flashback: edge of seventeen
Oct 17, 2016 21:39:40 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Oct 17, 2016 21:39:40 GMT -5
Phoenix, Arizona || Monday, August 17, 2009, 7:59 AM (OFF CAMERA)
She'd been up since four in the morning, completely wired for sound and even though it wasn't even eight, her uncle had the newest prospect running through the paces, trying to figure out what training group to put him in. From where she sat with her back against the railing, she could see him, reflected in the mirror she'd deliberately angled so it pointed at the treadmill down below. Half an hour she'd been listening to the lyrical slap-slap-slap of his shoes that was only punctuated by her uncle's voice, calling out the mile markers.
"You tired yet?" Starr looked down at the watch on his wrist and Kasey grinned from her vantage point, watching the guy's head bow.
Happy birthday to me, she thought, grinning.
He was dripping sweat and it was already hotter than Hades with the morning sun slanting through the windows on the far wall. She knew he'd turned the a/c down on purpose. On the first day he always did to see how long they'd last.
"Asked a question, son. You tired?"
Starr's voice held scorn. She knew that meant he was trying to push the guy, test his mental limits along with his physical and he was so damned good at it that she wasn't surprised to see the trainee tense up. Eyes narrowed, he looked like he wanted to say something and she wondered if her uncle noticed those knuckles going white where he gripped the rails – nope. His eyes were fixed on the digital readout. She squinted but couldn't quite make it out, even with her glasses on.
Starr clicked his tongue in an expression of disapproval, shaking his head. Kasey started to slink towards the stairs, feeling a low rumble in her guts like the shifting of some tectonic plate. On the way past the table, she picked up a bottle of water from the cooler of ice and flipped a towel over her shoulder, trying to look older than the not-quite-eighteen-yet that she actually was.
Her feet hit the bottom step the same moment the guy looked up – for a second she was sure he looked right at her and then he faltered. Broke rhythm and her uncle swore under his breath. "Goddamnit, kid. Focus up."
"Stop hoverin' an' maybe..?" The words came out strained and Kasey made sure to sidestep, keeping out of view as she moved around the machines.
God, he was skinnier than he'd looked in the video that had come across her uncle's desk, this sort of cobbled together 'greatest hits' package from some backwater indies – the borrowed sweats he wore hung low on his hips, and she couldn't tear her eyes off that, hoping they'd fall down. She'd been the one to contact his agent, she'd been the one to set up his arrival on their doorstep, only telling her uncle last night before the poor guy's flight had arrived. She'd asked for it as a birthday gift. There was something about the guy she found instantly appealing, even with his lack of muscle definition. He wasn't fat. From the way he was pushing himself, she could tell his stamina was great. Maybe with a good diet, and a decent workout regime, they could do something about the image he presented. Punk rocker was an alright gimmick for a place like Windy City or Galveston Island. But for a touring company like Elite Wrestling Champions, he was bound to get shuffled to the bottom of the deck, overlooked.
"Go faster," Starr said in a flat voice, his expression bland. It wasn't a suggestion, it was an order.
The boy didn't argue and she bit her lip to keep from crying out when his knees buckled, and he staggered forward, almost stumbling. "Can't," his voice came out soft, ashamed.
Oh no. Don't.
She crept closer, the bottle in her hand so cold it was making her fingers ache and she wanted to say something, to warn him.
He tried to get his burning legs to obey, without success, instead faltering more, slowing slightly. His voice shook with the effort of his exertions, taking on a whiny tone. "Can't."
Starr leaned forward, uncrossing his arms, reading her prospect the riot act. She didn't hear the words because she'd heard them a thousand times before – they were white noise. Try harder. Go faster. There's no such thing as impossible. Blah, blah, blah.
Her eyes were locked on him, knowing he could see her now, wondering what was on her face. A little twitch of his head to the left like he was flicking his hair from his face but she thought maybe he was telling her no and then he was biting his lip, staggering and slowing. Sweat poured down his face and now she could see how bloodshot his puppy eyes were, like he hadn't slept in years.
It happened in a second. One moment they were sharing a look of misery and then his head was snapped back, blood on his lips. Starr was shaking his fist and if the guy hadn't been gripping the rails, he would have taken a hard spill.
"Eyes back in your head," Starr ground out, "she's only seventeen!"
"UNCLE BILLY!" As if he'd just said something so awkward in front of the guy! "He probably wants a drink. You've been running him ragged for, like, eons already. You want some water, Lex?"
He shook his head.
"Fuckin' right you don't. Focus, kid. Show me what you really got."
He nodded and swiped a hand across his brow; slicking back the sweat dampened strands that hung down, dripping in his eyes. Digging down deep, he put on one last burst of speed. He grabbed the rails for a moment, squeezing hard, getting back his rhythm. It didn't take long; he took his hands away, running hard now, harder than before, his breath torn from his lungs. His face was mottled now, red patches high on his cheeks and she wondered if that meant he was angry.
"Better," Starr murmured, moving away, stepping to the side before grabbing Kasey by the arm. He pulled her aside, hissing in her ear. "What the hell are you doing? I thought we agreed that I was going to train him and you were going to stay out from underfoot? Instead you're... what the hell are you wearing?"
At his tone, she looked down, frowning at the oversized men's muscle tee over a sports bra and yoga pants. "What I always wear?"
"Put a real shirt on. There's a box of 'em in the office."
"Wait... what?"
He wasn't listening, instead turning back to look at the display and now Kasey could see it too. He'd covered another fifteen miles since he'd stumbled. "Kid, you'd better... cool down, alright?" Starr placed his hand on the rail, almost touching Alex's hand as the kid reached down for the water bottle there, taking a huge swallow before pouring the rest over his head. He blew out hard, spraying Starr with mist and sweat.
"Alex," Starr began, in a tone of warning, but that was as far as he got before Alex grabbed his side, feeling the sudden cramp. Starr pressed the button, sending the treadmill into a rapid deceleration. Alex stumbled off the platform, even as it was still moving, managing not to fall as his feet came in contact with the stationary floor. He doubled over, in agony as the water hit his stomach. He sagged to his knees, groaning, his body going limp now that his anger had faded. He was exhausted. He let himself fall the rest of the way, relishing the coolness of the floor. His eyes closed, his hands still clamped around his stomach, which was still clenching painfully.
She rushed to his side just as Lex pushed up, sending water and the remains of his breakfast all over Kasey's shoes. He gagged, coughing and spitting, but still his stomach rebelled, making him heave and gasp until he felt empty. His arms shook, almost spilling him into the mess as they gave out, but at the last second, Starr's hands closed around his shoulders, hauling him up into a sitting position.
Starr turned his head, glaring at his niece. "Kase, I thought you were going to stay out of my way? I thought we'd agreed that it would be for the best…"
She crossed her arms over her chest, tapping one foot, despite the fact that Alex's regurgitated water was soaking into the material. "I didn't agree. Besides, I wanted to see for myself if you actually let him stay."
Starr rolled his eyes, straightening up with a wince. "You just wanted to see him, period... so, my word wasn't good enough for you?" He looked down at Collins, who was still breathing like a lathered horse, shuddering on the floor. "Alex, this is Kasey... my niece, and the biggest pain in my ass since I had that hemorrhoid surgery."
"It's Lex," he said softly. When he looked up there was this sheepish smile on his face, his eyes flicking to lock on hers for maybe a tenth of a second. "Sorry… 'bout your shoes," he muttered, looking like he wanted to die of embarrassment.
OHEMEFFINGEE HE JUST SMILED AT YOU! She flashed him a smile back, blushing, wishing she'd had time to touch up the roots of her black-dyed hair. "Yeah well, it was kinda gross, but they're just shoes. You should be more careful, Uncle Bill shoulda made sure you weren't going to chug that water like a dope-"
"Kase-"
"Thought that's what 'cooldown' meant," Lex mumbled, stopping when he realized they were all talking at the same time.
"Kase-" Starr's tone was filled with warning, and mild rebuke. "Don't come in here and lecture my students, and don't tell me when he's done."
She ignored him and knelt, laying a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Are you okay?" She pushed her own water bottle against his lips, tilting it back, giving him a small taste. "Drink it slowly." She murmured, still touching his skin. She'd never known a guy with piercings in both his ears. And he had a nose ring, too! God, he was so cute, even with that silly soul patch he had under his bottom lip.
"Christ Almighty, child, if you're going to molly-coddle him, we're never gonna get him in shape for the big leagues!"
"Yeah? And if you spend the next two weeks breaking him in half, he'll be back on the unemployment line, or in the hospital after his next opponent beats his ass into hamburger meat! Go easy," she fired back, her eyes flashing angrily.
Starr sighed. "You make me bring him here, and then you mock my methods. Child, one of these days I'll take a belt to your bottom."
She rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. "Please, just leave him alone for a while, let him recover."
"Fine, fine. I have some calls to make anyways, Florence Nightengale." Starr walked away, shaking his head.
A chuckle burst between Alex's lips, turning into a laugh that surprised him. It was like the sun peeking through the clouds after a long rain. Something passed across his face that transformed him as a smile curved his lips. The dimples were deep, carving hollows in his cheeks. His eyes crinkled at the corners, as the laugh grew deeper. Now he was clutching his sore stomach as the hilarity overcame him. Kasey looked on with concern, her features battling between amusement and worry. "S-sorry…" he stammered, gasping for breath.
"What's so funny?" She looked at him, perplexed at the situation, a smile on her face. His laughter was contagious.
Alex managed to get himself under control, and the laughter subsided to snickering, and then to nothing more than a dry cough. He uncapped the water and took a slow drink, still smiling. "I...uh...at first... I thought... you an' him were..."
For a moment she looked lost. Then her eyes widened and she cuffed him in the side of the head. "OH MY GOD! THAT'S SO... THAT'S SICK! YOU PERV!" Before he could say anything else, she turned, sprinting across the room with easy teenage grace. Lex watched her go, his eyes glazed.
"Don't get any ideas, Alex!" Starr shouted from across the room, a cell phone already pressed to his ear.
"Ideas?" His eyes narrowed as he stumbled to his feet, still feeling weak. "I'm here to work my ass off, right? I ain't here to chase some jailbait," he noted the dark look on Starr's face, hastily adding, "no offence, Sir."
Kasey froze in the doorway, dismay making her feel like puking all over her shoes too. Did he just..? Jailbait? Really?
Starr shook his head, his tone all business as he muted the phone. "Don't think this is gonna get you off easy, just on account a' you tossin' your cookies. Take a cold shower, cool off. Get some rest, and I'll come get you this afternoon. Gonna put you in the intermediate class. Be ready, kid."
