Chapter 9
Six months past, things couldn't be anymore on track than they were now for both AJ and Tritan. Sitting backstage in front of an open laptop as she sighed, plucking away at a few keys on the keyboard, trying to correct a few mistakes that were made with Mark's schedule. Hearing some hooting and hollering from an adjacent hallway, couldn't resist in looking up from my work, once it was saved. Dave came into view, dressed in his wrestling gear. The roar of the crowd could be heard as I shut down the laptop, placing it into my back pack as I grabbed my walking cane, climbing out of the chair she had been occupying for awhile. "What's with all the noise?" She asked as Dave stopped. "Come take a look for yourself Miss Manager." Lifting a brow as I slowly made my way over to a monitor that Dave had stopped in front of for the moment.
Stepping up as I looked at the screen, it was Tritan standing in the ring with the referee raising his arm in the air for his victory. Looking to Dave, "Yea Tritan won his match. He beat..." Dave nods "Yes he did. And what does that mean?" My jaw dropped as I jumped into Dave's arms, giving him a massive hug. "Congratulations both of you. I knew you could do it." Dave commented. Pulling out of his arms, "I'm just a guide. Tritan did most of the work." Dave chuckles, "You deserve as much credit as he does AJ. You better go meet up with the new Intercontinental Champion." Nodding as I hurried off, stopping for a moment. "If Mark is looking for me.."
Dave nods, "I'll tell him. Go on. I'll catch you two after my match, which is next." Nodding with the huge smile on my face glued there. "Good Luck." Dave smiles a bit, "Thanks. You better go.." Nodding once again before hurrying off to the gorilla position.
Standing off as the locker room was there to congratulate Tritan, once he came through the curtain from his match. Seating myself on a rolling case as Tritan was off to the side, talking to his opponent, which was Rey Mysterio for a moment. Tritan and him shook hands with a brotherly hug and Rey walked off. Tritan shouldered the title belt as he walked over with a huge grin on his face. "Well?" Clapping as I stood up, "Congratulations Tritan. You did it." Tritan shakes his head as he steps up, placing an arm around AJ's shoulders. "No.. We did it. If it wasn't for you taking the manager role for the angle. It would never had worked out." "You did all the work, I was just there for support, like I've always been there for you." Tritan seats himself as he guzzles a bottle of water.
Seating myself as Tritan placed the belt into his lap, running his fingertips over the gleaming gold carefully. "Shocking isn't it?" I questioned. Tritan nodded his head, "Yea it is. Did Dave and Mark see it?" Nodding my head, "I know Dave did. I don't know about Mark. I haven't seen him since I got a ride with you to the arena." Tritan stands to his feet, "Let me go grab a shower and change. You and I will go out and celebrate. How's that sound?" Nodding as I pat his shoulder, "Sounds great. Take your time. I've got to go deliver Mark's schedule anyways." Tritan nods his head, "I'll meet you at the rental in a half hour? Sound good?"
Nodding my head once again, "Sounds fine. Go on champ." Tritan chuckles, "I like how that sounds now and it meaningful now." Chuckling as I watched Tritan walk off with a bounce in his step, being congratulated as he went.
Walking off as I made my way back to Mark's locker room, seeing the door closed as I stepped up and knocked, in case he was changing for his match. "Come in." A muffled voice sounded from the other side of the door. Opening the door as I poked my head in, "Decent?" Mark stands to his feet in his wrestling gear, ready to head out to the ring. "Yea all clear. Where have you been hiding?" He questioned. Walking into the room, rummaging through my back pack placing the fixed schedule into his arena bag. "All fixed. Plus I was watching Tritan's match, the end of it." Mark nods as he grabs his trench coat. "I saw. I'm going to go give my congrats after my match. I've got to go, I'm on next." Lifting a brow, "You're fighting Dave?" Nodding his head as he placed his hat upon his head, "Yes I am. You staying here?" He questioned.
Shaking my head, "I've got to go meet Tritan, like I promised him. We're going out to celebrate his championship title." Mark smiles with a small chuckle, "Alright. Just be careful and call if anything happens." Nodding my head as he left the room. Adjusting my back pack upon my back, walking off to meet up with Tritan at the rental go head out to celebrate.
Sitting in our hotel suite, catching up on some work later on that night. Tritan plopping himself on the love seat as he laid the IC title belt upon the coffee table. "I still can't believe it..." Finishing up the work as I placed it into my back pack for the morning. "Can't believe what? You won a title this soon?" Tritan looks to his best friend, "Yea.. And dad's not here to see and celebrate with me.. You know what I mean.." Getting to my feet, slowly walking over to him, seating myself next to him. "He is with you Tritan. You know this and I know this." Tritan sighs gently as he looks to AJ, "I know I know. I just wish I could have one more moment with him. This would be the moment too. Him and Uncle Eddie..." Nodding my head I place my hands on his right hand, that was sitting on the sofa between us.
"I know what you mean Tritan. But I know they're both smiling down on us, proud of both of us. How far we've both come and what we've achieved so far. We have more to accomplish together." Tritan smiles gently, running a hand through his hair. "I guess you're right.. Just something I wish I guess and always will." Nodding my head as a knock sounds on the door. "Wonder who that can be this time of night.." Tritan commented as he went to get up. Placing a hand on his shoulder as I got up, "I got this Champ. You get the next one." Nodding his head as he watched AJ get up to go answer the door.
Unlocking the door as whomever it was knocked again. "Hold your horses. I can only move so fast." Finally getting the door to our suite unlocked as I opened the door a crack, eyes going wide as I slowly opened the door. "What are you doing here?" I questioned as I furrowed my brow. On the other side of the door, stood none other than my father. Removing his hat from his head, revealing a few bruises upon his face. "Ummm.. I was wondering if you and I could talk... Plus I came to give my congratulations to the new Champion." He explained. Nodding my head as I opened the door wider, moving out of the way. "Come in." Nodding his head as he carried his head, stepping inside. Closing the door as Tritan climbed to his feet as he grabbed the title belt off the coffee table. "M.... What a surprise.." Tritan commented.
Nodding his head as he stepped up, leaning his hand out. "Congratulations son on your title win tonight." Tritan looked to Layfield once with a leery look, wondering if this was a joke or literally a true congrats. Leaning his hand out, taking the other man's hand in his giving it a good shake. "Thank you . It means a lot coming from you." Releasing the hand shake as Layfield cleared his throat. "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything." Seating myself upon the couch, "No we were just relaxing before heading off to bed. We got early flights to the next city in the morning." Layfield nods his head, "I was hoping we could talk AJ, privately please."
Tritan looks to AJ as he heard what Layfield said. AJ looked to Tritan. "Why don't you go see Mark Tritan. You told him you'd see him once you got out of the shower from the beer bath you received from the guys tonight." Tritan nods his head once, "Alright. If you need anything don't hesitate to call." Nodding her head as Tritan shouldered the title belt, walking off, after grabbing his keycard before leaving to head off to Mark's room.