We Belong Together
Chapter 4: One Last Chance
"Yeah, I know. Cena's got it coming. He thinks it's just about the title. It's no longer business for me, It's personal." Chris was on his cellphone, pacing around his hotel room.
"Personal?" Christian, who was on the other end of the line, asked.
"Yes. I know everything about them. And if all goes right, that title will be on my waist, she'll be on my arm, and he'll be nothing but a mess, regretting he ever set foot on Raw."
"Correction, that title will be on my waist..."
"Keep dreaming asshole."
"We'll just have to wait only a couple more days to see who'll be the one dreaming and who'll be the one living it up."
"We'll just have to see." He hung up.
He was unaware of the fact that Brooke had overheard most of his conversation. She needed to end this. She couldn't let him hurt John the way he had.
"Chris." She walked up to him.
He quickly tucked his cell phone and did an about face. "Hey babe."
"I think we need to talk."
"I think we've done enough of that." He pulled her closer with his arms around her. "How about we put this room's jacuzzi to the test. A little champagne, some chocolate covered strawberries, and... me? How does that sound?" he whispered.
"Chris, I overheard your conversation. This title hunt is taking over you. You're becoming a different person. And I don't want to be with you, when I can't even trust you to keep your promise."
He groaned. "Not this again. Brooke, winning this title means the world to me--"
"I guess it means more than I do."
"No it doesn't. You mean everything. Just give me one more chance. You're my everything. One more chance."
"One more chance," she repeated, giving him his benefit of the doubt.
He laid a kiss on her lips. "Thank you for that. Now for that jacuzzi."
She pulled away. "I'm gunna pass on that. I need some fresh air."
Brooke left their room, still feeling skeptical.
Chris bit his lip. Things just weren't going his way. But that was gunna change.
Brooke could feel herself growing apart from Chris by every second. Was there any point in dragging this relationship on? She had given him one more chance, but she knew he wouldn't live up to it.
(XOXOX)
RAW: Phoenix, AZ 6.20.06
Brooke's skepticism had been proved right on Raw, with Chris being hell bent on making things change.
"You feeling okay after that beating Jericho and Christian unleashed on you?" Maria asked John.
He shot her a smile, while nursing his arm, "I think I'll live."
"If you need anything, just let me know," she smiled with an implication that John understood, sliding her fingers down his arm.
"Don't worry, I will," he smirked.
After watching her walk away and see her turn a corner, he continued down the arena hallway, and stopped when he heard a familiar voice.
"Just tell me where he is, damnit!" Brooke yelled.
Christian smirked. "Brooke, I don't know where he is. He probably took off, right after our little showdown in the ring with Cena, coward that he is. He's a coward who backstabbing, conniving, selfish, narcissistic--"
"I think you just described yourself," she rolled her eyes. "And you missed one: asshole."
"No that's would still be more appropriate for that thing you call a boyfriend."
"Where did he go?" she asked sternly.
"You know Brooke, Trish was with Jericho," he began walking toward her, which provoked her to step back, "and then she realized she wanted to be with a real man."
"Real man," she scoffed.
Brooke was leaning back against the wall, with Christian towered over her having one hand up against the wall and the other at his waist, attempting to intimidate her.
"Apparently she came to her senses and left you as the sorry ass you are."
"Correction I broke it off with her. Forget Chris. I'm here for you babe. We'll drive back to the hotel and you can sleepover." He began running his fingers through her hair.
She swatted his hand. "Where's Chris?" she asked, more irritated than before.
"I told you I don't know."
"After that little stunt the two of you pulled in the ring tonight I can gurantee that the two of have been spending a lot of time planning things out and you do know where he is. Now tell me."
"Suppose I do know where he is. What do I get for telling you?"
"You get to leave with your dignity. Oh wait, you don't have any. I suggest you don't get the hell away from her, if you wanna be able to leave from here, period." John dropped his bag and emerged from his hiding spot earning a grateful look from Brooke and a pissed off one from Christian.
"Figures. You're done licking your wounds already?" He moved away from Brooke to glare at John.
"Yeah, and I'm ready to give you some wounds that'll never heal."
"Wait, wait, Johnny boy. Well look at that. You come to help Brooke. You and Brooke."
His implications had touched a nerve in Brooke and John.
"The feud we've got going is for that gold you've got around your waist, which will soon become mine. I'd do anything for that, but I'm not about to get this gorgeous mug messed up for this," he cocked his head toward Brooke.
"Bitch," Brooke muttered.
Christian snorted and began walking the other way.
Once he was out of their view, Brooke looked at John, "Thanks."
He continued to look back but said nothing.
Either he said something to hurt her or he didn't say anything at all. Something had to give. She had to make him give in and she had just figured out how.
"Crap, now I have no ride. Thanks a lot," she muttered trying to get under his skin.
"If you wanna spend your night with a perv tryna get into your pants, then I'll gladly call him back."
"Well I'm not sleeping here. Do you have any other ideas?"
"Yeah, it's called a cab."
"This late at night?! I'd be much better off with the perv tryna get in my pants."
"So I still see you haven't become anymore faithful."
"I was never unfaithful."
He sniggered.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
He was reluctant at saying his next few words. "I'll give you a ride."
"You sure you can trust me, you know since I am unfaithful and all?"
He simply glared and grabbed his bag. She followed.
He led her out to the parking lot, to his rental. With the automated key, he unlocked the car. He took his bag off his shoulder and dropped it into the back seat. Brooke opened the passenger side and sat in. John shut the back door and stepped into the driver's seat and started up the car.
Lately all he had been doing was telling her to get out of his life, but tonight he had chased Christian away and given her a ride. But of course he hadn't failed in mentioning something about their break-up. Were things ever going to get better? He continued to drive in silence, even refusing to look at her.
In her contemplation, she didn't even realize that they had reached their intended destination. They both got out and bags in hand, walked into the hotel.
At the concierge, John gave his name and took his key card.
Brooke stepped up. "Burton," she said.
The receptionist made a few clicks and handed over the key card with a smile. "Oh and this message was left for you from a Mr. Jericho."
Brooke took the paper and thanked her. She didn't look at it, but instead tossed it into the nearby trash can without a second glance. Once she turned around, she noticed John was still standing there.
The silence they shared throughout their entire trip was continued as they walked, took the elevator to their floor, and walked to their rooms.
"Thanks," Brooke smiled, walking to her room, as John stopped and began opening the door to his.
He had done his part. She was safely at the hotel. That was it. He had heard her but refused to acknowledge it.
Brooke slowly continued down the hall, when he phone began to ring. She checked the caller ID, 'Chris.' Without another thought, she flipped it open and shut it closed. She meant what she had said and he hadn't.
John saw her. First she had thrown the message away and now she hung on who he suspected to be Chris. Maybe he was reading too much into it all. After all he couldn't forget what she had done. He shook his head and went into his room.
Brooke placed the key card and turned the handle. After entering the room, she turned to lock it up.
"Brooke," she heard his voice.
She dropped her bag to the floor and slammed the card on the table. "I gave you one last chance. And you did what you said you wouldn't! What do you want from me now? What do you have to say for yourself now Chris? You promise me something, break it, and leave without any explanation. I've been looking everywhere for you. I didn't read your message or pick up your call because I wanted to know face-to-face! Why?"
"I did it for my career."
"How many times are you going to use that tired excuse? You have the title shot already, Chris."
"I was just trying to prove--"
"You proved something to me alright. How much I mean to you. You broke your promise. You became exactly what I didn't want to see you become." She took a brief pause from her rants. "I can't trust you anymore. We're through."
Chris opened his mouth to say something, but before he could Brooke opened the door for him.
"Get out."
He walked to her. "I did this for you Brooke," he eyed her.
She looked away, as he went out. The door slam bitterly ended their conversation and their relationship.