05-09-2023, 04:16 PM
OOC: Plays off of Selena’s Breakdown events as well as a bit from the PPV.
DISCLAIMER: The following is a work of fiction and not to be confused as complete or accurate representation of any beliefs, religions, etc. Please refer to research/articles by experts for that.
Forest Hills Neighbourhood
Queens, New York
April 29th, 2023
1:43pm
“And in the response of a female deity… we refer to these as ‘Goddess’ or ‘Goddesses’…”
Deanna Frost barely heard the voice as she fidgeted in her seat, surrounded by a mix of ages. There were some students that were just reaching adulthood while others were in their 20s like she was.
For a few more years anyway… she thought, working her lower lip. She was 26 now, which meant she would be 30 in about four years, which would make Elsianna 15, David 11, Amiliah 9 and Selena 38-
Immediately, the redhead slammed her thoughts shut when the image of the platinum-blonde flashed before her mind, her eyes closing just as swiftly. She quickly gave her head a shake before lifting it, taking in the front of the large room and the rollable whiteboard that the much older woman speaking was writing on. Quickly, though sloppily, the former tag-team champion scribbled down the definition of the latest words into her notes, ignoring the ‘clicking’ sounds of keyboards.
Wow…why didn’t I even think about getting a laptop? She chastised herself. She was the only person that was even using paper and pens, every other student with a laptop in front of them. Quietly releasing a sigh, Deanna looked around the room, trying to keep her eyes from fluttering shut again like they had a few times already since the lesson had begun. She used to be so keen in learning back in her home in Kentucky, sitting at the front of the class, answering questions, and doing her homework and all that. But that had been when she was learning things that interested her. Math, science, the way the world ‘worked’… not witchcraft.
She bit her lower lip to keep from speaking out loud, shuffling a little further into her seat to not be noticeable. She was, obviously, the oldest person in the classroom and she certainly hadn’t missed the snickers and glances that had fallen her way when the teacher hadn’t been looking. The students were all part of the ‘Alden family tree’ of some kind, here to begin their lessons in the various ideals and methods of… witchery? Pagan? Wiccan? Deanna refused to say any of them of fear of getting it wrong and pissing someone off.
She had travelled to Queens to the Forest Hills Neighbourhood, coming to this house which stood in the back of a forest, beautiful and secluded like her ‘Forever Home’. She was determined to keep her word to the Alden family. She and her wife were to be trained as witches to ‘pay back’ the debt Alejandra had with the infamous ‘scandal’ of her youth. It was a rather dumb situation, but it had been the least destructive way to solve this entire problem.
There was just one issue… no one had wanted to teach the Frosts.
At least, none had volunteered to teach them. All the available teachers that had been approached had refused to be associated with the family that was associated with the ‘scandalous Aldens’. It had taken weeks of refusal before the Alden elders had been forced to approach one last teacher: retired from the Academy of Wiccan and Pagan studies that the other teachers were part of. In fact, the woman had taught a lot of them – that’s how old she was!. The good news was the woman had not hesitated to say ‘yes’ in teaching the Frost wives. The bad news? They had been put in the only class the woman still taught (more as a hobby in her retirement).
That class had been the “Young adult” class, which explained the near decade age difference between Deanna and the other students.
Again, the redhead heard the snicker of someone in front of her, her emerald eyes flashing up to see a pair of young girls giggling a little at her before jerking their heads back to the front, though Deanna could still hear them whispering in their little ‘chit-chat’.
She was a pariah and she knew it, the infamy of her wife’s family probably on the tongues of all these parents’ students, possibly with orders of ‘Stay away!’ and ‘Don’t associate!’.
Least they can’t really bully me this time around. she thought glumly. Still, she would rather have had some friendliness in this endeavor. Was that too much to ask for?
The piece of paper landed in front of her, causing a slight jerk as her thoughts were lost. Immediately, she looked around to see a boy stare at her with a smirk before turning his head. He sat one seat up and to the left of her. Still, she unfolded the paper with a roll of her emerald eyes.
Witch panties… the paper read in its scribbles. did the dyke wear when riding her broom? despite herself, Deanna’s eyes moved down a few lines to the ‘answer’. Trick question! Dykes don’t like riding wood!
She felt her jaw clench but, otherwise, gave no visible reaction. Gods, this was like high-school in Kentucky all over again. When she had chosen to come out, her fellow classmates had all rallied against her. The emotional and physical abuse had been what had prompted her sister, Amy, to take her out of school and establish private tutors during the final year of Deanna’s high-school, which concluded shortly before she had met, fallen in love, and, eventually, married Selena.
Despite herself, Deanna’s eyes fluttered over to the empty chair beside her. The one with the name tag still perfectly placed in the middle with Selena’s name on it-
Again, Deanna forced herself to focus, immediately grabbing her pen and scribbling a simple sentence on the note: “Which is spelt with an ‘H’.” Before folding up the paper and tossing it back to the boy. He was somewhat startled but quickly unfolded it, expecting some kind of reaction, but, as his expression soured, he clearly did not like that Deanna had not been so easily affected. Nor did he seem to like when the teacher suddenly marched towards him, eyeing Deanna and him before plucking the piece of paper out of his hand.
Oh geez… Deanna thought in embarrassment. I’m 26 and I’m about to get detention… Before her, the wrinkled woman in her black gown eyed unfolded the paper. Giving it a quick read, she slowly refolded the paper before grabbing the boy by the arm and pulling him out of his seat, revealing a strength surprising for a woman of her apparent age.
“Mr. Harcourt.” She spoke sharply, pulling the boy to the front of the class. “Since you enjoy writing notes so much…” stopping at the front of her whiteboard, she quickly, using the dry eraser, cleared everything before handing the boy the black sharpie marker. “You can stand there and write what I dictate for the rest of the class.”
A chorus of snickers came from the class as the boy looked at the woman in disbelief. “Do you know who my dad is?”.
“Yes.” The teacher narrowed her eyes. “I taught him as well. He liked to pass notes during my class too. I hope your writing is neater than his was.” she leaned forward a little further. “And for the record.” Her voice dropped to a slight whisper, though it was still audible. “Which in that context IS spelt with an ‘h’. Remember that when you’re writing.”
Despite herself, Deanna felt a slight snicker come from her at the woman’s mocking, earning a slight glance by the teacher.
“Students. Young adults.” The woman spoke again. “I understand many of you have ‘reservations’ on some of your fellow students. Allow me to be clear: I will not tolerate ANY discrimination or misconduct in MY classroom. You are to treat every classmate with the utmost respect and integrity. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action. I trust you understand that, since you being here to be taught by me, a retired teacher, leaves your options rather bleak. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Mrs. Winthrop.”
“Good.” She nodded her head curtly. “Now, then to continue with our lesson – Kurt, write this down. The Greeks used a practice known as Hellenismos…”
Feeling a bit relieved, Deanna relaxed a little in her chair. Still, her emerald eyes, again, settled on the empty seat before her, this time unable to stop the thoughts that rushed through her.
Selena wasn’t there…
The redhead sighed. Where was her wife? Well, at least Deanna knew that. After the absolute madness that had seen the last of the House of Frost as tag-team champions at Playing the Wildcard, Selena had been… it hurt Deanna to say it, but she had never seen her wife so angry. Not only was there that business with Mr. D., but interference after interference, assault after assault – gods she had never seen the Snow Queen lose her cool like that in the ring. And when it was all said and done and Selena was titleless like she was, the older Frost had, a few days later, told Deanna that she needed to get away for a few days.
Now, she’s in Nome again… Deanna sighed, resting her head in her hand as her eyes continued to gaze at the empty seat. She didn’t want to begrudge her wife that. As stated, she had never seen her wife so lost and hurt and angry when it came to SCW itself. Others in SCW? Sure! Their private lives with the Scythes and Frostmeres? Absolutely! But SCW itself? No… she had always loved it and spoke fondly of it…
Now? Gods, the social media was alight with rumors. “Selena’s teasing a heel turn!”, “Selena’s going bad!”, “Just wait! It’s gonna happen! Snow Queen’s gonna snap!” and so many more statements across the various platforms. So, Deanna understood her wife’s need to get away from it all and go back to the colds of the north that had been her inspiration and shelter for so many years… But did it have to be now?!
They were both in tournaments! Selena in a tournament to crown a new World Champion and Deanna, herself, in a different tournament to crown a new United States Champion!
And it was easy for Selena! She had been in…like… four or five or – including God of Wrestling, World Series of Wrestling, and the Trios over the years- SEVERAL, okay? Several tournaments! Deanna had only been in one tournament in her whole ‘career’… and she had lost in the first round! Hell, she had been the one pinned!
She hadn’t even gotten to a semi-final or finals round in her life! And on top of it all… this tournament was for the United States title!
Nervously, Deanna’s eyes shut at the thought. Crab-cakes, she was nervous! For months, she had wanted a chance to fight for higher-tier titles like the Adrenaline or the United States title! She had beaten numerous people that had sprung ahead of her like The One and Cassie Wolfe to get their contendership shots… and yes, that part had made her a little bitter and envious but now that her chance was here? And now that she was facing a former World champion in the first round?
No! Not a former world champion! she mentally corrected. A former former former former former former former – gasp – hey wait a minute… why is my brain gasping? It doesn’t need to breathe like that… I mean it needs air but – FOCUS – FORMER world champion!
She felt the nail of her thumb in her teeth. Had she just been unlucky in drawing Glory Braddock? The woman had been good enough to beat Syren! Good enough to almost beat Selena for the WORLD title! Hell, the woman had already BEEN the United States Champion!
She is not ready to face the true upper echelon in this sport!
The words, spoken by Ravyn Taylor, echoed in Deanna’s brain, mocking her and the situation. There was no doubt that Glory Braddock, for all her accomplishments in SCW and her victories over such superstars as Ravyn and Syren, was part of that ‘upper echelon’… Deanna had tried so hard over the previous pay-per-view to disprove the vile woman’s words.
She wanted to be ready! She wanted so badly for the world to recognize it, even if D. and the roster didn’t.
But she had failed. She had proven Ravyn right – and it stung. It had stung so much, but she had buried it best she could and put on a brave face to try and support Selena. Afterall, it was only Deanna’s ego that was hurt. Her wife… she didn’t want to think about how much her mate was suffering.
Still… she thought glumly. I wish she was here…
Her heart ached at the truth of such a statement. She needed her wife. She wanted to comfort her and support her, but also… she needed to be comforted and supported.
She was scared. So scared. Not of this class or even the people sending her foul notes. She was scared of failing again. She was scared of being eliminated in the first round. She was scared of coming up short once more and hearing the same lines from everyone backstage, even from Mr. D..
You’re not ready…
You’re not ready…
You’re not ready…
You’re not ready…
She almost yelled a defiant ‘SHUT UP!’ to the voice of her head; the only thing stopping her was Mrs. Winthrop clearing her throat. “That will be it for today. I will see you next Saturday. Chapters 3, 4 and 6 must be read. Chapter 5 is there for more information if you require.”
The large, modified family-room-turned-classroom was a ruckus of noise as the students all packed their laptops away, Kurt Harcourt, the boy that had bothered Deanna, even shaking his now sore wrist to try and dispel some of the discomfort as he slinked out of the room, throwing a dirty look Deanna’s way as he did.
Quickly, the redhead’s eyes flew to the clock on the wall, her eyes wide as she spied that nearly an hour had passed in her musings and Winthrop’s intervention. Her eyes dropping down to her page, the emerald orbs went even wider as she spied the doodles on her note paper – drawings she hadn’t even realized she had made while her mind was off on its tangent of missing her wife and the upcoming tournament. She spied the artistic words, some in bold, some in cursive, some shaded, some just a mess, but she could read it all.
SCW…
United States title…
Glory…
Not ready…
Not ready…
Not ready… That message was filling most of her page, but not as much as the last one.
Selena…
The redhead could barely make out the class-notes she had written about witchcraft during the lesson, her ‘paper-graffiti’ covering even parts of those.
“A lot on your mind, I see.”
The voice caused Deanna to jump a little, a yelp escaping her as she jerked her head up to stare into the patient, gray eyes of Mrs. Winthrop.
“Ahh…” Deanna breathed, guilt filling her. “I…” her eyes fell down to her paper, a mess of ink and messages. “I mean…”
Winthrop smiled without judgment. “I’ve seen it all before.” She gave an understanding nod. “Especially from students that are being forced to learn here.” She turned around to make her way back to the front of the class where her desk was – a rich, dark-red cedar that reminded Deanna of her own hair.
“I wasn’t forced.” She spoke quickly, pushing herself out of her desk-chair and grabbing her ringed-booklet. She walked after Winthrop, watching the woman settle in her chair behind the desk. ”I chose to come here.”
“For your wife.” Winthrop nodded. “I was informed.” Adjusting her round glasses, the woman began pulling out papers, placing them on the desk in front of her.
“Yeah…about that.” Deanna sighed. “First, please understand that Selena will be here.”
“I hope so.” Winthrop smiled in humor. “I can’t quite pass her as a witch if she doesn’t show up to take the lessons.”
“No, I mean. Yeah… that makes sense.” Deanna scratched the back of her head with her free hand. “But I mean… she’s a great student. You’ll see! She’ll work hard and learn. She’s…” she sighed, the loneliness in her pushing more thoughts of her wife into her mind. “She’s perfect.”
“I doubt that.” Winthrop gave a tilt of her head, but her eyes shifted over to a framed picture that Deanna could not see on her side. “I find people who are ‘flawed’ to be far more intriguing. Far more capable of creating emotion in others like that.” She gestured the pen she now held towards Deanna’s face, causing the redhead to reach up quickly, feeling the slight heat in her cheeks.
“Sorry.” Deanna whispered. “But, Mrs. Winthrop… I also wanted to thank you. For what you said and did regarding that kid. I mean…”
“I have a standard.” The teacher answered. “I never broke in the forty years I taught at the Academy and I have no intention of breaking it now even in retirement.”
“Is…” Deanna bit her lower lip. “Is that why you agreed to teach Selena and I?”
“Yes.” Winthrop nodded.
“Even with the stigma of Selena’s mother?” Deanna tested. “Or that Selena and I are lesbians? Or the fact that neither of us really believe in this stuff?”
From her seat, the teacher looked up, a raised eyebrow pointed at Deanna. “Whether you believe in it or not, child.” She folded her hands over the table. “You believe in something.”
“I mean… well, yeah.” Deanna shrugged. “Everyone does.”
“You’d be surprised.” The teacher countered. “Still, you are here for a reason.”
“Yeah.” Deanna nodded. “I didn’t want Selena to go through this alone. It wasn’t fair. None of this is. Don’t… don’t you think? That she and Alejandra and the others are punished for something that happened forty years ago?”
“It is not my place to judge the decision of the elders.” Winthrop answered. “However… I believe, regardless of religion or education or stance of philosophy, that everything happens for a reason.” She eyed the redhead. “You are here for a reason. Your wife is not here today… for a reason.”
“She’s…” Deanna tried, unable to keep completely quiet of the matter. “She’s troubled. Everything she believes in… it’s crumbling around her and I…”
“You are trying to hold it up with your own bare hands.” Winthrop nodded her head knowingly. “Quite the burden for someone so young.”
“Did you ever?”
Slowly, a sad smile graced the older woman’s lips before she reached over to turn the framed picture over, revealing a black and white photo of two young women holding hands and standing in front of a tree.
“My sister and I.” Winthrop stated. “She was very sick… and I needed to look after her while teaching.”
“I’m sorry.” Deanna replied automatically, eyeing the portrait. The two girls were very pretty and the redhead could see some of the features of the young girl in Winthrop, albeit aged and withered from the decades.
“The hardest part…” Winthrop smiled, turning the frame back over to herself. “Was burying my own pain and exhaustion to put on a smile and be positive around her. I wanted so badly to be the one who was crying in her arms. To be the one who had her hair stroked and told ‘everything would be okay’. But I couldn’t.” she eyed Deanna. “She needed me to be there for her far more than I needed her to be there for me…”
Slowly, Deanna nodded her head. “I… I think I understand.”
“Good.” Winthrop nodded before reaching into her desk drawer and pulling out a card. “Here.”
“What is this?” Deanna asked, taking the black card and reading it. “Dresdin Flynn?”
“An old friend.” Winthrop smiled. “He helped me through my struggles with my sister. Perhaps he can help you with your troubles with your wife.”
Lifting an eyebrow, Deanna read the card slowly. “Says he’s a tarot-card reader, a fortune-teller, a psychic – Really?!” she asked in disbelief. “I already told you that I don’t believe in this stuff.”
Patiently, Winthrop merely shrugged her shoulders. “Have it your way, dear. But he is also a qualified counselor – if you read the other side of the card.”
Flipping it over, Deanna felt rather sheepish as she read the bolder, large print of ‘Family Therapist’.
“Ahh…” she remarked, abashed as she held the card up a little. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Winthrop replied, gazing back down at her notes. “I expect Selena to attend all my classes from now on, barring any emergencies, and keep up with the homework I assign.”
“U…Understood.” Deanna nodded, excusing herself as she marched out of the classroom and the house, doing all she could to keep her pride intact over her slip. She had just made it out the front door when she felt the cold breeze of the wind swirl around her – chilling her arms and making her wish she was wearing her favorite dark-green sweater as opposed to the jeans and t-shirt she had chosen.
Selena… her mind whispered to the cold around her, wishing her words could be heard as far as Nome. Please come home soon… I… I need you.
DISCLAIMER: The following is a work of fiction and not to be confused as complete or accurate representation of any beliefs, religions, etc. Please refer to research/articles by experts for that.
The Witches of Alden
”Lonely”
Forest Hills Neighbourhood
Queens, New York
April 29th, 2023
1:43pm
“And in the response of a female deity… we refer to these as ‘Goddess’ or ‘Goddesses’…”
Deanna Frost barely heard the voice as she fidgeted in her seat, surrounded by a mix of ages. There were some students that were just reaching adulthood while others were in their 20s like she was.
For a few more years anyway… she thought, working her lower lip. She was 26 now, which meant she would be 30 in about four years, which would make Elsianna 15, David 11, Amiliah 9 and Selena 38-
Immediately, the redhead slammed her thoughts shut when the image of the platinum-blonde flashed before her mind, her eyes closing just as swiftly. She quickly gave her head a shake before lifting it, taking in the front of the large room and the rollable whiteboard that the much older woman speaking was writing on. Quickly, though sloppily, the former tag-team champion scribbled down the definition of the latest words into her notes, ignoring the ‘clicking’ sounds of keyboards.
Wow…why didn’t I even think about getting a laptop? She chastised herself. She was the only person that was even using paper and pens, every other student with a laptop in front of them. Quietly releasing a sigh, Deanna looked around the room, trying to keep her eyes from fluttering shut again like they had a few times already since the lesson had begun. She used to be so keen in learning back in her home in Kentucky, sitting at the front of the class, answering questions, and doing her homework and all that. But that had been when she was learning things that interested her. Math, science, the way the world ‘worked’… not witchcraft.
She bit her lower lip to keep from speaking out loud, shuffling a little further into her seat to not be noticeable. She was, obviously, the oldest person in the classroom and she certainly hadn’t missed the snickers and glances that had fallen her way when the teacher hadn’t been looking. The students were all part of the ‘Alden family tree’ of some kind, here to begin their lessons in the various ideals and methods of… witchery? Pagan? Wiccan? Deanna refused to say any of them of fear of getting it wrong and pissing someone off.
She had travelled to Queens to the Forest Hills Neighbourhood, coming to this house which stood in the back of a forest, beautiful and secluded like her ‘Forever Home’. She was determined to keep her word to the Alden family. She and her wife were to be trained as witches to ‘pay back’ the debt Alejandra had with the infamous ‘scandal’ of her youth. It was a rather dumb situation, but it had been the least destructive way to solve this entire problem.
There was just one issue… no one had wanted to teach the Frosts.
At least, none had volunteered to teach them. All the available teachers that had been approached had refused to be associated with the family that was associated with the ‘scandalous Aldens’. It had taken weeks of refusal before the Alden elders had been forced to approach one last teacher: retired from the Academy of Wiccan and Pagan studies that the other teachers were part of. In fact, the woman had taught a lot of them – that’s how old she was!. The good news was the woman had not hesitated to say ‘yes’ in teaching the Frost wives. The bad news? They had been put in the only class the woman still taught (more as a hobby in her retirement).
That class had been the “Young adult” class, which explained the near decade age difference between Deanna and the other students.
Again, the redhead heard the snicker of someone in front of her, her emerald eyes flashing up to see a pair of young girls giggling a little at her before jerking their heads back to the front, though Deanna could still hear them whispering in their little ‘chit-chat’.
She was a pariah and she knew it, the infamy of her wife’s family probably on the tongues of all these parents’ students, possibly with orders of ‘Stay away!’ and ‘Don’t associate!’.
Least they can’t really bully me this time around. she thought glumly. Still, she would rather have had some friendliness in this endeavor. Was that too much to ask for?
The piece of paper landed in front of her, causing a slight jerk as her thoughts were lost. Immediately, she looked around to see a boy stare at her with a smirk before turning his head. He sat one seat up and to the left of her. Still, she unfolded the paper with a roll of her emerald eyes.
Witch panties… the paper read in its scribbles. did the dyke wear when riding her broom? despite herself, Deanna’s eyes moved down a few lines to the ‘answer’. Trick question! Dykes don’t like riding wood!
She felt her jaw clench but, otherwise, gave no visible reaction. Gods, this was like high-school in Kentucky all over again. When she had chosen to come out, her fellow classmates had all rallied against her. The emotional and physical abuse had been what had prompted her sister, Amy, to take her out of school and establish private tutors during the final year of Deanna’s high-school, which concluded shortly before she had met, fallen in love, and, eventually, married Selena.
Despite herself, Deanna’s eyes fluttered over to the empty chair beside her. The one with the name tag still perfectly placed in the middle with Selena’s name on it-
Again, Deanna forced herself to focus, immediately grabbing her pen and scribbling a simple sentence on the note: “Which is spelt with an ‘H’.” Before folding up the paper and tossing it back to the boy. He was somewhat startled but quickly unfolded it, expecting some kind of reaction, but, as his expression soured, he clearly did not like that Deanna had not been so easily affected. Nor did he seem to like when the teacher suddenly marched towards him, eyeing Deanna and him before plucking the piece of paper out of his hand.
Oh geez… Deanna thought in embarrassment. I’m 26 and I’m about to get detention… Before her, the wrinkled woman in her black gown eyed unfolded the paper. Giving it a quick read, she slowly refolded the paper before grabbing the boy by the arm and pulling him out of his seat, revealing a strength surprising for a woman of her apparent age.
“Mr. Harcourt.” She spoke sharply, pulling the boy to the front of the class. “Since you enjoy writing notes so much…” stopping at the front of her whiteboard, she quickly, using the dry eraser, cleared everything before handing the boy the black sharpie marker. “You can stand there and write what I dictate for the rest of the class.”
A chorus of snickers came from the class as the boy looked at the woman in disbelief. “Do you know who my dad is?”.
“Yes.” The teacher narrowed her eyes. “I taught him as well. He liked to pass notes during my class too. I hope your writing is neater than his was.” she leaned forward a little further. “And for the record.” Her voice dropped to a slight whisper, though it was still audible. “Which in that context IS spelt with an ‘h’. Remember that when you’re writing.”
Despite herself, Deanna felt a slight snicker come from her at the woman’s mocking, earning a slight glance by the teacher.
“Students. Young adults.” The woman spoke again. “I understand many of you have ‘reservations’ on some of your fellow students. Allow me to be clear: I will not tolerate ANY discrimination or misconduct in MY classroom. You are to treat every classmate with the utmost respect and integrity. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action. I trust you understand that, since you being here to be taught by me, a retired teacher, leaves your options rather bleak. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Mrs. Winthrop.”
“Good.” She nodded her head curtly. “Now, then to continue with our lesson – Kurt, write this down. The Greeks used a practice known as Hellenismos…”
Feeling a bit relieved, Deanna relaxed a little in her chair. Still, her emerald eyes, again, settled on the empty seat before her, this time unable to stop the thoughts that rushed through her.
Selena wasn’t there…
The redhead sighed. Where was her wife? Well, at least Deanna knew that. After the absolute madness that had seen the last of the House of Frost as tag-team champions at Playing the Wildcard, Selena had been… it hurt Deanna to say it, but she had never seen her wife so angry. Not only was there that business with Mr. D., but interference after interference, assault after assault – gods she had never seen the Snow Queen lose her cool like that in the ring. And when it was all said and done and Selena was titleless like she was, the older Frost had, a few days later, told Deanna that she needed to get away for a few days.
Now, she’s in Nome again… Deanna sighed, resting her head in her hand as her eyes continued to gaze at the empty seat. She didn’t want to begrudge her wife that. As stated, she had never seen her wife so lost and hurt and angry when it came to SCW itself. Others in SCW? Sure! Their private lives with the Scythes and Frostmeres? Absolutely! But SCW itself? No… she had always loved it and spoke fondly of it…
Now? Gods, the social media was alight with rumors. “Selena’s teasing a heel turn!”, “Selena’s going bad!”, “Just wait! It’s gonna happen! Snow Queen’s gonna snap!” and so many more statements across the various platforms. So, Deanna understood her wife’s need to get away from it all and go back to the colds of the north that had been her inspiration and shelter for so many years… But did it have to be now?!
They were both in tournaments! Selena in a tournament to crown a new World Champion and Deanna, herself, in a different tournament to crown a new United States Champion!
And it was easy for Selena! She had been in…like… four or five or – including God of Wrestling, World Series of Wrestling, and the Trios over the years- SEVERAL, okay? Several tournaments! Deanna had only been in one tournament in her whole ‘career’… and she had lost in the first round! Hell, she had been the one pinned!
She hadn’t even gotten to a semi-final or finals round in her life! And on top of it all… this tournament was for the United States title!
Nervously, Deanna’s eyes shut at the thought. Crab-cakes, she was nervous! For months, she had wanted a chance to fight for higher-tier titles like the Adrenaline or the United States title! She had beaten numerous people that had sprung ahead of her like The One and Cassie Wolfe to get their contendership shots… and yes, that part had made her a little bitter and envious but now that her chance was here? And now that she was facing a former World champion in the first round?
No! Not a former world champion! she mentally corrected. A former former former former former former former – gasp – hey wait a minute… why is my brain gasping? It doesn’t need to breathe like that… I mean it needs air but – FOCUS – FORMER world champion!
She felt the nail of her thumb in her teeth. Had she just been unlucky in drawing Glory Braddock? The woman had been good enough to beat Syren! Good enough to almost beat Selena for the WORLD title! Hell, the woman had already BEEN the United States Champion!
She is not ready to face the true upper echelon in this sport!
The words, spoken by Ravyn Taylor, echoed in Deanna’s brain, mocking her and the situation. There was no doubt that Glory Braddock, for all her accomplishments in SCW and her victories over such superstars as Ravyn and Syren, was part of that ‘upper echelon’… Deanna had tried so hard over the previous pay-per-view to disprove the vile woman’s words.
She wanted to be ready! She wanted so badly for the world to recognize it, even if D. and the roster didn’t.
But she had failed. She had proven Ravyn right – and it stung. It had stung so much, but she had buried it best she could and put on a brave face to try and support Selena. Afterall, it was only Deanna’s ego that was hurt. Her wife… she didn’t want to think about how much her mate was suffering.
Still… she thought glumly. I wish she was here…
Her heart ached at the truth of such a statement. She needed her wife. She wanted to comfort her and support her, but also… she needed to be comforted and supported.
She was scared. So scared. Not of this class or even the people sending her foul notes. She was scared of failing again. She was scared of being eliminated in the first round. She was scared of coming up short once more and hearing the same lines from everyone backstage, even from Mr. D..
You’re not ready…
You’re not ready…
You’re not ready…
You’re not ready…
She almost yelled a defiant ‘SHUT UP!’ to the voice of her head; the only thing stopping her was Mrs. Winthrop clearing her throat. “That will be it for today. I will see you next Saturday. Chapters 3, 4 and 6 must be read. Chapter 5 is there for more information if you require.”
The large, modified family-room-turned-classroom was a ruckus of noise as the students all packed their laptops away, Kurt Harcourt, the boy that had bothered Deanna, even shaking his now sore wrist to try and dispel some of the discomfort as he slinked out of the room, throwing a dirty look Deanna’s way as he did.
Quickly, the redhead’s eyes flew to the clock on the wall, her eyes wide as she spied that nearly an hour had passed in her musings and Winthrop’s intervention. Her eyes dropping down to her page, the emerald orbs went even wider as she spied the doodles on her note paper – drawings she hadn’t even realized she had made while her mind was off on its tangent of missing her wife and the upcoming tournament. She spied the artistic words, some in bold, some in cursive, some shaded, some just a mess, but she could read it all.
SCW…
United States title…
Glory…
Not ready…
Not ready…
Not ready… That message was filling most of her page, but not as much as the last one.
Selena…
The redhead could barely make out the class-notes she had written about witchcraft during the lesson, her ‘paper-graffiti’ covering even parts of those.
“A lot on your mind, I see.”
The voice caused Deanna to jump a little, a yelp escaping her as she jerked her head up to stare into the patient, gray eyes of Mrs. Winthrop.
“Ahh…” Deanna breathed, guilt filling her. “I…” her eyes fell down to her paper, a mess of ink and messages. “I mean…”
Winthrop smiled without judgment. “I’ve seen it all before.” She gave an understanding nod. “Especially from students that are being forced to learn here.” She turned around to make her way back to the front of the class where her desk was – a rich, dark-red cedar that reminded Deanna of her own hair.
“I wasn’t forced.” She spoke quickly, pushing herself out of her desk-chair and grabbing her ringed-booklet. She walked after Winthrop, watching the woman settle in her chair behind the desk. ”I chose to come here.”
“For your wife.” Winthrop nodded. “I was informed.” Adjusting her round glasses, the woman began pulling out papers, placing them on the desk in front of her.
“Yeah…about that.” Deanna sighed. “First, please understand that Selena will be here.”
“I hope so.” Winthrop smiled in humor. “I can’t quite pass her as a witch if she doesn’t show up to take the lessons.”
“No, I mean. Yeah… that makes sense.” Deanna scratched the back of her head with her free hand. “But I mean… she’s a great student. You’ll see! She’ll work hard and learn. She’s…” she sighed, the loneliness in her pushing more thoughts of her wife into her mind. “She’s perfect.”
“I doubt that.” Winthrop gave a tilt of her head, but her eyes shifted over to a framed picture that Deanna could not see on her side. “I find people who are ‘flawed’ to be far more intriguing. Far more capable of creating emotion in others like that.” She gestured the pen she now held towards Deanna’s face, causing the redhead to reach up quickly, feeling the slight heat in her cheeks.
“Sorry.” Deanna whispered. “But, Mrs. Winthrop… I also wanted to thank you. For what you said and did regarding that kid. I mean…”
“I have a standard.” The teacher answered. “I never broke in the forty years I taught at the Academy and I have no intention of breaking it now even in retirement.”
“Is…” Deanna bit her lower lip. “Is that why you agreed to teach Selena and I?”
“Yes.” Winthrop nodded.
“Even with the stigma of Selena’s mother?” Deanna tested. “Or that Selena and I are lesbians? Or the fact that neither of us really believe in this stuff?”
From her seat, the teacher looked up, a raised eyebrow pointed at Deanna. “Whether you believe in it or not, child.” She folded her hands over the table. “You believe in something.”
“I mean… well, yeah.” Deanna shrugged. “Everyone does.”
“You’d be surprised.” The teacher countered. “Still, you are here for a reason.”
“Yeah.” Deanna nodded. “I didn’t want Selena to go through this alone. It wasn’t fair. None of this is. Don’t… don’t you think? That she and Alejandra and the others are punished for something that happened forty years ago?”
“It is not my place to judge the decision of the elders.” Winthrop answered. “However… I believe, regardless of religion or education or stance of philosophy, that everything happens for a reason.” She eyed the redhead. “You are here for a reason. Your wife is not here today… for a reason.”
“She’s…” Deanna tried, unable to keep completely quiet of the matter. “She’s troubled. Everything she believes in… it’s crumbling around her and I…”
“You are trying to hold it up with your own bare hands.” Winthrop nodded her head knowingly. “Quite the burden for someone so young.”
“Did you ever?”
Slowly, a sad smile graced the older woman’s lips before she reached over to turn the framed picture over, revealing a black and white photo of two young women holding hands and standing in front of a tree.
“My sister and I.” Winthrop stated. “She was very sick… and I needed to look after her while teaching.”
“I’m sorry.” Deanna replied automatically, eyeing the portrait. The two girls were very pretty and the redhead could see some of the features of the young girl in Winthrop, albeit aged and withered from the decades.
“The hardest part…” Winthrop smiled, turning the frame back over to herself. “Was burying my own pain and exhaustion to put on a smile and be positive around her. I wanted so badly to be the one who was crying in her arms. To be the one who had her hair stroked and told ‘everything would be okay’. But I couldn’t.” she eyed Deanna. “She needed me to be there for her far more than I needed her to be there for me…”
Slowly, Deanna nodded her head. “I… I think I understand.”
“Good.” Winthrop nodded before reaching into her desk drawer and pulling out a card. “Here.”
“What is this?” Deanna asked, taking the black card and reading it. “Dresdin Flynn?”
“An old friend.” Winthrop smiled. “He helped me through my struggles with my sister. Perhaps he can help you with your troubles with your wife.”
Lifting an eyebrow, Deanna read the card slowly. “Says he’s a tarot-card reader, a fortune-teller, a psychic – Really?!” she asked in disbelief. “I already told you that I don’t believe in this stuff.”
Patiently, Winthrop merely shrugged her shoulders. “Have it your way, dear. But he is also a qualified counselor – if you read the other side of the card.”
Flipping it over, Deanna felt rather sheepish as she read the bolder, large print of ‘Family Therapist’.
“Ahh…” she remarked, abashed as she held the card up a little. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Winthrop replied, gazing back down at her notes. “I expect Selena to attend all my classes from now on, barring any emergencies, and keep up with the homework I assign.”
“U…Understood.” Deanna nodded, excusing herself as she marched out of the classroom and the house, doing all she could to keep her pride intact over her slip. She had just made it out the front door when she felt the cold breeze of the wind swirl around her – chilling her arms and making her wish she was wearing her favorite dark-green sweater as opposed to the jeans and t-shirt she had chosen.
Selena… her mind whispered to the cold around her, wishing her words could be heard as far as Nome. Please come home soon… I… I need you.
![[Image: hffOaUZ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/hffOaUZ.png)
SCW Supreme Champion
6x SCW World Champion
4x SCW World Tag-Team Champion
2x SCW United States Champion
3x SCW Adrenaline Champion
SCW Television Champion
Longest Reigning SCW World Champion (234 days)
Winner of Shot of Adrenaline Tournament (2016)
Winner of Best of the Best Tournament (2016)
Winner of Trios Tournament (2018)
Winner of U.S. Championship Tournament (2020)
Winner of World Championship Tournament (2023)
Winner of Tactical Warfare (2014, 2019)
Winner of Elimination Chamber (2015, 2024)
Winner of Roofed Cage Match (2019)
Winner of Last Person Standing Match (2019)
The Unbelievable Main Event (2021-2025)
Winner of Double Jeopardy Match (2022)
Winner of EOTY Invitational (2023)
Winner of EOTY Invitational (2023)
Winner of Ironman Match (2024)
Wrestler of the Year (2016, 2021, 2022, 2024)
Tag-Team of the Year (2020 - w/ Regan Street)
Match of the Year (2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Feud of the Year (2014, 2019)
Shocking Moment of the Year (2024)
![[Image: 34zetxl.png]](https://i.ibb.co/SnpvD5T/34zetxl.png)