Post by The Ace on Nov 24, 2013 15:59:29 GMT
A couple of days had passed. It was now Saturday, easily the busiest day of the four at these type of fan events, especially in wrestling cities like New York.
"You Know My Name" fills the packed auditorium as the crowd erupt in cheers. A few moments of wild anticipation pass before The Ace struts out on to the stage and the crowd is deafening. Flashbulbs go off and cell phones are raised to capture the moment of The Ace's return to New York. He is wearing a slick finely tailored Italian suit and has his hair tied back in a neat ponytail.
The Ace waves to the rabid crowd and flashes his trademark grin which is answered with some howls and wolf whistles from some of the women in the crowd. He makes his way to the table that has been set up for him, goes to sit down, but decides against it.
Instead he swipes the bottle of water that had been provided for him and takes a swig. It takes the crowd several minutes to settle down and The Ace uses them to soak in the reaction which overwhelmed him. He wasn't expecting it or the effect it had on his adrenalin. He had truly missed it. He motions for a microphone from one of the show crew and he is tossed one. He spins around and catches it in one hand and in one fluid motion clearly playing it up for the crowd and they lap it up.
The Ace flexes his shoulders and looks up before raising the microphone to his lips. He waits for his music to fade before he addresses his fans.
The Ace: Now...THE ACE...
The crowd follow his lead as they join in.
All The Aces: ...IS IN...THE PLACE!
They start to cheer but The Ace cuts them off.
The Ace: No, no, no, no, NO! What is this? A New Jersey Crowd? A convention of Alex Jones fans? This is NEW YORK CITY...and I know you guys can do much better than that because you're MY fans...so let's try that again...
The Ace clears his throat.
The Ace: Now...THE ACEEEEEEEEEEEEE.........
He pauses and winks at a brunette in the front row. She blushes and her friend next to her whispers something to her. He had gone out of his way to make her feel special by singling her out when he really had no reason to, and now she was determined to return the favour by yelling so loud that she made sure she was heard above the sea of voices as they responded.
All The Aces: IS...IN...THE....PLACEEEEEEEE!!!
The crowd cheers and whoops their own efforts and The Ace grins.
The Ace: That's better! Now we can really get this Q and Ace session started!
The Ace nods, signaling to the various crew scattered among the crowd to field the questions that he was ready to go. A crewman rushes up to the first fan as they settle down and presents him with the microphone.
Fan 1: First, let me start by welcoming you back. It's been far too long!
The Ace: Thank you, its good to be back!
Fan 1: Anyway, my question is a simple one...now that both you and Steve Awesome are back in the company, will we ever see The Smokin' Aces reunite to save the tag team division?
The Ace: I get that question all the time, I don't know if the the tag team division needs saving exactly. I mean I already tried once when I helped Spike Kane retain the titles...
The crowd boo in response to any mention of Spike Kane.
The Ace: I know guys, I know...and I'm sorry. The honest answer to your question is...I don't know. I mean would you guys even want to see it at this point?
The crowd erupt in their response.
All The Aces: SMO-KIN ACES! SMO-KIN' ACES! SMO-KIN' ACES!
The Ace: Well, all I can really say to that is, never say never...
A member of the crew rushes over to another young man with his hand enthusiastically raised.
Fan 2: Hi, welcome back! We've missed you...
The Ace: I've missed you guys too.
Fan 2: Everybody knows about you and Kathy and how personal it got between you and Sexy Jason in the early days of your fued in NCW. My question is how much was that real and how much of that was scripted?
The Ace: Well, if I did my job right, all of it seemed real. The funny thing about that whole situation actually is that Jason and I are actually very good friends and have been for a long time. When I first met him in NCW I had no idea that he knew Kathy, had worked with her or was dating her. There really were no hard feelings between us in the beginning, of course neither of us knew about Soli then. I didn't find out about Soli myself until the night before the Metamorphosis Pay Per View in 2007. It was made even more awkward by the fact that I had to wrestle Sexy Jason that night and the poor guy had no clue and I didn't have the heart to tell him...
~{The Ace cockily drags Jason back to his feet before nailing a short arm clothesline. Ace then climbs outside and drags a table and a chair from underneath the apron. He slides the table in and bends back down for the chair. Jason is up and sets the table up in the centre of the ring. The Ace slides in the ring and between the legs of Sexy Jason. He swings the chair, but Jason dodges, the chair hits the ropes and bounces back into his face.}
Kelly Fox: Oh snap! Ace just took himself out...
{Sexy Jason rolls The Ace onto the table before he takes to the turnbuckle. He stands on top as the crowd cheer. He leaps off with the Sexy Splash through the table!! Jason pins....1.......2.......3!!}
Eric Hardy: What a win for Sexy Jason!
Kelly Fox: It was so close, The Ace almost had it...~
The Ace: Actually, it wasn't until the chair spot at the end of that match that it...really hit me, no pun intended, that I still had some very real feelings for Kathy. It was really tough for a while for all of us involved. I didn't really want to jeopardise my friendship with Jason so I tried to keep my distance from the couple initially. As far as I knew they were happy and I thought I had no right to try and ruin that.
He pauses.
The Ace: It only became a little easier when I found out that Kathy had told him about Soli and the fact that she still had feelings for me too. He was surprisingly mature about the whole thing and there was no real drama between us until NCW creative got involved. Kathy and I were already dating again by then, it was early days and now they wanted to split us up for the sake of compelling television. It was really weird for a while for both of us to come to work and pretend like we really weren't involved at all. Leonard Fox, he really wanted Kat's sister, Tiffany to be my manager, not Kathy. In his mind, it was Tiffany who had the passion and the desire for the business, not Kathy. Tiffany was younger and had the look they really wanted to push, so they came up with a maternity angle for us. All of that was scripted right up until the time Kathy and I got married for real in May 2008.
The next couple of questions came from the brunette in the front row. She was a little nervous.
Brunette: Hello...this is my first time at an...event like this and I've always been a big fan of yours. I've followed your career since your days in XWA, and I actually have...two questions...if...if you don't mind.
The Ace smiles before he responds.
The Ace: Not at all, sweetie, its what I'm here for.
Brunette: My first question is, you said it was all scripted right up until the time you got married. Does that include Kathy's head injury?
The Ace: No, no. The injury was very real. Don't tell him I told you because it'll ruin his bad ass image but Spike was actually very apologetic the night it happened. He didn't mean to let her slip out of his grip during the move, you can actually see it if you play the footage back slowly. It was a damned miracle that it wasn't a lot worse and it sounds strange to say it now, but the injury actually brought us so much closer and really helped us reconnect. The real injury meant that Kathy would sometimes suffer complete black outs, some short term memory loss and occassionally slur her speech. Apparently to someone on creative, her slurs reminded him of his cat and so they slapped her with this whole cat gimmick to try and get her over. To be honest, neither of us are entirely sure whether it did more to help or harm her career. Still, all's well that ends well because she's fine now...thank God.
Brunette: I think its obvious to everybody here how much you two...love each other, the chemistry on screen between you two is amazing and really comes through, is there any time when it all gets a little bit too much and you two need your space from each other? If not, what makes her so special, how did she tame the Blonde Stallion?
The brunette grins and The Ace smirks.
The Ace: We do love each other, absolutely. There are times when we all need our space. Kathy is actually a very private person, she doesn't like to get too emotional in front of other people, and I try to respect that whenever I can. I give her her space when she needs it and she gives me mine. As for the second part of your question...erm, I'm going to have to get back to you on that. I don't know what it is exactly that makes her so special, she just is...
The Ace had had a lot of time to process what had happened out there in that ring tonight against Sexy Jason. From the closing bell of the opening contest of Metamorphosis through to the rest of the Pay Per View, the short trip back to the hotel from the event, even the elevator ride back to his room. The same room Kathy had come to last night to try and talk to him and he didn't listen.
And now he realised he still had feelings for her? What the hell gave him the right to feel anything at all after the way he had shunned her?
That was the question that stuck in his gut as he sat on the edge of his bed and on the edge of a life changing decision. He sat and stared at the photo of her and the baby she cradled and the more he let that image sink in, the more convinced he was of his feelings and that he wanted everything Kathy had tried to tell him last night to be true.
He wanted to be this little girl's father.
He sets the photo aside and gets up. He walks over to his suitcase which was propped up in the corner of the room and lays it flat. He unzips it and rifles through some expensive designer shirts until he finds what he was looking for. A little black book of long forgetten and seldom revisited telephone numbers. Unofficially he referred to it as his Book of Queens, but his closest male friends referred to it simply as 'The List' because every time a new girl made the cut to be included, he referred to her as enlisted.
It was a great honor to be considered one of his Queens, it meant that you weren't a hooker and you were better than a one night stand and well worth a revisit. He flipped through the pages and scanned through the list of random names, numbers and ratings.
Claire L, Beth W, Katherine L, Danielle B. Holly P. Katie D. Donna F. Donna N. Luicia. Lucinder K. Kathy J. Tiffany J. Simone C. Britney....
He paused and flipped back until he found her again.
Kathy J.
Wichita, KS.
Home Bonus +1
TOAK - Sis Bonus + 6
Final Rating: 21 - BJ BITCH!!! #2!!!
This final rating was his highest award. All his ratings were out of 21 because sometimes 10 seemed so inadequate and so cliche. The listing reminded him that she was only the second woman he had ever met that had the distinction of being his 'Black Jack Bitch' with a perfect score. The abbreviated form of the distinction still amused his inner 12 year old. Still it was a honour he had forgotten she held. He smirked.
The Ace: Heh, what do you know? Guess she really is special after all...
It was a long shot that she still had this number. He was never surprised how often women changed after meeting him. The numbers were always the first to change. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained. He dialed the number and took a deep breath as he heard it ringing. This was good.
Voicemail. This was bad, but not entirely unexpected after the way he had treated her. He listened to her greeting as he made his way back to the bed. As he sat on edge, it occurred to him how cheery she sounded.
"Hey, you've reached the party phone of Kathy Jones. If you have this number, it means we know each other socially and had fun once, if you'd like to have fun again, leave a message and I'll get back to you, if I like you!"
There was a giggle, a giggle he now recalled finding incredibly sexy. Now he remembered, she was a copper, so it seemed reasonable she'd have more than one number, one for her work and one for her personal use. He wondered how many other men had this number and if he was just being play -
The beep derailed his train of thought and he coughed and spluttered to compose a message.
The Ace: Um, er, hi, Kathy? It's me Jake. I'm really sorry about last night. I should have heard you out. I'm still willing to hear you out...if you want. You kind of caught me off guard with the whole baby thing. But if she really is mine, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this right. I'll do whatever you want me to, whatever you need me to....but what about Steve? Are you guys still together? Does he know? No, you know what? That doesn't even matter, what's really important here is the baby...
He paused to consider his next words carefully. After all women had much more of a habit of reading into things than men did. What followed next surprised him - the truth.
The Ace: Listen. I'm not used to having these...feelings, okay? I really am sorry and I really don't know what I should do here. I don't know what I should say. I've never been good at this kind of thing. I just...I just can't articulate my feelings to a machine. I want - I need to see you, Kat, please. Give me a chance to make this right. Let's go somewhere and just talk, I mean really talk about this, okay? Give me a call back on this number, Kay, bye.
He ended the call and ran a hand through his hair. His temple throbbed and he rubbed the band aid that reminded him that he hadn't been ready for Jason tonight, what if he was not ready for this either?
Are you ready Eddie?
It may seem like such a simple question, so obvious to answer even, maybe it even seems stupid. Redundant. But have you really considered it? Have you given it much thought? Have you agonised over it like you do so many other things? Things like...proposing marriage to that pretty little thing that will be in your corner on Sunday?
You've thought about that a lot lately, haven't you Eddie?
And who could blame you? It is a potentially life changing decision. It does require a lot of thought. I'm not debating that. The answer to that question, if you ever find the courage to ask it, could change your life forever. Have you considered that Eddie? Have you considered that the same could be said about the outcome of this match? Believe me kid, it really is no exaggeration to say this match could change your life, at least professionally, if not personally. Matches like this end up dictating careers, especially careers as young and as fresh as yours.
Win or lose, people will look at you differently. Not me. Win or lose, I'll still be considered a legend. If I win, people will not be all that surprised. If I lose, well I'll be afforded the same benefit of the doubt that our peers have already afforded Lance Ryan. None of the boys in the back are talking about how you choked him out, even if they really should be. No, instead they're all talking about how he joined Spike's Empire and even giving him some credit for the Crucifixion of Cross, however undue that all is.
That's one advantage guys like Lance and I, guys with an established reputation will always have over guys like you Eddie, guys who are the young upstarts. Losses are so much easier to brush off when you have the age and experience to really appreciate the fact that even the greatest wrestlers in the business cannot win them all. That is why I know I don't have to beat you an you know that you have to beat me. Win or lose on Sunday Eddie, people will look at you differently. In this business, perception is reality and your win or loss will colour their perceptions of you. Whether they all see you as the same old brown or the brand new Black, well that is up to you, kid.
Either way, after this match, you will have proven that you're not just some Indy kid from the South, but rather that you're an Indy kid from the South who can hang with the best of them. It may not seem like much, but its actually a very important distinction. It's the difference between people asking "Who?" and the people saying "Oh, yeah, that guy" whenever Eddie Black is mentioned. It is the difference between being fondly remembered and vaguely recalled.
If you win, you will have the rather unique distinction of beating Lance Ryan and The Ace back to back in their return matches, something nobody else in IWF will ever be able to claim - victory over two NCW legends who once meant nothing to you will suddenly mean everything. People will see us as the foundation of your career, even if you lose. Either way you'll be getting a lot of attention on Monday morning. So I ask again.
Are you ready?
Whether you want to admit it or not, Eddie, it will take a certain level of commitment to beat me on a stage as grand as the one upon which we are set to dance. I'm not saying you don't have it, I'm saying if you do and you somehow manage to follow through on all of your potential and beat me, Rachel will have more questions for you than I will. She will ask what kind of man is more committed to advancing his career than he is to the woman he supposedly loves? Maybe I'm wrong, and if I am, please tell me, its just how it seems to me. You've already managed to convince the poor girl that chivalry is dead. That is why she misunderstood my actions as anything but chivalrous and mistook my intentions as anything but noble. Chivalry isn't dead, Miss Wells...
Only most gentlemen are.
If you truly are ready Eddie. what is it that you are ready for? What are you truly committed to? Love or fame? Because I don't think you're ready for both and it'd be a great shame if you are actually ready for neither. Ambition is fine so long as you never lose sight of the really important things in life. What's important to you Eddie? Is it just the things that are here for you today or is it the things that will still ve here for you tomorrow? Because I'll tell you now sunshine, there will come a day when it won't matter if you beat me, this business will move on and forget you. You won't have a choice in the matter.
With Rachel, you do have a choice. Unlike this business, Rachel will only move on and forget you if you let her.
In Kathy's autograph cue, a couple of young brunettes flashed their VIP passes to the crewmember managing the cue, and he escorted them to the front of the cue. One of the brunettes wheeled the other to the front where Kathy greeted them.
Kathy: Hello. Nice to meet you.
The brunette in the wheelchair leant forward with her cellphone tentatively held in her shaking grip. A combination of nerves and her condition.
Brunette: May I, may I get a photo...please?
Kathy smiles.
Kathy: Absolutely! Wait one second. It's probably easier for me to come around to that side.
Kathy gets up and moves her own chair to give herself room to crawl under the autograph table. Not even bothered by the fact that she was wearing an expensive designer dress and a pair of diamond earrings. Her fans meant that much to her. The two brunettes look a bit taken aback by the effort because they weren't expecting it.
Kathy: No cat jokes please!
The women laugh as Kathy pops up on the other side of the table, looking none the worse for wear. Kathy stays on her knees beside the wheelchair as she puts an arm around her fan, and the two women are cheek to cheek smiling as the memorable moment is captured forever by the other brunette - her older sister, on the cellphone.
After the photograph, Kathy nods and crawls back under the table, popping up on the other side, still smiling, she smooths out her dress andshakes her head to get stray hair out of her face before she sits down. The sister passes her disabled sibling the photo she wanted to sign.
The brunette fan passes it across the table, her hands shaking.
Brunette: Could you sign this please?
It was a ten by eight publicity shot of The Ace standing with Kathy snaking up his right side, he held her bent leg across his waist and she had an arm on his chest. It was one of her favourite shots and she smiled as she took note of the fact that her husband had already signed it.
To Mel,
I'M STILL STUMPED!
The Ace.
Kathy looked up,
Kathy: So how did you stump my husband?
Mel: Oh I saw him at the Q and A session this morning and I asked him a question he couldn't answer. I asked him what made you so special...he said he didn't know, you just were...
Kathy smiled and her knees quivered hearing that.
Kathy signed the photo in gold pen to match her husband's choice.
Mel: I believed him...
All the best Mel,
Kat Conway <3 x
She handed the photo back with a grin.
Kathy: There you go, sweet-pea!
Mel: He really is wonderful you know. You two are my favourite couple in wrestling and I was kind of relieved when he told me the injury you suffered was real, because you've been my role model for the longest time. When I had my accident and they told me I wouldn't walk again four years ago, I looked at you and Jake for inspiration and strength. The fact that he stuck by you through all of that gave me hope that one day I could meet a guy like that who would stick by me...
It struck Kathy to hear that she'd had such a profound impact on somebody's life without ever realising it. In that moment, she had a whole new appreciation for the reason why her husband had decided to return to active competition - stories like this were as good a reason as any to want to keep wrestling for the people who really mattered - the fans.
In the photoshoot area cue, The Ace and Kathy posed with their fans in a double photoshoot opportunity, and it was there that they both met Mel again. They both smiled at her as her sister wheeled her into position for the photographer.
The Ace: Hey Melinda, I still don't have an answer for you, I'm sorry.
Mel smiled.
Mel: It's okay...because I'll never forget you guys! This has been the best day of my life!
The couple smile as they bend down either side of her wheelchair and pose, cheek to cheek with her and he warmest smiles across each of their faces. It may have only taken five seconds before it was all over, but for Melinda, the memory would last forever...
"You Know My Name" fills the packed auditorium as the crowd erupt in cheers. A few moments of wild anticipation pass before The Ace struts out on to the stage and the crowd is deafening. Flashbulbs go off and cell phones are raised to capture the moment of The Ace's return to New York. He is wearing a slick finely tailored Italian suit and has his hair tied back in a neat ponytail.
The Ace waves to the rabid crowd and flashes his trademark grin which is answered with some howls and wolf whistles from some of the women in the crowd. He makes his way to the table that has been set up for him, goes to sit down, but decides against it.
Instead he swipes the bottle of water that had been provided for him and takes a swig. It takes the crowd several minutes to settle down and The Ace uses them to soak in the reaction which overwhelmed him. He wasn't expecting it or the effect it had on his adrenalin. He had truly missed it. He motions for a microphone from one of the show crew and he is tossed one. He spins around and catches it in one hand and in one fluid motion clearly playing it up for the crowd and they lap it up.
The Ace flexes his shoulders and looks up before raising the microphone to his lips. He waits for his music to fade before he addresses his fans.
The Ace: Now...THE ACE...
The crowd follow his lead as they join in.
All The Aces: ...IS IN...THE PLACE!
They start to cheer but The Ace cuts them off.
The Ace: No, no, no, no, NO! What is this? A New Jersey Crowd? A convention of Alex Jones fans? This is NEW YORK CITY...and I know you guys can do much better than that because you're MY fans...so let's try that again...
The Ace clears his throat.
The Ace: Now...THE ACEEEEEEEEEEEEE.........
He pauses and winks at a brunette in the front row. She blushes and her friend next to her whispers something to her. He had gone out of his way to make her feel special by singling her out when he really had no reason to, and now she was determined to return the favour by yelling so loud that she made sure she was heard above the sea of voices as they responded.
All The Aces: IS...IN...THE....PLACEEEEEEEE!!!
The crowd cheers and whoops their own efforts and The Ace grins.
The Ace: That's better! Now we can really get this Q and Ace session started!
The Ace nods, signaling to the various crew scattered among the crowd to field the questions that he was ready to go. A crewman rushes up to the first fan as they settle down and presents him with the microphone.
Fan 1: First, let me start by welcoming you back. It's been far too long!
The Ace: Thank you, its good to be back!
Fan 1: Anyway, my question is a simple one...now that both you and Steve Awesome are back in the company, will we ever see The Smokin' Aces reunite to save the tag team division?
The Ace: I get that question all the time, I don't know if the the tag team division needs saving exactly. I mean I already tried once when I helped Spike Kane retain the titles...
The crowd boo in response to any mention of Spike Kane.
The Ace: I know guys, I know...and I'm sorry. The honest answer to your question is...I don't know. I mean would you guys even want to see it at this point?
The crowd erupt in their response.
All The Aces: SMO-KIN ACES! SMO-KIN' ACES! SMO-KIN' ACES!
The Ace: Well, all I can really say to that is, never say never...
A member of the crew rushes over to another young man with his hand enthusiastically raised.
Fan 2: Hi, welcome back! We've missed you...
The Ace: I've missed you guys too.
Fan 2: Everybody knows about you and Kathy and how personal it got between you and Sexy Jason in the early days of your fued in NCW. My question is how much was that real and how much of that was scripted?
The Ace: Well, if I did my job right, all of it seemed real. The funny thing about that whole situation actually is that Jason and I are actually very good friends and have been for a long time. When I first met him in NCW I had no idea that he knew Kathy, had worked with her or was dating her. There really were no hard feelings between us in the beginning, of course neither of us knew about Soli then. I didn't find out about Soli myself until the night before the Metamorphosis Pay Per View in 2007. It was made even more awkward by the fact that I had to wrestle Sexy Jason that night and the poor guy had no clue and I didn't have the heart to tell him...
~{The Ace cockily drags Jason back to his feet before nailing a short arm clothesline. Ace then climbs outside and drags a table and a chair from underneath the apron. He slides the table in and bends back down for the chair. Jason is up and sets the table up in the centre of the ring. The Ace slides in the ring and between the legs of Sexy Jason. He swings the chair, but Jason dodges, the chair hits the ropes and bounces back into his face.}
Kelly Fox: Oh snap! Ace just took himself out...
{Sexy Jason rolls The Ace onto the table before he takes to the turnbuckle. He stands on top as the crowd cheer. He leaps off with the Sexy Splash through the table!! Jason pins....1.......2.......3!!}
Eric Hardy: What a win for Sexy Jason!
Kelly Fox: It was so close, The Ace almost had it...~
The Ace: Actually, it wasn't until the chair spot at the end of that match that it...really hit me, no pun intended, that I still had some very real feelings for Kathy. It was really tough for a while for all of us involved. I didn't really want to jeopardise my friendship with Jason so I tried to keep my distance from the couple initially. As far as I knew they were happy and I thought I had no right to try and ruin that.
He pauses.
The Ace: It only became a little easier when I found out that Kathy had told him about Soli and the fact that she still had feelings for me too. He was surprisingly mature about the whole thing and there was no real drama between us until NCW creative got involved. Kathy and I were already dating again by then, it was early days and now they wanted to split us up for the sake of compelling television. It was really weird for a while for both of us to come to work and pretend like we really weren't involved at all. Leonard Fox, he really wanted Kat's sister, Tiffany to be my manager, not Kathy. In his mind, it was Tiffany who had the passion and the desire for the business, not Kathy. Tiffany was younger and had the look they really wanted to push, so they came up with a maternity angle for us. All of that was scripted right up until the time Kathy and I got married for real in May 2008.
The next couple of questions came from the brunette in the front row. She was a little nervous.
Brunette: Hello...this is my first time at an...event like this and I've always been a big fan of yours. I've followed your career since your days in XWA, and I actually have...two questions...if...if you don't mind.
The Ace smiles before he responds.
The Ace: Not at all, sweetie, its what I'm here for.
Brunette: My first question is, you said it was all scripted right up until the time you got married. Does that include Kathy's head injury?
The Ace: No, no. The injury was very real. Don't tell him I told you because it'll ruin his bad ass image but Spike was actually very apologetic the night it happened. He didn't mean to let her slip out of his grip during the move, you can actually see it if you play the footage back slowly. It was a damned miracle that it wasn't a lot worse and it sounds strange to say it now, but the injury actually brought us so much closer and really helped us reconnect. The real injury meant that Kathy would sometimes suffer complete black outs, some short term memory loss and occassionally slur her speech. Apparently to someone on creative, her slurs reminded him of his cat and so they slapped her with this whole cat gimmick to try and get her over. To be honest, neither of us are entirely sure whether it did more to help or harm her career. Still, all's well that ends well because she's fine now...thank God.
Brunette: I think its obvious to everybody here how much you two...love each other, the chemistry on screen between you two is amazing and really comes through, is there any time when it all gets a little bit too much and you two need your space from each other? If not, what makes her so special, how did she tame the Blonde Stallion?
The brunette grins and The Ace smirks.
The Ace: We do love each other, absolutely. There are times when we all need our space. Kathy is actually a very private person, she doesn't like to get too emotional in front of other people, and I try to respect that whenever I can. I give her her space when she needs it and she gives me mine. As for the second part of your question...erm, I'm going to have to get back to you on that. I don't know what it is exactly that makes her so special, she just is...
The Ace had had a lot of time to process what had happened out there in that ring tonight against Sexy Jason. From the closing bell of the opening contest of Metamorphosis through to the rest of the Pay Per View, the short trip back to the hotel from the event, even the elevator ride back to his room. The same room Kathy had come to last night to try and talk to him and he didn't listen.
And now he realised he still had feelings for her? What the hell gave him the right to feel anything at all after the way he had shunned her?
That was the question that stuck in his gut as he sat on the edge of his bed and on the edge of a life changing decision. He sat and stared at the photo of her and the baby she cradled and the more he let that image sink in, the more convinced he was of his feelings and that he wanted everything Kathy had tried to tell him last night to be true.
He wanted to be this little girl's father.
He sets the photo aside and gets up. He walks over to his suitcase which was propped up in the corner of the room and lays it flat. He unzips it and rifles through some expensive designer shirts until he finds what he was looking for. A little black book of long forgetten and seldom revisited telephone numbers. Unofficially he referred to it as his Book of Queens, but his closest male friends referred to it simply as 'The List' because every time a new girl made the cut to be included, he referred to her as enlisted.
It was a great honor to be considered one of his Queens, it meant that you weren't a hooker and you were better than a one night stand and well worth a revisit. He flipped through the pages and scanned through the list of random names, numbers and ratings.
Claire L, Beth W, Katherine L, Danielle B. Holly P. Katie D. Donna F. Donna N. Luicia. Lucinder K. Kathy J. Tiffany J. Simone C. Britney....
He paused and flipped back until he found her again.
Kathy J.
Wichita, KS.
Home Bonus +1
TOAK - Sis Bonus + 6
Final Rating: 21 - BJ BITCH!!! #2!!!
This final rating was his highest award. All his ratings were out of 21 because sometimes 10 seemed so inadequate and so cliche. The listing reminded him that she was only the second woman he had ever met that had the distinction of being his 'Black Jack Bitch' with a perfect score. The abbreviated form of the distinction still amused his inner 12 year old. Still it was a honour he had forgotten she held. He smirked.
The Ace: Heh, what do you know? Guess she really is special after all...
It was a long shot that she still had this number. He was never surprised how often women changed after meeting him. The numbers were always the first to change. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained. He dialed the number and took a deep breath as he heard it ringing. This was good.
Voicemail. This was bad, but not entirely unexpected after the way he had treated her. He listened to her greeting as he made his way back to the bed. As he sat on edge, it occurred to him how cheery she sounded.
"Hey, you've reached the party phone of Kathy Jones. If you have this number, it means we know each other socially and had fun once, if you'd like to have fun again, leave a message and I'll get back to you, if I like you!"
There was a giggle, a giggle he now recalled finding incredibly sexy. Now he remembered, she was a copper, so it seemed reasonable she'd have more than one number, one for her work and one for her personal use. He wondered how many other men had this number and if he was just being play -
The beep derailed his train of thought and he coughed and spluttered to compose a message.
The Ace: Um, er, hi, Kathy? It's me Jake. I'm really sorry about last night. I should have heard you out. I'm still willing to hear you out...if you want. You kind of caught me off guard with the whole baby thing. But if she really is mine, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this right. I'll do whatever you want me to, whatever you need me to....but what about Steve? Are you guys still together? Does he know? No, you know what? That doesn't even matter, what's really important here is the baby...
He paused to consider his next words carefully. After all women had much more of a habit of reading into things than men did. What followed next surprised him - the truth.
The Ace: Listen. I'm not used to having these...feelings, okay? I really am sorry and I really don't know what I should do here. I don't know what I should say. I've never been good at this kind of thing. I just...I just can't articulate my feelings to a machine. I want - I need to see you, Kat, please. Give me a chance to make this right. Let's go somewhere and just talk, I mean really talk about this, okay? Give me a call back on this number, Kay, bye.
He ended the call and ran a hand through his hair. His temple throbbed and he rubbed the band aid that reminded him that he hadn't been ready for Jason tonight, what if he was not ready for this either?
Are you ready Eddie?
It may seem like such a simple question, so obvious to answer even, maybe it even seems stupid. Redundant. But have you really considered it? Have you given it much thought? Have you agonised over it like you do so many other things? Things like...proposing marriage to that pretty little thing that will be in your corner on Sunday?
You've thought about that a lot lately, haven't you Eddie?
And who could blame you? It is a potentially life changing decision. It does require a lot of thought. I'm not debating that. The answer to that question, if you ever find the courage to ask it, could change your life forever. Have you considered that Eddie? Have you considered that the same could be said about the outcome of this match? Believe me kid, it really is no exaggeration to say this match could change your life, at least professionally, if not personally. Matches like this end up dictating careers, especially careers as young and as fresh as yours.
Win or lose, people will look at you differently. Not me. Win or lose, I'll still be considered a legend. If I win, people will not be all that surprised. If I lose, well I'll be afforded the same benefit of the doubt that our peers have already afforded Lance Ryan. None of the boys in the back are talking about how you choked him out, even if they really should be. No, instead they're all talking about how he joined Spike's Empire and even giving him some credit for the Crucifixion of Cross, however undue that all is.
That's one advantage guys like Lance and I, guys with an established reputation will always have over guys like you Eddie, guys who are the young upstarts. Losses are so much easier to brush off when you have the age and experience to really appreciate the fact that even the greatest wrestlers in the business cannot win them all. That is why I know I don't have to beat you an you know that you have to beat me. Win or lose on Sunday Eddie, people will look at you differently. In this business, perception is reality and your win or loss will colour their perceptions of you. Whether they all see you as the same old brown or the brand new Black, well that is up to you, kid.
Either way, after this match, you will have proven that you're not just some Indy kid from the South, but rather that you're an Indy kid from the South who can hang with the best of them. It may not seem like much, but its actually a very important distinction. It's the difference between people asking "Who?" and the people saying "Oh, yeah, that guy" whenever Eddie Black is mentioned. It is the difference between being fondly remembered and vaguely recalled.
If you win, you will have the rather unique distinction of beating Lance Ryan and The Ace back to back in their return matches, something nobody else in IWF will ever be able to claim - victory over two NCW legends who once meant nothing to you will suddenly mean everything. People will see us as the foundation of your career, even if you lose. Either way you'll be getting a lot of attention on Monday morning. So I ask again.
Are you ready?
Whether you want to admit it or not, Eddie, it will take a certain level of commitment to beat me on a stage as grand as the one upon which we are set to dance. I'm not saying you don't have it, I'm saying if you do and you somehow manage to follow through on all of your potential and beat me, Rachel will have more questions for you than I will. She will ask what kind of man is more committed to advancing his career than he is to the woman he supposedly loves? Maybe I'm wrong, and if I am, please tell me, its just how it seems to me. You've already managed to convince the poor girl that chivalry is dead. That is why she misunderstood my actions as anything but chivalrous and mistook my intentions as anything but noble. Chivalry isn't dead, Miss Wells...
Only most gentlemen are.
If you truly are ready Eddie. what is it that you are ready for? What are you truly committed to? Love or fame? Because I don't think you're ready for both and it'd be a great shame if you are actually ready for neither. Ambition is fine so long as you never lose sight of the really important things in life. What's important to you Eddie? Is it just the things that are here for you today or is it the things that will still ve here for you tomorrow? Because I'll tell you now sunshine, there will come a day when it won't matter if you beat me, this business will move on and forget you. You won't have a choice in the matter.
With Rachel, you do have a choice. Unlike this business, Rachel will only move on and forget you if you let her.
In Kathy's autograph cue, a couple of young brunettes flashed their VIP passes to the crewmember managing the cue, and he escorted them to the front of the cue. One of the brunettes wheeled the other to the front where Kathy greeted them.
Kathy: Hello. Nice to meet you.
The brunette in the wheelchair leant forward with her cellphone tentatively held in her shaking grip. A combination of nerves and her condition.
Brunette: May I, may I get a photo...please?
Kathy smiles.
Kathy: Absolutely! Wait one second. It's probably easier for me to come around to that side.
Kathy gets up and moves her own chair to give herself room to crawl under the autograph table. Not even bothered by the fact that she was wearing an expensive designer dress and a pair of diamond earrings. Her fans meant that much to her. The two brunettes look a bit taken aback by the effort because they weren't expecting it.
Kathy: No cat jokes please!
The women laugh as Kathy pops up on the other side of the table, looking none the worse for wear. Kathy stays on her knees beside the wheelchair as she puts an arm around her fan, and the two women are cheek to cheek smiling as the memorable moment is captured forever by the other brunette - her older sister, on the cellphone.
After the photograph, Kathy nods and crawls back under the table, popping up on the other side, still smiling, she smooths out her dress andshakes her head to get stray hair out of her face before she sits down. The sister passes her disabled sibling the photo she wanted to sign.
The brunette fan passes it across the table, her hands shaking.
Brunette: Could you sign this please?
It was a ten by eight publicity shot of The Ace standing with Kathy snaking up his right side, he held her bent leg across his waist and she had an arm on his chest. It was one of her favourite shots and she smiled as she took note of the fact that her husband had already signed it.
To Mel,
I'M STILL STUMPED!
The Ace.
Kathy looked up,
Kathy: So how did you stump my husband?
Mel: Oh I saw him at the Q and A session this morning and I asked him a question he couldn't answer. I asked him what made you so special...he said he didn't know, you just were...
Kathy smiled and her knees quivered hearing that.
Kathy signed the photo in gold pen to match her husband's choice.
Mel: I believed him...
All the best Mel,
Kat Conway <3 x
She handed the photo back with a grin.
Kathy: There you go, sweet-pea!
Mel: He really is wonderful you know. You two are my favourite couple in wrestling and I was kind of relieved when he told me the injury you suffered was real, because you've been my role model for the longest time. When I had my accident and they told me I wouldn't walk again four years ago, I looked at you and Jake for inspiration and strength. The fact that he stuck by you through all of that gave me hope that one day I could meet a guy like that who would stick by me...
It struck Kathy to hear that she'd had such a profound impact on somebody's life without ever realising it. In that moment, she had a whole new appreciation for the reason why her husband had decided to return to active competition - stories like this were as good a reason as any to want to keep wrestling for the people who really mattered - the fans.
In the photoshoot area cue, The Ace and Kathy posed with their fans in a double photoshoot opportunity, and it was there that they both met Mel again. They both smiled at her as her sister wheeled her into position for the photographer.
The Ace: Hey Melinda, I still don't have an answer for you, I'm sorry.
Mel smiled.
Mel: It's okay...because I'll never forget you guys! This has been the best day of my life!
The couple smile as they bend down either side of her wheelchair and pose, cheek to cheek with her and he warmest smiles across each of their faces. It may have only taken five seconds before it was all over, but for Melinda, the memory would last forever...
Well howdy there pardner.