Chapter 2: Making Friends

Well, Maggie. Of all the ideas you’ve ever had… this was definitely one of them.

Shortly after getting off the phone with Alina, I’d called Kathy Davies to introduce myself and finalize the details of the booking. You know, find out what building they were running, what time I needed to be at the building by, get an idea of what sort of payoff I’m looking at, that sort of thing. But Kathy had been a bit surprised when I asked her what motel she had the talent staying at. “Kid, you’re just down the road,” she’d said.

You get into this business for any period of time, and you quickly become fluent in Promoter Speak. So I quickly recognized the meaning underneath that statement, which was that part of, if not a significant amount of the reason I was getting this booking in the first place was so she didn’t have to pay travel expenses for one more talent. Which is why I quickly set her fears to rest, assuring her that I had every intention of paying for my own room, but that I just wanted to know where the other girls would be staying. Sure, she was right, it was a less than a 2 hour drive down US 33 to get to Fort Wayne. But considering who I was about to face and what this match could do for my career, I’d rather be able to get a good night’s sleep, get settled in and have a short drive to the building than to spend my afternoon in my car before getting in the ring.

“Put a lot of thought into this, huh?” Kathy had said. Put way too much thought into it for basically getting paid to take a beating, she’d been kind enough to leave unspoken.

But she was also kind enough to give me the name of the hotel where my side of the locker room would be staying. So I’d headed out a little after 9 on Friday night, intending to get to the motel no later than 11PM. Unfortunately, the combination of road work and a wreck on US 33 made a nearly 2 hour trip closer to 4, and I didn’t get finished checking in until a little after 1. Then I went to get the rest of my bags, bring them in and head up the elevator to my room on the third floor.

I dropped off my bags off in my room, but I was still a little too wired to sleep, so I made a quick little trip down to the Circle K. Gotta stock up the mini-fridge for the weekend. Had a much more pleasant drive back to the motel, gave the desk clerk a wave on my way to the elevator, and headed back up to my room. Heard a couple of girls call for me to hold the elevator, but it was already too late for me to reach out and catch the door by the time they called.

Ding!

“Third floor, exhausted wrestler’s rooms,” I announced, breezily, to no one but myself before heading down the hall. I’d just reached my door when I heard another door open, and a couple of girlish voices giggling amongst themselves. I immediately recognized those voices as the ones I heard call for me to catch the door, and I felt the tiniest twinge of guilt at having made them take the stairs. Especially once I looked over and could see that, while maybe not completely smashed, they were definitely just a little tipsy.

I took a quick glance their way, just out of curiosity. Both of them looked like they wouldn’t have been able to get into that club without getting carded, but that neither would have much trouble getting past a bouncer with just the tiniest bit of… persuasion. They were both a little on the shorter side. By which I mean, shorter than me. The taller one was an olive skinned brunette with wavy, shoulder length black hair. She had a lovely round face, with apple cheeks and full, pouty lips, her brown eyes residing behind an adorable pair of round, wire framed glasses. She was wearing a darling little floral print sundress with a pair of sensible red pumps. Her friend was a few inches shorter, barely over five foot. Her hair was blonde with pink highlights and spilled out from under a black baseball cap to just about the top of her shoulderblades. She was wearing a black crop top, along with skin tight black leather pants and a pair of white sneakers.

They continued to chat as I turned my attention back to fishing my keycard out of my purse, their voices carrying enough that I could tell that much even if I couldn’t exactly make out what they were saying. Finally finding my card, I started to slide it through the lock when I heard one of the two girls giggle, “… I still can’t believe you did that!”

“Why do you think they call me the Wylde Child?” another voice answered. And that was enough to cause me to freeze in mid-swipe, turning my head back down the hall to take another look at those girls.

I hadn’t recognized them in civvies, but they were members of the 3M roster. The brunette was Nikki Vasquez, “the Schoolgirl Crush.” Remember when I said I was blessed with good genetics? Well, Nikki hit the fucking genetic Powerball. She wasn’t some jacked super specimen by any means, but she was one of those women who you could tell was still gonna be looking like she’d only just turned 20 when she was pushing 50. And not only did she own that shit, she’d made it her gimmick.

And I can’t say I blame her. You could do a lot worse trying to get over than playing to schoolgirl fantasies.

The blonde was “the Wylde Child,” Jazmin Wylde. I don’t know why they call her that away from wrestling, but when it comes to the ring, they call her that because she’s never seen a high risk move that she was afraid to try. At first glance, you wouldn’t think either of them were wrestlers. Wylde had the sort of lithe frame that suggested more of a dance background, while Vasquez looked softer and more luscious than firm and sinewy.

Jazmin’s eyes locked on mine for a moment, and a look passed across her face. It was a look I recognized, having seen it on my own face in a couple of IG posts I’d been tagged in, of pics taken when I’d been… well, I don’t wanna say “ambushed,” but when I’ve been approached by a fan at an airport gate at, like, 1AM.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my fans, and I’m extremely grateful that I’ve already built up even a tiny fanbase. But there’s a time and a place, y’know?

But seeing that look on Jazmin’s face, I flashed her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “Relax, ladies,” I said, “I’m in the biz. I’m actually workin’ your show tomorrow.” Setting my bags down by the door, I approached them and offered my hand. “I’m Maggie. Mags to the fans, and my friends.”

“Jaz,” Wylde replied, relaxing, shaking my hand.

“Nikki, hi!” Vasquez said, offering her hand, her face breaking into a warm, inviting… and yes, inebriated, smile. As I took Nikki’s hand, I kept the blonde in the corner of my eye. I could tell she was sizing me up a bit. Not so much in a judgmental way, but… like me, both these two girls were fairly recent additions to 3M. Vasquez had made her debut last summer, and Wylde had come in at the beginning of this year. I’m guessing that Jazmin was hoping maybe she had found another friend in the locker room.

Nikki definitely seemed happy to see me. But considering the alcohol involved, I’m sensing she’d probably be happy to see just about anyone.

“We’d heard they were bringing in someone new to feed to…”

Jazmin’s voice trailed off, as she realized what she was about to say. I could see the embarrassment pass across her face, even though she had to know I’d already thought the same thing.

“It’s okay,” I assured her. “No one’s expecting me to win this thing, are they?”

Wylde frowned, looking down for a second. “Sorry, nothin’ personal, but no.”

“Trust me, though,” Nikki cut in, “no one in our locker room is gonna be TOO upset to be wrong.” Her facial expression was changing, too, growing more animated. But unlike her buddy, she wasn’t mortified. No, Nikki was looking angry. “Most of us have been in the ring with her at least once and would LOVE to see that bitch go down!”

Well… maybe there was ONE person Nikki wouldn’t be happy to see right now.

“I’m guessin’ you’re one of the girls who’ve been in the ring with her?” I asked, my voice soft, trying to soothe her.

I could see the memories play across Nikki’s face in the instant before she nodded. “She was better than me that night. I’m not gonna lie. She’s a beast, everyone knows that! But…” She drew in a deep breath, collecting herself. “But she didn’t have to enjoy driving that point home as much as she did.”

Jazmin pulled her friend into a quick little sideways hug, giving her a small peck on the cheek before turning her gaze back to me. “Hey,” she said, “Toni just showed the world she can be beaten. Nothin’ says you can’t go out there tomorrow night and do it again!”

The words were great, as was the sentiment.  But I could see in Jazmin’s eyes…  It wasn’t that she was trying to lie to me or anything like that.  Sure, she felt it was possible.

But she didn’t think it was likely.

I didn’t take it personally.  This girl’s only just met me.  For all I know, she’s never seen me in the ring.  And I certainly didn’t get the sense she was hoping I’d go out and have my ass handed to me.  So, I gave her a small nod.  But those words lit Nikki’s face right back up. “Damn straight!” she exclaimed, pulling away from the blonde just long enough to sling an arm around my waist and pull me in close. “You got this, Mags! You’re gonna kick her ass!”

“I guess we’re friends now,” I grinned, more than a little amused at just how affectionate this lil brunette was. Pretty sure that last bit was the alcohol talking, but it was still nice to hear.

Shaking her head slightly, Jazmin gently pulled her friend away from me, leading her back to their door. “Come find us at the building tomorrow…”

“Or we’ll come find you!” Nikki blurted in, while Jazmin pushed the door open.

“Or we’ll find you,” Jazmin agreed, ushering the inebriated brunette into her room. “And we’ll make sure you get settled in before the big fight.”

“Thanks, girls,” I replied. Wylde flashed me one last smile before closing her door, leaving me to go back to mine. At least now I wouldn’t be walking into a building full of complete strangers, I thought as I slid my keycard through the lock.

Fully, this time.

That almost felt like a victory already.