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[color=darkgray]In the power rankings of Tara’s emotions at that moment, anger and resentment were quickly being pushed down in favor of horror and despair. As Willow struggled to get out the news that not only did the marriage not go well, it was over, she immediately was horrified at the way she flippantly referenced the wedding. As her high school bestie quickly finished her drink and beat a hasty retreat from the bar, Rocky tried to call out to her. [color=217633]“Willow, wait…”[/color] It was way too late for that though, as Willow followed through on her actions and headed over to who Tara believed was Grace Pruett. It was hard to remember, especially since there were bigger things to worry about.

It was enough to send Tara straight to her requested bottle of Jameson with reckless abandon. She screwed off the top of the bottle and took a big gulp to try and steady herself after what she had just done. She looked over at Allison and commented, [color=217633]“Fuck, I can’t believe we just did that…”[/color]

Yikes. Allison nearly choked on her drink as she heard Willow reveal what became of the wedding she attended. To hear such an unfortunate end to what was supposed to be cherished and happy event was rather tragic for Allison. She couldn’t help but feel secondhand embarrassment and shame for bringing up such a touchy subject. By the time Allison stopped coughing and drowning on mojito, Willow had ran off and it was just her and Tara.

Allison glanced over to Tara, and she felt what she was doing with the Jameson. If she didn’t still have mojito to drink, she honestly would’ve taken a large sip of it herself. Nothing could’ve made this situation any more disastrous. Allison shook her head, sighing. [color=pink]”Tell me about it…[/color] Allison sipped on her mojito some more, [color=pink]”I can’t believe that fucking clown tried to [i]apologize[/i] to us. Can you imagine? Walk up after ten years like it’s [b][i]nothing[/i][/b]. Yeah, it’s been ten years, but holy shit…”[/color]

That comment was enough to bring the resentment back up to the surface as Tara took another swig of the water of life. [color=217633]“I… I don’t even know what that was supposed to be. At least I know what it attempted to be. It’s a shame it just didn’t work. And then completely turned to garbage. I mean, you would think, you would hope, that getting popped in the face would knock some sense into someone, but he still sounds like that same stupid kid who would chase Amanda’s tail to the end of the earth and then off it.”[/color] She shook her head. [color=217633]“He just added an undeserved heap of smug self-satisfaction on top of it.”[/color]

[color=pink]”All that… for what?”[/color] Allison mused, [color=pink]”A drop of clout? Fuck, Tara, I wish you popped him. You might get kicked out but honestly? [i]It’d be worth it.[/i] I’d do it myself, but I don’t know how to punch nearly as hard as you do.”[/color] Allison shrugged, sipping on more of her mojito, [color=pink]”You’d think someone with parents like mine would be better at punching people.”[/color]

When Allison talked about Tara’s combat skills, the O’Leary woman knew exactly how Willow felt when Lucas came up. It was a punch to the gut, much like it was when Grayson brought it up in the first place. Or even when she brought it up a moment ago. The fact that nothing had come of it. The failed dream that she was reminded of basically every day at work. It was good work. Definitely funded this trip pretty well. But it was still that constant example of what she couldn’t be. Shit, even Tsunami was still going at it in her 50s and she couldn’t get a sniff at 27.

Another pull at the bottle of whiskey came quickly. It was not going to last very long at this rate. [color=217633]“Like I said, Allison, I don’t punch people anymore,”[/color] Tara glumly admitted. [color=217633]“Barely even fake punch people. I don’t have it in me. People don’t seem to think I have it in me. Except here apparently. Fucking Amanda. Fucking...everything. Fucking hell. I’m such a damn screw up, Ally. The only thing I can actually do anymore is fix it so your moms can keep punching people. And even that, I’m pretty sure can be done by someone else. I just… fuck, I knew this was gonna happen. I don’t know why I came here.”[/color] 

Listening to Tara suddenly start spewing a whole lot of sad, Allison squinted. How much did she have to drink? It couldn’t be [i]that[/i] much. Why was Tara already so sad? Allison didn’t like it. Allison felt that Tara really had no reason to whine at all, considering it was the first few hours into this event, but she was a little more sober than Tara was at the moment. Maybe with a few more drinks in her, that would change for Allison as well. [color=pink]”You’re [i]really[/i] going to let that asshole ruin the reunion for you?”[/color] Allison sighed, [color=pink]”Don’t get in your feelings just because of what one dude caused. Fuck that. You’re better than this.”[/color]

[color=217633]“It’s not just him, Ally,”[/color] Tara confided in her drinking buddy. [color=217633]“It just seems like it’s everything, and I don’t know. I mean, shit, look at me. I’m so far from everything now. So far from what I fought for, I don’t even know myself anymore. Like shit, when did I start philosophizing this much about my own life? That’s the state of me now! It just, I don’t know. It makes me feel like I have nothing, and then there’s a shot at getting at least something back, and of course I wreck it. Because that’s what I do. I wreck stuff.”[/color] If Disney heard Tara’s speech, they might have sued her for copyright infringement, but they wouldn’t have had much of a case. Probably. This did seem to be a uniquely Tara problem.

Allison tilted her head in confusion. Where was this coming from? How did Tara’s mood tank so hard? Hell, a few minutes ago, she was happy and giddy as she can be. But now it was rather weird to witness. [color=pink]”How much have you had to drink?”[/color] Allison asked, [color=pink]”Because a few minutes ago you were just fine. There’s a reason why you’re the one working on my moms and not some jackass out of some other place. There’s a reason it’s [i]you[/i], and it ain’t me. You got more going for you than you think, Tara.”[/color]
At least Tara wasn’t crying. She had trained herself a long time ago to avoid tears whenever possible, and if nothing else, it was saving her from looking even more like a mess now. Of course, this was still another fine situation she had gotten herself into. Allison was pretty low on the list of people she thought she would be having this conversation with, through no fault of her own. It was just a lot of gut punches adding up and Ms. Bentley-Song happened to be the one in her corner. [color=217633]“I’m sorry, Ally. I shouldn’t be unloading all this on you. This isn’t your battle. Although I appreciate the pep talk.”[/color] Another sip of whiskey hit her tongue. [color=217633]“I just, I dunno. Maybe it is the booze. I did come out here pretty early.”[/color]

Allison put a hand on Tara’s shoulder and squeezed a bit, trying to comfort her. That was what people did to comfort people, right? Allison wasn’t good at that sort of thing, but she saw people do it. It must’ve worked, right? But it wasn’t like she was just going to let Tara be miserable by herself. It was like they always said. Misery loves company. [color=pink]”Nah, it’s fine. It happens.”[/color] Allison said, before glancing at the bottle. [color=pink]”Mind if I take a swig too? I’m not letting you drink all that by yourself.”[/color]

[color=217633]“Be my guest,”[/color] Tara replied as she handed Allison the bottle. [color=217633]“So anyway, how are you doing? I mean, Tsunami has been talking you up. I know you’re doing the doctor thing too. I mean, fancier than mine, but whatever. Shit, I should make people call me Dr. TKO. That’s a hell of a wrestling name…”[/color]

Allison smiled and took the bottle, [color=pink]”Thanks!”[/color] The doctor took a large swig out of the bottle, before putting it back on the counter. She had to think about the answer to Tara’s question, because she wanted to word it in a way that didn’t make her come off as entirely arrogant. [color=pink]”Me? I’m doing alright. I’m surprised my mom still talks about me though. I thought she’d be too busy throwing people off a cage or something. But yeah, yeah, I’m doing the doctor thing. They call me Dr. Bentley-Song now, actually.”[/color] Allison mused over the Dr. TKO name, smiling to herself, [color=pink]”You should make them call you that. My mom would looove that. How are you doing in that avenue, or… just in general?”[/color]

Tara shrugged. [color=217633]“Can’t be throwing people of cages when you’re on the therapist’s table. So we talk.”[/color] The second Allison put the bottle back down on the table, Tara reclaimed it as her own. [color=217633]“Like I said, it hasn’t been great. I can’t even get looks at freaking NXT anymore. They haven’t even let me come to the ring as an acting therapist in months.”[/color] She tossed her flowing locks forward with her free hand.  [color=217633]“I’m growing my freaking hair out for them, Ally! I didn’t even know it got this wavy all the way down! Just, I dunno. I think it’s done. Maybe I should find someone to pump a baby in me or something, I dunno.”[/color]

[color=pink]”Girl, what?! They’re not letting you outside? What?!”[/color] Allison was bewildered with this news, [color=pink]”There’s no way that should be happening. My mom loves you! She should be getting you more involved… especially if they’re making you grow your hair out.”[/color] Allison grimaced, [color=pink]”I should talk to her.”[/color]

[color=217633]“I mean… the hair thing might have been my idea,”[/color] Tara sheepishly admitted. [color=217633]“If they want fucking pretty girls, I can try to give them that. But yeah, I dunno. If you want to talk to her, that would be cool. Just, don’t tell her I got all mushy and shit, OK?”[/color]

[color=pink]”Why not? I’ve been mushy with my mom hella times. She doesn’t give a shit!”[/color] Allison mused, [color=pink]”Does she even know you’re here?”[/color]

Tara shook her head no and added another sip to her tally. [color=217633]“I wasn’t even gonna come until Tessa told me she had dresses and shit and she talked me into it. I guess this chat makes it worth it though,”[/color] she told Allison as she waived her hand between the two of them to indicate it was this chat she was talking about. [color=217633]“Fuck, we should probably have done this more, Ally! When the fuck did you get good at talking and shit?”[/color]

The mention of Tessa was a rather sore subject at the moment, considering she’d just accused Allison of being an addy-head in high school. But, she needed to trek on. This was far better than standing in the corner and sipping on whatever. [color=pink]”Me? I had to learn how to talk to people, being a doctor and all. You don’t really get anywhere by being all quiet and shit.”[/color] Allison shrugged, [color=pink]”Believe me, I’m still awful at it, I just know what to say...[/color] Allison took another swig of whiskey once Tara was done with it, [color=pink]”Have you kept in contact with anyone else after high school?”[/color]

Once again, Tara nodded in the negative, but she quickly amended herself as she nodded towards the reunited King’s Men. [color=217633]“Brent, a couple times. He’ll come up for like cardio and shit, so that’s a hang. But other than that, nothing. Most people dropped me off their radar after the prom punchout, and most other people after Wills’ wedding… including you, I guess. Sorry bout that, Ally.”[/color]

[color=pink]”Brent? I bought a car from him! So that’s why he looks… better”[/color] Allison laughed, before remembering that time Tara kicked Grayson’s ass. [color=pink]”OH YEAH. I totally forgot you kicked that dude’s ass! Imagine that… being knocked out by TKO... couldn’t be me.”[/color]

Tara shrugged. [color=217633]“We all had our strengths, girl. You were smart as fuck, and I just… punched people. Should just put that on my Tinder bio, I guess. ‘My idea of a first date? Punching out your ex.’ I’d probably get some hits then, huh?”[/color]

[color=pink]”Nothing wrong with punching some people.”[/color] Allison sipped some more whiskey, totally oblivious to how much she was taking in, [color=pink]”Some people are into that. Getting their ass kicked by a woman. I know I am…”[/color]

It was a good thing Tara wasn’t taking another shot of whiskey at that point because she was liable to have coated the bar floor with the spittake she would have done. [color=217633][i]Is fucking Ally into BDSM shit? Or is this just like, the wrestling family shit?[/i][/color] There was a lot of alcohol coursing through her at this point. Both of them, it had to be. The Jameson bottle looked like it was going to be down for the count soon. [color=217633][i]I...is it the bullying thing? Fucking hell… You think you know a person...But what do I say to this?[/i][/color] Tara thought for a second before measuring up, as best she could in her current state, what she was gonna say. [color=217633]“Um...I…”[/color] Apparently she needed a few more seconds. [color=217633]“I hope you can find someone to do that for you, Ally. I think, if that’s what you’re getting at. I just, I don’t do that anymore. Like I said.”[/color] Tara started looking around. Air was sounding like a good idea.

[color=pink]”I was [i]kidding[/i], Tara.”[/color] Allison laughed, [color=pink]”You thought I was being serious? Damn, Tara! I can joke around too, y’know.”[/color] Allison wasn’t completely kidding, but that was something Tara didn’t need to know. [color=pink]”I don’t have time to even think about those things… you think I have time for that with med school?”[/color]

Tara breathed out a sigh of relief as Allison admitted to the joke. [color=217633]“Fuck, you had me going for a sec, Ally!”[/color] she laughed. [color=217633]“I mean, I guess that makes sense.I know I barely had time for anyone during med school. But hey, if you still want it later, just wait until I forget that joke and insult my mother, you’ll totally get it!”[/color] She continued to laugh. Somehow, Allison had snapped Tara back into a somewhat blissful state of denial about all her current problems. [color=217633] “Fuck, OK, I might need to slow down. Back to the mojitos for me!”[/color]

[color=pink]”Why would I insult your mother? I’m sure she’s a very, very nice lady.”[/color] Allison smiled, glancing over at the bottle, which was somehow empty already, [color=pink]”I think… that’s a good idea… we burned through that bottle… Jesus Christ, Tara.”[/color]

Tara shrugged as she motioned for Rudy to come over, and by pointing at Allison’s glass confirmed that she was back on the bar special.[/color]