5 comments/ 9825 views/ 2 favorites F2: The Golden Ring By: MSTarot FAWC 2 :The Golden Ring (Author's note: (This story is a submission to the second Friendly Anonymous Writing Challenge (FAWC). The true author of this story is kept anonymous, but will be revealed on August 16th, 2013, in the comments section following this story. Each story in this challenge is centered around a random determination of four "mystery ingredients." There are no prizes given in this challenge; this is simply a friendly competition.) (The mystery ingredients for this story were Envy, Vehicle, Affectation, and Sport.) * * * * "Hey! Come on guys. Quiet down!" yells Jimmy to try and catch everyone's attention. He claps his hands together when that doesn't get it. Sipping at a bottle of water I look away from from the conversation I'm having with my friend Billy. I can see Jimmy's getting flustered. "Alright, guys listen up!" I call out to help. The rooms settles to a calm stillness, the very air seems charged with energy. I imagine it must be similar to what soldiers must see and feel just before a major battle begins. All eyes turn to the promoter, Jimmy 'the ghost' Silva. He gives me a nod of thanks then turns to address the others. "Alright, I just want to say thank you for all for coming tonight and for being here on time, it makes my job easier," there are several chuckles. I smile as I see Jimmy hide his own as he lifts the clipboard. "Okay, this the draw. The first match will be Rocco Gibraltar vs Digger Jones." "What? I got to wrestle this honky again?" Laughing I look over to Digger. He's grinning like a cat, his bright gold capped teeth blazing against his dark skin. A literature major working on his Masters degree he never ceases to amaze me at how 'ghetto' he can makes his voice sound. "Yeah boss, I don't want to wrestle him either," says Rocco pointing to Digger with his thumb. "He keeps taking me for granite." I toss my nearly empty bottle of water at Rocco. Mine's not the only one to come flying in at him amide the groans. "Alright Hush! Come on guys, we don't have a lot of time. Tickets are already being torn. Okay, second match is Possessor Red Neckus vs Slick Billy. Third is The Mountain vs the Sumo Kid, now boys I want a lot of action between you two." I join the others in looking over at our two biggest guys. The Mountain at 6'10'' three ninety and Sumo at 6' 5'' with a billed weight of four hundred and sixty pounds, they together make me start thinking about how well I set up the ring. "Can I do my Brokeback lock on him?" asks the Mountain. I know my eyebrows aren't the only ones to climb. I see Jimmy thinking about it. "If you can lift him without breaking your back. I need you this Saturday at the Omnni," Jimmy points his finger in warning. The Mountain nods his big head and then flutters his long eyelashes at Jimmy while blowing him a kiss. The promoter just shakes his head and goes back to the card. "Alright, I need a street fight between Atom X and Double Tap. I want you two to get the crowd really into it boys we need the draw for Saturday," he looks down at the clipboard. My eyes go to our highest flier Atom Extreme,and our 'submission specialist' D.T 'Double Tap' Malone. They move towards each other and ignore the rest of the card as they start to play it out between them. I notice then that I'm ignoring it as well. I know my match. Me and Jimmy worked it out earlier. I still want to grin when I hear him announce it though and see the look on the others faces. "Alright, the main event will be 'Ramblin' Ricky Rhodes vs the Sandman. That's a no time limit boy, so lets give it everything. "I'll bring the house boss," I promise as I look over at Sandy. He gives me a thumbs up. Jimmy raises his voice. "Aright guys...remember. We know that they know... and they know that we know. Do the dance, take the bumps, and sell it so they forget!" he starts to clap. "Come on guys lets have a good show, don't let me down, and don't die!" He points that warning finger again. "The paper works not worth your asses" Laughing we break up and head for either our bags, to the cooler or to talk to our opponents. I signal Sandy I'll be just a second then chase after Jimmy. "Hey Jimmy?" Silva turns at my voice about to say something to one of our sound guys who looks to be at whits end. "Yeah Ricky?" "I was wondering... well I was wondering if you had given what I asked you any thought?" I rub at my left biceps where it's been hurting since my fall a month ago. I see his eyes go to it so I stop doing it. "Yeah I have," he takes a deep breath. "look... you know I love her and I want to use her, the ladies pull a hell of a draw. But I just don't have another female wrestler for her to work with. Not since Mindy went to Shimmer. As soon as I can find another..." "Jimmy she can wrestle a guy! She's every bit as strong as say... Atom X. Hell that would be a hot match. His high flying, her looks and collegiate wrestling ability." I see Silva's already shaking his head. "Well, then you could let her wrestle me. She's my girlfriend so if I touch her someway inappropriate she wont mind." "Damn it it's not that. I know she's a tough girl and not going to take any shit but... were a family show. Guys wrestle differently than women wrestlers. The holds are different, hands go in different places. What happens if her top comes off in the match? I've got kids in the audience, Ricky." "Well, what happens if my trunks get snagged? Any one of us could do the full Monty in the ring any night of the week but that doesn't bother you!" Jimmy stops looking at me and signals the sound guy to give him a minute. When the guy, shaking with frustration I note nods, Jimmy turns to me and sighs. He then reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Okay... look... how about this, is she here tonight?" at my nod he gives me a second sigh and a nod of his own. "Okay, this is what I'll do. Have her come to the ring as your escort." I start to bridle up but he stops me with a look. "She can interfere with your match with Sandman. Have her distract the ref, you knock Sandy out the ring. Then you pull the ref around and she can go to work on him. Keep it going for as long as it sells. Tell Sandy I said that he can exchange a few blows with her if she and him agree. Alright?" After a second I nod. "That will work, thank Jimmy." "Yeah yeah," he turns to the frothing at the mouth sound guy. Leaving him to sort it out I head towards the door, Sandy catches my arm just as I'm about to head out. "What's up?" I give him a grin. "Feel like a three some tonight? You, me and Erica?" Sandy smiles that baby face shit eating grin of his. The one that makes him need a mask to play a heel. "In ring or out?" he asks hopefully, still grinning. "In... you couldn't handle her out," I tell him with a shake of my head. Sandy falls in next to me and follows me out to my truck. "Jimmy said that she can run a scene with you tonight as part of our match. "Cool, I get to get beat up by a girl. Just what I always wanted," he says it way to enthusiastically. Glancing over my shoulder I give him a look. "I wonder about you sometimes." He grins that shit eating grin at me. As I tap on the door to the big rigs sleeper I look back at him again. "Other times I'm sure." A very sleepy looking Erica Von Rize pops open the door blinking. The shirt she's wearing, one of my tank tops, shows a huge amount of beautiful cleavage that pulls both our eyes to her chest. She looks down then back at us two smiling at her. She give a sigh of the long suffering. "What the fuck do you two perverts want?" "Too know exactly how many licks it takes to get to the center of... " I pop Sandy on the back of the head. "Oww!... a tootsie roll pop. Call it my need to know," his eyes drop back to the open top and the wonderful view. Erica sighs again "Men!" she mutters, then sits up and stretches but that just makes her nipples press the thin shirt out like little tents. I can make out the marks her piercings make clearly. So can Sandy I'm sure. "What?" she asks after a moment. "I was trying to sleep." "Naps over beautiful, you got ring time tonight," I tell her grinning. I love the delight that comes to her face. "Really? I've got a match?" she asks happy as a school girl. When I have to explain to her what's up though I can see that 'evil' school girl that is her in ring persona come quickly rising to the top. I try to stem it off by telling her that she and Sandy can mix it up for as long as they can sell it. "Who knows maybe we can talk Jimmy into letting the two of you go at it down at the Omnni Saturday. It's a bigger venue, larger crowd you two going at it tonight could really pack seats." Miss Disaster finally agrees. Her and Sandy start to talk about what they want to do. Looking off towards the entrance and the people coming in I wince when I hear him mention hitting her with a chair. "I'm going to go sign some autographs be right back," I tell them. I have to get away. I care to much about Erica to listen to another man talking about open hand slaps to her chest and choke holds. I mean I know she's tough as nails and he will be pulling most of it but still... she is my girlfriend. Crossing the parking lot to where tickets are being sold and torn I try to get a head count. Maybe fifty still outside. Given that Jim said tickets were already being torn we may have about two hundred in attendance. Not a bad nights draw for a Wednesday night. As I walk towards them some of the crowd recognize me. I feel tremors of apprehension start waking butterflies in my stomach. I take a deep breath and feel myself pulling 'Ramblin' out and put him on almost like a mask. By the time I'm up next to my fans you could almost say I'm not me. Grinning, flirting, kissing the odd single girl (no matter what her age) I work my magic on the ladies of the crowd. I make fathers worry, brother angry and boyfriends jealous. Girls have their hands all over my chest and abbs from almost moment one of me walking up. I give a shimmy shake when one little lady, maybe all of eighty, tries to snake a hand down the front of my tights. She settles for pinching my butt as I turn to walk back inside. Maybe Jimmy needs to rethink the whole 'family show' thing. God knows we wouldn't be the first wrestling promotion to use the old sex sells gimmick * * * * I'm a bundle of energy waiting to explode in every direction. I listen just outside the curtain to the crowd cheering. While not a packed house it is a better one than we have had of late. Jimmy told me he cut ticket prices by five dollars per head so we would pull more. But that doesn't matter. I'm hopping with the need to get to the ring, it's got me just shaking or maybe that the stage fright. I have gone through my customary need to puke, need to piss twenty time, can't sit still for more than ten seconds. My hands were doing their normal shaking as I oiled down my muscles to make them show better. Since then I've been watching match after match through a hole in the curtain. I just shook my head in awe when the Mountain managed to lift Sumo Boy up above his head into his Brokeback lock. He couldn't hold him and they had both crashed down with a sound that made the ring set up man inside me cringe But that doesn't matter. I feel Erica's hand on my shoulder trying to make me calm down. Trying to get me to settle into some kind of a more professional style wait but I can't. Sandman is doing it. He's standing there in his gas mask and trench coat looking all dark and spooky. I saw him do some stretches before he got into his entrance attire but that was it. Now he's into his inner psyche. Letting himself fall away and becoming his ring persona. That's what he told me once after a match. He's got music in his head playing right now, over and over. His entrance theme 'Enter Sandman' is playing for him alone behind those glass lenses. It plays there till it plays for us all. When the speakers take it from his head and give it to the fans he's ready to wrestle. But that doesn't matter. "Will you please settle down?" asks Erica next to me. "I swear you're getting worse Ricky. If I didn't know better I would check your bags for speed." I grin at her. "Don't need it. No drug beats this rush. Nothing does!" She slides up against my back. "How about sex then? Doesn't that beat it?" she reaches between the front of my rhinestone encrusted duster and runs her hand over my cock through my tights. I catch her hand as I start to rise. "Stop it! I can't go out there sporting a hard on!" I wiggle to get away from her other hand as it tries to come around too. "Stop it." "With your gimmick a hard on would help," she says with a wink and a wicked chuckle. I look down at her naughty school girl outfit. "Look who's talking." She backs away looking down at her clothes. The white button up shirt, tied in a knot under her breast, the incredibly short bright red plaid skirt. Those long white stockings that I get to peal down her legs so often after a match. Only the black 'goth' style boots break the school girl image but then she's a naughty school girl. Catching the front of her skirt as she pulls it out about a foot. "Really? You think a hard on would help? I could get a strap on and wear it to the ring... then maybe wear it after we get done... in the sleeper. Ever wanted to be ridden?" she asks full-on naughty Miss Disaster. I feel my cock rise another few inches. When I looks down I know I'm going to be in trouble. "Damn it Erica!" I have to reach down and shift myself around. Naturally it's at that moment that the Mountain comes walking his big ass back through the curtain. He stops and looks down at me with my half hard cock in hand and just gives me a long look. He then flutters his hand in front of his face. "Why Ricky I didn't know you cared." he looks to Erica and gives his finger a snap "He's mine now, you Bitch!" Shaking my head I move out the way as he goes to grab my nipple. He keeps trying and I swear Erica is helping him by holding me by my jacket. His massive hand runs over my peck like a lovers till I manage to get away from him. Chuckling he has to move as the Sumo Kid comes walking through the curtain. I notice he's limping a bit. "You okay?" I ask concerned. The big Samoan nods. He points to the Mountain. "Fairy queen here dropped me on it wrong. I'm fine." "Sorry about that Sam. You're the heaviest guy I've ever lifted. We should have practiced it, first." the Mountain comes over and helps his big friend towards the medic. "Well, you got me up..shut the fuck up!" says Sumo before Mountain can make a comment. Looking over I'm about to comment on it to Sandy. He's not moved. Head half down his mask swaying to the music only he hears I feel an almost chill run up me. But then that's the point of his gimmick. To be spooky. Well, at the moment he's doing too good a job. But that doesn't matter The Metallica guitar music comes roaring up from our Marshall speakers just outside the curtain. I watch Sandy start to let his head sway more with the music. Just as the first lyrics come up he steps forward and the curtain parts. "Say your prayers... little one" comes through loud as sin then the curtain drops back muffling it. "He's a nice guy but he's also fucked in the head," says Erica next to me. I nod agreement and wait for his song to stop and the crowd to stop booing him. It takes a few minutes. He has to shed his ring attire and the old style gas mask that he wears over the black and green mask that he wears in the ring. I'm suddenly calm. It comes on like a wave of powerful lust. I feel Rick Kerensky falling to the side as Ramblin Ricky Rhodes fully takes the controls, ready to step on stage and strut. I turn to Erica and grin at her, she looks back with the white stick from her candy between her teeth. "Some day I want to fuck you with you like this," she says pulling the sucker from her mouth with a pop. "Why not now?" I ask running my hand up the side of her bare midriff to half cup her left breast. My music come up. "OPPAIS GANGNAM STYLE... GANGNAM STYLE!" "That's why," she says as they pull the ropes and the curtain opens. Stepping through the curtain with a huge grin and a boner that's going to make headlines I let my feet take me to the ring 'Horse Trotting' the whole way to the screams of the ladies. Looking over my shoulder I see little Miss Disaster swaying to my music and playing with her sucker. I let my jacket drop as I go up the steps and with my hands on my hips do the side rocker steps down the side of the ring. Catching the ring post I lean back from it whipping my hand over my head lasso style. Then I start to 'almost' dry hump the metal post. The crowd goes wild! The women screaming, the guys booing. Sandman's not even blinking behind his black rimmed eye holes. What more could you ask for. * * * * "Oh for FUCK sake!" I scream into the rag between my teeth as our ring medic slash sound man pops my right shoulder back into socket. It comes out as "UM FUR Uck Ake" "What he said," says Rocco with a grimace. "Dude, I know that has to fucking hurt. Why the hell do you do that shit?" Spitting out the rag I wave off the bottle of water he's offering me for the cold beer in his other hand. He hands it to me and I guzzle the stuff down hardly tasting it I'm swallowing so fast. After the first deep drink I give my shoulder a rotation, wincing at the old familiar ache. Since violently dislocating it, back when I was backyard wrestling in my mid-teens, I've been able to kind of pop it out at will. However except for one time when I was really drunk I don't put it back into place myself. Still hurts like a mother though, no matter who sets it. So I don't do it often. "It sells the show," I tell Rocco grinning. I look back to Philip our sound guy, some times doctor. "Thanks." "Any time Bro," he closes his tackle box and picks up the red plastic box where he put the needle he stitched up my head with. He points to my head. "You know what to do if you start getting dizzy?" "Yep," I lift the cold can. "Get more beer." He shakes his head but says the opposite. "Exactly," he looks to Rocco "You sure you're okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a jammed finger. I pulled it back out. Now it's just sore," flexing his fingers he looks to me. "I've got to hit the road Ricky, my kids got softball practice tomorrow. I need to be there to pick him up" he looks to his watch. "Hell in about six hours." Chuckling I nod and watch him turn and leave, his bag with his ring attire over his shoulder. He was the last 'wrestler' to leave. Now it's just 'ring crew', Erica (probably asleep in my truck again), Jimmy in the back filling out paper work, and me. Getting to my feet with a groan I walk, feeling every step as a blaze of pain, back down to the half torn down ring. I notice that my doctor has gone back to being the sound guy. He has his tall black rolling boxes pulled into the auditorium and is loading them up with wiring, lights and every other bit of electronic paraphernalia we use. His 'personal' speakers have already been rolled out and loaded into the back of his truck. All the rest is being loaded into the back of my trailer. Walking up I start shaking my head as I watch one of my guys whacking the ring connector with a sledge hammer. Over and over. The very sound of it a pain that makes me hope the meds kick in soon. When it finally pops out, from where it bent after the Mountain and Sumo's collision, the way it rings off the concrete floor makes my hair hurt. My shoulder pain and all the others quickly gets push to a distant though as I start to take my normal hands on guidance to getting everything torn down and carried out to the rig. The repetition of shows makes the Tetris style packing needed old hat to me but these dumb asses could do it twenty time and still fuck it up if I didn't keep after them. F2: The Golden Ring When everything is finally loaded, I roll down the door on my truck and head for the office. I give Jimmy hell about that every time we do a show here. As I push open the door to the Men's room I see that like always he's pulled in a table and is cutting tickets, sorting fliers, stacking receipts and doing a dozen other things all at one time. I tap the table to get his attention. "All packed?" he asks me looking up startled. "Except for this table," I tell him with a grin. He shakes his head and starts stuffing his brief case bag with everything from the table top. "My pay," I say quickly before he can put the cash box away. "Oh yeah sorry. Lets see." He pulls back out a sheet and I see the wheels turning in his head. He counts out three one hundred dollar bills to me then puts another one to the side of them. "That's got you and Erica." "Money for diesel," I remind him like I always have to as he's about to close back up the box. Nodding he opens it back up and pulls out my fuel money to get my rig to the Omnni. I pocket mine plus the fuel without mentioning to him it will cost more in diesel to get there than what he gave me. I'll pay out a bit of mine to help. One C-bill still lays on the table. "One hundred for Erica?" I ask. "After how well the outside stuff with Sandy played I figured she would get a bit more?" Jimmy nods. "She should. I just don't have it. Cutting the ticket cost got us more people but we just barely covered cost." he sighs and takes out a twenty. "Here, tell her I'm a sorry and that I'll let her have a match with Sandy on Saturday night. Full pay. She did good tonight, just like you said she would." he closes the cash box with a finality of a bank vault closing. Before it's fully closed though I could see that there were only a few more twenties in it anyway. "I'll give you call Friday night to make sure every things in place," he tells me as I fold up his table. "If those guys at the Omnni give you any trouble about parking the rig there over night... well tell them to call me. I'll get it straight." "There shouldn't be a problem Jimmy. I got them to understand what's what last time." leaning the table against my leg I can't stop my hand from drifting up to touch the stitches in my forehead. I wince more from my shoulder though than from the five little threads. "How's the head?" he asks concerned. "It's just a bump," picking up the table I start for the door. "Hey Ricky... damn good match tonight. You really brought it." The true sincerity in his voice hits me. With all his years in the ring then after he's seen some of the best in the business. The burn of pride drives away all pains. "Thanks." I say almost blushing over the compliment. He shrugs. Carrying the nearly forgotten table out to my truck I roll up the back and slip it in somehow between pieces of ring and the sound and light boxes. Closing it up I give my face a quick slap as I walk to the front . The old Kenworth's sleeper is calling to me but as the saying goes there's miles to go before I sleep. 625 horses wake up with a thunder that rattles windows in the building next to me. Looking down the long dusty-blue nose I settle myself in as I check every gauge. Everything looks good except... I give the air pressure a tap and the needle on the gauge jumps to where it should be. "Want me to drive?" I hear from behind me. "Nah. I'm good for an hour or so then you can take it. If you would though..." "Update the log." she says with a grumble. "Got you. I can go from valet to secretary." "You got paid." "Really? How much?"she asks. "One fifty." I lie. As the brakes let off and I turn the wheel pulling us out I glance over my shoulder at her. Well at her chest anyway. The bounce of the cab makes her breast jump in such a beautiful way. When she sees me looking I smile."The rich bitch is buying dinner though." "Is she? Do I know her?" I chuckle as she hops into the seat next to me and flips open the logbook. I half watch her as she takes out a pen and starts filling it in all the dates, names, times and then carefully drawing the line in with her little ruler. I shift my way through the gears, the old blue beast waking up more with each one. By the time I get us to the freeway the W900 has all it's horse feed, saddled and ready to run. The quick shift through the gear as I easily climb the ramp leaves a shadowy cloud of black smoke behind us. The low weight of my normal load is hardly even a strain to the old truck. I glance behind me down the side of the trailer, my orange running lights highlighting the logo down the side. I.P.W. In big painted on letters, ten foot tall, I don't have to look to see the rest. Independent Professional Wrestling spelled out in a blazing blue and white. Reaching forward I hit the switch and the lightning bolts of white rope lights I put on come on in all their cheesy glory.. As I take the next right I see the big arena up ahead. The massive mushroom of concrete glass and steel sits in it's own valley of lights.. As I drive past it I see the billboard flashing in the front. WWE 'Raw' taping live Monday night. "All the current big names are coming. We're going right?" Erica asks me looking out the window. "Yep. Jimmy's hoping that us having the Omnni on Saturday may pull some of this crowd down there for our show." I let my eyes find the blurred line in the road and keep me on it as my mind drifts to the show. "I told him I doubted it but who knows... maybe." "I would rather some of the WWE's people come scout our show more so than the fans. It would be a real good chance for something like that," she says hopefully. "Us doing a show just five hours from them," she stuff the logbook back onto it's shelf. Then leans in next to my ear and breaths soft words. "Imagine, 'Ramblin' Ricky Rhodes coming out the back onto the ramp for Raw.' The dream passes before my eyes as I feel her lips kissing my neck. For a brief moment I give it a serious look. "They could bill you as Cody's cousin maybe," she says settling back down into her seat. For that brief second it burns so bright and hot. I can hear the pyros going off, I can almost feel the heat of them. I can almost hear the crowd cheering, see the poster board signs. Then I have to shift gears and I feel it all die. Ten years wrestling the Indie circuit has that effect on all of us. We can see the top we can even jump for it. But like when you jump from the top rope the higher you go the more the crowd loves it but the harder you hit and the more it hurts. I've jumped before. O.V.W, two years ago. Tryouts for 'Impact' a year before that. Then there was the time I went out for the Tough enough competition. Figured I might could get in that way. The MIZ did it after all. Didn't make it onto the show though, they wanted nobodies not wrestlers. Higher you jump the harder you fall, the more it hurts when the mat slaps you to let you know the truth. You're an indie wrestler. Do your dance, make your dollar, and pray for that finger from above to touch your shoulder. Still this will be as close as I've ever done a show to one that the WWE is filming... maybe. Shaking my head I gear us back up and shift the big Kenworth into the middle lane. I watch the speedometer climb a bit as my anger pushes down the pedal. "Ricky?" I ease up and let the truck slow a bit. "I'm okay Erica. Just a bit tired of the game." She lets me sit and stew for a bit knowing that the best thing to do with me. She and I have been together for three years. I met her when I was helping to set up the ring in Berwyn, Illinois for Shimmer Women's Athletics. I had hired on there knowing I couldn't work in their show but just needing money to get me somewhere else. My diesel drinking home on wheels needed a part to get it moving again. The used big truck dealer pulled what I needed from an old wreck but he was just damn all proud of his parts. I had to work for three weeks in the area, doing every little bit of crap I could find, to buy it. I was helping to set up the ring at the Eagles club when Erica walked in. Not a wrestler there yet just a hopeful trying to get noticed. It happens there sometimes. Beth Phoenix and Nattie Neidheart got their starts in Shimmer. Not for Erica though. They cut her contract about at about the time I was getting the Kenworth fixed. I called Jimmy and ask him if he had anything for a woman wrestler. He had made a joke about putting me in drag if I needed a job that badly. She went to work for him, I went to O.VW. For a few months then they let me go. Jimmy needed me so... "Ricky?" "Yeah babe?" "Do I get to wrestle Saturday?" she asks softly. "Shit I'm sorry. Yeah, you have a match with Sandman." "A real match?" she asks with a tone that says she doesn't believe it. "Far as I heard, yeah a real match. Give Sandy a call and you two work it... see what you can come up with between then and now. If you two impress Jimmy maybe he will let you keep at it with us guys." I move the rig around a slower moving big Freightliner. He gives us a wave. I tap my lights as I slip back into that lane in front of him. We ride quiet for several minute just the sound of the truck and the road filling the cab. Each of us a bit occupied with our own thoughts. I look over at her and see her watching the bill boards. Her face glowing and dimming with each one that passes. I smile in real pleasure at how incredibly beautiful she is and how lucky I am to have her . She looks over and see the expression. She give me a quirky grin. "What?" "You look beautiful," I tell her as I reach my hand over towards her. Her strong fingers link up with mine for a quick squeeze. She smiles at me then winks. "Flatterer, I know what you're after. You're just wanting some pussy." I smile and shake my head. "The idea of it sounds wonderful, but I think as bad as I'm hurting right now the reality would probably suck." She chuckles, lifts her breasts in each hand and gives then a shake. "Poor Ramblin must be getting old. He takes a few little bumps and can't give a girl satisfaction? Lord wait till I tell Wrestling news about that one," she moves a hand up and circles a nipple. "I would think that seeing me get to take on one of you big strong men would have gotten you hot. Can't handle the competition...Ramblin?" I look over at little Miss Disaster. I wish I could pull out 'Ramblin' as easy as she can her persona. He need the cheering of a crowd to get me going. "Oh, I think I can handle the competition just fine, it's trying to handle you that could be dangerous." Erica leans over towards me sinuously wiggling. "You better fucking know it, little man," her tongue comes out to lick at her lips. I try to look at her seriously but the giggle just bubbles up. I see her pout for a second then grin. Reaching over I run my finger up her throat to her chin then stop it in front of her lips. She gives it a kiss and then sits back laughing. "We're stopping at the Flying J right?" she ask seeing the Pilot billboard up ahead. "Yes." "Thank god. I need a shower. I smell like a French whore on Bastille day," she fans at her face. "You need to get the air working in this thing again." Moving my hand over I hit the button and roll her window down down a bit. The scent of her gets blow over to me, all perfume and musk from her sweating earlier. I must say if that's what a French whore smells like it's not bad. "The air works just fine. I just can't use it at night because it causes my lights to shut off. Somethings cross wired somewhere. I'll find it probably about the time it starts to get cold." I mindlessly hit my blinker to signal for the off ramp. "I mean I got the heater running just in time for summer after all." "Yeah," she says with the sarcasm dripping off her lips. * * * * Pulling the door shut I drop my bag on the counter. Leaning into the mirror I get my first real look at the stitched cut on my forehead. Philip did a good clean job with the stitches. The skin looks a little bruised around the ends but not bad. I've had far worse. I let my hand drift over to the scar by my hair line. The memory of that ladder match flashes though my thoughts with a speed that I'm thankful for. That was not one of my better nights... though I must say it was one of my better matches. It's still getting hits on U-tube. As I start to strip off my shirt I hear a soft tap on the door behind me. When I crack it open Erica's lovely face is framed by the doorway. "Let me in." "What are you doing?" I ask when I close the door back behind her and she starts to strip. "Getting a shower." "I thought your ticket was for the one across the hall?" "It was," she say as she reaches around behind her back and undoes her bra. As that bit of lace and cotton falls away my eyes go to those two lovely dark wine nipples. Their silver barbells highlighting them without taking anything away from the natural loveliness. "I'm not trying to shower without paying I simply want you to be here when I'm naked and vulnerable." My cock sits up with a "Huh?" It I can ignore, the lovely tanned and toned body appearing more and more by the second in front of me I can't. Then I see the bruise. "Ouch," I say in sympathy. "The chair?" Erica looks over at the mirror and turns to look at her back. There is a large purple blue area by her shoulder blade with it nearly blue black in one place. "Yep." she wiggles her back a little. "Looks worse than it feels. Just a bump. Come on get undressed I want to take my shower." "And I need to be undressed for that why... Oh!" "Yes! I need me a big hunky back scrubber." she steps over and wiggle her bare ass against my crotch, then looks over her shoulder at my face. "Why do you still have clothes on?" I have never come out of a pair of paints that fast in my life! Male strippers would be envious of how quick I got them off and they get to use Velcro seams. My eyes watch the play of muscles across her back as she lean in and turn on the water. While she holds her hand under it I can't keep my eyes off her spectacular ass. The little curly vine tramp-stamp seems to almost grow from the two dimples to either side of her crack. Satisfied with the heat of the water she turns to look at me, her eyes dropping first to the rising lift in my cock, then slowly up to my eyes.. "Coming?" "No. I'm just breathing hard," I say with a grin. "I'll have to work on that," she says all sultry. She steps backwards into the shower beckoning me to join her with one finger. The water rolls over her shoulder and neck and I see her almost wiggle into the water like it's a blanket. "Oh that feels so good." I give my head a shake as she runs her hands across her breast spreading the waters shine across her chest. "YOU... are such a fucking cock tease," I tell her as I step into the shower. Her hand moves quickly to curl around the length of me and pushes the skin back from the head. "I'm their queen, little man," she says leaning her breasts against my chest. "Don't you know that by now? Little man." "Does that feel little to you?" I ask giving my hips a thrust driving myself into her fingers. She tightens then, making it almost painful but wonderful at the same time. "Well, it did at first but then you're still a growing boy after all." Slipping my hands around her I cup her ass in both and pull her to me. Her hand leaves my cock and wraps around my waist as our lips meet. The hot water rains down as I taste the peperoni from her pizza on her lips. When her tongue fights it's way into my mouth her hand come up to seize my long hair. She pulls making he arch back my head. Her mouth moves to my chin then down my throat nibbling and kissing till she reaches my Adam's apple. Her lips enclose it and she sucks at it hard. Then she is sinking lower and lower kissing her way down my hairless chest. I let my face stay in the hot rain just enjoying every moment of sensation. Her hands dig into my thighs following lines of muscle up and down as she reaches around to my ass and pulls me forwards. I moan as I feel her finger's tighten and push the foreskin back from the head of my cock. Her tongue then lashes the super sensitive head. Looking down at her I see her looking up at me. She leans in and places a kiss on the head of me. I have to reach over to the metal bar and hold on for balance as she parts her kissing lips and lets just a little of me enter. Then I feel her mouth open wide and those wonderful lips ride up and over the flared head and down, her teeth catching and push the foreskin down the length of me almost painful but it's a pain I've come to love from her. Her hands move to the crack of my ass and pull me towards her, driving my hips into her. I feel her throat around the head of me as her nose is suddenly pushing into the shaved base. Then with a gagging sound from her she pulls back down the length of me her tongue lashing the bottom almost franticly. Holding onto the bar with one hand I let my other one go to the top of her head. Her blond curls wet and silky tangle between my fingers as I push her back down. She moans down the length of me till her nose touches again then she sucks hard making me moan. The warm water cascades down my chest washing past her face following the channels of muscles down my thighs to fall tickling to my feet. I clutch at her head as she settle in to work me with a will. I want to stop her I want to pull her up and turn her around, I want to press her into the tile wall and lift her, spreading her open with my fingers, then with my cock. I want to do all of that. But fuck, her mouth feels to good to make her stop! I can't help but to hunch myself towards her mouth trying to get even one more inch in between those silky lips. The need to cum is here now. I wish it would never end but at the same time I'm craving that end with all I've got. My fingers tighten in her hair as I feel the need building. She slips her lips from me and I look down into that beautiful face with those big dark eyes. Her lips purse in a sultry smile. "Are you close?" she ask her voice husky. "Oh hell yes," I say hardly a whisper, lust taking my volume away preparing for the primal groan when I cum. "Good." In a rush she stands up reaches past me to the little shelf and picks up one of the paper wrapped ovals of soap. As I stand there blinking she tears the wrapper and drops the soap into her hand. Not believing what I'm seeing I watch her begin to lather up her hands. When she looks up at me she smiles at the growing look on my face. "See I told you I was their queen." My jaw hanging open I watch her start to wash under her arms then her breasts. Seeing the look on my face she just smiles sweetly and keeps bathing. Unfucking believable. "I am so going to fuck you silly when we get to the truck," I say shaking my head. I lean out and grab the other bar of soap. "Oh promises promises," she turns under the water and pushes her wet ass back against my cock. "Wash my back for me please." The desire to split those cheeks and drive myself into the hot as hell cunt that I know is hidden there is almost over powering. I can see from the look on her half turned face that she is expecting it to happen any second now. Wanting it to happen even but teasing me with her body at the same time. Okay...two can play that game. I start to gently wash her back letting my hands work their way around the areas that are bruised. I soon have her moaning and leaning forward against the tile her hands pressed flat to keep her nipples from touching. But I do no more than that. As I wash her I can see the disappointed frustration building. I know from past experience that when we get to the truck she will be all but ready to attack me with her needs. F2: The Golden Ring Oh yes this is going to be a good night. * * * * We hurry towards the truck even as the first big drops of rain comes splattering down around us. She's squealing and running by the time she gets to the door. Grinning I grab the handle and pull myself into the truck behind her. A huge bolt of lightning splits the sky in the distance, moments latter the rumble tells that it wasn't as far away as I thought. Moving between the seats into the sleeper I sit down on my bed and start pulling off my shoes. "Are we going to drive on tonight?" she asks looking up through one of the overhead windows at the sudden diluvian flood that's coming down. "Hell no. Slick roads, then trying to get this rig backed in down at the Omnni? In this? Fuck that," I pull off my shoe and toss it towards the front. She grins, her hands grab the bottom of her shirt and she pulls it over he head. "No. Fuck me." Laughing I catch her as she plows into me driving us into the bed, her on top of me. My hands move around to the soft skin of her lower back. Moving them up her spine I feel her lips wince as I touch the bruised area. I move my hands back down to her ass instead. Erica sits up then straddling my lap and runs her hands under my shirt and across my chest. Then her fingers move down rising and falling across my abbs tracing every muscle. I love the smile that comes to her lips. "Damn, I've be got me a sexy man," she says in a near whisper. Sitting up I lean into her and she crosses her feet behind me. Then her arms are behind my head pulling me in tight to her mouth. Our lips go to work against each other in what at first is a slow kiss then with ever growing intensity it builds in fury. Her mouth parts and our tongues meet then I'm leaning back and turning us over. She rolls under me till I find myself sitting up between her open thighs looking down at her. As I look she unhooks her bra and slips it off. I pull my shirt over my head and tosses it towards my shoes. I'm about to lean back down when there is a tap on the side of the sleeper door. Erica pulls the sheet over her chest and I lean forwards past her to undo the latch. Standing in the rain holding an umbrella giving little cringes at the pops of lightning is a girl. I notice a hungry look to her eyes as she glances into the sleeper. "Would y'all like some company?" she asks her hand fingering the top button on her shirt. Glancing down to Erica I see her shaking her head slightly. "Nope. Sorry darlin but the sleeper is already crowded with two." I grin at her and start to pull the hatch closed . "You sure? I don't take up much room." The temptation to have two women at once is there but I shake my head no. She gives a little shrug and wanders off towards the next rig. I close back the hatch on the rain. "Lot lizards." she says with a chuckle. "I am so glad you told me about them," Erica shaking her head start wiggling her panties down off her hips. Grinning I lean down till I'm just above her face.. "Why? Were you tempted?" "She was cute," she says with a shrug. "I just don't want to feel like I need to go take another shower." "The poor thing. She's wandering around out there in the rain," I say with a grin even as I settle myself in on Erica. "Cold, hungry, having to sell herself for money to truckers. The cold callous worlds turned it's eyes from her and now we sent her out into the stormy night." Erica gives me a look. "You just want to fuck two girls at once." I shrug. "Call it a personal fantasy. Besides like you said she's cute." "Well, I tell you what. If you can survive me you can have her for desert." Erica grabs my head and pushes my mouth down to her bare breast. "Now get to work with that mouth, little man, you owe me for a blowjob already." "Yes ma'am." Sucking a hard nipple I cup her breast even as I hook my teeth under her barbell and pull as much of her breast into my mouth as I can. I fumble with the button and zipper to her shorts even as she is pushing me down towards her belly. "Lets see what you can do down there... Ladies Dream." licking my way down the ripples of her abbs I grin at her using the nickname Jimmy hung on me a few years ago. I don't really try to use it but it still follows me. "The Southern Submission Specialist, huh? Lets see you make me tap out." I bury my face and nose into the fluffy landing strip of hair then follow it down nibbling As I feel her lips part I stop and lift my head against her strength to look up at her. "I smell sex and candy," I tell her with a wicked grin. Her theme song entrance music has been a running joke of mine for the whole time we have been together. "Shut up and eat," she drives my face back down and I let my tongue bury itself into her. I was only half joking about candy. While there is a deep scent to her that makes my nose flare there is also the smell of her vanilla sugar perfume and body lotion. I taste a bit of it as I lash her outer lips out the way and open her up with my nose and lips. Then all I taste is her. That wonderful silky feeling skin gives me all the flavors of her cunt that I could want and then some. My hands snake under her to lift her by her ass letting me bury my face in her. She lifts herself then to try and drive me even deeper. I love the sounds that start to come from her. Glancing up I see she is pinching her nipples hard, twisting them, making the piercings move back and forth. Her hand fishes back down and grabs my hair. I wince when I feel a fingernail brush across my stitches. Then I give them no mind as I hunt for and find her clit. The little nub swells under my mouth till I'm sucking it like one of her lolly pops. The hood moves against my lips as my tongue circles it. Her fingers clench in my long hair pulling me head this way and that directing my mouth from one point of pleasure to the next . Then she is pushing lower. I know what she wants me to do and I have no problem doing it. My tongue drops down through her wet lips across the little bridge of skin till I find and circle that wrinkles ring to her squealing delight. The vanilla sugar smell floods my nose even as the lotion taste wants to numb my tongue. Lifting back up I plow my tongue into her cunt as far as I can drive it seeking then finding those deeper flavors. She hunches her hips into my face with a power that smashes my nose. Her hands clutch my head as she lifts her leg over my shoulder. I feel her body shifting then. I wonder what she is doing till I feel her calf, hard with muscle but soft as well, against the back of my head. She pulls me in with her leg. A power I could not resisted even if I wanted to. Which I don't. Then I find that I can hardly breath I'm being ground against her pussy so hard. Her wet lips are smashed into my mouth and I'm fighting to find any single place to lick. Then her clit pushes past my nose and I catch it between my teeth. I latch onto it and suck as hard as I can at the little nub. "Oh my god!" she screams her head thrown back. The storm outside answers her cry with a huge bolt of lightning that crisscrosses the sky over head and shakes the truck with it's thunder. Her second cry, as I feel her legs tighten though, is loud enough to I think even humble the storm. If my ears weren't covered by her thighs I would be in pain from it. "Oh Ricky yes!" her hands pulling at my head I know she's pulled hair from my head even as I struggle to breath against the wet folds of skin. Then her leg goes slack against the back of my head. My turn. Moving quickly I reach down and unsnap my shorts. The relief I feel as my cock is released from it's denim prison is nearly enough to make me cum. I had not noticed just how painful hard and compressed against my shorts I had been till that moment. Moving up her body I lift her thighs rolling her up as I move. I hear only a moments protest as her knees come to rest on my shoulders, then I'm slipping into her and the only sound I hear is a deep throaty moan. I run the full length of me into her extremely wet cunt in one hammering hard push. Her nails rake at my arms even as I rock her up onto the small of her back with my second thrust. Grunt groan, grunt groan, pushing and pulling we wrestle together against each others needs. Her body moving to satisfy her wants, me trying to move her back to my desire. The power of our two athletic bodies has to find some compromise and it's week flesh that bears the brunt of that. I know I'm leaving bruises on her shoulders I'm gripping her so tightly but she is at the same time pulling me down with dug in nails. Then, even as I feel the need to cum start to build, we ease up. Grips loosen and I let her legs slip to my side. I settle my weight down onto my elbows, resting, savoring her warmth. Our lips meet against for kisses that are filled with passion but breathless. She is looking up at my face as I feel the muscles clinching to give me release. "Cum for me lover," she says in a soft whispers next to my ear. Happily. With a guttural groan I push as far into her as I can, my body shaking. I feel her hands softly caressing the scratches on my back even as I feel pulse after pulse of cum jump from the end of my cock into her. She moves her thighs along my hips rocking up to meet each of these little thrusts. Giving more of herself to me each time for my pleasure. Slowly catching my breath in gasps I lift myself up and look down at her. She smiles. "Two out of three falls?"she asks teasingly. Chuckling slightly I shake my head. "This is going to be a one hour iron man match," leaning in I kiss her softly. "No holds bared, no disqualifications." "Oh really? I don't remember signing up for a match like that," she wiggles under me then smiles. "I might have to resort to outside interference." "What do you mean?" I ask after a second not understanding. Then I hear the tap on the hatch. Looking up through the window curtain I see our lot lizard is back. "Triple threat match?" asks Erica under me. Looking down I see the grin. "Or are you afraid you'll lose the title?" Shaking my head I reach over and open the door. The little hooker's blond hair is plastered to her head now. Her eyes open wide seeing us both naked and me on top of Erica. She grins though when I gesture for her to come on in. "HI. I'm Sherry," she says as she climbs in and we move a bit to make room for her. I slip out of Erica and sit up my cock hanging all limp and wet. She looks down at me and smirks. "Looks like you're done for a bit." Erica sits up her hand going to the back of Sherry's head, those strong fingers getting a handful of wet blond hair. I love the 'squeak' the girl makes. "He is for now, but you're here for me," she lays back dragging Sherry with her. As I watch the blonds face is pulling down into the sopping wet cunt I just filled to the top with my cum. "Get to work here till he's hard again." I hear a slightly surprised protest from the girl as her face is pushed between Erica's wet lips but then she seem to relax and start licking. My eyes locked with Erica's I reach up and rub at my left arm. The pulled muscle giving it's normal ache. She smiles and leans back into the pillows with her evil school girl look now fully in place. When I lift my hand to my stitches I notice a slight pinking to my fingers but decide I'm good. As I absently run a hand over Sherry's hot pants covered ass I feel myself already hardening. Small pains get forgotten as that happens. A wrestler knows how to take a bump and still get the job done. Reaching over to our cooler I pull out a beer, pop the top, take a long drink, and then hand it to Erica's to finish. Grabbing out a second one for myself I start hunting through my junk shelf for the pack of condoms I know are there. "Yep going to be a good night." I mumble to myself as I find them. * * * * Lifting the thick steel beam I move it to the narrow notch and slide it in. I then use my hand as a hammer to drive it into the tightest possible connection. That done I go to grab the next one and do the same thing again. When the last side bracket drops in hard I drop under the ring and catch the coil of cable tossed to me from the other side. Above me wood boards are being run across the ring, layed side by side like a deck. As I'm hooking up the D rings to the ring posts I see Erica and two guys from the Omnni arena staff carrying in the rolls of carpet padding. A little flirting from her and she has had them working like slaves for half the afternoon. Behind them walks a third guy his arms full of the folded up canvas. His eyes are glued to Erica's ass. The blue jean cut offs she's wearing are almost a thong there is so little left to them. Chuckling I go back to work under the ring. Working with Jose my ring man, sometimes Luchador, we get the two cables strung from one side of the ring to the other. I'm just starting to ratchet the come-a-long on the last one when my phone goes off. "I hear voices in my head, they counsel me, they understand... they talk to me. You got your rules, your religion..,"plays my ring tone. "Yeah?" I ask cradling the phone between my jaw and shoulder. I try to continue to work the come-a-long. When I hear who it is I stop and shift the phone so I can hear better. "Hey Jimmy, what's up?" "Hey Ricky. I was just touching base with you to see how it's going. Did you get the ring fixed?" Sitting up I narrowly miss hitting my head. I signal Jose I'll be just a minute. Pointing at my chest I mimic taking a sip of water. He nods and goes, I hope, to get me a bottle of water. "It's going okay. Yeah the rings fixed. I had to use a car jack to bend the metal back into place but I got it. If we get a bit of extra cash at some point though having a machine shop cut that piece out and weld back in a new one would be a good idea, but for now it's okay. We are about three quarters done with the ring and half unloaded." "Sounds good... sounds great in fact," I can hear Jimmy moving something around. "Look, I wanted to let you know I got something special lined up for you. I had planned on having you and Sandy do a rematch from the other night but since I set up that match between him and Erica I've been hunting around for something for you. I made a call to an old friend of mine from years ago. I've got him say... ninety present committed to coming. Ricky how would you like to have a match with Bob Holly?" "Bob Holly? Wait, Hardcore Holly?" I ask stunned. "Yep. I talked to him last night. He's been doing little one offs with several of the indie shows. I ask him If he could come work with us for a night. He said sure but to let him check his calender. Bob's like that . He almost never fully commits, but I believe he'll be there. So Yeah, you're going to main event the show with Hardcore. Sound good?" "Jimmy that sounds awesome!" "Awesome? What are you the Miz?" I can hear him laughing. "Look I'll be rolling in there tomorrow morning. Keep everyone in line till I get there if you would. I don't need a bunch of partied out guys on what's maybe the biggest show we do for the year." "I'll keep it together, I can't promise anything about the partying. With the news you just gave me I kind of want to do some myself," seeing a set of very shapely ankles next to the side of me I reach out and grab Erica's foot. "Talk at you later." Flipping the phone I lean out and look up at a very pissed off Miss Disaster. "Don't fucking grab me like that! You just put my heart in my throat!" She sees my face and gives me a look. "What're you grinning at?" "I'm wrestling Hardcore Holly tomorrow night." * * * * The higher you climb the more the crowd cheers but the harder you hit and the more it hurts. By now you would think I should have learned that little fact. Sitting in the backstage area I can hear the muted roar of the audience. The biggest crowd we've had in the last two years. Everyone is ecstatic. The percentages should be very good with this kind of draw. For everyone that's wrestling that is. I look down to the empty water bottle I'm absently tapping against my knuckles. "Man you can just feel the crowd tonight!" I hear Mountain say as he's walking towards the curtain. "My god the energy level out there. I think I saw Chris Jericho in the audience earlier. How cool is that." says DT when he came back from the ring drenched in sweat. I sit quiet to keep from cussing. I want to cuss to keep from crying. "I'm sorry Ricky you know I tried." Jimmy told me not long before the gates opened. "He just said that he had another obligation. I told him he owes me one so maybe I can get him to come back on another night soon. When he does you're guaranteed that match." My mind is awhirl with dark suspicious thoughts, my stomach is rolling with bitter bile. It comes spilling out in half whispered mutters. "Sorry Ricky I just don't have a match for you tonight." I say in a good mimicry of Jimmy. "I'll still pay you for the set up you know that right?" I look up at Rocco as he comes walking in counting a handful of cash. ""Hey Ramblin you should go see if you could maybe sell a few shirts. Just as soon as my match was over mine started selling like hotcakes." He doesn't say it to hurt. I know that. I know he really meant to just give me some good advice. But it's the broken shoe lace on the top of a perfect night of misery. Getting up I walk out the side door into the drizzle. The cool rain a welcome from the heat of the last two days. The long hours of bringing in first the ring, in all it's dozens of pieces, then the barricades for around it. The entrance ramp, curtain, the tons of lighting all the speaker equipment. It's just so... Mindlessly I walk over to where my truck is parked. The rain has it looking all shiny blue and chrome. It's almost like a cruel joke being played on the old truck. It gets to look new fro a few hours, then the reality of road worn tires, dull chrome, and faded paint will return. Unable to bare looking at it I tilt my face back and look up, letting the rain wash the tears I couldn't let show inside down off my face. "Ricky!" I look over my shoulder as Erica comes running out the side door screaming my name. She crosses the lot at a run and leaps into my arms. I just do catch her, her added weight almost sends us in a tumble but I shift a foot and catch myself just in time. Her lips slam into mine with a tooth loosing force. Her mouth tastes of sweat, sugar, sex, and spice. "Did you hear, did you hear?" her words almost tumble over themselves. I have to smile. "No, whats up?" I ask my hands holding her under her hips, fingers full of her ass under the school girl skirt. She's still sweaty from the ring, her hair hanging lank. The rain grows heavier and her hair starts to sink then hang. "There was a Ring of Honor scout here tonight! They want me to come do a try out for their Women of Honor division." And the other shoe lace breaks. "That's...that's great." I sit her down and leaning in give her a kiss. "When do you leave?" She grimaces. "Tomorrow morning. I'm sorry we were going to go see the Raw's show Monday." she smiles. "I'll make it up to you though, I'll get you tickets to come see me wrestle for ROH." I'm all out of shoelaces. "Have you seen Jimmy?" I ask softly not trusting my vocie. "Yeah, he's in the back counting ticket sales. Did you see my match with Sandy? I'm sorry I missed your I got busy with some fans." "I'll tell you about it later, Hun. See you in a bit." Leaving Erica in the rain I walk back inside and head around to where the Omnni turned over a room for Jimmy to use as an office. I see him standing by the open door to it talking to Billy Walshashy, The Professor Red Neckus. Jimmy says something to him then retreats back into the room. Billy shrugs to himself then he gives me a wave as he turns. F2: The Golden Ring "Hey Ricky." "Bill." "Did you see my match?" I walk past my long time friend without a word and catch the door to Jimmy's office. I step inside and pull it closed behind me in the 'Professors' face. "Jimmy. Tell me... did you know? About the RoH scout?" "No. I heard there was one here just a bit ago though," he gets out the pay box. "While you're here let me get you paid. That will be one less thing on my mind to try and remember. Let's see I owe you one seventy five... plus fuel cost for your truck." he hands me the money then looks down as he closes the lock box. "You're driving the trailer back to..." "Jimmy, I'm not fucking hauling your trailer anywhere! Not one fucking foot," my fingers crumple the bills in my hands. "How many matches have there been since you heard there was a scout here? Four, five? You couldn't have gotten me into one of them somehow?" "Ricky I..." "I don't want to hear it Jimmy. I've heard it far to many times already." I turn to go catching the door and slamming it open hard. I see a few of the others standing outside. They scatter out my way. "Ricky!" Jimmy's voice follows me out into the hall. "Ricky, wait!" "Wait for what Jimmy?" turning I look down the tunnel of wrestlers to the balding man. "Wait for what? Till I'm forty and ready to retire? Wait till that Finger of God himself bends down here to touch my shoulder? You know Jimmy... this is horse shit!" I turn to walk off then spin back around. "I've hauled this whole damn show around for the last year and a half, shit hole to shit hole! I've set up and torn down night after night and for what? The first damn time we have a big show I don't get time in the ring?" "I tried Ricky! You know that! I mean damn it I had you set up for the main event." "Set up? That's a good word for it Jimmy. Carrot and the fucking stick. YOU FUCKING PLAYED ME!" I take a step towards him and feel two guys hands come to rest on my arms. I look to them then back at Jimmy. "I'm sick of your... Vince McMahon, WWE want-to-be fucking crap, Jimmy. This is the type of shit he would pull with his people." Shaking my head I turn to walk away. "I DON"T WANT TO BE WWE!" I stop and look back at Jimmy. "Never have," he tells me with a disgusted look. "I would rather be ECW any day of the week." I hear a few mummers of "right on". My smoldering eyes are locked on Jimmy and his on me. I can see he's angry now as well. Well... good! "ECW huh? Bankrupt and bought out... well you're half way there already." I spin to leave again this time with no intention of turning back around. I see Erica's standing by on the water fountains up ahead her mouth an open 'O' of surprise. "Ricky... RICKY!" I stop but don't turn back. "What Jimmy?" "I didn't play you. I swear." I can hear the honesty sincerity in his voice but at the moment I just don't fucking care. I tell him so. "Two words, five letters. I Quit." * * * * Ever tried to parallel park a diesel truck? Don't. The money from scalping the extra ticket in my hand I make my way through the huge crowd. My eyes get quickly pulled to the beautiful souvenir belts hanging behind the perfectly stacked piles of t-shirts. I look at the credit cards being swiped, the money being handed over. Part of me want to buy one of those beautiful belts but I realize even as the desire hits me I don't want to buy one. I want to earn it. I want the change to earn it. That's all I want. I want that change so badly it hurts. Leaving the expensive souvenirs behind I head into the packed arena. As I'm finding my seat I don't even know why I came tonight. Right at this moment wrestling and me are not on good terms. I could have sold the other ticket I had. That money would have been a lot more use to me than the memories of being here alone will. The house lights dim then turn green. "TIME TO PLAY THE GAME!" Depression forgotten I come to my feet to try and see Triple H as he walks out the back and down to the ring. He's in a business suit now. The days of him spitting bottled water are said to be over. I grin thinking that I wish I could get someone to bet me money on that one. As he gives his promo I come to realize something. I'm not here alone. I'm surrounded by people that, while I don't know their names, I know them. I know them because they are just like me. Hooked on this crazy messed up, made up, scripted to death, pipe dream that is professional wrestling. Of course Triple H is interrupted. And of course the wrestler that interrupted him gets also interrupted. By the time the first match starts, a simple mid-card match but what I wouldn't give to be down there, I'm starting to feel that... well that 'something' that took a hold of me when I was just a kid. Memories come then of watching old Gordon Solis, and 'Mean' Gene calling a match between the Road Warriors and whoever they were feuding with that week. Memories of my dad, pulling in his truck late on Saturday morning. Us all piling into the family car and heading down to the old Boutwell Auditorium to watch 'Bullet' Bob and 'WildFire' Tommy Rich. Cheering the 'heels' sometime more than the 'faces'. Dad loved the bad guys. Hell so do I, come to think about it. So why am I a baby face? Because dad wanted me to be. Suddenly missing him all over again I swallow the lump in my throat and let my eyes wander to the signs people are holding up around me. Taking in the crowd. All the people that have ever watched me wrestle wouldn't fill this one arena. The years of my life that I have spent in the ring and for what? I have all the same pains that those two down there have, all the same scars, but not the fame. I look down at the squared circle, the ring, the 'Golden Ring' in fact for every indie wrestler. The big time. The big time? I watch match after match with a sense of disappointment slowly growing. The huge spectacle of it all is impressive as hell, but the words of my trainers keep coming back to me, over and over, as I watch. It's not about bombast, it's about controlling the crowd. If a wrestler can read the crowd he doesn't even need to have music. Just walk out the curtain at the right time and you own them. None of these guys seem to have that. I can 'hear' the hand of a writers in every word they say. See it in every 'blow' they land. Watch it in every bump they take. Then it happens. The pyros go off, the lights dim, the bells ring. As blue lights and fog start to roll down the ramp I stand and cheer with all the others. I can't help it. I do this for a living and I'm just as pumped up by a man in a long black coat as all the rest. I watch his slow walk to the ring. I've see it in person twice now, and both times I've gotten chills. I rub at my arms to settles the goose bumps as he mounts the stairs holding his jacket out the way. The Undertaker. What a name. The Dead Man, hell even his nickname beats mine. I watch the lights come back up at his command. He takes the mic and talks. That's all. He didn't come here to wrestle tonight, just to talk. Yet the whole focus of the arena is on him, on this one man. A wrestler. A wrestler... like me. I feel myself shy away from even the thought that I just compared myself to 'The Phenom' and yet... why not. I mean sure I don't have his size and build but I'm quick in the ring. Hell quicker than he was ,even at his best. A feeling that I'm blaspheming comes over me then. I have to chuckle as I realize just how strong they have sold this one gimmick. Even I, who know how the whole trick works, still gets sucked into it. I watch him leaving in that same stately march up the ramp. His back turned, he looks over his shoulder and raises his arm in salute. The crowd goes insane. He can read the crowd. Watching the rest of the event, even cheering it at times, I come to realize that my heart isn't in it any more. I getup and leave well before the last match. I don't have to watch it to know who was going to win. The long walk back to where I parked the truck passes in seconds to me, my mind tumbling things over and over in my head. I'm fishing my keys out my pocket when I see that the interior lights are on in the cab. Then I'm looking for a weapon, anything to use to beat the head in of whoever is in my truck. When the door opens and I see Erica hop out I stop. Just standing there in the middle of the street. "What are you do...?" I start to ask. "I told them to keep me in mind, but no thanks for right now," she says with a shrug. "I've got a sick friend I have to nurse back to heath." I slowly smile as she takes out a sucker and unwraps it. When she pops it in her mouth and smiles I start to shake my head. "Are you crazy? That could have been your big shot." Erica, walks over to me slowly and slides into my arms. "I've been there before, maybe it's not what I'm wanting," she leans her head into my chest a bit more. "I got to thinking about how miserable I was when I was working with Shimmer. Constantly trying to get noticed. I've had more fun in the last year than I can remember in my whole time in the ring. You know why?" I have to shake my head. "Because of you,"she looks up at me and smiles. "What's the fun of doing something spectacularly sexy if you don't have someone to be showing off for." Leaning in I find her lips in the growing dark, I have to stop and pull her sucker out the way, and then kiss her candy tasting mouth. She runs her hand up my back and spine her fingers under my shirt. A car pull up right behind us. "Hey you twos...get a room already." says a heavily accented voice from behind us. Looking over my shoulder I hear Erica gasp. "I've got turned around, which way to the airport?" "That way, up the ramp and about four miles." I tell Santino Marella. "Stay to your right you'll see the signs." He gives me a stiff hand salute and turns the wheel drastically. I watch him almost careening off a lamp post then he shoots up the on ramp. "I thought all that was just a ring persona he used?" asks Erica leaning into me. "Some people just don't know when to stop, I guess." "Do you?" she asks me grinning. "I think he had a good idea. I turned down the sheets and got the AC running." Smiling down at my little Miss Disaster I tuck her into my hip and walk towards my truck. I grin thinking that if he was still around my dad would kill me if he knew what I have done in his old sleeper. And what I'm about to do again. * * * * My lovely lady is soft and warm against me tonight. No need to rush, no need to hurry, no lot lizard wanting to do contortion requiring positions. Just her and me in the warm dark of the truck sleeper. The bed isn't really meant for two people but most of the time its more than wide enough. A long slow thrust into her gives me all the pleasure I could stand, in this life. Then when I pull back I feel it almost double. She doesn't let me go far, catching me pulling me back down into her. Long slow strokes that take almost all the breath from us both as we pant together. "Ricky?" Somehow I find the air to speak. "Yeah?" I say in a half gasp. "Do something for me please," she reaches up to slick my hair back behind my ear. Her eyes are slowly moving across my face. "Be happy." I chuckle. "I don't think I could be happier at this moment if I tried." I give her a harder thrust that makes her moan. She brings her hand to my chest and makes me stop. "Not what I mean." "Then what do you mean?" I ask holding myself just inside her, my weight on my elbows. My body is laying cushioned down the length of her. "I want you to be happy... or maybe satisfied would be closer to what I mean. Hush." her finger closes my mouth before I can speak. "Not that kind, you're going to get that kind all night." "Then what?" "With us, with this, with the life we have been living. I... I think I'm good with this." I look down in her face wishing for more light to see it's beauty. The nearby street light is casting only a bit of dim light through the top windows. "Living in a truck, wrestling for change, watching the big time slip further and further away every year. You're happy with that?" I try not to add tone too it but it's there. "Happy... not always. Satisfied, yes. I love you. I love this life. Hell I even love this old truck with it's squeaky bed and half working AC. Let me finish,"she says when I go to speak. I nod. "Yeah, I want more. I want the big house, my name in the wrestling magazines. I want to turn on the TV and see myself wrestling the other Divas. But till then, till that happens. This will do. So long as you are here," she smiles and gives a thrust back up the length of me. I moan then smile at her grinning face. "The question is though can you be happy, with this?" I think but a moment. I don't need more, I came to this answer watching the Undertaker. "Yes. I can be. I want more though at the same time. I want to be the best I can be at whatever level I'm working. If it's indie level that's fine, if it's the big time that's fine, but I'm going to be the best there is." Erica smiles but I see Miss Disaster grin. "The best there was!' she drives herself back up on me. "The best there is," again her hot body grips me tight as she pulls down till just the head is in her. "the best there ever will be?" I thrust into her as hard as I can drive my cock and feel it bottom out in her. She gives a moan that is half pain but all pleasure. "Bret Hart wore pink tights and had a manager called 'The Mouth," I tell her ginning. "I'm going to be the best there is at what I do," catching her to me I start to thrust harder and harder into her. She moans but then she pulls me tight to her and nibbles by my ear. "I'm the best there is at what I do? Who do you think you are, Wolverine?" she asks giggling. "Would you shut up and fuck!" I tell her with a shake of my head. "Mmmm... yes sir. Now I like that kind of talk from my big, strong, wrestler man." she starts to wiggle her ass under me. With a snort I give up on sex for this moment and decide that tickling her till she's out of breath sounds like more fun. * * * * "Hey Jimmy." The balding promoter looks up from his balance sheet to me standing there, his face shows he's totally shocked. "Ricky? Hey. Did you come to see the show?" he asks after a moment of awkward silence. "I ... I ah... I want to apologize Jimmy. I was having a bad night." I look over and pull in the second seat in the room. The subway tile walls and urine smell has been only marginally improved by the multiple Glade plug-ins Jimmy has put around the room. "I'm sorry Jimmy, for what I said." Jimmy sits back a bit then turns his paperwork over. A clear sign, to those that know him, that this isn't a business conversation but personal. "I'm sorry too Rick. I made you a promise, a verbal contract for a big match then I didn't deliver on it. I'm not mad at you for thinking I was playing you either. I got to looking at how much I've been depending on you for the last year or so. I saw that I've been kind of taking you for granted," he sighs. "I didn't realize just how much I've come to depend on your help and that big truck of yours to get my little dog and pony show where it's suppose to be." He looks down at his 'desk' for a second then back up at me. "Are you working?" I give my head a shake. I know that a call to Mom could maybe get me on with dad's old trucking company but I have no want for that life. "How about this then I'm up to my double chin with all this paperwork, nothings getting done that needs to be done. Not really anyway. I had been thinking for a while about getting me a partner, but I kind of put that to the back burner because... well lately things had been running smoother. I didn't realize till you left that was mostly because of you. How about we make it legit?" "What do you mean?" I ask not sure what he's saying, but then that's been a common theme with me and Jimmy when ever he starts talking business. Jimmy picks up a blank piece of paper from his desk and starts to write. Then he signs it and hands it to me with the pen. My eyes take in his almost effeminate scrawl. "Thirty percent of the company?" I ask stunned. "Really?" "Yep. You sign it, we'll get it notarized and then we can sit down and figure out just what your thirty percent means," he grins at me. "At the moment it means a lot of heartache and hassle to scratch out a living. But..." he holds out his hand to me. "I would like to have your help, if you're willing." When I reach out my hand to him I know the years of work I'm agreeing too. The struggle to get guys payed, the hassle of getting shows booked. I would have to be mad to want to agree to something like this. As I shake his hand I'm grinning. "I've got some ideas." He smiles and turns back over the balance sheet. "Do you?" he asks as he start to write. "Yeah, I was thinking about a Women's division. I also think we need belts." "Belts? That's for the big time boys." "Yeah... that's why I think we will be needing them soon." I smile at his raised eyebrows. "Now about the women wrestlers, I know just where to start. We need..."