-I want to give a shout-out to my buddies at Yahoo for giving me the real names of the WWE Superstars! Thanx! (gives chocolates)

By the time school was over, I decided to go out and get a quick bite. I settled at the famous college hangout, The Danger Zone, a combination pizza place and video arcade where both the SC and RRC students always gather after every winning game of our seasons, but luckily things were pretty tame this afternoon. I pushed through the revolving door and saw several junior high were playing arcade games, and the others were talking and laughing happily. Kids were running around, their tokens dropping on the red marble floor.

"J! Hey J! Over here!" someone shouted.

I scanned the arcade and spotted Rey waving me over. I nodded across the sea of heads and started walking toward that way.

The stereos hung up at the sides of the huge room blasted rock music, making the noise around me as deafening as it is. The Danger Zone was a big barn of a room, with arcade games lining the walls and the dining tables crammed at the center. I threaded my way through the passing people, and even in that bedlam, I still heard my name.

"The champ is here." I announced when I reached Rey's table.

Rey smiled. "I know you're gonna be here. I already placed an order for us. The pizza and the root beer will be here any minute."

I nodded again but I kept noticing the man sitting in our table. The guy was huge, but by the way his large muscular arms buried his face on the table, dirty blond hair only in sight, I'm saying that he's in a slump, whoever he is.

"Who's with you?" I asked Rey curiously.

"What?" Rey looked at the table, then back at me."Oh, that's only Bradshaw. I just found him like that when I came here. I joined him while I waited for you, but I guess I just wasted my efforts comforting him."

John "Bradshaw" Layfield, alongside with his partner, Ron "Faarooq" Simmons, were the two brawlers of the SC Eagles. Judging by their sizes, around 6"6 to 6"7 feet tall, they are somewhat like Pillsbury Doughboys on steroids. Being the close friends that they are, they spend their time playing cards, smoke, and drink several cans of beer until they're drunk. Together, they made their enemies' lives a living hell.

"What happened? Did he get dumped or something? Where's Faarooq anyway?" My questions kept coming every second as me and Rey sat down.

Rey looked almost hesitant to speak. "That's the problem."

"What?"

Rey took a deep breath before he reluctantly continued. "Remember what happened at football practice yesterday? When you pummeled Heyman?"

"Vaguely." Of course I remembered. The wailing pig in pain. How can I forget?

"Well, Paulie kind of ran into Bradshaw and Faarooq after that. Naturally the twosome laughed at him," Rey continued. "Paulie was so pissed that he threatened to kick them off the team, but that was when Paulie thought of Bradshaw so highly because his family is practically the richest in SC. So, he kicked Faarooq off."

Really, I never heard of such horrible news my whole life. I pretended to be horrified for Bradshaw's sake. "No! He didn't!"

Bradshaw finally looked up, almost crying. "Oh yes, he did! Faarooq didn't even get me to explain."

I gave him a confused look. "Explain what?"

"I was so horribly misunderstood," Bradshaw said, looking frustrated than ever. "Faarooq told Heyman that if he's gonna kick him off the team, he will have to kick us both out."

"And you just said no?" Rey said disbelievingly.

"There's nothing I can do! Football's my whole life, guys! I can't just throw it all away!"

My jaw dropped, but Rey looked absolutely shocked.

"I have to go now," Bradshaw said, standing up. "I don't think Faarooq's ever speaking to me again, and I have to turn over a new leaf."

"Well, uh...don't you wanna eat first?" Rey asked him.

Bradshaw shook his head, flashing us a weak smile. "Thanks, but no thanks. I might be bothering you two." he added, looking right at me. I looked off, acting like I didn't see him.

When Bradshaw was gone, I dropped into his still-warm seat across Rey, who was fiddling with a plastic straw. "Don't you wanna eat with us?" I mocked. "That's the stupidest question I've ever heard."

Rey's eyes were wide as he held his palms up. "My bad. He didn't tell me any of these things until you came along."

That expalanation was far from enough. I looked at the direction from where Bradshaw left. "That bastard. He disgusts me."

"I just can't believe it." Rey said, his eyes on his Nikes.

I couldn't believe it either. Bradshaw and Faarooq, splitting up? Now this is something: Bradshaw turning his back on his only best friend just to continue his football career. Now the whole school will know all about it in less than 24 hours. Both of them are so close you couldn't get a nail file through them. Now their legacy will forever be shattered, carrying the burden to their graves.

Rey and I were both silent when the pizza finally arrived. We both dug in, grabbing slice after delicious slice of melting cheese and pepperoni. I took out all my frustrations in munching my full mouth when Rey brought up the whole thing again.

"So...what does this mean for all of us?" he asked between chews.

I wiped the pizza sauce off the corner of my mouth before I spoke up. "What do you mean?"

Rey shrugged after taking a sip of his root beer. "You know. He did say he's gonna turn over a new leaf..."

I popped the last bite into my mouth and gulped down my root beer. "Forget him. He might run for student council president or take away Eddie's position after all this fiasco."

The pizza tray was all empty, and we were left by a half-full pitcher of root beer. I paid for Rey's other half of the receipt to the waitress until she finally walked off. We were just resting, too full to move when we heard high-pitched laughter from the other side of the room. It was the SC cheerleading squad, chatting and giggling from a few tables away.

"Looks like someone's having a birthday party today," I heard Rey say.

I refilled my empty glass with root beer when I saw one of the girls stood up and started to head towards our table. I started to notice familiar features as the girl came closer. It was the cheerleading legend Torrie Wilson.

"Well, well, well," Torrie said innocently as she crossed her arms on her chest. "If it isn't our little jumping bean and the Doctor of Thuganomics."

Rey chuckled. "Very funny, Torrie. Care to join us?"

She shook her head. "No thanks. Its Dawn Marie's birthday and I have to sit with them. Where's Guerrero?"

"We couldn't find him," And a strange gleam appeared on Rey's gray eyes. "Why? Still wanna date him?"

Last summer, it has spread through the football team like wildfire that Eddie and Torrie were dating. I've seen a lot of laughing and hair tossing between them, but Eddie claimed that they were only "dating" and they're just friends now. Torrie, on the other hand, insisted that she's too young for Eddie and had no interest in him whatsoever. For all I know, Eddie just wanted to date her so he could wangle his way through the squad and get his ex-crush, tan and exotic Dawn Marie Psaltis, or for the sake of trying to get Torrie on his bed.

Torrie blushed. "Eddie and I are way over before first semester. Besides, I heard he's dating Vicky Taylor of RRC."

"He's a fool, then," Rey teased. "A girl like you's too cute to let go."

Torrie smiled that dazzling cheerleading smile of hers. I couldn't agree more with Rey. She looked really hot, wearing a black tank top with the words "Little Angel" emblazoned in white Old English text, matching her checkered red miniskirt and clogs. Her straight blond hair fell onto her shoulders, her green eyes bright and her lips shined under a coat of clear gloss. She was built too, as her cleavage made perfectly clear. I couldn't take my eyes off her.

Torrie looked at me, the brilliant smile still on her face. "Uh, Cena? I think your glass is full."

I got out of my hypnosis and my attention went to my glass overflowing with root beer, the spill almost dripping to the floor. I shifted my visor lower, hiding my reddening face as I tossed napkins on the puddle. I guess I held the pitcher for too long.

"I think I'm gonna go now and get some napkins," Torrie said, laughing lightly. "I'll see you at school, then."

Rey called another waitress to clean our table as I watched Torrie walk away. I remembered when I first saw her last summer training after my enrollment on SC. She'd tried out for cheerleading, and I've seen the way she danced gracefully, but there was just something about her so attractive...so right, that the faces of the junior cheerleaders and the squad captain said that's she's as good as in. Torrie was the only not-yet-freshman ever to make the cut—most didn't even try—and the gym had erupted into utter pandemonium when her name had been announced at the beginning of the school year. Torrie was already one of the most popular, most talked about girls in school. Becoming a freshman cheerleader had lifted her to the status of legend.

I also remembered that fateful summer day, when I had also practiced for the football team. I was big sweaty mess after all those running drills. Eddie and Rey already ran to the showers while I lagged behind, taking off my shirt on the side of the field. I was searching in vain of a towel in my duffel bag when I felt soft fingers tapping on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Torrie with her game-day smile, an armload of towels in her arms.

"Towel?" she had asked. I blindly grabbed one and watched her ran off, giving towels to the other team players, and I felt her smiling face burning into my brain. She was all I ever thought about ever since.

"Smooth," Rey joked when the waitress left. "Torrie Wilson must be crazy for your hots right now."

"Shut up!" I scowled, throwing a crumpled napkin at him.

We were throwing wads at each other when we found several SC students running around outside, seeming to head to a certain place. Rey and I stood up and stared out the glass panes.

"What the hell's going on?"

Rey shrugged. "Maybe Eddie knows."

I tried to look for Eddie's low-rider of the week, but found none in sight. "He's not around here, that's for sure."

After several minutes, a low-rider actually stopped itself in front of The Danger Zone and Eddie bursted through the revolving doors, a wild expression on his face.

"So this is where you are, vato locos!" he cried. ""I've been looking all over for you two!"

I was in a loss. "What, you started up a riot again?"

Eddie shook his head, looking impatient. "No, this is bigger. I'll tell you in the car. Go!"

Rey and I both looked at each other before we followed Eddie out the door to his car. I scrambled to the back seat while Rey sat in the front. Eddie frantically took the key to the ignition and the engine roared into life. We shut the doors the very same time as Eddie drove towards the SC campus.

"Ok, Eddie, enough with the cloak-and-dagger routine," I asked Eddie almost irritably. "What the fuck is going on?"

Eddie looked at me from his rearview mirror, designed with dangling pink dice cuffs. "Football field. Paul Heyman was punked out."

Rey this time. "By whom?"

Eddie shrugged. "I don't know yet."

When Eddie parked his car in front of the school's parking lot, we charged out the doors and ran to the football field. When we reached the place, we saw a group of SC students circled in one place. The three of us pushed through the huddled crowd, and my eyes widened as I saw it.

Paul Heyman was flat on the ground, completely unconscious. His face was battered and bruised, and his forehead was busted open, the blood trickling down to his ears. Heck, I'm not the only one who holds a grudge on him, but this isn't normal at all. Then I noticed a crumpled piece of notebook paper taped to his chest. I grabbed the paper and read the note.

BEWARE ON FRIDAY, EAGLES. WE MIGHT EAT YOUR WINGS. H.O.F.B.

"H.O.F.B?" Rey read beside me. "What the hell does that mean?"

I didn't say anything. This kind of beating...a completely noticeable threat...these initials serving as a symbolism to those sinners' only mean one thing.

"Helmsley...Orton...Flair...Batista," I deduced carefully.

Eddie was the one who got it. "Evolution."

Evolution is a group of bullies from Red River College, joined with the football team. They've done enough stupid things when they first graced their school; I'm surprised they aren't expelled yet. Principal McMahon said they were too talented, too rich to be expelled. Those bullies had everything they wanted; money, women, good looks, flashy limousines, and any other stuff self-centered peacocks would like.

"Just when you thought things have gotten stranger around here," Eddie said dryly. "Me and Paulie aren't exactly hermanos, but this is so wrong."

The corner of Rey's lip curled. "This is just sick, Evolution's handiwork."

I gulped. Thursday was the draft lottery, and Friday was the away game against the RRC Lions. If ever I got drafted to RRC, I might not see the lights of day ever again.

The medics finally came and took Heyman away. Other people started walking off; going back to their own business, but the three of us remained, watching the ambulance whisk away from the school territory. The sky turned purplish-black, and soon the stars will appear, curving toward the horizon as if pasted inside a giant bowl. I inhaled the scent of the warm night air, but I still didn't feel better. It's almost like there's an angry black cloud right above me, ready to pour out rain any minute.

"I guess this would be the last time,." I blurted out.

"The last time?" Eddie and Rey echoed.

"At Thursday, one of us is gonna be drafted on the Brawler Club."

"Oh," Rey said, tugging his dark hair. "The draft lottery thing."

Eddie's eyes went back and forth on both of us. "You let that stupid thing affect you so much? Lighten up, vatos!"

I frowned at Eddie. "This isn't funny, Eddie. Any of could see you don't want to be drafted on RRC too!"

I half-expected Eddie to explode, rather yell defensively, but he just looked at me with those serious eyes. "We have only known each other last summer, esse. I never thought you'd get under my skin so easily."

Rey cringed. "Don't remind me. We weren't exactly peas in a pod when me and Eddie first met you, J. No offense, bro."

I rolled my eyes skyward. "Refresh my memory."

No one said anything for a moment.

"You know what?" I suddenly said out of the blue. "Fuck the lottery. It doesn't matter where I end up."

Rey raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

I smiled for the first time that day. "Why? Coz' your my boys."

Eddie and Rey both grinned (man, those two have lots of teeth!). We caught each other in a bone-breaking hug. "And you'll always be our little asshole."

After that, we bid good night to each other when we reached our dormitory. And as I lay in my bed with half-lit eyes, I know everything will be just peachy on Thursday.

Or so I'd thought.

(t.b.c.)