Selena Frost vs. Polly Pingotti

[SnowQueenSCW]

Villain of the Year

”Last Day”

PS 290 The Manhattan New School
Manhattan, New York
July 4th, 2024
3:45pm

She could already hear the loud noises coming from the other side of the auditorium, and she hadn’t even opened the doors yet. It wasn’t the voices of children playing or having lunch – no. School had ended and been dismissed last week. The school season over, the children released for their two months of ‘fun in the sun’.

At least for some…

Another set of noises hit her ears again and Selena Frost quickly recognized it as the sound of outrage and frustration. She didn’t have to wonder why. She held the answer in her hand. It had been just shy of twenty-four hours ago when she had received a phone call from Deanna, the redhead begging Selena to come visit her and the children at their ‘Forever Home’.

Can I even call it that now? Quickly, the Snow Queen banished the thought. She had rushed there as fast as her Aston Martin DB12 could drive, weaving in and out of the interstate lanes and streets, knowing the route by heart, until she was parked in the familiar driveway. She had burst into the house, wearing her black trackpants and gray shirt – a stark contrast to the black pantsuit with light blue undershirt she wore (though her hair was the same as it had been the other day – her iconic braid) – to the sound of crying. While she must have looked a mess, coming from a rather intense workout she had been doing (thank SCW and management and even, to a lesser degree, Josh Hudson for that) with only a brief stint of time to wash, dry and change her clothes quickly, she hadn’t cared as she was immediately beside her wife’s – ex-wife? WHATEVER! – side. It was then that she had been given the letter she now held in her hands and informed of everything that had happened.

In-between suddenly-developed hiccups due to his crying, David had cried out how he had failed. That he wasn’t going to be allowed to play sports this spring and summer and some other things the platinum-blonde hadn’t been able to fully understand with his trembling voice. The letter and Deanna had been more informative.

In short, the school – as the letter outlined – “after much deliberation and several difficulties” had decided not to proceed with the ‘Summer School Project’ that Selena had suggested and volunteered to back with her larger income/bonuses. Standing in the hallway, Selena’s heart mimicked the ‘drop’ it had felt yesterday, as if remembering it as she gazed down at the letter in the hand. The letter that doomed David’s chances of fixing his mistake.

It was a vast contrast to what she had heard of the boy. Deanna had confided in Selena earlier in the week of the boy’s behaviour and remarks towards the redhead regarding summer school, as well as his childish tantrum that had left Deanna more than a little rattled, perhaps why she had seemed so off when she had called Selena this morning to go-over their plan for today’s meeting.

Hope she’s not too distracted… Selena thought for a moment. Probably why Bree got one over on her last Breakdown.

She released a long breath, the young woman putting the pieces of events together. It was so… it seemed fitting and ‘too coincidental to be real’ if that made any sense. The letter had outlined a requested meeting today for all parents to discuss the future for the ‘failing students’ – with the end result not looking good. And with Deanna needing to head to Memphis for Breakdown, that left only one option for the Frost family.

Selena gulped. Herself.

The pressure and implication of the situation returned on Selena’s shoulders, the world champion feeling the absolute weight of it. Even distracted with these events, Deanna could not no-show Breakdown when The Enigma and now Knox were out there. Which meant her only choice was to ask and trust Selena to do ‘what was best’ for their child.

Selena felt the shiver in her spine at the thought. If you had said that this whole thing was ‘divine providence’, the world champion would actually, partially, believe you. She wasn’t needed for Breakdown, management requesting her to have a sit-down interview with Adam Sharper earlier in the week and then, after said meeting, asking her to stay home and allow the show to focus more on the Adrenaline tournament to crown a new contender and focus on the wrestling for the main event.

It was… Selena sighed with a little guilt. A good decision.

She had to admit that. There had been so much drama and problems these past few weeks, more than she cared to admit and much of it centered around her and the world championship. She hadn’t been too fond of the clusterfuck that had been her last match – grateful as she was to have survived it without injury – and then there was all the matches that were ending in DQs and interferences and whatnot. A return to ‘the best wrestler’ in a tournament? It certainly had its appeal. And with people like Marie Jones and YUYO and even Gavin Taylor. Maybe it would come back to haunt her, but Selena, at least privately, could appreciate SCW focusing on such a tournament of hard work and passion with – hopefully – the best wrestler of that selection, prevailing.

I’ll have to see later tonight. she made a mental note to tune in just as she heard more noise coming from the auditorium, with the nerves returning as she did, making the young woman regret not having taken at least one pill of NX to quell them.

No. Not for this. She told herself. Last thing she wanted was to risk having an incident and ruining her last chance to save her son and, perhaps, impress her… impress Deanna.

She had to believe, in her heart, that something – or someone – had given her this opportunity, a happenstance that she could not fail. Much like that sham of a fatal-fourway, she had managed not only to survive, but win the damn match through seizing the moment. The officials coming in right at that time, the others being distracted by the fallen Aaron Demitria, Kandis and Polly knocked down and Scott having her back to Selena and left wide-open for The Glass Shard. Another happenstance and Selena hadn’t wasted it then, just like she couldn’t waste it now.

She needed to take advantage of Deanna’s absence – to solve this problem however possible! To show her wife- to show Deanna – how she was still… still Selena. Still the children’s mother. Still a protector of their family!

Won’t happen unless you get in there! her devil-voice shouted in a mental growl, causing Selena to reach for the door and pull it open… just in time for said doors to fly open as a crowd of angry adults came marching through. They were a myriad of races, clothes, colors of said clothes, it was like a riot march as the small group of parents (Selena assumed) marched past her, their voices a cacophony of noise, though Selena definitely picked up a curse word or two - Thank Odin the kids are out of school now.

She let the crowd walk past her, none of whom paid any mind to her, and waited until the last of them were out of sight before she swung around using the door handle, propelling herself forward and into the auditorium. She first saw the sea of blue plastic chairs with metal legs, no doubt neatly arranged but now some out of place, probably due to the angry mob leaving them that way. The disheveled nature of the chairs, in fact, was probably why the remaining people in the room were straightening them, Selena specifically spying the two women to the far left first.

“So…” she tried, speaking up to gain their attention as the eyes of David’s teacher, Ms. Harris, and the principal, Mrs. Warlow, looked up to gaze at her. “I’m guessing everything went well?” she offered lamely with an equally lame smile as she watched the two women straighten some of the chairs.

With a sad sigh, the younger Ms. Harris shook her head, waiting for the taller Selena to reach her. “Not at all.” She answered openly. “I’m guessing you’re here about the letter, too?”

Without a word, Selena held up the paper her son had brought home with him.

“Yeah…” Harris sighed. “We have about thirty parents that feel the same way.”

“Shouldn’t be too surprised.” Mrs. Warlow remarked, though she couldn’t bring her eyes to meet Selena’s right away.

“What happened?” Selena asked plainly. “Was it a matter of money?” she thought. “Because I can give more.”

An unintended laugh escaped Ms. Harris, the woman covering her mouth with her hand upon hearing herself. “Sorry.” She quickly spoke. “But it sounded so bad there for a second. Like you were bribing us.”

“Hardly the time for such things, Evette.” Wardlow remarked. “You’re still representing the school here.”

“Sorry.” Her smile disappeared immediately as Ms. Harris readopted her previous demeanour. “One big problem is, Mrs. Frost,” She explained. “is that the parents of the board that did not have any children involved in this project became very vocal.”

Selena raised an eyebrow. “Why would they even care if their children weren’t involved?”

“Because it’s a matter of fairness.”

The voice was like harsh ice down Selena’s spine (in a BAD way), the shrillness of the tone recognizable in an instant, forcing the platinum-blonde to turn around to see the poofy hair, long eyelashes and long nails of Leslie Sanderson, the archnemesis of the Frost family within the Black Arrow Neighbourhood.

“Hello, Seleeena.” Leslie smiled smugly. “Did you forget the meeting was today?” she eyed the taller woman. “That would explain the rather…messy look?”

Selena raised an eyebrow. “Leslie. Didn’t know the circus was back in town. With that much makeup, you going for being a clown both inside and outside the neighbourhood?”

“Oh…” the shorter Leslie gave a tilt of her head along with a shrilly laugh. “So funny. When was the last time you were in the neighbourhood, anyway? Haven’t seen you around.” Her dark eyes narrowed. “Trouble at home.”

She knew where to strike, Selena had to give her that, her own sapphire eyes narrowing at the very painful jab. “Watch it, Sanderson.” She warned. “I’ve got more than enough money to cover a lawsuit so I can sock you in the mouth.”

“Always with the violence with you.” Leslie tsked knowingly. “So uncivilized. But what can you expect from-“

“Oh please finish that sentence!” Selena prompted. “With witnesses here, I’ll have more than enough reason to beat you senseless!”

Wisely, the manicured woman halted her words, instead choosing to adjust her red coat with leopard fur trim. “Well, anyway. What I was saying earlier is that the matter is ‘fairness’.” She recentered her gaze on Selena, Harris and Wardlow. “And the board agreed with me-“

“You’re on the board?!” Selena realized with widening eyes.

“She’s the lead on those against the ‘Summer School’ project.” Evette quickly explained.
“Of course she is!” Selena laughed bitterly. Happenstance…

“As. I. Was. Saying.” Leslie stressed. “The board agrees with me that this little ‘summer school’ seems like nothing more than more taxes for the parents-“

“I’m paying for all of it!” Selena tried but was immediately silence by a raised finger by the still speaking Sanderson.

“ANNNNNNNNDDDDD!” she drew out the word. “And unfair to the children that worked hard and earned their high grades the right way. Like my little boy, Willy.” She beamed. “Top of his class.”

Though she could not see it, Selena was sure at least Harris or Wardlow were rolling their eyes at the idea of a mother trying to see ‘rank’ in a public-school class, even as Leslie continued speaking.

“Why should those cheaters get a free-pass and a second chance when my boy – I mean, the other kids - worked so hard to get good grades?” she finished, eyeing Selena at the word ‘cheaters’. “Proper punishment must be established.”

The Snow Queen felt her jaw tighten at the woman’s words. “That what this letter is meant to be? You squashing a couple of kids’ future?”

“I’m not squashing anything.” Leslie shot back defensively, though more mockingly. “I’m just saying that, in school and in life, we need to let the cream rise to the top. And for those with bad-behaved kids…” she once more eyed Selena. “Perhaps you need to lower your expectations on their futures.”

“Lower our expectations on their futures?” Selena asked sharply.

“Right.” Leslie grinned. “Like a garbageman. Or perhaps a PA server for JC Penny’s?”

Leslie wasn’t an actress or anything of the sort. She was as easy to read as a book. Her last slew of words had been directed at Selena with zero subtly. For a moment, she was glad that Deanna was nowhere near them at this time, because she was certain the redhead would have noticed it too and slapped the big-haired brunette to the floor.

“JC Penny’s, huh?” Selena smiled bitterly. “Sounds like a blast.” Moving her hand, the platinum-blonde covered her mouth overtop to create an echo. “Attention JC Penny shoppers, please disregard the bigoted idiot in aisle five! That’s disregard bigoted idiot. Aisle five!” she lowered her hand, hearing the stifled chuckles coming from behind her (from Ms. Harris, she gathered).

Less than amused, Leslie pursed her lips, putting her hands on her hips. “You can make jokes all you want, Selena. But the fact is that your ‘summer school’ project has been vetoed.” She waved her hands. “Natta. Not happening. Meaning those kids…” she eyes the Snow Queen. “And yours, get to repeat the grade.” She gave a little laugh at the thought, only further irking Selena, the wrestler wanting so desperately to knock the woman out like she had Polly Pignotti a few weeks ago. One good kick…

FOCUS! growled her devil-voice. She only wins if you let her affect you…

Slowly, gathering her calm, Selena turned her head towards Mrs. Warlow and Ms. Harris. “And you’re okay with this?” she asked plainly. “With failing thirteen kids?”

“Of course not.” Warlow remarked. “Mrs. Sanderson raised some concerns, but…” giving a sigh and a look around, the principal moved closer to Selena. “The fact of the matter is that while some people see it as unfair, the real matter is we don’t have enough teachers that want to take this on, with some of them in support of Mrs. Sanderson’s notion.” She explained. “In order for an accurate performance to be maintained, we need at least four teachers to teach throughout the week for the thirteen students.”

“Four?” Selena asked with a raised eyebrow, earning a nod from Warlow.

“Four for the basics. Math, Reading, Writing and Physical Education.”
“Physical Education?” Selena asked.

Again, Warlow nodded. “It usually culminates in a fun kind of competition at the end of the school year. Classes of the same grade go against each other.” She gave a wave of her hand to shorten the explanation. “Not important. What’s important is that the intensive needs those four subjects of various difficulties for each grade in order to have them redo their exams and move on to the next grade.”

“And you can’t get four teachers?” Selena asked, rather surprised. “Can’t we just offer more money or something?”

“It’s not that simple, Mrs. Frost.” Ms. Harris explained. “We only have three Physical Education teachers. One is in not in support of this program. The other two are on maternity leave.”
“Two pregnant teachers at the same time?!” Sapphire eyes went wide. “Must be something in the water-“
“No…” Evette shook her head. “Two of the Phys. Ed teachers are married. When one went on maternity leave, her wife went with her.”

“Oh….” Selena had to think about that for a moment before understanding hit her. “OH!” she smiled. “Good for them!”

She heard a snort and scoff come from behind her – Leslie, no doubt – and she chose to ignore it. “But come on! You mean there’s not a TA or someone that can come in?”

“Not in a week’s time with a lesson plan, no.” Warlow shook her head, her silver-gray hair moving with it. “It’s too short-notice.”

While she could feel Leslie’s eyes on her back, as well as imagine the woman’s grinning face, Selena did not turn around. Come on… she thought deep, pushing both aspects of her mind – hers and her devil-voice – into action. You’ve outsmarted the smartest people in SCW! You’ve outwrestled the best talent! You’ve got at least three women gunning for you because of how you’ve played them… THINK!

The idea came into her head like a bolt of lightning. “Me!” the voice came out so suddenly that she wasn’t sure who had said it, turning around as if to find the voice.

“You?” Warlow asked, causing Selena to turn back towards the principal.
“Wait…” came Ms. Harris. “That’s actually an idea.” She smiled brightly. “Mrs. Frost is a celebrated athlete. And she’s trained people right?”

“Does my wife and daughter count?” Selena asked.
“I…I suppose.” Warlow shrugged.
“Well… then yes.” Selena remarked. “I’ve given advice a number of times too.”
“Think about it, Mrs. Warlow.” Harris remarked. “I’ll teach them Writing, Mr. Gavers has agreed to do Math, and I can do Reading on top of that. Mrs. Frost can do Phys. Ed.”

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” Came the shrill voice again, Leslie butting in. “I thought we discussed this already! It’s not fair for the good students!”

“The ‘good students’ are getting their summer.” Harris interjected. “While those that did cheat are sacrificing theirs.” She turned her gaze back to Warlow. “Isn’t that fair enough?”

The group was silent for a moment as Warlow stood there, the older woman eventually taking a seat to consider her options. Eventually, her wrinkled eyes found Selena’s. “You’d be willing to teach them?”

To answer, the platinum-blonde gave a shrug. “If we can work it out with my wrestling schedule… yeah.” She answered honestly. “I’m not sure what good I can do, but if it helps my son and these other kids? I’ll do all I can. I’m sort of stubborn that way.”

The principal’s jaw shifted for a moment, though her eyes never left Selena’s. It was enough to unnerve Leslie, who moved closer to Warlow. “You cannot seriously be contemplating this.” She pressed. “I’ll have the entire board up in arms about it!”

It was enough of a threat for the principal to shift her eyes from Selena to Leslie for a moment before going back to the wrestler. Taking a deep breath, Selena made one more shot.

“Mrs. Warlow…” she slowly spoke. “If we don’t see the good in these kids… who will?”

It was enough for the principal to slowly smile and give a knowing nod. “Alright.” She replied. “It’s on the three of you.” She gestured. “You two and Mr. Gavers. I want good grades, good attendance, and NO cheating!”

“Unbelievable!” Leslie gawked in disgust.
“Believe it!” Selena automatically called out before realizing what she had said. “Sorry! Sorry… force of habit.” She returned her gaze to the principal. “Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

“I hope not.” The principal warned her. “Because it’s not just your son’s only chance. It’s the rest of the kids too.”

Giving a nod of understanding, Selena threw a thanks to Ms. Harris before excusing herself, rushing out of the auditorium and pulling out her cellphone, dialing the number as quickly as she could. She only got a few rings in before there was a pickup.

“Selena?!” she recognized the voice on the other end. “How’d it go? Please tell me it went well!”
“Well… I’ve got good news and bad news.” Selena started. “The good news is that David’s doing summer school!”
“YES!” she heard Deanna scream in happiness, earning a smile from the Snow Queen. “Thank you! Thank you! Whatever you did! Thank you!”

“You’re welcome, my lov-“ she caught herself. “You’re welcome.” She settled on. “But the bad news…”

“Don’t get smug!” Selena heard the voice from behind her, turning around in time to see Leslie march up to her. “You’ve got your little project but I won’t let this ‘injustice’ happen, Selena! Mark my words!”

“Consider them marked.” Selena smirked at Leslie. “But it’s hard to take you seriously when your makeup is running like that.”

“Wha-“ Leslie swiped at her face (though there was nothing to swipe). Even so, she ran off to the nearest bathroom, with Selena yelling the tune ‘Entry of the Gladiators’ after her before returning to her phone.

“What was that?” Deanna asked.
“A very angry clown.” Selena answered. “Turns out Leslie’s the one behind trying to shut down the project.”
“Was that the bad news?”
“Not… not exactly.” Selena winced.
“Then what is it?”

“Well…” Selena exhaled slowly, choosing her next question carefully. “What do you know about teaching children, Deanna?”