A/N Too lazy to write a real note. We're back with Cody in this one.
Read and Review please. I love reviews, they make me happy, because that means someone is actually reading (and even better) liking this. Oh and don't be afraid to tell me if you don't like something, I'm still learning.
I've noticed that most reviews on here are something like "great story" and "I loved it update soon" and I noticed it makes me afraid to review something I don't particular like or to leave less than superpositive feedback. I think everyone on here writes themselves or likes to read and we can give each other valuable advice. Now I'm already talking, I also want to say that I hate the people who resort to the "if you don't review, I won't update-strategy" I hate to be told what to do, so anyone who says that, probably won't get a review.
Err... wait... somewhere in all this ramble, I really wanted to make a point... but what was it? :) It's like this when I start talking (or writing) I just don't shut up anymore.
Ah, here's the point: Review please, even if you hate it!
Cody
A wave of cold water washed over my legs and I sat up with a scream. I didn't understand where I was. I could only see water and bright sunlight. Slowly I came to my senses. I was still on the beach; I must have fallen asleep here last night. The sun was blazing hot and the tide was coming in. No matter where I was, I had slept better than I had for months.
As I was waking up, I tightened myself for the impact of the anger and the depression. Every day for the last few months, just a few minutes after I had woken up, it had hit me. But not today, today felt different. I wasn't there yet, but for the first times in months I had some room in my mind to think.
I stretched and yawned and aimed a big, goofy grin towards the people who were staring at me. So what if they thought I was an idiot? I was glad I could finally breathe again. I slowly started to make my way through all the people. I was hungry.
I realized I was very lucky that I hadn't been robbed, though my wallet was soaked. So was my phone. I shook it, but it just gave one pathetic beep and went blank. No way to call anyone now. It had to be pretty late already. People would worry. Of course, I didn't remember a single phone number, I always used speed dial. I cursed when I realized I didn't remember the name of the hotel either. At a trip like this all hotels blurred into one.
When I reached the boulevard, I looked around to see some familiar landmarks, but to no avail. I was totally lost. My stomach growled. This was something I could handle. At a nearby food stand I bought a sandwich and some coffee and I sat down on a bench to think about what to do next.
Savoring the sun, I sipped my coffee. I felt really good; at least, as long as I didn't think about things, like where I was, how to get back to the hotel, how worried my friends must be, what the hell I was going to do about Julia and whether I was still going to quit. Argh, my stupid mind just went crazy again. Why couldn't I just live in the moment for once?
Half an hour later I still sat on the same bench in the same position and I still hadn't decided what I was going to do about any of my problems. I knew that sitting here would solve nothing, but I just didn't seem to be able to stand up and go and do something. As long as I was sitting there, I could ignore everything that was going on and just enjoy the sunlight and the view. But I knew that the moment I would get up, I had to go and solve things. I wasn't ready for that yet. So, I sat there and I looked at the sea and the people walking by. As long as I didn't let my mind slip, I felt really happy. I couldn't help smiling. I must have looked a mess, but still a lot of people smiled back. Some others avoided my eyes and just hurried on.
Another half hour later, I still sat on the bench and now I was almost ready to go and do something. I had already decided I would go and look for the arena. There was a big chance that I would find somebody there who could tell me where the hotel was. Just as I was about to push myself up and get going, I saw a familiar figure walking up to me.
"Hey Cody," Zack Ryder said as he looked at me over his sunglasses. "You've gotten everybody running around looking for you, and here you are lounging at the beach."
"Hey Zack, "I grinned at him. "You sure make my life a lot easier. I was just getting ready to look for the hotel."
Zack sat down next to me. "You have a great view here," he checked out some girls who were walking by. They reacted with bright smiles. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but why do you look like you've slept on the beach?"
I burst out in to laughter. It felt good to really laugh again. I only laughed harder when I thought about how crazy I must have looked. I wiped tears out of my eyes. "It's because I did mate, I did." I still chuckled. "I slept really well, I must say."
"What's wrong with the hotel, man? You're not really the guy to go on spontaneous camping trips." A big grin had formed around his lips at my outburst.
I grinned. "Girl trouble… loads and loads of girl trouble."
Zack nodded, understanding perfectly. "I've heard something about that. It's that girl Julia, isn't it? I can't blame you, she's hot!" I smiled, he couldn't be more right about that. "Wanna talk about it?"
I thought about that. I didn't really know Zack all that well. He had only just joined the Raw roster and we didn't hang out with the same people. Or more accurately, for the last few months I had barely spoken to anyone else other than Randy, Ted and Jack. But in the few minutes since Zack had found me, I was really starting to like him.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to man. I don't want to poke my nose anywhere it's not appreciated." His eyes grew big as he checked out another girl walking by. "Oh my god, look at that! I know something I wanna poke in her." He wolf whistled at her and was rewarded with a big smile and a small wave. "By the way, is it okay if I text Randy that you're fine? They're all worried sick about you."
I nodded, feeling really guilty now, "I would've called someone myself but my phone is dead."
He quickly texted Randy, then relaxed next to me. "I must say, you've found yourself a pretty perfect spot right here. How long have you've been sitting here?"
"Dunno," I shrugged, "At least an hour, but that's just a guess. I've got no watch, no phone and no idea where I am, and I just couldn't make myself get up and do something about it." I smiled sheepishly. I felt oddly comfortable talking to him. I wondered if it was him or just my new and improved state of mind.
"She must be something special if she's gotten you this lost. You know, she's hot and all, but she always seemed like a little bit of a drama-queen to me." I glared at him and he put up his hands defensively. "Sorry Cody, I didn't want to insult your girl."
"Never mind, I know what you're talking about. She can be a little over-emotional, but somehow that's one of the things I like about her. I just wanna protect her, you know," now I started talking I just couldn't stop myself anymore and I told him the entire story about me and Julia.
"Wow, that's unbelievable." I nodded. "So, does she love you too?" He asked
I just stared at him. "Didn't you hear what she did to me?"
He shrugged. "Yeah, mate; but she seems real sorry about it though, don't you think? And you didn't treat her very nicely either."
I must say I had expected a little bit of sympathy.
"Look Cody, I've got three younger sisters. I believe I should never treat a girl in a way I wouldn't want another bloke to treat my sisters. And for what you did, ditching her like that, I would've killed you." He looked at me to see if I was getting what he meant, and he continued, "You hurt her, she hurt you back, tough luck. So does she love you too?"
"Err, I don't know…" I couldn't say anything else, because Zack's phone went. He talked for a moment then gave me the phone.
"Cody!" Ted sounded relieved. "What the hell happened to you?" I quickly explained. "We'll be there soon. We'll pick you up okay?"
While Zack and I waited to be collected by Ted and Randy we bought some more coffee and chatted away on the bench. I soon found out that Zack was a very laidback guy, with an amazing sense of humor. He reminded me a lot of Jack, although I didn't think he was quite as naive as Jack was. Talking to him was remarkably easy and the time flew by.
"Cody!" Ted's voice boomed over the boulevard. I quickly stood up to greet my best mate, and he nearly knocked me over with his violent embrace. "I'm so glad that you're ok. What the hell happened to you? Why didn't you answer your phone?" I beamed from ear to ear when Randy reached us too, slapping me on the shoulder. He had a huge grin on his face.
"It's good to have you back, kid," He said with a choked up voice. "For a moment I was afraid…," He didn't finish his sentence, but pulled me into a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry guys, I am. I fell asleep on the beach, I didn't know where I was, my phone was dead, I had no idea what to do and then I just sat here… and then Zack came. I'm so sorry; I didn't mean to get you worried."
"It's okay, kid. It's not your fault," Randy smiled again. "You know, this might be the most I've heard you say in the last few weeks." He looked at me searchingly and pulled me away from Zack and Ted, "Do you feel better, now that you've talked with Julia?"
I nodded, though tears clouded my vision again when I thought back about our talk. "I feel better about myself. It's like, you know, well I don't know… I feel like me again… heartbroken, but still me. I can breathe now, you know?"
He nodded and ruffled my hair. I pulled my head away. I didn't want to be treated like a child. "Julia, she feels heartbroken, too. I've never seen anything like it," he must have noticed my scowl, because he held his hand up to stop me from speaking, "Yeah, I know Codes, it's none of my business. But I need to say this, then I'll stay out of it. You need to figure out what you want from her and you need to tell her. At the very least you need to talk to her soon. You know she means the world to me and to see her this hurt, this broken…" He just shook his head.
I raked my hand through my hair, I didn't need this right now, I wanted to live in the moment, I wanted to enjoy how I felt today. "I'm not doing this right now Randy. Right now I feel good and I don't want to think about anything. Just mind your own business okay?"
In the taxi back to the hotel I laughed and joked with Zack. Both Ted and Randy were amazed at my sudden transformation and Teddy soon joined in the fun. Randy didn't; he sat brooding on the front seat. I didn't care. Randy was an amazing friend, but I hated him when he was acting like an older brother. I already had one big brother and that was more than enough for me.
My friends here weren't the only ones I surprised with my cheerful act. For months I had walked around in a bubble of my own misery and today I noticed for the first time that people had stopped greeting me. I got a lot of surprised smiles with just a simple greet or smile.
Even in my happy mood, Julia was on my mind all the time. I caught myself searching for her, looking for a flash of red hair. I needed to see for myself how she was doing. Even after the way she'd hurt me, all that I cared about was her happiness. But she was nowhere to be seen. Not in the hotel, not at dinner, not on the bus to the arena, she was nowhere. Finally, I couldn't handle it anymore and I asked Jack.
He shook his head at my question, "She's in her room. She ain't coming tonight. She doesn't feel good." I bit my lip. "Don't feel guilty, Cody. It's not only because of you. She had a huge fight with Mike today."
Was that supposed to cheer me up? Well, maybe it did, a little bit. I didn't mind them fighting. I hadn't forgotten how they had flirted a few days before. I did however, mind him hurting her. Later that night I took my frustration out in my match with Mike. When we were waiting to make our entrance, we didn't even look at each other, a huge scowl on both of our faces. Even his presence annoyed me. The way he stood there, fondling his titles, it made me gag. I didn't get why he was given this major push. When his music hit, he shot me one last look filled with hate and strolled out onto the ramp.
I made him pay dearly for that. For the first time in months I could pull off a good performance in the ring and I focused all my aggression on my opponent. I made him pay for every minute he had spent with Julia; I made him pay for every smile, every hug and every flirty remark. I wished I could have beaten him within a few minutes, but he gave me a run for my money and we had an intense and long match. It might even be one of the best matches I had wrestled in my career. Mike only allowed me to pin him after the director had signaled us to end the match.
I couldn't have been more surprised, or annoyed, to see Mike standing at my locker room door a little later. We had just had a match together, why hadn't he told me what he wanted then? I was in such a good mood today, I didn't feel like letting Mike ruin this.
"What do you want?" I leaned against the doorpost, arms crossed. I didn't see the need to act polite.
"Look Cody, I just wanted to say that I'm glad that you're ok." He looked a little uncomfortable. He was pathetic.
"That's really sweet of you Mike, what did I do to deserve that?" I smirked sarcastically.
"You don't!" He was getting angry now.
Good, I liked that. I hoped I would get him to lose it. I wouldn't say no to the chance to kick his ass for the second time today. Outside the ring I could at least really try to hurt him. To be honest, even in the ring we weren't really nice to each other. I was always covered with bruises after a match with him and I was sure this was the same the other way around. I let my mind wander to what it would be like if wrestling was real. I would've broken his neck already, that's a fact.
Mike's angry voice got my attention again. "Personally I don't care whether you're dead or alive. But Julia does and she would have never forgiven herself if you would have killed yourself. So that's why I'm happy that you're ok."
He started to walk away, then turned around and added, "But this better be the last time you hurt her. Otherwise I'll hurt you, Rhodes."
I looked surprised at Ted, who just came out the shower, and had witnessed the last bit. "What the hell was that?"
"Mike?" I called after him, "Thank you for taking care of my girl for so long. I'm thinking about getting her back. I hope you don't mind about that." I grinned when I saw his back stiffen. He halted and I hoped he would turn around to get his ass kicked, but he nearly ran away. I almost fell on the floor, I was laughing so hard. I hoped I had made him cry.
"Cody?" Ted asked me. "Are you really thinking about trying to make things work with Julia?"
Leave it to Teddy to ruin my good mood again. I pulled a face. "I don't know Teds. There's one side of me who wants nothing more and the other side just tells me to make a run for it and to never come back. I have no idea what to do. At the very least I need to talk to her, but I have no idea what to say. You know man; I don't even know what she wants from me. My mind is running haywire. I wish I had some time to think, some time to be alone, so I can figure out what to do."
"Just ask for a few weeks off then. You haven't had a vacation in ages. I bet Vince will let you go for a few weeks after Summerslam." I smiled at Ted. I really liked the idea of spending a few weeks at home. I was wondering if I should ask him myself or whether I should let Randy do it for me.