● new relationships and an unexpected setback

[Thadd 2 Badd]

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● OUR LADY OF MT. CARAMEL PARISH SCHOOL
● CLEVELAND, OHIO
● ABSOLUTE INTENSE WRESTLING: COOL AS ICE
● SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2017

“It’s weird as shit to be back here.”

Yazlyn Keihn’s familiar voice caused Athena Odegaarde to turn around. The two best friends were standing in front of the place they had met back when they were just six-years old. Our Lady of Mt. Caramel was a prestigious private school in the Cleveland area that went up to the 8th grade. The two women had countless childhood memories at LoMC and as they stood there staring at the building, both of them took a moment to reflect on those thoughts.

“Right? It’s like legit creepy to think that you lost your V in the gym I’m supposed to wrestle in tonight.”

Yazlyn turned to Athena and shot her a smirk. The feisty brunette was dressed in a pair of olive green short shorts, an oversized, creamed colored cropped sweater, and a pair of black high-heeled gladiator sandals. Her silky, black locks were pulled back in a sleek, high ponytail. “I think you’re still jealous Dustin Rankin picked me over you.”

“We were like 13, and you ended up being slut shamed. Pretty sure I dodged a bullet.” Athena responded by rolling her perfect hazel-colored eyes. She was wearing a skintight, black, cold-shoulder mini-dress that just covered what it needed to cover and black studded combat boots. Her fire-engine red colored hair was down and straight, and flowing perfectly over her tan shoulders. As always, her makeup was expertly done and a bold, red lip completed her look. Athena was a true knock-out.

Yazlyn shrugged her shoulders. “They attempted to slut shame. I fought back.” A genuine smile touched her full pink lips. “Smashing Lia France’s face off the concrete is still the most satisfying moment of my life.”

“And it got you kicked out school and sent right to juvi,” Athena pointed out.

“But that’s how I met Drew, and I think we can both agree how well that worked out for both of us.”

Athena didn’t reply. Her bestie’s boyfriend, Drew Rockwell, was complete trash. She definitely wasn’t a fan. Whenever Yaz brought up Drew, Athena struggled to keep her opinions to herself. It wasn’t like she was in the best position to judge Yazlyn. Athena’s own life - personal and professional - was in shambles anyway.

“Are you ready for your big return match?” Yazlyn broke the silence that had settled over the two.

Athena bit down on her bottom lip. “I honestly don’t know. I’m so grateful everyone went above and beyond to put this together for me, but I don’t think I’m ready. It’s been more than two years since I’ve been inside the ring, and I’m scared Yaz. Breaking my back is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me and what if it happens again? What if this time the injury is a lot worse?”

A look of sympathy crossed Yazlyn’s face. “What happened was a freak accident, ‘Thena. The odds of it happening again are very slim. You’ve been cleared for months and you have been killing it in training. Brandon Freaking Hawke thinks you’re ready to get back in the ring and his word is basically worth everything.”

But Athena wasn’t so sure. “Have you seen the bitch I’m facing before? I looked her up and she is deadly. Azalea Eysseric is not some dainty little flower. In every single match she goes for blood. And while I’m kind of confident in my abilities at this point, I’m not that confidant.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” Yazlyn sighed, but she knew it was pointless to argue. Once Athena got inside her own head, she didn’t see reason or the bright side of things.

“I’m not being ridiculous, I’m being cautious. It wasn’t my decision to take this match. I was kind of forced into this.” Athena was starting to get defensive. She wrapped her arms around her curvaceous body and hugged herself. “Honestly, I think I’d rather just blow this off.”

Yazlyn gave her a bit of a shocked look. “Seriously?”

Athena hesitated, but then nodded her head. Before Yazlyn could reply, the muffled sounds of a male and a female arguing caught their attention.

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“I don’t get why you’re even here if you’re not going to be supportive.”

Azalea Eysseric sounded angry and a little bit exhausted. It felt as if she had been having this conversation with her boyfriend, Thadd Blazevich, all freaking day. The angrier she got, the more defensive Thadd got and for them, it was just a bad combination of personalities.

“Dude, I am being supporting. I just don’t know why the fuck you gotta go to Japan for six months.”

The two of them had made their way outside and came to a stop right outside the school’s gymnasium. They stopped in the light and didn’t notice Athena and Yazlyn stepping back into the shadows to the eavesdrop. Azalea raked a hand through her glossy, sun-kissed blonde hair and sighed. “Because it’s an incredible opportunity, Thadd. Going to Japan is only going to make me better. Wrestling is my entire life and I will do whatever it takes to get better. For someone like me, it’s all about growth. I don’t have a wrestling-famous last name. I don’t have the pedigree that some of the people in this business have. The fact Stardom wants me…” Azalea paused, her words trailing off. “That’s HUGE.”

Thadd leaned on the cane he had been using to walk with and gave her a hard look. Despite the fact his hip was getting stronger and stronger every day, he still needed help walking. “Dude, I get that. So this is like some big opportunity, yada yada. But there are places here you can learn that shit at. Didn’t you go to some fancy school? You want to get better, go back there.”

Azalea shot her boyfriend a look of pure frustration. “Look, unlike some people, I’m not content with just dabbling in mediocrity. Being some backyard wrestling loser might be okay for you, but it’s not for me. Wrestling in high-school gyms is not good enough. I want to wrestle in front of thousands of people, not five.”

Those words cut Thadd like a knife. It was no secret he had devoted himself to wrestling in crappy backyards and doing stupid shit to get noticed. It was all he knew and all his best friends, Crosby Carter and Carsyn Carrabetta knew. No one understood just how hard they worked to make their dreams a reality. Thadd and Crosby didn’t have money to go and train at a wrestling school. They didn’t have the resources people like Azalea had. Thadd could barely afford to eat, especially with the mountain of medical bills he now had thanks to his shattered hip. The fact Azalea would say something so cruel to him when she knew his story just pissed off.

“Dude, what a fucking bitch.” Thadd shook his head, hurt registering in his eyes. “You’re no better than those pampered pussies you turn your nose up at. Dude, I never claimed to be perfect, or some saint, or some fucking legit wrestler. But my bro and me, we aren’t losers. What we do is more dangerous than any fucking headlock or figure four you do. So take your ass to Japan and do all the flippy fucking garbage, and wrestle all these so-called amazing people. My hip will heal. My bro will fight until he makes it. I will get back in that ring, and I will show you just how great a ‘backyard wrestling loser’ can be.”

Thadd turned his back and started to hobble away.

“Thadd! Wait!”

Thadd’s middle finger went up in the air.

“Fuck you, Az.”

With a sigh and a huff, Azalea spun around on her heels and stalked towards the door.

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Athena and Yazlyn waited until the door of the gym slammed shut and Thadd was out of their line of vision, before stepping back out into the open. Both of them looked completely unimpressed with the conversation they had just overheard. Before her injury, Athena had been one of those well-trained, extremely gifted competitors. Her parents hadn’t been wrestlers, but they had been athletes in their own right. Her dad had been an alpine skier in his native country of Norway and her American mother had a high level competitive swimmer. But she had been wrestling in high school gyms and unfavorable places, and she had loved every minute of it. It was all about the experience for Athena, and doing what she loved. If Athena had any doubts about getting back inside the ring, they had been replaced with annoyance.

“I can’t wrestle that girl.”

Yazlyn snorted. “But why, ‘Thena?”

“I’ll literally kill her.”

“You’ll def go to jail.”

Athena placed her hands on her hips. “So, what’s our plan then?”

Yazlyn shrugged. “I mean, we can always follow her hot crippled boyfriend. Like I doubt he’s gotten far.”

Athena giggled. Azalea Eysseric’s boyfriend had definitely been a cutie, cane and all.

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● ALIMONY JACK’S
● PARMA, OHIO
● SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2017

Despite the fact it was nearly three in the morning, Athena was far from tired. So far she had successfully matched Thadd Blazevich shot for shot, and still felt like she had a lot left in her. Unfortunately, Yazlyn had gone beyond her four drink limit and was slumped in a corner, half asleep or dead. Despite the fact Athena was having a lot of fun with Thadd, her first priority was as a best friend. She tossed her hair back and leaned against the bar. “I’ve got to get her home.”

Disappointment crossed Thadd’s handsome face. Despite the unnecessary drama with Azalea, tonight had turned out to be a good night. His new friend, Athena (forget trying to pronounce her last name; Thadd couldn’t) was a smoke show. He placed his cane against the bar and dug his phone out of his pocket. Almost as quickly as he pulled it out, Athena was taking it out of his hands. The amount of missed calls and unanswered texts he had from his girlfriend amused the redhead to no end. A sly little smile touched her lips. “Shouldn’t you return those texts?”

Using the bar as a prop for support, Thadd shrugged. “Nah.”

Athena shot him a look and took the liberty of programming her number into his phone. Once she was done, she slipped the busted up Galaxy into Thadd’s pocket and grabbed her purse from the stool she had sat it on.

Her actions amused Thadd, and he was never one to lack confidence when it came to window. “You seem to like me.”

Athena shrugged. “You’re cute for a cripple.”

“I mean, there’s more to me than just a broken hip.”

Athena nodded towards the cane and decided to tease him a bit. “You mean that thing?”

“My pimp stick?”

Athena stifled a laugh. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

A mischievous look flickered in Thadd’s gorgeous blue eyes. He took his cane and leaned on it, seizing the opportunity to fully appreciate the woman who had ended up making his night. “Gotta keep ‘em in line somehow.”

With a flick of her foot, Athena kicked the cane out from underneath Thadd and quickly grabbed onto him before he lost his balance. Thadd was only two or three inches taller than Athena, but he was built and his muscles tensed as their bodies collided with one another. Athena was shocked at the rush of adrenaline she felt the minute Thadd fell into her, but she didn’t shy away. It was the most action she’d had in nearly a year.

“I bet you can’t keep anyone in line,” Athena finally managed to say. Her face was mere inches from Thadd’s, and his arms had locked around the small of her back. “It’s fun to try,” he finally replied.

“Seriously, though. What’s the deal with your hip?”

“Trust me, it doesn’t hinder anything.”

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● MOUNT SINAI ST. LUKES
● NEW YORK, NEW YORK
● FEBRUARY 12TH, 2018

Athena looked at Thadd and gave his hand a squeeze. “Are you ready?”

Thadd no longer needed his cane to walk. In fact, his formerly shattered hip was healed. Today was the day he would find out if he would be cleared to wrestle and the stakes had never been higher. Thanks to his best friend’s number one girl, Thadd had a contract with a company called The Factory. It was everything he had ever dreamed of, and it was his opportunity to show the world he was more than just some backyard wrestler.

“Dude, I’ve been waiting on this day. I’m stoked. I feel great. I’m ripped.” Thadd smirked. “I’m ready to get back in that ring.”

Athena was genuinely excited for him. The two of them had grown incredibly close in the last few months, and for the past three weeks, they had been together every day. “I can’t wait to watch. I loved the show Friday. When Crosby jumped off that barn my heart stopped.”

“Dude is legit. No fucks are given once that bell rings for Cros.” Thadd always spoke with such pride when it came to his bestie. He ran a hand through his flawless dirty blond locks and looked down at his phone. Prior to his injury, Thadd would have gladly been jumping off the top of a barn with Crosby any day of the week. But now he had some reservations. It wasn’t like he would ever speak this sort of thing out loud, but there was doubt in the back of his mind.

“From what I know, The Factory is the perfect place for both of you. You’re going to be a star.”

Before Thadd could reply, a nurse stuck her head out of a door. “Thaddeus McClellan!”

Thadd took a deep breath. “That’s me.” He dropped a kiss on the top of Athena’s fiery hair and made his way back. The nurse led him to Dr. Regina McReynolds’ office and had him take a seat. Thadd had already been checked over and given a clean bill of health a week ago, but due to The Factory calling, he needed a medical release that he could wrestle. Thadd was simply here to get his surgeon’s signature.

“Good morning,” Dr. McReynold’s greeted him as she walked into her office. Thadd only had to wait a few minutes before she appeared. She greeted Thadd with a friendly handshake, but he wasn’t able to read her face. She sat down behind her desk and pulled out a file. “I understand you need medical clearance in order to accept a contract with a wrestling company.”

Thadd nodded. “It’s the biggest opportunity I’ve had since I started my career.”

Dr. McReynolds gave him a small smile. “Unfortunately with an injury such as yours, I can’t give you medical clearance right now in good conscience. Your hip suffered a lot of trauma and I’m afraid if something like this happens to you again, it might result in you needing a full blown hip replacement. I’m sorry Thadd, but I don’t think you should be wrestling right now.”

Thadd blinked, almost as if he hadn’t heard her. “Sorry, what?”

Dr. McReynolds gave him a sympathetic smile. “Four to six months down the line, we can re-evaluate you. I’m very sorry.”

A shell-shocked Thadd didn’t know what to say. Being told he wasn’t ready to get back in the ring is literally the last thing in the world he had expected to hear. Dr. McReynolds paused for a few seconds to allow Thadd to process what she had said and then got to her feet. Numbly, Thadd followed suit. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I hope you understand. You’re only 23 and you have your entire life ahead of you. That last thing you want is to undergo a full blown hip replacement and walk with a limp for the rest of your life. I’m not ruling wrestling out completely for you, but I would like to schedule a physical and re-evaluation for you in four months. You can make the appointment before you leave if you’d like.” Dr. McReynolds paused. “I’ve seen of the stuff online that’s been posted about and your friends. Whereas I might not understand it, I can’t say that I didn’t find it interesting. I can see the love you have for your sport in your eyes and I’m really hopeful that one day you you’ll be ready.”

Thadd didn’t reply. Dr. McReynolds led him to the door and patted him on the back as he made his exit. It only took a few moments for Thadd to regain his composure and mask his face. He wasn’t going to pass up The Factory. Carsyn had gone out on a limb for him, and his friends knew just how badly he wanted this.

As soon as Thadd walked through the door, Athena’s perfect face lit up. “Well?!”

Thadd plastered the most arrogant smile on his face that he could muster. “The bro is gold. We’re going to The Factory.”

Athena threw her arms around him. “It’s going to be fantastic.”

"Bro-tastic," Thadd corrected and hugged her back, burying his face in her hair.

Now he just had to figure out how to forge a medical clearance.