"Keeping that ring in sight, right?" I asked sitting across from
Shane in catering.
He smiled at me and put down the turkey sandwich he had been eating. He reached into the top of his shirt and pulled out the long chain where my class ring swung freely. "Thanks for giving it back to me."
"Shane, I think you've thanked me now a record of 50 times since like two weeks ago when I gave it back," I laughed. "Ya know, I've been thinking."
"That's frightening," he muttered.
"I'm offended!" I exclaimed placing my hand over my chest as if in shock.
"Mmmhmm, I'm sure you are," he smiled.
"Anyways, I was thinking about what you asked me after the RPW show," I said.
"Case, that was like a month ago."
"Yeah, but still. I was thinking about the question. Ya remember what you asked me, right?"
"Actually, my brain doesn't go that far back."
"Well, you asked me to hang out with Kim. Get to know her. Because you loved me and you really liked her. So you wanted us to get along and possibly be friends."
"Ah, well, Case, you see you don't have to," I put my hand up in front of his face to stop him and smiled.
"Shane, I've decided that you're right. I should give her a chance. If I wanna stay friends with you and be close with you, I have to get to know her and get used to her, and all that good shit. So the next time we're home, I'll go shopping with her or something," I finished, crossing arms and leaning back in the chair.
"Well, you see, there's a problem with that plan," Shane said.
"There is? How so?"
"Well, Kim and I, well, she's moving out this weekend," he replied softly.
"What? Why? Huh?"
"Okay, well, we got into a huge fight after I talked to you about the ring. So, she said she'd had enough. And confessed everything to me," he sighed.
"Confessed everything?" I asked.
"Yeah, apparently while I've been on the road she'd go see some Indy shows. Well, I guess she'd go back to her roots, if you will."
"Oh no Shane. She didn't."
"Yeah, she did. She went back to her old ring rat days. She told me between November and that nite, she had slept with over 20 different wrestlers." He picked up his sandwich and continued eating as the room started to fill.
"Are you serious? What a slut!"
"Yeah, that's what I told her. So she said she just needed a couple weeks to get a new apartment and then she'd leave. So she's moving back to Arizona. And I say good riddens."
"Well there are plenty of other fish in the sea."
"Yeah, I'm beginning to see that." He smiled at me as I leaned across the table and kissed his cheek.
"Well, I'm gonna go get ready for the show. I'll see you in about an hour!" I ran out of the room and entered the locker room. "Okay, so best news ever!"
"What are you all excited about?" Stacy asked as she put lotion on her arms.
"Shane and Kim are no longer! If that's not a reason for celebration, I don't know what is!" I laughed.
"You're seriously happy that he and his girlfriend broke up?" Gail asked as I nodded at her. "You're cruel."
"No, she's cruel!" I exclaimed.
"Okay, why'd they break up?" Nora asked.
"Alright, they broke up because she told him that since November, she's slept with over 20 different wrestlers from the Indy scene," I explained.
"Holy shit! She's a slut!" Stacy laughed.
"I think slut is an understatement," Amy replied walking into the conversation.
"Ah, so you've heard the news too?" I smiled.
"Yeah, Matt explained it ALL to me. More information than I needed though," she laughed.
"I'm so happy. She just wasn't right for him anyways," I said digging through my duffle bag.
"Casey, who is right for him?" Trish asked walking out of the showers toweling her hair.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Case, what she's trying to say is that in your mind no one is going to be right for him. You don't want him to have anyone but you and yet you still love Jeff more than Shane. How is that possible?" Nora asked.
"What are ya'll talking bout?! That's a load of,"
"The truth!" Amy yelled interrupting me.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Of course there is someone out there that's right for him. I'm with Jeff. I don't want anyone else. Would ya'll just stop this?" I stood angrily with my clothes in my hands and walked into the back to change.
'Long lost words whisper slowly to me
still can't find what keeps me here
when all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there'
I walked into the fog that clouded up the stage. Blue flames marked my entrance as I waited for the fog to clear some. I smiled out at the crowd and pointed to the ring where Billy Kidman stood waiting for me with the cruiserweight belt in his hands.
'Watching me wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
fearing you loving you
I won't let you pull me down'
I looked next to me and remembered that Shane was there. He gripped my hand tightly and it just felt right. Things were finally back to normal, whatever normal was in my chaotic life. So we started our walk down the ramp, the crowd going wild for us as we reached the ring.
"And the challenger, being accompanied to the ring by fellow Bad Religion member Shane Helms. From Cameron, North Carolina, MYSTIC ANGEL!" Shane let my hand go and we slid into the ring side by side.
'Hunting you I can smell you - alive
your heart pounding in my head
watching me wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
saving me raping me
watching me.'
Shane stood in the middle of the ring, waiting for me to get off the ropes. We hit fists and he slid out of the ring. The ref held up the belt that would soon be mine and motioned for the bell. Billy and I locked up, moving around in a circle, before I brought him to his knee in a headlock. He elbowed his way out of it and I immediately let go. He looked to the ropes and bounced off, I dropped to the mat and he leaped over me. Quickly I stood and hit him with a drop kick. Somehow we managed to get up at the same time. Glaring at him, thoughts ran through my head of what to do, so I opted for a few chops to the chest. I backed him into the ropes and held him there, the ref started his count and I let him go, only to grab his arm and whip him into the ropes. I bent down for a back body drop and he kicked me in the head. He got me down in a snap suplex and went for a leg drop. He tried for a cover but I kicked out on the 2 count. He pulled me to my feet by my hair and whipped me into the corner. As he ran at me I moved and he nailed himself on the turnbuckle. I ran behind him and threw him back in a German suplex. I stood and saw my opportunity, I climbed up top and tried for Halo's Twist, but took too long and he threw me off the turnbuckle. He pulled me closer to the corner and went for his ever famous shooting star press. I quickly rolled away and we both laid on the mat tired and worn out. The ref started his count and I could Shane in the distance cheering me on and along with his cheers came the encouragement from the audience. I finally found my footing by the 7th count. I stood and stared at Billy as he had just gotten to his feet, but still bent over in pain. I grabbed him and nailed his head into the mat in a DDT. I pulled him back up and started hitting the chops. He grabbed my arms and threw it down. Somehow he had picked me up and I was now sitting on his shoulders as he got ready for a powerbomb. I reversed it and we were both down once again, due to my desperation Hurracanrana. I crawled to him and hooked his leg. Miraculously he kicked out just before the ref's hand hit the mat for the third time. Shocked, I slowly stood up. I had had just about enough of him and was ready to finish him. I turned my back to him as I started for the ropes, suddenly I felt my shoulders on the mat and realized he had just pulled a rollup on me. I managed to kick out but stayed on the mat while Billy got up. He picked me up and whipped me into the ropes. He was going for tilt-a-whirl neckbreaker, I just knew it. So I positioned myself for a spear, and on my way back towards him, rammed him into the mat. I turned him over and locked on Halo's Ring.
'Long lost words whisper slowly to me
still can't find what keeps me here
when all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there'
I could hear my music and I felt Shane's hand on my back. I slowly released the hold and stood. The ref handed me the Cruiserweight belt and Shane raised my hand into the air. He patted my stomach as I held the belt up to the crowd.
"And here is your winner, MYSTIC ANGEL!!" Shane hugged my tightly before we walked up the ramp and into the back. I felt good. I was the new Cruiserweight champion and for once in a long time, I wasn't hurt.
"Mmmm, title belt," I moaned happily as I held the cold metal to my face. Shane laughed at me as he led me through the hall.
"It was a good match Case. I think you did better tonite than you've done in a while," he commented.
"And hey, I'm not even injured," I laughed as I left him at the Diva's locker room door.
****************
"I can't believe tomorrow nite is the last nite we'll be together like this," I sighed as Jeff walked up behind me in the bathroom. He put his arms around me and I placed my hands on his.
"I know," he replied softly placing soft kisses on my bare shoulder. "Are you okay with this?"
I smiled and turned to face him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he lifted me onto the counter. He stepped in between my legs, his hands up the back of my shirt, rubbing my back gently. "Yeah, I am. I'm over it. Besides, I know that you'll be at home waiting for me."
"Mmm, of course I will be," he smiled kissing me deeply. "I've never loved someone as much as I love you."
"Me either," I breathed kissing him deeper and deeper. He kissed my neck and moved onto my shoulder before finding his way back to my lips. "Mmm, Jeff, we can't." I pushed him away.
"Of course we can," he replied.
"No, we don't have time. We have to be at the arena in an hour and we're not even dressed or packed yet," I said. He looked at me strangely as if he had no clue what I was talking about. "Remember? They're doing that meet and greet before WrestleMania. So we have to be all dressed and ready to go for that. Plus I have to warm and do a sound check."
"Ah, that's right. I remember. Tonite you sing the National Anthem," he smiled.
"Yeah, I'm so nervous though," I sighed dropping my arms. He lifted me off the counter and kissed my forehead.
"You'll do fine. You've got a beautiful voice. You deserve this," he nodded at me before leaving me to finish getting dressed.
"So what are you wearing tonite?" Amy asked looking through her bag.
"Probably just a tank top and the bondage pants with the chains," I smiled.
"Oh that's right, you don't have a match. You're valeting for the last time with Bad Religion," Trish smiled applying some foundation.
"Yeah, don't remind me," I sighed. "Hey do any of you have a knee pad I could borrow for the match?"
"Wait, if you're not having a match, why do you need a knee pad for it?" Trish asked placing her hands on her hips.
"No disqualification tag title match," I smiled.
"Ah," she replied with a chuckled.
"Ask Matt," Amy suggested. I quickly stood and ran out of the locker room towards his. I stepped and he seemed to be the only one in there. He shook his head at me when he saw me.
"What brings you to this side of the world? Jeff's in catering," he said.
"I actually came to see you my big brother," I smiled.
"What do you want?"
"Now what makes you think I want something?"
"I know you."
"Alright, so I need to borrow one of your knee pads for my left knee. I'll give it right back to you after the match."
"Wait, one?"
"Yes, one, I have a massive bruise on that knee and it's gonna be killing me if I have to nail it on the mat or something."
"What happened?"
"Well, um, I'd like to say that I was inventing a new move, but that'd be a lie."
"Then what did you do?"
"I tripped on the steps outside the ring."
He burst out laughing, almost falling over in the process. I placed my hands on my hips and glared at him. "It's good to know that somethings don't change with you, Case."
"I'm glad you could be amused by my klutziness. Can I borrow one or not?"
"Yeah, over in that duffle bag. Help yourself," he laughed pointing to his bag on the bench.
I opened one end of the bag and rummaged through it. I didn't find the knee pads, but what I did find was a ring box. I opened it up and almost fell faint from the beauty of the ring. "Oh my God. Matt this ring is beautiful." He whipped his head around and stared at me. He rushed to my side and grabbed it out of my hand.
"Um," he stuttered.
"Is it for Amy? Her birthday?" I asked as I watched him place the ring back in the bag.
"Yeah, that's it! Do you think she'll like it?" Matt asked.
"Oh yeah. I mean I love it, so if she doesn't want it, I'll take it."
He chuckled and said, "I'll keep that in mind." He pulled out the knee pad and handed it to me. "I believe this is what you were looking for."
"Thanks, and don't worry, right after the match you'll get it back. And I won't shed a word about the ring to Amy," I smiled as I left.
He smiled at me and put down the turkey sandwich he had been eating. He reached into the top of his shirt and pulled out the long chain where my class ring swung freely. "Thanks for giving it back to me."
"Shane, I think you've thanked me now a record of 50 times since like two weeks ago when I gave it back," I laughed. "Ya know, I've been thinking."
"That's frightening," he muttered.
"I'm offended!" I exclaimed placing my hand over my chest as if in shock.
"Mmmhmm, I'm sure you are," he smiled.
"Anyways, I was thinking about what you asked me after the RPW show," I said.
"Case, that was like a month ago."
"Yeah, but still. I was thinking about the question. Ya remember what you asked me, right?"
"Actually, my brain doesn't go that far back."
"Well, you asked me to hang out with Kim. Get to know her. Because you loved me and you really liked her. So you wanted us to get along and possibly be friends."
"Ah, well, Case, you see you don't have to," I put my hand up in front of his face to stop him and smiled.
"Shane, I've decided that you're right. I should give her a chance. If I wanna stay friends with you and be close with you, I have to get to know her and get used to her, and all that good shit. So the next time we're home, I'll go shopping with her or something," I finished, crossing arms and leaning back in the chair.
"Well, you see, there's a problem with that plan," Shane said.
"There is? How so?"
"Well, Kim and I, well, she's moving out this weekend," he replied softly.
"What? Why? Huh?"
"Okay, well, we got into a huge fight after I talked to you about the ring. So, she said she'd had enough. And confessed everything to me," he sighed.
"Confessed everything?" I asked.
"Yeah, apparently while I've been on the road she'd go see some Indy shows. Well, I guess she'd go back to her roots, if you will."
"Oh no Shane. She didn't."
"Yeah, she did. She went back to her old ring rat days. She told me between November and that nite, she had slept with over 20 different wrestlers." He picked up his sandwich and continued eating as the room started to fill.
"Are you serious? What a slut!"
"Yeah, that's what I told her. So she said she just needed a couple weeks to get a new apartment and then she'd leave. So she's moving back to Arizona. And I say good riddens."
"Well there are plenty of other fish in the sea."
"Yeah, I'm beginning to see that." He smiled at me as I leaned across the table and kissed his cheek.
"Well, I'm gonna go get ready for the show. I'll see you in about an hour!" I ran out of the room and entered the locker room. "Okay, so best news ever!"
"What are you all excited about?" Stacy asked as she put lotion on her arms.
"Shane and Kim are no longer! If that's not a reason for celebration, I don't know what is!" I laughed.
"You're seriously happy that he and his girlfriend broke up?" Gail asked as I nodded at her. "You're cruel."
"No, she's cruel!" I exclaimed.
"Okay, why'd they break up?" Nora asked.
"Alright, they broke up because she told him that since November, she's slept with over 20 different wrestlers from the Indy scene," I explained.
"Holy shit! She's a slut!" Stacy laughed.
"I think slut is an understatement," Amy replied walking into the conversation.
"Ah, so you've heard the news too?" I smiled.
"Yeah, Matt explained it ALL to me. More information than I needed though," she laughed.
"I'm so happy. She just wasn't right for him anyways," I said digging through my duffle bag.
"Casey, who is right for him?" Trish asked walking out of the showers toweling her hair.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Case, what she's trying to say is that in your mind no one is going to be right for him. You don't want him to have anyone but you and yet you still love Jeff more than Shane. How is that possible?" Nora asked.
"What are ya'll talking bout?! That's a load of,"
"The truth!" Amy yelled interrupting me.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Of course there is someone out there that's right for him. I'm with Jeff. I don't want anyone else. Would ya'll just stop this?" I stood angrily with my clothes in my hands and walked into the back to change.
'Long lost words whisper slowly to me
still can't find what keeps me here
when all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there'
I walked into the fog that clouded up the stage. Blue flames marked my entrance as I waited for the fog to clear some. I smiled out at the crowd and pointed to the ring where Billy Kidman stood waiting for me with the cruiserweight belt in his hands.
'Watching me wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
fearing you loving you
I won't let you pull me down'
I looked next to me and remembered that Shane was there. He gripped my hand tightly and it just felt right. Things were finally back to normal, whatever normal was in my chaotic life. So we started our walk down the ramp, the crowd going wild for us as we reached the ring.
"And the challenger, being accompanied to the ring by fellow Bad Religion member Shane Helms. From Cameron, North Carolina, MYSTIC ANGEL!" Shane let my hand go and we slid into the ring side by side.
'Hunting you I can smell you - alive
your heart pounding in my head
watching me wanting me
I can feel you pull me down
saving me raping me
watching me.'
Shane stood in the middle of the ring, waiting for me to get off the ropes. We hit fists and he slid out of the ring. The ref held up the belt that would soon be mine and motioned for the bell. Billy and I locked up, moving around in a circle, before I brought him to his knee in a headlock. He elbowed his way out of it and I immediately let go. He looked to the ropes and bounced off, I dropped to the mat and he leaped over me. Quickly I stood and hit him with a drop kick. Somehow we managed to get up at the same time. Glaring at him, thoughts ran through my head of what to do, so I opted for a few chops to the chest. I backed him into the ropes and held him there, the ref started his count and I let him go, only to grab his arm and whip him into the ropes. I bent down for a back body drop and he kicked me in the head. He got me down in a snap suplex and went for a leg drop. He tried for a cover but I kicked out on the 2 count. He pulled me to my feet by my hair and whipped me into the corner. As he ran at me I moved and he nailed himself on the turnbuckle. I ran behind him and threw him back in a German suplex. I stood and saw my opportunity, I climbed up top and tried for Halo's Twist, but took too long and he threw me off the turnbuckle. He pulled me closer to the corner and went for his ever famous shooting star press. I quickly rolled away and we both laid on the mat tired and worn out. The ref started his count and I could Shane in the distance cheering me on and along with his cheers came the encouragement from the audience. I finally found my footing by the 7th count. I stood and stared at Billy as he had just gotten to his feet, but still bent over in pain. I grabbed him and nailed his head into the mat in a DDT. I pulled him back up and started hitting the chops. He grabbed my arms and threw it down. Somehow he had picked me up and I was now sitting on his shoulders as he got ready for a powerbomb. I reversed it and we were both down once again, due to my desperation Hurracanrana. I crawled to him and hooked his leg. Miraculously he kicked out just before the ref's hand hit the mat for the third time. Shocked, I slowly stood up. I had had just about enough of him and was ready to finish him. I turned my back to him as I started for the ropes, suddenly I felt my shoulders on the mat and realized he had just pulled a rollup on me. I managed to kick out but stayed on the mat while Billy got up. He picked me up and whipped me into the ropes. He was going for tilt-a-whirl neckbreaker, I just knew it. So I positioned myself for a spear, and on my way back towards him, rammed him into the mat. I turned him over and locked on Halo's Ring.
'Long lost words whisper slowly to me
still can't find what keeps me here
when all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there'
I could hear my music and I felt Shane's hand on my back. I slowly released the hold and stood. The ref handed me the Cruiserweight belt and Shane raised my hand into the air. He patted my stomach as I held the belt up to the crowd.
"And here is your winner, MYSTIC ANGEL!!" Shane hugged my tightly before we walked up the ramp and into the back. I felt good. I was the new Cruiserweight champion and for once in a long time, I wasn't hurt.
"Mmmm, title belt," I moaned happily as I held the cold metal to my face. Shane laughed at me as he led me through the hall.
"It was a good match Case. I think you did better tonite than you've done in a while," he commented.
"And hey, I'm not even injured," I laughed as I left him at the Diva's locker room door.
****************
"I can't believe tomorrow nite is the last nite we'll be together like this," I sighed as Jeff walked up behind me in the bathroom. He put his arms around me and I placed my hands on his.
"I know," he replied softly placing soft kisses on my bare shoulder. "Are you okay with this?"
I smiled and turned to face him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he lifted me onto the counter. He stepped in between my legs, his hands up the back of my shirt, rubbing my back gently. "Yeah, I am. I'm over it. Besides, I know that you'll be at home waiting for me."
"Mmm, of course I will be," he smiled kissing me deeply. "I've never loved someone as much as I love you."
"Me either," I breathed kissing him deeper and deeper. He kissed my neck and moved onto my shoulder before finding his way back to my lips. "Mmm, Jeff, we can't." I pushed him away.
"Of course we can," he replied.
"No, we don't have time. We have to be at the arena in an hour and we're not even dressed or packed yet," I said. He looked at me strangely as if he had no clue what I was talking about. "Remember? They're doing that meet and greet before WrestleMania. So we have to be all dressed and ready to go for that. Plus I have to warm and do a sound check."
"Ah, that's right. I remember. Tonite you sing the National Anthem," he smiled.
"Yeah, I'm so nervous though," I sighed dropping my arms. He lifted me off the counter and kissed my forehead.
"You'll do fine. You've got a beautiful voice. You deserve this," he nodded at me before leaving me to finish getting dressed.
"So what are you wearing tonite?" Amy asked looking through her bag.
"Probably just a tank top and the bondage pants with the chains," I smiled.
"Oh that's right, you don't have a match. You're valeting for the last time with Bad Religion," Trish smiled applying some foundation.
"Yeah, don't remind me," I sighed. "Hey do any of you have a knee pad I could borrow for the match?"
"Wait, if you're not having a match, why do you need a knee pad for it?" Trish asked placing her hands on her hips.
"No disqualification tag title match," I smiled.
"Ah," she replied with a chuckled.
"Ask Matt," Amy suggested. I quickly stood and ran out of the locker room towards his. I stepped and he seemed to be the only one in there. He shook his head at me when he saw me.
"What brings you to this side of the world? Jeff's in catering," he said.
"I actually came to see you my big brother," I smiled.
"What do you want?"
"Now what makes you think I want something?"
"I know you."
"Alright, so I need to borrow one of your knee pads for my left knee. I'll give it right back to you after the match."
"Wait, one?"
"Yes, one, I have a massive bruise on that knee and it's gonna be killing me if I have to nail it on the mat or something."
"What happened?"
"Well, um, I'd like to say that I was inventing a new move, but that'd be a lie."
"Then what did you do?"
"I tripped on the steps outside the ring."
He burst out laughing, almost falling over in the process. I placed my hands on my hips and glared at him. "It's good to know that somethings don't change with you, Case."
"I'm glad you could be amused by my klutziness. Can I borrow one or not?"
"Yeah, over in that duffle bag. Help yourself," he laughed pointing to his bag on the bench.
I opened one end of the bag and rummaged through it. I didn't find the knee pads, but what I did find was a ring box. I opened it up and almost fell faint from the beauty of the ring. "Oh my God. Matt this ring is beautiful." He whipped his head around and stared at me. He rushed to my side and grabbed it out of my hand.
"Um," he stuttered.
"Is it for Amy? Her birthday?" I asked as I watched him place the ring back in the bag.
"Yeah, that's it! Do you think she'll like it?" Matt asked.
"Oh yeah. I mean I love it, so if she doesn't want it, I'll take it."
He chuckled and said, "I'll keep that in mind." He pulled out the knee pad and handed it to me. "I believe this is what you were looking for."
"Thanks, and don't worry, right after the match you'll get it back. And I won't shed a word about the ring to Amy," I smiled as I left.
