Frustration. (o2Mom and Jen)

[Shelby Danes]

As Shelby entered the ladies locker room, she threw the white towel placed across her neck and shoulders at her locker, making a slight "bang" noise. Shaking her head, she regretfully took a seat near it, and picked the towel back up. Not the night she was hoping for, hell, Shelby had Jennifer's number for the entire match, dodging left and right, making sure Jennifer couldn't get the upper hand, but nevertheless, she still got the huge "L" implanted on her forehead. "Damn it," she whispers to herself, as she starts to take a couple deep breaths to calm herself down. She couldn't allow herself to get angry, she couldn't allow herself to make a scene. She's dealt with loses before, but somehow, somehow this felt like something a little more. Running her hand through her hair, before forcefully slamming it on the bench she was sitting on, she allowed herself to relax.

"Alright Shelby," she begins again, talking to herself with her eyes closed, "You've lost before, many, many times. She shouldn't feel in different. No-sir-ee. This is just like every other loss." But just as Shelby was beginning to feel settled down, her cell phone rang, and sense of dread completely went off. She had completely forgot what her motive was for her GCW stint, and this phone call...this phone call was going to be a report card.

Worryingly, Shelby digs through her backpack, and pulls it out. "This doesn't look good," she whispers to herself as she opens the phone up, not evening having to look at who was actually calling her. "Shelby speaking."

[rory]

"Shells? Well I have to say you're kind of slippin' up on things down there in Chicago lately. What's going on with you anyway? Like you're out of it or somethin'. You had that match won and just let that Drew girl have it. Now, mother isn't going to have to show up down there is she? Maybe I need to whip you into shape a little bit more or something like that. Shells, are you even listening to your mother?"

[Shelby Danes]

Shelby stressfully brings her hand to her eyes, and begins to rub them, to try and shake off the disappointment, "Mom," she says rather bluntly, so the people around her would know who she was talking to, "I'm sorry, but..." she paused for a moment, she had to think of a slight lie, "That's what the writer's wanted. They scheduled me to lose, but to give a beating to Jen. I couldn't do anything regarding that. Not my fault if the company favors her more then me." Now that was good lie, as the same thing had happened to Shelby many, many times before. "Besid--"

[rory]

"Writers? Shel, you think I'm that stupid to believe something like that? As much as I know about the wrestling business and you--"

She stopped all of a sudden. Catching herself before the other person in the room with her could even look her way. And eventually they did, surprised to hear the tone she was taking with her daughter. She tried to control her anger felt, coughing hard into her hand before talking again.

"Don't feed me any excuses Shelby. I know Jen is good. One of my favorites to watch. Always has been. Probably one of yours too. Got a lot of respect for her don't you? I know, But that's no reason for you to lay down and nearly let her steal a win that you deserved more than she did. Don't blame the writers. They're idiots, but not that idiotic. Me and your father watched the last month and a half so we know what's been going on down there. So don't lie to me Shelby. What's wrong with you?

[Shelby Danes]

Not knowing how to answer, she remains silent for a second, "Alright, I admit, couldn't get the job done. I know I couldn't ultimately humiliate one of your 'favorites,' but R-Mom, you have to understand that as a human being, I still have morals, and I just couldn't completely annihilate her, we became...friends." Shelby's shoulders then sunk, mother wasn't going to be pleased with that. Favoring friendship over career success? Not exactly something that her mother approved of. "At least I killed Blair, you have to give me credit for that, MOM."

[rory]

The phone lazily fell to her side. She couldn't believe what she was hearing from her daughter. Friends. Friends? Like friends make any difference when it comes to being the very best in your profession. Shelby was making mistake number one that leads to mediocre careers. Favoring friends over success and progress. Bringing the phone to her ear again she gave her opinion of the "friendship".

"And you think that makes everything okay Shelby? You think that makes you a better human being? It makes you weak. It makes you vulnerable. It leaves you prone to being manipulated and played with by your so called "friends". Which could ultimately lead to your dem--"

She stopped again. Only for a second this time. She knew this call would make her angry. She just never thought it'd make her THIS angry. Shelby was headed down the wrong road and she had to do something to make sure she didn't end up like she did last time she made the same mistake.

"Focus Shelby. You lack focus right now. Why be concerned with being friends with people who are going to sooner than later turn their back on you before you can even blink? YOU should be in that title match tonight. Not Jen, and not whoever else is in it. Your last name is Steele. I expect you to act accordingly. Or your me and your father can make a trip down there to knock some sense into your head. Now you don't want that now do you?"

[Jennifer Drew]

Meanwhile.

A few feet away Jennifer Drew was trying to shake the cobwebs out so she could at least put on a decent showing in the triple threat for the Debutante title. She may have won the ladder match but she didn’t feel like it. But as she was attempting to call on whichever mystical tradition she subscribed to that week to help her block out the pain her uncontrollable urge to be privy to things that were none of her business kicked in, and hard. She stopped what she was doing and listened in to this half of the conversation.

[Shelby Danes]

The last thing she wanted for her mother to make an unneeded appearance. Allowing mom to rant, she tried to get herself back into the conversation. "What do you want me to do then? I can't fix it now, I can't just turn my back. Hell, I'm beginning to wonder why you even decided to have me fill in your spot. Trying to live your former glories through me, fuck." Shelby was trying to keep herself on her feet. "You know I have the talent, you know I have the skills, but you also knew that when it comes to people interaction, I just can't-not help somebody. When I beat Jessie two months ago, I couldn't just allow myself to sit back, and watch her get treated, and allow my conscience to take a back seat. So you know what I did mom? I went to the hospital, and I helped her escape. Sorry if that displeases you, but you know what else I did? I invited her into the apartment you got for me. You know, the place where you felt would isolate me from everyone else who lives in that godforsaken GCW building?!" Shelby didn't care if her mother knew those 'behind-the-scene facts anymore, she had to fight for what she felt was right, regardless if her mother disapproved.

[rory]

"Relive my former glo--You don't understand do you? It's in our DNA Shelby. Our genetic make up. We're not the common run of the mill losers like the rest of that "godforsaken" roster you're on. No! We're better than them by nature! Always have been and always will be! Now you listen to me, you will change your attitude towards the vermin you're down there with or I will be making an appearance soon! And don't think I'm not aware of what's going on down there either. Your father has been making sporadic visits to Chicago for the past two months. Yes, that surprises you now doesn't it?"

"I knew you'd need to be kept watch over Shelby. You have it in you, that's no doubt. But you seem to let these people get into your head and manipulate you into being one of "them". You're there to do two things. First and foremost, be Shelby Steele. Not this little fabricated sweetheart you're headed towards becoming. No. The real Shelby Steele. Show them what it means to truly be elite child. Second of all, keep your eyes and ears open to anything concerning the people I informed you of before making your way to Chicago four months ago. Your father has already told me that some of them are there while others are not. I expected to hear this from you instead of him. I'm disappointed. This is a warning you need to hear. Straighten your act out and straighten it out now. Or do you not remember how trusting in others turned out for me?"

[Shelby Danes]

"Fabricated sweetheart" kept running through Shelby's head as her mother continued to scold her. Trying to control her anger, she continues, "The real Shelby Steele?" she repeated, "The real Shelby Steele? You want to see the real Shelby Steele?!" Pausing to calming herself down, "Fine. I suppose I'll abide by your wishes. It's not like I have a choice now, is there? The last thing I want to do anyways is turn out like you did. Betrayed by your peers, having to resort to using your daughter to fulfill those wishes. You've become so weak, but I suppose we can't really change that now, can we?" She was loudly whispering into her phone as she stated this, "Who do you want me to focus on next? Drew is out of the question, and half the people on the list are on MayheM."

[rory]

"Actually, as much as I admire Drew, I'd like for you to find her and bash her head in so she remembers that a Steele never backs down or dies. But I know you won't do that will you? And you say I'm the one who's grown weak. Please."

She stops, a sneer on her face as she snaps her fingers in the direction of Shelby's father, informing him to give her privacy for the rest of the phone call. The door was shut behind him, only a second before she started again.

"Most of the list are MayheM superstars you say? Hm, that could make things much harder to handle from here on out. Damnit. Well the least you could do is to keep a watchful eye on whomever is aboard the LockUP! roster along with you Shelby. Any effort by you would be appreciated. If you ever get off your ass and put any in that is. "

"Your father and I will think of something. And brief you within the coming week. Until then? Make contact with him if you can. You know who I'm referring to. I'm sure he'll remember the face. And a beautiful woman has always been his weakness. As for the others on the list? Hm, perhaps I'll have to make a few arrangements to allow you closer range to those. Either way, I expect for that single task to be accomplished in ample enough time for my visit next week. Since you simply can do nothing without me breathing down your neck during. After that is done, I have yet another tiny request for you, which I'll go in detail about on a later date and time. Is that understood?"

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[Shelby Danes]

"And I love you too mother." Shelby says with a smile as she closes her cell phone, and lets out a relieving sigh. Not the conversation she wanted to have immediately after a disappointing lost.

Closing her eyes to allow the gravity of her situation to feel a little less stressful, she turns herself around on the bench, and tucked her knees in as she leaned against the side of a locker. "Fuck..." she whispers to herself as she opens her eyes, and notices a curious Jennifer Drew undoubtedly eavesdropping. Giving her a polite smile, she invites her to make her presence known.

[Jennifer Drew]

Caught in the act. Jennifer just smiles sheepishly hoping she hadn’t just crossed the line the walks over and flops down on the bench next to Shelby.


Sorry, I didn’t really mean to intrude but I kind of heard… um, everything. Are you OK? I mean did your mom get it?

You did great and to be honest if it were possible you probably would have pinned me. She has to know things kind of went crazy in the last few minutes out there, I mean I’m not even sure how I won. Seriously. No hard feelings right?

[Shelby Danes]

Shelby wanted to confide in Jen. She wanted to sound like she understand, and she wanted to well...be herself, but with the information her mother just fed her, there were bound to be spies, and she wouldn't be surprised if one of them happened to be in this locker room. She had to change her shown attitude, she couldn't be 'Miss Understanding' any more. If order to please her mother, she had to make sure she was being fed the right information. Hoping Jennifer would forgive her leader, she stood up, fist clenched. "No hard feelings? Fuck Jen, I had your number out there! Even after that super fisherman suplex off the ladder, the only wrestling move you did throughout the entire match, I still stood up, and managed to knock you off. Honestly, I don't know how I let myself lose to you. I'm a god damn 'Steele' for god sake." She punched a nearby locker with her clenched fist, and did her best to give Jennifer a cold stare. "You best win that Debutante title tonight. Why? Because Jennifer, a Steele doesn't loser her opportunity to allow herself to be something in that ring. If you lose tonight, hell. I wouldn't know what to do with myself." She then looks away, she hated having to cause a scene like this, "You know what? I'm done with you. I'm fucking sick of this." Shelby then began to walk towards the sink area, to perhaps splash some water on her face.

[Jennifer Drew]

Whoa, Shelby you have to calm down, alright?

She gets up and follows maintaining a respectable distance.

No one thinks you didn’t prove yourself out there. After tonight I doubt I’m going to be walking this week. And you can get a shot at the title any time you want whether it’s me or the other two. I get that this was supposed to be your night and I get that, but come on don’t be like this.