Back into the Spotlight (Penelope)

[Prysm Ray]

Three wholes weeks.

It had been Three, LONG, weeks since Prysm had last even seen Penelope. Four weeks since Penelope had talked to her. Prysm was absolutely tired of it, she needed to talk to Penelope badly. She had tried to give Penelope some space to think about what had happened after the date... but that space only lasted about a week until Prysm felt that she had had enough time. Prysm felt that a whole week was surely enough to get the thoughts in one's head straight enough to have a coherent conversation with someone.

After a week, Penelope and Prysm had to wrestle each other due to an agreement made prior. The match was already in the books, Prysm felt that maybe during or after the match she could talk to he. Maybe get some sort of answer out of her as to why she had been clearly avoiding her. But that plan sure didn't work as intended. During the entire match Prysm was trying to talk to Penelope, trying to maybe see how she was doing... anything. But Penelope shrugged off every single question or attempt at communication. Prysm could tell that something was wrong with her, she didn't have the usual attitude that she did in the ring. It was even more obvious when Penelope seemingly gave up after a simple maneuver. There was no way, that Penelope should have fallen victim to it.

Prysm had hoped, that maybe after the match... that Penelope would talk to her. But again, no dice. Penelope ran back to the Xombie Skull Kicker locker room before Prysm even had a chance to stop her. The same scenario happened week after week, Penelope barricaded herself in the locker room using her sister as a body guard of sorts. No matter how much Prysm asked and pleaded with Sasha, she just wouldn't listen to reason.

Prysm had even resorted to essentially camping outside of the XSK locker room the past week. Vowing that she would get to talk to Penelope that night. However, Sasha foiled her plans again. She came out and started to talk to Prysm about just why she wanted to talk to her sister so badly. During this conversation, Penelope managed to sneak out of the locker room without Prysm even noticing. But Prysm had thought that she had finally gotten through to Sasha, after explaining what exactly happened on the date that Penelope and Prysm had together. It did certainly feel awkward to tell Penelope's big sister that she had planted a kiss on Prysm, and not the other way around this time.

Fast forward a week, and we have Prysm walking through the arena halls wearing a simple outfit. A black t-shirt with her little logo on it

as well as a pair of jeans and rainbow Converse sneakers. Slung over her shoulder, was the Hellcats championship. She wasn't infatuated with the title belt, infact it was the opposite she absolutely hated having it, it simply wasn't her. Holding a piece of metal, and bragging that she was better than everybody else? Not Prysm's style in the slightest.

Turning the corner towards the XSK locker room, Pryms half expected the hallway to be empty yet again. However, a large smile came onto Prysm's face as she saw just what awaited her in the hallway. It was Penelope, who was slamming on the XSK locker room door. Prysm could hear her voice from over here as her voice rang out, that irritated cockyness making a welcomed return to Prysm's ears.

Come on Sasha, open the door! This isn't funny you idiot! What if she shows up?!

Hearing that and only assuming who Penelope was talking about, Prysm walked up to Penelope rather quickly. Making sure to keep a little bit of distance before saying.

What if who shows up?

[Penelope Lea]

Had it been three weeks? ...eh, maybe. Penelope wasn't necessarily the kind of person to keep track of her days, and even if those twenty-one and a quarter days made it up the collective sum of three weeks, Penelope wasn't the ultimately the person who decided that a week was seven. For all she knew, it could have been an equivalent of a single day since she had last seen Prysm Ray on a distant, faraway, undiscovered planet. Okay, so maybe she was keeping track, but Penelope wouldn't admit it. Never. It wasn't her fault that she and Prysm Ray hadn't crossed paths since their previous match. A match where she was contractually obligated to perform. It was sheer happenstance that she just happened to be preoccupied by something else whenever Prysm Ray was presumably searching for her.

That assumed first time? Penelope just got new wrestling gear from her personal designer. She needed absolute privacy! You can't debut new wrestling gear to prying eyes, images leak and then that "new" wrestling gear isn't so new anymore. Just "old" news circulating around the internet, nothing a die-hard wrestling fan would grow excited for upon its in-ring debut. The second time? Penelope was absolutely emotional, unfit to make any sort of appearances to the public eye. She had just seen the final episode of Lost! After a week of burying herself within the six season drama between Jack and Kate, Penelope had felt over 4,815,162,342 different kinds of personal distress. Sadness, happiness, depression, and 4,815,162,339 other just as describable feelings plagued her young heart as ABC's hit drama touched her very, very soul to the core. THE CORE. She's had a enough, she'll make them see, why Kate Jack was so important to Penelope.

That third time? Coincidence. Prysm Ray was just too busy chatting up Penelope's older sister that she didn't even notice her. It is not Penelope's fault if Prysm's peripheral vision is blockaded by the constantly bulging biceps of Sasha Lea. Sasha wasn't a small woman, you could probably hide an entire semi-truck behind her if you really, really wanted too. Penelope, unfortunately, is like a baby chick compared to a giant semi-truck, simply a small chirp to the otherwise brassy horn of an oversized load.

Conclusion: Penelope wasn't avoiding Prysm Ray, the universe just caused massive hurricanes which disrupted their cellphone connections simultaneously. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing even in the middle. Just, nothing, at all!

Banging on the door of their locker room, Penelope Lea was ultimately on a string of misfortune. The last week wasn't kind to her, not in the slightest. Sasha Lea had discovered her secret stash of non-vegan products scattered throughout their apartment, even the M&M's she had hidden underneath Oatmeal, Penelope's cherished stuff animal which secretly hid candy for years! Then her favorite character in the hit Syfy series "Warehouse 13" died, poor Aaron Ashmore, why do his characters always have to die!? Yesterday, she took a trip to the beauty salon to get her hair trimmed and just be generally pampered by servants she only had to optionally tip. However, they cut too much! Her hair wasn't necessarily in a bob, but it was shorter than she was used too! Styled in two pig tails, Penelope looked younger than she already did, and now she was locked out of her own locker room, Sasha apparently still punishing her for sneaking in animal-based eatable goods into their apartment.

"I'm sorry, okay!? I can't be like you, I can't sit at the table and eat tasteless food three times a day. I don't even understand how you even maintain your muscle, your giant body is a complete mystery to me."

Penelope was fed with silence before she continued banging on the door.

"Please Sasha? I'll give you five dollars. Five. Canadian. Dollars. That will be five more dollars you can use to buy horrible food for our kitchen cabinets."

More silence.

"Okay, I shouldn't have said that last comment, but I've had a terrible, absolutely horrible week, being negative towards my older sister is my only luxury at the moment."

No swinging door made Penelope stomp furiously in place, as if she was suddenly six years old throwing a temper tantrum in front of her mother. Now slapping the door.

"Come on Sasha, open the door! This isn't funny you idiot! What if she shows up?"

"What if who shows up?"[/center]

Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap. That voice she had effectively avoided for twenty one and a quarter days was back in her head, and that could only mean one thing: Prysm Ray caught her. Siph Company's director had granted her a Master Ball upon saving his company from the malicious Team Rocket, and now Prysm had her eye on the prize, Penelope Lea. Shutting her eyes abruptly, Penelope took a deep breath and hoped it was just her imagination. Prysm's Ray's voice had been in her head for the last few nights, and without the emotional cushion of her M&M's, Penelope had trouble falling asleep, allowing Prysm's alluring singing voice to sing her a lullaby. Hoping it was her imagination manifesting itself under the hallway lighting, Penelope ignored it, a new agonized tone in her voice.

"How about my paycheck?"

[/center]

[Prysm Ray]

Raising an Eyebrow, Prysm was slightly confused. Paycheck? Rolling the though through her head for a few seconds, she had to assume that it was a constant stream of though by Penelope. That she was just continuing a part of her aggravation towards her sister not letting her into the locker room. She was so surprised that she had actually managed to justify it to Sasha. But then a few more seconds went by, and Penelope didn't turn around, or say anything directly to Prysm.

She's ignoring you.

Shaking her head at that, Prysm had a hope that Penelope wouldn't blatantly ignore her. No, she couldn't. Maybe she just didn't hear her... that had to be it. Prysm just must not have spoken up to the level that she thought she had, it was noisy enough in the hallway. That could have been a possibility.

Are you serious? The only noise in the hallway is her complaining and hitting the door. She MUST have heard you, but is choosing to ignore you. She has been completely avoiding you for how many weeks now, Dash?

No. Prysm just couldn't accept it. She felt something in that last kiss, there would be no possible reason to Penelope to just outright ignore her. The feelings were true or at least Prysm hoped so. The voice in her head was starting to bring on the self doubt again. Was she just not good enough for Penelope? That was the main thought rolling through her head until that weight on her shoulder reminded her otherwise as the voice in chimed.

You are good enough, you are a champion. THE Champion. Literally. Now say something else... to the point where she CAN'T ignore you.

Gulping, Prysm knew that she had to listen to the voice. She couldn't ignore it when it was giving such good suggestions. Taking a deep cleansing breath, so Penelope had to hear it, Prysm said.

So are you just going to ignore me?

She hated asking that. But the seed of doubt had been planted, from Penelope avoiding her like the plague, to now ignoring her... it was creating a sense of unworth inside of the rainbow haired champion.

[Penelope Lea]

Yes. Yes, yes, yes, and a million times, "yes." Penelope couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't allow herself to acknowledge the existence of Prysm Ray. For if she did, horrible, and terrible things just may happen, and Penelope wasn't one to bathe in such uncomfortable feelings. However, Sasha was holding her grounds, their locker room door was at the absolute end of the hallway, and she could feel the stare of Prysm Ray's eyes behind her, something an imaginary person shouldn't be physically able to do. Holding a hand up towards her forehead, as if to hide a shameful expression from her side of the door, Penelope milked every second of silence she could before she couldn't bare it any longer. Tip-toeing her left foot, she twirled a complete 180 degrees, their eyes now in direct sight of one another.

"Ignoring you? What would give you that idea? Penelope Lea doesn't ignore people, she's not the kind of person to hide from someone for twenty-one and a quarter days, that's completely ridiculous, and out of character!"

[/center]

Penelope wasn't sure why she started referring to herself in the third person. Maybe her conversations with her reflection kicked in an embarrassing habit, having practiced many different scenarios on how she would deal with the Prysm Ray situation should the conversation ever come into fruition. Her original plan was to avoid it at all costs, but every "Plan A" needs a "Plan B," and Penelope liked to prepare for both. Twirling a nervous pigtail, Penelope tried to keep herself from smiling, but was failing miserably. She couldn't contain them! Her white teeth wanted to be shown to the world!

"....but! As horrible as this sounds, I must depart from our little reunion before we could even muster up a conversation. I have to...get Sasha's ring gear from the car! She's gotten so used to not wearing it, that it has just been collecting dust in the trunk, so I have to go get it."

[/center]

Clapping her hands together, Penelope flashed a toothy smile and forcibly shut her mouth before she could allow her teeth gaze upon the lips of Prysm Ray. Why did she feel so happy around her? Penelope had avoided her, left her in the dark, and completely tried to cut her off from her life, but all her mouth wanted to do was smile like an idiot!

"Just one of those duties as a little sister, doing things the older ones are too lazy to do themselves~ Annnd I can't imagine you would want to go with me, Sasha likes to park at the edge of the parking lot, so our walk to the arena is like a little warm-up exercise routine for the events tonight. "

Snapping her fingers, Penelope pranced a couple quick steps away from her locker room door. She was hopeful that the distance would hinder Prysm's efforts to want to establish a new connection with her, hopefully distinguish any desire to have a conversation regarding the events of their date. Then, once she was out of Prysm's line of sight, maybe hide in the bathroom, cupping her knees over the toilet seat so her feet wouldn't noticeable on the ground. It was perfect, she would go on the rest of the evening worry-free, with only the possibility of the arena's custodian finding her.

"Toodles."

[/center]

[Prysm Ray]

You're not going to let her get away, are you?

Smirking, Prysm took a few quick steps in the direction Penelope was already walking. She was able to catch up relatively quickly as she then matched Penelope's stride. Prysm wasn't afraid to show her smile, which she could tell that Penelope was trying her hardest to hide. The fact that she was able to see glimpses of that smile was what gave Prysm the motivation to follow after Penelope.

I would ~love~ to accompany you to the end of the world and back. So the parking lot is quite small in comparison.

She said with that smile on her face, unwavering. She meant every word that she had just said. No fibs or small lies were present, from Prysm at least. She couldn't think of any time that she would want to lie to Penelope. She wanted to be truthful to Penelope and loyal to herself in knowing that she would never want to do that.

You're so... happy that it almost makes me sick.

Prysm smiled, that voice in her head had gotten less annoying. Instead of telling her she was always wrong or messing up... it was actually giving helpful insight and advice. It still had a slight attitude, but it was better than it used to. Thinking more about what Penelope had just said, Prysm commented softly.

Well, I guess we could use a bit of a warm-up exercise after all. Since, we do have a match tonight.

Shutting her mouth, she just kept walking with Penelope. She didn't mean for that to come out so fast... but she had went to the General Manager of Anthrax and requested to have a title match with Penelope. Since she had hoped that Penelope would utilize her rematch clause eventually... If any reason just so that Prysm could see her again. Prysm had been desperate to simply see Penelope again.

[Penelope Lea]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK. STOP! What did Prysm Ray just say? Penelope, stopping dead in her tracks, a look of a million unpleasantries evident on her face (except for her damn smile), clenched her fists and wished she had something to punch. What did she mean they had a match? Penelope never cashed in her rematch clause, and she wasn't about too, not now, not ever. It took her three weeks to come at ease with the idea that she would probably never hold the SCW Hellcats Championship again, not as long as Prysm Ray held the title. Now she was going to have get into the ring with that devious woman? Again? No, no, no. She wasn't sure if it was a championship or not, but Penelope Lea wasn't about to allow herself to physically touch Prysm Ray. Not after Prysm's confession of love, not after what happened in her car. No. No. No. No. She had hoped their match three weeks ago would have deterred any chance of Penelope Lea getting into the ring with her again. Putting on a less than stellar performance that didn't excite the crowd? Yes. Forcing bookers to never book them in a match together again? That bad.

"WHY?! OUR LAST MATCH WAS HORRIBLE!"

She didn't know why she was yelling, but it like she had absolutely no control over her actions, just reacting completely raw emotion.

"People don't want to see us fighting in the ring again! We put on a horrendous match, we might as well have been blindfolded, the match would have probably been better! Why do they want to see us face again? We lack chemistry! You watched the replay, I'm sure! You would have had a better match against a chair, just a chair!"[/center]

Allowing herself to catch a breath, Penelope turned her head away from Prysm Ray, her Hellcats Championship reflecting on Penelope's face. It was like the championship itself was taunting her as it relaxed on Prysm's shoulder. "Neenerneenerneener-ing" as it smiled, happily content with its new owner.

"Who's idiotic idea was this? We have to go change it, that can't happen. A match against me would just be an embarrassment to this company, you need a better opponent."

Reaching for Prysm's wrist, Penelope looked to want to drag her to the administrator's office.

[Prysm Ray]

Hearing Penelope putting herself down, Prysm frowned slightly. She honestly hoped that Penelope was just acting over that... Prysm felt that Penelope just wasn't trying. Not that Penelope wasn't good, or that they didn't have chemistry. Definitely not that they didn't have chemistry. No, they had something special. Prysm felt it, and she assumed that Penelope felt it too.

Maybe she doesn't Dash... you have to keep that in mind.

As the voice brought to light Prysm's fear, she gulped. Seeing Penelope move her arm, Prysm looked down and noticed that her hand was open moving towards her wrist. Making a split second reaction, Prysm turned her arm and clasped her hand with Penelope's. Feeling that slightly forced embrace, Prysm's doubts faded as she said with the smile glowing on her face.

It was my idiotic idea, actually.

She didn't use the same emphasis on idiotic that Penelope had, Prysm just said it matter-of-fact like. Seeing Penelope give her an odd look, Prysm knew she had to explain herself. Taking a short breath to get her thoughts in order, she started to give her point of view and describe how it went down.

After our match three weeks ago... I was nervous, to say the least. It was almost like your head just wasn't in the game. I know you can beat me, you've done it before. After that last match though...

Gulping again, she wasn't sure if she should say this next part. It could potentially open her eyes, but it could also be a step back in getting Penelope to like her. Rummaging the thoughts in her head and weighing the options she finally settles and says.

After that last match, there were rumors saying exactly the same thing you just said. That we had no chemistry in the ring, and that you weren't up to par with me.

But I know better than that. I know we can put on a great match, a potential Match of the Year candidate even. I just... I feel like you need some sort of incentive... since wrestling with me seemingly isn't enough. So, I went to Freddy Jackson and had to ask him to give you your rematch. Although he didn't seem adamant about the idea at first given the last match, he finally realized that an unhappy champion couldn't be good for ratings.

Gulping, she looked at Penelope. She was hoping for some sort of positive reaction, even though she knew to expect otherwise. Keeping the gentle grip on Penelope's hand she said.

This title meant more to you than it ever will to me. You deserve your rematch.

[Penelope Lea]

Why did you do that Penelope? Why? Why? Why? She wasn't going to touch her, the whole point was to avoid any sort of physical contact, but instead she did the opposite. Penelope was now frozen in time as Prysm cupped her hand between her own, as if they were adorned lovers, each soaking in their last breath. Pulling her head away seemed rude, but every fiber of her being was telling her to break the connection between the two of them regardless. Warmth enveloped Penelope's hand as Prysm's palms seemed to relax themselves, seemingly embracing the feeling of holding hands, a traditional symbol of boundless affection. She wasn't even sure if she should move her fingers, the feeling absolutely alien to her as she lost control of her mouth, a smile gleaming from cheek-to-cheek against the will of her fading logic.

Prysm Ray seemed to move into slow-motion as the personality within Penelope's reflection from a month ago seemed to resurface, taking over as she began to allow herself to enjoy the forced embrace of her rival's hands. Almost wanting to tickle inside wrist of Prysm Ray, just to calm the curious thoughts of what her reaction would be, Penelope decided against it. Prysm had a look of absolute seriousness on her face, but Penelope wasn't concentrating on the words being said, instead focusing on her facial movements, each minuscule of movement working together to form poetry in motion, a seamless fluidity that happily made her envious. The envy reminding her of how much she admired Prysm's effortless honesty, that no matter the situation, good to bad, she wasn't afraid to take that leap of faith, having no care for the consequences.

"... I just... I feel like you need some sort of incentive... since wrestling with me seemingly isn't enough..."

The sentence snapped her back into reality as Penelope's logic kicked itself back in. She didn't know what Prysm was talking about, it was if she zoned out during a history lesson and her instructor called upon her in class. Penelope had lost herself within a day dream, preoccupying herself with her own imagination of how Prysm would have reacted. She couldn't remember if she had ever listened to Prysm Ray laugh before, or if she had even allowed herself to pay attention to it; their moments in Prysm's car just a series of incoherent blurs prior to their second kiss. All she needed to do was sprinkle the tips of her fingers against Prysm's inner wrist, and any curiosities would be satisfied. That's all she had to do.

"Gwah, focus Penelope, focus!"

[/i]

Shaking her head, Penelope finally closed her mouth and pursed her lips, quickly dabbing them with the tip of her tongue. Some sort of incentive? Wrestling with Prysm isn't enough? It was just the very idea of having to be in the ring with Prysm again that frightened her. Yes, she intentionally wrestled a terrible match against her, but not just for a single reason, but multiple ones. Penelope wasn't comfortable with how Prysm made her feel, her fearlessness seemingly contagious to the people surrounding her. It drove her mad trying to pinpoint the reasons she forced herself upon Prysm Ray a month ago, she was afraid of them. Her behavior controlled by embarrassing lustful desires, and Penelope didn't feel right allowing herself to be restrained by them.

"So, I went to Freddy Jackson and had to ask him to give you your rematch. Although he didn't seem adamant about the idea at first given the last match, he finally realized that an unhappy champion couldn't be good for ratings."

That's right, how could she had allowed herself to forget? This conversation was about their upcoming match tonight! But unhappy? Penelope had been so enamored by her own feelings, trying to piece them together, she never took into consideration Prysm's. Was Penelope the reason she was unhappy? Did other people know? Could other people tell? She could only imagine how Prysm must have felt after that night, to kissed by the person you love, and then thrown away, like it didn't mean anything. But it did mean something, it had to mean something, otherwise, why would Penelope be acting the way she was? This was all Penelope's fault, there couldn't be any other reason, she had selfishly avoided Prysm Ray's feelings to figure out her own, and she still didn't know how she felt.

"Even worse, did I do that intentionally? Am I that horrible of a person?"

[/i]

Both women gulped simultaneously.

"This Prysm title I'm meant really more really to sorry you I than never it meant ever to will make to you me. feel You depressed deserve you your deserve rematch. better." [/center]

Both spoke simultaneously as well, silence filling the hallway. Did Penelope hear that correctly? Was their rematch for the Hellcats Championship? The title looking as glamorous as ever, hugging the shoulder of Prysm Ray, Penelope broke their hand-holding as her embarrassment was made evident by her face. She didn't know what to do with her hands, Penelope was suddenly aware of how silly they must have looked and sounded, talking at the same time, being on the same page; their chemistry evident.

"...Did I....am I the reason you're unhappy?"

[Prysm Ray]

"...Did I....am I the reason you're unhappy?"

It rang through Prysm's head like a gunshot. Was Penelope the reason she was unhappy? Was this whole situation, making Prysm generally upset? Was it the woman who she was swooning over, the one that was making her a Debbie downer these past few weeks? Prysm simply couldn't wrap her mind around that concept.

She truly did have feelings for Penelope, she made that clear in their date. After a date like the one they had, and the reaction of Penelope in the car at the end, Prysm was expecting something solid to come out of it. But the weeks afterwards just left a void in Prysm's life. She had put herself out there, and there was no end result. There was no joyous second date, and there was no heart-shattering "No" to be had.

Dash, as much as I love this little self confusion and desire to know what's made you such a sour-puss... it's pretty clear to me.

It IS her. She IS the cause of you acting like this. But she's also the reason why you had that goofy smile on your face not long ago. She's also the reason as to why you're even still IN this company. Face it, if she wasn't here do you honestly think we would have stuck around this long? You've never had a stable job in your life.

Wanting to slap that voice, and tell it that it was wrong... Prysm couldn't. She knew it was telling the truth. It was Penelope that was the reason that she was upset. Or maybe, it was the lack of Penelope that was making her upset. She wanted to spend more time with her, and get to know her. But that didn't happen, so the depression had slightly started to settle in. Knowing what she had to say, Prysm took a small breath and said with confidence.

Penelope, honestly... I think that it wa----

But before Prysm could fully finish that statement, she was interrupted by a voice... that sheer fact infuriated the inner her.

WHO THE HELL, WOULD INTERRUPT YOU. I SWEAR, I swear Dash... let me at him.

[Freddy Jackson]

"Ladies, ladies, ladies... I've been looking all over for you two."

...That voice interrupting the two lovebirds belonged to the General Manager of SCW, Freddy Jackson. He came walking toward the two with a grin on his face that stretched from ear to ear. Why was he looking for these two? Well, he did book them for a match later tonight. However, a certain idea came to mind that should boost the ratings for tonight's shows. What was hot right now were the HellCats of SCW. They've been producing 5-star matches recently. An absolutely brutal ladder match that should have put all four involved on the shelf for weeks, but those ladies were tough. Another great match involved the tables match that gave the fans more than they had bargained for. Both of these matches had involved the Bombshells Champion, Lessien Melwasul. Freddy figured, why not try to make lightning strike three times in a row? This time, he'd put the focus on the HellCats champion and her rival. They've been known to put on a good performance in the past. He knew they had the talent to pull it off. Freddy just needed to pour a little more fuel into the fire. He stopped in front of the two women and placed his hands on his hips before continuing...

"And lucky for me, you've gathered together to make this just a little bit easier on me. Alrighty then. Now I know that I've already penciled you two in to have the rematch for the HellCats Championship later tonight... But... Something had just occurred to me while I was busy watching the monitors tonight. It's been awhile since you two had faced off and people are going to expect big things from you two in a rematch. It can't just been some regular, old singles match. Oh no. That's been done before and I know the fans want to see you two kick it up a couple of notches. So... LIGHTBULB!"

Freddy raised a hand and snapped his fingers together. He pointed to the side of his head before pointing back at the two ladies in front of him.

"An idea came to me. How could we make the HellCats Championship match something to give the fans more bang for their buck? Why not put you two to the test to see whose truly the more dominant champion? Why not make this more than just simply getting the upper hand for more than three seconds? So... Follow me on this ladies... Last Woman Standing. Genius, right? You two go out there and duke it out until only one true champion remains standing. But!"

Freddy extended his index finger straight up toward the ceiling while he paused. There was indeed a catch to this idea that was boiling inside of his mind. He'd seen these kind of matches get ugly and the last thing that SCW needed was anymore people getting injured. It was already becoming a problem with other members of the roster going out and getting hurt. Sometimes work related, sometimes not. Either way, Freddy didn't want to see anyone else becoming unable to compete in the near future.

"But, there is one catch to this stipulation... We've seen the kind of things people do in these matches in order to gain the victory. Horrible things just to make sure their opponent stay down and I'd be heartbroken to see such lovely faces like yours need bandages. So.... While this match will require you two to push yourselves to the limits and do whatever it takes in order to secure a victory over your opponent... You may NOT use any weapons in this fight. That's right. I'm putting the Disqualification rule into effect. You break that rule? We'll stop the match right then and there. There will be penalties for those who refuse to abide by that. It's one single rule. Just go out and have a good, clean fight to see who comes out on top. So, do I make myself clear ladies?"

[Prysm Ray]

WHAT?!

HE... HE DID WHAT?

What the HELL is this nonsense?! We didn't sign up for this! This is an outrage! WHAT KIND OF GENERAL MANAGER IS THIS?! He's not supposed to do stuff like this! We can't hurt Penelope enough to make her stay down for a 10 count!

But... But at least there's not going to by any weapons. I still don't like it though.

Taking a deep breath, Prysm looks at her championship then at Penelope. Then back to her title, and then up at Penelope. Then back to her title, her eyes focusing on the diamonds that encrusted the face of the belt.

What? Why the hell are you looking at the gems on the stupid piece of metal and not worrying or commenting on what just went down?!

Sighing, Prysm knew that she couldn't back her way out of this. She had asked for a match, and if he thought that this would get more ratings... then she had to go along with it. She just hoped that Penelope was okay with it. Nodding, Prysm responded to Freddy.

Of course. Nobody would want to see another Singles match.

GAAAH, WHO CARES WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE?! This is killing me, Dash, It really is. We don't need to do a Last Woman Standing match, this is outrageous. It's a terrible decision, it's horrendous!

Not wanting to deal with that voice anymore, she toned it out as she gulped. Wanting at least a little bit more time with Penelope alone, she forced a smile at Freddy and said.

Thank you for telling us, Mr. Jackson. It'll be a great match.

With another cheesy line later, the General Manager took his exit. Strutting his way down the hallway to go do something that probably didn't concern Prysm in any way. Sighing, once they were alone again in the hallway, not even giving Penelope the chance to react Prysm spoke.

I'm not going to talk about how I was feeling, or what could have possibly been the cause of it. I couldn't describe it, even if I had to put it into words anyway. But please Penelope, can I ask one thing of you? Just one thing.

It was now or never for Prysm, she had to do something to get Penelope into this match. She didn't want to risk another embarrassing match, when she knew that Penelope could put on an absolutely stellar performance. Be it on the microphone or in the ring, Prysm had faith in the young woman. Leaning in, Prysm gave Penelope a small kiss on the cheek. It wasn't as intense as the last kiss they shared, but it had more feeling behind it than their first. Letting her lips linger for a second on Penelope's soft cheek, she eventually withdrew and said softly.

Please, try your best in tonight's match. Put everything you have into it, like in our first matches. I want to see ~that~ Penelope again... not the one from our last match. If you don't want to do it for yourself... then do it for me.

After she said that, Prysm stood up straight. A calm expression on her face. She wasn't overly happy, but she wasn't sad either. She was happy to see and talk to Penelope again, but she had just wished that it was on better terms. Adjusting the strap of metal on her shoulder, she turned around and walked away. Needing to go prepare for tonight's match, and get her head straight.[/center][/color]

[Penelope Lea]

The room temperature kissed Penelope cheek as Prysm ran off with her own, leaving Penelope to try and piece together what had just happened. No matter what, seemingly their conversations couldn't end without some variation of a kiss, and as much as a portion of Penelope wanted to cover her cheek with the palm of her hand, embracing the moment of yet another lovable embrace from Prysm Ray, the latter wouldn't allow her too. They were out in the arena hallways, anyone could have seen it, it wasn't private! That alone almost brought Penelope to lapse into frustration, but she had to remind herself it wasn't inside the ring with thousands of people watching, it could have been worse. It could have been dreadful. This wasn't dreadful, the only possible spectator being Freddy Jackson...who what? Who just booked Penelope Lea into a Last Woman Standing match against Prysm Ray? Ugh, Penelope wasn't a fan of match stipulations, she cringed at the hell the other women on the roster put themselves through, just for a chance to be princess of the midcard. Penelope was in another league, she aimed to be queen, and Prysm held the championship she held most dear.

But why, why couldn't she get herself psyched up for the match? A headache brewing, Penelope massaged her forehead with her left finger tips, closing her eyes as made her way back down the hallway, hopeful that Sasha would allow her to enter their locker room and get ready for her newly scheduled Hellcats Championship match. She missed having a physical representation of her talent hugging her waist, but for some reason, a reason she was afraid to admit too, she missed the presence of Prysm Ray even more! Their conversation, nothing but a flash, and their reunion was just a duration of minutes, but that little sip was all her body needed to remember how Prysm Ray made her felt whenever she was around her. It wasn't dread, it wasn't annoyance, and it wasn't anxiety, it was anything but! Reaching her locker room door, Penelope leaned her forearm against it, her head resting upon it. She had to knock on the door, but a part of her didn't want to, a part of her was hopeful that Prysm Ray hadn't left yet, that Prysm Ray was still following her. Raising her free hand, Penelope brings it to her cheek, and covers the kiss she could still feel lingering against it.

"UGH, NO."

Before she could allow herself to smile, Penelope abruptly opened her eyes and began knocking on her locker room door again. This hallway was evil, the walk nothing but a chance to allow Penelope to reflect, and nothing good could come from that, nothing. Penelope shouldn't be happy, the Hellcats Championship wasn't around her waist, and that was the world, the key to everything.

"Open up Sasha! I need to get ready for my match!"

"With who?"

Penelope was hesitant to say, Sasha's voice muffled by the closed door.

...Prys-for the Hellcats Championship. I got bored, and decided to invoke my rematch clause."

"Interesting."

Knocking louder.

"Now will you please let me in? I need to dress into my gear."

"Well, since you said 'please,' I suppose it's alright..."

The door swung open, the fragrance of Xombie skull kicking hitting Penelope's nose immediately. Finally, a comfortable environment. Not bothering to say "thank you" Penelope broke through the barrier and gave Sasha a "thankful" hand gesture as she shut the door. Annoyance embedded onto Penelope's face as she walked towards her corner of the locker room, each new step carrying the burden of having to wrestle Prysm Ray later that night. "Please, try your best in tonight's match." Who was Prysm Ray to say that?! Penelope tried her best in every match...except for their last one, but nine times out of ten, Penelope did try her best. "Put everything you have into it, like in our first matches. I want to see that Penelope again" "That" Penelope? Did Prysm want to see a Penelope that absolutely despised her? Hated her even? Penelope wasn't sure if that was possible anymore, her emotions having gone a complete 180 from that moment Prysm's foot kissed the side of her cheek...the same cheek she kissed with her lips earlier. Feeling her face blush, Penelope quickly turned her attention to her locker door, hopeful that Sasha didn't/couldn't see it. What happened? Why did she feel this way?

"I...I...I think I like her, like her."

[/center][/size]

She felt like such a dork, using such child terminology, but the last few days had got to the point where she had to force herself to not think of Prysm Ray. Their talk earlier just exciting her, making her happy, a feeling she was afraid to feel. A feeling she had tried to avoid for three weeks, if not four. Penelope wasn't sure if she could be "that" Penelope, the Penelope that Prysm wanted to see in their match, but maybe she could be a new one. A better one. This was more than just a title match, more than a chance to regain her championship, but an opportunity to show Prysm that she maybe wasn't afraid anymore, that maybe she could allow herself to like her-like her. Blushfully smiling, Penelope picked up her wrestling boots.