Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 0:32:37 GMT -6
(OOC: For continuity purposes, this takes place before the promo against DeMarcus Jordan. This also mentions Tabitha Silverstone, her agent, and the effect she's had on Casey as she went from "good girl" to "corporate sellout", though she's not introduced just yet. Story continues this coming week)
Date: December 19, 2016
Black Mass hadn't ended for even a half hour, but I remember the event like it was just yesterday. I sat down on a crate that was near the exit of the Barclays Center and to say that I was overjoyed was a massive understatement. I looked at the new UCI Rising Stars championship that was sprawled across my lap and for the last hour or so, I was beaming with pride. There was a part of me that was in disbelief that I had won this title so soon in UCI, but there was the other part of me that wasn't so surprised, as it knew all along it was capable of something like this.
Casey: This...
While I have definitely shown some bravado and some arrogance on camera, preaching what I truly believed, that I was the prodigy of my generation, I wasn't too much different from how anyone else would react when they had a championship on their laps.
Casey: ...this is special. This is everything!
I thought back to how things were, before I had arrived in UCI, how painful it had been to deal with the experiences that I had went through at the time. I remembered when I won my first championship at my previous employer and how cruelly that was ripped away from me. Remembering that painful moment caused me to squint my eyes for a second, but in large part, I remained in control over my emotions.
Casey: There's no way I will ever let anyone cheat me out of this, or any championship I come across ever again! I will NEVER deal with what I went through before! I'm smarter than that!
I reflected back at the second championship I won, how amazing it was to pull such an incredible victory, only for it to fall apart yet again just two weeks later. This struck a nerve, as it was even more painful than before.
Casey: It's not going to happen again, I'm not going to have another two week bullshit reign. For ONCE I get to enjoy a title win!
That last second, I spoke it with a bit of passion and anger in my voice. I stared at the Rising Stars championship, with mixed emotions. These emotions were positive, but there was a half of me that wanted to celebrate it and enjoy it to my heart's content, but the other half was skeptical and focused, knowing that someone could rip this away from me at any moment. The latter feeling eventually won out and I started to concentrate on that quite a bit. However, that concentration was about to be broken.
Voice: Casey...
Said broken concentration was something I didn't mind, especially since it was the soft, familiar voice of my mother who was standing at the entrance of the arena. I looked at her, surprised to see her, but she had a smile on her face. I knew she was happy for me.
Casey: Mom...
Casey's mother: Congratulations. I guess that makes everything you went through this year worth it, right?
I slid off the crate I was standing on, the title in my hands. I threw it over my shoulder, once more thinking about what I had to overcome throughout 2016 in order to get to this point.
Casey: Yeah... I guess it does...
Casey's mother: Confidence, Casey...
I couldn't help but chuckle at this.
Casey: You bet it does! And you know what's funny? That little bitch tried to throw the past in my face too. Who the hell does she think she is trying to air my dirty laundry like that?
Casey's mother: It doesn't matter anymore. You took her title, and I think you've put some old demons to rest. Isn't it amazing how breaking away from your father and his nonsense can be so rewarding? Was HE ever this close to you when you got a big win like this?
I shook my head, but I didn't let it bother me.
Casey: No. He expected it, but he never told me 'congratulations'. He's... not important anymore.
Casey's mother: I'm sure Tabitha is going to be extremely happy with you. Imagine the sponsorship money that's going to come out of this.
I smirked at the mention of my agent, who I had met after I left my previous company. Tabitha Silverstone certainly set the table for me when she not only brought me aboard, but got me signed with UCI. That's a woman that has definitely changed my life for the better.
Casey: I think we should celebrate, mom. Maybe Tabs is up for something... if she's not too busy.
Casey's mother: Want me to call and ask? I'm sure she'll make time for you, especially after what you won tonight. Give me a minute, but before I do that Casey... I'm going to tell you right now... this is just the beginning of even more special things for you. Believe me on that!
My mother smiled at me before she turned and walked a bit further from me to make a quick phone call to Tabitha Silverstone. With this brief moment, I took some time to further enjoy my UCI Rising Stars championship win, truly believing that I had turned a corner and that the hurtful stuff I had to overcome in my rookie year had finally been put behind me.
Date: January 1, 2017
On New Year's Day, in my Bellevue apartment, I was largely minding my own business, setting up for my promo against DeMarcus Jordan on the next night's Overload. It was largely quiet, as it had to be in order to focus on what I had to say about the Watch The Throne tournament that was going to get started. I walked up to my camcorder, about to turn it on and start filming, but before I pressed the button, I heard the doorbell ringing. I was instantly annoyed by that development as I sighed and rolled my eyes. I reluctantly walked to the front door, opening it without even seeing who it was. When I actually SAW who it was, I instantly became annoyed.
Casey: Veronica... SERIOUSLY?
Veronica happened to be my childhood friend from the age of three, so she's been in my life since BEFORE my parents got divorced. I haven't seen too much of her as my wrestling career on the mainstream has gone along, but still, I wasn't very happy to see her.
Veronica: ...Casey...
Casey: Go away, Veronica!
Veronica: What?
Casey: You're bad luck!
Veronica: What are you talking about?
Casey: Every time we talk before I have a big match, I always lose! You're a jinx!
Veronica: What? Casey, what the hell?
Casey: We met at the mall before I was robbed of the TV title I had, remember?
Veronica: Oh god, Casey...it's the holidays. I just wanted to see you, for once... since we don't even see each other that much anymore.
Casey: Duh, I'm busy. Obvious reasons: pro wrestler, corporate America darling, all that sort of thing?
Veronica: Right... that. Can we talk?
Casey: No.
Veronica: I'm just concerned about...
Casey: About what? That I'm "not like I used to be a year ago"? *scoffs* Save it. Why should I hear this lecture from you? I am doing what I have to do for my career okay? You know how badly I wanted this growing up and I had to do what I am doing now because what was going on with my career originally wasn't going down the way I wanted. You have to do what you have to do to get ahead.
Veronica: But...I don't know THIS Casey... that's the thing.
Casey: I'm still me. Forget it, I am not going to explain while the neighbors might be able to hear us. Come in and maybe I'll explain where I'm coming from.
I stepped aside, allowing Veronica to enter my apartment even though I had no desire to. I turned my back toward her, walking toward the living room, trying the best that I can to ignore her.
Veronica: So, do you mind telling me what this is all about?
Casey: Where do you want me to start?
Veronica: Who is this agent? This... Tabitha Silverstone...
Casey: Only a marketing genius, Veronica, someone who will do for me what many before her before me failed to do. My father? What did he ever do for me? He didn't have the capability of teaching me how to be a mainstream star, because the Independent scene is as far as he has gone. There was nobody at that school that could teach me a damn thing. Yeah, that school creates Indy darlings, but why is it that I'm only the second wrestler in the decade or so that the school has been open, that has even been mainstream at all? Wait, you can't answer that. You have never been involved in this business, not even as a fan. It's all about the marketing, Veronica. With a marketing machine behind me, THIS is possible! I get to live where I want, I get to enjoy my life the way I want. With endorsements alone, I make 25% more a year than I did in THAT company and with my face all over the place, I'm a hot commodity and the money is going to keep on coming.
Veronica: But she's corrupt, Casey. Some of the business practices that she has done to get ahead...
I turned toward her, clearly annoyed.
Casey: WHO CARES? It's WORKING! THIS is life, Veronica! Life isn't being a homeless, traveling wrestler! Life is living your dreams and living the quality of life that you deserve to have. I DESERVE THIS! Tabitha Silverstone has changed my life for the better. In fact, I'll even say that she's saved my life from financial ruin. I mean... *laughs*... there was a time where I said I wouldn't sell my soul for my dreams, but that was the OLD Casey... sweet, innocent... STUPID... Casey....
Veronica: Are you even listening to yourself right now? What has gotten into you?
Casey: Common sense! For so many years, I've been pushed around. I've had to follow my father's rules and his nonsense. In high school, I was mocked for wanting to be a wrestler, remember that? I was bullied for being 'daddy's little girl'. I wasn't going to have that anymore.
Veronica: You were fine through high school though. It wasn't until the middle of your career in SCW...
Casey: DON'T SAY THOSE LETTERS!!!!
Veronica's eyes widened a bit, as she was surprised by my sudden order.
Veronica: SCW?
Casey: Yes. Those letters are POISON! I refuse to mention that hellhole by name, Veronica. What they did to me... no... I won't get into that. I've said too much...
Veronica: What they did to you??? That's it, isn't it? Casey, you had a 2016 there that so many of your former co-workers would be jealous of. But it wasn't exactly how you wanted it? I don't understand. I'd love to have accomplished what you did there. You mean to tell me that what you accomplished wasn't good enough?
Casey: I'm not implying that what I accomplished there wasn't good enough. What I am implying is that I've heard the nonsense you spewed just now and they are overrating and overstating my accomplishments. "Oh you won Trios" right, good going. I'll give them that. "But you won two championships there". Get out of here with that. They were both gone within two weeks. Both title wins were presented as upsets. Did you hear that commentary, Veronica? It's like I was never SUPPOSED to win those titles, and when they were gone? You know what that made those title wins? FLUKES! The entire world expected so fucking much of me because of ONE god damn tournament. How could my accomplishments there EVER be good enough for me? I went to UCI, and within two matches, I became a champion again and this time, it's going to last. I treated that Trios contract, you know, forcing two women to dress in something scantily clad, as my way of saying "fuck you" to that place. If they weren't going to treat me with the respect I deserved, then why should I bother? Does it sound ungrateful? Probably. But what that company did... what they enabled to occur...
I paused, waiting for Veronica to make some snark comment, but to my surprise, that didn't quite happen.
Casey: Everyone that ever did something to me got away with it. And yet, I am suspended for an accident? Seriously? I LOATHE the fact that Abigail Lindsey opened that can of worms, but hey, I took her title from her, so all's well that ends well... FOR ONCE, Veronica. FOR... FUCKING... ONCE!!!! That person, pre-Silverstone, was a piece of shit!
Veronica: That "person" is my best friend!
Casey: What are you saying?
Veronica: She wasn't shit, Casey...
Casey: So why did everything happen to me the way they did? Why was I always a victim? Why was I always a pushover? Seeing Dion Necurat go on social media and COMPLAIN about how I "stole his victory" makes me laugh and shake my head at the same time. You know that a half year ago, in Milwaukee, I had a five way match won, and that got stolen from me, right? You know... like how my spotlight at their flagship show never happened because they disrespected me by putting me on the FUCKING PRE-SHOW?!?!?!?
Veronica: It's not a big deal...
Casey: Not a big deal? Oh so being relegated to something beneath what you know in your heart you are capable of isn't a big deal? I am NOT a pre-show act, Veronica! Can you answer me WHY I was always the victim and the pushover who got taken advantage of all the time?
Veronica doesn't say anything, at least, not initially.
Casey: That's right. You can't! Because unless you become a wrestler yourself, which is obviously not going to happen, you will never know what it's like to go through what I went through. "That's wrestling". No, that's BULLSHIT! And it was always ME putting up with that garbage... ALL the time! You weren't the one that got kicked out of your own house by your own father, Veronica. You weren't the one that had to travel homeless for months. You weren't the one that came back to Seattle in front of all your friends and family and got EMBARRASSED and HUMILIATED in front of the world...
Mentioning the latter point is what started to get me quite a bit emotional.
Casey: You SAW that because YOU were there, in the audience. Remember? And funny thing is, I stayed with you at your place in the days leading up to that match. Yeah, JINX! YOU of all people should know how awful that night was.
Veronica: Oh god... the Jake Starr thing...
Casey: DON'T say his name! Please!
Veronica: You can't run away from all this...
Casey: I am NOT running away. I wouldn't be in UCI right now if I was. I NEVER quit this business, Veronica.
Veronica: But acting this way, selling yourself out to Tabitha Silverstone, treating every single thing like it's the end of the world... none of this is you...
Casey: You don't have a right to dictate who I am, and who I am not. But THAT is the Casey you want, Veronica? The pushover? The embarrassment? The tomboy piece of trash with no fashion sense whatsoever who was 21 going on 12? THAT is the Casey Holliday you want?
Veronica: To be honest, she's far more likable than the Casey Holliday that's standing in front of me right now. This whole wrestling thing has gotten to your head. You might have a new attitude, a new look, a new wardrobe and a new lifestyle, Casey, but that's not going to change who you are at the core, the Casey that I know, that I want...
Casey: It's not about what YOU want, Veronica. It's about what I want and what I want, and what I am going to get, is to be the wrestling superstar of the 2020's, to be a world champion, to be the prodigy of my generation! I don't want to be held back by people like you. I will NOT let you peer pressure me anymore into doing what you want me to do. Every time you showed up this year, you wanted me to make you happy when I got into that ring. It was never about what I wanted, only about the peer pressure you put on me. No wonder I lost every time we hung out! It was always about what my school wanted: to represent them and make them proud of me for giving them hope! That is NOT pressure I should have. Maintaining my prodigal status is pressure enough, I don't need to pacify a bunch of wrestling school rejects that can't hack it mainstream. It was always about what my dad wanted, and expected out of me. I was never good enough for him, Veronica. I was never even good enough for YOU... even now....
Veronica: Casey, don't be ridiculous...
Casey: Ridiculous?
I clenched my fists, trying to avoid hitting my best friend.
Casey: "Don't be like this, Casey" "Don't feel that way, Casey" "You shouldn't be doing that, Casey" "Casey, you're being something you told me you'd never be" "I don't like this, Casey", does that sound familiar to you? It should, because no matter WHAT I did, you have ALWAYS been giving me shit about something. Henceforth, I was never good enough for you. How's that for being ridiculous?
Veronica said nothing, and my emotions became out of control at this point as tears started flowing down my face. I let out a sigh of self-annoyance as I didn't want it to get to this point for me,
Casey: It was always about everybody else. It was always about being pressured into making other people happy. It was never about ME being happy! Why can't you understand that? Why can't you understand how that pressure broke me apart time and time again in THAT company? I know I need to be better at pressure situations. UCI's watch the throne tournament is a leaning experience with that and I'm going to succeed there because I am not pressuring myself to make YOU happy anymore. You don't deserve me as a friend, Veronica.
Veronica's face looked white as a ghost at this point.
Veronica: Casey...
Casey: I need to think about my future, and who is with me or against me. I've got all these endorsements lined up, a world class agent in Tabitha Silverstone, a burgeoning reputation in the corporate world, media after media to attend to, a career like no other in front of me... how much longer can I carry people like you around in my life?
Veronica: Casey... 18 years now... come on. You can't be serious.
Casey: I AM serious, Veronica. Dead serious!
I paused to wipe some tears away.
Casey: You have your life, I have mine. You have your career, I have mine. We're not compatible enough to be friends anymore.
Veronica: Casey, please think about this...
Casey: I've been thinking about this for a long time, Veronica...
I gave her an angry stare for a split second, before I completely turned my back to her and folded my arms. I heard a small gasp of shock from her.
Veronica: Well I'll be damned...
Casey: Screw you...
Veronica: I hope Tabitha makes you happy. I really do.
I merely rolled my eyes.
Veronica: All these years Casey... all these years...
There was a split second silence before I heard her turn around, walk away, leave my confines and shut the door. I got myself together, not giving one iota of a damn of essentially cutting off a friendship that lasted 18 years. I shook my head, feeling largely indifferent.
Casey: Whatever...I have a tournament to win.
At that point, I started thinking about the tournament, instantly forgetting about Veronica and the peer pressure that I had put aside. DeMarcus Jordan was in focus, and I turned around and walked to the bathroom, annoyed that I had some makeup to reapply due to the brief episode of shed tears during that conversation, before ultimately regathering myself for my promo against DeMarcus.
Prologue: Happy Holidays
Date: December 19, 2016
Black Mass hadn't ended for even a half hour, but I remember the event like it was just yesterday. I sat down on a crate that was near the exit of the Barclays Center and to say that I was overjoyed was a massive understatement. I looked at the new UCI Rising Stars championship that was sprawled across my lap and for the last hour or so, I was beaming with pride. There was a part of me that was in disbelief that I had won this title so soon in UCI, but there was the other part of me that wasn't so surprised, as it knew all along it was capable of something like this.
Casey: This...
While I have definitely shown some bravado and some arrogance on camera, preaching what I truly believed, that I was the prodigy of my generation, I wasn't too much different from how anyone else would react when they had a championship on their laps.
Casey: ...this is special. This is everything!
I thought back to how things were, before I had arrived in UCI, how painful it had been to deal with the experiences that I had went through at the time. I remembered when I won my first championship at my previous employer and how cruelly that was ripped away from me. Remembering that painful moment caused me to squint my eyes for a second, but in large part, I remained in control over my emotions.
Casey: There's no way I will ever let anyone cheat me out of this, or any championship I come across ever again! I will NEVER deal with what I went through before! I'm smarter than that!
I reflected back at the second championship I won, how amazing it was to pull such an incredible victory, only for it to fall apart yet again just two weeks later. This struck a nerve, as it was even more painful than before.
Casey: It's not going to happen again, I'm not going to have another two week bullshit reign. For ONCE I get to enjoy a title win!
That last second, I spoke it with a bit of passion and anger in my voice. I stared at the Rising Stars championship, with mixed emotions. These emotions were positive, but there was a half of me that wanted to celebrate it and enjoy it to my heart's content, but the other half was skeptical and focused, knowing that someone could rip this away from me at any moment. The latter feeling eventually won out and I started to concentrate on that quite a bit. However, that concentration was about to be broken.
Voice: Casey...
Said broken concentration was something I didn't mind, especially since it was the soft, familiar voice of my mother who was standing at the entrance of the arena. I looked at her, surprised to see her, but she had a smile on her face. I knew she was happy for me.
Casey: Mom...
Casey's mother: Congratulations. I guess that makes everything you went through this year worth it, right?
I slid off the crate I was standing on, the title in my hands. I threw it over my shoulder, once more thinking about what I had to overcome throughout 2016 in order to get to this point.
Casey: Yeah... I guess it does...
Casey's mother: Confidence, Casey...
I couldn't help but chuckle at this.
Casey: You bet it does! And you know what's funny? That little bitch tried to throw the past in my face too. Who the hell does she think she is trying to air my dirty laundry like that?
Casey's mother: It doesn't matter anymore. You took her title, and I think you've put some old demons to rest. Isn't it amazing how breaking away from your father and his nonsense can be so rewarding? Was HE ever this close to you when you got a big win like this?
I shook my head, but I didn't let it bother me.
Casey: No. He expected it, but he never told me 'congratulations'. He's... not important anymore.
Casey's mother: I'm sure Tabitha is going to be extremely happy with you. Imagine the sponsorship money that's going to come out of this.
I smirked at the mention of my agent, who I had met after I left my previous company. Tabitha Silverstone certainly set the table for me when she not only brought me aboard, but got me signed with UCI. That's a woman that has definitely changed my life for the better.
Casey: I think we should celebrate, mom. Maybe Tabs is up for something... if she's not too busy.
Casey's mother: Want me to call and ask? I'm sure she'll make time for you, especially after what you won tonight. Give me a minute, but before I do that Casey... I'm going to tell you right now... this is just the beginning of even more special things for you. Believe me on that!
My mother smiled at me before she turned and walked a bit further from me to make a quick phone call to Tabitha Silverstone. With this brief moment, I took some time to further enjoy my UCI Rising Stars championship win, truly believing that I had turned a corner and that the hurtful stuff I had to overcome in my rookie year had finally been put behind me.
Part One: Peer Pressure
Date: January 1, 2017
On New Year's Day, in my Bellevue apartment, I was largely minding my own business, setting up for my promo against DeMarcus Jordan on the next night's Overload. It was largely quiet, as it had to be in order to focus on what I had to say about the Watch The Throne tournament that was going to get started. I walked up to my camcorder, about to turn it on and start filming, but before I pressed the button, I heard the doorbell ringing. I was instantly annoyed by that development as I sighed and rolled my eyes. I reluctantly walked to the front door, opening it without even seeing who it was. When I actually SAW who it was, I instantly became annoyed.
Casey: Veronica... SERIOUSLY?
Veronica happened to be my childhood friend from the age of three, so she's been in my life since BEFORE my parents got divorced. I haven't seen too much of her as my wrestling career on the mainstream has gone along, but still, I wasn't very happy to see her.
Veronica: ...Casey...
Casey: Go away, Veronica!
Veronica: What?
Casey: You're bad luck!
Veronica: What are you talking about?
Casey: Every time we talk before I have a big match, I always lose! You're a jinx!
Veronica: What? Casey, what the hell?
Casey: We met at the mall before I was robbed of the TV title I had, remember?
Veronica: Oh god, Casey...it's the holidays. I just wanted to see you, for once... since we don't even see each other that much anymore.
Casey: Duh, I'm busy. Obvious reasons: pro wrestler, corporate America darling, all that sort of thing?
Veronica: Right... that. Can we talk?
Casey: No.
Veronica: I'm just concerned about...
Casey: About what? That I'm "not like I used to be a year ago"? *scoffs* Save it. Why should I hear this lecture from you? I am doing what I have to do for my career okay? You know how badly I wanted this growing up and I had to do what I am doing now because what was going on with my career originally wasn't going down the way I wanted. You have to do what you have to do to get ahead.
Veronica: But...I don't know THIS Casey... that's the thing.
Casey: I'm still me. Forget it, I am not going to explain while the neighbors might be able to hear us. Come in and maybe I'll explain where I'm coming from.
I stepped aside, allowing Veronica to enter my apartment even though I had no desire to. I turned my back toward her, walking toward the living room, trying the best that I can to ignore her.
Veronica: So, do you mind telling me what this is all about?
Casey: Where do you want me to start?
Veronica: Who is this agent? This... Tabitha Silverstone...
Casey: Only a marketing genius, Veronica, someone who will do for me what many before her before me failed to do. My father? What did he ever do for me? He didn't have the capability of teaching me how to be a mainstream star, because the Independent scene is as far as he has gone. There was nobody at that school that could teach me a damn thing. Yeah, that school creates Indy darlings, but why is it that I'm only the second wrestler in the decade or so that the school has been open, that has even been mainstream at all? Wait, you can't answer that. You have never been involved in this business, not even as a fan. It's all about the marketing, Veronica. With a marketing machine behind me, THIS is possible! I get to live where I want, I get to enjoy my life the way I want. With endorsements alone, I make 25% more a year than I did in THAT company and with my face all over the place, I'm a hot commodity and the money is going to keep on coming.
Veronica: But she's corrupt, Casey. Some of the business practices that she has done to get ahead...
I turned toward her, clearly annoyed.
Casey: WHO CARES? It's WORKING! THIS is life, Veronica! Life isn't being a homeless, traveling wrestler! Life is living your dreams and living the quality of life that you deserve to have. I DESERVE THIS! Tabitha Silverstone has changed my life for the better. In fact, I'll even say that she's saved my life from financial ruin. I mean... *laughs*... there was a time where I said I wouldn't sell my soul for my dreams, but that was the OLD Casey... sweet, innocent... STUPID... Casey....
Veronica: Are you even listening to yourself right now? What has gotten into you?
Casey: Common sense! For so many years, I've been pushed around. I've had to follow my father's rules and his nonsense. In high school, I was mocked for wanting to be a wrestler, remember that? I was bullied for being 'daddy's little girl'. I wasn't going to have that anymore.
Veronica: You were fine through high school though. It wasn't until the middle of your career in SCW...
Casey: DON'T SAY THOSE LETTERS!!!!
Veronica's eyes widened a bit, as she was surprised by my sudden order.
Veronica: SCW?
Casey: Yes. Those letters are POISON! I refuse to mention that hellhole by name, Veronica. What they did to me... no... I won't get into that. I've said too much...
Veronica: What they did to you??? That's it, isn't it? Casey, you had a 2016 there that so many of your former co-workers would be jealous of. But it wasn't exactly how you wanted it? I don't understand. I'd love to have accomplished what you did there. You mean to tell me that what you accomplished wasn't good enough?
Casey: I'm not implying that what I accomplished there wasn't good enough. What I am implying is that I've heard the nonsense you spewed just now and they are overrating and overstating my accomplishments. "Oh you won Trios" right, good going. I'll give them that. "But you won two championships there". Get out of here with that. They were both gone within two weeks. Both title wins were presented as upsets. Did you hear that commentary, Veronica? It's like I was never SUPPOSED to win those titles, and when they were gone? You know what that made those title wins? FLUKES! The entire world expected so fucking much of me because of ONE god damn tournament. How could my accomplishments there EVER be good enough for me? I went to UCI, and within two matches, I became a champion again and this time, it's going to last. I treated that Trios contract, you know, forcing two women to dress in something scantily clad, as my way of saying "fuck you" to that place. If they weren't going to treat me with the respect I deserved, then why should I bother? Does it sound ungrateful? Probably. But what that company did... what they enabled to occur...
I paused, waiting for Veronica to make some snark comment, but to my surprise, that didn't quite happen.
Casey: Everyone that ever did something to me got away with it. And yet, I am suspended for an accident? Seriously? I LOATHE the fact that Abigail Lindsey opened that can of worms, but hey, I took her title from her, so all's well that ends well... FOR ONCE, Veronica. FOR... FUCKING... ONCE!!!! That person, pre-Silverstone, was a piece of shit!
Veronica: That "person" is my best friend!
Casey: What are you saying?
Veronica: She wasn't shit, Casey...
Casey: So why did everything happen to me the way they did? Why was I always a victim? Why was I always a pushover? Seeing Dion Necurat go on social media and COMPLAIN about how I "stole his victory" makes me laugh and shake my head at the same time. You know that a half year ago, in Milwaukee, I had a five way match won, and that got stolen from me, right? You know... like how my spotlight at their flagship show never happened because they disrespected me by putting me on the FUCKING PRE-SHOW?!?!?!?
Veronica: It's not a big deal...
Casey: Not a big deal? Oh so being relegated to something beneath what you know in your heart you are capable of isn't a big deal? I am NOT a pre-show act, Veronica! Can you answer me WHY I was always the victim and the pushover who got taken advantage of all the time?
Veronica doesn't say anything, at least, not initially.
Casey: That's right. You can't! Because unless you become a wrestler yourself, which is obviously not going to happen, you will never know what it's like to go through what I went through. "That's wrestling". No, that's BULLSHIT! And it was always ME putting up with that garbage... ALL the time! You weren't the one that got kicked out of your own house by your own father, Veronica. You weren't the one that had to travel homeless for months. You weren't the one that came back to Seattle in front of all your friends and family and got EMBARRASSED and HUMILIATED in front of the world...
Mentioning the latter point is what started to get me quite a bit emotional.
Casey: You SAW that because YOU were there, in the audience. Remember? And funny thing is, I stayed with you at your place in the days leading up to that match. Yeah, JINX! YOU of all people should know how awful that night was.
Veronica: Oh god... the Jake Starr thing...
Casey: DON'T say his name! Please!
Veronica: You can't run away from all this...
Casey: I am NOT running away. I wouldn't be in UCI right now if I was. I NEVER quit this business, Veronica.
Veronica: But acting this way, selling yourself out to Tabitha Silverstone, treating every single thing like it's the end of the world... none of this is you...
Casey: You don't have a right to dictate who I am, and who I am not. But THAT is the Casey you want, Veronica? The pushover? The embarrassment? The tomboy piece of trash with no fashion sense whatsoever who was 21 going on 12? THAT is the Casey Holliday you want?
Veronica: To be honest, she's far more likable than the Casey Holliday that's standing in front of me right now. This whole wrestling thing has gotten to your head. You might have a new attitude, a new look, a new wardrobe and a new lifestyle, Casey, but that's not going to change who you are at the core, the Casey that I know, that I want...
Casey: It's not about what YOU want, Veronica. It's about what I want and what I want, and what I am going to get, is to be the wrestling superstar of the 2020's, to be a world champion, to be the prodigy of my generation! I don't want to be held back by people like you. I will NOT let you peer pressure me anymore into doing what you want me to do. Every time you showed up this year, you wanted me to make you happy when I got into that ring. It was never about what I wanted, only about the peer pressure you put on me. No wonder I lost every time we hung out! It was always about what my school wanted: to represent them and make them proud of me for giving them hope! That is NOT pressure I should have. Maintaining my prodigal status is pressure enough, I don't need to pacify a bunch of wrestling school rejects that can't hack it mainstream. It was always about what my dad wanted, and expected out of me. I was never good enough for him, Veronica. I was never even good enough for YOU... even now....
Veronica: Casey, don't be ridiculous...
Casey: Ridiculous?
I clenched my fists, trying to avoid hitting my best friend.
Casey: "Don't be like this, Casey" "Don't feel that way, Casey" "You shouldn't be doing that, Casey" "Casey, you're being something you told me you'd never be" "I don't like this, Casey", does that sound familiar to you? It should, because no matter WHAT I did, you have ALWAYS been giving me shit about something. Henceforth, I was never good enough for you. How's that for being ridiculous?
Veronica said nothing, and my emotions became out of control at this point as tears started flowing down my face. I let out a sigh of self-annoyance as I didn't want it to get to this point for me,
Casey: It was always about everybody else. It was always about being pressured into making other people happy. It was never about ME being happy! Why can't you understand that? Why can't you understand how that pressure broke me apart time and time again in THAT company? I know I need to be better at pressure situations. UCI's watch the throne tournament is a leaning experience with that and I'm going to succeed there because I am not pressuring myself to make YOU happy anymore. You don't deserve me as a friend, Veronica.
Veronica's face looked white as a ghost at this point.
Veronica: Casey...
Casey: I need to think about my future, and who is with me or against me. I've got all these endorsements lined up, a world class agent in Tabitha Silverstone, a burgeoning reputation in the corporate world, media after media to attend to, a career like no other in front of me... how much longer can I carry people like you around in my life?
Veronica: Casey... 18 years now... come on. You can't be serious.
Casey: I AM serious, Veronica. Dead serious!
I paused to wipe some tears away.
Casey: You have your life, I have mine. You have your career, I have mine. We're not compatible enough to be friends anymore.
Veronica: Casey, please think about this...
Casey: I've been thinking about this for a long time, Veronica...
I gave her an angry stare for a split second, before I completely turned my back to her and folded my arms. I heard a small gasp of shock from her.
Veronica: Well I'll be damned...
Casey: Screw you...
Veronica: I hope Tabitha makes you happy. I really do.
I merely rolled my eyes.
Veronica: All these years Casey... all these years...
There was a split second silence before I heard her turn around, walk away, leave my confines and shut the door. I got myself together, not giving one iota of a damn of essentially cutting off a friendship that lasted 18 years. I shook my head, feeling largely indifferent.
Casey: Whatever...I have a tournament to win.
At that point, I started thinking about the tournament, instantly forgetting about Veronica and the peer pressure that I had put aside. DeMarcus Jordan was in focus, and I turned around and walked to the bathroom, annoyed that I had some makeup to reapply due to the brief episode of shed tears during that conversation, before ultimately regathering myself for my promo against DeMarcus.