I can't remember the last time I was so exhausted when I shouldn't be.
Joe walks ahead of her just a bit and fumbles with his keys before Angel realizes something.
Joe?
Yes Angel?
The door's already unlocked.
Joe notices this as well and shrugs it off.
Guess I left it unlocked when I left.
Joe goes inside and holds the door open for Angel, before grabbing her things and his and heading inside. He turns on the lights and points her direction to the guest room.
I'll check on you in a minute ok? I need to check the messages on my answering machine.
Angel nods and smiles before letting go of his hand, although it seems like she doesn't want to, and she heads into the guest room to get herself adjusted. Joe walks into his own bedroom and sees someone already in there. It's his soon-to-be-ex-wife Mandy, sitting there. Joe has relapses of the last time he saw her like this.
What the FUCK are you doing in my house?
You have every right to be mad at me Joe.
You're damn right I do! I don't want you here, so I'm going to kick you out once again.
JOE! Seth kicked me out.
Joe looks shocked but for some reason, he's not as caring as he would have been. We hear Angel walking from the other room.
Joe? I can't find the...
She stops mid-sentence when she sees who is in there.
Oh! The Angel of ICW! Wow Joe I can see that you don't mourn very long. Tell me Angel, is he as good in bed as he thinks he was with me?
Mandy shut the hell up.
Angel takes a step back and looks from Mandy to Joe. Her face seems like it's been froze by ice, for nothing can be seen or inferred from the brown depths of her eyes or the features on her face.
Joe, I think that I'll leave. You have your own issues to sort through. You have my number if you want to call.
Angel then walks out of them room, gently closing the door behind her, leaving Joe and Mandy to talk.
I hope you're proud of yourself. You gotta hurt everyone around you, is that it Mandy?
Oh please Joe, I know a slut when I see one, she was just after what you got. But I'm here for you.
Mandy stands up and tries to hold Joe but he just shoves her back down on the bed.
If you really knew what a slut was when you saw one, you'd be disgusted every time you looked in the mirror.
Mandy is more pissed off now than sad, because she's not getting her way.
I'll have you know I've treaten you better than any woman ever could. I love you!
Yeah well you know what? It took a good friend of mine to realize that what we had isn't close to good, and I'll tell you this, I don't love you at all. You may be pregnant, but that's not my kid, and as far as I'm concerned...
Joe takes his own wedding ring off, which he forgot he had on until this time, and throws it at her.
You can take that ring, and get the fuck out of my house because I don't love you anymore, and quite frankly, I never could.
At this point Mandy gets up and runs away, and Joe hears a door slam and then voices outside, as apparantly Angel was on the porch and Mandy has discovered her.
I hope you're happy that you ruined my life! You and Joe deserve each other! Joe starts to walk but stops when he hears Angel saying something back to her.
Well, you got one of them right. Joe and I have given everything we are to another person only to have been hurt in return. As far as I see, Joe has done nothing but give himself completely to you, and you just hurt him in return. I didn't ruin your life Mandy. You did. The moment you stepped out of this house with another guy and shacked it up with him. You ruined your own life. I just hope that Joe can find happiness again, whether with me or someone else. Because the Lord above knows that he deserves more than a skank like you. And you Mandy�you deserve to rot in Hell.
Joe appears shocked that Angel has actually stood up for him like that. He doesn't hear any response from Mandy, and assuming she has left he steps outside and sits next to Angel. For at least a minute or two there's an awkward silence.
Sorry about that. I swear I had no idea she'd be here.
It's okay. I know you didn't know.
A chill of cold September air breezes by them and both shiver a little bit.
I can't believe it's fall already. You want to head back inside?
You can go on ahead. I think I might take a walk.
Joe stays on the porch just a few moments more as Angel walks off alone. He worries for her safety but doesn't say anything. He thinks she'll be ok. He goes back inside and places a tape inside of the VCR of last weeks show, where Rocket took a cheap shot and nailed him with the belt. He is angered, but not so much so than what just happened. He then watches the show he could not see, and gets to Angel's tag match. He sees her in action for a brief moment with GI, laughs when GI shows off, and then gets angered at the actions of Rocket once more. He decides that he needs to cut a promo to vent on Rocket before he vents on someone else by accident. He sets up his own camera and hits record.
Bob Rocket. In just 1 and 1/2 weeks I get to fight you in the ring, one on one. You don't have Enigma to help you this time, Rocketboy. I plan to beat your ass from one turnbuckle, to the next, to the next, and the last one. I plan to deliver every move in my arsenal, before I savor the victory of not pinning you, but making you TAP OUT. I've made C4 tap out, I've made Orb tap out, and you are next. If I have to tear every ligament in your knee to do so, well, such is the price to play the game. But that's not neither the here or the now.
Let's go to the here and now. This upcoming Friday, ICW will present it's 21st PPV, ICW Torment. Last year featured a memorable 3 Stages of Hell match that I was involved in with Judgement. This year, I'm involved in a match that is the same stipulation, but I'm not wrestling in it. I'm the referee. Bob Rocket has already claimed that I am out to get him. Rocket, I AM out to get you. The way you've been acting recently is dispicable in my personal opinion. In regards to your comments on FNX, do you think I care that you've been World Champion for 4 months? That you've beaten Care, JJ, Orb, Enigma? You haven't beaten my brother. You WON'T beat my brother. And the best part is, as much as I want to, as much as I CRAVE to, I won't even think about "screwing you over". Quite simply, GI can do the job all on his own and he doesn't need my help. He got to fight you by beating Sinister, who's a damn tough opponent from the ones who've fought him told me. GI's a former World Champion himself, beating Enigma. I think when you have to look up and see GI posing up on the turnbuckle, belt on his shoulder, the fans chanting "GI Rocks", you have no one to blame but your lack of wrestling talent. You most certainly can't blame me. I'm going to be impartial. I know you want to use this as an excuse though, and I'm not giving you any reason. When you fight me next week, you are going to show up, without a title, and you'll leave beaten and bloodied, most likely limping.
And as far as the fact you think I'm "stealing" Angel and that I'm the reason the fans turned on you, here's a thought. Maybe the fans don't like you, because you're an asshole. Maybe Angel isn't spending as much time with you, because you are an ungrateful son of a bitch. She thought the world of you, and you shoved it in her face by not being there the many times she needed you. I was there as a friend, and I'm still here as a friend, no matter what she may say. You're supposed to be engaged to her, and you aren't there for her. From what I can tell, you only think about yourself, and you probably just wanted to get some as opposed to loving her. You can bitch all you want, but the only one you have to blame for your World title loss, your lack of fans, and your recent relationship problems is BOB ROCKET. Don't like what I have to say, here's a piece of advice, GO FUCK YOURSELF. Angel deserves much better than you, and personally, I think that you're the pathetic son of a bitch, not me. But hey, I'm not telling you anything, that you don't already know.
Angel I found you unconscious a few blocks away from here, what happened to you?!
Angel fingers one of her bigger cuts and winces.
I was out walking when these 3 guys came around and jumped me. Dragged me into an alley. First they searched for money, and then�well�.you can guess what they had on their minds. What is it with men in today's world?? Is sex all they think about??
Joe gets up and goes to the bathroom and grabs a first aid kit from under the sink, he walks back with it and starts to clean her wounds.
Luckily I've had enough wounds myself to know how to clean them. How did you get away from them?
Angel winces a little as he starts to clean away one of her smaller cuts.
I kneed one of them. That dropped him. The other two started to come after me more, offended I guess, that I dropped their friend. I tried to hurt them, but they had me pretty well pinned into a corner. They really started to attack me. I vague remember hearing a siren or something. After that everything went black.
Joe finishes the last one and looks up with concern.
Are you ok now? They didn't hurt you or anything that you're aware of? I mean, you'd probably know if they did...
Angel looks at him a little confused before she smiles a little. She shakes her head.
No, they didn't hurt me. I think they left soon after they heard the siren.
Joe sets the first aid kit aside and sits next to her.
Good, I don't know what I would have done if you were hurt, it'd be all my fault and I couldn't take that.
He looks up and notices a slight look of shock in her face.
I'm sorry, I think I might overstepped a boundary there.
Angel shakes her head.
You didn't overstep your bounds at all.
Angel leans against Joe, her face showing her fear and confusion. She leans more into him and sighs. Joe puts an arm around her and holds her closer, and places his head on hers and they sit there for a few seconds but it seems longer.
Angel is there something you'd like to tell me? You seem..withdrawn. I mean I understand if you don't want to, because I don't expect you to. You can if you want. You just seem like you want to say something but you're not.
It's more like there's something I want to do, not something I want to talk about.
Ok...what do you want to do? Or do you not want to tell me that?
Angel sighs and smiles a little. She lifts her head up and looks into his eyes, meeting them dead on.
I really want to kiss you right now.
Joe is taken aback by what she has said, but doesn't show it.
Wow...well Angel, I don't know exactly what's stopping you, but if you want to know, I'd really like that.
Angel smiles and leans forward a little, kissing Joe softly on the lips.
Angel I er..
She stops him, shakes her head no, and kisses him again, and he returns the favor, they break after a few moments and Joe just is in shock.
Wow..who would have thought we'd end up like that....
Angel: Kinda hard to imagine that I'm sitting here with you. But I am.
Angel takes a moment to regroup before continuing on.
Angel: Even harder to imagine that we may become more than friends. That I'm here with you feeling what I'm feeling, that despite all my work and hope, my dreams have failed to come true. I feel�
Angel stops as she hears her phone go off. Sighing she reaches over and grabs it. Reluctantly, she answers it.
Hi. What's up? � Yes, I am. � I know that there isn't. � I know that's what happened. � When? About 2 weeks ago. � WHAT?!? Are you seriously suggesting that I� � Oh. That's what I need? � I don't know what I need right now. � No, I take that back. I do know what I need. I don't think that anyone is able to give me that right now. � Joe? No, I'm not gonna ask. � Look, I gotta go, I'll talk to you later. Bye.
Angel hangs up the phone and refuses to look Joe in the eyes and doesn't say a word. Joe looks at her with concern.
Angel? Are you ok? Who was on the phone?
She keeps her head lowered.
You can tell me. Besides, I heard my name mentioned.
Angel sighs.
That was my sister. She was �er�.advising me.
Joe has a confused look on his face. Angel still won't look at him for some reason.
About what exactly Angel? About me?
She just made a suggestion, one that I'm feeling uneasy to, I guess. But she did bring up a good point. What do I want and need. And right now, I can think of only one thing, but, that's not gonna happen, so I think that I'll go up to the guest room now.
Angel gets up and starts to walk out of the room. Joe quickly gets up and gently grabs her arm, she turns around and she seems to be tearing up. Joe looks in her eyes and speaks softly to her.
Angel, what do you want? I'll try my best to help you with it.
Joe, I'm not gonna ask you to. I can't. I've been hurt too much by letting my guard down. No matter how tempting.
Angel, I feel that over the past few days we've grown extremely close. And even before that we've been close, and you should know by now that I'd never hurt you intentionally. I'd try my best to keep you from ever being hurt. That's why I've looked after you like I have, I'm here for you and I want to take care of you...in fact...
Joe bites his lip a bit to keep himself from saying what he almost said.
No I shouldn't say that...but you should know I'm here to help you.
What were you going to say Joe??
Angel holds up her hand.
No, I don't think I want to know tonight. But Joe, you can't help me here. You can't hold me a night and drive away the chill and the loneliness. That's something that you just can't do, no matter how much I want you to.
Joe lowers his head, and speaks softly, almost in a whisper, as if he's afraid what the outcome may be of his words.
Angel, I actually do want to tell you what I was going to say. But not tonight, since that's what you want. I'll let you know this though, I'd gladly hold you as long as you wanted me to.
Angel smiles a little and goes over to his arms, enjoying the warmth of his arms around her. She breathes in his scent and just stands in there, not saying anything, not capable of saying anything.
Wow...this is nice.
He just stands there for a little bit and realizes it is getting late outside, and that they just can't stand in the middle of the house for the night.
Well we can't just stand here all night Angel, so I guess that leaves you with a choice. You could go back to the guest room, or we could just sit back over there for awhile, and maybe I could tell you what I wanted to say tomorrow or something.
Angel looks over to the couch and then looks over in the direction of the guest room. She nods and motions towards the couch.
I'd rather go back there, if that's okay with you.
Angel peers up at Joe, trying to judge his reaction to her decision. He just smiles.
That's a great idea, Angel. Shall we?
Joe extends his arm and she accepts it again, and they walk over and sit down and Joe wraps an arm around her. Angel leans into him and her breathing becomes more regular and deeper. Looking down, Joe realizes that she's fallen asleep. He smiles and just holds her, and he says something to himself, half-wishing Angel could hear him.
What I wanted to say Angel, was that I think I'm falling in love with you.
Angel leans a little closer and Joe thinks she has awaken, but she hasn't..he just looks at her then he realizes he's also getting drowsy...and his eyes are fading...the scene fades out as now Joe has falling asleep holding Angel....