A Little Reassurance

"Where do you think you're going?" A burly security guard asked Simon as he approached the exit. He ignored the guard and tried to walk past only to be stopped by the guard's hand,

"Are you deaf? I asked you where the hell you were going,"

"Home," He slapped the hand away. His eyes were dead and his voice had a strange growl to it, "I'm done here,"

The guard stood in front of him and stared him down,

"I don't think so. You leave when you're told to like everyone else,"

Simon looked down his nose at the guard, then pushed him out of the way with one hand before walking out the door.

As he made his way out the guard spoke up,

"You really think you're some kind of big shot? So above it all,"

Simon kept walking.

"You're just another miserable arrogant jackass living on borrowed time,"

He stopped and turned around. The guard continued smugly,

"I honestly hope they sign that Suzanna chick. It's about time someone knocked you down a peg,"

Simon frowned, then widened his eyes, before his expression became neutral,

“Hope is a dangerous thing,” He said, pointing.

The guard turned around to see Suzanna approaching the exit, looking like a sad clown.

As she exited the building she briefly made eye contact with Simon before the two averted their gazes. He started walking away, wanting to leave now more than ever. Suzanna looked at the ground and frowned, before calling out to him,

"I-I'm sorry!"

He stopped and slowly turned in confusion,

"What?"

"For shoving you…" She said, standing straight, "Please forgive me,"

Simon and the guard both scrunched up their faces.

“You’re asking for… my

forgiveness?” He gave her a sideways glance, “Why?”

“I… I realise you were probably just playing a heel, but I let the stuff you said get to me,” She looked down again, “A-and I don’t like lingering conflict, so…”

She had so much innocence to her. It was off-putting, but before he could say anything,

“Kid, you thought he was playing?” The guard asked, pointing at Simon with his thumb, “Him? Have you not been watching the last year?”

She tilted her head, “Yes, but I don’t…”

“And haven’t you noticed that he hasn’t been on TV for the last couple months?”

Simon narrowed his eyes and started leaving again. He didn’t need this.

“Yeah, I did…” Her eyes followed him, then returned to the guard, “... I was wondering about that, but…”

“He’s been on probation since he chickened out against Mulad. Ever since that night, he’s been acting like a d-bag at every opportunity,”

He was increasing the volume of his voice with every step Simon took, which were quickening,

“I heard management is getting ready to bring the axe down, especially after today!”

Simon stopped and stiffened, looking down at the ground and clenching his fists, then took a deep breath and continued walking towards the gate, which opened to allow Sarah’s yellow convertible to enter the property. Suzanna watched him as the guard continued,

“Speaking of… If you don’t mind me asking, what happened with Mrs Gamal? I didn’t think she’d reject you,”

Suzanna’s sadness returned just as Sarah parked the car and honked her horn, it was time to go.

She forced a smile and waved at the guard, “I have to go. Have a nice day,”

“Yeah, you too,” The guard said, wistfully,

“So how’d it go?” Sarah asked, she was optimistic despite Suzanna’s body language. If it went badly, perhaps something positive could come out of it. Suzanna sat back in her chair and stared at the sky,

“Sarah…?”

“Yeah?”

Suzanna looked at her friend with big, wet eyes like those of a puppy dog,

“Do you think I’m dangerous?”

Sarah looked at her. Her expression was blank, “Yes,”

Her honesty felt like a full-strength punch to the gut… from Superman. Sarah started the car while she was doubled over in apparent pain,

“Come on, you know I’m never gonna lie to you," She did a U-turn and headed back to the gate.

"You couldn't have softened the blow, even a little?" Suzanna asked, straightening slowly

"Nope," She said, “Now, what happened? Did they tell you to take a hike?”

Suzanna sighed and pulled out the paper Gamal gave her,

“Fatima Gamal, the talent relations lady gave me her number. I have until tomorrow to call her back,”

“Eccellente!” Sarah exclaimed, looking head and nodding, “Wow, Fatima Gamal,” She looked at Suzanna, “So you’re definitely going to call her back, right?”

Suzanna looked away and didn’t answer. Sarah quickly turned the car around and parked in a free spot, before switching it off, “Right?”

Suzanna sighed, “I just don’t think I’m a good fit for PSW or wrestling in general,”

Sarah repeated an earlier question, “What happened?” She wasn’t going to let this go and Suzanna knew it, so she answered in exasperation,

“I froze, okay! Multiple times during the tryout and the interview. The only time I didn’t was when I lost my temper and nearly sent my tv crush flying,”

“That really tall guy with the corny catchphrase?”

“It wasn’t corny it was cool!”

“Yeah, whatever, Gamal told you to call her back, didn’t she? She obviously thinks you could be a good fit,”

“She called me a time bomb, Sarah,” Suzanna said, looking at Sarah, distraught and beginning to sob, “And I… I’m scared she’s right,”

Sarah pulled her in for a hug,

“She also told you to call her back,” she said stroking Suzanna’s hair, “Which means she must have seen something in you, right? And their obviously not going to let you fight anyone without training you,"

"I don't like what she saw," Suzanna said, "I… don't like what I might turn into,"

Sarah exhaled through her nose and smiled and kept stroking her hair, "Hey, I’m not going anywhere. If you need someone to keep your head on straight,” She pulled her into another tight headlock, “I’ll be right here,”

“Okay,” Suzanna replied, struggling to breathe, “Thank you, please… let go!”

Sarah held up her closed fist and smirked, “Only if you promise to call her back first thing tomorrow,”

“Okay… I promise… Please don’t noogie me, my head’s already sore,”

Sarah hummed while waving her fist around, then lightly patted Suzanna on the head before letting her go. Suzanna straightened and took some breaths as Sarah started the car again,

“Geez, you’re always so pushy,” She said, pouting,

“It’s how I was raised,” Sarah replied, reversing out of the parking space. She slanted-eyed sideways glance, “I probably wouldn’t need to be if you weren’t so unambitious,”

Suzanna folded her arms and let an audible, “Hmph!”

As they made their way out they passed Simon. Suzanna thought about offering him a ride, but he quickened his pace upon making eye contact to her disappointment,

“What is with him? It’s like he’s a completely different person,”

“Or maybe that’s who he really is and you should stay away from him,” Sarah sternly warned. She wasn’t present for their earlier encounter, but Suzanna’s mention of losing her temper made the situation easy enough to surmise. Suzanna chose not to respond as they went home.