Re-Reyesification

[OrochiGeese]

*An hour or so after the LAWL Summer SpectacuLAWLer, we see Alicia Gordon and Marie Reyes walking backstage. They turn the corner and abruptly stop as they see Grace Reyes sitting on a chair with her head down. Alicia puts her finger to her lips to signal Marie not to say anything, then she goes over to Grace.*

[Alicia:] "Hey."

*Grace looks up but doesn't respond.*

[Alicia:] "I don't even know how to react to you. I can't even be angry at you cause I'm too confused. You come to my aid against the Jiminez Sisters but then you use a chair in our match? Where's your head at?"

*Grace laughs a bit but it sounds more like a sigh*

[Grace:] "Heh...I don't even know anymore."

*Alicia frowns, takes a step forward and sees Grace doesn't move. So she pulls up a chair next to her.*

[Alicia:] "Isn't Jo Ryder supposed to be calming down that temper of yours?"

*Grace frowns*

[Grace:] "Truth. I haven't heard from her for over a year. Whatever was going on in her life got too busy to include me. I've been alone since then. But hey, if we're talking about supposed calming influences - isn't that Haley Cannon girl from OG-Joshi supposed to be doing the same for you?"

[Alicia:] "...yes"

[Grace:] "What you did to Cynthia didn't look too calm."

[Alicia:] "I guess you and I are both works in progress then. But, why hit me with the chair? You had the advantage in our match. I had wrestled longer against Iara and after your match. And you had me in trouble. Honestly, if you hadn't used the chair, I wouldn't have snapped and rallied like that."

[Grace:] "I made a mistake."

[Alicia:] "Would it have still been a mistake if I didn't rally?"

*Grace just shrugs her shoulders.*

[Alicia:] "I don't think you even wanted to use it. You didn't against Jacquelyn and you had access to a chair then. I think you just got caught up in old bad habits with me. Maybe that's what happened to me with Cynthia. Blind rage took over after what she did to Marie and I took the easy way out."

[Grace:] "Somehow I don't think you're gonna apologize to her."

*Grace laughs a bit and so does Alicia.*

[Alicia:] "No, I don't suppose I will. Not to her, at least. But to myself and the LAWL fans."

*Grace looks a bit accusingly at Alicia*

[Grace:] "Is that what you're hear for? An apology?"

*Alicia is silent for a few seconds*

[Alicia:] "Truth is, I don't even know anymore, Grace."

*Grace smirks.*

[Grace:] "So, is Marie ok?"

[Alicia:] "Why don't you ask her for yourself?

*Just then, Marie rounds the corner. Grace looks down again. Alicia gets up and Marie sits in her chair.*

[Marie:] "You haven't talked to me for a year. Or Gloria for anything but LAWL stuff. And I heard what you said about Jo. Grace, we don't want you feeling alone like this. None of us do. We just want you to talk to us and let us help you with whatever you're going through."

[Alicia:] "I was in a dark place last year, Grace. And it just got darker the more I isolated myself. If I didn't open myself back up to Marie and my friends, I'd still be there. I'm not saying it is easy, but I don't think you want violence and hatred anymore. Or else, why did you come to the ring the way you did?"

[Marie:] "You took a big step there, basically turned against your former friends and fighting them off."

[Grace:] "Truth. I don't even know the Jiminez Sisters. And Cynthia, we went our separate ways a while ago. I realized she used me even more then I used Lupe last year."

[Marie:] "So where does that leave you, now?"

*Grace shrugs*

[Grace:] "I dunno."

[Marie:] "Let me ask you this - why did you want to win tonight?"

[Grace:] "Habit. And after seeing Gloria get punked by Ruby and you lose, I had to represent our family."

[Alicia:] "Your family is known more for sticking together then winning, no offense."

*Marie smiles and playfully punches Alicia in the stomach*

[Alicia:] "Uh, not that you aren't winners - you've all been Champions, but you know what I mean."

[Marie:] "She's right, Grace. Reyes are winners but it's even more out of the ring, in our homes. You want to represent our name then you need to come back to us to do it. Listen, I'm gonna make you an offer right now. You don't have to answer right away, just please hear me out."

[Grace:] "Ok."

[Marie:] "Team with me. Not just one match, but for a while. We've never done this before, not for a long run. But let's show the world, and each other, what a unified Reyes force can be."

*Grace looks up at Alicia*

[Grace:] "You won't, like mind?"

*Alicia smiles*

[Alicia:] "I treasure my Tag Title run with Marie but now I'm after the OMG Title and I plan to win it."

[Marie:] "Grace, this isn't even about winning the A/S/L Titles, nor could we do it right away. We're not in line. This is about reclaiming family and that love for wrestling that brought both of us to LAWL in the first place. We didn't have to wrestle in our family's promotion, we did it because we wanted to. You still have that desire but it's buried. Let me help you bring it out. Let me help watch your back like a sister should."

[Grace:] "I can't believe you're doing this after what I did last year."

*Marie puts her arm around Grace's neck and kisses her on the top of her head.*

[Marie:] "That's what a big sis is for. Now come on, let's go. We have a lot of catching up to do."

*They stand up and start walking but then Marie turns around.*

[Marie:] "Leesh, you coming?"

*Alicia smiles and joins them*

[Grace:] "So uh, about the whole chair thing-"

[Alicia:] "I think I tried to break your nose last year, let's call it even."

*Grace laughs*

[Alicia:] "But you better shake my hand like I wanted after our match."

*Grace nods and shakes Alicia's hand, making eye contact this time.*

[Alicia:] "Welcome back."

[Grace:] "You too."

*The three of them walk out of the arena. Nearby, Apple Betty and Orange Julia are seen smiling.*