Post by Carmen Cambridge on Jan 26, 2016 3:54:09 GMT -5
With Conflict over, a Heavyweight title picture in IPW taking shape, and big matches on Carmen's horizon, it seemed a good a time as any for CJ to have a talk with her. Outside of those things, there was air that needed to be cleared about what happened at the first episode of Conflict. Instead of meeting in his office, he felt it may be best to invite her over to he and Karin’s house to be able to talk without the potential distraction of other wrestlers or staff present.
This is Carmen’s first visit to what CJ has affectionately called ‘The J Estate’. She stops outside of the front door, looking it over.
Carmen: “Okay CJ, I see you made a come up off our match.”
Without anymore hesitation, Cambridge knocks on the door. CJ answers the door and reaches out to give a small hug to Carmen, still cautious of her ribs, and then stepping aside, letting her walk in.
CJ: “I'm glad you came. After last week's little ‘spat,’ I was worried that we'd fall off.”
He He stands at the door slightly awkwardly, still not knowing how she'll take what he wants to talk to her about.
Carmen: “So are we gonna stand by the door the entire time or we gonna sit down and talk about whatever’s on your mind?”
She laughs, looking past him at the door.
Carmen: “You aren’t gonna run into any doors this time, right?”
CJ gives her a look as he moves out of her way to let her in.
CJ: “Well, here's the new place. The living room is around that first corner if you wanna sit on the couch or summin. Do you want anything to eat or drink, boo?”
Carmen: “After the show I’ll be honest CJ, I’m a lil’ sick to my stomach. Watchin’ someone else get the title that should be mines was hard.”
Without another word, Carmen heads towards the couch. As she turns the corner, Karin is sitting on the couch, reading a magazine. The young fiancee of CJ is caught off guard, not expecting company. She closes the fashion magazine and offers a smile to the ‘Gucci Girl’.
Karin: “Hey, Carmen, how are things? I was looking for you to say hi at the show but I didn’t see you.”
Carmen: “A1, Gucci, you know….you?”
Karin: “I’m doing good. Was just catching up on my fashion.”
She holds the magazine up, looking at CJ who’s now standing just behind Carmen.
Karin: “I’m gonna give you guys your space to talk. If you need anything babe, let me know, okay?”
Karin stands from the couch, still looking at her fiance.
CJ: “Okay, babe. I will.”
He walks over and gives her a kiss, exchanging “I love yous” before Karin leaves the room. He takes a seat in the middle of the couch, patting the spot next to him, prompting Carmen to sit down as well.
CJ: “How are you feeling, first of all?”
Carmen: “Besides the mood? I’m feelin’ a lil better physically. Before the show, I was in the ring with JD working on a few things. I’m not one hundred percent, but I’m getting better. You know one of your staff crew people asked me for my hoodie for his son, right? I sat it down while I was getting ready to work out with my boo, and the guy said his son was a big fan and asked if he could have my hoodie. I gave it to him, so I stole JD’s to walk to the car after the show.”
She flashes a smile, still feeling some unspoken tension between them. He returns the smile.
CJ: “That's what's up. Always good to see that. I bet you made that kid's day...and I'm glad you're starting to feel better, so…
He takes a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck for a second before relaxing his posture and turning to sit sideways in his spot. He sits Indian style and lets out another breath before breathing.
CJ: “I didn't intentionally not respond to what you said about Conflict, so I'll go ahead and either make this more awkward than it already is or —hopefully— relieve some of this pressure. I want you to know that, even though I think I had your best interest in mind, I really am sorry that I took it upon myself to decide whether or not you were fit to compete today without even waiting for my doctors to look you over. I can't believe I'm saying this after tossing out that shot at the beginning of the show, but Sara-chan is right. That was a bad judgment call on my part, despite my intentions.”
He lets out a more relieved breath, regardless of her response as the weight feels lifted off of his shoulders.
Carmen looks down at the admittance on his part, curling her lips.
Carmen: “So you wait until after the first champion is crowned, after taking my title shot from me and putting me on the sidelines to say all this? Wow.”
She shifts uncomfortably on the couch, now sitting facing his direction, but refusing to make eye contact for the moment.
Carmen: “I get that you care about me and you wanted to make sure I was Gucci, I understand that you also want to come across as fair, but fair isn’t pulling me from a title match just because you still feel a certain way about injuring my ribs for the first time. I can’t even believe this right now. Drew Stevenson bragging on Twitter and he won’t ever shut up now, and that could have been me CJ, we both know I could have done it. Not even knocking Saito, I’m just sayin.”
She finally brings her eyes to his.
Carmen: “My ribs hurt, but they aren’t broken. I’ve had people mocking me, thinkin’ I say out on my own or whatever...I don’t think you understand the magnitude of your decision. I was cool about it, it was over, but hearing you say you messed up, just a few hours after the show...it opened those wounds again. There can NEVER be another FIRST champion in Indy Pro. You effed up, CJ.”
He rubs his goatee for a moment and puts his hand on his cheek with his elbow on his lap feeling the pain that came from the words.
CJ: “I know, I screwed up. That's something I'll have to live with for a while. I, of all people, know how badly you want this, but I'd rather see Carmen Cambridge as the best IPW Heavyweight Champion with a long title run than a weakened Carm losing the title after one defense. Not saying that would happen, but the risk is always there. I'm not tryna justify myself. I've already spoken that peace, and I apologize for opening up those hurts and that pain that I caused. I just thought you should know that I have realized my error, and I'm man enough to admit to you, my closest friend, that I was wrong. I feel like crap, and I'm sorry it took so long to tell you this. I was just tryna give you some time and space cuz I didn't wanna make things worse. I figured that'd push you away from me...so I was being selfish.”
Carmen: “I’m not gonna lie and say it’s cool, because it’s not, but if I’m being honest with myself and you, there’s a good chance if I wrestled tonight I might have lost because of my ribs. Don’t get me wrong, I still wish I at least had a chance and was out there, but who knows what would have happened. As much of an arrogant...you know what Drew is, he can actually wrestle. I just...I wanted this, you know?”
Carmen takes her glasses off, sitting them on the table next to the couch. She rubs her eyes.
Carmen: “What else did you want to talk about?”
CJ: “I know how badly you wanted this, and in a way I do feel like I robbed you of at least having the chance...but had you been the one that got put in that cloverleaf, especially the way he did it...I’d probably be having this talk with you from a hospital bed. But I wanna just move on from that mess. I don't expect your full trust on that just yet, but I have something for you. Just give me a second.”
He gets up and heads out of the room for a couple of minutes and returns with a glass in one hand and a manilla folder in the other. He extends the glass to her, and she takes it, immediately knowing what was in the glass.
CJ: “I know you didn't want anything, but I took the liberty of making you a strawberry shake to hopefully suck up a little. And since I'm not a kiss butt, you should see how much you mean to me….and this…”
He sets the folder between them.
CJ: “Fully legal, all you have to do is sign. It's the agreement we talked about on the phone. I didn't forget.”
Carmen picks the folder up, opening it and examining the waiver that would allow her to wrestle in Indy Pro, despite CJ’s wishes moving forward. The waiver however states that if she were to get injured while in an IPW ring, if she chose to wrestle against the owner’s wishes, that she would be responsible for whatever medical treatment was required.
Carmen: “Gimme a pen, I don’t even need to read anymore. I’ve already missed one show because of my ribs, and now I didn’t make this next show either, two is enough. Indy Pro needs Carmen Cambridge.”
He cocks a half-smile at how quickly she is ready to sign the document. CJ reaches in his pocket and hands her a pen.
CJ: “I hope that, at least, helps some...no comment on the shake tho? Did I mess up that bad?
Carmen: “Negro I haven’t even tried it yet...and negro again! Did you really pull a pen out of your pocket? LAN!”
They both laugh as she takes a small drink of her favorite beverage. She nods after, and CJ laughs at the strawberry shake that is left right above her top lip from drinking directly out of the glass.
Carmen: “What are you laughing for?”
CJ: “Because…”
He reaches and points, prompting Carmen to quickly wipe her top lip.
CJ: “You got a lol summon summin right there...and don't call me no LAN. That ain't even Gucci. Would it have been better to have a damn ink pen clipped to my tee? Really...negro?”
He laughs at mocking one of her favorite words to throw at him.
Carmen: “Whatever, this shake is on point though.”
She takes another drink, before sitting it down. Finally, she finds the last page of the documentation and signs it. She puts the papers back into the folder and slides it over towards him on the couch.
Carmen: “Guess who’s back?”
Her phone goes off and she rolls her eyes, pulling it out of her pocket. She reads the text and moments later slams her phone down on the couch.
Carmen: “Who does he think he is?! Old ass negro wasn’t there for me my entire life, and lately he won’t stop blowing my phone up, talkin’ about he wants to make up for lost time.”
Carmen, is referring to her biological father who walked out on her and her mother when Carmen was just a year old.
She pulls herself from the couch, picking up the strawberry shake and throwing it against the wall, shattering the glass, immediately regretting the decision, considering it isn’t her house.
Carmen: “I’m sorry...I just...I have to go.”
CJ: “No, you don't!”
He speaks quickly and loudly, something very unlike his normal self, especially when the two talk.
CJ: “Now, I may not be on the best of terms with you right now, but I'm still ya bestie...at least, I hope I am. Regardless and as much as my overprotective ass has messed up lately, that's what I have to do. I can't let you leave like this. Damn that cup and that wall. That can be cleaned...but I can't allow you to just up and go knowing you're feeling like that. Please, just talk this out with me like last time….”
He calms himself down a little, hoping he got his point across but wasn't overstepping with everything that has happened recently. Carmen slowly walks back towards the couch, placing her face in her hands, sitting back down. She removes her hands and looks at the phone as it lay facing up.
Carmen: “I don’t understand what he doesn’t get. He disappeared for 21 years and now he wanna try and play daddy dearest? That isn’t how this works. Is it because I came up on a lil’ money, because I know he can’t all a sudden be interested in making up for lost time. You don’t get it...I literally get a text a week from him, and I haven’t responded to a single one yet. Doesn’t he get the hint?”
He takes a hand in his and thinks for a moment.
CJ: “We've had this discussion before, and I know how it makes you feel...clearly. Is there any chance you think he may be sincere? It seems like he's making a strong effort. Now, I'm not tryna tell you find out if that's not what you wanna do...not at all. I've told you before that I'd go with you if you decided to do it, or that I'd support ya decision if not. I just figured I'd throw out the hypothetical. I mean, what does he send you...if that's not asking too much?”
Carmen: “He’s expressed how big of a mistake he made, and said he would do anything to go back and change it, but guess what? He can’t. That was the first text, but trust me it was like it was a novel or something, I gave you the shortened version. And now once a week he hits me with the hey can we talk? If I don’t respond, obviously we can’t. I still have no idea how he got my number.”
She picks her glasses back up from the table, twirling them in her hands.
Carmen: “I don’t even wanna talk about this anymore. I’m sorry for breaking that glass, even more upset the shake is gone. Can we just forget that whole thing happened? Take the glass out my pay or something.”
CJ: “Lemme pull a Carm...negro please! I done told you, I ain't worried about a glass. I got more, and you don't have to repay me. You know, that little aggression thing I just saw reminded me that there is another thing I wanted to talk to you about.”
Carmen: “Good, anything but the old ninja that just texted me. What can possibly top you admitting you made the biggest mistake you will ever make as the owner of a wrestling company?”
Carmen leans back on the couch, resting the back of her head against the back of the couch, still trying to get over the anger she just experienced.
CJ: “Well, I'm not the owner… I'm just the HNIC. Well, I've told you how proud I've been about how much you've changed for ‘the good’ since we've met, but I want you to know I'm not tryna be an ass or anything, but I feel like there's just something missing, if that makes sense.”
He pauses for a moment, choosing his words wisely.
CJ: “I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think what's been lacking lately is a bit of that attitude. Now, I love the fact that you've bettered yourself, like I said. That said, a few days ago, I was moving some stuff from the main house in Cali to the guest house. I found the footage I had saved from the two of us going back and forth. You remember all that...since you decided to bring up the door thing?”
Carmen: “I remember alla it. How I made fun of your MMA stuff, how I called you Red Eye because you were boring me...and I also remember how after I beat you in that match, both our careers took off. Why you bringin’ it up though?”
CJ: “You're forgetting the best one, though. As much as I hate to admit it, the luchador thing was one of my favorite things I've seen used against me.”
They both laugh.
CJ: “The reason I bring it up and why I say I can't believe I'm saying this is because outside of...slaying me...I miss seeing that Carm. At least, in the ring. I can't say I miss getting that snapped on me, but I miss that fire you had roasting your opponents like a damn Comedy Central special. I know you better than I know almost anybody, and I'm only saying what I'm about to say because I love you, and you lil sis number two. Sometimes, you let yourself be an easy target, tho.”
He gets a little nervous and takes a sip of his drink as Carmen raises her eyebrow.
Carmen: “And easy target how? Because if I recall, I still been snatchin’ my opponents left and right in the ring. You forgetting I tapped out Abby before I was attacked?”
CJ: “Of course, I didn't forget that. Just like I didn't forget you snatching that TV Title and how you're gonna show up Cory Chevelle and whoever else you're facing...but I wanna see you blow up even bigger than that. I wanna see you be the biggest star in wrestling that I know you can be, but you leave yourself open with people thinking you're just some broken record of ‘boo boos' and ‘ninjas’. I ain't saying you need a whole Carm makeover, but just think about what I said at least?”
He raises an eyebrow in question.
Carmen: “So you think I should change who I am to appease people? I just said appease, do you even know what that means?”
She laughs, clearly teasing him.
Carmen: “But for serious, you tryna say I need to be as hungry as I was when I first returned to the States, right? That where you goin’ with this?”
He gives her a side eye.
CJ: “Of course, I know what ‘appease’ means, but there ya go. People like to call you a hood rat and all kinda other mess cuz they think you're some walking stereotype. You gotta show ‘em what you about. I think you sometimes get caught up proving people wrong that you look like you're on defense mode all the time. That Carm I fought, the one that wanted nothing more than to shut me and everybody else up...that had that fire from making a name for herself on one level, that'll get you some shine. Turn it up and get on the level you truly are. You are in the big title picture in two companies. Hit me if you want, but it's about time you show it.”
Carmen doesn’t have an immediate response for what he just said, because in many ways, she see’s his point. The Carmen Cambridge now is just as talented as ever, but she’s turned herself down, in some ways for her growing fan base, in other ways for the list of friends she’s gained.
Carmen: “I’m actually not about to hit you. I guess I have alot to think about. I’m selling more merchandise than ever, I have fans cheering me, and I’m in two title pictures like you said, but if someone like you see’s a difference in my approach to matches, my opponents probably see it too. I really do think I should go now...but I’m gucci, promise. I just wanna make this drive back to the hotel and clear my head, figure out where I’m at.”
CJ: “Okay, that's cool. Thanks for talking all this out with me and not hitting me with a finisher or something for saying that, but I really think I needed to say them. If there's anything I can do, just lemme know, okay? Let me show you out.”
Carmen finally puts her glasses back on, before standing up and following CJ to the door. He takes his time opening the door, refusing to give her another chance to make a joke about the one time he ran into a door. She wraps her arms around him, hugging him tighter than the first hug they shared when she arrived.
Carmen: “Thanks for being there...you dumb sometime, but you still my bestie. I’ll text you when I get back to the hotel, okay?”
CJ: “Well, that's what my role is for...cept the dumb part. That just happens when I get in my own head, but I'll let you go before I talk ya head off for thirty years. Just lemme know you made it all right.”
Carmen: “You know I will. Talk soon, boo.”
With that CJ shuts the door behind Carmen, relieved that he got alot of that off his chest. Now, it’s time to see if she takes his advice.