The Awkward Road to my Destiny (Prestige #2 COTI)

[TheImpossibleTraveler]

end·ing

/ˈendiNG/

Noun

1. an end or final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a book or movie

“So this is it, the final time I get to address you, the amazing fans of the AWF. Before I get down to the dirty deed of explaining to Adam there’s no chance he leaves with the Prestige Title, I wanted to take a moment to thank management and booking for the opportunity I was given here. Though our time together was short, the AWF thrust me back into the spirit of competition in a way I didn’t know I still had within me. I stepped into that ring with the tentative goal of seeing it through; now I leave AWF as a former Phoenix Champion and the potential to be the final Prestige Champion. With any luck, Adam and I will have clinched the XHF Tag Titles by the time our match rolls around.

It’ll make the blow on him easier when I leave with the Prestige belt around my waist.

Yeesh, here I go already. I could apologize in advance, but why bother? Adam knows what I want; he’d be a liar if he said he didn’t want to hold on to it just as badly as I want to win it. He may be able to hide his ambitions better with that perpetual good-guy attitude, but I know him better than any of you. Any opponents we’ve had up until now, they thought they had us both figured out. We’ve been written off as a pair of boring goodie-two shoes by some within the network; though I hardly think the redundant prattle of a particular group of cunts is going to pull any weight at this point. Alas, this isn’t about them; if it were, it would make this next bit a million times easier.

I suppose it’s time to just rip off the band aid.”

_____

From the Private Journal of Betsy Granger

June 2018

So how freaking cute are Adam and Tasmin together? She’s not what he normally goes for, but she’s so pretty and spunky! Without a doubt, her firecracker personality is exactly what His Awkwardness needs at his side. I love seeing them interact on Twitter, all that new relationship energy in the air. As happy as I am for the new lovebirds, it does make my heart twinge just a bit.

It’s been a few months since Chuck and I split. I know I did the right thing, but it still hurt like hell to do. I just knew, after that night in England with James Raven, that my heart wasn’t in it with Chuck anymore. And all James and I exchanged that night was a forbidden kiss before sleeping in each other's arms.

That’s not all, though. I haven’t even told Adam about this yet, because I’m still processing the reality of it. What I’ve seen, where I’ve been… I can’t tell anyone, even Adam would think I’m crazy if I said anything to him. He would tell Papa for sure, and they would work together to have me committed.

But they don’t know… They don’t understand. Their minds haven’t been expanded as mine has, they’ll never believe what’s out there. An entire universe and a little blue box.

All for the taking.

_______________________

sol·i·tar·y

/ˈsäləˌterē/

Adjective

done or existing alone

“My best friend, my brother, my tag partner… And now my competition. Adam Sanders, current, and quite possibly, final Prestige Champion for Ascension Wrestling Federation. If he leaves with that belt in his possession, he’s staring a shot at the X-Crown right in the eyes. He would be well on his way to joining the ranks of the many X-Crown champs that came before him. What a moment that would be for our Awkward One, winning the biggest prize in the network and finally being on a truly even playing field with his beloved Adrien Cochrane. Think of the celebration that would happen after he reached the curtain; Eddie, Adrien, and Tasmin, all there to greet him with beams and bottles of bubbly popped and flowing. For he’s a jolly good fellow and all that other stuff they’ll likely throw at him, just to see him turn red in the face.

You wanna know what would happen if Betsy Granger left with the Prestige Title?

A hug from Adam in the ring, congratulating me before he hung his head sadly and made his way to Tasmin. Maybe Eddie and Adrien would stick around to congratulate me, but I’d be alone soon enough while they ran off to console their Golden Boy. Tasmin, well she’s the exception to the rule, now isn’t she? I can’t fault her for making her priority about Adam. That’s what a good woman does for her man.

But Eddie Walker? He represents BOTH of us, but it’s never been a secret which of us he favors. I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s never been more relevant to the conversation than it is now. Eddie looks at me like a client, but he looks at Adam like a son. Adrien sees me as Adam’s perky friend Betsy that he’s worked with a little bit; and again, Adam gets the Dad treatment from Mr. Perfect. Both of them would bend over backwards for Adam, any and every time he needs it; whereas I’ve made most of my fame and money completely on my own. My campaigning, my challenges; why do I even have an agent at this point, come to think of it?

Oh well, I’ve come to terms with the fact that when it comes to clients, Adam and Adrien both will always get the preferential treatment and I’ll get whatever crumbs are left.

Unfortunately for them, that just happens to come in the form of the Prestige Title.”

____________________

From the Private Journal of Betsy Granger

January 2019

I can’t believe this is finally happening… Love is an insane thing; I had the love and devotion of a Time Lord who could rip apart the very fabric of reality to make me happy…

And my heart belongs completely to James Raven.

It’s been months since our rather disastrous farewell and I thought for sure James would move on. It’s not like he didn’t have his choice of women thirsting over him constantly; but for some reason, it was always me. Which makes sense, seeing as I echoed those sentiments earlier in this entry.

Of course I called Papa and Adam right away to let them know I was back and that I was safe. When I told Adam about James, he just laughed and said he knew it was coming. Then he started telling me about how things with Tasmin were going, and we just spent the rest of the call being a couple of dummies in love. I tell you something, Journal, I always forget how much I miss that Awkward Boy when I’m away until we’re talking again.

Haaaa, I just realized something funny! In his excitement over Tas, I never got the chance to tell him that I recently started training with Heather and Andreas Lasiewicz…

Maybe next call.

___________________________________

mo·ral·i·ty

/məˈralədē/

Noun

principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior

“Despite my grievances Adam, you are still my best friend. I don’t blame you for being the Golden Son to the old-timers

It’s motivating.

I’ve never hidden the fact that I want to take the Prestige Title from you; I just didn’t let on just how much. And if I have to take your head off with these boots, I will. If I have to take you to the very edge of your pain threshold to make you tap, I will do that too. I’m not afraid to pull my punches, even if it is you I’m facing. It’s easy to tell ourselves this wouldn’t come between us, it doesn’t matter who leaves with the title. As long as it’s one of us, and that at the very least is guaranteed. But I’m onto you more than the rest of the pack. People are so used to Adam the good guy, they hear your words and take them at face value. But I know you too well; underneath all those kind words is the heart of a competitor. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t. So don’t be afraid to say what you mean:

YOU want to leave with the Prestige Title.

Despite all the emotions riled up inside of me right now, I can’t pretend I’m not constantly conflicted about this. It’s easy to get in front of the camera and say words to promote a match; but never have I ever had to do this against someone I love this much. You’ve no doubt seen right through me at this point; you know I would never do anything to win that belt that would monopolize our friendship. Those are the words of a blood-thirsty competitor who wants the shiny. That’s not to say that I won’t come after you with everything I’ve got; I was only half-kidding when I said that thing about taking you to your pain threshold. No, I won’t do anything illegal to cause you harm during the match, but you’ve tasted my submission during spars. You know exactly what you’re in for if you get caught up in my Star Killer.

Will you truly be able to look me in the eye and congratulate me without feeling even the slightest twinge of resentment or disappointment? I want to believe that of everyone I know, you are the one pure, shining beacon of morality and goodness this business severely lacks. I won’t be the one who tries to find those darkest parts of Adam Sanders; I just hope that I’m able to control my own when it’s time to test the levels of my desires against the strength of our friendship...”

________________________

From the Private Journal of Betsy Granger

October 2020

It’s done! I did it; I can’t fucking believe I’m doing this again. Unbeknownst to pretty much EVERYONE, I have officially signed a contract with the XHF Network. To pinpoint it exactly, I signed with Ascension Wrestling Federation, because Adam is already there. He doesn’t even know yet, I don’t even think he knows I’ve been training for almost two years now. I always meant to tell him, but every time we get to gabbing, it slips my mind. I really should remember to bring this up to him, the look on his face when I tell him who trained me will be priceless! Note to self, make sure you have your camera ready when you drop those names to him.

No matter, the look of surprise on his face will be plenty worth it when I show up for my first match. It hasn’t been announced yet; booking wants to save me until next month for some reason. Hey, they’re the professionals, who am I to argue? I just can’t believe I’m dipping my feet into this again, but I just can’t shake the itch to try. Wrestling has always been my passion; I can’t allow two failed attempts to destroy that now. I’ve never given up on anything in my life, nor can I leave anything left unfinished. My wrestling career hadn’t even taken off both times before I tucked tail and ran.

Not this time, though. This time, I’m going to see this through and maybe snag a championship or two along the way. Maybe Adam and I will finally get to form that tag team we fantasized about in college. It’s crazy to think that after nearly seven years, we’re both there. We’ve graduated from Section B to the center of the ring. Well, Adam has; I still have a lot of catching up to do before I can make that claim. I just hope this time goes better than before...

________________________

des·ti·ny

/ˈdestinē/

noun

the hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future; fate.

“The time fast approaches and the die is cast; what happens next is completely in the hands of fate. Those who would turn their nose up and sneer at our final main event are more than welcome to step up once the doors are shut. Shit, y’all should have stepped up while you had the chance; that main event was wide open until I filled it. I didn’t ask to be put there, booking was just smart enough to recognize what would sell. Besides, Betsy Granger is about to hit the XHF as the hottest free agent and a double champion. Who wouldn’t come knocking on my door for the opportunity to test my mettle? Why shouldn’t companies be lining up, contracts and pens in hand, for the opportunity to sign such a hot commodity?

First things first, however, and that’s putting action behind those words. I wouldn’t worry too much about Adam on this front; rumor has it that several feds are already tripping over themselves to get him. Being the current Prestige Champion is helping his marketability right now, which is just great for him. He deserves it, just as he deserves the time he had as the AWF Prestige Champion. Adam Sanders has a long and successful career with hundreds of championships in his future. The Prestige was just the beginning of his breaking out into the big leagues.

Now it’s my turn.

I appreciate you keeping the strap warm for me, bestie, but it’s almost time to hand it over. Nothing can be done to change the inevitable destiny of my becoming the final Prestige Champion for the AWF. You, in the final weeks of its existence, managed to bring back a bit of dignity and pride to that belt, after it was trapped in the hands of one so unworthy. Ascension can retire it’s top prize, knowing that the title of ‘Prestige’ was once more backed up by it’s final two champions.

This is equal parts the most difficult task and easiest mission I’ve ever encountered. The idea of it being you I stare down across the ring as I fight for the biggest prize I’ve ever had a chance at…

I’m sorry it has to be you, Adam, I truly am. But you’ve tasted this sweetest of nectar, and now I want a taste of the same. I can almost see your eyes now, staring at me from across the ring, going through the same flow of emotions I am. There is a deep sense of excitement for all my anxiety. We have the opportunity to create something special and send AWF off with a bang. It is my every intention to give those people what they want. You and I were always destined for this. Even then, the outcome has always been written among the stars for all of time:

Granger Victorious.”