THE RIGHT DIRECTION
We see Angelica Brooks standing by with Nate Colton. She’s not entirely happy to see him; he’s not entirely happy to be seen. But they’ve both got a job to do, so they both plaster on their best fake smiles and get on with it.
Fortunately, nobody notices.
Angelica Brooks: Thanks, guys! I’m here with Nate Colton, who will be taking on Jonathan-Christopher Hall later tonight. Nate, you’ve had…quite the ride lately.
Nate Colton: That’s one way to say it, Ms. Brooks. I’d say it was more like falling down an elevator shaft.
She smirks, just a little, at the mental image.
Angelica Brooks: That all culminated at ReV35, when the Love Convoy assaulted you and drove you face-first through one of Hoyt Williams’ stained glass windows. How has that affected you heading into tonight’s match?
Nate Colton: Y’know, Angelica…when you’re going through bad times, you’re gonna come across two kinds of people. The first kind are the ones who honestly care about you, they want to help you back on your feet. Now, these last couple months when I felt like I didn’t have any of those…well, that was just about the dumbest thought I ever had in my life. I had a whole bunch of ‘em, but I just didn’t want to listen.
Angelica Brooks: Instead, you chose to work with the likes of Savannah Scandal.
Angelica’s eyes narrow as she says the name, and Nate winces as he hears it. He’s been doing his best to make amends, but it’s obvious that real forgiveness will take some time.
Nate Colton: Funny you bring her up, because she’s a prime example of the other kind of person. That’s the kind who’s gonna try and take advantage of you. They’ll see a guy down on his luck and their only thought is how they can use him to get theirs. Well, that’s Vickie Hall down to the bone.
Angelica Brooks: She certainly tried with you, the way she rolled out the red carpet.
Nate Colton: I gotta admit, she almost got me. When she found me in the halls at ReV33, I was probably as low as I’d ever been. The rest of PRIME had turned their backs on me, with good reason. I thought even my own family was against me. And she just swooped in, figuring she’d sweep me up and do whatever she wanted, ‘cause I was broken like the rest of her toys.
Colton shakes his head, chuckling to–or at–himself. But as easy as it would be to beat himself up over that lapse in judgment…he’s done enough of that lately, so he moves on.
Nate Colton: My head might have been all the way up my ass at the time, but I could still recognize her bullshit for what it was. And that’s why the Love Convoy…well, they did what they did, because I had the audacity to say no to Vickie.
Angelica Brooks: Which brings us to tonight.
Nate Colton: Which brings us to tonight. I’m sure the Love Convoy are expecting the same Nate Colton they left laying in Detroit two weeks ago. Well, that ain’t the Nate Colton they’re gonna get. I’ve finally got my head on straight, my mind right, and my focus on one thing–getting my career in PRIME back on track. And if that means derailing the Love Convoy…so be it.
Angelica Brooks: Strong words from the Next Diamond, ahead of what should be an intense conflict! Let’s go now to Simon Tillier, who is standing by!
Yes, let’s.