This sanguine coward. I’d made a quagmire of his mingled brains if I thought he were worth the trouble.

“You told her to do what?”

“She’s never done it before! She’s been the same character for so long, a change of attitude would completely throw her off her game. Kill the momentum, as it were.”

“That’s worse, you imbecile! If she rallies against the established order as a heel, she doesn’t have to care about the rules.We need her following the rules now more than ever!”

“I – I doubt she’d listen to me anyway.”

“She’d better not. Let this be a warning to you – anything else messes up, I’m cutting off your allowance.”

“Yes, Madame President.”

I hang up. I pine for the days of yore when one could slam the phone down in contempt. Luckily, Dante knows how pissed I am and that’s all that matters.

“Gwen. It’s alright. You don’t have to keep looking out for me.”

“This could ruin everything.”

“I actually think it might make it better.”

“What?”

“Yeah. If she turns, we’d definitely have a dynamic that makes me the undisputed face. Before, she had a chance to be the underdog and get big support. Now? No way she does that as a heel.”

“No. That’s all wrong.”

“Why?”

“They’ll respect her even more. She’ll bring them all together even more.”

“Why would anyone side with a heel?”

“Because they can.”

“Look, Gwen, I can take care of myself, no matter what. I am the Face that Runs the Place. You don’t have to keep protecting me.”

“It’s not you I’m trying to protect.”

It is at that precise moment that the bringer of all my migraines enters the empty classroom. I’ve known her for so long. I know the only thing on her mind is just how she will take us down.

---------------------------------------

Who the hell were those two who wanted me to sign their autographs? Some burnout and some geek were hanging out together and asked for my signature. Is that what fame feels like? Is that what unity looks like?

Oh shit. Gwen. Quick, don’t look so rattled.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Affirmative. Dante, if you please.”

“Later, GG.”

The massive champion moves off the wall, giving Gwen a peck on the cheek. He turns to leave, but Gwen grabs him and pulls him back. They share a deep kiss.

I can’t look. This bitch plays dirty.

The breeders come up for air. Dante grabs his phone off the desk and heads out.

Here we are. Me and Gwen Goro. First time since our last sleepover in middle school. Neither one of us said anything. I don’t know what she wants, but I want answers. Might as well go for the finishing move in the opening.

“What happened to you, Gwen Goro?”

Her icy demeanor stays as cold and businesswoman-like as ever. “I ask that you do not make addresses to the personal. This is strictly business.”

“You haven’t spoken to me for nearly five years and this – “

“And this is all you get. If you continue with this, I will have to leave and whatever happens with your next title match happens. Business will get me to stay.”

“Fine. So who am I defending against? Or am I going for something higher…?”

She starts to pace around the room like she’s in a gorram courtroom. Or like I’m a bleeding seal and she’s a shark.

“You know what happens to champions when they lose their titles, correct?”

“Duh. That’s why we’re required to see the guidance gremlin. We fall hard in class ranking.”

“Exactly. You fall out of the Power 25 overall and the divisional Top 15. You fall out of contention and must work your way back up.”

“Why are you reiterating this to me? If anyone knows this, it’s me.”

“You want that top spot. Do you want all the championships along the way?”

“No.”

She throws her hands up. “I was just curious if you even cared about the other champions you may ruin.”

“I’m only after one of the titles. The big one.”

“So you are after Dante.”

“I thought we sort of established that.”

She finally stops pacing, propping up beside the teacher’s desk at the head of the classroom.

“You know Dante wants to go into pre-law. It would be very difficult for him if he were to suddenly drop from one to thirty.”

Finally, she shows her hand. I don’t bite.

“That sucks. But he has almost the rest of the year. As big as his daddy’s wallet is, I don’t think he’ll have to worry.”

“So you’re doing this.”

I smile. I think she’s finally accepting my hand. “Hell yeah I am.”

“Fine. You always did know what you wanted and went right for it, didn’t you?”

“You did too, Gwen. I don’t know what happened. Please, just tell me – “

“Business.”

I’ve had many wrestling matches in my admittedly short life, but never had one against a glacier. I’m losing pretty bad.

“Whatever. Who am I defending against then?”

“No one.”

Um…okay?

“Excuse me, what?”

“You’re defending against no one this month.”

“Why? Am I that scary? Have I killed off all the competition? Am I just ‘that damn good?’”

“No. No opponent. Just wish to give you as much time ti devote to your odyssey as you desire. Do something else with all the time and without the pressure.”

She heads for the door like she’s wont the case. I’m still confused over the verdict.

“That’s…unexpected. But I have to defend this thing once every thirty days or…”

Oh no.

“…or I get stripped of the title.”

Gwen stops dead, turns, and peers over her shoulder like the shadowy dictator she is.

“I hear the theatre club is holding auditions for Antigone. It’s a tragedy about a teenage girl who dies because she won’t shut up and let things go. You’d be a shoe-in for the lead.”

Win without fighting. God. Fucking. Dammit.