Jeremy had lost to Matt at the Reunion Show and Sean knew how much Jeremy was looking forward to getting a W on the board. The two of them, as well as Matt, had bonded significantly over the years they
had trained and competed together in HWA.
Although Sean was a Parker, he'd tried desperately just to be seen as one I of the guys. He'd never angled for preferential treatment, higher places on the card or anything like that. The three of them had all sworn they'd have each other's back so when he'd overreacted in the gym that day and hurt Jeremy, he knew it hadn't been only physical pain it had caused him. Now he would be stuck without an opponent for Havoc and he knew if he showed his face, it's likely Jeremy would want to punch it. Whilst he couldn't blame him for wanting to, maybe giving everyone some space from him was for the best.
Driving out of the city of Dunfermline, Sean drove down a long winding road. There were farmlands on either side with beautiful views. On the left-hand side, you could make out the Forth Bridge and Queensferry Crossings that allowed drivers the ability to drive over the River Forth and into the capital city of Edinburgh. Sean glanced out his window, looking at the view. There were hardly any clouds in the sky and it was unusually warm for Spring time. He wound his window down a little, letting some of the warm air regulate through the interior of the car and he enjoyed a deep breath. He'd missed this; being home. He follows the road round a tight bend and down a long straight stretch where a sign comes up warning oncoming vehicles to lower their speed to twenty miles per hour or lower.
As Sean enters the village of Crossford, another involuntary smile crosses his face. Driving past all the houses that line either sides of the road, the pub known as the Adamson, the hairdressers and grocery store on the other side. All reminders of his childhood and early teen years growing up before he went out looking for Butch. Across from the grocery store is set of traffic lights. Sean activates the car's indicator and as the traffic lights move from red to amber, and as they change to green, Sean puts the car into gear and turns the corner into a side street. The sign reads "Meadow View". Sean pulls up in front of a row of semi-detached houses and parks his car. He steps out, grabbing a duffel bag from the backseat as he does so. He walks up the front path and knocks on the front door.
A moment later, and the door is opened and there stands Diana Parker. Her face beams brightly at the sight of her nephew..
(Diana): Sean, oh my goodness! What are you doing here?!
She pulls him into a deep, warm hug, squeezing him tight, kissing him on the cheek.
(Sean): Long story, Aunt Di.
(Diana): Why do I get the feeling this has something to do with your Uncle Butch?
(Sean): Do you mind if I crash for a few days? And I'll catch you up on everything.
(Diana): Of course! Stay as long as you need. Hungry? I've got lasagne in the oven.
(Sean): Chicken lasagne?
(Diana): As if you had to ask!
(Sean): Then count me in!
(Diana): Then get your bum in here and shut the door!
Sean scoots inside the house, closing the front door behind him.
(Diana): The kids will be so happy to see you but they're not home right now. Sarah's at her highland dancing class and Jake is at kickboxing. Sarah keeps asking about that Matt Miller you're friends with, I think she's got a crush on him and Jake keeps asking when you're going to be back on TV.
(Sean): Well, yeah about that.
(Diana): What?
(Sean): I've got a lot to catch you up on..
Diane has that mother's look about her when her expression changes at this tease of information as she walks into the kitchen.
(Diana): Sean Parker. what have vou done?
Sean's body language changes, his shoulders slump and he averts his eyes, dumping his duffel on the back of the couch adjacent to his left.
(Sean): It's a long story...
Diana comes back out, oven mitts covering her hands and in laid out on them is a ceramic oven dish filled with chicken lasagne.
(Diana): Well, there's plenty food here and I've got plenty of time. So let's sit down and eat, you must be starving after that flight, and you can tell me all about it.
Sean smiles faintly as he makes his way to the dining area of the living room, pulling out a chair from the dinner table and plonking himselt down.
(Sean): Sounds like a plan, so…
Sean proceeds to catch Diana up on everything that's been going on with him. what happened at the Reunion Show, at the Training Academy, his altercation with Jeremy and Red Dragon, his outburst at Butch, Wisdom letting him have it leading to him beins pulled from the upcoming Havoc card. Diana doesn't say anything, she just sits there, eating her dinner, listening to what her nephew is saying.
(Sean): So…
(Diana): So what?
(Sean): About what happened?
Diana wipes her mouth delicately with her napkin and pushes her chair to stand up from the table.
(Diana): Do you want any leftovers?
Sean can tell his aunt is trying to shift the tide of the conversation away from what he wants to talk about.
(Sean): You’re dodging the question, Aunt Di.
(Diana): I don’t know what you mean? Help me with these dishes will you?
Diana begins to collect the empty food-stained plates from the dining room table and makes her way to the kitchen. Sean can’t help but smile, shaking his head as he helps collect the dishes and he follows his aunt into the kitchen.
(Sean): You do know you’re just as stubborn as uncle Butch, right?
(Diana): I have no idea what you mean.
Diana smirks as she runs the kitchen sink with hot water and washing-up liquid.
(Sean): Come on, I’m in the throes of a personal crisis here. I came home because you’re always my constant, you tell me how it is. You should’ve heard the way Wisdom laid into me… and Butch… he….
(Diana): He what?
Sean sighs.
(Sean): He… well, you know…
(Diana): Dropped some truth bombs? Made you feel like what you went through suffered in comparison to what he’s been through only to tell how much he loves you and just wants you to better?
(Sean): Yeah… how did you-
(Diana): You think you’re the first Parker to make mistakes, not handle it well and then feel the wrath of the mighty Butch Parker? The guilt trip, the big emerald green eyes burning a hole through your soul? Trust me, I’ve been there, more than once.
(Sean): How does he do it? How is he able to take every ounce of anger and frustration you had inside of you and somehow make you feel guilty? Like you’ve let him down?
(Diana): It’s a Parker thing, Sean. It’s what David - your dad, used to do to him. It’s what my dad used to do to them. You think Butch didn’t mess up when he was a bairn? He idolised your dad. And if he messed up, he dreaded your dad finding out. He was more scared of disappointing David because if he knew he’d let him down, it was like his whole world had fell apart.
(Sean): Yeah, that’s how I feel right now. Like Wisdom, man I’ve never seen her go off like that. I actually felt like I was five years old again. Then when I seen how much it had upset her, and I was like man… then when Butch spoke to me, I really thought he was gonna let me have it too.
(Diana): Oh, Wisdom is a Parker alright, she may have married into our family, but she’s a Parker. Before her, your uncle was like a wildfire. He was uncontrollable, unrelenting. Then Wisdom came along and everything changed. They balance each other perfectly. You wouldn’t think it. Both of them have tempers that could reshape the face of the planet but put them together.
(Sean): So, like she mellowed him out?
Diana looks at Sean with an incredulous look on her face.
(Diana): Oh God no! A man like Butch doesn’t get mellowed out. No. Wisdom gave him direction, she gave him purpose. Before that, everything was about his career, about championship gold, making his mark. Wisdom gave him something else to fight for. And now, whenever your uncle messes up, who do you think lays the truth bombs?
(Sean): I can’t even imagine Butch in that position.
(Diana): You’d be surprised. But that’s why Butch didn’t go erupt like Krakatoa on you, he didn’t see the benefit of going to town on you like Wisdom did because it wouldn’t serve any useful purpose. And to be honest, I’m actually surprised he didn’t. From what you said, having to do what she did really got to her.
(Sean): Yeah… it really got to me too.
Diana looks at Sean as he leans back against the back door in the kitchen. He leans the back of his head against the glass pane inside the door frame. She walked up to him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
(Diana): Sean… it’s all good feeling guilty and feeling bad for upsetting a person you care about. It shows you care about the consequences of your actions and how they impact those you care about. But you need to understand you can’t act the way you did anymore. The dynamic with you and Butch, when it comes to the wrestling, has changed. He’s the boss and you have to respect that. Don’t think for one moment he didn’t torture himself wondering if he made the right decision in inviting that man who hurt you to that show. He didn’t have to tell me but I know for a fact he would’ve went back-and-forth for hours wrestling with that decision. But he and your Aunt Wisdom are running a multi-million pound institution nowadays. They can’t check in with you in case a decision they make is going to offend or hurt you. And like it or not, you made a decision when you chose to attack that man, regardless of how justified you think it was.
Sean doesn’t say anything, he just keeps looking at the ceiling.
(Diana): Sean Parker, look at me.
Sean lowers his head and looks at his Aunt.
(Diana): I’m not telling you anything you don’t or shouldn’t already know. We all want what’s best for you but you need to start taking ownership and responsibility. And those other kids who you’ve been working alongside all these years, they need you setting an example…if you want to be even a fraction of the man your uncle is and your dad was.
(Sean): You’re right… Jeremy is going to be so mad at as well. I completely screwed up his career too.
(Diana): You need to put things right properly.
(Sean): How?
(Diana): Well, I’m not going to give you all the answers, Sean. You have to figure out some things for yourself…. And how to ask that young lady out.
Sean’s head jerks round, his face going red.
(Sean): What?!
(Diana): Oh come on, don’t be all shy. You think your Uncle and Aunt don’t see and hear what goes on? Wisdom told me about that girl you like. Michelle is it?
(Sean): Well, yeah she’s great but we’re just friends. She’s not from LA and I’ve just been helping her get settled in the city. She’s a bit shy.
(Diana): Oh you’re so damn cute, honestly. If you like her, just tell her.
(Sean): I don’t want to seem creepy though, I like her but I don’t want to risk what we’ve built in HWA or give her the wrong idea.
Diana rolls her eyes and smiles.
(Diana): She’s a girl, Sean. She’s not going to be creeped out if you just talk to her and be yourself. You’re both obviously into wrestling, so you already have loads in common. Trust me, just to talk to her.
(Sean): I’ll try. Listen, do you mind if I stay here for a while. I don’t fancy going back to LA.
(Diana): Of course but as long as you’re not wallowing in self-pity. And I’m not going to cover for you. If Butch or Wisdom ask where you are, I won’t lie for you.
(Sean): I wouldn’t ask you to, I appreciate it. I just need to lay low, get my head right. I messed up enough already, they have lots on their plates with Havoc and they don’t need me giving them anymore headaches. I’ll go back next week if that’s alright?
(Diana): Of course it is. The kids will love having their big cousin here. Oh and talk to your cousin, please. She really likes that Matt guy your friends with. Please tell me he’s as nice as he is on TV? Butch always used to tell me how so many of these people are nicer on TV than in person and I’d hate for her to be disappointed.
(Sean): Oh no, Matt’s great. He’s a good guy. And I brought a personalised and autographed poster for her, think that’ll do the trick?
(Diana): Oh, she’ll love it.
As she finishes doing the dishes, they make their way back to the living room.
(Diana): Well if you’re staying, you can make yourself useful. Fancy going to pick the kids up from their classes?
(Sean): Sure! I can’t wait to see them again.
(Diana): We better get going then, Jake’s kickboxing finishes in fifteen minutes.
(Sean): Thanks Aunt Di.
(Diana): For what? Letting you get the kids?
(Sean): No, for just… just being what I needed right now.
Diana smiles.
(Diana): You know I’m always here for you, Sean. Now let’s stop getting mushy and get going.
The two make their way out of the house and towards Sean’s rental car as the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
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