookie if she was in it because… you know. But still.

Jordan: I know. I’ve been hearing this same thing from people for years now. I just want more. I don’t want to settle.

Izzy: You’ve got a lot. Great friends, a great career, more opportunities outside of it on the way… even this thing with your girlfriend I don’t understand, but you seem happy. This is all I’ve got right now. I don’t want to settle either. But I had to scrap for this.

Jordan: And you don’t think I had to scrap for what I’ve done in SCW?

Izzy: I don’t know what I think.

Izzy stopped me from speaking so she could apply lipstick to my face and then she stepped back and took a look at me. She moved and let me look in the mirror. It was perfect. It was exactly how Tim had told me he imagined Brittany should look in this show. I looked up at Izzy and smiled.

Jordan: It looks perfect.

She smirked.

Izzy: I know it is. Now, get going. We don’t have time to dwell on the past right now. You’ve got to go ensure both of our futures in this business.

She kept her smirk as she disappeared and I headed to wardrobe for the final piece before we started filming. It was weird, but somehow I felt at ease with Izzy being here. Her and I didn’t agree on much, but I could agree that she was pretty good at hair and makeup. I didn’t know if I forgave her for the underhanded tactics she pulled. But I’ve always had trouble keeping the grudge against her. It was different with her. Like she had a power or I had on blinders when it came to her. It was so obvious to me that she was problematic, but I couldn’t get past it. If I didn’t have Cookie around to keep my head screwed on straight, I swear I would go crazy. I bet no one has ever thought that before…

Promo

A camera switches on and Cookie Dreams pops up in a pair of headphones. Jordan Majors slides in from the side next to her and Jordan starts beat boxing with a fist to her mouth.

Cookie: This is… Jordan… and Cookie!

Jordan: Yeah!

Cookie: Jordan and Cookie in the morning!

Jordan: It’s like 4 p.m. here?

Cookie: Shhh, they don’t know that!

Jordan: Anyway… welcome to another edition of this podcast thing for me and my best friend Cookie. This is podcast number 2! But today’s podcast is brought to you by the number 4! Why’s that Cookie?

Cookie: Because 4 is an awesome number?

Jordan: Nope! It’s because me and Cookie, the lovable heroes of your SCW tag league are 2-0 and that means we have… 4 points! That’s right, 4 points. That means we are in the lead in our division. It’s early, but it’s a tremendous start if we hope to run the table of this thing. This week we can push ourselves even further with a win over a tough team of Chris Cannon and Lucas Knight!

Cookie: Do you often find yourself showing too much of your chest because you can’t find a shirt?

Jordan: What is this?

Cookie: Sometimes I look in my closet and nothing is where I need it to be. I’d like to go out in just a bra, but people stare. That’s why I went to Kablam.com and ordered the new Jordan and Cookie, undefeated since September 2020 shirt. It’s a beautiful white shirt with both Jordan and Cookie on it and if you go now and use the code JoJo and CoCo in the MoMo, you can get 20 percent off the shirt. That’s 20 percent off to cover your chesticles.

Everything goes dead quiet for a moment as Jordan stares at Cookie and then brings her hand to her forehead and sighs. Cookie giggles and shrugs.

Jordan: Ok, back to talking about the team we will be facing soon.

Cookie: Before that, I had something I wanted to say.

Jordan: Ok?

Cookie: I listened to what you said about Kandi Ass and Thomas last time… and you sounded like…

Jordan: Like?

Cookie: Like you had a stick up your butt.

Jordan: Ouch…

Cookie: You’re right. It would hurt. A lot.

Jordan: No, I mean ouch that you would think that. I mean, we beat them and that’s all that matters.

Cookie: I’m just saying. You can’t be like our opponents. That’s not us. Chris Cannon had a stick up his butt for a long time.

Jordan: Nah… that was just his stick shaped girlfriend Sienna.

Cookie: Bad dum tsh!?

Cookie shrugs and laughs at Jordan. Jordan turns red and tries to cover her face for a moment.

Cookie: We’ve got to be ready for these two because they are strong. One of them is a hall of famer and the other one finished second at Taking Hold of the Flame. He could have been champion right now. It was that close! This is a strong team.

Jordan: Some would say they are our top competition in terms of teams that were just thrown together in our division.

Cookie: Who is saying that though?

Jordan: I guess just me…

Cookie: Oh, well does that really count?

Jordan: Anyways, let me start this. Right to the source. Chris Cannon.

Cookie: Christy. Our guy.

Jordan: I know our past is kinda murky. I said some things about you that most people would say weren’t too nice. I flat out called you Sienna’s bitch at one time. But I made it clear to you why I was saying that. When I was running with that crew, I too was Sienna’s bitch. It’s obvious that you were capable of much more without the wicked witch of the west pulling your strings like her personal puppet. I know it isn’t that black and white and there was a real relationship there, but to me what will always stand out is what I perceive as her holding you back. You and I both know the sacrifices we make for people we love, but it was too much for someone like you. Cookie said it. You could have been world champion right now. Instead it seemed like you were going to leave the sport all together. It feels like where Sienna hindered you, Lucas has saved you.

Cookie: Woah, deep.

Jordan: The thing is, we’re both people trying to make up for our sins of the past. People are going to see that little Twitter exchange between the four of us and think… aww how cute! But what it really is between me and you is respect. Despite things we’ve said it’s the knowledge that both of us have been at a low place and are showing that we can crawl out of it. Now we’re showing how strong we can be as a teammate. I don’t know about the bromance you have with Lucas, but what you see on this team is real. We will walk into Under Attack and we will fight you for everything that you’ve got. And we will give every last thing that we have in order to get that third win. That sixth point. It means that much to me and Cookie. We signed up for this to have a hell of a lot of fun. But we also signed up to win. If we want to do that, we have to take down everyone that steps in our way.

Cookie: Even if they do possess a Golden Penis trophy.

Jordan: Yeah! Even if!

Cookie: Have you seen him though? He’s pretty hot.

Jordan: Cookie!?

Cookie: What!?

Jordan: You’re married.

Cookie: Girl! I ain’t dead! The man is a straight up, stone cold hottie. I like Lucas, too. But I prefer men with more hair. He still cute though. What do you think of Lucas?

Jordan: Lucas and I used to be in a weird place. This is a man who saw a picture of me and commented on what he perceived to be a handrail wedged between my cheeks.

Cookie: Your cheeks? Oh… I got it.

Jordan: I’ve gotten to know him better lately though. A lot of you will know I’ve spent a lot of time around the Helms family. So because of David–

Cookie: God rest his soul.

Jordan: He’s not dead… but because of him, I got to know Lucas the person instead of Lucas the Twitter user. He’s a cool dude. I saw how happy he was at the Hall of Fame stuff. The man deserved the recognition he got. It’s cool that he came back to help Chris. It’s awesome that he’s back, period. But Lucas can ask Dave about what happens when I see a legend across from me. Before Taking Hold of the Flame I got the chance to walk with our very own injured living legend. I pinned Dave in the middle. Clean. That was the last thing that happened before his miracle run. I just did the same to Tommy a month ago and now he’s got a world title shot at Under Attack.

Cookie: It sort of sounds like what you’re getting at here is if we beat Lucas, he’s in line for a title shot.

Jordan: That’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying when a challenge like this is placed in front of me, I don’t back down. I rise up and I take down that legend and I earn their respect firsthand. This is going to be no different. That’s my approach to this whole thing. People are going to come at me week after week and talk about how they see some washed up or beaten down or trying to hit above their weight. People need to stop that shit and realize they are looking at a big piece of this company’s future right here in me and Cookie. And a big piece of its present, too. We were treated as comedy when we entered this league. We’ve proven two teams wrong. Anyone who wants to take that approach with us will find themselves with another number in the loss column.

Cookie: It’s that simple, friends. Believe it!

Jordan: This team feels like it was designed to wreck this side of the league. Two forces of nature with plenty of achievements to gloat about. I know people have had their eyes on what Chris and Lucas will do when they face Dark Fantasy and Frozen Hell in the future. The world can wait patiently to find out what happens when those matchups go down. Until then, we will treat them to an absolute barn burner this Sunday. We will steal the show. I’m sure of it. This is an event where we will crown a new world champion and people will battle in a chamber, but people will leave talking about Jordan and Cookie taking down Chris and Lucas in an absolute classic. I can feel it, Cookie.

Cookie: In your bones?

Jordan: Absolutely!

Cookie: I can feel it in my loins. It’s electric.

Jordan: You’re sitting on my phone and I think I’m getting a call.

Cookie: Oh… well I feel it in my bones, too!

Cookie and Jordan stare at each other for a moment before they both look back at the camera. Cookie grins while Jordan puts on a serious face.

Jordan: Six points is in our crosshairs and we’re coming for it. We’re not gonna settle for scoring later. We want those points when we walk out of that arena on Sunday. You might think we’re a joke, and maybe we make you laugh, but by the end of this thing you won’t be laughing about what we’ve accomplished as a team. We’re just two best friends knocking kings and queens off their pedestals one week at a time. We don’t have their history and we don’t have their experience. But they don’t have our fire or passion. So we know what we’ve got to do. This is a big match for both teams, but only one of us can call ourselves the winners.

Cookie: Both teams will come Under Attack from deadly opposing evil forces and only one team survives!

Jordan: I’ll allow it.

Both women nod to each other and grin.

Jordan: I respect the hell out of you both gentlemen, but this journey means too damn much for us. We need this more than either of you. Chris, you can continue your road to saving your soul and Lucas, you can continue being his guide. But we take the W at Under Attack. And you can take that fact to the bank. Because Jordan Majors is money.

Cookie: And that’s the way the cookie crumbles… buy our shirt! See you next time!

Cookie begins beatboxing by herself this time and Jordan shimmies her shoulders in a little dance before winking to the camera and ending the recording.