Disclaimer: I do not own any of the WWE superstars in this story. It is
purely a work of fiction, and the wrestlers used in the making of it own
themselves.
A/N: It's been awhile for updates on my fictions, but never fears, I am here. I might go away for awhile but eventually I return, and I hope better then before. So here is the next installment of Lipstick and Bruises, with updates on my other fictions to follow over the next couple of days. I have been trying to write them, and since this is the only fiction I do straight from MS WORD to the net, then I'm doing this one first. Also if you're bored check out my WWE Tough Enough fiction in the meantime, as that is the one I am throwing myself into the most at this point. When I post the next chapter of that one, someone gets voted off, and even if you aren't part of the fiction you can vote out who you think shouldn't be there! So enjoy Zach's new chapter and I will see you all soon with another update.
****************************
"So Ms. Peterson what did you think of the show you're going to be writing for?" Jim asked as I took a seat in his office. He had asked me to go and watch the show from one of the locker rooms, and when it was over I was to report back with new ideas and things that I think should be used in the future.
As I sat here with him now though, I really didn't know what he wanted to hear. I wasn't sure rather if what I was thinking was going to be good enough for them to use. I loved my writing, which was the reason I was so into the paper at school but when it comes to doing this, and not being a fan of the sport at all, I didn't know how much actual help I could be.
"Honestly Jim, I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know dear?"
"I am new to this. You knew that when you hired me. I think in turn that's one of the reasons you didn't want to hire me right away when Zach asked you too. I don't know a damn thing about this business except from what I've learned from you, Zach and what Randy told me and did to me. None of that is good, and in turn I don't know how to write for you at this point."
"Are you saying you want to go back home and not do this?"
"No, but I want to be up front with you here. I don't know what I'm doing, you know that already, and you want me to tell you things I think would make the show better and although I have some good ideas, I don't know if they are going to be good enough to use."
"Well the only way we are going to find that out is if you talk to me about what you are thinking dear. I hired you because you are a very good writer. Now if it turns out that wrestling writing isn't where you need to be, I will accept that. If anything we have a position waiting for you in PR work. You write a good interview, so maybe putting our product out there for us would suit you better. Before we decide I want to see what ideas you have though. Then and only then will we decide."
I was shocked. He knew what I was trying to say to him and he even had another job that might be more what I needed to do with my time here. He had really thought of everything for me and I was grateful. Maybe he was right though, I was new and maybe once I got more into what I was doing, this part of the job wouldn't feel so weird for me. I did like working with the guys I knew, and upon talking to all of them about their direction it seemed I did want to make their dreams more of a reality then had been lately.
"Stop making Brock a monster Jim."
"That's an observation you made while watching the show?"
"Yes, and before you say you want him to be the big baddie in the group, I want to tell you why I think you need to fix this. It's gotten out of hand now. He beat on Kendrick apparently before I got here, and now he just beat on Shannon Moore, and it looks like that kid wont be wrestling much if any anymore, so what I am saying here, is keep him bad, just make it less mean."
"Less mean?"
"Yeah less mean. He's a good talent and I know with Kurt as champion now, you want to push the whole good vs. evil thing, and I am with you on that. What I think you need to do though is stop making Brock beat on guys that weigh 150 pounds soaking wet. Make him go against someone who can hold their own. Now take Chris Benoit for instance. He is a very small guy in terms of height, but he has heart and desire and can hold his own with guys like the Big Show, so I think he would be a good person to face Brock the monster."
"Are you saying this because of the fact that he aligned himself with Randy recently where you and Zach are concerned?"
"No. Brock is the least of my worries at this point. I just want to write for you and do it to the best of my ability. So will you think about it?"
"Most definitely. Now tell me what else you have on your mind."
He was actually listening to me, and he took my ideas to heart even though I didn't have the first clue what I was talking about. I looked at Jim and saw the look in his eyes. He actually did want to know what else I thought of the show and where I thought it needed to go, and I knew that no matter what path I chose, I was going to let him hear them all, because this needed to change and change for the better.
"Does Vince always like the spotlight?"
"Yeah, being his company and his baby now, yes he does. Why do you ask?"
"I want to talk to him about this as well. So if you could arrange a meeting, I think the show needs to go in a different direction then the family feud that is constantly happening here."
"I can arrange it. How soon can you get together with him if he agrees Hayley?"
"Make it yesterday. I will sit down with the two of you and lay everything I am thinking out on paper, and then you can decide what to do with me. I am willing to work in PR if you don't like what I have to say, but I think Vince needs to be in on this thing too."
"Well I will see what I can do. So you don't want to talk to me about anything else while I have you here?"
"No, save it all for the big boss right? Plus I think I have had enough of being here tonight and seeing what I have seen. Now if you don't mind, I am going to go back to the hotel."
"Sure, thank you for the Brock idea and I cannot wait to hear what else you have for us Hayley."
"My pleasure."
******************************
I was sitting at my laptop, talking through a messenger with Ariel, laughing at something stupid she had learned that day in school about me. It was obvious the school didn't want to hide the fact that one of the most talented writers in their classes was now working for a company that was wildly known and even traded on the NYSE.
A knock sounded on my door and I looked up. I wasn't really expecting anyone since Zach had been by earlier and we had watched some horrible movie on the pay per view station and then he had wanted to crash. Getting up out of my chair, telling Ariel I would be right back I got to the door and opened it. I didn't expect to see who I saw standing there.
"What a pleasant surprise. Come in."
He made his way into the room and looked at me with a huge grin.
"How was your first night as a WWE writer?"
"A pain in the ass. So when do you get back in the ring anyway?"
"As soon as the doctor tells me that my ribs aren't all that bad off anymore."
"Which means what exactly and when?"
"Soon. Actually that will depend on you. I mean once the doctor clears me, you need to write me in there and let me have my time on air. So do you think we are good enough buddies for you to do that for me next week?"
I laughed, and then seeing his face I realized he was serious. I didn't mean to offend him. But when I stopped laughing and got serious he broke out in a smile as well, trying to ease the weirdness.
"I was kidding Hayley. You write me in when you get the notice that I am alright again. But for now I am not alright. I hated being at the arena and not being able to get in the ring and kick someone's ass."
"You really take it seriously don't you?"
"Yes I do. It's my life."
"It's just a job."
"No Hayley, it's much more then that and talking with Zach the way you do, I thought you would get that. I mean he has one leg and he wants to do nothing but get into the ring and wrestle. I do have a great idea though."
"And that would be?"
"How about I show you the ropes?"
"I don't think you can do that Brian. I mean I am a writer and you aren't. What could you show me about my job that I don't already know?"
"I don't mean those ropes silly. I meant how about I show you how to wrestle. What do you think?"
"I.I don't know Brian... I do not want to get into the ring and wrestle. I leave that to all of you."
"You don't have to be a wrestler, but you told me what happened with Randy, and I don't think you want that to happen again. So why don't I show you some basic moves and holds that you can use if any of my fellow wrestlers get frisky again?"
I couldn't believe what he was telling me. I had never even watched wrestling until recently, let alone step foot into the ring. I didn't think he had the slightest clue what he was getting himself into, trying to teach me anything. He did have a good point though. Randy had taken advantage of me, and after going through what had happened, even though it could have been a lot worse, I didn't want to go through it again and learning how to fight it off would help a great deal.
"You're on. Now get out of here. We have a long day tomorrow, what with another house show on the horizon. I will talk to you tomorrow."
"Wow your getting it already." Brian said as he walked to the door.
"Getting what?" I asked. Turning around he looked at me and smiled.
"The lingo. House shows and live shows. You are finally becoming one of us Hayley; there is no going back now."
With one last little laugh he made his way out of my hotel room and shut the door. Sitting down at the computer again, I looked at the screen as Ariel had been typing away, and just smiled. Maybe being in the WWE and being around wrestlers wouldn't be so bad after all.
Typing back to her request, I looked at what I had written and realized I was changing. Being so far away from home, and everything I loved, I was finally growing up. There really was no going back now.
TorontoPartieGurl: I'm going to be a wrestler.
******************************
"She what Jim?"
"She wants you to be less of a monster, and after talking with her and Vince, I am inclined to agree with her. I just wanted to let you know that no matter what ideas you have, they might be subject to change."
"Jim you told me that I had control over my character, why the hell would you want to change it now?"
"Because I don't think, contrary to what you believe that viewers want to see you kicking the shit out of helpless guys like Brian, and Shannon. It's not selling anything at all by the looks of things."
"Is the plan for Gowen still a go?"
"Next weeks match with Gowen is a go, but after that, tone it down Brock or I am going to have to pull you into a meeting with Vince."
Hanging up the phone Brock was seething with anger. This new girl comes in as a writer and starts making demands on his character. He knew Randy wanted to come across as a better guy for her, to make her see he wasn't really a rapist who drugged girls to get with them, but he wasn't going to be a part of it anymore.
This girl wouldn't screw with his character for much longer. No matter what Randy wanted in the long run, Brock had to put this girl in her place where she belonged. Slamming his way out of the hotel room and to the elevator, he remembered what floor she was on and stepped it. It was time to make this girl pay, and pay dearly.
**************************
A/N2: Okay long chapter. I also broke Randy and Brock up for the time being, so play some other avenues since this story will be longer then all of my other ones. I am writing this until I cannot write it any longer. So enjoy, let me know what you think with your reviews and I will be back in the next couple of days to update! Also let me know if you want to see this Brian angle gets more developed or not.
A/N: It's been awhile for updates on my fictions, but never fears, I am here. I might go away for awhile but eventually I return, and I hope better then before. So here is the next installment of Lipstick and Bruises, with updates on my other fictions to follow over the next couple of days. I have been trying to write them, and since this is the only fiction I do straight from MS WORD to the net, then I'm doing this one first. Also if you're bored check out my WWE Tough Enough fiction in the meantime, as that is the one I am throwing myself into the most at this point. When I post the next chapter of that one, someone gets voted off, and even if you aren't part of the fiction you can vote out who you think shouldn't be there! So enjoy Zach's new chapter and I will see you all soon with another update.
****************************
"So Ms. Peterson what did you think of the show you're going to be writing for?" Jim asked as I took a seat in his office. He had asked me to go and watch the show from one of the locker rooms, and when it was over I was to report back with new ideas and things that I think should be used in the future.
As I sat here with him now though, I really didn't know what he wanted to hear. I wasn't sure rather if what I was thinking was going to be good enough for them to use. I loved my writing, which was the reason I was so into the paper at school but when it comes to doing this, and not being a fan of the sport at all, I didn't know how much actual help I could be.
"Honestly Jim, I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know dear?"
"I am new to this. You knew that when you hired me. I think in turn that's one of the reasons you didn't want to hire me right away when Zach asked you too. I don't know a damn thing about this business except from what I've learned from you, Zach and what Randy told me and did to me. None of that is good, and in turn I don't know how to write for you at this point."
"Are you saying you want to go back home and not do this?"
"No, but I want to be up front with you here. I don't know what I'm doing, you know that already, and you want me to tell you things I think would make the show better and although I have some good ideas, I don't know if they are going to be good enough to use."
"Well the only way we are going to find that out is if you talk to me about what you are thinking dear. I hired you because you are a very good writer. Now if it turns out that wrestling writing isn't where you need to be, I will accept that. If anything we have a position waiting for you in PR work. You write a good interview, so maybe putting our product out there for us would suit you better. Before we decide I want to see what ideas you have though. Then and only then will we decide."
I was shocked. He knew what I was trying to say to him and he even had another job that might be more what I needed to do with my time here. He had really thought of everything for me and I was grateful. Maybe he was right though, I was new and maybe once I got more into what I was doing, this part of the job wouldn't feel so weird for me. I did like working with the guys I knew, and upon talking to all of them about their direction it seemed I did want to make their dreams more of a reality then had been lately.
"Stop making Brock a monster Jim."
"That's an observation you made while watching the show?"
"Yes, and before you say you want him to be the big baddie in the group, I want to tell you why I think you need to fix this. It's gotten out of hand now. He beat on Kendrick apparently before I got here, and now he just beat on Shannon Moore, and it looks like that kid wont be wrestling much if any anymore, so what I am saying here, is keep him bad, just make it less mean."
"Less mean?"
"Yeah less mean. He's a good talent and I know with Kurt as champion now, you want to push the whole good vs. evil thing, and I am with you on that. What I think you need to do though is stop making Brock beat on guys that weigh 150 pounds soaking wet. Make him go against someone who can hold their own. Now take Chris Benoit for instance. He is a very small guy in terms of height, but he has heart and desire and can hold his own with guys like the Big Show, so I think he would be a good person to face Brock the monster."
"Are you saying this because of the fact that he aligned himself with Randy recently where you and Zach are concerned?"
"No. Brock is the least of my worries at this point. I just want to write for you and do it to the best of my ability. So will you think about it?"
"Most definitely. Now tell me what else you have on your mind."
He was actually listening to me, and he took my ideas to heart even though I didn't have the first clue what I was talking about. I looked at Jim and saw the look in his eyes. He actually did want to know what else I thought of the show and where I thought it needed to go, and I knew that no matter what path I chose, I was going to let him hear them all, because this needed to change and change for the better.
"Does Vince always like the spotlight?"
"Yeah, being his company and his baby now, yes he does. Why do you ask?"
"I want to talk to him about this as well. So if you could arrange a meeting, I think the show needs to go in a different direction then the family feud that is constantly happening here."
"I can arrange it. How soon can you get together with him if he agrees Hayley?"
"Make it yesterday. I will sit down with the two of you and lay everything I am thinking out on paper, and then you can decide what to do with me. I am willing to work in PR if you don't like what I have to say, but I think Vince needs to be in on this thing too."
"Well I will see what I can do. So you don't want to talk to me about anything else while I have you here?"
"No, save it all for the big boss right? Plus I think I have had enough of being here tonight and seeing what I have seen. Now if you don't mind, I am going to go back to the hotel."
"Sure, thank you for the Brock idea and I cannot wait to hear what else you have for us Hayley."
"My pleasure."
******************************
I was sitting at my laptop, talking through a messenger with Ariel, laughing at something stupid she had learned that day in school about me. It was obvious the school didn't want to hide the fact that one of the most talented writers in their classes was now working for a company that was wildly known and even traded on the NYSE.
A knock sounded on my door and I looked up. I wasn't really expecting anyone since Zach had been by earlier and we had watched some horrible movie on the pay per view station and then he had wanted to crash. Getting up out of my chair, telling Ariel I would be right back I got to the door and opened it. I didn't expect to see who I saw standing there.
"What a pleasant surprise. Come in."
He made his way into the room and looked at me with a huge grin.
"How was your first night as a WWE writer?"
"A pain in the ass. So when do you get back in the ring anyway?"
"As soon as the doctor tells me that my ribs aren't all that bad off anymore."
"Which means what exactly and when?"
"Soon. Actually that will depend on you. I mean once the doctor clears me, you need to write me in there and let me have my time on air. So do you think we are good enough buddies for you to do that for me next week?"
I laughed, and then seeing his face I realized he was serious. I didn't mean to offend him. But when I stopped laughing and got serious he broke out in a smile as well, trying to ease the weirdness.
"I was kidding Hayley. You write me in when you get the notice that I am alright again. But for now I am not alright. I hated being at the arena and not being able to get in the ring and kick someone's ass."
"You really take it seriously don't you?"
"Yes I do. It's my life."
"It's just a job."
"No Hayley, it's much more then that and talking with Zach the way you do, I thought you would get that. I mean he has one leg and he wants to do nothing but get into the ring and wrestle. I do have a great idea though."
"And that would be?"
"How about I show you the ropes?"
"I don't think you can do that Brian. I mean I am a writer and you aren't. What could you show me about my job that I don't already know?"
"I don't mean those ropes silly. I meant how about I show you how to wrestle. What do you think?"
"I.I don't know Brian... I do not want to get into the ring and wrestle. I leave that to all of you."
"You don't have to be a wrestler, but you told me what happened with Randy, and I don't think you want that to happen again. So why don't I show you some basic moves and holds that you can use if any of my fellow wrestlers get frisky again?"
I couldn't believe what he was telling me. I had never even watched wrestling until recently, let alone step foot into the ring. I didn't think he had the slightest clue what he was getting himself into, trying to teach me anything. He did have a good point though. Randy had taken advantage of me, and after going through what had happened, even though it could have been a lot worse, I didn't want to go through it again and learning how to fight it off would help a great deal.
"You're on. Now get out of here. We have a long day tomorrow, what with another house show on the horizon. I will talk to you tomorrow."
"Wow your getting it already." Brian said as he walked to the door.
"Getting what?" I asked. Turning around he looked at me and smiled.
"The lingo. House shows and live shows. You are finally becoming one of us Hayley; there is no going back now."
With one last little laugh he made his way out of my hotel room and shut the door. Sitting down at the computer again, I looked at the screen as Ariel had been typing away, and just smiled. Maybe being in the WWE and being around wrestlers wouldn't be so bad after all.
Typing back to her request, I looked at what I had written and realized I was changing. Being so far away from home, and everything I loved, I was finally growing up. There really was no going back now.
TorontoPartieGurl: I'm going to be a wrestler.
******************************
"She what Jim?"
"She wants you to be less of a monster, and after talking with her and Vince, I am inclined to agree with her. I just wanted to let you know that no matter what ideas you have, they might be subject to change."
"Jim you told me that I had control over my character, why the hell would you want to change it now?"
"Because I don't think, contrary to what you believe that viewers want to see you kicking the shit out of helpless guys like Brian, and Shannon. It's not selling anything at all by the looks of things."
"Is the plan for Gowen still a go?"
"Next weeks match with Gowen is a go, but after that, tone it down Brock or I am going to have to pull you into a meeting with Vince."
Hanging up the phone Brock was seething with anger. This new girl comes in as a writer and starts making demands on his character. He knew Randy wanted to come across as a better guy for her, to make her see he wasn't really a rapist who drugged girls to get with them, but he wasn't going to be a part of it anymore.
This girl wouldn't screw with his character for much longer. No matter what Randy wanted in the long run, Brock had to put this girl in her place where she belonged. Slamming his way out of the hotel room and to the elevator, he remembered what floor she was on and stepped it. It was time to make this girl pay, and pay dearly.
**************************
A/N2: Okay long chapter. I also broke Randy and Brock up for the time being, so play some other avenues since this story will be longer then all of my other ones. I am writing this until I cannot write it any longer. So enjoy, let me know what you think with your reviews and I will be back in the next couple of days to update! Also let me know if you want to see this Brian angle gets more developed or not.