CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A NEW HARDCORE CHAMPION



Eve was lifting weights in the arena gym the next day, being spotted by Jeff again, when Trish Stratus came in and walked over to her.

"Hey, Eve," Trish said, sitting on the vacant bench next to her. Jeff spared Trish a quick glance before returning his gaze to Eve and her straining muscles.

"Hi, Trish. What's up?"

Trish had broken off her affair with Vince over six weeks ago with a very public slap to his face. Since then, Trish had become a much nicer person and had made up with many of her coworkers, including Eve. Jeff was still a little wary of her, though. She'd tried to seduce him before she'd gotten with Vince and it hadn't worked out. He was worried about her trying again. If she did, it could shatter the growing trust that Eve had for him.



"Good match last night," Trish complimented. "The way you and Rocky nailed those two was wonderful."

"Thanks," Eve replied with a smile. She finished her set and put the weights back on the bracing hooks. She sat up and Jeff handed her the white towel hanging around his neck. "But you didn't seek me out for that."

"Word has it that with Chyna out for so long, the Women's title is coming up for grabs, likely at Survivor."

"And what?" Eve asked with curiosity. "Are you looking to set up a match between us for the Women's title?"

"I'd like to, but I think Vince has bigger plans than that. Some kind of tournament-style with the best contenders from our side and the Alliance, if my guess is right."

Eve's interest was really peaked now. "Whatever it is, maybe we can both get in on it." A shot at the Women's title...


A few days later on Raw...

Rob Van Dam had a Hardcore title match against Kane and won. As he walked from ring, sore but triumphant, he was attacked by a whirlwind of fury looking to get a little of her own back after all the trouble he'd caused her.

Eve thought about getting revenge on Rob all weekend. Knowing he had a Hardcore match on Raw, knowing he'd be sore and an easier target than usual, she'd been unable to pass up the opportunity to knock him senseless.

When the time was right, Eve came running at RVD and slammed a metal chair in his face. When he was down, Eve followed up with a few more bangs all about his body and a kick to his crotch.

The referee from RVD and Kane's match came running up the ramp from the ring and Eve had a sudden though. A Hardcore match only needed two wrestlers and a referee, didn't need an arrangement for a match. That's how RVD had gotten the title in the first place, by attacking after a match. If he could do it, so could she. There was no rule saying that a woman couldn't hold the Hardcore title.

With a count of three, the Hardcore title was Eve's. She'd just won the first belt of her career her, plus her entrance into competing against the men.


"You're certifiable, you know that?" Jeff stated more than asked. "Anyone could attack you at any time, as long as a referee's around."

"Jeff, I know that," Eve said calmly, trying to soothe his agitation. "I thought about it right before I pinned RVD."

Eve's calm tone only served to agitate Jeff more. He paced, stopped, opened his mouth, closed it, and began pacing again. Eve snagged his arm and stopped him, then grabbed his other arm and turned him to face her.

"I may be a woman," Eve began. Jeff snorted, looking her up and down, telling her without words that he wasn't in any doubt of that fact. "I may be a woman," Eve repeated, "but I'm a lot tougher than most other women here. I don't fight the bitch cat way that most of them do, I fight like the men."

"I just don't wanna see you get hurt."

"Jeff, this is an occupation that you can't avoid getting hurt in. You of all people should know that." Eve allowed herself to give in to temptation and wrapped her arms around Jeff's waist. "Things will be okay, you'll see."

Jeff stood paralyzed for a brief moment, almost unwilling to believe that Eve had initiated this contact. Overcoming his stupefaction, he brought his arms up and wrapped them securely around Eve's shoulders, squeezing gently. Slowly, bit by bit, she was coming to trust him. He wished he could kiss her now, but if he did he was worried that it could set their relationship back a long way. As hard as it was for him, he knew that he'd have to wait until Eve kissed him. Dammit!