Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has read the story thus far! It won't be a long story, just so you know. :) The title of the story comes from the song "Suffocate" by Cold, and the song at the very start of this chapter is from "It Only Hurts" by Default. Sit back, relax, and if you can, review. Thank you!
ETA: I've just added something to the end of the chpater! Hope you're not mad at me. :P
"It only hurts when your eyes are open..."
He was besotted with her straight from the beginning. She was beautiful, funny, loving and honest – well, until recent events. Damn, that girl was a good actress. He shook his head in disbelief and took yet another gulp of the strong liquor. The liquid burned the back of his throat in such a satisfying way that he growled out loud in pleasure. Mark muttered the praises of the drink before a knock at the door caught his attention.
Groggily, Mark pulled himself up from the leather chair and unlocked the door, opening it to a very cheery Glenn Jacobs. He walked back to the living room with Glenn following suit, closing the door behind him.
"You look like hell," Glenn told his older – and taller – best friend, settling himself down on the sofa opposite Mark.
"Thanks buddy." Mark ran his hand through his jet black hair, taking a sip of bourbon afterwards. "You want some?" He motioned to the glass, the liquid swashing around freely. Glenn shook his head. "Suit yourself," he grumbled; his Texan accent faintly present.
Glenn studied his best friend's features and frowned. Dark circles underneath his eyes, a stubble growing on his face, his hair tousled more than usual. "What's happened, man?" He questioned, unsure of if he should be prepared to get his ass kicked. The last time he asked Mark what wrong, he had just divorced Sara, and Glenn ended up with a black eye and had to replace the locker room door. He shivered involuntarily at the thought.
Green eyes stared at the black rug underneath the coffee table, laced with magazines on top of it. All of those magazines were Jaymie's. "Jaymie," was all he said. Mark sighed softly and placed the frosted glass on top of those magazines. One large hand rubbed his eyes and he settled himself back into the chair. "She lied to me. She cheated on me and even tried to blame it on me by telling me I was always travelling, either for work or to see my kids, and then said we didn't have a sex life anymore." His eyebrows knotted together, a frown forming on his lips. "It was a facade. She didn't love me. Ever."
Glenn didn't know what to say, or what to do. Sure, Mark had been through this situation many times before but he was smitten with Jaymie. Hell, everyone knew he was smitten with her from day one of their relationship. "Drinking yourself into oblivion won't help, that's for sure." As soon as those words left his mouth, he flinched, ready for an object to fly through the air and hit him with a lot of force.
"No, it won't, but it'll ease the pain." With the glass in one hand he picked up the bottle of bourbon and refilled it right to the top.
"I'll go and make you something to eat. It looks like you haven't slept all night and I'm pretty sure you haven't moved from that chair. You can't survive just on drink, Mark." He nodded and knew Glenn was right.
"Thanks." And with that he downed the rest of the liquid, pulled himself up so he was sitting upright and pushed the liquor glass on the coffee table.
The clatter of pans, plates and cutlery filled the silent house and Mark chuckled lowly. His lowered his head to his hands which were resting upon the top of his knees and sighed. He wondered what he had done wrong for Jaymie to lie to him for the whole of their relationship. For over a year he believed every single thing she said, he had no reason to doubt her. A fool. That is what she took him for and he hated himself for not seeing any signs sooner.
"Hey! Come back! Oh, that's totally not fair. Markyyyyyy!" Jaymie was running after her boyfriend who was only walking a little faster than normal, hoping she could get her bra from his meddling fingers before the rest of the roster came out of their hotel rooms to see what all the commotion was about.
He looked over his shoulder while still walking, seeing that she was still running full speed and he laughed to himself. She stole his favourite bandana and he thought stealing her bra was enough punishment, and to make sure she didn't do it again. Mark grinned like the Cheshire cat and continued walking until he found his best friend's room. Knocking wildly on the wooden door, he locked his gaze on his girlfriend running down the hallway.
"Glenn, open up, you lazy bastard!" He kept pounding on the door, hoping that woke up his idle friend. Mark's eyes were still on Jaymie and as he went to hit the door once again, he felt something softer.
"FUCK! Mark, what the fuck was that for, you fucker?!" Mark's eyes snapped towards the bald man in front of him, Glenn holding his nose with one hand covered in blood. Green eyes sparkled with amusement.
Mark felt something slip through his fingers and noticed that Jaymie had taken her bra back. He looked at the petite blonde standing next to him, the unforgettable look of smugness written across her face. Jaymie looked at the younger man in the door way of his room, standing there in just his boxer shorts and saw the blood pour down from his nose, dripping from his chin onto his bare chest.
"Holy shit Glenn... What happened?!" Glenn shot a death stare at Mark and she followed his stare, laughing when Mark looked like a little kid who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
He held his hands up in the air and said, "It was by accident! This lazy bastard," he pointed to Glenn, "wouldn't answer the door quick enough!" Jaymie shook her head and laughed.
"Let's get you cleaned up, honey." She ushered Glenn into his hotel room as he winked to Mark over his shoulder, making Mark growl under his breath, and shot Glenn a death stare of his own before following both of them into the room, chuckling at the sight of Glenn wincing as Jaymie cleaned his face up.
"What have you done to me, Jaymie...?" He asked himself and sighed. His shoulders started to jerk and tears rolled freely down his cheeks. "What has become of me?"
