Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2016 11:06:50 GMT
"Smoothies"
Zack Knight and Sammi Myers
(Co-Written by the both of us)
We open up inside of an Italian restaraunt as Zachary Knight is sitting at the table. He and Sammi Myers had decided to grab dinner together, and not wanting to be too forward, he said to meet him there. They had decided to meet a seven in the evening, but being the anxious person Zachary could be, he had arrived at six thirty. The clock ticks and ticks as he sips on some water and begins to fill up on bread awaiting her arrival. He sees the front door open up as he raises his chin to look and see if it is her.
Sammi had decided to research the restaurant ahead of time and realized that her ‘all occasions’ dress wasn't good enough. Michelle had come to her rescue with a pretty red halter that cut off at her knees. She liked the way the skirt twirled when she walked.
Michelle had even taken the liberty of curling her hair and applying some makeup. She felt like a princess.
When she enters the restaurant the hostess shows her to the table where Zach is sitting. Noticing the half full glass of water and the empty bread basket she frowns.
“Am I late? I thought you said seven.”
“No, No. Not at all.”
He stands up, and pulls her chair out for her.
“I was just early. My flight got in early, I just have a habit of being earlier than needed.”
He smiles at her. She sits as he pushes the chair in for her. He takes a seat across from her.
"I wasn’t sure if you were going to let me take you to dinner; I was sort of a dick to you before.”
He wrinkles his lips.
“But I owe you for showing me some of the truths; it has put a lot into perspective for me.”
The server brings Sammi a menu.
“Well I dunno what kinda girls you know, but I don’t expect to be rewarded for being a good person and doing the right thing. “
She offers him a genuine smile and then looks at the menu items.
“The reviews on the the chicken Parmesan was really good.”
“No, it was more of an olive branch from me to you. I’ve recently discovered that Delia…”
He clears his throat.
“My mother… has not been the most honest with me. So yes, it is something new for me. And I appreciate it.”
He smiles at her.
“Chicken parm sounds good to me.”
He looks at the server.
“Two of them, please.”
She reaches across the table to squeeze his hand.
“I’m sorry. It's totes-ily hard when someone you trust betrays you, especially when it's your mom. I hope you both sort it all out and can move past it all.”
He shrugs.
“So I saw that you didn’t do so well last Vendetta either; I am pulling for you though. Your, uh… positivity? It’s refreshing actually. You feel quite honest. And feel so real. And it is nice.”
He takes a drink of his water.
“Keep your head up. You are awesome.”
She pulls her hand back, and smiles.
“Thankies. I’ll get ‘em this week, I know it.”
He loved her resilience.
“So when I dropped you off at that guy’s house. What was his name? Mike? Moe? How long have you known him?”
He get’s Matt’s name wrong on purpose.
“Matty.” She giggles. “Silly Zachie. and it's been a year or so. He offered to finish my training when Cillian died.”
The expression on her face changes and it's obvious that she is still very much affected by his death even a year later.
This time he reaches across the table, placing his hand on hers.
“Well Matt has done a great job. You are a talent; someone that can be the face of RSW… I mean, if you can get by me.”
He smiles, the server brings their salads.
“I’m not here to be the face, I just want to fly.”
She takes a bite of her salad.
“I just really enjoy this.”
“Wrestling? Or the salad?”
He smiles, taking a bite of his salad as well.
“Wrestling. You are silly, aren't you?”
She gives him a toothy grin.
“I can’t say that I’ve ever been described as silly.”
He takes a bite of a green pepper as it crunches.
“So how about, since we are going to be friends, you tell me about yourself some. What made you go to my grandfather to train?”
“Well, it's not the most interesting story. I went to do an errand for my gram when I was 13. On my way back, I walked by your grandfather’s gym and saw someone dive off the ropes executing a perfect swanton. I couldn't look away. I was awestruck. After that, I asked everyday if I could become a wrestler and everyday my Gram said no. But I stopped and watched everyday too. When I turned 17 and passed my GED Gram finally said yes. So I walked in, introduced myself and then endured Cillian’s gruelling try-out.”
“GED? Did you not go to high school? You seem quite smart.”
He was unsure as why she would not finish high school.
“I never went to school at all. My Gram taught me at home. But I finished everything a year earlier than my peers. My Gram was a high school principal for nearly thirty years before my grandfather left.”
He is astonished.
“Wow. That is pretty awesome. But didn’t you miss out on prom? Homecoming? Boyfriends?”
He smirks towards her, finishing his salad and moving the plate to the side.
“Well look at it this way, when a man that has been blind his whole life if he envies those than can see, he replies with, ‘How can I miss something I never had to begin with. So like him, I suppose since I didn't really know about those things, I didn't have the opportunity to miss it.”
She smiles, as she pushes her empty plate.
“Well I guess that makes sense. Surely you’ve had boyfriends though. Is it weird watching them go to school and you not? Or them going to dances?”
The server comes and takes their plates, refilling their glasses of water.
Sammi instantly blushes.
“I’ve never had a boyfriend.”
He stops for a minute.
“Wait. Really?”
He sits up straight.
“Well I guess you probably just had other things on your mind; training and all. You heartbreaker.”
He smiles at her.
“So do you still live with your gram, then?”
Sammi welcomes the change of subject.
“Yes, since I was three.”
“Do you get out much? Hang out with friends or whatever? Some time to yourself?”
“Michelle and I hang out a lot, she's my very best friend and Matty too. He takes me to all these really interesting places like museums. Other than them and my Gram, only real family I have. And when I'm alone and not training, I'm reading. I hope that when wrestling is too much for me I can work in an animal hospital. In January I’m starting a course through night school.”
She takes a sip of her ice water a little too quickly.
“Well aren’t you motivated.”
He smiles.
“Where are your mom and dad?”
He asks, not knowing anything about her past.
“We were in a very bad crash. The driver was sick, ran us off the road. My father died instantly but me and my mom we're thrown from the vehicle. But her injuries were too bad.”
He gulps, and breathes deep.
“I’m…. I’m so sorry.”
He doesn’t know what quite to say, a long pause becomes almost awkward.
“I… you are so brave.”
He again caresses her hand. The server arrives with their food, helping to stop the awkwardness.
“I was only three so wasn't brave I was fortunate. I only had a broken arm. I guess being so young when it happened, it's hard to mourn them. I don't have very many memories of them.”
She looks at her plate.
“I sometimes feel guilty about that. I should remember and miss them but I look at pictures and it's like when you look at pictures of distant relatives and wonder what they were like.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to touch on such a subject...:”
He grabs a fork and knife.
“This is the first dinner I’ve had where I am not being scolded. So I think it’s going pretty well.”
He chuckles a bit to her.
“I’m sorry. Dinners with family shouldn't be stressful. Maybe you just need some space.”
He shrugs.
“It is what it is. Since my dad died, stress has been like breakfast to me. Every morning. And it fills me up.”
He bites into the chicken parm.
“I am enjoying getting to know you though.”
He finds himself looking at her for too long.
Sammi is oblivious to his staring.
“I’m sorry about your dad. I bet he was a great guy.”
She starts digging in, enjoying it immensely.
“He was. He is who made me the man that I am. And the man that I again want to me. And that is a part of why I wanted to have dinner. To show you that I am not that asshole that some people think I am. I just… I was pushed to be something that I am not. And I am done with that.”
He takes another bite. Enjoying the food as well.
“So what are your plans for tonight?”
“Well I am staying with Matty while here in California. He mentioned watching a movie tonight.”
She smiles and then slurps a noodle. A playful glint in her eyes as she does it.
“Oh.”
He doesn’t say much more.
“That sounds… fun.”
Zachary is obviously let down, hoping to spend time more time with her.
“Maybe we can work out inside of the ring sometime? See what my grandfather taught you.”
He looked at her, flashing a side smirk.
“Oh of course. Anytime.”
The two of them continue to eat their food and finish it off. Some friendly banter between them. Once Zachary finishes his plate, he moves it to the side.
“That was amazing. I am glad that I ordered it.”
He looks around, and checks the time. Nine thirty.
“Wow. We’ve been talking forever. I’ve… enjoyed it.”
She smiles shyly, something that seems out of place for the friendly girl.
“Well I'm glad. See, I'm not faking anything like so many people think I am. I'm glad that you believe me but on the other hand, I’m sorry that it put a wedge in your relationship with your mom. But tonight was fun.”
The server comes back and inquires about dessert. Sammi politely declines and reaches for her wallet from her purse. To Zack's surprise it's a hello kitty velcro, something a child might carry. Inside though, he notices that the only plastic cards are her license and a bank card.
“No please, let me pay. I asked you to come.”
He takes his wallet out and lays down a card for the server.
“And you only showed me the truth. You didn’t do anything that was already being done by her.”
The server takes his card and goes to check them out.
“Well thank you for the company Zach. You know, you remind me of Cillian in some ways, I know it's silly but it's your eyes. Yours are the same color. Warm and inviting but on the outside you want people to think you're a tough guy so you don't let many people in. But you both let me in so easily. It's not an insult to be compared to him. He was a great man.”
She stands, pulling her purse up her shoulder.
He stands.
“Let me drive you, please? I don’t like the idea of you taking a bus.”
He grabs his keys and steps closer to her.
“Matt said he would come by and pick me up. He was at his gym and it's close by. Thank you though. I appreciate the offer.”
He looks down at the ground.
“Alright. Well I will wait until he gets here, unless he is here…”
She looks into the parking lot and then shakes her head.
“No, not yet.”
They both hang outside of the building, waiting for Matt to show up.
“So you like him, don’t you? Everytime you say his name, you turn a little red. Lucky guy.”
“Umm, well I guess. But he's not really into me. We’re just friends.”
She looks down at her borrowed shoes.
Zachary takes her hand, and sort of rubs it.
“Well he is stupid then. You are smart, talented.. And very pretty.”
The normally confident Zach seems more like a sixteen year old here.
Sammi blushes bright red, although it's hard to see in the dark. She stammers on her words.
“Th...thank you Zach.”
She smiles but seems to be avoiding looking at him directly.
Zach sees that she is avoiding looking at him. He places his hand on her cheek and looks at her.
“If he doesn’t see what a great girl you are. Any guy would be lucky enough to be able to kiss you.”
Her eyes, already big and innocent take on an even more naive quality to them.
“No guy has ever tried.” Her voice sounds different, insecure. Not at all like the Sammi that never let anyone keep her down. She likes how close he is. Admits in her head how nice his cologne smells.
“Well, maybe we should change that.”
He moves in and presses his lips to hers. Softly. Not being over zealous. He kisses her for a few seconds, and slowly pulls away to see her reaction. She seems shocked and as she opens her lips to say something, a big hand is squeezing her shoulder from behind.
“Hey Sam, ready to go?” Matt Reece isn't looking at Sammi though, his gaze is directly at Zach. “Oh you must be Zach, right? I'm Matt, but most people call me Reece.” He offers him his other hand, he gives Zach a smile. It's not hard to see that him going to the gym was a regular thing.
Zach sees Matt as he immediately stiffens up a bit.
“Yeah. Nice to meet you.”
Zach reaches out to shake his hand, being over zealous in it as a dominant sort of motion.
“Sammi and I were just waiting for you to show up, so I waited with her.”
Reece nods. “Well my Sam knows for sure how to defend herself but her heart's too big to not try to help everyone she knows.” He chuckles. “Thanks bud..”
He turns to Sammi, “Truck is just over here.”
Sammi gives Zach a shy smile. “I’ll see you soon... Zachie.”
With that she turns, running in her kitten heels to catch up to the big man.
“Bye…”
Zachary’s voice drifts off as he watches her leave with Matt. After a few seconds, Zach decides to head back towards his truck as their night comes to an end.
Before Sammi steps off the curb, she looks back just as he turns toward his own vehicle. Her hand flutters to her lips.
“You getting in Sweetie?” Matt has his door open, half hanging out to talk to her.
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Coming right now.”
With that she climbs into the cab of the truck.
Zach drives off looking at Sammi getting into Matt’s truck, in his rearview mirror.
Sammi had decided to research the restaurant ahead of time and realized that her ‘all occasions’ dress wasn't good enough. Michelle had come to her rescue with a pretty red halter that cut off at her knees. She liked the way the skirt twirled when she walked.
Michelle had even taken the liberty of curling her hair and applying some makeup. She felt like a princess.
When she enters the restaurant the hostess shows her to the table where Zach is sitting. Noticing the half full glass of water and the empty bread basket she frowns.
“Am I late? I thought you said seven.”
“No, No. Not at all.”
He stands up, and pulls her chair out for her.
“I was just early. My flight got in early, I just have a habit of being earlier than needed.”
He smiles at her. She sits as he pushes the chair in for her. He takes a seat across from her.
"I wasn’t sure if you were going to let me take you to dinner; I was sort of a dick to you before.”
He wrinkles his lips.
“But I owe you for showing me some of the truths; it has put a lot into perspective for me.”
The server brings Sammi a menu.
“Well I dunno what kinda girls you know, but I don’t expect to be rewarded for being a good person and doing the right thing. “
She offers him a genuine smile and then looks at the menu items.
“The reviews on the the chicken Parmesan was really good.”
“No, it was more of an olive branch from me to you. I’ve recently discovered that Delia…”
He clears his throat.
“My mother… has not been the most honest with me. So yes, it is something new for me. And I appreciate it.”
He smiles at her.
“Chicken parm sounds good to me.”
He looks at the server.
“Two of them, please.”
She reaches across the table to squeeze his hand.
“I’m sorry. It's totes-ily hard when someone you trust betrays you, especially when it's your mom. I hope you both sort it all out and can move past it all.”
He shrugs.
“So I saw that you didn’t do so well last Vendetta either; I am pulling for you though. Your, uh… positivity? It’s refreshing actually. You feel quite honest. And feel so real. And it is nice.”
He takes a drink of his water.
“Keep your head up. You are awesome.”
She pulls her hand back, and smiles.
“Thankies. I’ll get ‘em this week, I know it.”
He loved her resilience.
“So when I dropped you off at that guy’s house. What was his name? Mike? Moe? How long have you known him?”
He get’s Matt’s name wrong on purpose.
“Matty.” She giggles. “Silly Zachie. and it's been a year or so. He offered to finish my training when Cillian died.”
The expression on her face changes and it's obvious that she is still very much affected by his death even a year later.
This time he reaches across the table, placing his hand on hers.
“Well Matt has done a great job. You are a talent; someone that can be the face of RSW… I mean, if you can get by me.”
He smiles, the server brings their salads.
“I’m not here to be the face, I just want to fly.”
She takes a bite of her salad.
“I just really enjoy this.”
“Wrestling? Or the salad?”
He smiles, taking a bite of his salad as well.
“Wrestling. You are silly, aren't you?”
She gives him a toothy grin.
“I can’t say that I’ve ever been described as silly.”
He takes a bite of a green pepper as it crunches.
“So how about, since we are going to be friends, you tell me about yourself some. What made you go to my grandfather to train?”
“Well, it's not the most interesting story. I went to do an errand for my gram when I was 13. On my way back, I walked by your grandfather’s gym and saw someone dive off the ropes executing a perfect swanton. I couldn't look away. I was awestruck. After that, I asked everyday if I could become a wrestler and everyday my Gram said no. But I stopped and watched everyday too. When I turned 17 and passed my GED Gram finally said yes. So I walked in, introduced myself and then endured Cillian’s gruelling try-out.”
“GED? Did you not go to high school? You seem quite smart.”
He was unsure as why she would not finish high school.
“I never went to school at all. My Gram taught me at home. But I finished everything a year earlier than my peers. My Gram was a high school principal for nearly thirty years before my grandfather left.”
He is astonished.
“Wow. That is pretty awesome. But didn’t you miss out on prom? Homecoming? Boyfriends?”
He smirks towards her, finishing his salad and moving the plate to the side.
“Well look at it this way, when a man that has been blind his whole life if he envies those than can see, he replies with, ‘How can I miss something I never had to begin with. So like him, I suppose since I didn't really know about those things, I didn't have the opportunity to miss it.”
She smiles, as she pushes her empty plate.
“Well I guess that makes sense. Surely you’ve had boyfriends though. Is it weird watching them go to school and you not? Or them going to dances?”
The server comes and takes their plates, refilling their glasses of water.
Sammi instantly blushes.
“I’ve never had a boyfriend.”
He stops for a minute.
“Wait. Really?”
He sits up straight.
“Well I guess you probably just had other things on your mind; training and all. You heartbreaker.”
He smiles at her.
“So do you still live with your gram, then?”
Sammi welcomes the change of subject.
“Yes, since I was three.”
“Do you get out much? Hang out with friends or whatever? Some time to yourself?”
“Michelle and I hang out a lot, she's my very best friend and Matty too. He takes me to all these really interesting places like museums. Other than them and my Gram, only real family I have. And when I'm alone and not training, I'm reading. I hope that when wrestling is too much for me I can work in an animal hospital. In January I’m starting a course through night school.”
She takes a sip of her ice water a little too quickly.
“Well aren’t you motivated.”
He smiles.
“Where are your mom and dad?”
He asks, not knowing anything about her past.
“We were in a very bad crash. The driver was sick, ran us off the road. My father died instantly but me and my mom we're thrown from the vehicle. But her injuries were too bad.”
He gulps, and breathes deep.
“I’m…. I’m so sorry.”
He doesn’t know what quite to say, a long pause becomes almost awkward.
“I… you are so brave.”
He again caresses her hand. The server arrives with their food, helping to stop the awkwardness.
“I was only three so wasn't brave I was fortunate. I only had a broken arm. I guess being so young when it happened, it's hard to mourn them. I don't have very many memories of them.”
She looks at her plate.
“I sometimes feel guilty about that. I should remember and miss them but I look at pictures and it's like when you look at pictures of distant relatives and wonder what they were like.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to touch on such a subject...:”
He grabs a fork and knife.
“This is the first dinner I’ve had where I am not being scolded. So I think it’s going pretty well.”
He chuckles a bit to her.
“I’m sorry. Dinners with family shouldn't be stressful. Maybe you just need some space.”
He shrugs.
“It is what it is. Since my dad died, stress has been like breakfast to me. Every morning. And it fills me up.”
He bites into the chicken parm.
“I am enjoying getting to know you though.”
He finds himself looking at her for too long.
Sammi is oblivious to his staring.
“I’m sorry about your dad. I bet he was a great guy.”
She starts digging in, enjoying it immensely.
“He was. He is who made me the man that I am. And the man that I again want to me. And that is a part of why I wanted to have dinner. To show you that I am not that asshole that some people think I am. I just… I was pushed to be something that I am not. And I am done with that.”
He takes another bite. Enjoying the food as well.
“So what are your plans for tonight?”
“Well I am staying with Matty while here in California. He mentioned watching a movie tonight.”
She smiles and then slurps a noodle. A playful glint in her eyes as she does it.
“Oh.”
He doesn’t say much more.
“That sounds… fun.”
Zachary is obviously let down, hoping to spend time more time with her.
“Maybe we can work out inside of the ring sometime? See what my grandfather taught you.”
He looked at her, flashing a side smirk.
“Oh of course. Anytime.”
The two of them continue to eat their food and finish it off. Some friendly banter between them. Once Zachary finishes his plate, he moves it to the side.
“That was amazing. I am glad that I ordered it.”
He looks around, and checks the time. Nine thirty.
“Wow. We’ve been talking forever. I’ve… enjoyed it.”
She smiles shyly, something that seems out of place for the friendly girl.
“Well I'm glad. See, I'm not faking anything like so many people think I am. I'm glad that you believe me but on the other hand, I’m sorry that it put a wedge in your relationship with your mom. But tonight was fun.”
The server comes back and inquires about dessert. Sammi politely declines and reaches for her wallet from her purse. To Zack's surprise it's a hello kitty velcro, something a child might carry. Inside though, he notices that the only plastic cards are her license and a bank card.
“No please, let me pay. I asked you to come.”
He takes his wallet out and lays down a card for the server.
“And you only showed me the truth. You didn’t do anything that was already being done by her.”
The server takes his card and goes to check them out.
“Well thank you for the company Zach. You know, you remind me of Cillian in some ways, I know it's silly but it's your eyes. Yours are the same color. Warm and inviting but on the outside you want people to think you're a tough guy so you don't let many people in. But you both let me in so easily. It's not an insult to be compared to him. He was a great man.”
She stands, pulling her purse up her shoulder.
He stands.
“Let me drive you, please? I don’t like the idea of you taking a bus.”
He grabs his keys and steps closer to her.
“Matt said he would come by and pick me up. He was at his gym and it's close by. Thank you though. I appreciate the offer.”
He looks down at the ground.
“Alright. Well I will wait until he gets here, unless he is here…”
She looks into the parking lot and then shakes her head.
“No, not yet.”
They both hang outside of the building, waiting for Matt to show up.
“So you like him, don’t you? Everytime you say his name, you turn a little red. Lucky guy.”
“Umm, well I guess. But he's not really into me. We’re just friends.”
She looks down at her borrowed shoes.
Zachary takes her hand, and sort of rubs it.
“Well he is stupid then. You are smart, talented.. And very pretty.”
The normally confident Zach seems more like a sixteen year old here.
Sammi blushes bright red, although it's hard to see in the dark. She stammers on her words.
“Th...thank you Zach.”
She smiles but seems to be avoiding looking at him directly.
Zach sees that she is avoiding looking at him. He places his hand on her cheek and looks at her.
“If he doesn’t see what a great girl you are. Any guy would be lucky enough to be able to kiss you.”
Her eyes, already big and innocent take on an even more naive quality to them.
“No guy has ever tried.” Her voice sounds different, insecure. Not at all like the Sammi that never let anyone keep her down. She likes how close he is. Admits in her head how nice his cologne smells.
“Well, maybe we should change that.”
He moves in and presses his lips to hers. Softly. Not being over zealous. He kisses her for a few seconds, and slowly pulls away to see her reaction. She seems shocked and as she opens her lips to say something, a big hand is squeezing her shoulder from behind.
“Hey Sam, ready to go?” Matt Reece isn't looking at Sammi though, his gaze is directly at Zach. “Oh you must be Zach, right? I'm Matt, but most people call me Reece.” He offers him his other hand, he gives Zach a smile. It's not hard to see that him going to the gym was a regular thing.
Zach sees Matt as he immediately stiffens up a bit.
“Yeah. Nice to meet you.”
Zach reaches out to shake his hand, being over zealous in it as a dominant sort of motion.
“Sammi and I were just waiting for you to show up, so I waited with her.”
Reece nods. “Well my Sam knows for sure how to defend herself but her heart's too big to not try to help everyone she knows.” He chuckles. “Thanks bud..”
He turns to Sammi, “Truck is just over here.”
Sammi gives Zach a shy smile. “I’ll see you soon... Zachie.”
With that she turns, running in her kitten heels to catch up to the big man.
“Bye…”
Zachary’s voice drifts off as he watches her leave with Matt. After a few seconds, Zach decides to head back towards his truck as their night comes to an end.
Before Sammi steps off the curb, she looks back just as he turns toward his own vehicle. Her hand flutters to her lips.
“You getting in Sweetie?” Matt has his door open, half hanging out to talk to her.
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Coming right now.”
With that she climbs into the cab of the truck.
Zach drives off looking at Sammi getting into Matt’s truck, in his rearview mirror.
