I don't own WWE or anyone affiliated, as of right now I only own Cheyenne....
Again thanks for all the great reviews..........
Chapter 9
The next morning went off without a hitch. Everyone was so busy that no one had the chance to play around, and at some point during the day while Shane and Jeff were working with a group in the ring, something underneath gave a large popping sound and after further inspection we noticed a few bolts coming loose.
"I'll fix it." I told Marti as I turned to go grab the tools from the garage.
"OK, I'll take over your class while you're up here." he called after me.
I nodded and kept walking. Today was a scorcher, and I had been working double time trying to keep up with the guys. Wiping the sweat from my forehead with a frustrated growl, I bent to grab the tools to repair the ring.
"Maybe you need to slow down, sweety." Shawn said softly as he watched me walk around.
"I'm fine, Shawn...I just need to fix the ring." I replied to him with a frustrated sigh while walking out of the garage and toward the ring.
I was just about to crawl under the ring when Glen jogged up with a class of trainees, "Damn, is it broken again?" he asked as John ran up next to him.
Turning I looked up at the two men, "Nope, just thought I'd crawl under here to cool off." I answered bitterly.
I screamed when I felt two arms grab me and throw me over his shoulder, "There are other ways to cool off, Chey." John replied, walking toward the pool.
"DON'T YOU DARE! YOU BIG BULL HEADED..." I cried kicking my arms and legs.
John laughed, "What are you going to do about it?" he asked stopping at the edge of the pool.
"I'm taking you with me!"
"I'd like to see you try." He quipped lifting me up and going for the toss.
As he lifted me high in the air, I grabbed for anything I could get my hands on and ended up circling my arms around his head just as he pushed me forward. I heard him yelp as my body made contact with the pool, him falling in right after.
"I told you I wasn't coming in alone!" I laughed when he came up for air.
I watched as a look of mock anger crossed his face and he came after me, "No you don't!" I exclaimed trying to run from him in waist high water.
"Remember you can run, Chey!" John yelled after me as I topped the steps to the pool and ran into the house. Later that night Glen approached me while we were cleaning up, "Hey Girlie... How you doing tonight?" He asked helping me pick up the soft Matts and placing them into a large pile.
"Tired, but good... and you?" I asked wondering what he was getting at with the small talk.
"Ready for a nice relaxing shower." he answered, then he stopped and stared at me for a moment.
"What's on your mind, Glen?" I asked looking up at him.
"Not much, I was just wondering what was up with you and Mark."
"Nothing more than you or I, why?"
Glen shifted uncomfortably, looking like he was trying to figure out how to answer my question, "Well, this morning when I walked out of my room, I noticed Mark leaving yours. When I asked what was going on, he said that he had gone in there to wake you up, but said that you'd been working so hard that you deserved the extra sleep so he turned off your alarm."
I was shocked, "What?! Glen, you're telling me a story."
He shook his head, "No sweety, I don't tell lies... Look, I just noticed Mark around you a lot. I know he enjoys your friendship... You're a really good person in his life right now... I just wanted to make sure with everything else that is going on, that you just remain his friend is all."
"What's going on Glen?" I asked concerned.
"Well, Sara filed for divorce last week... We've tried to talk with him about it and he won't talk to us, so I was hoping maybe you could try...please, don't go asking him a bunch of questions, just be there for him."
"I will... Thanks for letting me in on what's going on, Glen." I stated looking over at Mark whom was sitting quietly on the porch looking lost. "I'm going to go interrupt his thoughts."
Handing Glen the few matts I had in my hands I ran through the yard and tackled John, who was standing in front of Mark.
"Damn woman!" John yelled after we both laded in a puddle at Marks feet, "You trying to kill me?"
I shook my head, "Nope just getting you back for dumping me in the pool earlier." I laughed bouncing on his waist.
"Now, princess play nice with the young buck." Mark replied pulling me from John.
"Why, so some old man can whoop him up later?" I asked jumping back on John. "Now you're asking for it little girl!" Mark growled as he grabbed my arm and started dragging me toward the ring.
"Oh, come one old man... I was just kidding." I pleaded with a snicker as he looked back at me with playful annoyance.
"What are you going to do, dad? Haven't you beat be down enough in the ring?" I asked trying to pry my arm from his vice like grip.
Mark stopped halfway up the ring steps, "DAD! Please don't tell me you called me DAD!" he exclaimed climbing through the ropes of the ring and bringing me in behind him.
"Okay, I won't." I laughed punching him in the stomach with my free hand.
Mark and I played around in the ring, going back and forth for hours... We didn't even see the other guys had already gone inside for dinner.
"Ok, uncle." Mark finally said and sat down in the middle of the ring.
"AH, HA! I win." I exclaimed happily jumping on his back.
He sighed, "Yes princess, You win."
"Mark, are you ok?" I asked seeing the sadness and look of being lost cross his face again.
"Yeah, fine... why do you ask?"
"Well, I noticed earlier you had this... I don't know, distant look in your eyes... it went away for a little while, but it's back again. Do you want to talk about it."
Mark gave another large sigh while he looked at me, "I don't really know where to begin."
"At the beginning... isn't that where it started?"
Mark nodded, "Yeah, but I don't know where that is anymore... I've been thinking of retiring from the federation once my time is done here."
"Why?" I asked taking a seat in the middle of the ring across from him.
"Well, Sara mainly... She says that what I did was fine for a while but, now that we have our child, she wants me to quit and come home... She says I have enough money saved and with all the royalties and retirement that there is no reason for me to keep traveling."
"But, she is forgetting that you don't do it for the money... You do it because you love it."
"Exactly, I've tried explaining it to her. She even traveled with me and performed, but it isn't in her blood. I love her and I love this business, I don't want to choose, because they are both my passion."
I had no idea what to say, he was stuck in a difficult position, "Wow... I don't know what I could tell you... Maybe you should bring her here and let her see the shine in your eyes with the students, then she might see how unfair it is for her to ask you to choose."
"I wish it were that simple, princess." he said sadly laying back on the matt.
"Maybe it is... You don't know unless you try. Mark if you let either one go, she wins, but you've got to compromise to make it work... Meet each other half way, that way you both win. You guys used to communicate, you know that once that stops, it's over."
"She stopped Chey. She's filed for divorce... She wants custody and me out of her life."
"Did you try? I mean really, Mark, did you step out of your realm for more than two days a week and try?"
"That's not fair, Cheyenne, and you know it!" Mark barked sitting up.
"I do? Apparently you've made up your mind, Sara won, she was right." I stated sourly standing up.
"Dammit! I tried... I gave her everything she ever wanted..." he yelled back at me standing up in front of me.
"But you." I whispered.
"What?"
"You gave her everything... but you. That's what she wants. More time with you, her husband, her love. She probably feels that she is already raising your child alone... She probably aches for your touch and your voice..."
Mark grabbed my shoulders and pulled me to him and kissed me. Hard and fierce. At first I was shocked and turned on by his gesture, but then I grew angry and pushed him away angrily.
"Chey..." he sighed reaching for me as I backed away from him.
I touched my lips gingerly with my finger tips, "Go home, Mark." I stated going to step out of the ring.
"What, why?"
"Mark go home and kiss your wife like that and make love to her. She needs you as much as you need her."
"But she doesn't want me, not anymore... But, you... Chey, you've changed me so much in these past few weeks. I had gotten to the point were I hated life and wanted to just push everything and everyone away from me. I mean, your fun loving way you always try so hard in everything you do. I admire you and I'm starting to care for you... You know this morning I was in your room, watching you sleep?"
I nodded slowly, "Yeah, I know you were there."
"Well, I was just sitting there staring at your sweet face, contemplating crawling in there with you, just to wrap you up in my arms and hold you."
"But you should be thinking like that about Sara."
"She doesn't want me anymore... Don't you get it?" he asked raising his hands and turning away from me.
"Mark, have you thought that maybe she is waiting for you? Wanting you to be the Mark she feel in love with... when was the last time you played with her?"
Silence.
"When was the last time you kissed her with as much fiery as you did me, huh?"
More silence.
"WHEN?!"
Mark flenched when she yelled... "Again I say, go home Mark."
When I turned to look at him I could see him starting to loose his cool, "I CAN'T, CHEY! Dammit! The last time I was there things got ugly and I lost my temper... Needless to say, I have a restraining order against me."
I felt my face fall. There was the guy that blows up now and tries to fix it later... Sara is probably tired of that guy now, which is probably the reason for the restraining order, "How are you going to fix this?" I asked quietly.
"I can't. I'm to sign the papers and let her go." he sighed, running his hands through his hair, "I'm sorry, princess."
I couldn't help but think, 'for what? Kissing me like I've never been kissed before... Or for unloading all of your problems on me'. If times were different I could definitely fall in love with him... but he is licking his wounds from Sara and still asking himself how can he fix it, even if he is already trying to convince himself and everyone else that it is over. I am now and will forever be his friend.
Mark must've taken my silence as a bad sign, because he looked up at me with a helpless expression, "I hope my actions have not ruined our friendship." he sighed climbing out of the ring.
"Mark!" I called after him, "Look, I'm sorry... there has been so much... I'm still here. Just talk to me and let me know what you are thinking from now on, OK?"
He turned and smiled at me, "You got it." he smiled, hugging me as I walked over to him, "Thanks, for being such a good friend."
"You're welcome, old man." I said grabbing his mid section and kissing his cheek.
"Ah, princess, this is going to be a long summer."
Uh oh... problems in paradise........... Please review....... Thanks!
