Owen Lee vs. Drake Hemingway

[Owen]

18th June 2021

New York City

0715AM

 

It had been a rollercoaster of emotions for Owen Cruze over the past two months, both personally and professionally. Finding out that Orlando wasn’t his birth Father had been a kicker for sure. Maisie Phillips doing her best ‘Mrs. Robinson’ impression something else he could have done without. But then to top it all off, he had failed at Taking Home of the Flame when he was certain he would succeed. Being in the last two with Ace, Owen had believed it was in the bag, a World Title shot he believed he had already earned by right, finally in the bag. Nothing could stop him from going on to become the World Champion once more, the only twenty-one-year-old two-time World Champion in history. But someone did stop him. Ace Marshall. And Owen had spiraled from there. All he knew was that now wasn’t the time to go back to Los Angeles. He didn’t need the bullshit that was waiting for him there. He didn’t know why he felt drawn to New York, but that was precisely where he found himself, pacing the streets as dawn started to break. It was no real surprise to him that he stopped outside one building, to look up at the sign above the door.

 

‘THE ORLANDO CRUZE ACADEMY OF WRESTLING’

 

The New York branch of Ante-Up, a place where Owen had learned at least some of his craft. Before he realizes it, he pushes the door open, and breathes in that oh so familiar smell, something that hadn’t changed throughout the years. He looks around, his gaze drawn to the picture of Orlando that hung from the walls, a deep sigh and a shake of the head making it obvious what he thought of that. Fact was, he wanted to hate Orlando for the deceit, but he couldn’t. And not being able to get rid of that pain was slowly breaking him down. And he knew it.

 

“Owen… what the hell are you doing here?”

 

Owen turns, and immediately recognizes a familiar face in Adam Lucas, another former pupil of the ICON wrestling school as it was once known. They fist bump, Adam seemingly pleased to see him. One of the few people that would be right now that’s for sure.

 

Adam: Watched your performance at Taking Hold of the Flame, was quite something.

 

Owen: Didn’t win, though did I?

 

Adam: No, but it’s not always about the winning is it. Your Dad taught us that.

 

Owen shrugs his shoulders. He couldn’t really be surprised that Orlando would come up in conversation, but it didn’t make it hurt any less.

 

Owen: Anyway, how’s EAW going? Still climbing that ladder.

 

Adam: Always trying bro, not often someone like me is giving a second chance, and I intend on taking it.

 

Adam had been kicked out of ICON for a drug related incident that Owen had never thought was his fault. After working the Village Halls, he had been lucky enough to be spotted by Elite Answers Wrestling. Since signing for them, he had taken the company by storm, and was well on his way to making his name in the business. To Owen, it reminded him of who he once was. A kid with a blinkered view on wrestling, not realizing the darker side that was always there. Adam would one day find that out for himself, but for Owen, however refreshing it was to hear, he knew it was a million miles away from the truth. Owen had once been SCW’s bright young star, just like Adam was EAW’s now, and once they had gotten what they wanted from him, the company had chewed him up and spat him out, giving opportunities to people that were in now way more deserving than he was.

 

Owen: You do you bro… I’m sure you’ll get there.

 

Adam: Well, let’s face it, I got more talent than you so…

 

That comment brings the slightest of grins to Owen’s face. He hadn’t smiled in a while, so it feels almost alien to him.

 

Owen: Yeah, yeah… come back when you’ve won your first World Championship huh?

 

Adam laughs. He’d heard what Owen had been like of late and how he had been struggling, and how he thought he had already been cast aside. But the person he was talking to sounded a million miles away from the person that internet forums had him believe he’d become. Yes, he didn’t seem in the best frame of mind, but he was just coming off what had been a huge loss, and there was no shame in that.

 

Adam: So anyway, what you doing around these parts?

 

For just a moment, Owen thinks about opening his heart to everything that was going on. Adam was just about the closest friend he had right now, everyone else having turned away from him. And yet, it didn’t seem right, pouring out all his troubles to someone who was obviously having the time of his life.

 

Owen: I dunno, guess I’m just looking to make sense of a few things. Get my head straight you know?

 

Adam: Been there bro, got the tee-shirt.

 

Owen: Just thought if I took in a few of the old haunts, it would help me get a sense of perspective.

 

Adam: And has it?

 

Owen puffs out his cheeks and shrugs his shoulders.

 

Owen: Fucked if I know mate. Guess I gotta keep looking for the answers yeah?

 

Adam places a hand on Owen’s shoulder

 

Adam: You’ll get there man, you’re a Cruze, your Dad’s boy. You’ll find what you are looking for.

 

Owen nods, with the thought clear in the back of his mind ‘if only you knew’.

 

Owen: Anyway, I’d best be off… keep reaching for those stars Lucas.

 

Adam: You too… and if you need anything, ever. You know where I am.

 

Owen nods, and makes his way over to the door, with one final glance over at the picture of his Father.

 

Adam: See ya Owen

 

Without even looking back, Owen waves over his shoulder and exits out into the New York air. Even now, he knew where his feet were taking him, a place he thought he wouldn’t go back to after last time, but a necessary closure. The memorial had been a place of comfort for him on so many occasions, and yet now he felt like it was an hinderance. As he gets closer, he can feel his anger increasing so that by the time he reaches the gates, he pushes them open with a force that causes them to crash against the wall. For probably the first time he doesn’t notice the flowers blooming, or the trickling of water from the feature that had calmed him on so many occasions. He quickly finds the memorial wall and sits himself down staring into the eyes of his Father’s picture with an intensity that previously he would have felt guilty about, but which was now a necessary evil. Pent up aggression continuing to build.

 

Owen: Why?

 

He pauses, waiting for an answer that of course never materializes.

 

Owen: All those years, none of you telling me. Your brother, ostracized, because he was my REAL Father. Birthdays, Christmases, the video you recorded for me when I turned twenty-one. ALL of it a lie.

 

He lowers his head, starting to feel miserable but refusing to do so. He wanted to be angry, not sad. He needed to be furious for what Orlando had done to him.

 

Owen: Did you think I would love you less? Was that it? Was you scared that I’d seek Finn out because you weren’t enough for me?

 

Owen narrows his eyes

 

Owen: I fucking adored you, you were everything to me, my hero. And now…

 

He brings his fist down on the bench, punching one of the slats which cracks under the impact, but Owen’s knuckles faring far worse as they bust open, bleeding profusely. Owen doesn’t seem to feel it. Either that or he simply doesn’t care.

 

Owen: You mean nothing to me. All these people that have lied to me, can go to hell. Find someone else to continue your legacy because I’m done.

 

He looks back at the picture

 

Owen: You hear me ‘Lando’… I’M FUCKING DONE. I hate you for this.

 

A single tear forms, Owen quickly wiping it away.

 

Owen: I’ll always hate you, till the day I die.

 

Owen finally looks at his damaged knuckles, and wipes them on his jeans, as a boy and his Mother walk through the park, stopping in front of the memorial. The boy however isn’t interested in the memorial, having spotted Owen sitting close by.

 

Boy: Mom, Mom… it’s Owen… look.

 

The Mother turns around and immediately see’s that Owen is distressed and then his knuckles which Owen tries to hide.

 

Mother: Sorry were you…

 

Owen gets to his feet, taking something out of his jacket pocket.

 

Owen: Don’t be sorry, I’ll get out your way.

 

Mother: No, it’s OK we were just passing by and Nathan is a wrestling fan so…

 

Owen: No, it’s all good. I’ve said what I had to say, just got one more thing to do.

 

Owen walks over to the photo and glares at it for a few moments, before then taking the marker he had gotten out of his pocket earlier, and writes something on the photo, which isn’t visible to the camera, Owen’s head in the way. Once done, he turns, nodding to the mother.

 

Owen: There, better.

 

Owen walks away, the camera then focusing on the Mom and Son, the son looking at the photo and obviously puzzled

 

Nathan: What does that mean Mom?

 

The camera pans around to the photo, LIAR!!! Scrawled over Orlando’s face, his eyes scribbled out, as the scene fades.

 

23rd June 2021

Newquay

1235PM

 

If Owen had thought his visit to New York would do him good, the reality was it made things a whole lot worse. Rather than subdue the way he was feeling, it increased his need to let the world know exactly how he felt right now, and he found himself lashing out at anyone who tried to get close. His Mom, Kloe had left tens of messages and a raft of missed calls. Shaun had tried, Taylor… even Chris Cannon had offered his support even after all they had been through. His actions after Taking Hold of the Flame where he had attacked Olek whilst on a stretcher had now become common knowledge, and if he wasn’t public enemy number one before, he certainly was now. The ‘tweet’ SCW had posted to announce his indefinite suspension had done nothing to lift his mood either, and in fact it had just caused him to dig his heels in. And as of now, Owen was refusing to pay the fine for his actions that evening, and consequently, he had been indefinitely suspended from competition. Now onto one of the SCW Officials, he wasn’t about to lose face.

 

Owen: I don’t care, I’m not paying that fine. If I must sit out the rest of my contract before I can compete somewhere else, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’ve earned a rest anyways.

 

He waits, as we faintly hear someone speaking on the other end, but not able to make out what is being said.

 

Owen: Giving me my chance does not entitle that jackass to treat me like shit because he didn’t have the first clue what to do with me. I’ve fought Aries now for the best part of two years and yet the only way I can get close to a World title is by competing in a Battle Royal. Everything I’ve done for this company and I get fined for ONE misdemeanor after everything Giovanni has and will do.

 

He pauses again, holding the phone from his ear obviously unconcerned by anything they are saying.

 

Owen: No, it isn’t about him, it’s about ME and the way I’ve been treated. The company should be saying sorry to ME for putting me through all this crap, not the other way around. Anything that happened to Olek was no more than he deserved for trying to ruin my career. So, if you think I’m going to pay this fine just so that I can give myself over to SCW you can think again. I’ll wait till the contract is up, and then I’ll go sign for a company who recognizes true talent when they see it and doesn’t give title shots to the ones who shout the loudest.

 

He listens once again, shaking his head dismissively before cutting in.

 

Owen: No bro, I don’t have to do anything. Tell Olek I said hi…

 

He ends the call, and throws the phone onto the sofa, and takes the deepest of breaths.

 

“Bad time?”

 

Owen spins around to face Dani, a former school friend from his time in Newquay. He puffs out his cheeks and shakes his head

 

Owen: Nah, just job stuff. They’ll get over it.

 

Dani: Sorry, I was passing and saw the door open so thought you must be back.

 

Owen: Yeah, I’m back… home sweet home, right? Coffee?

 

Dani: Sure

 

Dani follows him into the kitchen, where Owen already had some on the go. A few minutes later both are sat out in the garden, the tide in and crashing to the shore not 400 yards away.

 

Dani: So how have you been?

 

Owen: Not sure you want the answer to that question

 

Dani: That bad huh?

 

Owen: It’s not been the best couple of months.

 

Dani: Didn’t see Harriet on the way in, or Virgil for that matter

 

Harriet was Owen’s housekeeper, and Virgil his dog.

 

Owen: I let Harriet go… she was too careless and after what happened with Virgil, I just couldn’t trust her anymore. Virgil is stopping with a family I know in London because now I never know where I’m going to be from one day to the next. They are good people though, I helped them out once, so they are doing me a favor. Once I’m settled, I’m go get him. Really miss him though… was just about the only constant I had left.

 

Dani: That’s so sad

 

Owen: Yeah, I know, but it’s for the best.

 

Dani: Well, you have me

 

Owen hesitates, Dani noticing immediately

 

Dani: Well, this doesn’t bode well. I thought we were getting on.

 

Owen: We were, I mean we are.

 

He takes a sip from his mug, trying to find the right words.

 

Owen: I’m just not in a good place right now. I seem to be jumping from one situation to the next and a relationship right now? I have to be honest with you, it scares me. Nearly everyone that gets close to me either lies, or gets hurt, and I can’t have that for you. I guess what I’m saying is I need a friend right now, and nothing more.

 

He looks at her sheepishly

 

Owen: Is that OK?

 

Dani: Well, I can’t say that I’m not disappointed but of course it is. Whatever you need.

 

Owen: Thanks for understanding Dani. I appreciate it.

 

There is an uneasy silence for a moment, which gets increasingly more awkward. It falls to Owen to break it, in an unexpected way.

 

Owen: Orlando wasn’t my Father

 

For a moment Dani isn’t sure she has heard correctly.

 

Dani: What?

 

Owen: Orlando wasn’t my birth father… they lied to me all these years.

 

Dani: Owen, I… I don’t know what to say.

 

Owen: It’s fine, how could you?

 

Dani: Are you sure? I mean, how did you find out?

 

Owen: Helping Mom move I came across some old boxes with documents in them.

 

Dani: I mean, you may have misunderstood?

 

Owen: Yeah, I hoped so too… but then I confronted Mom and she admitted it.

 

Dani: Oh Owen…

 

Owen: It’s gets worse. You know Finn, the guy I told you about.

 

Dani: The guy who shot himself in…

 

The look on her face shows that the penny had indeed dropped

 

Owen: Yep, the guy who blew his brains out in front of me, the guy I thought was my Uncle, was Daddy Dearest. Couldn’t write it could you?

 

Dani: I’m so sorry Owen.

 

Owen holds up his hands and shakes his head.

 

Owen: Over it. Did a lost of therapy to get over that bastard fucking me up, I’m not going to cry any tears over that dipshit now. But its all the lies Dani, how could they have lied to my face for all this time? And worse still… were they EVER going to tell me, because it doesn’t seem like it. Orlando, Ruby my sister, my Uncle Shaun. All bollocks. Fuck my life, right?

 

Dani: Must be tough for you Owen.

 

Owen: I know right? And yet I’ve got people in Canada telling me I’ve got to say sorry and pay a bullshit fine just because I dared to lose my temper when I got this shit, real shit going on. Well fuck them, fuck em all. I don’t need any of them.

 

Dani takes his hand and holds it on the table, not knowing the words to say but looking into his eyes. She didn’t see the guy she once knew; she saw someone who was in the depths of misery, his life turned upside down. She understood why he was lashing out, like many others couldn’t. Owen sighs deeply, and lowers his head for a moment, composing himself. It wasn’t Dani’s fault; she’d done nothing but be there for him to unburden himself of this sorry secret.

 

Owen: I had such dreams for this place Dani, but I look around and all I see are memories that now are nothing more than a façade. I can’t live here knowing that every place I look, every time I turn, there is going to be something reminding me of everything that I have lost. Football right there with Shaun in the Garden, baking in that very kitchen… days out on the beach building sandcastles. I can’t do it Dani, I won’t do it. It’s all got to go.

 

Without another word he walks back into the house leaving Dani outside for a few moments. He reappears with his mobile in his hand, holding it out in front of him as he scrolls through his contacts.

 

Owen: Just give me a minute will you?

 

Dani: Sure…

 

Dani gets to her feet and runs her hand against Owen’s forearm, Owen giving her a weak smile. Once she has gone into the house, he dials one of the contacts, holding the phone to his ear.

 

Owen: Hey, it’s Owen… Yeah, I’m good thanks, look I need you to do me another favor?

 

Owen looks down the pathway and towards the beach, and in his mind, he can see clear as day him, Ruby, Kloe and Orlando messing around on the beach, smiles on all their faces. He isn’t smiling though, right now all he can think of is how he hates that image, and never wants to see it again.

 

Owen: I need you to put the Newquay house on the market. Don’t care how much, I just want it sold.

 

He listens to the response, nodding his head.

 

Owen: Cool, speak to you then.

 

He ends the call and walks back into the house, closing the French doors behind him. And it is on those doors that the scene fades.