Time For The Playoffs
[Kasey's first night in IIW can be summed up with one word. Almost. As in, he was
almost successful in claiming the Hollywood Championship, being the final man eliminated by Bam Miller. Yet Almost isn't the same as being victorious; finishing Second is not the same as being the winner. Even if many people have been impressed by him, Kasey wasn't. To him, finishing second was nothing short of a failure. A failure he wishes to correct.]
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[FADE IN]
[Kasey is currently seated atop a rose mat, inside of his hotel room. Eyes closed as he exhales, attired in a sky blue t-shirt, white/sangria pants and black "Nike" sneakers. Kaitlyn, attired in a white t-shirt, jeans and black "Converse" sneakers is standing over him. A gentle smile across her face, attempting to obtain his attention.[
You know there's a gym downstairs?[Kasey doesn't respond, instead continuing to inhale and exhale in rhythm.]
KASEY! [She states, this time almost yelling.]
[Kasey opens his eyes in shock.]
What?Did you forget? [She questions sternly.]
[He glances up at her, before placing his hands down on the mat; slowly rising to his feet.]
Forgot what? We don't have any plans...0[Kaitlyn cuts him off]
You did forget then.[Kasey has no choice except to nod solemnly, as Kaitlyn gently laughs.]
We're supposed to be meeting with Vogue for their "Sports Stars" shoot in two hours and you're here, doing yoga?Yeah... You know I like to meditate before shit like this. Gets me in the zone. [He smiles.]
It helps calm the nerves.[Kaitlyn nods.]
My dad taught you that, didn't he?[Kasey nods, laughing as he begins to roll up the mat. Kaitlyn simply laughs, remembering the same lesson her dad would teach her when she was younger. She then begins to walk toward the door, stopping about halfway between Kasey and it.]
Did you at least remember to get the shirt?Yes. Got it last night.[She smiles.]
Good. Don't forget to bring it with us. I told Antonio that I would give it to him while we were there.Okay. Is there anything else?No.[Kasey laughs, finishing rolling up the mat, before placing it back inside of its blue bag; shifting it to the wall. He then follows Kaitlyn as she walks out of the room, glancing behind at him as she does. Making sure that he locks it as they leave. Heading down the hall, Kaitlyn glances at Kasey.]
You know what this means for us, right?[Kasey smiles]
Yes. That people are finally seeing that we are the real deal. That we are the names to worry about. Just as we have been saying.[Kaitlyn laughs, shaking her head]
You and your ego. [She smiles]
I was thinking more that it meant we could possibly be in line for new modelling contracts, so I don't want to waste this chance. [She places her hand within his, glaring into his eyes. Making sure he understands.]
So, don't do any of your antics, okay?Okay. Though you're no angel, either.I'm not? [She pauses, laughing]
I don't know what you're talking about.[He playfully punches her right arm, attempting to jog her memory. Remind her of when she would show off during cheerleading practices at high school. Or try and catch his attention while at college.]
You know exactly what I'm talking about. [They reach the elevator, getting on as soon as the doors open; two men in casual clothes walk off. Brushing past them. Causing the pair to softly laugh as they side-step them, before Kaitlyn presses the basement button and the doors close.]
[FADE OUT]
[FADE IN]
[Kasey sits alone atop a blue one-seat sofa, inside of what appears to be a makeshift classroom. Similar to the ones he would frequent when he was at the University of Georgia. Attired in a black t-shirt, black tracksuit pants with red trimming and black "Nike" sneakers, he smiles.]
Bam Miller. [He takes a deep breath.]
The man who was able to eliminate me. The one who was the better man on the night, and walked away with the Hollywood championship. Who survived the battle royal. I will admit, you outlasted me. You were able to finish the job and at Mayhem, I simply didn't.[Kasey laughs, as he thinks about the words he heard Bam state earlier in the week. Words that have stuck with him, as he reclines back.]
Yes, I heard what you had to say. How you think this is because I underestimated you. How I counted you out and you proved me wrong, when that couldn't be any further from the truth. I knew what you were capable of. I knew what you could do between those ropes, but nothing about you screams superstar. Nothing about you screams that you are anything more than a man who managed to make it on the back of a chip of his shoulder.
Not a negative thing, but what happens when you don't have that chip any more? What will happen, when you step into the ring against me, having accomplished your goal of being Hollywood champion? Are you going to come with the same passion? The same energy you did when I supposedly counted you out? Or are you going to be too high on the euphorbia of winning your Super Bowl. Your World Series that you come crashing down to earth?[Kasey shrugs his shoulders, scanning the classroom. Softly sighing, he imagines being just like his Philosophy professor.]
You can talk about your story all you want. You can play the pity game and try and get people to latch onto you. Feed your ego, both from abandonment. Born from the fact you never had a father figure to look up to as a child. As such, you try to compensate for that via other means. Whether that be by brooding or your obsessive love of Miller Lite beer. That's all they are too, compensation for the father figure you lacked as a child. A means of projecting yourself onto them, so that you can hide from your insecurities. Shield yourself from having to face reality.
Something you won't be able to do this week at Mayhem. Unlike last go around, this isn't a battle royal. This isn't a case of having to focus on many eggs at once. This is like the playoffs, where all I need to worry about. All I need to focus on, is you. Sadly for you, that means that you won't be able to run. You won't be able to hide and claim you have nothing to prove to me. That you have already beaten me. For that was merely the regular season. Irrelevant. Scratched off the record.[Kasey laughs, as he slides forward. Continuing to scan the classroom, he rises and makes his way over to the blackboard. Picking up a piece of chalk and writing a single word on its surface. That word being "Playoffs".]
The time to prove you are the real deal. That you can back up what you stated. That you truly have what it takes to rise, comes at Mayhem. When you step into that ring against me and have no choice but to man up. To prove that you weren't just a one hit wonder. That you will again ensure that I am denied the Hollywood title. A title that we both know will be around my waist soon enough. As soon as Mayhem concludes, you will realize that regular season Kasey and playoff Kasey are two different animals. That even if you may have beaten me last time out, this time is a whole new ballgame. One that I don't plan on losing. So, I suggest you keep that belt warm for me, because I plan on collecting it at Mayhem.[Turning back around, he laughs as he slowly begins to make his way out of the classroom. His lesson sent loud and clear.]
It's only a matter of time.[Opening the door, he walks out. Smiling as he makes his way into the hall, ensuring that people realize he isn't about to mess around. That one on one, he
knows Bam can't beat him.]
[FADE OUT]
[FADE IN]
[Kasey enters the VOID nightclub, the usual hunting grounds of his girlfriend, alone. Attired in the same clothing he wore earlier in the day at the classroom and a smile on his face. Just like Kaitlyn, Kasey likes to unwind. Take his mind off everything, but he's actually here on business. It is here, that he agreed to meet up with a man who referred to himself as Isiah on the phone. Looking around, he notices a man attired in a wine red t-shirt, jeans and white/red "Adidas" sneakers at the bar. Sipping on some Coors and calmly begins to make his way over.]
Are you Isiah?[The man looks up from his drink]
Depends. [He comments, surveying Kasey]
Are you Kasey Miles?[Kasey nods, sitting down in the vacant seat next to Isiah]
Yes.Then yes. I am Isiah.[Kasey laughs, as Isiah takes another sip of his drink.]
What was the deal you want to talk about?It's an... opportunity, one could say. One you would be remiss not to take.[Kasey rolls his eyes, having heard this spiel before. Especially when it appeared he was looking to go down the NFL route.]
What kind of deal? [He repeats, awaiting an answer.]
I don't want you to think you can run me through the wringer.[Isiah shakes his head, slightly pushing his glass aside. Staring into Kasey's eyes.]
I'm aware. I've done my research on you, Mr. Miles. Trust me, this deal is something you don't want to miss out on.[Kasey, now impatient, stares back.]
So, what kind of deal is it?It's a business arrangement. I want to be your financial consultant.[Kasey hesitates. He already has an agent back in Atlanta, and Kaitlyn deals with their finances. Something Isiah likely knew, but having another set of eyes can't hurt.]
So, are you in? [He asks, noticing Kasey's silence]
You don't have to answer now, but I will give you my business card if you want ro talk further. [He smiles]
If I were you, I'd accept.[Kasey takes this into consideration]
I'll get back to you.[Isiah slides Kasey the card, before the bartended begins to make his way over. Having noticed Kasey arriving, and knowing that if he is anything like Kaitlyn, he'd probably order more than a few beers.]
[FADE OUT]