Chase Andrews Chapter 1: Introduction - Hers
Jul 28, 2022 1:08:14 GMT
kylewilliams and Quinn Castillo like this
Post by Tommy Gunn/Chase Andrews on Jul 28, 2022 1:08:14 GMT
“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” ― Neil Gaiman, Coraline
Some of you may know me. For those who do, thank you. I haven't been in this business very long at all. In fact, prior to three months ago, I was a happily employed fitness model who thought, 'hey, if others can do it, and become the best in the world at it, maybe I can too' and signed up for a pro wrestling academy. Well, like every other unpredictable thing in this life, the unexpected happened. One day, we showed up at the Academy and the doors were padlocked. The fancy note said a lot of things, but it boiled down to 'you don't work here anymore'. So, after a few tense moments with my fellow classmates (and my buddy Tommy), we went our separate ways.
Tommy and I were staying together in a little flat in Florida. But we were basically living hand-to-mouth based on the pittance they were giving to us in training. Lunches were a gift from the company every day. Dinners were a Hot-n-Ready pizza split between the five of us sharing a hotel way, way, WAY off the strip. Slade, our mentor, called it 'paying your dues'. He did it once, and now, so were we. But that was over--so right quick, me and Tommy put our heads together and determined we could afford one plane ticket, or a pair of bus tickets home. I offered to let him fly, but he insisted.
Wait... what am I doing? Why am I telling you all this? I should just show you, yeah?
Slade would kill me if he could see me rambling like this.
-----------------
Location: Outside the Greyhound bus station, Tallahassee, FL
Date/Time: 19JUL22, 1519 Hours EDT
I love my friends!
We rolled into town after a ridiculously long bus trip--mostly in one piece, with limited human interaction with the rest of the passengers. Sure, a couple kids wanted to know what I was doing on my phone, or what I was listening to in my earbuds, and I was happy to oblige, but Tommy tried his best to keep to himself. I was pretty sure he was stewing over our 'big break' slipping away. I knew there'd be other opportunities, but he wasn't so sure.
As soon as we got back to Tallahassee, as the bus was pulling in, we both figured out that we had no real ride home. Then it hit me.
Chase Andrews: Amber!
Tommy's ears perked up at the mention of our mutual friend, Amber Lee. Amber had been training with us for a week and a half--part of the first class at the Academy--and we were thick as thieves, the three of us. She took to us like a duck to water, and she was built like a brick shithouse, but when she got the call that her mom had taken a turn for the worse, and had to go home, she didn't think twice. I'd kept in touch with her, but Tommy... out of sight, out of mind. Until now, of course.
Tommy Gunn: Oh yeah, right... I almost forgot she lived near here.
Chase Andrews: No you didn't... you've been mooning over her since you met her.
Tommy Gunn: I swear, Next Gen, if you tell her that...
Chase Andrews: Your secret's safe with me, Machine.
We'd been calling each other by our nicknames since day one of camp. Lots of people got annoyed by it, but not Amber. She just chalked it up to us being goofy kids, having the times of our lives at day camp. She was right... this is what I wanted to do. But if I didn't give Tommy "The Machine" Gunn grief, he might get a big head!
Chase Andrews: You got her number?
Tommy Gunn: I thought you did.
I laughed heartily. I knew he still had it, but he was really going to play this off.
Chase Andrews: Alright, alright, I'll call her. But when she gets here, you're carrying the bags.
Tommy Gunn: Don't I always?
I took my phone out of the form-fitting jeggings I was wearing, taking a few extra seconds to dial the number and sticking my tongue out at him. Tommy just fake laughed as he always did when I acted childish.
Amber had rolled up in what could only be described as her mother's sensible gold Toyota Corolla. I sighed in relief, and so did Tommy. We were both whipped. But hey... paying our dues, right? Amber opened the trunk and proceeded to wrap us up in the biggest hug either of us had ever experienced. I think she held onto Tommy a little longer than me, but to make sure I wasn't being one-upped, I kissed her on the cheek in thanks. I peeked over, saw Tommy's eyes bug out a little, and giggled in spite of myself.
Chase Andrews: Thanks for coming to get us, Amber.
Tommy Gunn: We're really, sorry about your mom.
Tommy tossed our gear into the trunk and closed it with as much tact as a sledgehammer killing a gnat. I'd have to talk to him about his sensitivity levels nex time. Me and Tommy climbed into the back, and he immediately started staring out the window. He did that almost the entire time we traveled, but it's whatever. People deal with their stuff differently. I talked a lot.
So while Tommy was in his own little world, I leaned against him and started chatting with my BFF.
Chase Andrews: So tell me more about this place you were working on. You know, since we're unemployed and all...
Amber Lee: So it's called Wrestleverse, and the first show is at Siesta Key. They're just starting up, so there's a big battle royale to crown a champ. From what I understand, they need bodies. Maybe they'd even take Tommy, huh?
I think he heard us talking about him, but he didn't want to acknowledge it. I also saw him wistfully staring at Amber in the mirror. Now was my chance to knock him down a peg again.
Chase Andrews: Hello... earth to tall, musclebound best friend... where are you?
He gave some excuse about being sleepy, but I wasn't really buying it. He was still grumpy about losing out on Absolute. I could never tell if it was about losing our mentor or a steady gig. Either way, here we were.
The rest of the car ride was sort of a blur to me, but the important part was, we were finally home, and we'd be able to regroup and be able to talk over dinner. Once we pulled up, we piled out of the car and I let the strapping man grab our gear while I continued to talk to my other BFF.
Chase Andrews: I'm thinking he likes you, Amber. He wouldn't shut up about you the entire time we were in Vegas. Got worse after you left. So, don't tell him I told you, and act surprised when he finally gets the courage up to say something, alright? He's a good dude, and deserves a shot at happiness. Good deal?
I extended a pinky to her, which she took as she smiled brightly at me. Man, that girl could light up a room. She's gonna break somebody's heart...
Tommy walked by with both our bags in tow, and he had the common decency to look annoyed at the fact he was carrying my gear. He briefly stopped at the window.
Tommy Gunn: So, uh, Amber... Why don't you come by later for some food? My treat...
Then, before anyone could answer, he sprinted to the door and fought with the lock. As he struggled, I leaned in close so only Amber could hear.
Chase Andrews: See?
Amber's laugh was a peal of delight, and I couldn't help but do the same. Poor Tommy boy...
--------------------
Amazing how two people can remember different things about the same interactions, isn't it?
Anyway, I know I'm a rookie. I know nobody expects anything from me, or any of the Wolf Pack. However, I can say with absolute certainty that we like it like that. We LIKE being the underdogs. We LIKE being underestimated. We LIKE being the ones to prove the naysayers wrong. Makes the moments standing on top of the mountain even sweeter.
Our mentor, Slade, once told us that "the way up is a hell of a lot harder than the way down, but the climb is the sweetest endurance test you'll ever take." He's right. This will be an uphill climb. This will be the highest mountain we may ever face in Wrestleverse. But the future is here. It's right now.
I'm Chase Andrews. You can call me Next Gen.
And if, by the end of the night, you're not screaming it yourselves, you might be listening to Dunklin Frewbly shouting it when I win.
See y'all Friday.
Some of you may know me. For those who do, thank you. I haven't been in this business very long at all. In fact, prior to three months ago, I was a happily employed fitness model who thought, 'hey, if others can do it, and become the best in the world at it, maybe I can too' and signed up for a pro wrestling academy. Well, like every other unpredictable thing in this life, the unexpected happened. One day, we showed up at the Academy and the doors were padlocked. The fancy note said a lot of things, but it boiled down to 'you don't work here anymore'. So, after a few tense moments with my fellow classmates (and my buddy Tommy), we went our separate ways.
Tommy and I were staying together in a little flat in Florida. But we were basically living hand-to-mouth based on the pittance they were giving to us in training. Lunches were a gift from the company every day. Dinners were a Hot-n-Ready pizza split between the five of us sharing a hotel way, way, WAY off the strip. Slade, our mentor, called it 'paying your dues'. He did it once, and now, so were we. But that was over--so right quick, me and Tommy put our heads together and determined we could afford one plane ticket, or a pair of bus tickets home. I offered to let him fly, but he insisted.
Wait... what am I doing? Why am I telling you all this? I should just show you, yeah?
Slade would kill me if he could see me rambling like this.
-----------------
Location: Outside the Greyhound bus station, Tallahassee, FL
Date/Time: 19JUL22, 1519 Hours EDT
I love my friends!
We rolled into town after a ridiculously long bus trip--mostly in one piece, with limited human interaction with the rest of the passengers. Sure, a couple kids wanted to know what I was doing on my phone, or what I was listening to in my earbuds, and I was happy to oblige, but Tommy tried his best to keep to himself. I was pretty sure he was stewing over our 'big break' slipping away. I knew there'd be other opportunities, but he wasn't so sure.
As soon as we got back to Tallahassee, as the bus was pulling in, we both figured out that we had no real ride home. Then it hit me.
Chase Andrews: Amber!
Tommy's ears perked up at the mention of our mutual friend, Amber Lee. Amber had been training with us for a week and a half--part of the first class at the Academy--and we were thick as thieves, the three of us. She took to us like a duck to water, and she was built like a brick shithouse, but when she got the call that her mom had taken a turn for the worse, and had to go home, she didn't think twice. I'd kept in touch with her, but Tommy... out of sight, out of mind. Until now, of course.
Tommy Gunn: Oh yeah, right... I almost forgot she lived near here.
Chase Andrews: No you didn't... you've been mooning over her since you met her.
Tommy Gunn: I swear, Next Gen, if you tell her that...
Chase Andrews: Your secret's safe with me, Machine.
We'd been calling each other by our nicknames since day one of camp. Lots of people got annoyed by it, but not Amber. She just chalked it up to us being goofy kids, having the times of our lives at day camp. She was right... this is what I wanted to do. But if I didn't give Tommy "The Machine" Gunn grief, he might get a big head!
Chase Andrews: You got her number?
Tommy Gunn: I thought you did.
I laughed heartily. I knew he still had it, but he was really going to play this off.
Chase Andrews: Alright, alright, I'll call her. But when she gets here, you're carrying the bags.
Tommy Gunn: Don't I always?
I took my phone out of the form-fitting jeggings I was wearing, taking a few extra seconds to dial the number and sticking my tongue out at him. Tommy just fake laughed as he always did when I acted childish.
Amber had rolled up in what could only be described as her mother's sensible gold Toyota Corolla. I sighed in relief, and so did Tommy. We were both whipped. But hey... paying our dues, right? Amber opened the trunk and proceeded to wrap us up in the biggest hug either of us had ever experienced. I think she held onto Tommy a little longer than me, but to make sure I wasn't being one-upped, I kissed her on the cheek in thanks. I peeked over, saw Tommy's eyes bug out a little, and giggled in spite of myself.
Chase Andrews: Thanks for coming to get us, Amber.
Tommy Gunn: We're really, sorry about your mom.
Tommy tossed our gear into the trunk and closed it with as much tact as a sledgehammer killing a gnat. I'd have to talk to him about his sensitivity levels nex time. Me and Tommy climbed into the back, and he immediately started staring out the window. He did that almost the entire time we traveled, but it's whatever. People deal with their stuff differently. I talked a lot.
So while Tommy was in his own little world, I leaned against him and started chatting with my BFF.
Chase Andrews: So tell me more about this place you were working on. You know, since we're unemployed and all...
Amber Lee: So it's called Wrestleverse, and the first show is at Siesta Key. They're just starting up, so there's a big battle royale to crown a champ. From what I understand, they need bodies. Maybe they'd even take Tommy, huh?
I think he heard us talking about him, but he didn't want to acknowledge it. I also saw him wistfully staring at Amber in the mirror. Now was my chance to knock him down a peg again.
Chase Andrews: Hello... earth to tall, musclebound best friend... where are you?
He gave some excuse about being sleepy, but I wasn't really buying it. He was still grumpy about losing out on Absolute. I could never tell if it was about losing our mentor or a steady gig. Either way, here we were.
The rest of the car ride was sort of a blur to me, but the important part was, we were finally home, and we'd be able to regroup and be able to talk over dinner. Once we pulled up, we piled out of the car and I let the strapping man grab our gear while I continued to talk to my other BFF.
Chase Andrews: I'm thinking he likes you, Amber. He wouldn't shut up about you the entire time we were in Vegas. Got worse after you left. So, don't tell him I told you, and act surprised when he finally gets the courage up to say something, alright? He's a good dude, and deserves a shot at happiness. Good deal?
I extended a pinky to her, which she took as she smiled brightly at me. Man, that girl could light up a room. She's gonna break somebody's heart...
Tommy walked by with both our bags in tow, and he had the common decency to look annoyed at the fact he was carrying my gear. He briefly stopped at the window.
Tommy Gunn: So, uh, Amber... Why don't you come by later for some food? My treat...
Then, before anyone could answer, he sprinted to the door and fought with the lock. As he struggled, I leaned in close so only Amber could hear.
Chase Andrews: See?
Amber's laugh was a peal of delight, and I couldn't help but do the same. Poor Tommy boy...
--------------------
Amazing how two people can remember different things about the same interactions, isn't it?
Anyway, I know I'm a rookie. I know nobody expects anything from me, or any of the Wolf Pack. However, I can say with absolute certainty that we like it like that. We LIKE being the underdogs. We LIKE being underestimated. We LIKE being the ones to prove the naysayers wrong. Makes the moments standing on top of the mountain even sweeter.
Our mentor, Slade, once told us that "the way up is a hell of a lot harder than the way down, but the climb is the sweetest endurance test you'll ever take." He's right. This will be an uphill climb. This will be the highest mountain we may ever face in Wrestleverse. But the future is here. It's right now.
I'm Chase Andrews. You can call me Next Gen.
And if, by the end of the night, you're not screaming it yourselves, you might be listening to Dunklin Frewbly shouting it when I win.
See y'all Friday.