I told myself this would be a Something I Need chapter, and yet it ended up a Follow You chapter. The opening of this was stuck in my head for the longest so I wanted to get it out before I lost it. AEW owns all you know, some own themselves, I own Jessica. Enjoy!
Wednesday - Dynamite - Backstage - Jessica
I pulled my hood over my head further to cover my face after Phil dropped me off in the parking lot. I didn't want anyone to see me arriving with him, nor did I want Max to know I was here yet so that way I wouldn't be forced into my show girl outfit any sooner than I had to. I wanted to seek my brother out first and get this dreaded conversation out of the way. I still didn't know what I was going to tell him. I spent all week talking ideas out with Phil, but couldn't narrow it down to something concrete. Phil wanted me to just come clean…I didn't want to take that risk.
I kept walking, head down until I found the sign labeled "Chris Jericho". My eye brow raised as it no longer said Inner Circle. I had been so wrapped up with Phil and Max that I hadn't really been paying attention to the Inner Circle Drama. I know Sammy was out and that Santana and Ortiz had Eddie Kingston battling for their respect, but I wasn't aware the Circle was really gone. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Jake opened the door.
"Hey Jess." He said, a touch of surprise in his voice.
"Hey Jake, is my brother here?" I asked.
"He is, just in the bathroom." He told me moving aside. I walked in and sat on the couch, finally taking my hood off. My brother came out of the bathroom and looked at Jake.
"Hey, do you mind giving us some privacy?" He asked him. Great, this is going to be a heavy talk. Jake nodded and quietly left the room. My brother and I stared at each other as he sat across from me.
"What the hell…" he started, voice already loud and angry.
"No!" I said cutting him off, "If you are just going to yell and not have a conversation, I'm out." I said sternly. His face immediately softened.
"Jessie, I'm so worried about you. What is going on?" He asked, much quieter than before.
"Chris, I appreciate that you are worried about me, but you don't need to be. I'm fine, I promise." I said trying to reassure me.
"Can you please just clarify a few things for me?" He asked.
"To the best of my abilities." I told him.
"First, you left the Inner Circle…" he said trailing off.
"Chris, everyone is leaving the Inner Circle." I said, cutting him off again.
"Don't remind me." He said, grumbling.
"I didn't leave because of you, if that's where you are going with this." I told him.
"Did you leave because of Phil?" He asked hesitantly.
"No." I said softly.
"Really because of Max?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yes, but I can't tell you why…at least not yet." He nodded, thankfully dropping it.
"Will you stay with him?"
"I'm working on a way out." I saw the relief wash over his face.
"Now, the harder topic." He said.
"Just get it out."
"Phil." Was all he said.
"What about him?" I asked innocently.
"Something is there." He stated.
"What's there Chris?" I asked getting impatient.
"You're definitely talking."
"Yes." I told him simply.
"Don't do this again." He said, his voice growing stern.
"Chris I'm a grown woman, I can make my own decisions." I told him, my voice straining.
"Apparently you can't make the right ones!" He said, starting to yell. I stood up.
"Chris, I told you if you were going to yell…I'm walking out." I said.
"I can't help it! I don't want to see that bastard throw you around again like you're some sort of play thing!" He yelled.
"Maybe, if you actually gave him a moment and spoke to him…you'd realize he's a different Phil!" I yelled. Chris just stared at me, I took a deep breath and started to speak again.
"Listen, Phil and I are friends. We talk…we're working together in this angle…the air had to be cleared…" I started, my brother stayed silent pursing his lips together. "You were friends once…great friends…and you were going to be family…just give him a chance." I said. I looked at my brother one last time, before leaving the room. I thought we'd be better after this conversation…but now…I'm not sure what we are. I continued to walk until all of a sudden I got pulled into a closet, a hand over my mouth before I could let out a sound. The door closed and I turned around, smacking Phil on the chest when I realized it was him.
"You could have given me a heart attack!" I yelled, he laughed.
"I tried to get your attention but you didn't hear me and the opportunity to get you in here was slipping away." He said.
"I'm sorry, I just left my brother and…" I started.
"I heard." He said cutting me off.
"You heard? How?" I asked.
"Babe, the end got so loud, everyone in this hallway heard. I figured you were going to walk out sooner or later so I picked the nearest closet and waited for you to walk by." He said.
"Creep." I said as he pulled me into a hug.
"I'm sorry it didn't go the way you wanted." He said, kissing the top of my head.
"I'm not even sure which way it went…he backed off Max and my Inner Circle departure, but he seems to not want to let go of you." I said into his chest.
"Babe, I don't blame him. What we went through was bad…really bad…I hurt you in the worst way possible. If this happened to one of my sisters, I'd be the same way…hell…I would have ripped me to shreds by now if I was Chris." He said, I looked up at him.
"I just want him to talk to you." I whispered.
"He will…when he's ready…does he know?" He asked me.
"No, we are friends." I told him, he exhaled.
"You had your opportunity Jessica."
"No, I didn't…he was too mad." I said, pulling back. Phil tried to pull me back to him.
"I have to go to Max." I said, "It's very late now." Phil frowned. I began to leave when he grabbed my arm.
"I forgot to tell you, the conjoining room wasn't available, give me your key and I'll get there before you." He told me.
"How am I getting in? Max literally watches me."
"Tell the front you lost your key. Give a knock before you put your key in and I'll hide in the bathroom." I nodded and handed him my key. I tried to leave again and he pulled me back, this time his lips meeting mine. I melted against him as my arms found their way around his neck and he pulled my hips closer. He continued to deepen the kiss, before I regretfully pulled away.
"I have to go." I whispered against his lips, eyes still closed. He pressed his lips to mine again before fully pulling back. I smiled at him before making my way out and towards Max's locker room
Phil's POV
I watched Jessica leave me and let out a shaky breath. This week has been the best week in a very long time but the stress of her brother was making me nervous. I meant what I said when I told Jessica that I would have ripped me apart by now and there's no reason Chris doesn't have that in his plans. I waited a good 5 minutes before I headed out of the closet myself. I whistled to myself as I headed in the direction of catering to grab a cup of coffee. I knew Max would be having a celebration and of course I'd go ruin in….my whistling stopped as I remembered that Jessica would be dressed up and paraded around during this celebration.
"Sweatshirt." I mumbled to myself, pouring the coffee. I turned around and began to head back to my locker room. On my way, I ran into Chris. We both froze staring at each other, I offered a half smile in an attempt of a peace offering. The next thing I know, 2.0 and Daniel Garcia are behind me.
This is it…he's put a hit out on me. I took a deep breath as I prepared to fight the four of them off…and then…
They walked past me to Chris. He never took his eyes off of me either. Once they were behind him Chris walked up to me.
"Brooks." He said.
"Chris." I said, attempting to sound friendly, "How's it going?"
"Don't even try." He said back.
"Not ready to hear me out?" I asked.
"Watch yourself Phil…for the sake of my sister…your friend…I'll leave you alone for now." He said. With that he and the three men behind him walked away from me. I stood there for a moment processing what just happened. Jess was right…there is no way to tell what way their conversation went. I will say, it doesn't look like it got worse…
However…2.0? Daniel Garcia? What is going on there?
I shrugged it off heading to my locker room once again, pulling out my phone and texted a quick message to Jess.
"Just had a very strange altercation with your brother and what looks like his new friends." I slipped my phone into my pocket and pushed my door open.
Jessica's POV
I pushed open the door to see everyone just about ready for the celebration. I said nothing to no one as my eyes fell upon a red headed woman sitting on the couch with her arms folded. She immediately made a nasty face when she saw me.
"Who's this?" She asked.
"My leverage." Came Max's reply, "Don't worry, she won't outshine you tonight." He said, kissing the top of her head. I turned to Mike and put my finger down my throat making a gagging noise. He covered his mouth with his hand to stifle his laugh.
"Now," Max said turning his attention to me, "Your outfit." He said throwing the pieces to me. I held each one out to examine them…there was literally nothing being left the imagination.
"Absolutely not." I said.
"You don't have a choice." He said, "That or your precious secret is out." He finished smiling. Phil was going to die…and then murder Max in front of thousands of people…the secret might come out before we're ready. "Go put it on." He said, his smile growing. I groaned and headed into the bathroom behind him to change. Once I did I took a look at myself and my stomach hit the floor. I hadn't dressed like this in years…since the start of my career in…the other place. I had worked so hard to be more than a pretty face and body and all of a sudden I was back to it.
"We're waiting!" Yelled Max. I begrudgingly walked out of the bathroom and Max started applauding, "Don't you just look like you want to die!" I crossed my arms over myself in an attempt to cover up. Mike handed me a silk robe to wear, the one that matched the redhead's.
"Here's the headpiece, too." Max said handing it to me. I sat on the couch and put my heels on as he continued, "Now you both will escort me down the ramp and then each of you will kiss me on the cheek…well babe," he said turning to his girlfriend who I could careless to get her name, "You'll do a bit more." He finished winking, she giggled and I swear this time I was going to vomit.
"I have to touch you?" I asked him.
"If you want…" he started.
"Yeah, yeah I got it." I said cutting him off, I figured it was worth a try to get out of it.
"Now, you boys know what to do if PG Punk shows up…protect me and my woman." Max told Mike and Sean. I hope she trips on her way down the ramp. We sat there as Max kept talking and primping for his big moment. I mentally checked out until it was time for us to head to the ramp. I kept my robe on all the way to curtain and only dropped it when his music hit. His girlfriend on the other hand strut her stuff all over the back and to the ramp. I took a deep breath, grabbed Max's arm and walked out. I tried to just keep my eyes forward, not looking to make eye contact with anyone. We hit the ring, climbed on the apron and Max leaned his cheek towards me. I hesitated as the crowd began to yell. I closed my eyes, leaned forward and kissed him quickly on the cheek. The crowd booed, Max smirked, and I could swear I could feel Phil's anger from the back. We got in the ring and the mic was handed over.
"Cut my music…settle down…settle down I have the mic!" He started. I hung back by Mike as Max ate up all the attention. I looked around the ring to see large cut outs of Max and Phil. One where he's mocking the Pipe Bomb pose and the other of him choking Phil out.
"You're going to need this." Mike whispered in my ear, handing me a glass of Champagne. I mouthed a silent "Thank you" and downed the glass in one gulp. He laughed and poured me more.
"Now, I think I made it clear last week, that I am the best wrestler on the planet!" Max spoke again. I rolled my eyes for what felt like the hundredth time. Max went on about how he's better than everyone and that he's beaten Phil twice so he's better than the best in the world.
"However, I couldn't do it without one strapping young man…" Phil began. Mike nodded, impressed by Max's decision to give him credit…to be honest so was I.
"Sean Spears! Get over here Sean!" Mike froze as Sean joyously joined Max. They hugged and Sean presented Max with his new shirt. Then Max spoke about how he's better than Brett in Canada, Piper in Portland, and Punk in Chicago and it was about time he became AEW Champion. I looked up at Mike and watched his jaw tighten and clench over and over again…he was pissed…and had every right to be. All of a sudden Phil quietly came out, no music, no extra hype. I looked down the ramp at him and he was pissed. Even when he made eye contact with me, his anger didn't dissipate. A mic came and Phil began talking about how Max's win wasn't legit and that if they like to beat up on people he has friends…as if on cue Darby and Sting came out with bats and handed one to Phil. My eyebrows raised…he was really pissed.
"I want a rematch, not with you Max, with the big man…the one who really beat me. Now listen to me and listen to me good, you can be on the end of the beating these guys are about to get or you can grow some balls and leave these jerks!" Phil yelled. Mike began to walk forward and I froze. Max began to panic and object to Phil's statement.
"I beat you all by myself!" He yelled.
"You hear that Wardlow?!" Phil yelled back. Once again, Mike began to move forward…FTR and Sean tried to hold him back.
"Wardlow is not just here because he's under contract, he's here because he's our best friend!" Max yelled. Sean put his arm around Mike and Mike nodded and smiled….damn it Mike!
FTR got involved in the yelling and some how Phil ended up with a tag match where he had to find a partner that wasn't Darby or Sting. If he won…he'd get to pick a match with Max any time anywhere. Phil nodded, clearly okay with his circumstances.
"Oh, Max…I'm not done right now." Phil, Darby and Sting rushed to the ring with their bats. The men scattered around me as I stayed in my spot. Phil took off his sweatshirt and threw it to me so I could cover up. As I zipped it up the men made sure the ring was clear, throwing the cut outs from the ring. Phil turned his attention to me. He walked up and reached out for my face, his hand lightly grazing my cheek. The crowd was going crazy, his body got closer and he dropped his head down…he wasn't about to blow it all was he?
"Phil…" I whispered. He gave me a small smile, "Don't…not here…not now." I pleaded. Before he could answer Max's voice came screaming through a mic.
"GET OVER HERE NOW! DON'T YOU DARE BREAK YOUR CONTRACT!" He screamed.
"Don't go." Phil pleaded. The crowd continued to scream for us to kiss.
"I have to…" I grabbed his hand and pulled it from my face. I gave it a squeeze before letting it drop and walked to Max at the top of ramp. The crowd booed as I left Phil in the ring. I gave him one last look before leaving and following Max to the back. No one said a word as we went to the locker room. I headed right into the bathroom to change and get out of this stupid outfit. When I came out Max told me we'd watch the match from the back…didn't want to risk me and Phil having another moment. I pulled my phone out and saw Phil's text from earlier about my brother.
"We'll talk later in our room. Good luck finding a partner…I love you."
No response.
Obviously I had to change a bit from that segment for it to fit the story. So do we think that Phil is mad? He definitely couldn't of been happy with the kiss. How about Chris? He's definitely not going to be happy with what happened in the ring!