Ch.6
Ali woke up the next morning, not even to an alarm. She still couldn't get the picture of the dead girl's body lying next to her. Tip toeing out of bed and towards her bags, she dug through them until she found a sketch pad and her pencils. Looking for her phone she scrolled through all of the music, deciding she just wanted to listen to Disturbed. With music pumping into her ears she began to draw out the scene; the girl, her bed, the blood. So much blood. Looking over towards the twins, making sure she hadn't woken them, she made eye contact with Jey.
"Can't sleep?"
"Nah, you alright?"
"Yea, just fine. It's weird you know, like I didn't even know her. So…why?"
"Maybe you did know her but you just don't know it yet"
"Fuck this is just a bunch of bullshit."
"I know" With that Jey walked over to the other side of her bed and sat down beside her. Ali handed over a head phone and they both began to listen, even though this wasn't Jeys genre of music-he wasn't going to complain.
They sat there in silence, Jey watched Ali draw out the scene, watched each stroke of the pencil scratching against the paper. They both sat there in complete silence, Jey understood that sometimes all one needed was somebody there, but no words spoken, just the company.
"Shit dude what time is it?"
"Uh, seven? Sorry Jimmy, we didn't wake you did you?"
"Nah Al, unless you two were going at it like rabbits-wait no please don't. IMAGE WONT LEAVE MY HEAD"
"So… you are practically picturing us, as well as me and your brother. Way to go, I am flattered but no. Sorry boys"
They all laughed a bit. Jey suggested they get something to eat before Ali had to go resign from the Eskimos and meet with the Shield members.
Ali closed her sketch book and put everything away, heading into the bathroom to shower and change. Once done, she met the boys in the hall and they walked to the hotel restaurant. Jimmy texted the others to come meet them there at eight.
"You know Dwayne is not gonna be happy with this time."
"Well he can suck my dick, I want food!"
"Yea and we all know not to get between you and your food Al. By the way, the company pays for our food so don't even worry about it."
"What do you mean you all know? I'm not that bad am I? And wow luck kids."
"Not bad, cranky hahaha and it will be you too soon doll."
"Rocky! Sit by me; did you see snukums or Mike?"
"Sure thing, and they're... occupied, but they'll be here in give or take five minutes"
"Oh my, does that mean we can order? I am really hungry. Do you know if they have good omelettes or not?"
"Yea we can, and why don't you find out? Me and Jey will eat it if you don't like it, or at least trade you for our food."
"Sometimes I feel like you all treat me too well."
With that they all ordered their food, Tamina and Mike arrived shortly. Eating the food and spending time with the people helped to get Ali's mind off the previous morning, but there would be times where it would pop into her head and she couldn't let it go. She decided that before she went to meet with the shield boys, she would grab her sketch pad and sit in the park somewhere and finish it-maybe even just look at it.
Most of them had finished their food so Ali excused herself and told them she had to go meet the boys and would talk to them later. She hurriedly walked out of the restaurant and into the stairwell, and into the room. She grabbed the sketchbook, shoved it into her purse and got changed into a high waisted skirt and a loose shirt that she tucked in and adorned with a belt and heels. Checking herself in the mirror, she grabbed her bag and walked out the door.
About ten minutes later she arrived to a small park and sat down. She dug the book out of her bag and flipped it to the right page. She stared at it blankly, trying to see if she could somehow recognize the girl. Ali didn't know how much time she spent just staring at the picture until an odd man sat down beside her.
"Hello Ali."
Ali jumped a little bit but reminded herself to keep calm. "I am sorry but I think you have the wrong person."
"Ay, I know 'oh ya are m'dear and I know I 'ave me the right person."
"What do you want with me?"
"Keep lookin' forwards and talk to me, that's all m'dear"
"Okay. Well then who are you and again what do you want?"
"That drawin' you did there. That be all, and oh not to mention this to the police-trust me I will know if ya do notify them"
Ali slightly hesitated then ripped out the drawing and handed it over to the strange man. Feeling a little brave, she looked dead into his eyes and almost jumped. She felt an eerie feel. Almost as he noticed it to, he smirked, stood up and walked away.
Ali wanted to chase after the man; so many questions rose up as to why he would want the picture, or why she had felt what she did. She continued to sit there until her phone started to go off and she fumbled to pick it up.
"He-hello?"
"Ali, its Dean, where are ya? Don't keep us waiting; Colby is starting to get restless."
"Sorry, and I'm at the park, umm, oh! It's right across that café place thing you took me to the other day."
"We are in there, I think I see you, we will be right there."
"Wait one more thing"
"What Ali"
""Well okay two things. One, why do you call yourself Dean, I mean that's your character's name, not yours, and second, are we-are we okay?"
"Fine call me Jon, I just wanted to get used to be called Dean, and ya, we are all good darlin'"
"Alright, see you guys whenever you get here."
Ali heard the click of the phone, and quickly put her sketch book back into her purse. She didn't want them to know she drew or what she drew. Even she admitted that some of it could be disturbing.
"Hey babe" With that Colby flung himself over the bench and plopped down beside Ali. She giggled a bit and went to stand up, but Joe's hand on her shoulder sat her down. She looked behind her and saw him sitting on the back of the bench, back facing her.
"Hello to you too Colbs, and what? I'm not allowed to get up?" Ali pouted, but couldn't keep it up and started to laugh at Colbys strange faces.
"Nah we thought we would sit here for a bit, see why you were here"
"Or we could go do something fun."
"What is there to do around here until we have to go to the arena?"
"Shit. Can we go now? I still have to resign and I totally forgot."
They all looked at Ali funny, Colby made some dumb blonde comments and Joe just stood.
"Yea I have to go too. Walk or drive?"
"Uh, I don't know?"
"Oooh I wanna drive, Jon lets drive and they can walk!"
Jon groaned but agreed with a nod from both Joe and Ali.
"Well walking it is then." The two pairs went their own ways, Joe and Ali walked mostly in a comfortable silence. But whenever his arm would bump hers or she wouldn't be paying attention and walk into him, created an awkward aura that Ali thought she only felt.
"Who was that man?"
"Excuse me?"
"The man that sat beside you, I was watching."
"Oh, uhm I don't really know"
"You gave him something though, you must have known him."
"I think I knew him, but I am still unsure and he wanted the drawing I was still working on so I gave it to him."
"You draw?"
"Oh, yea… sometimes. Depends if I have the inspiration for it."
"Do you mind if i.. see some of your art work sometimes, I mean I understand if you don't want me to cause I know that art can be really personal sometimes, cause I draw too, but if it makes you feel better I will show you a piece of my work if you show me one of yours."
"Joe you're rambling, but yea sure, why not. Do you want to go get a sketch book after we resign or what?"
"I have one on me at all times, it's just in my gym bag so we will have to wait until then, but yea we can exchange work before we meet up with the others."
Ali smiled in response as they continued to walk to the arena; another ten minutes and they would be there. She felt a little nervous, but couldn't help the excitement from taking over. Befriending the Samoa family and really getting good looks into the wrestling world intrigued her. Since then all she wanted was to be a part of the WWE. Ali snuck a quick look at Joe, he looked like his mind was in a distant place. She turned her gaze to the slight curl at the corner of his lips, the stubble that had grown there. She moved up his face, the curve in his nose, the long dark eyelashes and the still distant dark eyes. She even noticed the length of his hair that he pulled back into a loose bun and the-
Ali was cut out of her thoughts by Joe looking at her, a knowing smirk plastered on his face. "Something interesting you?"
"Oh uhm, sorry, just never really looked at you up close before. But you know how could I when you're over a foot taller than I am…"Ali trailed off, feeling the heat reach her cheeks.
"Nah it's all good. Sometimes I think it's good to stop and look sometimes, or you forget the important things." Joe stopped and looked intently into her eyes, the blush strengthening with a new vigor.
"Yea…um I think we are here." Ali turned on her heel and walked through the stadium doors. She stormed through to her office, picked up a couple things and was surprised when she turned around- Joe was still there.
"Need to stop at the locker room?" She asked.
"Yea, you're coming in, the coach likes you and I am a little scarred of him, ya know?" He joked lightly and she nodded in response.
Joe opened the door for her to enter and she was happy she didn't see any naked men, only the select few in towels. He led her to his locker, grabbed his things then they ventured towards the coaches office. They had a bit of a disagreement but all in all at the end the coach wished them both luck and would hand in their letters of resignation to the boss/owner.
"Let's get out of here" Ali huffed as she opened the doors to the locker room and towards the exit.
"Whoa now, time to share drawings, let's go to the stands." Joe gave his signature smirk and started to walk off.
"Wait! Why the stands? Are we even allowed there now?" Ali ran to catch up to Joe, composing herself when she did.
"Yea, it'll be fine, have a little faith."
"Fine. But you know for the supposedly 'big quiet man' you sure can get on a role" Joe laughed at her air quotations, but didn't respond.
Ali felt awkward for killing the conversation but walked on in silence, she was determined to let him pick it up as she was the last one to say something.
Joe opened the doors to section A and they went all the way to the nosebleeds. He plopped down into a seat and patted the one next to him, signaling for her to sit there. She sat in the one on his other side, a sly smirk across her face. The low rumble that came from his throat and the genuine smile on his face made her defiant point feel moot. He rummaged through his sports bag and pulled out a very old looking, leather bound sketch book and handed it over to her.
"We can look through mine then yours after?" He raised an eyebrow at her and when she didn't respond, he started wiggling them up and down, earning a fit of giggles out of Ali.
"Yea yea okay, my sides hurt" Ali playfully frowned at Joe, but then reality hit and she focused on the book.
She felt the leather, and carefully opened the book to the first page. In it was a hand written note she could vaguely make out;
'Joe, my dear boy. Happy Birthday son. I know I am only a frail old man now, but your father still can't beat me in the ring. I am kind of the ring. Here is to many drawings and good times. Pursue what you want in life; don't let your old man tell you to do something you don't wanna do. I raised him well and in doing so, i raised a good family of many grandkids. Use this as an outlet; you have the drawing skills of your grandmother. We all love you Joe. Your favorite male figure- Gramps.'
"He's a crazy old man, but means well." Joe looked at the book, emotion swelling in his features.
"He seems like a good man." Ali knew he was, for she met him many times-he always showed up at Joe's house. It was like he practically lived there.
Ali went to the first drawing. It was the design of his shoulder tattoo. Looking up at him and smirking, he shrugged his shoulders and they moved on. The next few drawings were designs for Dwaynes, and the twins' tattoos, even one for Tamina that Ali wasn't too sure if she had or not.
When she went to flip to the next page, she noticed Joe hesitate a little bit. "I can skip the next one if you like?"
"No, it's fine, this way you have to show me all of yours" Joe smiled at Ali, not his lopsided, sexy smile- no his real smile and she could feel her heart beat quicken.
She turned the page and froze. She knew that pudgy face, but most of all she was drawn towards the eyes. There seemed to be sadness. "You were sad when you drew this? You are one hell of an artist to be able to put so much emotion into this girls eyes." Joe kept quiet so Ali kept looking at the drawing. The girl was sitting on a messy bed, wearing an oversized hoodie, hair all piled on the top of her head. In the background, a mirror, that showed Joe, sitting across from her, but on his phone.
Ali felt so many emotions, he drew this, and it was the two of them together so many years ago. It was almost like a picture. She remembered this day, it was before they started sleeping together, and things were kind of awkward. It was the day after her mom had died. She had so many emotions and poured them all out to Joe. He sat there, listening to her, but just like in the picture, he kept checking his phone. He was supposed to go out that night and he did eventually leave her. Ali could feel the emotions running back to her, the pain of losing her mom, and telling her friend's cousin everything-excluding the mob business, but she did say that her mom had died and she wasn't really an orphan.
She traced the face of the girl in the picture, careful not to smudge anything. "You are really good-but I think that's enough. I'll give you my sketch book. I have to go-but I'll see you at the bar later." Ali couldn't peel her eyes away from the drawing, all of the emotions welling up. She stood up to leave, handing the book back to Joe, still open on the drawing.
"Ali I know."
Ali froze in her spot. She didn't turn around, wouldn't look at him.
"I've been suspicious but your reaction really solidified it. The fuck were you thinking not telling me? We have been working together for the past two years and you can't even be bothered to tell me it's you?!" Joe fumed.
Ali felt weak; she slowly turned around, looking at him through watering eyes and in a barely audible voice she said "If you could vanish from my life, why couldn't I vanish from yours?"
Joe kept her gaze, but said nothing. So Ali turned back around and left. As soon as she was out of the building she ran the rest of the way back to the hotel she was now staying in with the twins. Not wanting to go back quite yet but thought it better to get back instead of wondering around aimlessly. Fuck him, thinking he had the right to know she was there but she didn't get the courtesy to know that he would just up and leave her? Not even shoot her a call or text in the past couple years?
She got into the hotel room, and hearing the shower on she knew somebody was home but no sign of the other twin. She sat on her bed; she wasn't upset, but more aggravated. She knew this time would come at some point or another, but hoped it would be later rather than sooner.
Deciding she didn't want to wait to go drink, she called Dwayne. It took a few rings before he picked up.
"Hello?"
"Dwayne… it's five o'clock somewhere right?"
Hearing a laugh in response slightly lightened her mood, "Yea doll, where you want to go?"
"Hotel bar works for me, unless you have a problem with that?"
"Nah no problem, I will see you down there in approximately five minutes?"
"Works for me bro" With that she hung up and headed out the door, making sure she had her bag and left.