Post by Crash Rodriguez on Aug 13, 2019 7:17:13 GMT -5
July 20th, 2015
7:47 a.m.
It's another hot morning in Mexico. A young Crash Rodriguez, still going by his original ringname of Crashtastico is standing outside of a hotel. His face is smiling, a farcry from the man we now know today, as he walks up to the doors yanking them open. He nods at the woman sitting at the front desk, by now she's used to the young man showing up each morning to visit the tourist girl. She flashes him a smile as he hits the stairs, skipping a step with each stride, eager to see his blonde beauty he's come to adore. He gets to her room's floor as he rounds the corner and knocks on the familiar room #24. A few seconds pass before a familiar looking man opens the door.
Bro #1: "Oh shit, what's up, my guy? Come to see Gail again?"
Crash: "Yeah, she awake?"
Bro #1: "She's in the shower, come in and have a seat."
Crash walks into the shabby hotel room and walks up to a bed with the blanket sloppily laid across. He sits down waiting for Gail to finish her morning shower. His smile never leaving his face.
Bro #1: "I'm gonna head out my dude, you two enjoy yourselves."
The words leave the man's throat sounding less playful, but more like he knows something the young wrestler doesn't, however Crash thinks nothing of it. Perhaps he doesn't catch the subtlety of it. A few minutes pass as the young Crooked Man lays down on the bed, eyes darting about the room trying to stifle his boredom. Finally the golden curled beauty steps into the hotel room, towel covering her body. She notices Crash and jumps in surprise, but soon she calms down and seems a bit happy to see him again. They've spent the last few days exploring the city. She remembers fondly him smoking his first cigarette to try and impress her, although she doubts he'll ever get a taste for it.
Gail: "You're here, huh? Well, lemme get dressed and we can go do something. Got anything planned today, Charlie?"
Crash: "I got an idea, it's a bit different than the last few days but... I suppose you can see the real me."
Gail: "You act as if your little shy guy persona is just an act."
The two laugh as she grabs a change of clothes and begins to change. The recently turned 17-year-old smiles, he can't remember another time he has been this happy. Not since his mother's passing at the very least.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9:06 a.m.
The two are walking hand in hand up to an old warehouse. The paint is chipped so much that it's mostly brick with a few shards of dark orange paint left splotting about. Gail looks at Crash, smiling, yet concerned with where he's taking her. This is different than the parks, plazas and shops they've visited the past few days of her visit to Mexico. She never expected to find a guy to drag her across town, let alone one she'd actually enjoy being with. As the get to the front doors Crash stops momentarily, does he really wanna show her what's inside?
Gail: "Something the matter, big guy?"
Crash stands silently. All he can think about is how it's a mistake to bring her here. What good can come of showing this girl the brutality that awaits within his father's makeshift gym and wrestling school? He looks at Gail, her smile masking her concern. He can read her like a book.
Crash: "Nevermind, let's go do something else."
Gail: "No, you said you were gonna show me the 'real you'. So let's get in there and you show me."
A slight smile pulls it's way across his lips as he leads her inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11:11 am
The sudden jolt of pain down his spine snaps the younger man up to a seated position. His father looks over at Gail who winces at the sight. He just shakes his head, annoyed that his son had missed daily training for the young lady. Boots connect to the nape of his neck further agonizing the young man. He's used to the daily beatings, his did a firm believer that the most important aspect of wrestling is to absorb punishment, but today it seems more impactful. As he holds the back of his neck while face down on the canvas he eyes his father smiling. It all makes sense now, this is punishment for finding something that makes him happy. He starts to pick himself up when a knee is brought down onto the back of his head driving him face first to the mat. He sees red droplets fall to the mat, at first slowly before quickening the pace and leaving a pool of crimson nectar beneath him. He reaches to his nose, and then glances at his hand, stained with blood. He realizes quickly his nose is bleeding. He rolls out of the ring beneath the bottom rope. His boots hit the ground and his head is yanked back as the other man grabs a clump of hair, pulling him up trying to force him back into the squared circle, his only way out is to comply. He slaps the hand, freeing himself before sliding back in. He's had enough. Crash throws a wild punch catching his opponent between the eyes. His vision becomes blurred and the next thing he knows he's mounted on top of the man raining punches like a hailstorm while screaming and cursing. Finally, his old man pulls him off, yet Crash turns and headbutts his father before leaving the ring, grabbing Gail by the hand and making his exit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12:30 pm
Gail: "What a fucking asshole!"
Gail has been ranting and raving about the sick display she witnessed since they left. They sit on her hotel bed as she presses a cloth beneath his nose trying to clean the dried blood. Crash feels guilt, subjecting her to such acts of sick depravity. He should've known his father would lash against him after what happened at the club.
Crash: "It's no big deal. Dad's always been this way. Why don't we go get some food? I know a decent bar we can unwind at later tonight too."
Gail's lips purse together, as she breaks eye contact.
Gail: "Charlie, I have a flight back to the States in 2 hours. I have to pack up and get to the airport."
Crash's heart sinks, as if he never thought about her having to go home. The two sit and talk. Crash makes attempts to talk her into staying with him. To live with him, but she shakes her head and regrettably rejects his pleas. As they sit in silence, both wishing this moment wouldn't come. Crash helps her pack her things, and they begin walking to the lobby to check out, in complete silence. Bitter quietness that leaves the two mourning, as if somebody had died. They get outside, being greeted by a waiting taxi with her brother and his friends inside. She lights a cigarette, taking a drag as she finally speaks once more.
Gail: "Here take this. I know you don't smoke but I want you to have something to remember me by. I'll miss you, Charlie."
As she holds his hands in hers, she leaves the silver zippo in his possession. She walks away getting inside the cab as Crash stands speechless, she waves as she watches the car take her away from him. As it leaves his gaze, he whispers while his head hangs low.
Crash: "I love you"
7:47 a.m.
It's another hot morning in Mexico. A young Crash Rodriguez, still going by his original ringname of Crashtastico is standing outside of a hotel. His face is smiling, a farcry from the man we now know today, as he walks up to the doors yanking them open. He nods at the woman sitting at the front desk, by now she's used to the young man showing up each morning to visit the tourist girl. She flashes him a smile as he hits the stairs, skipping a step with each stride, eager to see his blonde beauty he's come to adore. He gets to her room's floor as he rounds the corner and knocks on the familiar room #24. A few seconds pass before a familiar looking man opens the door.
Bro #1: "Oh shit, what's up, my guy? Come to see Gail again?"
Crash: "Yeah, she awake?"
Bro #1: "She's in the shower, come in and have a seat."
Crash walks into the shabby hotel room and walks up to a bed with the blanket sloppily laid across. He sits down waiting for Gail to finish her morning shower. His smile never leaving his face.
Bro #1: "I'm gonna head out my dude, you two enjoy yourselves."
The words leave the man's throat sounding less playful, but more like he knows something the young wrestler doesn't, however Crash thinks nothing of it. Perhaps he doesn't catch the subtlety of it. A few minutes pass as the young Crooked Man lays down on the bed, eyes darting about the room trying to stifle his boredom. Finally the golden curled beauty steps into the hotel room, towel covering her body. She notices Crash and jumps in surprise, but soon she calms down and seems a bit happy to see him again. They've spent the last few days exploring the city. She remembers fondly him smoking his first cigarette to try and impress her, although she doubts he'll ever get a taste for it.
Gail: "You're here, huh? Well, lemme get dressed and we can go do something. Got anything planned today, Charlie?"
Crash: "I got an idea, it's a bit different than the last few days but... I suppose you can see the real me."
Gail: "You act as if your little shy guy persona is just an act."
The two laugh as she grabs a change of clothes and begins to change. The recently turned 17-year-old smiles, he can't remember another time he has been this happy. Not since his mother's passing at the very least.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9:06 a.m.
The two are walking hand in hand up to an old warehouse. The paint is chipped so much that it's mostly brick with a few shards of dark orange paint left splotting about. Gail looks at Crash, smiling, yet concerned with where he's taking her. This is different than the parks, plazas and shops they've visited the past few days of her visit to Mexico. She never expected to find a guy to drag her across town, let alone one she'd actually enjoy being with. As the get to the front doors Crash stops momentarily, does he really wanna show her what's inside?
Gail: "Something the matter, big guy?"
Crash stands silently. All he can think about is how it's a mistake to bring her here. What good can come of showing this girl the brutality that awaits within his father's makeshift gym and wrestling school? He looks at Gail, her smile masking her concern. He can read her like a book.
Crash: "Nevermind, let's go do something else."
Gail: "No, you said you were gonna show me the 'real you'. So let's get in there and you show me."
A slight smile pulls it's way across his lips as he leads her inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11:11 am
The sudden jolt of pain down his spine snaps the younger man up to a seated position. His father looks over at Gail who winces at the sight. He just shakes his head, annoyed that his son had missed daily training for the young lady. Boots connect to the nape of his neck further agonizing the young man. He's used to the daily beatings, his did a firm believer that the most important aspect of wrestling is to absorb punishment, but today it seems more impactful. As he holds the back of his neck while face down on the canvas he eyes his father smiling. It all makes sense now, this is punishment for finding something that makes him happy. He starts to pick himself up when a knee is brought down onto the back of his head driving him face first to the mat. He sees red droplets fall to the mat, at first slowly before quickening the pace and leaving a pool of crimson nectar beneath him. He reaches to his nose, and then glances at his hand, stained with blood. He realizes quickly his nose is bleeding. He rolls out of the ring beneath the bottom rope. His boots hit the ground and his head is yanked back as the other man grabs a clump of hair, pulling him up trying to force him back into the squared circle, his only way out is to comply. He slaps the hand, freeing himself before sliding back in. He's had enough. Crash throws a wild punch catching his opponent between the eyes. His vision becomes blurred and the next thing he knows he's mounted on top of the man raining punches like a hailstorm while screaming and cursing. Finally, his old man pulls him off, yet Crash turns and headbutts his father before leaving the ring, grabbing Gail by the hand and making his exit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12:30 pm
Gail: "What a fucking asshole!"
Gail has been ranting and raving about the sick display she witnessed since they left. They sit on her hotel bed as she presses a cloth beneath his nose trying to clean the dried blood. Crash feels guilt, subjecting her to such acts of sick depravity. He should've known his father would lash against him after what happened at the club.
Crash: "It's no big deal. Dad's always been this way. Why don't we go get some food? I know a decent bar we can unwind at later tonight too."
Gail's lips purse together, as she breaks eye contact.
Gail: "Charlie, I have a flight back to the States in 2 hours. I have to pack up and get to the airport."
Crash's heart sinks, as if he never thought about her having to go home. The two sit and talk. Crash makes attempts to talk her into staying with him. To live with him, but she shakes her head and regrettably rejects his pleas. As they sit in silence, both wishing this moment wouldn't come. Crash helps her pack her things, and they begin walking to the lobby to check out, in complete silence. Bitter quietness that leaves the two mourning, as if somebody had died. They get outside, being greeted by a waiting taxi with her brother and his friends inside. She lights a cigarette, taking a drag as she finally speaks once more.
Gail: "Here take this. I know you don't smoke but I want you to have something to remember me by. I'll miss you, Charlie."
As she holds his hands in hers, she leaves the silver zippo in his possession. She walks away getting inside the cab as Crash stands speechless, she waves as she watches the car take her away from him. As it leaves his gaze, he whispers while his head hangs low.
Crash: "I love you"