Sean walks toward them, feeling confused yet intrigued.
(Sean): What’s going down here?
Sean notices the bruise across Michelle’s neck and involuntarily dumps his gym bag and leaps up on to the ring apron.
(Sean): Jesus Chri-
Halfway through his curse, Sean instantly remembers Michelle’s religious vocation and stops himself.
(Sean): - sorry, I mean oh my God, what happened?!
The girls turn their heads towards him.
(Sarah): We were just training, I was showing Michelle some submissions tips and in comes that floozy, Alexis and damn near choked Michelle out!
(Sean): Goddamnit!
Sean catches Michelle, even being in pain, giving him a look. He recognises it immediately and holds his hands up in apology.
(Sean): Sorry, I really need to get a handle on that…. Are you okay, Michelle?
He climbs into the ring and gently examines Michelle’s neck, placing his hand on delicately on her shoulder and tilts her chin up with his other one. This contact catches Michelle off-guard whose eyes widen momentarily and she swallow nervously. Sarah and Erica both notice the subtle interaction and exchange fleeting glances and smile. Sean scrutinises the bruise now looking very colourful across the width of Michelle’s neck.
(Sean): Jeezo, Michelle, what did she do? Stand on your neck? Are there not any coaches here? Where’s Butch, Sensei or Hans?
(Sarah): Sensei said something about them all going for a business lunch to bring Hans up to speed with everything. They left about an hour ago.
(Sean): The one time there’s no one here and this sh-stuff happens! When did this happen?!
(Michelle): Literally about five minutes before you got here. I’m fine though, honestly guys, you don’t have to make such a fuss.
Sarah and Erica exchange another glance before the former nods her head to the side inferring to make themselves scarce. Erica interprets the message and smiles. Sarah then motions to the gathered throng of students.
(Sarah): Alright guys, show’s over, back to training before Sensei Matthew comes back!
The students immediately begin to disperse and go back to their training. Sarah then widens her and motions to Erica.
(Sarah): Right, Erica, we should be going too, right?
(Erica): Si, we have that thing, don’t we?
Michelle throws both her friends a panicked look but they look back at her mouthing the words “Just talk to him!” This doesn’t help Michelle at all who looks like a fish out of water as Sarah and Erica walk off.
(Sarah): Bye, Sean!
Sean turns his head slightly in their direction, smiling awkwardly and half-heartedly waves.
(Sean): Bye, ladies. You’re not subtle at all!
Sean turns back to face Michelle smiling at her, rolling his eyes comically.
(Michelle): I’m sorry about them, Sean.
Sean dismisses Michelle’s apology with a wave of his hand, maintaining his smile.
(Sean): Ach it’s fine. Are you sure you’re okay, though? Seriously that bruise looks nasty.
Michelle involuntarily brings her hand to tentatively touch her neck.
(Michelle): Its fine honestly, Alexis probably just got too into the training, she’s very excited to be here.
Sean screws his face up.
(Sean): Come on, Michelle, tell me you don’t really believe that.
Michelle sighs and shakes her head.
(Michelle): I don’t know. Why would she target me? I haven’t done anything to her.
(Sean): She’s just trying to make a name for herself. She’s the new girl in town and she wants to intimidate the competition which doesn’t excuse this. There are ways to make waves in a new company without attacking your co-workers in training.
Michelle shrugs.
(Michelle): I guess…you don’t think it’s because I’m the least experienced?
(Sean): Are you kidding me? If she thinks that, she’s sorely mistaken, you’re awesome in the ring, Michelle. Heck, if Alexis hadn’t shown up at ringside, I’d say you would have beaten Sarah.
She looks at Sean for a moment, tucking strands of her blonde hair behind her ears.
(Michelle): Thank you for caring, Sean, it means a lot… and I’m glad you came back. It’s also cute how hard you’re trying not to curse.
Sean smiles at her and they both giggle.
(Sean): So hard! Being Scottish, cursing is practically a fabric of our vocabulary.
Michelle laughs again.
(Michelle): I missed this. I missed you when you were away. Things weren’t the same without you.
(Sean): I missed you too… like all of you, I mean I missed you too of course, I just meant…
Michelle laughs lightly once more before reaching over and squeezing Sean’s hand. He turns his hand over and holds it in his. There is a moment of silence before they relinquish their grip on each other’s hand.
(Sean): Hey, can I ask you something?
(Michelle): Of course.
(Sean): How crazy would it be if I um…em… asked you out?
Michelle feels her face heat up and her cheeks are flush red. She had a feeling Sean was possibly going to ask her out but it still threw her for a loop when she actually heard him ask her.
(Michelle): I’d love to but can we take it slow? I’ve not dated anyone since high school.
(Sean): I haven’t dated anyone period! I came to America to find Butch when I was sixteen and six months later I was paralysed. So trust me, slow is what you’re going to get. Do you wanna maybe go for lunch or coffee or something?
Michelle smiles warmly, feeling the butterflies flap like crazy in the pit of her stomach.
(Michelle): I’d love that.
The nice moment is interrupted by the ringing of Sean’s cellphone in his bag. He scoots out of the ring to answer it and sees Butch’s name flash up.
(Sean): Hey, Butch. Where are you? Are you still out with Sensei and Hans?
(Butch): We were at lunch. I just got a message from your Aunt, what happened? Are you at the Academy?
(Sean): Yeah, I just got here, Alexis attacked Michelle.
(Butch): I heard. Hans, Matthew and I are on our way. Is Alexis still there?
(Sean): Nah, she bailed about five minutes before I got here.
(Butch): Well, just hang tight. Tell Michelle I’ll be there soon, I want to talk to her, make sure everything’s okay.
(Sean): Will do.
Sean hangs up and places his phone back in his bag. Michelle has climbed out of the ring now too.
(Michelle): Was that Butch?
(Sean): Yeah. He, Sensei and Hans are on their way back now. He wants you to stay here so he can talk to you, make sure everything’s okay.
Michelle’s expression changes to worry.
(Michelle): I don’t want to cause any trouble for anyone, maybe I should just go home?
Sean puts both his hands on Michelle’s shoulders comfortingly.
(Sean): Hey, you’re not gonna be causing trouble, you got me? Butch just wants to make sure you’re alright.
Michelle smiles again and places one of her hands on top of Sean’s.
(Michelle): Thanks, Sean.
Sean gives her a friendly wink.
(Sean): Don’t mention it.
The two take a seat on the ring apron as they wait for Butch, Hans and Red Dragon to arrive as the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
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