Chapter 10
Author's note- I think this is a really good chapter. The past is closing in on Jake and may be deadly for his future.
Eric Young walked up to an apartment door. He kept checking looking over his shoulder worried about someone coming after him. Most people thought he was paranoid but with as many people after Team Canada who could blame him. He knocked on the door and Alex Shelly answered. "Hey Eric you finally made it," Shelly said welcoming Eric in. "Shelly what did you want to show me, It better be good because all day I have had to work out. Coach D'Amore is furious that Jake Reed beat both Petey and Bobby. He is taking it out on all of us," Eric said sitting down.
"Well I didn't a chance to tell you but I found out she is," Shelly said smiling pick up a tape. "Ah witch she are we talking about?" Eric Young asked confused. Alex put the tape in the VCR and spoke, "Jake Reed…" "Jake Reed is a she?" Young interrupted. "No moron don't you remember when we first met him and he was talking out loud he spoke about a she," Alex Shelly said annoyed.
Eric Young to a second to think before shaking his head yes. "Yeah well watch this," Alex said pressing play. The tape of Jake's and Traci's last confrontation played. "Wow Traci and this Jake Reed guy were lovers. Petey is going to be so jealous he has wanted her for a while. What is Bentley going to do, you know he and Traci are dating now," Eric said. "Yeah I know. I am going to do so more research and the debut my new movie." Shelly said picking up his camera.
Jake was in his house working out. He was the talk of the wrestling world with his victory at Hard Justice. Jake should have been happier but he had a bad feeling. A feeling like he was being watched. Like his past was starting to catch up with him.
The door bell rang Jake quickly toweled off put on his t-shirt and opened the door. A pair of arms was thrown around his neck and he was pulled into a kiss. "Hey baby," A female voice said after the voice. "Trinity what are you doing here?" Jake asked looking at one of his many regrettable ex-lovers. "What the matter now that you are a big star in TNA, people need an appointment to see you," She said. Jake realized she was drunk.
"I thought you were in Louisville with OVW," Jake said. "We have the week off so I came to see you and have a little fun," She said pulling a small flask out and taking a swig, "Want some?" "No thanks," Jake said. "That ok, I know something else we can do," She said trying to kiss him again. Jake stopped her. "No Trinity. I don't want to do that either," Jake said stepping away from her.
"Clearly you are trying to be like AJ because you are acting like a wet blanket," Trinity said taking another drink. "I just don't to blow my shot with TNA," Jake said. "What you should do it quiet TNA, I happen to know for a fact that the WWE wants to bring you back in," Trinity said slurring her words.
"You drunk," Jake said. "Well I have seen you worse. Why are we still talking I remember time when we would be in the middle of mind blowing sex by now," Trinity said pressing her body to Jake's. Jake started to speak but Trinity kissed him before he could. Jake got caught up and returned it for a second.
"No, No," Jake said pushing her away. "Come on Jake you know you want to. Besides the woman you really love is long gone," Trinity said. The last comment got to Jake even though Trinity didn't know he past she did know that he had loved and lost someone. He thought about it and he knew Traci had moved on first Punk and now Bentley. "What would be the harm in escaping for a while with Trinity," Jake thought. "Yeah an escape isn't that what all the one night stands, the drinking and the drugs had been escapes. And where had that landed him," He thought.
"Look Trinity you need to leave, I will call you cab but I need to be left alone," Jake said opening the door. "Fine call when you are ready to have fun again," She said walking out. Jake picked up the flask she left behind it still had some boo's in it. He poured that down the drain even running the water to wash it all out then he hurled the flask as hard he could out the door and down the street. "Oh God the fight to stay sober is harder than it was to get sober," Jake said out loud.
Traci was in her bedroom of the house she shared with Matt. Matt was out at a friends bachelor party. Still she made sure to make sure she was alone before taking out an old shoebox that she kept hidden. She opened it and pulled out an old picture of her and Jake. It was when they were happiest before the WWE came calling. A memory hit her of the events that lead up to the break up.
Flashback
Traci watched the monitor as Jake retained his NWA Wildside title in a three way over AJ and K-Krush (Ron Killings). Jake walked up to her when a man approached him. They had a quick conversation the man shook Jake's hand gave him a card and walked away.
Traci walked over to Jake, "What was that about?" Traci asked as Jake placed the card in his pocket. "That was Tom Pritchard he is one of the talent scouts for the WWF. Anyway they want to bring in for a tryout match," Jake said excitedly. "You're not thinking about taking it?" Traci asked. "I'm not thinking about it! I am taking it!" Jake replied shocked that she doubted he would.
"Jake if you get a contract with them you'll have to move to either HWA or OVW. Then if you make the main roster you'll be on the road all the time. We will never see each other," She rambled off. Jake pulled her into a kiss to quiet her down. "Traci calm down. I know it will mean less time together but it's not like I have a lot of options if I want to make it as a wrestler. WCW and ECW are dead. That leaves the WWF as the only national option. I hear about WWA and XWF but they are not where near ready to go national. Look we will figure it out," He said kissing her again.
Present
"If only," Traci thought. She knew she was partly to blame she had grown cold and distant because he was gone living in Louisville. Then it happened that night, the night that changed there life.
Flashback
Traci knocked on the door to the apartment to Jake's apartment. He opened the door and pulled her into a kiss. She could fell something different about this kiss. She pulled away and they went inside. "Jake is something wrong?" Traci asked concerned. "Yeah I know I have been acting weird calling you and asking you to come down here," He said.
"Oh God I don't know how to say this," Jake said. "Just tell me," Traci said fear creeping into her voice. "Ok a couple of nights ago after we had yet another fight, I went to a bar and got really drunk. I don't know all the details but when I woke up I was in another woman's bed. I am so sorry Traci! Please forgive me," Jake begged.
Traci just stood up and ran out the door. "Traci please wait," Jake yelled as he ran after her. He kept running after her until she reached her retail car and drove off.
Present
Fresh tears rolled down her checks. He had called her, wrote her, e-mailed her trying to explain and begging for her forgiveness. It went on for mouths then one day they stopped. She knew that Jake had hit rock bottom. She had thought about calling him when he overdosed but couldn't bring herself to do it.
And now no matter how hard she tried to pretend she wasn't she knew she was. She was still in love with Jake. Out of no where she heard the front door open and Matt call out, "Traci, I'm home." She quickly hid the box again and dried her tears before going down to greet him.
Samoa Joe had just finished his work out in the New Japan LA Dojo. His cell phone started ringing he picked it up. "Zbysko you better to be calling to tell me I get the match I want at the next PPV. I do. Good." He hung up the phone. "Jake Reed is finished. I am going knock his head in. And make him tap," Joe said as he smiled wickedly.