Post by Skye on Mar 31, 2011 13:49:32 GMT -5
(February – Toby’s release day – events unbeknownst to Skye…)
Toby stood amongst the crowd of Devils Due members, being welcomed back to the fold. Standing a bit apart, Kip suddenly snapped his fingers, “I’ll call Skye and tell her to meet us at the bar.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
Cole stalked over to him and curled his fingers around Kip’s hand, closing the phone before he’d halfway opened it, “No! Leave it be. He’ll call her himself… when he’s good and ready.”
Looking confused, Kip glanced over at Toby, facing away from them and still surrounded by the welcoming committee, “But, he’ll want to see her. And she’d want to be there.”
“I said, leave it.” Cole snapped. He turned away, taking a long pull on his cigar, knowing Kip would not bring the subject up again.
(March 13, SNE)
Mark Rivera walked towards her and put his hand out for the microphone. As she handed it over, he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. Skye stepped back before he leaned in too far, wishing she’d had the nerve to let him lean in farther and make a fool of himself when she made her disgust obvious to the audience. But right now, he was her boss, and she needed the job. Rivera gave her a fleeting scowl as he snatched the microphone from her hand. She lifted her chin and stepped to the side of the ring, letting him have his center stage moments.
When Kirk Kennedy joined them in the ring, she took the opportunity to step down to the apron, leaving the two contending owners to verbally duke it out. She wasn’t ready to be under the lights when Toby returned, not having a notion how he was going to treat her. The arena lights dimmed, causing her heart to start pounding and her stomach to knot… but it was Dante Holly who stepped out from the dark backstage. Skye felt kind of bad for the young man when the audience started booing him.
Her pulse had just resumed its normal rhythm when the lights again dimmed and she heard the distinctive sound of a motorcycle engine revving. She was glad she stood in the shadows of the ring apron, and hoped no one noticed how badly her hands were shaking. Slowly, she walked towards the announcers table, nearer the front of the ring where she knew Toby would park his bike. She kept a bit back, but stayed where she’d be in view if he looked for her. He had to know she was there tonight. Turning her head, she watched as he roared down the ramp way, exhaust smoke trailing behind him. Circling the ring, he stopped and shut down the bike. Smoothly, he dismounted the bike, and never once glancing in her direction, stepped into the ring. Throughout the entire time he was in the ring declaring his come back and alignment with the EUW, he never once seemed to see her standing below him on the apron. He only had eyes for his audience, his dog pound.
Shaking even worse, Skye carefully eased her way back to her previous spot in shadow and worked to compose herself. She still had to make the announcements tonight. She couldn’t let anyone see how rattled she was. As she waited for the shaking to subside, Sarah Thompson came up to her. Without a word, she looked Skye in the eyes, letting her know she understood and sympathized. She gave Skye a quick hug, and then just as quickly, let go and disappeared.
Watching the action from the back edge of the ring, Skye saw Toby, no… Oblivion now, put Dante and Poet Lad down for the count, remount his bike and exit to loud cheers. She saw Gibson looking around for her, and knew that the commercial break wouldn’t last long. Taking several deep breaths, she gave her hair a quick finger comb and decided she was as composed as she was going to be for the night. Pasting a smile on her face, she stepped into the ring and picked up the microphone as the crowd cheered.
(later in the show)
Practically tripping over her own feet, Skye got out of the ring as fast as she could without looking like it. But honestly, Titan scared her out of her wits. And tonight, he truly looked like he could commit murder. How that guy had not landed in jail by now was beyond her. She really hoped Sabora beat him, but she didn’t want to watch it. Once she was clear of the ropes she went backstage for a few minutes break. She knew it was likely going to be a long fight, and it had been a long night already. Between trying not to think about Oblivion, and ignoring Xplode’s constant comments about her, while doing her job and acting like nothing was different about this show for her, she was frazzled. She still wasn’t used to changing her tone of voice the way Immanuel Taylor had asked for his intro… she had to remind herself every time he was on the card. She headed straight for the relative serenity of the ladies dressing rooms, and splashed her face with some cool water and spent a bit of peaceful time. After she’d repaired her makeup, she headed back towards the main arena; she could tell from the announcers and the sound of the crowd that the fight must be drawing to a close.
She was disappointed and sickened by the result of the match, but did her best to keep her voice steady as she announced Titan the new Champion. It was difficult not to choke on the words as she watched Chris being wheeled swiftly away to an ambulance.
( main event ended)
Skye was sure that Allana had been watching the fight from her aunt’s, and would be worried sick about her dad. As soon as she knew she was done for the night, she retrieved her cell phone from her handbag and dialed the number Allana had given her. Her aunt Kelly answered and Skye identified herself, she could hear Allana crying in the background, nearly in hysterics. Kelly asked about Chris’ condition and Skye gave her what little information she knew, and which hospital he was being taken to. Skye gave her the name of one of the company’s secretaries to help make transportation arrangements for them both. Kelly thanked Skye for the information and let her go, calling to Allana even as she was hanging up. Skye said a prayer for the Sabora family, then made another phone call, for herself.
(a few hours later, Skye’s house)
Skye handed Sonny a soda and set hers down on the low table in front of the chairs on the back patio. Bending, she brushed a light layer of dirt off the chair, and felt another stab of guilt for not being here enough to take care of the place like she should have. “I should have been here more often, Sonny. The place looks like shit.” She sighed and sat down.
“Oh Sweets, I could have come by for you. It’s not your fault you’ve had to travel so often.” He tried to console her, but he knew her well enough to know she would end up staying up late cleaning with a vengeance tonight. “You got the yard looking great in the past couple weeks, you’ll have everything back to normal in no time.”
“I hope so. I should bring back the furniture I took to that blasted condo. It’s not like I ever stay there anymore.” Skye reached for her glass, “It’ll be nice to be here regularly enough to be able to open the windows more, I hate that it smells like a tomb.”
In an effort to divert her away from her self-recriminations, Sonny changed the subject, “I watched the show tonight. You did a good job covering up, but I could tell you were upset. It was a rough show, in a lot of ways.” Sonny’s voice was full of sympathy for his best friend, “He didn’t talk to you, did he?”
Skye shook her head slightly before she took a sip of her drink. She looked out across the yard, where strategically placed lights highlighted the landscaping of evergreen shrubs and flowers bordering the lawn. It was neat and once again blooming as it had been a year ago, instead of the tangled mess of a few weeks ago. She swallowed convulsively, and spoke without turning her head, “He didn’t even look at me. For all as might have been, I wasn’t even there. And I have no idea why.”
Sonny reached over and laid his hand over hers, “I’m sorry, Sweets. I’d say there might be a good reason, but I cannot think of one.”
“Things are certainly going to change down at the arena, that’s for sure,” she smiled ruefully, “but, a sympathetic ear wasn’t the only reason I asked you to come over tonight, even though it’s late, I need your critical eye.” She reached for the envelope on the table in front of them.
“Oh! You’re going to make me work!” Sonny quipped as she spread a handful of photos across the table top. They were all of Sabora, except for a couple of his daughter, Allana. He picked one up, “She’s very pretty. She must look a lot like her mom.”
Skye nodded, “Yes, she does. I think she must take after her mom in a lot of ways.” She flipped through the other photos, “Publicity wants some new photos of Sabora, though I am not sure they still will after tonight. And I wanted you to help me pick out which photo of Allana should be enlarged, for her portrait gift to her dad.” As she was speaking, they were startled by the sound of the back door being slid open so hard, it clattered in the frame.
Jumping to her feet, Skye spun around to see Toby coming out of the house. “Toby?” Her eyes widened in joyful surprise, “You’re… home?!” The last word ended on a note of hopefulness.
“Yeah.” He snapped, obviously annoyed. “I fucking live here, remember?!” Skye’s eyes narrowed in confusion.
“Toby calm down.” Sonny stood and raised his hands towards Toby, “You don’t need to talk to Skye like that. She deserves respect.” He took a step protectively towards her.
Toby, truly angry now, looked over at her, and then back at Sonny. He reached out and grasped the slender man by his throat and easily lifted him, “Don’t EVER fucking tell me what to do… do you hear me?”
Skye had started screaming at him to stop, put him down, to stop hurting her friend. She watched as he tossed Sonny to the side like a discarded toy and advanced on her. Eyes wide in panic, she had flashbacks to times with Frank, and began to back up towards the back of the yard, as Toby came closer.
In a low, menacing growl, Toby gave his ultimatum, “Explain this shit, Skye. You get one chance.”
“What Toby!!? I don’t understand.” She was trembling from head to toe. Behind Toby, she saw Sonny picking himself up, rubbing his throat where Toby had grabbed him, still too stunned and shaken himself to be aware of what was transpiring with her. The look she sent him asked if he was OK, and he nodded slightly.
Toby yelled, “SABORA?!” He stopped, laboring to bring himself under control, “Seriously?!” Looking over his shoulder, he gave Sonny a warning look, and Sonny ducked down behind a chair. Turning back to Skye, Toby picked up his questioning, “What in the fuck is that, Skye?! If you wanted to go fuck another man, did it have to be him?”
Skye’s body tensed in defense. She blinked several times, doing her best not to cry. So, he’d heard the talk. Worse, he believed it. He stood there, glaring at her, waiting for her answer. He’d nearly choked one of her best friends, because of those damned rumors, now he was going to send her out of his life, after she’d spent a year waiting for him. All because of some stupid lies some petty asshole had told him. Anger filled her, anger at people for spreading rumors and anger at Toby for having so little faith in her. Her hands clenched at her sides, she steeled herself for however he might respond, but she wasn’t walking away from this without having her say. Meeting Toby’s eyes from under lowered brows, she leaned forward and yelled right back at him, “I didn’t do shit with him, Toby!” Through gritted teeth, she continued, “Kirk Kennedy sent me to interview him for a few months. I lived in Sabora’s guest house! You got fucking nerve coming at me like this with you having disappeared for the last year!” Straightening, she crossed her arms under her breasts and raised her chin defiantly, waiting for the storm. Skye knew she had done nothing wrong in the past year. But would Toby believe her?
Toby had stopped where he was, apparently thinking over what she’d said. Turning around, he walked back to the table and flipped through the pictures. He looked like he was considering what she had said. The minutes spun out as he stood there, looking at the photos and thinking. Skye and Sonny looked at each other across the yard. Finally Toby picked up one of the pictures. “Who’s this?” His voice still held an accusatory tone.
Skye walked up to the other side of the table from him and looked at the photo. Defensively, she answered, “That’s Allana, Sabora’s daughter. We’re friends. She's a good kid.” He dropped the picture back on the pile with a loud “hmph.” She bent over and scooped the pile of pictures back into the envelope, not looking at him as she did so.
As he slid open the patio door, Toby addressed Sonny, who was still ducked behind a lawn chair, “Pick your ass up and let’s get a beer. We got some talking to do.” He looked over at Skye, but she refused to meet his eyes. He sighed, and walked into the house.
Skye arched an eyebrow at Sonny as he walked past her, wondering which bar the two of them could go to that wouldn’t get one of them killed or arrested. Sonny looked back at her wide eyed, and hoarsely whispered, “Do I have to?”
Whispering back, she nodded, “I wanna know what he says.” She looked towards the inside of the house, seeing nothing but shadows in the darkened living room.
“The things I do for you, Sweets.” Sonny croaked, rolling his eyes. He looked at the darkened room he was about to enter as if it was a dragon’s lair.
Skye hugged him, “I know, cuz you love me. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” She picked up their glasses and watched as he headed into the house to find Toby. After she heard the front door close behind them, she sat down heavily in one of the chairs and closed her eyes. Thinking over what had just transpired made her angry all over again, the feelings bubbling to the surface and needing an outlet. With a growl, she swung back her arm and heaved one of the glasses across the lawn, where it shattered against the fence on the other side. Feeling only slightly better, she got up and went inside, shutting off the yard lights behind her.
She decided to wait up, until Sonny called her and informed her what he and Toby talked about. What a hell of a reunion! Definitely not how she’d imagined, or hoped it would be. The son-of-a-…! She couldn’t believe he’d bought that bullshit about her and Sabora. Geez, she thought he’d known her better than that. And who told him those lies? When she found out… The longer she sat and let the thoughts run through her mind, the madder she got. By the time sleep overtook her and she curled up on the couch, Toby couldn’t have gotten near her without being ripped up one side and down the other.
The sun through the living room window woke her the next morning. She’d fallen asleep on the sofa. As the fog of sleep lifted, Skye remembered the events of the night before. Toby had come home, they’d argued… he’d left with Sonny… to talk… she’d waited up for Sonny to call… he hadn’t. She sighed as she sat up and ran her fingers through her hair. Pushing herself up off the sofa, she shuffled into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee, then changed into some workout clothes. She figured that maybe a good round of exercise might help release some of the anger and stress she was feeling, and keep her from snapping at people who didn’t deserve it. While she worked out, she pondered why Sonny hadn’t called her. It wasn’t like him not to want to dish at the soonest opportunity. Well, she’d call him after breakfast.
The workout helped some, a hot shower and breakfast in the back yard helped calm her a bit more. While she was in the yard, she remembered the glass she’d thrown the night before. With a sigh, she carefully picked up the larger shards of glass by the fence, collecting the pieces in her empty cereal bowl to take back into the house. After cleaning up that mess, she tried to call Sonny. He didn’t pick up, either on his cell phone, or at the studio, where she left a message.
She decided to call Annette after she did the dishes. Now that Toby had shown his face, maybe Annette could give her some news. Annette’s phone rang through to her voice mail too. Skye left her a message as well.
(April 3, Houston, prior to Back 2 Roots)
Skye arrived at the arena early, she wanted to take extra care with her appearance tonight. Not just because it was Back 2 Roots, but because Toby… Oblivion would be there. She knew it was past time they talked, and she knew it was because of her stubbornness that they hadn’t. She also had a couple other things she wanted to take care of before the show and she didn't know how much time she would need.
Sarah Thompson was there early as well, and they enjoyed coffee while they chatted and did their hair and makeup, comparing the ladies dressing area to that of other arenas, talking about what they’d been doing between the shows, and who they thought were the favored to win the different matches. Skye found it amusing that after a year, she’d be talking about this sport the way she’d once have talked about who she thought would win an Oscar in any given year.
“Everyone was behind him, and I mean like, supporting him, you know. Even Kirk Kennedy showed up.” Skye was hearing about Oblivion’s backstage ‘gauntlet’ walk before his Hell in a Cell match from Greg, one of the stage hands. She hadn’t been there to witness it, but she could imagine it very easily, she knew the presence he had, the charisma he exuded. “We were all there to cheer him on, and he turns it around and built us up instead. Crazy.”
Skye smiled at Greg, knowing he’d never understand, that was just how Toby was. “I wish I’d been there to see it.”
“Yeah, I bet he would have liked that too,” he nodded, “but hey, you were doin’ yer job and you couldn’ help that.”
No, Greg just didn’t get the deeper things, “Right. Gotta do what I gotta do.” She said simply, “Speaking of jobs, I better get back to it. Thanks for telling me about that, Greg, I appreciate it.”
“Anytime for you, Skye, anytime. I know Oblivion means a lot to you.” He reached out and gave her a pat on the shoulder before turning and walking off to do whatever it was he did backstage. Skye shook her head slightly, and headed ringside, following the sounds of the crowd.
Toby stood amongst the crowd of Devils Due members, being welcomed back to the fold. Standing a bit apart, Kip suddenly snapped his fingers, “I’ll call Skye and tell her to meet us at the bar.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
Cole stalked over to him and curled his fingers around Kip’s hand, closing the phone before he’d halfway opened it, “No! Leave it be. He’ll call her himself… when he’s good and ready.”
Looking confused, Kip glanced over at Toby, facing away from them and still surrounded by the welcoming committee, “But, he’ll want to see her. And she’d want to be there.”
“I said, leave it.” Cole snapped. He turned away, taking a long pull on his cigar, knowing Kip would not bring the subject up again.
•
(March 13, SNE)
Mark Rivera walked towards her and put his hand out for the microphone. As she handed it over, he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. Skye stepped back before he leaned in too far, wishing she’d had the nerve to let him lean in farther and make a fool of himself when she made her disgust obvious to the audience. But right now, he was her boss, and she needed the job. Rivera gave her a fleeting scowl as he snatched the microphone from her hand. She lifted her chin and stepped to the side of the ring, letting him have his center stage moments.
When Kirk Kennedy joined them in the ring, she took the opportunity to step down to the apron, leaving the two contending owners to verbally duke it out. She wasn’t ready to be under the lights when Toby returned, not having a notion how he was going to treat her. The arena lights dimmed, causing her heart to start pounding and her stomach to knot… but it was Dante Holly who stepped out from the dark backstage. Skye felt kind of bad for the young man when the audience started booing him.
Her pulse had just resumed its normal rhythm when the lights again dimmed and she heard the distinctive sound of a motorcycle engine revving. She was glad she stood in the shadows of the ring apron, and hoped no one noticed how badly her hands were shaking. Slowly, she walked towards the announcers table, nearer the front of the ring where she knew Toby would park his bike. She kept a bit back, but stayed where she’d be in view if he looked for her. He had to know she was there tonight. Turning her head, she watched as he roared down the ramp way, exhaust smoke trailing behind him. Circling the ring, he stopped and shut down the bike. Smoothly, he dismounted the bike, and never once glancing in her direction, stepped into the ring. Throughout the entire time he was in the ring declaring his come back and alignment with the EUW, he never once seemed to see her standing below him on the apron. He only had eyes for his audience, his dog pound.
Shaking even worse, Skye carefully eased her way back to her previous spot in shadow and worked to compose herself. She still had to make the announcements tonight. She couldn’t let anyone see how rattled she was. As she waited for the shaking to subside, Sarah Thompson came up to her. Without a word, she looked Skye in the eyes, letting her know she understood and sympathized. She gave Skye a quick hug, and then just as quickly, let go and disappeared.
Watching the action from the back edge of the ring, Skye saw Toby, no… Oblivion now, put Dante and Poet Lad down for the count, remount his bike and exit to loud cheers. She saw Gibson looking around for her, and knew that the commercial break wouldn’t last long. Taking several deep breaths, she gave her hair a quick finger comb and decided she was as composed as she was going to be for the night. Pasting a smile on her face, she stepped into the ring and picked up the microphone as the crowd cheered.
. . .
(later in the show)
Practically tripping over her own feet, Skye got out of the ring as fast as she could without looking like it. But honestly, Titan scared her out of her wits. And tonight, he truly looked like he could commit murder. How that guy had not landed in jail by now was beyond her. She really hoped Sabora beat him, but she didn’t want to watch it. Once she was clear of the ropes she went backstage for a few minutes break. She knew it was likely going to be a long fight, and it had been a long night already. Between trying not to think about Oblivion, and ignoring Xplode’s constant comments about her, while doing her job and acting like nothing was different about this show for her, she was frazzled. She still wasn’t used to changing her tone of voice the way Immanuel Taylor had asked for his intro… she had to remind herself every time he was on the card. She headed straight for the relative serenity of the ladies dressing rooms, and splashed her face with some cool water and spent a bit of peaceful time. After she’d repaired her makeup, she headed back towards the main arena; she could tell from the announcers and the sound of the crowd that the fight must be drawing to a close.
She was disappointed and sickened by the result of the match, but did her best to keep her voice steady as she announced Titan the new Champion. It was difficult not to choke on the words as she watched Chris being wheeled swiftly away to an ambulance.
. . .
( main event ended)
Skye was sure that Allana had been watching the fight from her aunt’s, and would be worried sick about her dad. As soon as she knew she was done for the night, she retrieved her cell phone from her handbag and dialed the number Allana had given her. Her aunt Kelly answered and Skye identified herself, she could hear Allana crying in the background, nearly in hysterics. Kelly asked about Chris’ condition and Skye gave her what little information she knew, and which hospital he was being taken to. Skye gave her the name of one of the company’s secretaries to help make transportation arrangements for them both. Kelly thanked Skye for the information and let her go, calling to Allana even as she was hanging up. Skye said a prayer for the Sabora family, then made another phone call, for herself.
●
(a few hours later, Skye’s house)
Skye handed Sonny a soda and set hers down on the low table in front of the chairs on the back patio. Bending, she brushed a light layer of dirt off the chair, and felt another stab of guilt for not being here enough to take care of the place like she should have. “I should have been here more often, Sonny. The place looks like shit.” She sighed and sat down.
“Oh Sweets, I could have come by for you. It’s not your fault you’ve had to travel so often.” He tried to console her, but he knew her well enough to know she would end up staying up late cleaning with a vengeance tonight. “You got the yard looking great in the past couple weeks, you’ll have everything back to normal in no time.”
“I hope so. I should bring back the furniture I took to that blasted condo. It’s not like I ever stay there anymore.” Skye reached for her glass, “It’ll be nice to be here regularly enough to be able to open the windows more, I hate that it smells like a tomb.”
In an effort to divert her away from her self-recriminations, Sonny changed the subject, “I watched the show tonight. You did a good job covering up, but I could tell you were upset. It was a rough show, in a lot of ways.” Sonny’s voice was full of sympathy for his best friend, “He didn’t talk to you, did he?”
Skye shook her head slightly before she took a sip of her drink. She looked out across the yard, where strategically placed lights highlighted the landscaping of evergreen shrubs and flowers bordering the lawn. It was neat and once again blooming as it had been a year ago, instead of the tangled mess of a few weeks ago. She swallowed convulsively, and spoke without turning her head, “He didn’t even look at me. For all as might have been, I wasn’t even there. And I have no idea why.”
Sonny reached over and laid his hand over hers, “I’m sorry, Sweets. I’d say there might be a good reason, but I cannot think of one.”
“Things are certainly going to change down at the arena, that’s for sure,” she smiled ruefully, “but, a sympathetic ear wasn’t the only reason I asked you to come over tonight, even though it’s late, I need your critical eye.” She reached for the envelope on the table in front of them.
“Oh! You’re going to make me work!” Sonny quipped as she spread a handful of photos across the table top. They were all of Sabora, except for a couple of his daughter, Allana. He picked one up, “She’s very pretty. She must look a lot like her mom.”
Skye nodded, “Yes, she does. I think she must take after her mom in a lot of ways.” She flipped through the other photos, “Publicity wants some new photos of Sabora, though I am not sure they still will after tonight. And I wanted you to help me pick out which photo of Allana should be enlarged, for her portrait gift to her dad.” As she was speaking, they were startled by the sound of the back door being slid open so hard, it clattered in the frame.
Jumping to her feet, Skye spun around to see Toby coming out of the house. “Toby?” Her eyes widened in joyful surprise, “You’re… home?!” The last word ended on a note of hopefulness.
“Yeah.” He snapped, obviously annoyed. “I fucking live here, remember?!” Skye’s eyes narrowed in confusion.
“Toby calm down.” Sonny stood and raised his hands towards Toby, “You don’t need to talk to Skye like that. She deserves respect.” He took a step protectively towards her.
Toby, truly angry now, looked over at her, and then back at Sonny. He reached out and grasped the slender man by his throat and easily lifted him, “Don’t EVER fucking tell me what to do… do you hear me?”
Skye had started screaming at him to stop, put him down, to stop hurting her friend. She watched as he tossed Sonny to the side like a discarded toy and advanced on her. Eyes wide in panic, she had flashbacks to times with Frank, and began to back up towards the back of the yard, as Toby came closer.
In a low, menacing growl, Toby gave his ultimatum, “Explain this shit, Skye. You get one chance.”
“What Toby!!? I don’t understand.” She was trembling from head to toe. Behind Toby, she saw Sonny picking himself up, rubbing his throat where Toby had grabbed him, still too stunned and shaken himself to be aware of what was transpiring with her. The look she sent him asked if he was OK, and he nodded slightly.
Toby yelled, “SABORA?!” He stopped, laboring to bring himself under control, “Seriously?!” Looking over his shoulder, he gave Sonny a warning look, and Sonny ducked down behind a chair. Turning back to Skye, Toby picked up his questioning, “What in the fuck is that, Skye?! If you wanted to go fuck another man, did it have to be him?”
Skye’s body tensed in defense. She blinked several times, doing her best not to cry. So, he’d heard the talk. Worse, he believed it. He stood there, glaring at her, waiting for her answer. He’d nearly choked one of her best friends, because of those damned rumors, now he was going to send her out of his life, after she’d spent a year waiting for him. All because of some stupid lies some petty asshole had told him. Anger filled her, anger at people for spreading rumors and anger at Toby for having so little faith in her. Her hands clenched at her sides, she steeled herself for however he might respond, but she wasn’t walking away from this without having her say. Meeting Toby’s eyes from under lowered brows, she leaned forward and yelled right back at him, “I didn’t do shit with him, Toby!” Through gritted teeth, she continued, “Kirk Kennedy sent me to interview him for a few months. I lived in Sabora’s guest house! You got fucking nerve coming at me like this with you having disappeared for the last year!” Straightening, she crossed her arms under her breasts and raised her chin defiantly, waiting for the storm. Skye knew she had done nothing wrong in the past year. But would Toby believe her?
Toby had stopped where he was, apparently thinking over what she’d said. Turning around, he walked back to the table and flipped through the pictures. He looked like he was considering what she had said. The minutes spun out as he stood there, looking at the photos and thinking. Skye and Sonny looked at each other across the yard. Finally Toby picked up one of the pictures. “Who’s this?” His voice still held an accusatory tone.
Skye walked up to the other side of the table from him and looked at the photo. Defensively, she answered, “That’s Allana, Sabora’s daughter. We’re friends. She's a good kid.” He dropped the picture back on the pile with a loud “hmph.” She bent over and scooped the pile of pictures back into the envelope, not looking at him as she did so.
As he slid open the patio door, Toby addressed Sonny, who was still ducked behind a lawn chair, “Pick your ass up and let’s get a beer. We got some talking to do.” He looked over at Skye, but she refused to meet his eyes. He sighed, and walked into the house.
Skye arched an eyebrow at Sonny as he walked past her, wondering which bar the two of them could go to that wouldn’t get one of them killed or arrested. Sonny looked back at her wide eyed, and hoarsely whispered, “Do I have to?”
Whispering back, she nodded, “I wanna know what he says.” She looked towards the inside of the house, seeing nothing but shadows in the darkened living room.
“The things I do for you, Sweets.” Sonny croaked, rolling his eyes. He looked at the darkened room he was about to enter as if it was a dragon’s lair.
Skye hugged him, “I know, cuz you love me. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” She picked up their glasses and watched as he headed into the house to find Toby. After she heard the front door close behind them, she sat down heavily in one of the chairs and closed her eyes. Thinking over what had just transpired made her angry all over again, the feelings bubbling to the surface and needing an outlet. With a growl, she swung back her arm and heaved one of the glasses across the lawn, where it shattered against the fence on the other side. Feeling only slightly better, she got up and went inside, shutting off the yard lights behind her.
She decided to wait up, until Sonny called her and informed her what he and Toby talked about. What a hell of a reunion! Definitely not how she’d imagined, or hoped it would be. The son-of-a-…! She couldn’t believe he’d bought that bullshit about her and Sabora. Geez, she thought he’d known her better than that. And who told him those lies? When she found out… The longer she sat and let the thoughts run through her mind, the madder she got. By the time sleep overtook her and she curled up on the couch, Toby couldn’t have gotten near her without being ripped up one side and down the other.
●
The sun through the living room window woke her the next morning. She’d fallen asleep on the sofa. As the fog of sleep lifted, Skye remembered the events of the night before. Toby had come home, they’d argued… he’d left with Sonny… to talk… she’d waited up for Sonny to call… he hadn’t. She sighed as she sat up and ran her fingers through her hair. Pushing herself up off the sofa, she shuffled into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee, then changed into some workout clothes. She figured that maybe a good round of exercise might help release some of the anger and stress she was feeling, and keep her from snapping at people who didn’t deserve it. While she worked out, she pondered why Sonny hadn’t called her. It wasn’t like him not to want to dish at the soonest opportunity. Well, she’d call him after breakfast.
The workout helped some, a hot shower and breakfast in the back yard helped calm her a bit more. While she was in the yard, she remembered the glass she’d thrown the night before. With a sigh, she carefully picked up the larger shards of glass by the fence, collecting the pieces in her empty cereal bowl to take back into the house. After cleaning up that mess, she tried to call Sonny. He didn’t pick up, either on his cell phone, or at the studio, where she left a message.
She decided to call Annette after she did the dishes. Now that Toby had shown his face, maybe Annette could give her some news. Annette’s phone rang through to her voice mail too. Skye left her a message as well.
●
(April 3, Houston, prior to Back 2 Roots)
Skye arrived at the arena early, she wanted to take extra care with her appearance tonight. Not just because it was Back 2 Roots, but because Toby… Oblivion would be there. She knew it was past time they talked, and she knew it was because of her stubbornness that they hadn’t. She also had a couple other things she wanted to take care of before the show and she didn't know how much time she would need.
Sarah Thompson was there early as well, and they enjoyed coffee while they chatted and did their hair and makeup, comparing the ladies dressing area to that of other arenas, talking about what they’d been doing between the shows, and who they thought were the favored to win the different matches. Skye found it amusing that after a year, she’d be talking about this sport the way she’d once have talked about who she thought would win an Oscar in any given year.
. . .
“Everyone was behind him, and I mean like, supporting him, you know. Even Kirk Kennedy showed up.” Skye was hearing about Oblivion’s backstage ‘gauntlet’ walk before his Hell in a Cell match from Greg, one of the stage hands. She hadn’t been there to witness it, but she could imagine it very easily, she knew the presence he had, the charisma he exuded. “We were all there to cheer him on, and he turns it around and built us up instead. Crazy.”
Skye smiled at Greg, knowing he’d never understand, that was just how Toby was. “I wish I’d been there to see it.”
“Yeah, I bet he would have liked that too,” he nodded, “but hey, you were doin’ yer job and you couldn’ help that.”
No, Greg just didn’t get the deeper things, “Right. Gotta do what I gotta do.” She said simply, “Speaking of jobs, I better get back to it. Thanks for telling me about that, Greg, I appreciate it.”
“Anytime for you, Skye, anytime. I know Oblivion means a lot to you.” He reached out and gave her a pat on the shoulder before turning and walking off to do whatever it was he did backstage. Skye shook her head slightly, and headed ringside, following the sounds of the crowd.
