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It has been an eventful past couple of weeks for Jake Starr, and that includes professional and personal lives. From the Chamber Match, to becoming a dual champion, to now being a single champion, coupled with the ongoing issues with Tommy and his daughter's schooling, Jake has been having a full plate of things to deal with, and he isn't alone in that, either.
After cooking and enjoying a meal at home with his family, Jake sits on his couch simply watching some random shows on TV. Mara has already been tucked into bed, and Roeper is in the kitchen cleaning everything up. As Roeper cleans, her mind wanders about what went down the other day at the school district's Administration building. Her feelings have included a bevvy of emotions as to her thoughts on what Jake explained had gone down, each about Pepper Robinson's involvement in the long term of Mara's life. These emotions have ranged in extremes. She has seen many pros with the idea of such a figure helping to steer Mara in the right direction, but at the same time she feels there are some things about it that make her a bit uncomfortable, ultimately with the cons winning the internal struggle. As she sees Jake watching TV, she decides that it is best to finally bite the bullet and talk to him about her thoughts on the situation. She quickly wraps up the cleaning, and the putting of dishes away, and grabs herself a glass of wine to use as liquid courage. She then squnters into the living room, and gets within Jake's peripheral vision. Jake Starr: Hey hun... Roeper takes a sip of her wine before responding.
Roeper Hart: Mind if we can talk a little? Jake's eyes go wide a bit.
Jake Starr: Well that's never a good way for a conversation to begin, so, sure! Roeper lets out a little chuckle before sitting across from Jake, and putting her wine on the coffee table.
Roeper Hart: ... I... I just wanted to talk about my thoughts and concerns on something, you know? Jake looks over, and then mutes the television. He swings his feet off of the couch to give her his full attention.
Jake Starr: Alright, what's up? Roeper Hart: I want to talk about Mrs. Robinson... Jake nods.
Jake Starr: Ok... What about Pepper? Roeper's eyes go wide a bit, slightly surprised that Jake went so informal with her name.
Roeper Hart: Pepper? Wow... I didn't know that were on a first name basis with one another, now... Jake chuckles.
Jake Starr: Well, hun, that's what she told me to call her, so I just call her that. Shit, I told her to call me "Jake." Mr. Starr is just too much like my father, and more importantly, it makes me sound old! Roeper Hart: Well you do know that aging DOES happen, and someday you're going to be "Mr. Starr." Jake Starr: Yes, this is true, but that day is not today! Right now, I'm just worried about another gray hair appearing! Roeper chuckles again, but begins to steer the conversation back in the direction she was wanting it to go.
Roeper Hart: ... Now back to Pepper, I guess we're calling her... Jake Starr: Oh yeah! Right... So what's on your mind? Roeper Hart: Well, you know I'm, like, really happy that someone that Mara adores and respects feels the same way about her. I'm so glad that same someone wants to be impactful in her life, too. But something about it, lately, has really made me start to feel more and more uncomfortable. I mean, I get it... Pepper is probably a kind soul who just really cares about Mara, and wants to see her grow. But to be so adamant, out of nowhere, about wanting to be part of her life is just weird to me. Jake nods.
Jake Starr: Yeah... I get it... I really do understand that. But the thing is, I also understand her because when I was around Mara's age, I had someone like that look out for me, too. She was a student in one of my mom's classes that she taught when she wasn't on the road. One day she asked my mom to kind of take me out and around, and basically "adopted" me like a little brother. She helped me grow. She was a nice outlet where I could actually be taken places, hang out, play games, and not just be stuck at home. When it comes to Pepper... This is a woman who Mara already knows, already admires, and already trusts. She wants to see and help her grow... Roeper Hart: And yeah, I get that, Jake. I appreciate it. I really do. But like I said, something just seems weird to me. I mean, why did she just call you? Why didn't they ask for us both to be there? I've met and talked to Pepper on multiple occasions and events. Why not call me? Why just call you? Jake begins to see where her worries are lying, and does his best to try and calm her down and explain his thought process.
Jake Starr: Babe, you know that Renner and I have the history together. I truly believe that this was a move by him, toward me, as a gesture of good faith. He and I are the ones who had the beef with one another, and this was his way of coming to me in a manner that wouldn't be contentious or require a lawyer to be present. Roeper sighs.
Roeper Hart: And you know, that is all fine and good. I still don't believe everything, Jake. I still think something is awry! Jake begins to feel some frustration come over him.
Jake Starr: But why? Seriously, why? I mean why, for once, can't things be normal and good? Roeper, sensing Jake's frustration, returns with some of her own.
Roeper Hart: Call it women's intuition, Jake. Call it a hunch. Call it a gut feeling. Something just doesn't fucking feel right! I mean, you've like seen her, what, maybe once? Hell you may have never seen her in person at all, but yet she came to you? Why not come to me? Why not be honest with me? Jake, she's my daughter, too, and the fact that she still magically wanted to talk to you over talking to me makes me feel kind of weird! For crying out loud, I'm the one at most of these meetings, dealing with the pressures of being a "celebrity wife" in a community like this. But she felt you were the one who could help? Jake Starr: Roeper... Did you think that maybe she was just told to come there to simply tell her side of the story, and didn't know WHO she would be telling it to? Did you think about the possibility that Renner didn't think every minute detail out, and simply forgot to include you, or thought it didn't really matter who he included? There are a LOT of possibilities as to why this happened like it did. Roeper sighs, having not really considered that.
Roeper Hart: ... Maybe... But the fact is, something about this just doesn't sit right with me and I can't put my finger on exactly why. I know me, and I know that I am probably overreacting to the situation, but it's a gut feeling that I just can't shake. I mean, what if Pepper is using Mara, like others were, Jake? Jake chuckles.
Jake Starr: The scheme you have in your mind is just absurd. Any teacher wouldn't be moving up a grade, threatening to leave the district for another, et cetera, if she were part of some elaborate scheme. I mean, it makes no fucking sense. Roeper snaps back.
Roeper Hart: Well it does in my mind! In my mind, Pepper isn't acting normal. And that bothers me because I've ALWAYS thought she was the one bright spot. And now I'm doubting that! I mean, why wouldn't she have just told us herself? Why wouldn't she have just called us and avoided the "public" spectacle? Jake Starr: For one, I'm going to repeat the fact she may have not known what was going on, but even if she did, maybe she didn't want the whole recognition for her actions? Maybe she simply wanted to make sure Mara was happy? Roeper, face it, Mara is in a situation where she's now protected when we aren't around. And we both know how much she's ALWAYS been a fan of Pepper. And honestly, now I see why. She's out there busting her ass to make Mara's life at school as good as it can be. Mara was being bullied. She was being razzed. She was being like treated like utter shit. Now she has someone who, I believe, is firmly in her corner. She has someone who, I believe, is legitimately fighting for her well being... Roeper fires back.
Roeper Hart: But how do we know she's going to do ANY of that? How do we know she's going to fight for her at ALL?! How do we know she'll defend her when that crap happens again? We don't know her true colors. We just know what she has verbally said. What if she's part of some... Jake cuts her off before she can go back on the tirade she went on earlier.
Jake Starr: Stop! Just... Stop! It's fucking nonsense. It's bullshit. For once, I'm not questioning something, and I'm going to suggest you not either. For fuck's sake, our lawyer isn't even questioning it. And his entire job is to question EVERYTHING, and if it's not on the up and up, he's going to make sure he looks into it. If he doesn't worry about it, I don't worry about it, and you shouldn't either, if you ask me. You need to trust that others are looking at the bigger picture as well. He wouldn't have OK'ed me going alone if there was potential for this to be problematic. So he OK'ed it, and I went. I mean, I get it, you're worried, and that's normal. It's fine to be worried. But for once, I am not worried. I looked into Pepper's eyes when she was talking, and I saw legitimate honesty from her. I didn't see someone spouting bullshit to me. I... As Jake goes to continue he is interrupted when his phone, which has been sitting on the coffee table, vibrates. He picks it up and looks at the screen. His eyes go wide, and he unlocks the screen. He reads the message again, and Roeper notices the surprise on his face, and the complete derailment of his thought process.
Roeper Hart: What? What is it? Jake turns his phone around and Roeper quickly sees the contact as David Helms, and text message that is short and directly to the point.
"We need to talk..." That text message sends both into a state of silence, as Jake focus shifts to the fact that David has reached out to him to talk. Jake assumes this is related to Tommy, and his need for support in helping his friend, but he is unsure. He doesn't know how to respond immediately, and Roeper knows that this is a moment where her worry can possibly take somewhat of a back burner until she sees if her worries and concerns are merrited.
Jake Starr: When I walked into that Chamber, and subsequently walked out as a dual champion, I knew that the likelihood of being able to hold onto both straps would not be high. It's not 2009. Very few people can walk out there, garner multiple championships, and then successfully defend them. I am one of the masses who couldn't. At The Future is Now, Tommy and I walked into a fight that we did what we could to prepare for. I don't think we would have changed any of our preparations for that match against B. A. E., and because of that, I can safely say the better team won that night. Kennedy Street and Amy Chastaine both brought their best. We thought we brought ours, and they won. If it turns out we didn't, our paths will cross again, and we will be able to see what outcome our best versus their best would be. Now... If that was our best, the outcome will be the same. I always feel I can give more. I know Tommy feels the same. B. A. E. is a team that is definitely willing to give us another chance down the road, and there will be a day when we get another crack. When that happens... We will just see! So to both members of B. A. E., congrats. You both earned those championships, and there is no way I can say anything other than that you both beat Tommy and I. You two are now the hunted. You two are now the champions. You two are going to be the ones everyone is gunning for in the division, and I know you both are up for the challenge. I hope you defend those titles proudly, and let Tommy and I work our way back up to where we can take our turn to push YOU to the limits! Jake goes to move on, but pauses, and backtracks.
... I'd also like to say one thing to Amy, herself. Amy, I told you I wasn't going to make it easy on you, and if you were going to do it, you had to be at your best. You were just that... Your best! Because of that, I wanted to say one thing to you, personally... Welcome to the club. For many years, I dreamed of the day I would become one of the few who could call themselves a "Supreme Champion." That last title, for me, meant a lot. I know these championships won't be ones that mean little for you, but will be defended with pride... But the most important thing is what you achieved. You are a Supreme Champion... You are a woman who made history in 2017... That's something you should take time and be proud of. Be proud of what you've achieved, in the short amount of time you've done it in. This is the big leagues, and you, from day one, made yourself into a name NOBODY could ignore. You made yourself a force to be wreckoned with. Don't take it for granted. I made that mistake. I took that United States Championship victory for granted, and I did NOTHING thereafter. It took me three years to find my footing again. Don't be like me. Be better. Be bigger. Be who Amy Chastaine was from day one... Someone that everyone fucking feared! But now do it as someone who has etched her name into SCW stone, and done something no other woman has done. Why am I saying all of this? Because I'm a grissled old vet around these parts. I'm someone who can't really achieve much more. So I want to make sure those who hold the future of SCW in their hands don't make the same mistakes. Most importantly, this is a club that is pretty exclusive... And you earned your "jacket" and "membership card," so you deserved to be welcomed accordingly. So... Welcome, Amy... Now go kick ass, take names, and be ready for whatever challenge is thrown your way next... Jake begins to shift his focus, and having been standing there with no title belts over his shoulder, he then flips his SCW World Championship over his right shoulder, and a grin comes across his face.
... Well now that we have that out of the way, let's look ahead and talk about what's in front of Jake Starr, now, because I don't have anymore excuses or distractions to keep me from PROPERLY defending my SCW World Championship. And this is a position that I have been in twice before because in both 2009 and 2010, I walked into the End of the Year Special with the SCW World Championship around my waist. Now walking in, and walking out, are two different things because I did both. In 2009, I walked into the End of the Year Special and faced a dual challenge in Justin Davis, a guy I was very familiar with from my Adrenaline Championship reign, and the legendary, "unbeatable," superstar, simply known as Hurse. I had to defend that championship twice, and you know what, I did it. Much to many people's chagrin, Hurse didn't emerge with that title around his waist. He didn't defeat Jake Starr. Instead, I showed everyone I was EXACTLY what I claimed to be... 2010, however, things were different! In 2010, I walked in against one man. I walked in against a friend. I walked in against a, now, Hall of Famer. I walked in against David Helms. It was a matchup I didn't look forward to, but I knew I had to bring my A-game to. I brought it, and David showed the world why he was superior. I mean, shit, out of the umpteen times we squared off, I only beat him once, for fuck's sake. The guy had my number. And in 2010 he took the World Championship from around my waist, and that year ended on a sour note, for me. In a sense, it felt like the moment that derailed me for years to come. Sure, I won championships. Sure, I had successes. But that moment was the catalyst for when Jake Starr began his downward spiral. Now I'm not blaming David. I'm not accusing him. I'm not trashing him. He didn't go out there trying to make things turn south on me. We were friends. Like Tommy and I, David and I knew we could compete, and come out friends on the other side. But that moment really began to derail me, and that's why when I look at this match at the End of the Year Special, and the list of people who could be coming my way, I know I have to walk in just like I did with Justin Davis and Hurse. I can't walk in as confident as I did against David. I have to remember how it felt to fall short. I have to remember how hard and how bad I wanted to win. I have to remember what is at stake because 2017 has become a year of a Ressurgence for me. It's become a year where I've climbed back out of the doldrums, and shown the world what I can bring. It's become a year where Jake Starr is World FUCKING Champion, AGAIN! Jake smirks again.
... And it's been a year where I get to put the finishing touches on a, well for once, legitimate PAPER champion, and send him back to reality! Billy Breakdown... You're someone who I find a tad bit, insane, to be frank. You walk around with a cardboard cutout of a championship that you assume means something. It's as if you work for some YouTube channel, doing picks of who is and isn't going to win at some promotions pay-per views... But instead you're someone who, I honestly believe, believes is a World Champion. I believe you look at your flammable piece of tinder, and you believe it represents what you have accomplished. I'm sorry, fucker... That cardboard cutout means nothing! Did you "earn" it, sure, why not, but this fucking championship over my shoulder is the one that means everything. This one that has weight, and won't get blown away if someone sneezes, THAT is the real World Championship. This is what I have dripped my blood, sweat, and tears for in this organization since 2009, and it's what I was willing to DIE for, when I put myself inside that demonic structure. So for you to act like something you created in your special ed, "Hey Billy, let's not EAT the glue this time," art class, is equal to what I hold, you're crazy. And I'm going to prove it. You see, while it does disrespect me as a champion for you to galavant around and pretend you're one as well, I am someone who likes to humor others, and at times, give back to charity cases, like you, for example. So you're walking into a match with me, and you're hyping it as a "champion versus champion" match, where you're coming to take my gold. Sure... Let's hype it as that. It's far from it, but if you want to feel better about it, do so. I want you to understand that you saying that makes me look at your "title" as a prize. I see it as something that I'd happily add to my repertoire of titles won in SCW. I mean, hell, what title have I NOT tried to win? Remember, Jake Starr LOVES titles! So when I win prepare to watch that "belt" leave ringside with me. Why? Because if you want to disrespect me as a champion, I'm going to walk into the match as the World Champion, and show you what happens when you don't respect the belt itself. You don't have to like me. You don't have to agree that I'm the most deserving champion on the roster right now. But what this belt, that I hold, represents everything this company stands for. It represents those who have busted their asses to make this company the BEST company in the industry. That means I walk out there and I represent the past, the present, AND the future of SCW right now. Whoever takes it from me, then that responsibility is on them. But for your dumbass to walk around, and act like you have some "legitimate" claim to being a champion, fuck you... Fuck... You! For years I've waited to be champion again, Billy... For YEARS, I have wanted to taste this moment. Now I have it, and you basically mock it, and mock me. Uh uh... Not going to happen anymore. You walk into Breakdown, and you walk onto my lawn, and I can promise you, nobody steps on my lawn, disrespects me, and gets away unscaythed. They pay the price. They face the repercussions. They realize that when I have this title over my shoulder, I become a new person. I fight like HELL, every fucking moment of the day. Why? Because one day this reign will end, and realistically, it's probably my last time atop Mount SCW. So I want to relish it. I want to cherish it. I want to have everyone realize that I AM NOT A GODDAMN FLUKE! That's why I'm not looking past you, to the End of the Year Special. That's why I am looking directly at you. You have made a mockery of this championship by acting like some arts and crafts project is worthy of what I have put my LIFE on the line for. And that's just not right. I plan on making that statement very clear at Breakdown, too. I plan on making sure that everyone sees me for who I am, and you for who you are. I want everyone to see that when I pinned Allocco and became the World Champion, I solidified myself as one of the top guys in the business, still. I want everyone to realize the mockery you're making of something truly amazing. So bring your little toy. Bring whatever game you have. It's going to take EVERYTHING you have to somehow pull a win over Jake Starr. Face it... I'm walking out there with the plan on making you the first depiction of what a 2017 Jake Starr World Championship reign will look like. It won't be one people forget. It won't be one people question. It will simply be one that clearly differentiates the CHAMPION from the sad man playing DRESS-UP! I'm back, motherfuckers... And this is my house! Fin |
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