Post by Kyra Johnson on Jan 5, 2016 15:23:02 GMT -6
Kyra: “Hey! Everyone else has a partner besides me!”
The sound of her voice is whiny, nearly ear piercing because of how loud she made her point. We are in Dallas Texas, and this is Kyra’s first day of wrestling training. The man running the school is a veteran of the Texas wrestling scene, Jeff Staley.
Jeff looks over at Kyra, but before he can respond the door opens, and in walks, rather jogs, Jayson Mack. Staley points at Mack.
Jeff Staley: “One, you’re late. Two, it looks like you found a partner little Miss Dallas.”
Kyra swallows a lump in the back of her throat.
Kyra: “N-no, you don’t understand. I can’t work with him. If I work with him, I’m going to hurt him. Anyone but him.”
Jeff Staley: “You can work with him, or you can leave my class. It’s simple holds and counterholds. Since your friend, or whoever he is is late, I figure you can catch him up on what I’ve taught everyone so far. You did tell me you were the ‘special student’ when you walked in, right?”
The veteran winks as Jayson makes his way towards Kyra. She places her hands on her hips and looks down as Mack steps onto the little blue mat occupied by Miss Dallas.
Jayson: “Well, is this not quite the pickle?”
Jayson stands a foot away from Miss Dallas unsure exactly how he should approach the situation, considering the two had a bit of an odd talk on Twitter just the night before. He decides to drop to his knees and look up.
Jayson: “I have to look like a fool right now, but you asked for this. Here I am in this gym on my knees asking, begging for your forgiveness, Ky.”
Kyra looks around, realizing most of the others have at least glanced over to see what’s going on, a fan of the attention, she smiles and then pats his head.
Kyra: “That’s exactly what I wanted. I guess I can forgive you now. It only took, what, a year for you to finally apologize?”
To his surprise, she offers her hand to help him up. Slightly feeling both humiliated and confused, he cautiously reaches out his right hand toward Kyra. He is more shocked when she really does help him up.
Jayson: “I am sorry, I really am. We should probably talk this over some time, but I would prefer for grandpa not to rip me a new one. Perhaps, we should get started? Stupid driver.”
He scoffs, frustrated that his driver made him late on his first day of training. He is still not sure how to process the past few minutes as he stands awkwardly.
Kyra: “You should probably hire the same driver I have, I’m never late, unless it's by choice.”
Miss Dallas teases and then looks around at the other students.
Kyra: “Okay, so you’ve only missed really basic stuff. Everyone else is trying out the thing where they reach their arms out and grab each other. I forget what Mr.Staley said it’s called. Wanna give it a try?”
Jayson: “I suppose we should. You're not going to accuse me of trying to get fresh with you, correct? You should probably pay attention to the terminology, though. It’s pretty important.”
He still feels awkward about the whole scenario in front of him, but he has to go through with this in order to learn this level of wrestling, considering he has not done any wrestling since high school. He assumes an amateur stance and reaches out toward Kyra. They initiate the tie-up, just as she was taught and from there, Kyra grabs his head and wrenches in a headlock.
Kyra: “So this was the next step I was taught. It’s called a head locky or something. Basically, I can squeeze your head until you give up. I’m debating being nice and letting you go, though.”
With his high school background of mostly grappling, he briefly considers flipping her with a hip toss but opts not to since she is showing effort to being nice to him for the first time in quite a while.
Jayson: “Okay, that seems simple enough. In high school, I was the head lock master. Or should we call it a head locky?”
He smirks and holds back any laughter. Kyra lets go of the headlock and ties up with him again.
Kyra: “Okay, I’m trusting you. This time, put me in the head locky thing, head lock, whatever it is. Be careful and do it the right way.”
Jayson: “Okay, I will, but please tap me on the hip or something if I do this too tightly. I'm not trying to hurt you or something.”
He wraps his left hand around the back of her neck and interlocks his fingers in front of her. He wrenches only lightly.
Jayson: “Okay, I hope that will suffice. Did I locky it in right?”
Instead of replying, Kyra drops down to a knee, reaching her right arm over and sweeps the back of Jayson’s leg, forcing him down and breaking the headlock. Miss Dallas rolls away and then quickly stands to her feet with a grin on her face.
Kyra: “Sorry, I couldn’t hear what you were saying with you falling on your butt and all.”
If he was unsure how to take the situation when the two first started this session, this made it even more difficult to his pride. He lies on the mat a bit embarrassed as he sits up.
Jayson: “That was unexpected. I take it you really are serious about this. No offence, but I thought this was all an attention grab. What's next?”
He decided to ask that last question to possibly change the subject from the previous comment slipping out of his mouth before he could stop it.
Kyra: “We haven’t learned much else, he had us stretch before you got here and taught us a few basics.”
Trainer, Jeff Staley walks over to the pair and shakes his head.
Jeff: “You two seem to be doing more talking than anything else. Since you enjoy running your mouth’s so much, how about you run around the ring, circling it, for 20 minutes. Go ahead.”
Kyra: “Excuse me, but I’m Miss Dallas and I prefer not to run that long. I have this issue where-
Jeff: “You run the laps or you run your pageant winning behind out of my class, the choice is yours.”
Kyra looks at Jayson, unsure of what to do. She doesn’t want to do the laps, but she is afraid of speaking up and having the trainer make an example out of her. The look is one Jayson doesn't recall ever seeing on the face of Kyra before.
Jayson: “I apologize, Coach. It's all my fault. Make me run the laps. I'll run them for an hour if necessary, drop and give you fifty, or whatever is necessary. I haven't wrestled since high school, and I was nervous to be in your class. Ky, Miss Dallas, was just trying to build my confidence. Don't punish her for that.”
The trainer looks at Kyra.
Jeff: “You're lucky your friend here just saved your butt. Go, kid, run the laps before I change my mind.”
Kyra waits until Jeff turns towards the other students before mouthing ‘thank you’ as Jayson begins running laps around the ring, inciting snickers of laughter from the other trainee’s.
30 minutes later….
Sweat pours down the head of Jayson Mack who is finally told he’s able to stop running laps by trainer, Jeff Staley. He slugs over to join the rest of the group, sitting in front of the ring as Jeff Staley is in the middle of the ring, giving them lessons.
Jeff: “The number one thing you will learn today if not anything else, is to be punctual. Would you show up late to a show? If you would, you shouldn’t even be in this business, let alone my class. Showing up late to a show not only puts the entire event in jeopardy, but it also means you might not get paid for the night. Today, we had one person show up late, would you raise your hand, tell us your name and why you were late.”
Kyra, who is standing next to Jayson, nudges him and leans in.
Kyra: “You don’t have to do this. This guy can’t talk to us like this, we could just leave and hire a personal trainer to teach both of us.”
Jayson: “He's the best around. I can handle this, no matter how badly he wants to make me feel. Here goes nothing.”
Jayson raises his hand and stands to his feet.
Jayson: “My name is Jayson Mack. I arrived late today because my idiot driver, who no longer works for me, doesn't know how to drive properly en-”
Jeff: “Now, I see. Kids, it looks like we have a silver spoon who thinks his money is going to buy his way in this business.”
The rest of the trainees laugh at the expense of Jayson for a third time in the session. He hangs his head down slightly.
Jeff: “You better shape up really quickly if you want to stay in my class, Richy. Your money means nothing here. You'd suit yourself to mind that. Sit down.”
Kyra, having no filter and actually bothered by the treatment of Jayson, who she obviously has some kind of history with, speaks up just enough that those around her can hear, unsure if Jeff can hear or not.
Kyra: “Money means everything, idiot.”
Jeff Staley walks towards the ropes, gripping the top and looking out into the crowd of 8 students. He focuses on Kyra and points to her.
Jeff: “Miss Dallas, did you have something to say?”
Kyra stands up, placing her hands on her hips.
Kyra: “I SAID...money means everything. Isn’t that why you run this class? Isn’t that why we’re all here? If there was no money to be made, I wouldn’t be wasting my time. Hush down the ‘tude and just teach us, dang.”
Jayson turns toward her and whispers.
Jayson: “I'm okay. You didn't have to do all tha-”
Jeff: “If you don't like how I run MY class, Miss Dallas, both you and your little tardy friend can go over to that door and get out.”
Jayson: “I think we have gotten off on the wrong foot here. I want to learn this craft from you because my fath-”
Staley cuts him off mid-sentence.
Jeff: “Why? Because your pappy spend good money? Didn't I tell you that money won't buy your way with me? Are you deaf, boy?”
Jayson is taken back by the shrewdness in the tone of the trainer, who clearly thinks that both of his examples are not respecting he or his class and may be there for the wrong reasons. Jayson takes deep breaths, clenching his fists tightly in effort to not lose his temper. Kyra reaches down and places her open palm around his fist.
Kyra: “He’s not worth it. You’re right, he’s the best. We have to suck it up. I can’t believe I just said that.”
She turns her head towards him, looking down at his other hand which is also clenched. Jayson shifts his eyes slightly upward, noticing that she is looking in his direction. He relaxes his posture.
Jayson: “I sure am an expert at screwing things up around you. Let me try to remedy this.”
Jayson stands up and takes a step toward the ring and the trainer.
Jayson: “I assure you, as a matter of fact you have my commitment, that I am here for the right reasons. I want to be successful in wrestling. I am set in my ways, and I will do whatever it takes to earn your respect, Mr. Staley. Ky is surely here for the same reason. She has done well listening to you. This little snafu is my fault, and I assume full responsibility. Please accept my humble apologies.”
Jeff: “Fine. Sit back down and don't make a mockery of this class again, or both of you are out. End of discussion.”
Kyra looks relieved that her or Jayson’s disobedience didn’t get them kicked out, as Jeff continues.
Jeff: “As far as the overall effort goes today, you guys did a decent job. This class will only get harder and I want each of you to go home tonight, and prepare yourselves not only physically, but mentally. Being a wrestler is easy, being a professional wrestler, coming out of my class is the complete opposite, but if you bring the right attitude, and really want to make something of yourselves, you came to the right place. Now, class is over for the day. I’ll see everyone tomorrow.”
Everyone begins to stand, prompting Kyra and Jayson to stand as well. Kyra laughs and walks past Jayson.
Kyra: “All those laps got you stinking. Someone needs a shower, ASAP.”
Jayson laughs.
Jayson: “I suppose I do, but that may be a bigger conundrum than walking in here and being paired together. Considering I fired my driver, I will have to sit here and probably have to call a taxi service or something.”
He makes a disgusted face, still unhappy about becoming the butt of the jokes from this first day of training. Kyra had stopped moving and turned her attention back towards him.
Jayson: “I seemed to have made a donkey out of myself today. I hope you aren't angry I got you yelled at and almost removed from this class.”
He stands uneasy.
Kyra: “You also saved me from having to run laps for half an hour, so no, for once I’m not mad at you.”
Kyra reaches into her gym bag and pulls out a bottle water and holds it towards him.
Kyra: “You probably need this more than I do, here. It’s still cold, I have an insulated compartment thing in my bag. Don’t even ask how much the bag cost either.”
Kyra laughs quietly as everyone has made their way out of the gym, besides the two. Even Jeff is gone, which doesn’t mean they have to leave since the gym was still rented out for another hour or so since class ended early.
Jayson: “Well uh, thank you, K...Miss Dallas. This went better than I expected. It’s pretty quiet in here without the old man barking at us.”
He opens the bottle and takes a sip of the water, surprised as the extremely cold water hits his nerves in his mouth.
Jayson: “Wow, that is cold. Uh, thanks for the water. So…”
Kyra shakes her head, sensing the nervousness in Jayson’s tone.
Kyra: “Whenever you ramble or say ‘uh’, I know something’s up. Still haven’t changed that, huh?”
She goes back into her bag, grabbing a pink towel out of it and tossing it at him.
Kyra: “You can use this too, and no, I don’t want it back after your stinky sweat is all over it.”
Her phone goes off and she pulls it up, checking her text.
Kyra: “My driver is here. Would you want a ride home? You don’t live that far from me, unless you moved in the last year.”
Jayson uses the towel to wipe the sweat off of his forehead.
Jayson: “I could have sworn I was over that issue, if you will. I haven't had that problem in a long time. Seeing, no, let me not finish that. Uh, I suppose I can accept that ride if you are sure it's a good idea and doesn't put you or your driver out of the way?”
He wipes more sweat as he still is processing everything and trying not to rehash old thoughts or anything else, for that matter. Regardless of how difficult that may be, it is necessary since they will have to train together until they graduate from the wrestling school.
Kyra: “I’m sure, but just so you know, you’re sitting up front with the driver and I’m chillin’ in the back of the limo. You aren’t stinking up my area.”
She laughs as the two walk out of the gym. The limo, was bright pink, the same one Jayson had rode in with Kyra countless times in the past. The memories begin flooding back for both of them. Before a word could be spoken between them, the driver was already to the back passenger door, holding it open for Kyra. She turned back to Jayson and stuck out her tongue as she grinned from ear to ear.
Kyra: “We’re taking Jayson home as well, he decided to train at the same school as me, typical, right?”
The driver, Andy, remembered Jayson and hearing all of the stories after the eventual fallout between the two. He nodded at Jayson as he closed the door behind Kyra. He then made his way to the front passenger door and held it open for Jay.
Andy: “Mr.Mack.”
Jayson: “Thank you, Andy. You always were my favorite.”
Andy smiles and tips his cap.
Andy: “My pleasure, Mr. Mack. I'll refrain from further comment, if you don't mind.”
Jayson: “Understandable.”
Jayson steps into the limo and takes his seat. He presses the button that allows him to slide the tiny window between the front and back of the limousine.
Jayson: “I can't believe you were serious about me riding up here with the help.”
He appears appalled at the notion, even though he is appreciative of not having to find his own ride.
Kyra: “Awww, not what you’re used to? At least I was willing to help, but, Jay? I offered a ride, not a counseling session.”
She clicks the button on the panel next to her, sending the window back up. As it slowly closes between them, she waves at him mockingly, while pulling her phone out, ending the conversation between the two.
