Detroit || 2:30 am

The blackness of the small Motel 8 hotel room located in Detroit was choking me. I was having a hard time breathing, a hard time of keeping everything together. It didn’t help my head was raging with pain. I had had a migraine for the last four hours and had been too hard assed to take something.

Finally I flung myself up and grabbed both sides of my head. “Oh God, I can’t take it anymore!”

My sudden yell woke up Mike who was laying next to me. He sighed and sat up beside me. “I told your ass to take something when it first started but no, you thought it would go away by itself. You wanted to be the hard ass. Now look what it’s got you.”

I sighed in frustration. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.

“You want me to get you something man?” Mike asked.

I nodded my head. “Yeah, if you don’t mind.”

Mike pushed the covers back from his body and got out of bed. He went into the small bathroom. I could hear him rummaging through the bag, looking for the small bottle of Ibuprofen I kept with me for my headaches. They had become closer and closer together for some reason and I didn’t know why. I refused to go to the doctor about it because I hated doctors. I hated then with ever ounce of energy in me.

While Mike was gone I allowed my mind to drift to my next opponent. Another opponent I knew nothing about. I had gotten my first win here in the TGW and it had felt great but could I keep up this success. Now I was faced up against a better opponent which made me happy in a way because I knew I was climbing the ladder here in the TGW. But this guy? A shuffy looking hippie is all I could think of.

I licked my lips and blinked a few times. I reminded myself who I was really fighting for. Sure, I was fighting to better my spot here in the TGW and to gain more money but I was also fighting for my friends -- my support system.

Mike walked back into the room with a bottle in his hand. He opened the bottle and put out two pills. He handed them to me. “I guess you need something to drink.” He said as he grabbed a half empty beer bottle seated nicely on the night stand. “Will half a beer do?”

“Eh, whatever.” I popped the two pills in my mouth and took a drink of beer to wash them down. The beer was warm and disgusting. As it hit the back of my throat I felt the urge to throw up, but I didn’t. “Oh shit man, that’s disgusting. Get it away from me before I throw up everywhere.”

He laughed quietly. Our commotion hadn’t woken up the girls who were in the bed next to us. “You want me to wake Torrie?” Mike asked.

“No, there’s no point. Let her sleep. She needs it.” I said.

Mike pulled back the covers and climbed back into the bed. He snuggled down in the bed, laying down and trying to relax. I did the same. I turned my back toward Mike. I felt his arm stretch over his body and rest gently on my hip bone. “Well good night.” He said.

“Good night.” I answered.

The pounding in my head was still there but soon I knew it would subside. I lay awake thinking about this and that, worrying myself about my next match. The guys always say I worry too much about things that simply don’t matter.

“Mike?” I asked wondering if he was still awake.

“Hmm” He answered in a muffled tone.

“You think I have a chance in hell of beating this guy?” I asked.

He sighed in frustration. I felt his arm raise off my hip and then his hand planted on my hip bone, squeezing a little. “I think you have a damn good chance of beating him just like you beat the last guy. You kicked that guys ass and now you’re worried about this guy who means nothing just like the last guy meant nothing. You worry too much.”

“Yeah I know.” I said. “You tell me that all the time. He has a nice car though.”

‘Maybe he’s compensating for something.” Mike answered.

“That’s something I wish not to think about.”

Mike’s hand was now massaging my hip bone. It felt good. It felt like someone was actually listening and actually cared about me. I put my arm under my pillow, licked my lips and closed my eyes. I was determined to savage as much sleep as I could from the night.

“Well as soon as this pounding stops I’m going to go to sleep. So good night.”

“Good night.” Mike answered.

The pounding must of lasted about another thirty minutes before it subsided and I was able to fall into a deep sleep. Ready for the next day.

“Trent! Trent! Wake up man!” Mike yelled at me. I lazily opened my eyes and peered around the room. The girls were already up and dressed. They were doing their hair and make up, getting ready for the concert we were set to attend today.

“I’m awake, I’m awake.” I moaned out and turned onto my back on the bed. Mike was already dressed too looking rather handsome in his torn blue jeans and black studded belt. It dawned on me I hadn’t picked out what I was going to wear today. You could wear just about anything you wanted when you were going to see Mindless Self Indulgence.

Torrie bounced on my bed. “Oh I’m so excited. I’m so glad you were able to come up with the money.”

I grinned. I enjoyed seeing her happy. We kissed. It was only because I won the last match I had the money to take us to this concert. Like I said, I had something else to fight for instead of just myself.

I pulled myself out of bed, dressed in nothing but my Joe Boxer boxers and went into the bathroom. I closed the door behind me and grabbed my toothbrush. Before I started brushing my teeth I took a long hard look in the mirror. “Who are you? I’ve only seen a glimpse of you but I can already tell I don’t like you. Well Rush if you expect to get by me this week then you’re going to have to be at the top of your game.”

I grabbed my toothbrush and started brushing my teeth. Marie entered the bathroom and started sharing the mirror with me. She was darkening her eye liner. She already looked sort of like a raccoon but who can argue with eyeliner. To me, you can never have enough.

“Are you excited about this week?” She asked.

I spit into the sink, leaving my head bowed down toward the sink. “I don’t know if I’m excited or worried. I don’t know the guy. And not knowing is the worst.”

“Oh I’m sure you’ll be fine darling. You thought you weren’t going to win last time and look what happened. Now how do I look?” She asked.

“Like a groupie.” I answered.

She giggled and kissed me on the cheek. “Good. I was going for that look.”

I smiled and finished brushing my teeth. I went back into the room and looked through my suit case for something to wear. I pulled out a pair of jeans with the knees cut out and a black Mindless Self Indulgence t-shirt. I put a black studded belt on and put my black studded dog collar on. I looked down at my nails and saw they were chipping. I pulled out my black nail polish and sat down at the table to repaint them.

As I painted I thought about my wrestling career. It had been off and on for a few years and over the years I had achieved some pretty impressive titles and won some pretty impressive matches. Now I was here in the TGW and I had every ambition of doing exactly what I did in the past and that meant getting past Rush. I grinned to myself thinking it might easier than I thought. He didn’t look to be too threatening and he didn’t sound too threatening either. In fact, he looked like many people I had faced in the past and I had overcome them so why couldn’t I over come him?

“Well everybody’s ready except for Trent.” Mike said.

“What else is new?” Torrie added.

“I’ll be ready in a minute or two. Just let me finish painting my damn nails. You guys are way too excited.” I said.

“Yeah but Trent, it’s Mindless Self Indulgence. Aren’t you excited?” Marie asked.

“Of course I am.” I answered. “There I’m finished. I’m ready to go whenever you guys are.”

“Well let’s go now! We’ll get closer to the stage.” Torrie said.

“Don’t you all want to get something to eat first? I mean my God it’s only morning.” I said.

“Who has time to eat? I mean really.” Marie added.

“Alright, alright, we’ll grab something at the continental breakfast downstairs and then we’ll be off.” I said as I stood up blowing my nails to make them dry faster.

The three of them rushed toward the door and I followed closely behind them, shutting the door behind us. We walked down the hallway, holding hands and kissing each other. Full of excitement. I knew we looked freaky to the other occupants of the hotel but I didn’t care. I was use to being considered different.

I hit the button to the elevator and we waited a few seconds. Finally, the elevator showed up and we stepped inside. I hit the ground floor button and we wait yet again until we were down on the ground floor. We walked over to the continental breakfast area and looked it over. They had the usual, pancakes, muffins, cereal.

“Let’s get something we can get on the go.” Torrie said.

I grabbed a blue berry muffin and the others grabbed whatever they wanted and we headed toward the door. The sliding doors came to life when we stepped close toward them and opened for us. We walked out into the Detroit daylight and it blinded me at first. My eyes soon adjusted through and we made our way over to the edge of the sidewalk ready to hail down a cab.

We waited a few minutes before a cab picked us up and we piled up. I told the cab driver where to drop us off and he smiled. “Ahh, you’re in town for the concert then?”

“Yeah.” I said. I didn’t feel like talking to the man so I left it at that.

“So what song do you think they are going to perform first?” Marie asked.

“Shut me up.” Mike added. "It’s my favorite and they know I’m coming so of course they would want to please me."

We all laughed. “You are so full of shit sometimes Mike.” I added.

The cab ride seemed like it took no time at all because we were there long before I expected us to be. I paid the cab driver, giving him a decent tip because I actually had a decent tip to give and we piled out of the cab to the outside concert. People were already lining up at the front gate, getting their tickets ready to be punched and enter the grounds.

We got in line and the line started moving. “See I told you it would be a good idea to get here early.” Marie said.

“Yeah but we got to get through the opening acts.” Torrie said.

“That’s no big deal. It’s not like we have to pay attention or anything.” Mike added.

We finally reached the front gate and I handed the man the four tickets for me and my friends. He punched holes in all of them and gave them back to us. He also slid bright red arm bands around our wrist.

We were inside the grounds and ready for the show to start, but like Torrie had mentioned we would have to get through the opening acts first. No big deal though.

“You know what we need? We need beer. I really think we need beer.” Torrie said.

“I agree. Beer makes everything better.” Marie added.

“Alright fine. You guys wait right here and I’ll go find us some beer and be back.” I said as I started to walk away.

I walked away from my friends and I immediately let my mind wander off again. My second opponent. I had to win. I had to keep up the momentive that I had already started. I placed my hands in my pockets and bowed my head, not paying much attention to where I was going. I was suddenly jarred backwards by a larger man. I had run straight into him.

“Oh God, sorry about that. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” I immediately said.

“Yeah I guess you weren’t.” He answered.

I took a couple of steps back and raised up my hands. “I didn’t mean it. Honestly.”

“I know who you are. I saw you on the tube the other night. You’re that Trent Townsend guy right?” He asked.

I immediately became nervous. I didn’t like when people recognized who I was or what I did for a living. “Yeah. Yeah, I am.”

“Here I was thinking you were going to get your ass kicked but you went and pulled off an upset. Think you can do it again this week?” He asked.

I laughed a little. “There’s no think about it. I’m going to win because I have to. See I wrestle for different motives than most wrestlers do. Most just do it for the fame and money and whatever but I have bigger things I wrestle for. Rush, or whoever the hell he is or thinks he is, won’t be a problem. You saw what happened to Magnum well the exact same thing is going to happen to Rush.”

I was feeling the confidence rise up within me and it made me feel good. It was better than feeling low like I usually did.

“Well good luck to you. You may need it this time around.” The man said and waved good bye.

Did he actually think I didn’t have a chance? Were people already doubting me? I couldn’t let it get to me. I had to have tunnel vision.

I continued my journey across the grounds to the small white vendor trailer. I got in line, biting my nails, an old habit I picked up when I was six and was never able to kick. When it came my turn I ordered four Bud lights and handed the guy the money. I started my journey back to my friends, hoping I remember exactly where I had left them.

As I walked I realized I was a man of compassion but when it came to winning or losing the compassionate part of me died. All that was left was a blood thirsty urge to win and not be defeated in the ring. When I did find my friends I found that they opening acts had already started and they were sitting on the ground, Mike laying down, listening to the music and chatting amongst themselves.

“Here.” I said as I handed them each a beer.

“Yes beer one of the major food groups.” Mike said.

We drank our beer and talked and laughed among ourselves. My mind had forgotten about the match. We just took in the music and talked, I mean really talked like friends talked. It was comforting and much needed.

Finally it was the moment we were waiting for. The grounds had now become packed with people as Mindless Self Indulgence took the stage. We yelled for them, right along with everyone else. We waited patiently as they tuned up their guitars and then the show was off.

“I’m so glad they started off with that song. I love that song.” Marie said.

The band immediately went into their next song.

I suddenly felt sick. Sick like I was going to throw up. I stepped away from my friends a few steps but they didn’t notice. They were too rapped up in the show and hey, who wouldn’t be? I licked my lips and finally grabbed Torrie by the hips. “I’m going to go walk for a bit. I feel sick.”

“What? You feel sick? Why?” She demanded.

“I don’t know. I feel like I’m going to throw up.” I answered.

“I’ll come with you.” She said.

“No, no, stay and enjoy the show. I’ll be alright.”

“No I’m coming with you. Now come on.” She said. “We’ll be right back.” She said to Marie and Mike. They nodded their heads, half their attention going to us and the other half going to the show. Torrie and I walked away from them. She grabbed my hand and we pushed our way through the crowd. When we came to a clearing I bent my head and threw up. Torrie rubbed my back as I emptied out my guts. When I was finished I sat down on the ground and breathed heavily.

“Are you alright now? Was it the heat getting to you?” She asked.

“No I can’t do this.” I said.

“Can’t do what?” She asked.

“Can’t go on with the TGW. I know I’m going to lose this upcoming match and it’s going to destroy my morale and I just can’t.” I blurted out.

Torrie got close to me and took me in her arms. “Trent, just calm down. You’re going to make yourself sick again. If you don’t win it’s not the end of the world but I don’t even know why you’re worrying because you are going to win. Because really what is he? Some disgusting I don’t know what and he can’t wrestle. He’s not like you. He doesn’t have the skill you do.”

“I may have more skill but what if I get out there and screw it all up? I have you guys to think about.” I said.

“We have been fine before and we will be fine after this match. So don’t you worry about us.” She said tenderly.

A few moments passed. “You should go back to the concert.”

“I’m not leaving you here like this.” Torrie said.

“We’ll never find Marie and Mike again.” I said.

“Yeah we will. We’ll just wait at the gate until they come out. They’ll know what to do.” She said.

She continued to hold me and kiss my forehead as the concert went on. We could definitely hear the music but could see hardly nothing. I only hoped Marie and Mike were having the time of their lives. We must have sat like that for an hour because I could tell some of the people were beginning to make their way toward the gate. The concert wasn't completely over yet but it was winding down.

“Want to go by the gate and wait?” Torrie asked me gently.

“Yeah, let’s go.” I said as we got up and headed toward the gate. When we got there we stood there waiting for the two to come out. I had lost all track of time and I guess it didn’t matter because thirty to forty minutes later Marie and Mike came out of the gate. They immediately found us.

“Hey what the hell happened?” Marie asked.

“I got a little sick is all. I had to get away. How was the rest of the concert?” I asked.

“Fucking tastic of course.” Mike added. “Are you feeling better now?”

I shook my head. “Yeah. I feel alright. Let’s see if we can get out of this place.”

We walked through the crowd to the end of the road waiting to hail down a cab to get us back to the hotel room.

“Lyn-z was amazing tonight. The way she does he backbend while playing the bass is amazing. I wish I was that flexible.” Marie said.

“Don’t forget about how cool Johnnie looked tonight.” Mike added.

“Oh who could forget that?” Marie asked.

Finally, we were able to hail down a cab and we all squeezed inside. The cab ride back to the hotel was quiet. Marie had placed her head on my shoulder and was already drifting off to sleep. It had been a long day and I felt kind of bad for making Torrie miss most of the concert just because of my nervous condition. Maybe there was some way I could make it up to her later on.

We were back at our hotel room and we marched in and found the elevator. The elevator doors opened and took us to the fourth floor. Our room, 405, was easy to find as we went in. The girls immediately flung themselves down on the bed and it was no question they were going to sleep in their get ups tonight. I sighed, not feeling really tired but bored.

“Hey Mike, want to join me out on the balcony for a cigarette?” I asked.

“Yeah sure man.” He answered.

We both went outside and lit up. I blew the smoke out of my nose.

“I guess I could be in trouble for all this drug stuff going around.” I said.

“Nah, who cares what you do with your personal life? I mean you’re out there busting your balls for the company why should they care what you do? It’s not like you’re a let down. Now someone like Magnum or Rush, they are let downs.” He answered.

“I don’t know if Rush is a let down or not. From what I’ve observed he is. He looks like a fool and dresses like one too. But Magnum was a let down. I was expecting an actual match and all I got was a bunch of crap.” I took another deep draw off my cigarette.

“You’ve got this one Trent. I can feel it in my bones I guess you could say.” He said as he blew out smoke rings into the air.

I put my finger in the hole of one of the rings. “Don’t let it die a virgin.”

He both snickered a little as we finished our cigarettes and headed inside for a good nights rest.