Author's note: I had a couple requests to do another Rock/Trish story, that was a few weeks ago, so those who asked, better late than never, right?
This chapter is part one of three, and most importantly, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
August 26th, 2002:
Tonight Trish Stratus walked with a purpose. She knew she was surrounded by rumors, rumors that had nothing to do with her, rumors having to do completely with her, rumors having to do with her... the Rock, and rumors having to do with the both of them.
She heard them all the time; rumors. Everyone was set on the fact that the two were having an affair, which maybe if word got back to his wife, she'd be a little upset for what Trish and Dwayne's relationship really was like, but the fact of the matter was that Trish had never had anything to do with the Peoples' Strudel.
What she and Dwayne had was simply platonic.
She could admit, well, quietly, and to herself, the twos' relationship was a bigger deal for her than him she was sure, women just have a way of getting more emotionally attached.
Trish, since The Rock's return, had saw the rumors floating around, and somewhere down, deep inside, she knew it was only a matter of time. Since the day Dwayne told her about the offer to star in an upcoming movie titled "The Scorpion King," since she saw the sparkle and excitement in his eye, she had the feeling it was only a matter of time before he was gone.
She wasn't happy about it. She was happy for him. She'd come to terms on the fact that when he left, it'd be hard, but she could get over him.
And now today, after hearing about The Rock's 'special announcement', and of course an even more so plethora of rumors, she felt Rock's time with the WWE was coming to an end.
This made Trish sad. She knew it would. She was emotionally invested in this whatever it is that she and Dwayne had, it felt like she just walked around with a knife in her stomach from the bag. That being what she chose to compare it to.
But on top of that pain, she had a knife in her back.
She felt betrayed on top of betrayed. him leaving was one thing, she knew it was coming. But him not telling her was another thing. Isn't he the man? Where was his balls?
That's what brings us back to Trish striding along the arena, head high, sway in her hips, ignoring anyone who's not Dwayne Douglas (lol, cool guy, nerdy nickname) Johnson.
She knew he'd have his own locker room, she just didn't know if he'd be in that room or not.
She finds the name plate she's been looking for and hones in on the lock, you'd think such a big star would lock his door, but he doesn't. Because he hasn't, Trish decides, he's welcoming anyone to just walk on in.
So she does, and in stereotypical mad woman fashion, she begins yelling, "why wouldn't you tell me?"
Dwayne's sitting on his couch, had been strumming his guitar until Trish's rampage, his look of shock would be funny if it weren't for the seriousness in Trish's being here. "Excuse me?" Rock asks, standing up, putting his guitar now, and not sounding to happy himself.
"You do realize who I am, right?" Trish asks, not for reassurance, but to make a point. "You know me, Trish. How dare you just brush me off like I'm somebody you've never met. If you're going to leave, why wouldn't you tell me? What was your plan, have me find out when the trailer starts showing on tv?"
Dwayne look exasperated, rubbing his temple, thinking over his words. "Trish. Things with us have been complicated lately. Hell, they always have been! I just didn't know what to say."
"How about, 'hey, Trish, you can stop watching SmackDown!. We all know you only watch because Dwayne's on there. And since he's on there you make sure you see every moment for when he's on there, and more importantly, for when he gets hurt while on there.'"
"Well, if that's what you want to hear." Rocky says, in Trish's opinion, being an asshole.
"That's not what I want to hear! That's hoping to enlighten you. I really cared about you, Dwayne. Hell, I *care* about you. It's almost as if you just threw me off to the side, and I know it's not because you slept-" realizing how many guys dump a girl after boning them, she cuts herself off, "is that it? After a while you just realized we were never gonna sleep together, and you darted!"
"Trish-god! No. I would never dump anybody because of that. You say you really care about me? Well I really care about you. Our relationship's been strained for a while now, but I've never stop caring about you. I'm starting to think I never will, either."
Trish pushes a strand of hair behind her ear, "Then why have you barely spoken to me since March? Really our relationship was weird since the beginning of 2001. But then you kind of reconciled with me around December...when we did the backstage tapings? Rock, I'm thinking that timing's not a coincidence. Were you using me to boost your career?"
"No! Why do you just come in here all of a sudden with all of your accusatory question, huh? Where did this come from?"
"Who's asking the question here, you or me? Wait, that sounded weird." Despite the heaviness of the moment, Trish laughs slightly, almost like letting air out of the balloon, the tension lessening.
Fortunately, Rock laughs a little too, almost a nervous laugh, but a relieving one for both parties.
"Trish, what are we doing?" Dwayne asks, tone gentle, realizing just how ridiculous the two were behaving.
Trish shrugs. "I don't know. We're acting just like two teenagers-or worse, Stephanie and Chris Jericho."
"I agree. I think we need to sit down and discuss this like two rational, calm adults."
The two sit down on Rock's plush couch and face each other.
Trish starts the rational, calm adult conversation, "obviously I've got a load of question for you. Do you have any for me?"
"I'd appreciate it if you'd answer what I just asked; where did all the come from. It's been building, I know, but why now?"
"I hear rumors, and I know you do too. But now, there's this 'Rock's special announcement', and you're actually over here on RAW, and you lost to Brock just last night. Rumors are running rampant."
"Rumors saying what, Trish?" Dwayne furrows his brow.
"That you're leaving. I remember you starting to get all those movie offers in 2000, and finally you agreed to "The Scorpion King" last year, and now, if you're actually leaving, it'd make sense, I mean the timing's right. Right? I mean, I'm not just pulling this out of my ass. I've thought about it."
Rock heaves a deep breath, grabbing Trish's hand. "Yes. Tonight's my last night."
Dwayne's door just became very interesting. She can't look at him now, his door's almost too painful. She knew Dwayne's exit from the company was coming, but now that she's actually facing it, it's scary. His words, him having actually admitting it, it brings a whole new depth to the subject.
"Trish," Dwayne coaxed, "look at me."
Even with her best efforts to keep them from coming, Trish can feel tears welling in her eyes and knows that if she looks, probably even if she doesn't, she's going to cry, so she just shakes her head. If she talks she may erupt into tears too.
"Yes," Dwayne says, cupping Trish's face and making her face him.
Now he's done it, she can't hold back what's inevitable, and she just closes her eyes until she hears his voice again, letting the tears flow freely.
"But I'm coming back. It's only for six months, nine at the most." Dwayne says, hoping to calm her down.
"Nine months?" Trish shouts. Her vision is hazy she's crying so hard, her words come out messy, but are audible. Dwayne wraps his arms around her, placing his head on top of hers.
She doesn't try to break his grip, sinking into him, enjoying his warmth. Dwayne just sits there, rubbing her back and letting her get it out.
After a few minutes, Trish's breath starts to even out, she sniffles a few times, "Dwayne," she laughs, a sardonic laugh, "I'm ready to look at you."
There eyes meet and again she feels the heaviness in her heart, almost making her numb. She could cry again, this time, however, she's able to fight them. "So that's why I'm in here. Our... relationship, I guess, has kind of been stagnant these past few months, well, almost these last two years, but I just hoped, I guess, you would come to me when you left."
"And maybe I should have. Definitely. I should have come to you, hell, last week. You know what I had planned to do?"
"No. You gonna tell me?"
"I was going to tell you bye after the show. Then leave. No wonder you think all these bad things about me; like I only wanted to sleep with you, or was using you for my character."
Trish waves this admittance off, "that's redundant now. Just tell me why we've been on and off. We met in 2000, when I debuted and quickly became friends, once we got too close for your like, I guess, you made this whole thing about how you have a wife and felt bad about being so close to another woman in an emotional relationship. I could see where you were coming from, I'd always been faithful to boyfriends of past times. Still we were friends, but around like February of 2001, yes, I remember these dates, you just blew me off. Always. If you did talk to me, you were curt. Then in November, Vince had us in a meeting and talked about wanting to get us together on-screen. The tension could be cut with a knife, but we agreed, I mean, Vince is kind of our boss. Then you were talking to me again not long after. I didn't say anything about how you'd cut me out, I was happy to have you back. And this went on until you were drafted in March. Then we just lost all touch. It's a lot of information to process, but what I want to know, is why the on and off?" Trish finishes, actually taking a breath afterwards.
"I, like you, have never been one to cheat, that's why I wanted us to take a step back. You were cool with it, we continued to be friends, but I felt like we got even closer. I kind of let the guilt subside, it's not like we were sleeping together, we were doing nothing wrong. At least, that's what I told myself all the time. But, in January of 2001 Dany told me she was pregnant, and that earlier guilt I'd surmounted, it came back, and with a whole new power. She was born in August and then Vince presented the idea of us working together. It was then I realized having to work with you, falling back into your friendship was inevitable." He didn't go into detail about how when they kissed for the first time, though it was for storyline purposes only, he wouldn't admit it, he'd sworn this to himself, but he knew it. He'd fallen in love with Trish Stratus.
This huge little part of the story swarmed his thoughts, but he avoided them, "Even though we didn't last long on-screen, I'd been reeled in by well, you again. When I was drafted, I just thought, we'd never keep in touch, it sucked, losing you...r friendship," he saves himself last-minute, "but it was easier to just get it over than for both of us to drag it on."
They're both silent, letting Dwayne's words sink in. Finally Trish nods and goes over to the door. "Alright. Thanks."
"Trish! Where are you going?" Dwayne asks confused, standing up himself.
"When I first came in here, I had many question and I was pissed. Now all my question are answered and I think I'm even more pissed. It's probably best I leave. I'd hate to have to hurt you."
Rock raises his eyebrows yes, eyebrows, s, plural, "hurt me?"
"Yes, you. I could deal with you ditching me for your wife's, and especially your child's, sake, but you could have been a motherfucking man and confronted me and told me. Then, when you did let me back into your life, you never mentioned that you had a kid. Did that just slip your mind? If you couldn't let me in on that, I don't get why you were all worried about us being too close! You know what, I'm glad you're leaving, I'm glad you've kicked me tot he curb long ago, I don't need or want *you* as a friend, or anything in my life in that case, if you're just a big pussy."
She heard him rebut, it wasn't he friendliest rebuff, but with what she's said that wasn't surprising. It didn't matter, though, she left and he didn't follow.
That's how they said their good riddances to each other. yeah, that wasn't the last time they saw each other. Rock did come back, a few times, they passed each other, but as he'd done for so long, Rock just walked on, as if she didn't exist. the difference now was that Trish reciprocated the actions.
It was like there last conversation was a falling out point for both, they needed time to climb back up the tree. All that could get the two back together was time, and, of course, chance happenings.
