Nothing Lasts Forever in This Life

Octavio spent days in disbelief of what he had just witnessed on the television screen. He had so many unanswered questions and he needed the answers to them like right now. He needed the answers for them from her, straight from her beautiful lips. This was completely unlike her to do anything like this. Him yes. Her no. For the first time in years, he felt like himself again; she always did that to him. Their bond was like no other and he knew that he had to make things right with her again, even if she didn't accept him, he had to try.

The Apex games didn't release her real name, they didn't do that for any of their players, it was for the players own protection. He understood the whole 'not releasing names' thing because he did the same thing in his career. No one needed to know who he was. If they knew his family name, he wouldn't have as many fans and he knew the same would go for her. Regardless of Apex not releasing her name, he knew it was her.

He watched her match over and over just so that he could see her again and again. He scoured the internet for anything that he could find on Lifeline, of course nothing was connected to her real life. She didn't even have any merch out yet and it was driving him crazy because he wanted to buy it; all of it. He wanted something signed by her, even touched by her.

It still bugged him that he didn't know why she was even competing in the fucking team death match games and for the sake of entertainment. He thought about the memories that they shared. The last time that she did anything for fun was when they were in Gaea. He was competing in a race and she ditched him to join a band, The Flyer Liars. Well, he ditched her for his fans. Maybe they ditched each other, but she became one fucking hell of a drummer.

He was so engulfed by her that he even watched her next match. He knew for a fact that he was her biggest fan, he always had been and always would be. He cheered for her so loud like he was a member of the audience even though he knew there was no real live audience for these matches. There were rumors that the Legends were shipped to different planets to fight for the televised event, but there was no concrete evidence that he could find while digging around the net.

He did even more research about the games and found his golden ticket, his way in to get to her. The Apex games was in need of more contestants, and he knew that he was the perfect fit for their stupid games but he was bound to a noncompete contract. He could only work for whatever his name was and whatever the fuck the company was called. He really didn't care to remember meaningless shit like this. He had better things to do at the time and now even more better things to do because of her.

Either way, he couldn't even try out for the games, or he would be in breech of his contract. He had already read over his contract several times in the past, again and again, but today he was more clear headed than he had been in years. So, he gave his contract another look over with a clear mind, well as clear as it was going to get with her floating around in his head. At least the voices had gone silent. They were always a distraction, and the drugs always made them go away for a little bit but she made them go away completely.

He wasn't as stupid as his manager made him out to be. He might have been lazy and ill-mannered but never stupid or dumb. Octavio was actually pretty smart and devious. This wasn't always a good combination and in fact it got him into a lot of trouble most (all) of the time, but right now he needed to be those things to get what he wanted or where he wanted to be. And what and where he wanted all led to her.

It had been about two weeks when his manager finally decided to make an appearance. Two whole fucking weeks. Octavio could have been dead, and no one would have known until this day. Really, he didn't care because he needed the time off and a break from whatever the fuck his name was. His manager banged on the door per usual but to his manager's surprise Octavio opened the door right away and waved him. His manager entered and nodded approvingly, "Well, well, this is a change. You seem to be doing a lot better when you're not high out of your mind."

His manager was surprised to find Octavio's penthouse clean, spotless in fact. The curtains were open with the sunlight peering through, leaving a trail gleaming rainbows from the chandelier everywhere in the entertainment room. "So have you learned your lesson?" His manager said like a parent as he turned to face Octavio. "No more drugs? No more stim? Are you ready to get back out there? Now that this media circus is focused on the newest Apex contestant everything is back on schedule."

His manager paused for a moment, "You know one day you'll be bigger than that mess. She's just some average chick that probably sucked some dick to get to where she is anyway. I mean look at her, she's not even that good looking. She has nice hips I guess." He laughed before continuing, "That whole Apex business will dry up and you'll still be here."

Octavio stood there for a moment and decided what his next move would be because he was about to do three different things and he wanted to make sure he did those three things in the right order so that he got his point across. He had duffle bag slung over on shoulder and is riding helmet underneath his other arm. He was covered in his black riding gear with green tinted goggles resting against his forehead.

His manager looked Octavio over and gave him a nod of approval, "Wow, you are more than ready. I really like this new you. Think that we can really amp up the advertising and get more viewers when you're sober." The nod reminded him of his parents and her parents making sure that they were both dressed to the family standard for whenever they went to a big gala event. He cringed at the thought of having to get approval from anyone now that he was an adult.

Octavio did the first thing on his sequential mental list and handed his manager a piece of paper that he had been holding since his manager had entered his penthouse. This particular piece of paper happened to be his formal letter of resignation, "I'm out." His manager took the resignation letter but didn't bother reading it, "You're under contact. Don't forget, I own you. You can't be out without financial devastation." The crunching of paper could be heard in his manager's fist throughout the silence of the penthouse.

The anger of his manager's voice was at a boiling point, but Octavio really didn't care, nobody owned him, "Yeah. About that contract. You broke it the moment you kept me from stim. If you don't believe me then you can check section 8, clause 5 in my actual contract. Before you go on your manager rant, I am taking my bike and leaving. I want my severance, as negotiated per the end of my contract agreement. If you try to fight me, I will pursue lawyers retained per the Silva family. You do not want to mess with the Silvas."

"So, this is it? You think because your dick is so big you get to swing it around and do whatever you want?" The resignation paper was basically just a ball in his manager's fist at this point. Octavio smiled, ear to ear and leaned in to talk in a low, enticing voice like he was some sex phone operator, "If it helps you sleep at night then yes, my dick is huge. But hey nothing lasts forever in this life and that's fine."

His manager went to yell but before anything came out of his mouth Octavio did the second thing on his sequential mental list, he landed his fist right into his manager's nose. Whatever his name was, hit the floor like a ton of bricks. Blood gushed from his nose, down his face, and then all over the front of him. It felt oddly satisfying to Octavio to finally get a chance to punch his manager in his stupid face and watch him squirm on the floor in his own blood.

"If the severance isn't in my account per terms of my contract, then I will tear this franchise to the ground starting with you. Don't think for a moment that me punching you in your stupid face was on behalf of myself." 'Although it kind of was' he thought to himself. "Her name is Lifeline, and she is beyond average. If I ever hear her name or any negative connotation about her come out of your stupid mouth ever again then I will make your life a living hell."

Too afraid to say anything, his manager just sat there in his own blood as it coated his clothing and now the floor. Octavio did the third thing on his sequential mental list and made his exit. He was finally free of all the contracts, the voices, whatever bloody nose's name was, whatever the fuck this company was called. He finally felt like himself again and didn't need a tragic death to get out, and it was all because of her.

The title of this Chapter is inspired by a band that I like: Flora Cash

There are also a lyrical quotes in the chapter:

"He thought about the memories that they shared."

"But hey nothing lasts forever in this life and that's fine."

-Flora Cash –Nothing Last Forever in This Life