1 month later
Seth
Fucking Dean Ambrose. Fuck him. Fucking Lunatic. He’d interrupted my fucking match again! How the fuck was I going to become Heavyweight Champion if I couldn’t get through a fucking match without that fucking Psycho attacking me. God why couldn’t they just fucking fire him or something? Worthless peice of shit.
I just had to make sure he was occupied when I cashed in my money on the bank. Hunter would take care that. Fuck that guy.
I was fuming when I got backstage and into the locker rooms. I looked around for any sign of him before changing into my regular clothes. I’d save the shower for when I got back to the hotel. No way in hell I wanted to be naked when he lost it again.
The doors opened and I looked up to see Dolph come in. “Hey man, feel like grabbing a beer? I’ve had a hell of a match.” I asked.
He gave me a side eye as he walked past me to his own cubby and scoffed. “Go fuck yourself, Rollins.”
Yup. Just about what I expected. Before I got a chance to respond, he’d grabbed whatever he needed and walked back out. Whatever. I didn’t need him. I didn’t need any of them.
—
Hazel
I lifted my arm as far as I could before grunting in pain and lowering it again. Physical therapy had been grueling these first few days and we hadn’t even started any strength training.
The trainer patted my back, telling me to breathe before lifting it back up again. I let out a deep breath and breathed back in slowly as I raised my arm. The pulling of my muscles hurt like a bitch, especially since my arm had been practically immobile since I’d hurt it.
The TV in the background was on ESPN and who do I happen to see? None other than the man who’d caused me this pain to begin with.
I listened as he acted cordial with the interviewer. He’d developed this cocky attitude since I last saw him. It was like he was some how entitled to win the championship even though he’d done nothing to earn it.
What a prick.
3 months later
Seth
After 3 weeks of nonstop shows and press, I was finally home for a few days. The place seemed emptier than I remembered it being. Mom came over to cook for me and brought Kevin over. That seemed to fill the house a bit.
Once I got a chance to sit down, I flipped through the channels and landed on a familiar face on the WWE network. They were playing Hazel’s career highlights before covering the cause of her injury and her surgery. I got a feeling in the pit of my stomach again. One that I’d forgotten about in all of the media frenzy.
I winced at the screen, watching the slow motion of her impact on the mat. The pain on her face was like a stab in the heart before it was made worse by Charlotte stomping on it. They’d even captured the look she gave me as Charlotte jumped on her from the top rope for the pin. Goddamn that look. It’d been months and I still hadn’t gotten a single night’s sleep without seeing it.
She seemed so small and vulnerable in the hospital gown as they wheeled her in for surgery. I watched as they cut her open. I watched the steel plates they used to fix her. I watched as they inserted each and every screw. I watched in the aftermath of my need for vengeance.
The screen cut to her sort of coming to and the surgeon coming to let her know the surgery went well. Mom, who’d gone silent while watching the footage with me, finally spoke up.
“She asked for you, y’know.” She said, while continuing to chop something. “They weren’t allowed to film the part where she woke up. Laurie, one of the Hardy boys, and I were there. She was still doped up and just for a moment she asked where you were before catching herself.”
I didn’t respond. What does one even say to that? I knew I should’ve been there but I also knew I wasn’t wanted there. I’d caused that. I’d put her through all that. I’d already gotten a death threat from Laurie and I didn’t want to find out what would happen in one of the Hardy’s got ahold of me.
Still, I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen as she put on a smile and a brave face, promising that she’d come back and take the whole industry by storm as soon as she could.
—
Hazel
“You can’t keep focusing on him.” I said, taking another sip of my beer as I sat at the crowded bar next to Dean.
After getting curbstomped by Seth through cinderblocks, he’d been injured enough to keep him out of the ring for a little while. I’d watched the match. Seth was losing himself more and more but every so I caught a glimpse of the man he used to be. I could see it in his eyes that he felt like shit after doing it but he continued on away. The fucking sell-out.
I’d caught myself getting more and more bitter towards him the more I watched the charade but Dean was only hurting himself going after him repeatedly like he had been. Roman had remained relatively quiet, facing him in the ring but Dean had taken the betrayal far more personal.
“Not till I break every bone in that fucker’s body.” Dean returned, staring intensely at the glass of whiskey in his hands.
I nodded in understanding. I had those same feelings of anger towards him, even more so with my time out of the ring but he wasn’t worth it. Not by any means.
“How long are you out for?”
“Least a month. They don’t want me fucking with my concussion.” He replied. “How you holding up with the arm?”
A month. I knew how much hell that first month was. The rest of it seemed like a never ending purgatory. I gave a small shrug, pulling the neckline of my t-shirt out to show the large scar that ran across my collarbone and over my shoulder. Dean winced and downed his shot.
“It’s getting better, but slower than I thought. There’s days when lose hope all together and feel like just writing a book about my experience like all the rest of the retiree’s and calling it a day.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “That ain’t you.”
“Yeah.” I pursed my lips taking another sip. “I wish it was though. It’d be the easy way out forsure.”
6 months later
Seth
With the first snowfall of the season, I sat at the rooftop bar, nursing a beer overlooking the water. It was the same bar I’d sat in earlier this year, talking about my future with the woman I loved. Marriage. Kids. Life. It was all so close within reach now it wasn’t even in the distance.
The bar had since been enclosed with glass to shelter it from the cold and the scene was just as crowded as it had been the last time, but I could still see the table her and I had been sitting at. It was now occupied by two other lovebirds and I couldn’t rip my eyes away from watching them share jokes and laugh. The guy would run his fingers through her hair and pull her close for a kiss. The girl would blush and look at him like he was the greatest thing on this planet.
She used to look at me like that. It was the best feeling in the world. Now just the thought of her brought more pain than it did happiness.
I hadn’t seen her in months and I had started to think of her less and less but Christmas was right around the corner and this time I’d have to spend it without her. No decorations were hung the day after Thanksgiving. No cookie scented candles were lit the first day of December. No Christmas music played while dinner was being made. No matching pajamas would be worn. No secret presents would be bought and hidden around the house.
Nothing. Just a straggly tree I’d picked up on my way home for the airport with some bulbs on it it’d found in the basement.
I’d never wanted to be home less than I did this month.
“Goddamn, for an overpriced place they can’t clean the pisser every now and then?” Marek complained, breaking my focus on the couple.
“You ever thought of opening your own gym?” I asked blankly turning my attention towards him.
“What?” He said, turning his head to face me.
“We should open a wrestling academy. Think about it. I could coach on my off time. Since you’re no longer wrestling pro – you can run it full time. We can get two other people to train as well.”
He thought the idea over for a moment, at first looking at me like I was crazy but then he nodded his agreement. “That doesn’t sound half bad. With our experience combined it would be well worth it.”
“We could provide lodging too. I’ll buy a place and fix it up so people can travel from wherever and have a place to stay.”
“Dude. I’m in.”
I’d never forgotten how touched Hazel was the day she met a fan who wanted to wrestle but couldn’t find a place nearby. We’d talked for hours how it wasn’t fair that kids were discouraged because of money and travel, especially with parents working full time. She’d come up with the idea of starting a school where we could house people and kids under 18 could do summer programs while on summer vacation from school.
If I never talked to her again, at least I’d be able to make one of her dreams come true.
—
Hazel
I looked out the window as snowflakes hit and melting into teardrops on the glass. Christmas music played behind me as people laughed and danced. In an effort to keep up with festivities, I’d went ahead and thrown a Christmas party like I did every year. With the shit we’d been through, it was more necessary this year than any other.
I had invited Holly and her husband but I knew they couldn’t come. The superstars were on Holiday break, that meant Seth would be home and spending the holiday with them. It was better that way. Nobody should be alone on Christmas.
I watched as Dean and Renee laughed and danced to the Christmas music. Roman and Galina were flirting like teenagers by the fire. My mom and dad kissed under mistletoe. Matt and Reby laughed with Jeff and Beth at the dinner table. Red and her boyfriend shared drinks in the kitchen. All of the kids were asleep in the guest bedroom and everyone got to relax.
The scene brought a smile to my face despite not having anyone of my own there. We’ve all had a hell of a year. They deserved to have a good time. If have mine when I got my title back.
9 months later
Seth
This was it. I wasn’t here for Orton. Would I have loved to beat his ass? Sure. But when H told me to go out there and cash in, I listened.
It was Brock vs Roman and both men were down. I sprinted down to the ring and handed in the briefcase. The ring announcer stated that it was now a triple threat match and I kicked Roman out of the ring before curb stomping Lesnar.
This was it. This was fucking it!
I waited for him to get up to his knees and charged towards him again only this time he caught me over his shoulders and stood up.
Shit.
I tried to wiggle free but he had too good of a grip on me.
Until Roman speared him. I caught myself as I fell to the floor. Lesnar rolled out of the ring in pain and I took the opportunity to curb stomp Roman. This time wasting no time in holding him down for the count.
1.
2.
3.
Announcer: Ladies and Gentleman, introducing the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Sethhh Rolllllinnns!
I did it! I fucking did it!
I took a moment to jump up and down as my hand was raised in victory, but as soon as I had the belt in my hands, I was out of there, running back up the ramp to the entrance before holding the belt up above my head to a mixture of applause and boos from the crowd.
—
Hazel
Announcer: Ladies and Gentleman, introducing the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Sethhh Rolllllinnns!
I sat in awh as we heard the announcement that Seth had won. I watched as he ran up the ring like a coward before listing the belt up over his head in celebration. It was a cheap win no matter how you looked at it.
Roman was robbed. This was set to be his match. He was doing so fucking good. He practically had it in the bag. Then Rollins comes out of nowhere and with only two curb stomps takes away the victory. I had no doubt this was Hunter’s idea but Seth saw an opportunity and took it.
“Wow.” Nia spoke.
The rest of us could only nod in agreement.
The phone rang as the show went to commercial Galina got up to answer it. Nia looked at me and shrugged. We knew it was Roman calling to vent. Galina was his safe space. She would’ve loved to be there with him but being 7 months pregnant, she had stayed home.
“How mad is he?” I asked, sitting up as she walked back in the room.
She shook her head, looking between us. “Furious. He’s leaving now to come home.”
I don’t know what I would’ve done if that was me. Aside from finding him backstage and beating his ass. Shit. If I hadn’t gotten injured, I would’ve done it for Roman. I’m sure Dean would once he got his hands on him. As far as I was concerned, Seth Rollins was absolute garbage.
12 months later
Seth
After getting off the plane, I did my best to keep a low profile as I walked through O’Hare International airport in Chicago. It was roughly 5:30 in the morning and I had one last interview in the morning before I could finally go home.
With a cup of coffee in hand I waited at baggage claim, texting my agent that I’d just gotten in. Once the machine started rotating, I put my phone in my pocket to look out for my bag. It took a little while for the bags to start rolling out and I let my eyes wander around at all the tired faces in the same boat as me.
Then I saw her across from me. Dressed in shorts and a tank top that was tied into a knot to expose her stomach. She had a baseball cap on her head but her two toned hair gave her away as it hung in effortless waves over her shoulder. It was her. This time it was unmistakable. My mind had played tricks on me before but this time I was sure it was her.
God she still looked so good. She didn’t have any makeup on. Her baby blues still gleaming with sleep. Her skin still tan and flawless and her figure was just incredible.
Her eyes scanned the bags as they came out but she was talking on the phone and from the looks of it it wasn’t good. I wanted to walk over there and talk to her. I wanted to give her a hug. I want to be wrapped in her scent. It’d been one year since I’d seen her in person. It’d been one year since I’d held her in my arms. It’d been one year full of things that had taken my mind off of her.
But one glance from across the airport and it all came rushing back to me.
I made the move to walk over there but then I froze in place. I watched as another man approached her, handing her one of the coffee cups in his hands. I watched as she got up on her tiptoes to kiss him on the lips before continuing her call. I watched as he grabbed two of the suitcases from the belt and the two walked towards the exit.
My stomach sank and I felt like my knees would give out at any minute if I didn’t hold onto something.
—
Hazel
“I just don’t understand.” I sighed once again over the phone. “You said I’d be all fixed up in one years time. It’s been one year.”
“No.” Dr. Douglas replied. “I said recovery could take up to a year but even then you wouldn’t have the range of motion that you used to.”
“Dr. Douglas, I’ve been doing therapy twice a day 5 days a week for 12 months. Come on, how -”
“Look.” He stopped me. “I said getting back in the ring was out of the question but you’ve insisted and I promised I’d get you there. It’ll take more time and until I feel like your body can handle the impact, I can’t in good conscious clear you. What I can do is let you start practicing in the ring again and build up your strength in that way. I’m sorry. Now I’ll see you in a couple of weeks for a follow up. Until then, keep up with the therapy.”
I hung up and sighed again. I had counted out the days to the dot for when I could get back to work. To be told it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon was devastating.
“You alright, babe?” Corey asked, placing a hand on my thigh.
I shook my head, placing my hand over his and lacing our fingers together as he drove us to my place.
I wasn’t okay. Not in the least bit. The only good thing about that call was hearing that I could start doing light practice in the ring. Whatever the hell light practice meant.
“Hey,” he gave my hand a squeeze, smiling softly as his big brown eyes looked into mine. “Rome wasn’t built in a day babe. Your body took quite a hit. Literally. It’s going to take some time to get it back to the ass-kicking machine it used to be.”
“I’m blaming you for this. It was your job to get me there.” I playfully shoved him before leaning in to kiss him again.