Wrestling with Regret

“WHO’S NEXT!?”

A huge overly muscular bald guy with a goatee shouts from inside the ring after he just demolished a guy three weight classes below him in about a minute and a half.

“Gimmick infringement!!” Brooke shouts as she, along with the rest of the crowd, boos the guy in the ring.

You and Brooke are finally at the local arena to watch the indie wrestling show you’ve planned as your date since last week. You went here directly after the group meeting, and it’s been about a couple of hours since then. Brooke got you ringside seats, so you have an amazing view of the action. Sometimes, a little too amazing, as the action sometimes spills onto the metal barricade that separates the crowd and the wrestlers.

You’ve watched a few matches already — a tag team match where both teams were diving and flipping all over the place; a match with six guys you can only describe as a comedy match; a more technical singles match that was very grappling heavy; and finally, the match that just finished, one that included a lot of brawling and rough looking table breaking moves (at least when the table cooperated) and an abundance of chair shots. The last match was then interrupted by the Goldberg wannabe Brooke was booing, after he squashed the two guys in the ring before getting a mic to address the crowd.

Even though you remember all that, you weren’t really paying attention. As much as you’ve been looking forward to this date and this show, a part of you just isn’t into it as you would have hoped. Your brain keeps jumping from one concern to another.

‘You haven’t called mom and dad about Lainey yet’

‘Cassie’s actual dad is Becca’s dad, and their dad is trying to sabotage your relationship’

‘You have to sleep around so you can get points for a trait that’ll definitely complicate your relationships with your girlfriends’ families’

It’s weird that since you asked Brooke out, a lot has happened in your life. More importantly, Brooke was already there for most of it.

Brooke was there when Maddy had her outburst. Brooke was there when Viv had her issues with Becca. Brooke was there earlier in the afternoon when you planned out the next steps you’re going to have to take to protect your relationship from Mr. Hoffman.

So, yes, even though this date is long overdue…

… you’re wondering if you should have postponed it for another time.

It’s not like Brooke is going anywhere.

A few hours earlier…

“What’s next?” Brooke asks you specifically.

“Right now, I’m missing a few points to actually get the trait since I went on a spending spree the other day.” You confess to them.

“How many more points do you need?” Becca asks you, before you take out your phone to check.

Available points: 100 Friendship points / 100 Love points / 100 Lust points

[Advanced Trait] Family Comes First (200 Love Points and 200 Lust Points)

You inform the group that you still need 100 Love Points and 100 Lust Points to purchase the trait. Since you have 100 Friendship Points, you technically only need 50 more Love Points if you convert it.

“So you technically only need 200 more Lust Points.” Becca surmises. “Is there anyone in this group that you haven’t maxed out their Lust Score?” Becca then asks.

“Uh~, there’s you and-uh~...” You begin to say, but pause after realizing that it’s just Becca you haven’t maxed out yet. The longer you take to continue, the more they realize that you can’t actually continue to list down names.

Viv is the first one to realize this fact, as her eyes begin to dart back and forth from the screen that has Maddy’s face on it and Brooke who is across the table from her.

“Wait…” Viv exclaims in disbelief, as she tries to stifle a laugh from the realization. Viv looks at Maddy who is blushing now on the screen, while Brooke tries to remain stone-faced as everyone begins to realize what Viv already has. The knowing smiles and side eyes from the rest of the girls is what Viv’s been waiting for, apparently, as she releases a boisterous laugh.

“BAHAHAHAHA!” Viv finally lets out, as she rests her head on her left wrist on the table, while her right hand starts banging it. “You guys haven’t even slept with him yet!” Viv lets out as she continues to laugh loudly. The others can’t help but laugh now too, but not as loudly as Viv.

“I-uh… I think my mom’s calling. Just update me when—” Maddy starts saying, and it immediately gets Viv and the others to stop.

“Maddy! No! Wait! I’m sorry!” Viv says, wiping tears from her eyes from laughing. “I’m laughing with you! I swear!” Viv assures Maddy. “We all know what it feels like to have that urge… except-the-robot-amongst-us, so it’s not like we’re not laughing at ourselves too.” Viv explains to her. “Right, guys?” Viv asks the rest of the group, who immediately collect themselves before nodding to confirm Viv’s statement.

“Oh yeah~. You should see Viv when she’s maxed out, Maddy. She foams at the mouth and everything.” Stella jokes, while she makes gurgling sounds to illustrate her joke, getting Maddy to laugh and feel comfortable again.

“If I’m the only one left who hasn’t been maxed out, that means you need two new sexual partners.” Becca points out, now that everyone’s sure that Maddy’s not leaving the conversation yet.

“I volunteer Paige as tribute.” Stella chimes in jokingly.

“No.” Becca surprisingly vetoes. “I don’t disapprove of Jay dating Paige, but it’s not an efficient course of action right now.” Becca clarifies, after she sees the surprised look from Stella.

“Vivian.” Becca grabs Viv’s attention. “Will you be comfortable taking him to the Red Rum?” Becca asks her.

“Oh.” Viv reacts in surprise. Viv bites her lip, looking conflicted, before glancing towards you and a hint of a smile appears on her lips. “Yeah. I can manage.” Viv assures her.

“Why is that the more ‘efficient’ course of action?” Stella asks.

“Jay will most likely try and date Paige first. We don’t have the luxury of time to wait for them to figure out whether they’d like each other or not. The club presents an opportunity for Jay to indulge freely and farm lust points quickly.” Becca explains.

“Yeah. I get that. I’m still volunteering Paige as tribute.” Stella doubles down on her joke, getting Cassie to chuckle.

“How about we let Paige volunteer for herself when Jay asks her out?” Brooke suggests, trying to end this tangent of the conversation.

“I was only joking.” Stella says, before shrugging to show she concedes.

“When can you take him?” Becca asks, to Viv in particular.

“Uh~, I guess tomorrow night’s doable. Although, it’s pretty dead on Sundays.” Viv answers Becca. “Tonight would be better, but—” Viv starts saying, before immediately getting an awkward look on her face. She glances towards Brooke who has her eyes closed, and her arms crossed.

“Tomorrow! We’ll just do it tomorrow!” Viv corrects herself.

“No.” Brooke surprisingly reacts. “Jay and I can always date some other time. Fixing this problem is more important for the group.” Brooke proclaims, still with her eyes closed.

“But the wrestling show!” You immediately react. Brooke finally opens her eyes and gives you a smile.

“There’s always another show, Jay.” Brooke answers you. “I’m not going anywhere.” Brooke then assures you.

“Neither am I, Brooke.” Becca chimes in. “I may be away physically, but my intention to remain with all of you is not in question.” Becca announces.

“That’s not what I meant!” Brooke reacts, concerned she may have offended Becca.

“I know, Brooke. It didn’t even cross my mind that that’s what you meant.” Becca assures her. “What I’m trying to say is that you need not adjust for me. You and Jay have both been looking forward to this night, and have both made preparations to enjoy each other’s company. I cannot in good conscience get in the way of that.” Becca tells Brooke.

“As such, farming points to deal with my father can wait.” Becca declares with finality. Although, she said it with a smile, looking towards Brooke. Brooke returns Becca’s smile before glancing back towards you.

“Okay, lover boy. It’s your call.” Brooke looks at you.

“What do you wanna do?”

Back at the present…

“What do you wanna do, Jay?” Brooke asks, making you glance back towards her. Brooke’s looking at you with a curious smile. You finally notice that people around you are leaving their seats towards the exits, and a bunch of guys in black shirts are cleaning the ring to remove the thumbtacks, tables, and chairs that were left from the previous match.

“Is the show over?” You ask Brooke in surprise.

“What?” Brooke asks with a laugh.

“Oh-uh~, why is everyone leaving?” You ask her, before you glance back towards the empty ring. Brooke can’t help but laugh at your question.

“What?” You ask her, chuckling now too.

“A lot on your mind, I take it?” Brooke asks you.

“What makes you say that?” You ask her innocently; even though you’re pretty sure she’s asking about how you have no idea what’s going on with the show.

“Well~, the entire crowd just popped after Jeriah just answered Aion’s callout to have a match later tonight for the belt, and you reacted like a guy who’s sleeping with his eyes open.” Brooke teases you.

“The who and the what now?” You ask her, genuinely confused.

“The champ just answered knockoff Goldberg’s callout for a match.” Brooke rephrases.

“Oh! Oh, I’m sorry! Yeah, you’re right. I completely missed that.” You embarrassingly admit.

“I figured.” Brooke says, still with a polite smile.

“So, what’s on your mind?” Brooke repeats her question.

“Are you regretting not postponing this date so you could focus on much more important things?” Brooke asks half-jokingly, as she says it with a chuckle, but you notice that there’s also a worry in her eyes.

You asshole.