Chapter 10
We have an early flight to Texas after the Canadian tour for the TLC Pay Per View. I manage to catch some sleep on the plane so while Dolph catches some sleep at the hotel before the show I just sit there and watch him. He has a big ladder match tonight against the Miz to try and regain the IC title and I can't help but worry. His matches tend to the scare the crap out of me on a normal night because of how well he sells a move and his history of concussions turns me into a nervous wreck every time he is in the ring. Throw ladders into the mix and I am freaking out.
A few hours later we are at the arena and I go with Dolph down to the ring to meet with Miz so they can work out spots for tonight. I hang out ringside with Maryse as we watch our guys plan out a hellacious match. The planning continues in catering as we start to work out how Maryse and I will get involved. I listen and chime in until I see Ravyn practically skip into catering which is very odd to see. I excuse myself from the planning and go over to her.
"Look at you. If you were anyone else I'd say you look radiant but since it's you I'll go with less murderous and gloomy." She sticks her tongue out at me and then tells me she got cleared for some light ring work. I'm ecstatic to hear this. "Friend! That's amazing! Let me know when you need someone to run the ropes with." I tell her and she grins at me, "I'd like to get in there today if you have time." She tells me hopefully. "Yes! Let's go!" I start to walk out of catering but she stops me, "uh friend…weren't you match planning over there?" I was so excited to get back in the ring with her that I had forgotten what I had been doing. I go over to the table to check in on the progress. Turns out I know all I need to know for the time being and can get filled in on the rest later so I excitedly go join Ravyn and we go off toe the women's locker room to change.
As we sit lacing up our boots I make an observation about how there has been something different about her demeanor before today. She claims to have no idea what I'm talking about. I eye her carefully as we walk the halls to get to the ring. "You've got that super sassy sex kitten swagger back to your…" I realize then what it is. "Oh my god! Did you get laid?!" I yell a little louder than I had intended to as Ravyn smacks me blushing. "shh! The whole company doesn't need to hear!" she looks around nervously as I rapid fire questions at her. "Who was it? Do I know him? Is he hot?" I stop to take a breath and stare at her. "J, I love you but I'm not spilling it." She laughs and I lay on the best friend guilt trip trying to get her to tell me. "It's no one you know. Just a random hookup, and yes he was incredibly hot." She finally admits and I smirk as we make it to the ring.
We do a light workout being very careful not to overdo it before heading back to the locker room. We clean up and go to check out the card and see that I will have a match on the kick off show against Carmella. The show is in about an hour so I go ahead and change into my gear and put my zipper hoodie on over it and go hang out until the show. I find Dolph chatting with Miz and Zack. I go up and warp my arms around him from behind and he excuses himself from the boys and we head off to be alone. I keep an extra tight hold on him as we walk refusing to let go. "Someone is very clingy today." Dolph jokes and I just hold him tighter. "What's wrong?" he asks stopping and turning me to face him. I sigh, "I guess I'm just worried about your match tonight." I admit. Dolph tucks some hair back behind my ear and cups my cheek, "don't be. I'll be fine. I'm a pro at ladder matches. Yeah they are brutal but I'm out there with Miz. He'll take care of me." I lean forward and bury my face in his chest. "I know." I say, my words muffled into his t-shirt so I pull back just a little and look up at him, "I just can't help it." He wraps his arms around me in a comforting manner, "besides you'll be coming out to save me tonight." He jokes referring to the run in spot I'm going to have later. I wouldn't be going to the ring right away because I was going to be attacked by Maryse finally solidifying our feud. "So Thanksgiving is coming up." He says blatantly changing the subject and I laugh. "Yes. Yes it is. What is your point?" I ask playing along glad to talk about something else. "We should spend it together. Unless you have other plans?" I grin at him. "Aren't you going home to Cleveland?" I ask slightly confused. "Nah. My brother has a wrestling gig in Australia with Tommy Dreamer so my parents decided to go out there. We don't get enough time off for me to make the trip so it's just me. Here. All alone. Hoping my new girlfriend will be able to keep me company." He lays on the guilt trip and I laugh. "I spend all my holidays with Ravyn but you are more than welcome to join us." An idea hits me. "Hey! What if we have a big friendsgiving celebration! Invite all of our friends who don't have other plans to come have a party." He is on board with this and we spend the rest of the time we have before the show making plans.
The show kicks off and I have my match. Afterwards I head to the back and try to kill time before Dolph's match and when I would be attacked. I go to the designated hallway we set up to film in and lay myself out on the floor to play like I've been attacked. Dolph comes around a corner heading to the ring for his match and finds me as I begin to come to. He calls out for help as EMTs and officials arrive on scene while Dolph fusses over me. I try to convince everyone that I am okay as Miz's music begins to echo throughout the arena. Dolph looks conflicted knowing he has to go to the ring but also wanting to stay with me. I convince him to go as the cameras switch to a shot of the ring.
Dolph jogs off to gorilla as his music hits and I go to grab a spot in front of nearby monitor to wait for my run in spot. Ravyn is there already which I am glad for because she does her best to comfort my nerves as the bell rings and the match begins. I cringe after each spot as the ladders get used in brutal ways. A one point Miz wraps Dolph's knee around the ladder while he is climbing and I cringe picturing all his ligaments snapping. After that Miz smashes the same knee in between the ladder before managing to lock in the Figure Four with Dolph's legs through the rungs of the ladder as Dolph screams in agony.
He manages to get out of the hold but is now down to one leg. He gains the upper hand and executes a Zig Zag onto a ladder but does a lot of harm to himself as well as Miz. With both men down Maryse goes to make a move to interfere which is my cue to go out and even the odds. I dash down to the ring just before Maryse can do anything dastardly. I take her out and the two of us scuffle for a bit before being separated by the ref.
I watch the last few minutes of the match from ringside as both guys climb the ladder and exchange blows before Dolph delivers a stiff head butt to Miz that knocks him right off the top of the ladder. He reaches up and grabs the belt unhooking it as his music hits. I jump around on the outside of the ring as he drapes himself exhaustedly over the top of the ladder before raising the belt over his head and letting out a celebratory yell as the crowd cheers. He gingerly makes his way down the ladder as I climb into the ring and meet him at the bottom to help him down the last few rungs as he collapses to his knees. I get down on my knees in front of him taking his face in my hands pressing my forehead against his. "You okay?" he nods and I help him up and the ref and I raise his hands in victory.
I help him out of the ring and to the back where Ravyn is waiting. She hugs us both congratulating Dolph on getting the title back. I mention the friendsgiving plans and she is totally on board. Dolph had left gorilla while we talked and I can see him down the hall a little ways a head of me as I jog to catch up to him. He seems to be limping pretty good and has a cut on his arm that is bleeding. "Hey, are you sure you are okay?" I ask worriedly falling into step beside him. "I'm fine." He waves off my concern and I eye him skeptically as he disappears into the men's locker room. I shake my head and stand outside waiting for him. He comes back out, showered and changed with a bandage wrapped around his arm but I can already see red beginning so seep through. "Okay, that's it. We are going to go see Doc." He groans as I shove him down the hall towards the trainer's room.
He groans even more when we round the corner and see a line of people waiting to be seen which isn't surprising since TLC is also known as "the demolition derby." We take a seat and wait our turn. By the time we get in to see Doc the main event is starting. Doc determines that the cut on Dolph's arm needs stitches and some ice for his knee. I'm watching the main while Doc sets up for the stitches. I narrow my eyes as something catches my eye during the match. I move closer to the TV to see if I'm really seeing what I think I'm seeing. I watch for a moment before my suspicions are confirmed. "Oh Shit!" I say in surprise drawing the attention of both Dolph and Doc. "What? Someone else hurt?" Doc asks sounding tired. I can't help but chuckle. "Only someone's pride. AJ has a hole in the butt of his tights…and let's just say that if it was a few inches to the right…oh and AJ doesn't wear anything under his gear." I add with a smirk as both men grimace. "Didn't need to know that." Dolph says as Doc begins his stitches.
After the Smackdown Live following the PPV Dolph and I catch a red eye back to Orlando so we can get things going for the party. Despite it being the middle of the night we head to a 24/7 grocery store to get all our needed supplies before going back to the apartment and crashing for a couple of hours.
I wake up before Dolph and head into the kitchen to start working. I throw some things into the open and get to work on some fruit and veggies when Dolph groggily walks into the room. "Morning sunshine." I say with a smirk as he shuffles by me with a grunt going straight for the coffee pot. "Why don't you go take a shower and try to perk yourself up a bit." I say as he shuffles back out of the room with a wave. Soon I hear the shower water running as I get back to work. I only stop again when I hear the door to my apartment opening as Ravyn pokes her head around the corner. She sets to work helping me cut veggies as Dolph emerges from the shower shirtless still drying his hair but looking slightly more awake. I start laying out things that are ready to go down to the complex's common area and we all take a load down.
I stay in the common room setting things up while Dolph and Ravyn go back and forth bringing down the rest of the supplies. After I get the bar set up I pour three shots in order to keep Ravyn's and my tradition of being the first to drink at a party. Dolph is not a fan of our shot of choice but you can't mess with tradition. I clean up our shot mess as our friends start to arrive and the party begins. We have tailgating games set up out by the pool and soon everyone competitive natures take over and the games begin.
I mingle amongst my friends trying to spend extra time with the RAW crew since I don't get to see them very often. I'm at the bar making myself another drink when a voice speaks up behind me. "Hello Love." I grin and turn around and come face to face with Finn Balor. I hug him gently being careful of his injured shoulder. "How you feeling?" I ask him. He got injured around the time that Ravyn and I got called up to the main roster. "Oh ya know. Just takin it day ta day." I smile sadly at him hating how he got hurt in one of the biggest matches of his career. "Well I for one can't wait for you to be back. RAW isn't the same without you." I tell him. "Aw, well thanks. I was glad ta see you and Ravyn get da call up. Very deserved." I blush. "Ah gee thanks. Can I get the Demon King another drink?" He chuckles "dat would be great." I make him his favorite drink before grabbing my own drink and going off and depositing myself in Dolph's lap where he sits talking to a very drunk Ravyn and Breezango.
The night winds down as people begin to leave. Soon it is just Dolph and I left and I survey the mess around the room. "Fuck it. I'll clean it up tomorrow." I say swaying slightly from the alcohol. "Let's go." I grab Dolph's hand and together we stagger up to my apartment and head to bed.
We get the common area cleaned up and get ready to hit the road again starting in Greensboro North Carolina. At the arena I part ways with Dolph with a promise to meet later in catering before heading to the women's locker room to change into my workout gear in order to go meet Ravyn in the ring. We roll around for a while chatting he whole time. On our way to get cleaned up we are stopped by Carrano who lets us know that we will each be filming an episode of Ride Along. Dolph and I would be filming tonight on our drive to Knoxville. Once Carrano is gone we throw professionalism out the window and freak out about the chance to be on our favorite network show. "I guess I should probably tell Dolph." I tell Ravyn before heading off to catering to find him.
I find him sitting with Miz, Zack and Mojo. I go to join them at the table, "would one of you be willing to babysit Broski on the ride to the next town tonight?" I ask addressing Mojo and Miz while all the boys stare at my quizzically. "Why do I need a different ride?" Zack asks me almost sounding bummed out. "I just ran into Caranno and he told me that we are doing Ride Along tonight." I grin excitedly at Dolph. "Hey! That'll be great. You make a much better riding buddy than Miz." He jokes referring to his previous experience with the show. I laugh. "Be nice. I'm going to go get cleaned up for the show. See you later." I give him a quick kiss on the cheek on my way out of the room.
After the show I'm outside signing autographs while I wait for Dolph. I'm wearing one of his old 'it's too bad I'm too good' hoodies and beanie that I may or may not have stolen from his closet while we were in Phoenix. I love meeting and talking to fans and try to do it for while at every show. I have the Ride Along camera crew following me as we wait. I hear the crowd cheer and look behind me to see Dolph walking up. He stops briefly to put his bags in the trunk before coming over to the fans.
I'm nearing the end of the line of fans when Dolph catches up to me. I'm chatting with a couple of girls as he approaches. They get all girly and giggly as he signs their poster. I catch him side eyeing me. "What?" I ask with a smirk greeting the next fan. "Are those my clothes?" he asks his voice laced with amusement and I just shrug. "I may have swiped these out of your closet when we were there for Survivor Series. He chuckles singing more autographs. "You know…if we want to get any sleep tonight we should get going." He points out. I know he is right, we have an almost five hour drive ahead of us tonight. I sign a few more autographs before I force myself to walk away. "Sorry everyone! But we have a long drive tonight and we are filming Ride Along!" I wave to the fans walking towards the car with Dolph beside me with his hand on the small of my back. He opens he passenger door for me as a I climb in before he moves around to the driver's side.
He starts up the car and our adventure begins. I wave to the fans again as we drive by pulling out into traffic. I pull up our hotel on my GPS and then set it aside settling in for the long drive. As we cruise we chat and I do my best to keep the conversation sounding natural using some of the bullet points the producers of the show gave us to talk about.
"Do you remember the first time we met?" Dolph asks and I blush madly burying my face in my hands. "Ugh! Yes! I made a complete fool out of myself. Very first night with the company and I'm horse playing in the hallway and then bam! There was Dolph Ziggler standing in a doorway. I was mortified." He laughs. "Didn't you run away from me?" I smirk. "I should have kept running and played hard to get, if I'd known what was to come but I fell too easily for your charm and smoking hot bod." We banter back and forth a bit about the day we met and the day we started talking and really connecting.
We change the subject to where and who we trained with and come to the realization that we both had training from Lance Storm. We then talk about the biggest matches of our careers. Dolph brings up his match this year with the Miz where he put his career on the line for one more shot at the IC title, and his being the sole survivor in the 2014 Survivor Series. This leads to me talking about my first time on a main roster pay per view at this year's Survivor Series probably being mine.
We stop and get a quick bite to eat since I had managed to finagle dinner as part of our deal for doing the show. After we eat we pull into a gas station to grab some coffee for the last leg of our journey. They are making fresh coffee when we get there so we wander the aisles while we wait. I round a corner and stop dead in my tracks when I come face to face with a John Cena card board cut out. I duck behind it before Dolph comes around the corner hiding myself. A moment later he comes around the corner looking around for me when I speak up, "you can't see me!" I say waving my hand in front of the card board Cena's face before popping out from behind it grinning like a fool. He rolls his eyes shaking his head. "come one let's go before you start spewing thugonamics at me next." We grab our coffee and I take a turn driving.
We start discussing injures next and cover all Dolph's stitches and bouts with concussions. I mention how I've never had a bad injury and I hope I didn't just jinx myself. As Dolph is telling a story about a bad trip between towns from a few years ago when a message on one of those electronic billboards catches my eye and I groan. "I think that sign just said two lanes are closed ahead because of an accident." Sure enough another sign confirms my fears and before I know it all I can see stretched out in front of us is tail lights as I reach the traffic jam coming to a stop. "This is going to be a long night." I sigh.
We inch along at an excruciatingly slow pace sometimes stopping for several minutes at a time. We keep chatting breaking down both our careers to the smallest of details just to pass the time. After an hour of sitting in the traffic jam we have run out of wrestling related things to talk about and are trying to come up with any topic of conversation we can think of to keep ourselves awake and entertained. I creep along moving up about a car length when I look over to say something to Dolph and notice a familiar face in the car next to us. I roll down Dolph's window and he turns to me confused. "What are you doing?" I point out his window and he turns to look at what I see. I clear my throat and yell out "Straight Fire!" and laugh as Becky jumps in her seat and Nattie leans forward in the passenger to seat in order to see what the hell is going on. Becky rolls down her window and we chat until our cars get separated as the traffic converges into the one lane left open on the highway and we squeeze past he accident before being released back to wide open road once again. I hit the gas and we cruise the last several miles before we finally reach the hotel. I pull up the valet too tired to care how much it costs.
I yawn stretching, "I feel sorry for whoever has to edit down the footage from tonight. They certainly have their work cut out for them." I joke giving a little wave to the camera as I climb out of the car. We unpack our car and I hand off the keys to the valet and head we head inside. We check in as quick as we can and go upstairs to our room and immediately pass out.