Post by LJ Andrews on Jul 19, 2006 16:46:22 GMT -5
LJ sits in the backseat of his car, relaxing. He never gets to experience this, most likely because he’s got a house to have sex in. He relaxes, noting the comfort of it. Ahh, so different to what he’s used to. He’s just sitting, relaxed, not worried about anything. The parking lot of Borders incidentally made for a strange place to rest like this, but LJ isn’t worried. As far as he’s concerned, he’s in Kentucky, hm? That’s good enough. His eyes slide shut and he dozes off, not caring what’s going on around him.
LJ Andrews wakes up, rubbing his head. He looks about and his brow furrows. What the hell? The car is moving! He looks about and he sees a guy sitting in front of him, driving the car. The man is wearing a red beanie and what looks like a severely worn brown sweater. Damn! And the stupid shit hadn’t seen him in the back? LJ sits up and the man gives a start. LJ leans over, wrapping his arm around the man’s neck and choking him.
[/color][/b]LJ Andrews wakes up, rubbing his head. He looks about and his brow furrows. What the hell? The car is moving! He looks about and he sees a guy sitting in front of him, driving the car. The man is wearing a red beanie and what looks like a severely worn brown sweater. Damn! And the stupid shit hadn’t seen him in the back? LJ sits up and the man gives a start. LJ leans over, wrapping his arm around the man’s neck and choking him.
LJ Andrews: “Dammit, this is my car! You pull over and get out, motherfucker!”
Hijacker:“Are you fuckin’ insane, man!? You coulda just said it! You want me to... GAAAHHH!!”
LJ’s eyes widen and he presses his back against the back of the seat. The car shoots towards a tree, but the man in brown is aware enough the swerve at the last second. The tree clips a headlight as they pass and the car comes to a stop. Smoke comes up from the headlight. LJ and the hijacker sit in a state of shock, simply staring ahead. Finally, LJ moves over and gets out of the car. He stands up and wobbles, falling backwards. Damn. He didn’t think it’d be this hard.
Slowly, the hijacker gets out of the car as well. He takes off his beanie, revealing a shaggy blonde mane and thick, black glasses. The man looks back up at him and widens his eyes, backing away. LJ growls, stalking towards him. His black “Face Reality!” t-shirt is a bit rumpled, but he doesn’t take notice of it as he moves towards the man. Apparently, LJ has a bit of a reputation, because the man looks like he’s about to run for miles.
[/color]Slowly, the hijacker gets out of the car as well. He takes off his beanie, revealing a shaggy blonde mane and thick, black glasses. The man looks back up at him and widens his eyes, backing away. LJ growls, stalking towards him. His black “Face Reality!” t-shirt is a bit rumpled, but he doesn’t take notice of it as he moves towards the man. Apparently, LJ has a bit of a reputation, because the man looks like he’s about to run for miles.
Hijacker:“Oh, c’mon, Mr. Andrews... I didn’t mean nothin’ about it. Just... just don’t beat me like that Punk.”
LJ Andrews:“What gave you the idea to steal my car, you douche? Ain’t got a fuckin’ sense of morals?”
Hijacker: “More like I ain’t got a house or steady meals. I swear, I didn’t know anybody was in it. The windows were open an’ everything... I just thought I could sell it and feed myself for a while.”
The hijacker backs against a tree and falls down to a knee, cringing. LJ looks at him, but he stops walking. The man’s scared, which is obvious, but he’s also needy. LJ turns around and sighs, seeing his car. He scratches his head.
[/color]LJ Andrews: “Well, you want to tell me how we’re going to get back? The car’s kinda totaled.”
Hijacker: slowly getting to his feet “Gah, t’ be sure, I ain’t got a goddamn idea. I suppose we could walk. I gotten pretty good at that over the years.”
LJ Andrews: “Well, let’s get going, then. Don’t want to miss Lockdown.”
The mismatched duo begin walking towards the road. LJ shoves his hands in his jeans pockets as they walk, both of them silent. LJ’s mind wanders to his match. Damn. He should be thinking about survival, but all he can think about is that damned ring. It’s his life, yeah, and this bum just saved it. He scratches his head and then, slowly, extends his hand to the hijacker. The man stops, looking at the hand oddly.
[/color]Hijacker: “Whassat for?”
LJ Andrews: “Saved my career, man. Even if you did put it in jeopardy in the first place.”
The hijacker’s eyes widen and he looks at the hand horrifically, as if it was disfigured. LJ cocks an eyebrow, wondering what’s going on. The man continues walking, and LJ shrugs, following a half-step behind.
[/color]LJ Andrews: “What’s the problem?”
Hijacker: “Don’t thank me for shit. I just totalled your car. I don’t deserve nothin’.”
LJ Andrews: “Whatever you say. You know the way to town?”
Hijacker: “Hope so. We can wander around for a long time, though, and never get there. But I think it’s that way.”
The man points in the direction they’re headed and LJ nods. That’s how LJ had felt when he was in the business for a long time. He’d looked in a direction and said “Maybe it’s here.” That direction had been drugs and violence, neither of which panned out very well. He’d pointed to being in jail as the wake up call, which he followed by coming to HWF. Winning his first match. And all to be assaulted by Summer McCoy. That’s not exactly the direction LJ had in mind.
They continue along the way, still silent. The hijacker kicks a rock and it bounces a little before falling into the road. LJ scratches behind his ear absently. Dust always annoyed him. The ends of both their pants start to gather dust on them, but the hijacker’s had always been that way, so it didn’t seem to bother him much. LJ doesn’t like it, but he’s been in worse situations before, and he shrugs it off as best he can. He looks over at the bum.
[/color]They continue along the way, still silent. The hijacker kicks a rock and it bounces a little before falling into the road. LJ scratches behind his ear absently. Dust always annoyed him. The ends of both their pants start to gather dust on them, but the hijacker’s had always been that way, so it didn’t seem to bother him much. LJ doesn’t like it, but he’s been in worse situations before, and he shrugs it off as best he can. He looks over at the bum.
LJ Andrews: “You got a name?”
Hijacker: “Not that it’s worth remembering, but I’m Tim. And I know who you are, don’t worry about it.”
LJ Andrews: “Tim, huh? Why aren’t you doing some work? You’ve got to have a bit of skill, man. Doing something.”
Tim: “Besides scrounging up money? I could work a cash register, but I can’t go back and live in society. World’s a cruel place. Once you lose it, you can’t go back.”
LJ Andrews: “I’m sure there’s a way, Tim. You just have to find it.”
Tim stumbles a bit, falling behind LJ. He quickens his pace, keeping his eyes glued to the ground. He mutters under his breath, but LJ can’t catch anything until he speaks up.
[/color]Tim: “This ain’t no damn fairytale, Andrews. It doesn’t work like that in real life.”
LJ Andrews: “Well, I mean, I could try and help you. Although I’m gonna get you back for my car. I can’t exactly let that slide.”
Tim: “Forget it. I don’t need your fuckin’ charity. You want me to get you back to town, fine. Quit actin’ like you have to repay me or something.”
LJ shrugs and falls silent, looking ahead. It’s still afternoon, but it’ll be evening soon. Tim probably has no problem walking in the dark, but LJ has to get back. He’s got things to do, a match to think about. He licks his lips nervously, wondering if he can get back to Rupp Arena by then. Of course he could! But he wasn’t used to walking, maybe his feet wouldn’t carry him that far...
But thinking about the match, he wonders where Summer McCoy is on his road. If she’s even on the road. He thinks towards Lockdown, and knows that not only is Summer on the road. She’s in the middle of it. And he has the choice; walk around or drive through. LJ had once been as bitter as Tim, about everything. Come to think of it, that was not so long ago. He’d been bitter that he was attacked last week. Bitter that Summer bitched about having to defend her title. Bitter that the voting was closer than he would have liked. And yet, at the end of the day he has what he wants. Summer McCoy. In the ring. For the UN-Limited X Title. Somewhere in the distance, LJ thinks he sees Summer standing in the road.
He was still walking, though. He was still pointing and figuring out where to go. He’s been scraping and scratching for every morsel in his life. He’s more like Tim than it seems, even though they look completely different. Tim shows his depravity on the outside, while LJ... LJ shows it in the ring.
But where the hell is Summer? He still can’t figure it out. He scratches his head and, in his deep thought, he trips over a rock. Ha ha, there he was. A rock, a trip. Summer McCoy was good, but LJ can’t let that stop him. If he loses to her, he can kiss any shot he’s got at going on goodbye. If he had let that rock stop him, he might never have gone on. But LJ got up and kept going. To be a bit fantastical about it, he had conquered the rock. He smiles to himself. A strange notion.
[/color]But thinking about the match, he wonders where Summer McCoy is on his road. If she’s even on the road. He thinks towards Lockdown, and knows that not only is Summer on the road. She’s in the middle of it. And he has the choice; walk around or drive through. LJ had once been as bitter as Tim, about everything. Come to think of it, that was not so long ago. He’d been bitter that he was attacked last week. Bitter that Summer bitched about having to defend her title. Bitter that the voting was closer than he would have liked. And yet, at the end of the day he has what he wants. Summer McCoy. In the ring. For the UN-Limited X Title. Somewhere in the distance, LJ thinks he sees Summer standing in the road.
He was still walking, though. He was still pointing and figuring out where to go. He’s been scraping and scratching for every morsel in his life. He’s more like Tim than it seems, even though they look completely different. Tim shows his depravity on the outside, while LJ... LJ shows it in the ring.
But where the hell is Summer? He still can’t figure it out. He scratches his head and, in his deep thought, he trips over a rock. Ha ha, there he was. A rock, a trip. Summer McCoy was good, but LJ can’t let that stop him. If he loses to her, he can kiss any shot he’s got at going on goodbye. If he had let that rock stop him, he might never have gone on. But LJ got up and kept going. To be a bit fantastical about it, he had conquered the rock. He smiles to himself. A strange notion.
Tim: “What’re you grinnin’ about, Cheshire? Ain’t nothin’ to be grinnin’ about right now.”
LJ Andrews: “Don’t worry about it, Tim. Hey, how about a Big Mac when we get back? I could really go for some assorted meat.”
Tim: “You never bring a hobo into a place like that, Andrews. Not that I’d like to go. The people that work there are all whores.”
LJ Andrews: “You have something against women?”
Tim: shakes his head “Not at all. But you can see the herpes on their faces. It’s disgusting. And then they touch your food. Even a bum deserves better.”
Their road finally narrows until we are suddenly standing face to face with a church. LJ and Tim both wear the look of concerned curiosity in looking at the structure.
[/color]Tim: I don’t go in those places.
LJ Andrews: Neither do I. But they’ll have directions.
Tim: Well fine then, you go ahead. I’ll wait here.
Slowly, LJ lifts his head to face the camera. His face seems blank but his eyes are a different story. They’re fiery with passion, displaying the tenacity, the determination that LJ is known for. The church is quite empty, save a couple people who look at him and continue about their business. Kentucky wasn’t known for such hospitality to those of a darker skin color. Well, unless they were wearing Wildcat blue. LJ wondered if Ashley Judd would be at Lockdown. Because his match at Lockdown was the biggest of his career. This is a match that can make or break LJ’s career and he doesn’t expect to let it bring him down, Summer McCoy or no.
[/color]LJ Andrews: “This is a place of faith, if you didn’t know. Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, just outside of Lexington. Every Sunday, people file in here to get on their knees to pray. Can they see God? Do they know he even exists? No. But they come because they believe he exists. Either that or they come because it’s a habit. They sing, they read out of a dated book that structures their lives, they listen to the words of a pastor, they do all of it because they believe.
My name is not James Marshall, Summer, my name is LJ Andrews. I’m not going to lecture you on what sins you have and haven’t committed. I’m just relating this to you. You’re undoubtedly going to look at me like I’m crazy, look at this because it’s something that repulses you, me coming to the subject of your religion. That’s not it at all.
I used to be one of those. I used to come every Sunday, put on my best clothes, paid extra attention to my teeth. And then, one day, I moved away from my parents. I had never really listened to those words that the pastor said. But I was there, present. I did not believe in God for most of my life and I still don’t. But I believed in something. I believed in myself. I believed in my future.
I said before, there are two groups of people that come to church: Those who believe and those who come here out of habit. Those people who come out habit only come because they can’t believe in anything else. They can’t find it within themselves to believe so they’re forcing themselves to at least try and believe in this. It’s not working and you can tell it’s not. But they still keep coming. Why? They’re used to it.”
LJ rubs his chin, leaning back in the bench. His eyes remain focused on the camera as he figures out where he’s going with this. He shrugs his shoulders as he leans forwards once again, locking his fingers together.
[/color]LJ Andrews: “I’ve already said how it’s been for me. I didn’t believe in God, and I wasn’t about to force myself to believe something my eyes were closed to. So, I looked to myself. I believed in my future, my ability, and that’s carried me to where I am. Doubt was not a word that has crossed my lips often, not in reference to myself.
But for you, is it different? I know there’s been times when you doubted you’d be good enough to compete in HWF. I know there’s had to have been times where you’ve doubted that you could get up to bash someone else’s face in when everyone you wrestle is bigger and stronger than you. You’ve looked in the mirror and you have called yourself a bitch. People have called you and told you the same thing. To some, it would be disheartening. To you, it’s reality.
So, Summer, who are you? Do you get up every morning, wash your face with cold water and force yourself to go to work? Do you come here each night, wrestling because it’s what you do? Because you’re used to it? There’s other things you can do, Summer, and there’s other things you can do well. You don’t have to punish yourself in this buisness. But are you coming here because it’s a habit, because you’re used to walking out in front of those crowds, feeling that energy? Is it because it’s just become so ingrained into your heart that you can’t let it go?
Or do you really BELIEVE in yourself, Summer? Do you really believe you’ll be walking out there in Lexington, Kentucky, amidst The Asylum crowd at the Rupp Arena, do you believe that you’ll be walking out to victory? Do you really believe that you’re going to beat me, Summer?
When we go out there on Thursday, we’re going to tear the house down. We’re going to give these people a show they haven’t seen in a LONG, LONG time. But the only deciding factor is who will be winning that contest? Who will walk out with the gold around their waist?
The deciding factor is, Summer, who’s going to get pinned in the middle of that ring for the one, two, three?
I don’t believe it’s going to be me.”
LJ pulls out a small figurine of the Mary Magledene. He looks at it for a long time, stares at it even. He raises it above his head as if he’s going to smash it, but instead gently sets it down on the bench beside him. He stands up and walks off-screen, leaving the figurine by itself.
LJ’s come a long way in his career. Nine years of blood, sweat, and toil to get where he is. Finally, he has a chance at the big time and he doesn’t want to let it go. Not to anybody. Summer McCoy may very well be his toughest opponent yet and will most probably his most prolific. But he’s still got to win. He’s not going to walk out there and be star struck, unable to fight. No. He believes in himself and that’s the extra boost he needs to carry him through.
[/color]LJ’s come a long way in his career. Nine years of blood, sweat, and toil to get where he is. Finally, he has a chance at the big time and he doesn’t want to let it go. Not to anybody. Summer McCoy may very well be his toughest opponent yet and will most probably his most prolific. But he’s still got to win. He’s not going to walk out there and be star struck, unable to fight. No. He believes in himself and that’s the extra boost he needs to carry him through.
