Chapter Eight

Jem sighed, setting her bag down on her doorstep as she unlocked the front door to her house. It was her day off and she couldn't have been any unhappier. Jeff was gone…Jeff was gone. The words repeatedly passed through her head as she made her way up the stairs to her room. She threw her bag down and got into bed, throwing the covers over her body. She was so tired from all the emotions that had been dancing through her. She felt like an idiot for so many reasons and all of them had to do with Jeff. She rushed into something that would have probably never happened anyway. Tears escaped her eyes and into her pillow. "I'm so stupid," she whispered, closing her eyes.

"Hi, I'm not here right now, but please leave your name and number and I'll be happy to return your call. Thanks for calling and have a wonderful day!" the voice cheerily exclaimed. "Hey Jem it's me Trish. What are you up to on your day off? Why aren't you answering your phone? Don't make me get worried about you! Well anyway, I'm so excited about this new storyline, aren't you? I want to talk over some ideas I have for the whole thing so just call me back whenever. I'll talk to you later…Oh and Jem, don't think about what happened with Jeff. It's over and done with. See ya later, I love you." She hung up the phone and sighed. She was so worried about Jem that it was almost unbearable. "I hope she'll be okay," Chris said from behind. Trish turned around and nodded sadly. "Me too. Have you found out why Jeff was released?" she asked curiously. Chris ran a hand through his hair and contemplated on whether telling the young woman. "Oh come on Chris! Everyone is going to find out anyway," Trish said, noticing the look on his face. "It was drugs," he said softly, as her eyes widened. "What? I thought that was a rumor…He was actually doing them?" she asked, shocked. Chris nodded and shrugged. "Appearances deceive," he answered.

::Unforgiven, Milwaukee, Wisconsin::

"I hate how everyone thinks I'm having a problem with this whole Jeff situation," Jem complained, sitting down in the Women's locker room. "You do have a problem with and everyone is trying to help," Trish explained. "Well thanks for telling me flat out I'm problematic," Jem said, making a face. "I didn't say that, but you can just go on thinking whatever you want. Everyone is trying to make you feel better and you are choosing to push them away. Jeff is not coming back," Trish replied. "How do you know?" Jem asked, crossing her arms. "I don't know, but---Exactly!" Jem cut her off. "And stop telling me I have problems. You are such a hypocrite! You were telling me not to get into "business affairs," yet you are screwing around with Tyson!" she exclaimed, as Trish shot to her feet. "You know damn well nothing is going on between us. So what if I have a small crush? At least I'm not kissing him when he has a girlfriend like you did with Jeff! He's probably better off out of the company because now he can be with his girlfriend. The one he loves! He didn't love you and you are so thickheaded that you don't get that! Get over him because I bet anything he is probably over you!" Trish yelled, fire burning in her eyes. Jem clenched her fists tightly. "Forget this, I'm not wasting my time on you," she said, walking towards the door. She slammed it shut leaving Trish hurt and confused. She hated fighting with people especially people she considered friends. She couldn't understand why Jem couldn't let Jeff go. She sat back down and focused on calming her shaking body down.

"Well I'm glad you're good enough to accompany me to the ring," Trish said, approaching the curtain where Jem was currently standing. "Let's just get this crap over with," the other woman said, cracking her neck. Trish was about to say something, but Lisa-Marie, Stevie and Chris all came walking up to them. "Ready?" they asked in unison. "Yep, ready as I'll ever be," Trish answered. "Ready as I'll ever be," Jem mocked in a sarcastic tone. Chris noticed the tension between the two friends and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Is everything okay?" he asked. "Everything is fine!" Jem snapped, staring at the curtain. "Stupid of me to even ask," he said, as Trish's theme music came on. "Let's go," she said, swinging the title onto her shoulder.

The match went as planned and once they all got backstage, Jem and Trish separated ways. Chris looked back and forth wondering who to follow. Finally, he decided on Trish since he didn't want Jem to snap at him once again. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, catching up to her. When she didn't answer, he took her arm and turned her towards him. "Please tell me. I don't like seeing you guys like this," he said, as she leaned against the wall. Closing her eyes, she wiped the sweat off her face and sighed. "Who knew Jeff could be such a problem?" she asked, and when she opened her eyes, a fresh tear came rolling down her cheek. "Aw Trish, don't be upset," he said, patting her arm. "I'm just trying to help her, ya know?" she asked, sniffling. "Trish! What's wrong," Tyson suddenly asked, jogging up to them. She looked up at him and smiled slightly. "It's nothing, don't worry about it," she assured him, wiping her tear. Chris looked back and forth between them and raised his eyebrows. "Alright well, I'm going to go. I'll try talking to Jem for you," he told Trish, as he kissed her cheek. "See ya," she said, watching him walk away. She then looked at Tyson and smiled. "So what's up?" she asked, trying to change the subject. "Uh, not much, but I have a question for you," he said. She noticed his shyness and she giggled. "What is it?" she teased, slapping his arm. "I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight. I mean, you know, nothing fancy. I know we have to fly to Houston tomorrow, but we could make it short…and sweet," he said nervously, fidgeting with the bottom of his wife-beater. "Sure!" she exclaimed, but her mind traveled back to her conversation with Jem and how in a way she truly was a hypocrite. "Actually, I can't. I'm sorry Tyson. I don't date other wrestlers," she said, her heart breaking. His smile slowly turned to a frown and he nodded slowly. "Okay, I understand," he lied. They stood in silence until he finally told her goodbye. She watched him leave and she kicked the wall. "Damn," she whispered to herself.

Jem swung her bag over her shoulder and as she was preparing to leave, she saw Chris standing outside of the locker room. "Hey," he greeted, as she nodded, acknowledging his presence. "Uh, do you want to talk?" he asked. "Not really," she said truthfully. "Alright, well whenever you do, don't hesitate to talk to me," he told her, as she finally smiled. "Thanks," she said, squeezing his hand. She began walking away, but he stopped her. "Before you go, I found this on the floor out here. I don't know if you dropped it or someone else did, but I'm guessing it's for you since it has your name written on the front of it," he joked, handing her the small envelope. She cautiously took it and looked down at it. "Not even worth it anymore," she muttered, walking away, her eyes still glued to the envelope.