CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I haven't been this nervous in ages. It's been a month since I was released from my WWE contract. Colby's been free for exactly four days. As we enter the Manhattan Center, I try not to go into shock. It's the first time TNA has been to New York in a while, and all three tapings are sold out. This is the third night. Absolutely no press has gotten out about the surprise debuts tonight.
"April! It's great to see you again." DIixie Carter greets me with a bright smile and a strong Southern drawl. She hugs me, then turns to Colby. "And Colby Lopez, I have been waiting to get you here for a taping for years! It's an honor to have you both on our roster. I'm so excited!"
"I'm excited, too," Colby says.
"Come on up, we're on the eighth floor," Dixie says. She leads us to the elevator. The Manhattan Center is a great venue. The very first RAW was filmed there. I'm surrounded by wrestling history. It's also gorgeous, and it's smaller than the places WWE travels to now. I like the intimacy.
As soon as we get off the elevator, Tommy spots us. I hug him. "Thank you so much for this," I say.
"You're where you belong, Miss April," he tells me with a smile. He shakes Colby's hand. "Good to see you, Colby."
"Seth Rollins! As I live and breathe!" Mickie James proclaims. "And AJ Lee!"
"Stop right there, Mickie," a man I recognize as former WWE Superstar Mr. Kennedy says. "Those are their slave names. They're free now. So what do we call you?"
"April and Colby," Colby says with a smile. "Good to see you, Ken." I remember Mr. Kennedy's real name is Ken Anderson, and he wrestles under Mr. Anderson now.
"Welcome to the Island of Misfit WWE Survivors!" A voice greets us grandly. I spin around and so does Colby. I think Colby might faint. Matt Hardy is the one who spoke, and his brother Jeff stands beside him.
"So, you're my opponent tonight, eh Rollins?" Jeff asks.
"It's Colby," Ken says because Colby's too stunned to speak. He keeps staring at Jeff, who shakes his hand. Colby tries to say something, but no words come out.
"Is he okay?" Jeff asks me.
"He's a big fan," I tell him.
"Ah, the Mute Effect," Matt says. "Jeff does that to people."
"Tommy didn't tell us who we were facing tonight," I explain.
"I thought Colby might like to wrestle his icon," Tommy says. He's trying not to laugh at Colby's shock. I decide in this moment that Tommy Dreamer is just a little bit evil.
"So who did you decide to shock me with?" I ask.
"That would be me," Gail Kim says. She's holding the TNA Knockouts title. "In a title match."
"A... what?" I ask."It's my first night! How have I earned a title shot?" I'm a little freaked out. Gail Kim is the queen of the Knockouts division. She never amounted to much in the WWE because of bad booking, but she absolutely rules TNA. She fights as often as six times in three days of filming and makes it look easy. I'm kind of intimidated.
"I requested it," Gail tells me. "After everything you've been through, you've proven you're a badass, and I'm excited to get into the ring with you."
"I figured you wouldn't mind," Tommy says. I'm tempted to smack that smug grin off his face, but Drew and Rosa hurry toward us and I'm distracted.
"You're here!" Rosa squeals. "Girl, I am so excited! This is gonna be great!"
"Indeed it is," Drew says. He smiles at me and I relax. I may not have planned on having my first match be a title match against a Goddess of wrestling, but with Drew, Rosa, and Colby by my side, I know I can handle it.
"Colby!" Rosa screams. She embraces him and he finally comes out of his shock.
"Hey, Rosa. How are you?" He asks.
"Fantastic. Really. And better now that you two are here. I missed you guys so much. And after the big debut tonight, I get to be by your side for the best day of your lives in a week." She's grinning from ear to ear.
"You're going ta make a lovely bride, lass," Drew tells me.
"I promise not to mark up your face,"Gail says with a laugh.
"I make no such promises," Jeff tells Colby, "but congratulations."
"I-um... Thanks," Colby stutters out. It's completely adorable how nervous Jeff makes him. I just hope it's not an issue in the ring tonight.
*Skip, Skip, Skip... LATER*
It's pretty late in the night when Colby's match comes up. It starts off innocently enough. Jeff Hardy is in the ring talking about his plans to become the Number One Contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. He's going on about this for a bit before Colby jumps over the barricade. He's been sitting in the audience wearing a hoodie. He knocks Jeff down with a swift kick before climbing up onto the ropes and doing a phoenix splash onto him.
The crowd is going pretty nuts as it is, but then Colby pulls off the hoodie and cries of, "It's Seth Rollins!" ring out. Everyone's screaming and cheering because no one expected this to happen.
Colby grabs the microphone from Jeff and says, "Hello, New York!" The crowd screams in response. "My name is Colby Black, and I'm here to tell you that Jeff Hardy is not the only guy looking for a title shot." Colby decided to use part of his old indie name, Tyler Black, but not all of it.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Jeff demands once he's back on his feet.
"I think I'm the Number One Contender. And I'm going to prove it, right now. Get me a referee!"
Sure enough, Earl Hebner runs out. Most of the time, this results in "You screwed Brett" chants from the fans and obscene gestures from Earl in response, but tonight everyone is too distracted. People are excitedly tweeting that "Seth Rollins" is about to fight Jeff Hardy in a dream match no one ever thought they'd see. They have no idea that it's Colby's idea of a dream match, too.
The bell rings. Jeff immediately attacks Colby, getting revenge for his entrance. Colby suffers a Twist of Fate about fifty seconds in. Jeff's not done. He climbs up onto the top rope and hits Colby with a swanton bomb. He's still not satisfied, so he pulls a chair into the ring and when Colby stands, he hits Poetry in Motion. Colby recovers and kicks Jeff's legs out from under him. Then he climbs up onto the ropes and splashes down onto Jeff. He covers him, but Jeff kicks out easily.
Colby waits for Jeff to get back up on the ropes and leap into the air before jumping up and executing an RKO that would make Orton proud. The fans go insane. Jeff doesn't move, so Colby pins him. He kicks out right before three.
It goes back and forth like this for a while. They each try every move they've got and they both keep kicking out. Finally, Jeff pulls off Whisper in the Wind and gets Colby down for the three count. When he's done celebrating, he extends his hand to Colby to help him stand, then in a true show of respect, he shakes Colby's hand.
Jeff lets Colby have his moment and walks away so they can switch to playing Colby's new music. Colby looks into the crowd of cheering fans, mouths thank you, waves and walks into the back.
I fling my arms around him. "Oh my God!" I scream. "That's the best match you've ever had!"
"I just wrestled Jeff Hardy... Holy shit..." Colby says. I kiss him. "Holy shit!" He says again.
"I'm proud of you."
"Did that just happen?"
"Yep. And you were amazing. Now, it's my turn..."
Gail Kim is already in the ring. "Good luck," Colby tells me. "I love you."
"I'm tired of the same old girls coming after my title, so here's an open challenge... Anyone who wants a shot at my title, come on out!" Gail proclaims.
There is a brief pause. Then my music starts. I take a deep breath. Skip, skip, skip... Skip,skip, skip... I begin skipping out to my new music. As I skip, the fans recognize me. Their excitement is all I need to ease my nerves.
Gail rolls her eyes at my skipping. "Who are you?" She asks.
"I'm Miss April," I say, proud to be using my former ring name. "I'm the girl who's going to take your title."
The bell rings. Gail waits for me to make the first move, so I wrap my arms around her head and drop both of us to the mat. I elbow her in the head and try to pin her. Of course she kicks out. I wait for her to get into the right position before hitting her with a shining wizard. She goes down hard, but still kicks out at two. We grapple a bit, then she hits me with Eat Defeat. Everyone clearly expects the match to end there, but I kick out a split second before three. She shows frustration, stands, and regroups. I run at her and she catches me. I spin my body until I can lock in the black widow. She struggles and fights me hard. Gail Kim doesn't want to lose her title by submitting. Finally, she manages to back against the ringpost and knocks me off of her.
The match becomes an exchange of signatures and finishers. I "eat her feet" two more times and no one can believe it when I get back up. I hit her with a final shining wizard and pin her. This time, I get the pin.
The referee raises my hand while Gail throws a tantrum. I take my new shiny title belt and kiss it. That's right, World. Miss April is the new Knockouts Champion! This night cannot possibly get any better.
I barely make it backstage before Rosa pounces on me squealing. She does this for nearly two minutes before releasing me into Colby's arms.
"You kicked ass!" She tells me.
"I am so proud of you, April," Colby tells me. He kisses me. I suddenly can't believe how far I've come. I snuggle against his body, positive I can face anything now. The events of my past don't control me anymore and I'm finally genuinely happy again. I know now that I'm going to be just fine.
*Skip, Skip, Skip... LATER*
Colby and I make it back to the hotel after a night of celebrating. I decide tonight is a night for new beginnings, and if I don't embrace it now, I might never find the right time again. I kiss my fiance and pull him closer to me before putting my hands on his shirt and pulling it off. His skin feels warm against my hands. I kiss his chest before taking his hand and sliding it under my shirt.
Colby hesitates. "April... Are you sure this is okay?" He asks.
I kiss him harder in response. I slowly pull my shirt up, letting him unhook my bra. I feel exposed, but only for a second, because as soon as I look into Colby's eyes, I know that I'm safe. As the rest of our clothes are removed, and I push him down so I'm straddling him, I look at Colby, my Colby, and I'm not afraid anymore.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Only one chapter left! Thank you guys for being so awesome.