Chapter 9:

Doing Time

Jory sat alone on a trunk in the loading dock area of the arena, her knees crooked up as she sketched an idea she had for new ring gear. It was the most elaborate piece she'd ever sketched out, completed with a huge entrance robe. It was almost queen-like. As the days passed, she found herself thinking more and more about the things she wanted to do when her WWE contract finally came to an end. There was no way they could force her to accept a new contract when the time came up, and more and more, places like New Japan, Ring of Honor and Impact seemed like appealing options. She knew a few people on the independent scene who were surviving just fine without the WWE machine behind them. She had no doubt she'd be just fine.

It was a bad attitude to have, she knew, but she was spinning her wheels. Until her contract expired, she was stuck in place, and it was an awful feeling, being stuck under The Authority's thumb. Mick Foley wasn't a much-needed ally; if anything, he went from being the Hardcore Legend to Stephanie's lapdog. It always stung Jory watching Stephanie lash Mick verbally week in and out. It pained her, even more, to watch him cower and take it. He was Cactus Jack. He was Mankind. He was an important part of the McMahon bottom line during the Attitude Era, and it didn't seem to earn him an ounce of respect.

"Hey, you. We need to talk."

Jory looked up to see Nia approach, dressed in her red and black ring gear. She was returning backstage after squashing a local competitor in the ring. Shutting her notebook, Jory swung her legs over the side of the trunk and shifted so Nia had space to sit down beside her. Dressed in her black and red gear, Jory noted that Nia hadn't even broken a sweat during her match. "What's up?" she asked as Nia sat down and made herself comfortable.

"I heard from a little birdie that you roomed with an architect last week, and I want some details."

"Oh, God." Jory rolled her eyes. "Well, there are no details to share. It was nothing." Nia shot Jory a look of suspicion, making the brunette exasperated. "Tell me, Nia - who was the little birdie that snitched?"

"Who do you think?"

"Renee," they said in unison after a moment's silence. She sighed. "She saw him leaving your hotel room," Nia revealed.

"It's not what you think, so stop looking at me like that. It's not like that at all."

"And what am I thinking?"

"Like I'm announcing that out here in the open." Nia laughed. "No. It just...there was a mix-up with his room. I found him in the lobby having a nervous breakdown. I got to the hotel and found out my room type had been overbooked, so I ended up in a room with an extra bed. So I let him have it. I wasn't using it." She looked at Nia. "Stop looking at me like that, seriously."

"Sorry. I just didn't know you knew him."

"I don't, really. I've just...I've been in his spot. At least that's what I thought." She shook her head in disgust, recalling earlier in the night. She had been at the monitor, watching Seth confront Stephanie for an explanation. He had gone looking for answers, and to Jory's surprise, Stephanie had been far more accessible to Seth than she had been to Jory after her ejection. "But it's looking like he hasn't really seen things for what they are yet. If that's what he wants to do..."

"You're upset about that."

"Disappointed, more. I thought he was smarter than that," she said with a sigh. "Stephanie's excuse was so flimsy it would blow away in a soft breeze."

Nia nodded. She couldn't argue with that. Nia hadn't believed it when she had heard it, and she was surprised Seth seemed to accept it at face value. She looked down at the black notebook in Jory's hand. "What's that?" she asked, reaching out and grabbing the book.

"Nothing..." Jory trailed off when Nia opened the book and took a look at the designs.

"Oh, these are cute. I love this one. Are you going to get them made?"

"Maybe. If I ever see the inside of a ring again." She took the notebook back. "It's just some ideas I had."

"Hey."

The two of them turned their heads to see Seth approaching, dressed in his tights and his latest T-shirt. His hair was already wet and hanging around his face. Nia grinned, forcing Jory to nudge her with an elbow, a silent admonition to stop being so messy. Nia shifted and slid off the bench. "I need to go clean up. I'll see you later." Jory nodded.

"Sure thing."

"Get those designs made. I want to see them on you." Jory offered her a tight smile. Seth turned his attention to her, curious. Nia walked past Seth. "She's all yours," Nia told him as she passed. Seth chuckled.

"Thanks." He turned back to Jory, taking Nia's spot on the trunk. "How's it going tonight? I, uh, saw you aren't wrestling again tonight."

"Yeah. It's been a few months. Thanks for pointing that out."

"I didn't mean to..." He cocked an eyebrow. "Are you okay?" he asked, noting that she was keeping a good amount of space between them on the trunk. Did I misread everything last week? Seth wondered to himself. "You seem kind of upset."

"Me? No. I'm good. I'm good. I'm great," she said, a little too fast. Seth knew right away she was lying. He could see the imprint of disappointment and hurt in her eyes, and he was surprised at how much it stung him. "How about you? How's your night? Did you get all the answers you were looking for?"

"You saw that." She didn't respond. Seth nodded. He felt himself get a little defensive. "Stephanie assured me she had no idea what Hunter was doing."

"And you believe her." It was so flat that Seth couldn't tell if she was accusing him of something or asking him a question.

"I don't know what I believe."

"I should go. Stephanie would hate to see you slumming." She was surprised that he would even seek her out and sit with her for any reason. She could count on one hand the number of times they had spoken since separating at the hotel. She figured the gratitude he felt for the hotel room had dissipated, and they would go back to not acknowledging each other. She had no illusions that they were going to become friends because she was nice to someone having a bad night. At the end of all of it, he was still Seth Rollins, and she was still Jordana Moody. They were at different ends of the universe.

"Don't be mad, Jordana. I..."

"I'm not mad, Seth. It's not my life. It's not my career, either." She slid off the trunk. "We're all just doing our time here, in some way or another, I guess. In some way, you are, too. And you'll figure it out. I just hope it's before you end up like me. Protect yourself above all else. Nobody will do it for you." She shrugged, her sad smile making Seth feel awful. "Anyway, have a good night. I'm supposed to meet with Renee about something."

"Jordana..."

"Seriously, Seth. Part of protecting yourself is being seen with the right people around here. I'm not that girl." She gave him a nod. "Have a good night, Seth."

"Jordana..." He stayed seated on the trunk, his arms open wide. He watched her leave his sight without turning back, and it bothered him.

Every goddamn woman in my life, he thought to himself. I'm good. I'm great. Why is it always a code for everything isn't fine? Seth thought to himself, knowing better than to voice such an opinion out loud.

But he knew, deep down, that Jory was right. How could he believe her?

There was no reason to believe a word that came out of Stephanie's mouth. She lived with Hunter. They did everything together. The two of them spent more time together than any couple on the roster. He knew there should have been no optimism on the matter, no belief. He knew their history as well as Jory did. Hunter and Stephanie were treacherous. They would throw anyone under the bus to save face. In Stephanie's case, it was usually her brother, Shane.

"I think your mouth should be quiet, cause it never tells the truth. So tell me, so tell me why, why does have to be this way? Why can't things ever change? So come down now, come down from your tower now."

Jory emerged from the shower, drying her hair. The steam followed behind her. Her phone was still on the bathroom counter, blaring music. She was dressed in her pajamas, in red plaid boxer shorts and a black sports bra. She sat down at the edge of the bed, drying her hair, trying to brush off the disappointment she felt. He had gone to them, almost hat in hand, desperate to know what happened when it should have been clear. She thought it was clear to him. It just goes to show that you don't know what somebody's thinking.

For all his bluster, for all the loud talking, she knew that Seth was worried about his place. She was, too. Seth was talented. Jory had been on the ground floor when they decided to take out their frustrations on Daniel Bryan. And in the end, all the injuries, everything that had been done, it caught up to Bryan. She had her hand in things, and she knew that she deserved every ounce of punishment for it. There was no excuse; she'd been awful. It was hard for her to step back and see herself that way. Blonde Jory was evil Jory. Nobody liked Blonde Jory. The jury is still out on Brunette Jory.

She was startled by a knock on her door. Grabbing a black tank top, she quickly put it on over her sports bra and ventured across the room. Looking through the peephole, she was surprised to see it was Nia. She opened the door. Nia was dressed in her pajamas, her hair back in a low ponytail. "Hey, Nia. What's up?" Jory asked, stepping to the side to let her into the room. Nia had a small bag in her hand.

"Not too much. I was checking in and ran into someone in the lobby. He asked me to give you this." Nia handed the bag off to Jory.

"It wasn't from Hunter, was it? Because if it was, it's probably anthrax." Nia laughed. Jory moved to the bed and sat down at the edge. Opening the bag, she reached in, surprised to see a pint of mocha almond ice cream.

"Not Hunter," Nia confirmed. "Better than anthrax?"

"Yeah." She sighed. "I know who you ran into."

"He feels bad. And I've got some questions."

"Of course you do, but my answer hasn't changed."

"He's buying you ice cream."

"It's ice cream. It doesn't mean we're married. Holy hell, Nia." Nia sat down beside her.

"He feels bad. I can see it."

"He's got nothing to feel bad about. It's his career. It's not mine." Jory snorted. "Besides, I'm not sure Seth Rollins is capable of feeling bad about anything."

"I think he is." They fell quiet. "He bought you ice cream, though."

"Oh my God, Nia. I like you, but holy shit." They laughed. Nia stood.

"Well, I'll let you get to texting him..." Jory shook her head, struggling not to laugh. Nia bid her goodnight and left. She looked at the ice cream. Wow. He sprung for the good stuff, too. She stared at it and wondered what she should do. After a moment, with a shrug, she got up to grab a spoon.

I assume you're the one Nia ran into in the lobby.

Sitting on the bed, back against the headboard, Seth stared at the text message with a giant smile on his face. He'd thought about getting a card with it, or sending the ice cream with a note, but he figured she would know who it came from. Guilty as charged. I just wanted to apologize for earlier tonight. So...sorry about that. He paused the show he was watching on his laptop.

There's no need to apologize. It's not my place to get involved with things.

Seth shook his head. I get it. It's fine. It's actually nice to know someone's looking out for me. There wasn't a reply for a few minutes, and Seth wondered if he had said something wrong, or if she had read it wrong.

I'll let you get back to your night. I just wanted to say thank you. You didn't have to do this.

I did. Have a good night, Jordana. See you next week. He dropped the phone beside him and went back to his show, but he wasn't at all surprised to find himself distracted. In the end, he shut everything down and decided to call it a night. But even sleep didn't catch him quickly.