Out of all the places in the world, I’m stuck here. I mean it’s considered one of the biggest go to colleges of all time but I don’t want to go to college. I want to be out there doing what I do best, wrestling. Yeah I get to fly out every Tuesday to go wrestle at Breakdown but from Wednesday to Friday and Monday I’m stuck in this educational hell. I hate this place and I’ve only been here for five minutes. I looked up at the flat panel that had the words “Welcome to NYU!” on it and a cartoon character repeating such words. Welcome? What kind of person came up with the idea to greet me into literary hell? Yes, “literary” not “literally” but it could work both ways. Look at these kids; they never knew what it was like to hold the Majestic Championship. They don’t know what it was like to be on the edge like I was. They just lived their regular lives; they don’t know what it takes to be me. They could only fathom what it was like to walk in my shoes.
They wouldn’t enjoy it in the least bit. I’m here for Accounting and Business Management. My dad said I needed something to fall back on if times get rough in the wrestling world. This isn’t the only thing I have on my mind, though. Well…at FIRST it was scheduled to be Syndicate Inc. taking each other on in a Fatal Four way. Shyne ran off. Silkk got himself fired. So it’s down to Juan Ramirez and me, which is a waste of time. I have no REAL problem with Juan…well he’ll definitely have a problem with me since I flung him off the stage, costing him his Underground title shot but what were the chances of him beating Miller anyway? I should have seen it coming though, the betrayal of Silkk. He’ll betray anyone and everyone…now the bastard isn’t even here to fight. I felt sick to my stomach but I should have gotten used to the way SCW operates. Maim and Murder. This is just one more obstacle to get over.
Location: New York University, New York
Scenes open as MJ stands inside the main hall of New York University. He has on a blue shirt with white horizontal strips and regular fitting blue jeans. He also has on white sneakers and glasses. He needs to order some contacts soon this glasses crap is annoying or at least he felt like that. Then everything annoyed him from the books down to the janitor’s crooked dark gold teeth smile. He quietly made this way to the cafeteria. There was McDonalds and other food companies selling their disgusting food. He couldn’t stand to be around a health-destructive area when his whole career is based on how healthy he is to perform weekly. MJ headed back and wandered around the campus, which is felt endless. He felt a sudden vibration in his left pocket and heard a familiar ring tone. He checks his phone to see whose calling it’s his girlfriend, Hazel. Hmm…he wonders what she wants?
MJ: Hey, Hazel, what’s up?
Hazel: Nothing much, baby. How’s NYU?
MJ: I hate it. Their cafeteria is a walking heart attack and their janitor looks like one of the guys off of Catch a Predator.
Hazel: Ha-ha, MJ it can’t be that bad. Did you go to orientation?
MJ: Yeah and it made me want to go to right back home. A bunch of useless crap, they started talking about how much they care for us and want us to succeed. Sure they do…they care about the money we put in their pockets and how far that money will help them succeed in buying more shit out of their IKEA catalogs. Even Cherry is less bullshit than this and he called Juan a spick because he can’t make a single point about anything.
Hazel: Who is Cherry?
MJ: Current owner of SCW, ah forget him. What are YOU doing?
Hazel: I was about to ask you the same thing because I’m free for the night. How about you come over tonight?
MJ: All right, that sounds cool.
Hazel: Yeah, love you…
MJ: See you later.
Hazel: MJ?
MJ: (sighs)…and I love you too.
Hazel: Heh. Bye baby!
MJ: Bye.
He rolled his eyes and headed toward the parking lot. There were a few people there but MJ simply ignored them and headed to his summit-white colored Chevrolet Avalanche. He got in and started the car. MJ drives off and is damn happy that he didn’t have to wait for his dad to pick him up. Since he had time to kill, MJ decided to drive over to Best Buy and check out some games for his Xbox 360. When he finally reached there, he went into the store. After looking over a few video games, he noticed one special one…Assassin’s Creed. He picked it and Halo 3 up then headed to the counter. He had always been a video game fiend. I mean he used to play during the days of NES. So why not pick up a few games just in case NYU were to explode (or at least he prayed for it), he wouldn’t be bored for the winter season. MJ got back in the car with his games and drove home. As soon as he popped into the house, Shorty cornered him.
Shorty: How was university?
MJ: So you waited all day to ask that?
Shorty: Who’s asking the questions around here?
MJ: This is NOT the military.
Shorty: Ha-ha. But how did the orientation go?
MJ: Boring, as usual. Thank God I won’t have to go back there until Monday. I hate school, seriously. It’s like they took everything bad about society and stuffed it into one building then called it education. I can’t wait to finish college, I hate having to sit in a class and be told how to do things instead of going out there and doing it. I’m ready to get that diploma and go on with my wrestling career.
Shorty: It will get better, trust me. In the meantime, don’t get too relaxed…Armed and Dangerous is on Sunday. You can rest tonight but you need to work out tomorrow morning and evening if you want to be ready for your match against Juan Ramirez. He is already pissed that Cherry screwed him out of winning the US belt. Seeing that you didn’t even have the galls to help him has probably made it even worse. You know he’s looking to take your head off. You are more than capable of taking Angel on and you’ve beaten Cherry in the God of Wrestling tournament. So you really had no excuse to stand at the top of the ramp, looking ridiculously helpless.
MJ: What? Why should I play Mr. Responsible? What do I owe this man? When has he ever helped me? He joined Syndicate when I decided to leave for a while. Since I came back? Not a single thank you. I made Syndicate known. Before me? They were just a bunch of unorganized black people. With me? They had a goal; they had a reason to be together. They became disciplined and deadly then they became pathetically lame. Why? They did absolutely nothing when Drachewych gave them every opportunity to bring their all. They stood there and twiddled their thumbs as I held the Majestic Championship as well as winning the God of Wrestling tournament. I made them what they were and not a single one of them were grateful. None of them deserve to go toe to toe with me, simple as that. Yeah, I was torn because I wanted him to be one hundred percent coming into our match but I didn’t feel obliged to help him either.
Shorty: Hmm…I was wondering if you were going to add “and these are the Days of Our Lives” at the end, ha-ha.
MJ: Dad, I’m serious. Syndicate would have been a laughing stock longer than it was if it weren’t for me.
Shorty: I know. I know. I’m going to order a pay per view movie a few minutes you want to watch?
MJ: Sorry dad, I promised Hazel I’d come over.
Shorty: All right, Lovebird.
MJ: Dad…no.
He laughed, as MJ couldn’t look any more annoyed and embarrassed. MJ walked back down the hall into his room. His mom had gone shopping and won’t be back until later. MJ carelessly threw the bag on the bed as he took a seat on the side of his bed. You could tell he wanted nothing more than to sleep and maybe promising Hazel to come over was a bad deal. He yawned and rubbed his eyes. The day’s activities had worn him out as he took off his glasses and placed them in a case. MJ took off his shirt and put on an orange Majestic muscle shirt he had when he first joined the company back in March. A few more months and he would have been in the SCW roster for a year. He took note of that as he put his skullcap on. He was a bit hungry; maybe Hazel had something worthy of eating over at her place? Well there was only one way to find out, he headed towards the door. Before he could leave, he heard his dad’s voice.
Shorty: Be safe.
MJ: Um…I’m a safe driver.
Shorty: I wasn’t talking about that.
MJ: DAD. We talked about the birds and bees. That was awkward enough. Let’s try not to redo it.
Shorty: AIDS is a serious…
MJ: Oh my God…are you kidding me? Stop. I know about STDS, AIDS, and VDs from your non-stop ridiculous lecture about them.
Shorty: Got a condom?
MJ: ...you are one deaf old man…
Shorty: Do you?
MJ: Yes.
Shorty: Good. Now go on.
MJ: …can’t even believed that just occurred…
He left the house and got back into his SUV. MJ reversed out of the driveway and began to head to the direction of his girlfriend. He had been listening to 98.7 KISS FM which played R&B, today’s hits as well as classic ones. “In the Mood” by Whispers played. He kind of enjoyed it until he remembered the conversation he had with his dad. MJ quickly changed the radio station to the Mix 201.5 and shook his head as if trying to get the memory out of his head. MJ finally reached his girlfriend’s house and got out the car. He knocked on the door and after she looked into the peephole, Hazel opened the door. He smiled and they embraced. They both went into the house and MJ closed the door behind him. She walked into her bedroom and he walks right behind her. Her bedroom’s color walls were lavender. It looked pretty nice.
Hazel: Guess what? To night we are watching Love and Basketball!
MJ: Again?
Hazel: (growling)…MJ…
MJ: Err, I love that…uh…movie.
Hazel: Good!
She was cute but she is a bit psychotic. Hazel was about five feet six and medium brown skin. She was mixed with Native Indian and black. Not only that she was a damn good artist, very talented girl in several things. She could do whatever she wanted if she put her mind to it. They cuddled into bed together to watch Love and Basketball for the…fifth time. As they watched it, you can tell from MJ’s facial expression if he had to watch this one more time he’d go “Waiting To Exhale” in no time. She fell asleep during the movie and after it was done, he turned off the television. He cuddled even more with her until nature called. He got out of bed and used the bathroom. After washing his hands, he hopped back into bed but Haze had woken up while he was using the toilet. She was a bit groggy but overall, she was pretty awake and aware of her surroundings. MJ gave a quick kiss on the head as she smiled.
Hazel: It was a good movie, wasn’t it?
MJ: Yeah…as usual.
Hazel: MJ?
MJ: Yeah?
Hazel: Do you really have to go wrestle again?
MJ: Yeah. I know you don’t want me to but it’s what I do. I loved wrestling since I was a small kid and I still do. It’s not just my job but it’s my passion. I don’t think I’d be the same man I am today if it weren’t for the lessons learned in and out of that ring. I’m stronger, more intelligent, and just a better man overall.
Hazel: Do you love it as much as you love me?
MJ: No, I love you more.
What? Give the guy a break. He’d say and do anything to make her happy even if it wasn’t completely true. MJ would All-Star Slam her to get a shot at the SCW Championship, he was no angel but hey…those are the breaks. She gave him a few kisses and once again they were in snuggle land. He still knew in the back of his head he had to work out like a dog tomorrow. He could stay here all night with her in his arms but he knew he had to be responsible. There was no Glacier to pick him up after losing. There was no one there but himself. MJ had a match against Juan Ramirez this coming Sunday and Juan’s no Hazel…he isn’t going to take it easy on MJ. MJ knew that and he also knew he had some ring rust but one thing he knows, he could take out any of his former Syndicate brethren because he was the diamond in the rough when it came to it. Even if Silkk got all the attention, MJ was the one with the most talent in the group.
MJ: Baby, I got to go.
Hazel: Why?
MJ: I have to work out with my trainer before I go to Armed and Dangerous.
Hazel: (sighs)…stupid wrestling…
MJ: Ha-ha, yeah it can be stupid at times but I’ll make sure I drop by before I go to the airport. Okay?
Hazel: Okay.
MJ: See you later, sweetie.
They kissed one more time and MJ left. As he drove home, he could only dread the hell that Mark, Glacier’s brother, would release on him in the ring. Mark and Shorty had been running a training facility for a few years now. MJ had been training there for the past two years. He thought it was a good place, I mean it was ran by two people who were in the ring at one point in their lives. Shorty had been a professional wrestler for years while Mark had been Glacier’s manager for the most part. One year he had tagged with Glacier but that’s about it. He had been more about doing things behind the curtains like teaching others how to stay fit with a hectic wrestling schedule and what have you. MJ head reached back home. He got out the car and headed inside. Shorty had finished watching whatever movie he bought and was asleep in bed with MJ’s mom. MJ walked into his room and laid on his bed, looking out the window.
Shorty Jr.: Juan…Juan…poor John. Isn’t that the English version of Juan? Look, JOHN, I don’t have any direct problems with you. I could give a shit less about you and Shyne my target was on Silkk. He was the one I looked up to. He was the one who was to help Syndicate out but he didn’t. He embarrassed the stable. He embarrassed me. I was ashamed to show my face for a while because of how weak he had gotten. For years, others would tell me about how “legendary” Silkk was. I was amazed but I met a man who had merely been on a string of dumb luck. He wasn’t this huge “savior of black men” that he had been cut out to be. He was nothing more than a big black guy with an even bigger mouth but enough about him. It’s you and me who will be exchanging punches in the ring. I know little to nothing about you, as I had not been been around while you were on your rise to the top…of the curtain-jerking mountain.
All I know is that Glacier had secured a win over you and after that you started to improve. You had to get your ass beaten by some nearly thirty-year-old white man before realizing it was time to step your game up? Now, I was hoping you would win the United States Championship. I mean had you won and I beat you, which I will, I would be a definite shoe in for contendership. Can you imagine that? Shorty Jr. hitting the All-Star Slam to win the United States Championship. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? But you didn’t win it. Now, I can’t say you didn’t do your best. You just got screwed out of the belt, that’s what it comes down too. I’d love to help you get revenge on the two especially if they were to win their tag team match at Armed and Dangerous BUT first comes first and trust me…I plan to take you to the extremes just to let Cherry know I’m business. I want a title shot of my own.
You must be thinking to yourself, “You’ll just get screwed out of it like me.” You might be right. You might be wrong. One simple thing, if Cherry even thinks about screwing me over, I’ll put my foot so far up his ass that I’ll be using his body as a slipper and Damian as my other slipper. Cherry and me are pretty much both slim built but look at me. I have more talent and determination. You’re not facing Cherry, you’re facing worse…me. I hope you bring you’re all plus more because trust me, my return will be something to behold and I’ll be coming in with a blaze of glory. I can name many people who wanted me gone or laid out on the mat when I left. Now that I’m back, I have mostly a clean slate but if you ever feel the need to find yourself a non-stop fight to the bitter end…I’ll always be here. If you know anything about me, you should know I don’t stop until there is nothing left to destroy in that ring. See you on Sunday, John.
MJ smirked then got up. He turned on his Xbox 360 and took out the BioShock game and put in Assassin’s Creed. As it started up, MJ put the Bioshock disc back into it’s case then turned on his controller. He knew this wasn’t the smartest thing to do as he should rest up for tomorrow’s training but he had heard so much about this game. He couldn’t help but play it. Tomorrow would consist of painful throws and muscle building even running like a damn mad man. MJ wanted to be in the best shape he could be in. MJ had always strived to be better. He had always strived to be at the top of his game. He didn’t want to half-ass his return. He wanted to give it what he had and come out on top once again. Even more important, MJ had been watching SCW while he was off on vacation. He kept his eyes on people like Evans, Speed, and Cherry. He could only conclude one thing and one thing only…SCW needed a savior. Scenes fade to black.
