Post by Jack Graves on Oct 2, 2022 21:23:23 GMT
Las Vegas, Nevada. The night was warm, still in the low 80s. High Roller Wrestling had just wrapped another successful event and we see Jack Graves walking through the parking structure of the venue, a duffel bag in each hand as his hulking, tattooed arms were nearly bursting the short-sleeved shirt he was wearing.
Voice: Hey, asshole.
The voice was familiar, and the sarcastic tone was too, but ‘asshole’? He spun around, dropping his bags, ready to go to war with whoever wanted it, but his face softened as he saw a small, petite blonde, wearing a black jacket, jeans, and black boots.
Voice: You look like you’ve seen a ghost, has it really been that long?
The small blonde approached Jack, who had given up his aggressive stance as he just stared for a moment.
Voice: Dude, I was tweeting you yesterday before you kicked Skye’s ass, remember?
It was the woman simply known on social media as ‘Ashley’, but Jack knew her far better than that, although she’d been much younger the last time he’d seen her. He knew why she was here too. She’d made it clear when she tweeted him. She was looking for her father.
Jack’s late uncle Judge.
He’d pretended not to know what she was talking about online when she’d first asked. It wasn’t that he didn’t want her to know what had happened, it was just… difficult. It had taken a long time for the nightmares to stop, and he’d locked that night away in a vault in his mind. He didn’t talk about it, or think about it… but here was a glaring reminder, staring right in front of him.
Jack pulled out a pack of Marlboro reds and lit a cigarette as he thought about how he was going to break the news when she asked. He took a long drag, and let the smoke billow out of his nostrils as he cleared his throat to finally speak.
Jack Graves: You got big, Ash. I almost didn’t recognize you.
Another lie. He recognized her right away. He’d visited her and her mother with Judge a few times when she was younger. The family that his aunt Joyce knew nothing about. He’d always liked Ashley. She’d always been a smart, well-behaved kid. When he would visit, Jack would always take her to the park, or to get ice cream… anything to get her away from her mom and Judge getting drunk as a skunk and screaming at each other before they ultimately had sex entirely too loudly for a kid to be around.
That seemed like an eternity ago now.
Now, she was here to no doubt find out where her deadbeat dad was. Deadbeat. Ironic.
Jack Graves: What can I do for you little cuz?
He asked, taking another draw off the cigarette. Ashley had flown herself to Vegas for this moment. She wasn’t asking for anything as far as Jack’s meteoric rise in professional wrestling. She didn’t want money. She didn’t want his help, or to make any sort of income off of his reputation and name, instead, she wanted answers.
Ashley: Is there somewhere we can go to just…talk?
She tucked her hands into the pocket of her jacket, which was clearly being worn as a fashion statement since the weather wasn’t jacket weather at all. She looked down at the ground, a bit nervous. The last time they had a serious conversation, Ashley was around eight years old. Now at twenty, the two were more strangers, despite their once strong bond.
Ashley: I mean unless you want to tell me where my dad is around whoever walks through this parking lot, but I’m not leaving until I have answers. I’m not a little girl anymore, Jack. You and him were ALWAYS together, you know where he is.
There it was. The question he knew was coming but wasn’t prepared to answer. She was right though, a parking lot wasn’t really the sort of place to break the news to someone that their parent was dead.
Jack dropped the cigarette and ground it out under his boot before picking his bags back up.
Jack Graves: Come on. Let’s go get a bite to eat. I’ll tell you what you want to know.
He turned to lead the way toward his truck, and twenty minutes later the two of them were sitting at the back of a 24-hour diner, staring at each other awkwardly from opposite sides of the booth.
Picking up a menu, Jack looked it over in silence as he thought about how to tell her the truth.
Finally, a waitress broke the awkward silence.
Waitress: What can I get you two to drink tonight?
Jack Graves: Coffee.
Jack answered, looking up from the menu to glance at Ashley again.
Jack Graves: And whatever she wants.
Ashley: I’ll have a Coke, please.
The waitress smiled and headed off to get the beverages as Ashley nervously pickeds at her fingernail polish. She wanted her answers, she thought. The reality was, her dad left when she was eight years old, leaving her and her mom to fend for themselves, but he was still her dad. She knew Jack would have an idea as to why he left, and why he hasn’t so much as checked on them in the last twelve years. Jack cleared his throat, which prompted Ashley to look up from her nails to her cousin.
Ashley: I don’t even know why I want to know. I’m not a kid anymore, but my mom is like, a fucking walking skeleton. All she does is drinks, and drinks, and smokes, and bitches, and drinks some more, and then I have to find ways to pay the bills. This flight was a pain in the ass to book. We have pretty much nothing, Jack. Where the hell is he?
The waitress returned with their drinks and decided to give them a few minutes to figure out what they wanted to eat.
Ashley: What kind of man does that? You were like my big brother, and you’re his best friend, why didn’t you tell him to come home? To send us money, something. You have no idea how shitty our lives have been. I don’t even know where to start.
Jack blinked at her as he pulled a flask out of his boot and poured some bourbon into his coffee. Stirring it up, he took a few sips before finally giving her the information she came for.
Jack Graves: I don’t know how to say this, so… I’m just gonna say it. He’s dead. That’s why he never came back.
Ashley’s annoyed expression immediately changed. She knew Jack wasn’t one to bullshit. She knew he was telling the truth. Her lively eyes began to dart a bit, looking at each of Jack’s eyes, before shooting down to the table, and then back up to him. It was like she was still searching for answers, even though this one gave finality to the entire situation. For twelve years, she was left wondering. Why wasn’t she good enough? Did he not love her or her mom? What happened? Her bottom lip trembled a bit as she looksed at Jack intently, not wanting to know every little detail.
Jack Graves: Your dad and I.. were involved in some bad shit. I’m not going to get into it all because it’s like digging up skeletons for me too, but you deserve to at least know what happened.
Jack paused, his heart sinking in his chest as he watched her take in the news. He sat the menu aside and let his hand rest on hers, patting it a few times awkwardly as he had no idea how to comfort someone. What he did know was how hard it was to lose a parent, and although her pops hadn’t been in her life the way Jack’s mom had been in his, the pain in her eyes was all too familiar.
Jack Graves: I know kiddo. It’s rough. He uh… was shot by the police the night that I went to prison. I’d like to say that’s why I never came back too, but the truth is I’m a shitty person. I locked away everything about that night and my Uncle. I put it all in a big box in the back of my mind and I forgot it all. I watched it all happen while I was handcuffed Ash, and couldn’t do shit to help him. I’ve had nightmares of that night for damn near ten years. It’s not really a valid excuse, but at least you know why and have the right to hate me.
He let his eyes move back down to the menu, but he found his appetite had vanished. Maybe he’d just stick with coffee.
Ashley: I don’t hate you. I…
She was looking for the right words, but everything seemed to be failing. Her throat was suddenly dry, scratchy, her voice was gone. She popped open the straw from its wrapper and dropped it into her Coke to take a drink.
Ashley: I have to tell my mom.
But how? She thought to herself. Her father was out of her life for longer than he was in it, but she could have never imagined that he was gone. Forever. The reality was setting in slowly, and despite tearing up, a single tear didn’t roll down her cheek. She kept it in. As badly as she wanted to weep, she couldn’t, not in front of Jack, or anyone.
Ashley: I won’t ask what you guys were doing that justified…that…I can’t wrap my head around it. My dad was a fuck up, but he wasn’t….I didn’t think. And you? You took me to get ice cream. You shielded me from the mess I was living around, I just, I never in my wildest dreams imagined you were sitting in a cell and my dad was dead and buried somewhere.
She had so many more questions. Why wasn’t her family notified? What exactly could have been that bad? Part of her wanted to know, but nothing was going to bring him back.
Ashley: I’m sorry. For showing up at your job. I recently just agreed to wrestle somewhere. It's small. Low class. Low rate. Barely any money. It’s for fighters. And I’ve been fighting my entire life it feels like because of my dad, and my mom, and I just wanted to know where he was before I had my first fight at this place. I guess I needed to know that he would approve of his little girl fighting, but I’ll never get that now.
She took another drink as her trembling fingertips held onto the cup. She looked like him, Jack thought. He could see Judge in Ashley.
Ashley: Congrats, by the way. Weird timing I know, but you kicked ass out there.
Why was she changing the topic? She should probably figure out how she’s flying back home. But she just wanted a slice of normalcy now. Her life was about to change with wrestling or fighting in Suplex, and with the newfound realization that she would never see her dad again.
Jack gave her a half-hearted smile, the pain on his face from recounting the events evident as he spoke.
Jack Graves: Thanks. You know… for the record? I think he'd approve. I know it’s not the same as him sayin’ it but I knew him probably better than anyone. He may have never said it but he was proud of you. He knew you’d grow up to be great. So did I. So I have no doubt you’re going to kill it at this place you signed to.
Jack paused and pulled out a bundle of money from his pocket to put it in her hand. Roughly two grand, if she were to count it.
He was never good at saying sorry, so this was kind of his way. Sorry for not being there in his place. Sorry for not telling you sooner. Sorry for being a tremendous piece of shit.
Jack Graves: Take this. Also, where are you staying? Did you just fly out here with no plan but to talk to me? You were always smarter than that kid.
He had questions of his own now. Had she really just hopped on a plane and hoped for the best? Were things THAT bad at home? He knew her mom was a drinker and she’d always treated her like more of a burden than a blessing but…
Jack Graves: Look, why don’t you come stay with me tonight and we can figure it out from there? Where are you training at?
Ashley went to hand the money back but Jack put his hands on hers and closed her hand around the money. He wasn’t taking it back or taking no from an answer from her.
Ashley: So, when I was fifteen, we moved to Dallas. I picked up a waitressing job when I was sixteen and between that money and whatever mom gets from disability is kind of how we survived. I still work at the restaurant. And I’ve been training at some local place. A guy I was talking to is a trainer there. We broke up, but we’re still cool so he never charged me to train.
Her voice was almost emotionless. She was drained at this point, and the waitress could see it every time she walked past the table so she didn’t bother asking them if they wanted food. Ashley felt bad, she could tell by looking at Jack that this brought back some serious trauma for him, too.
Ashley: I flew out here because I knew when we could look at each other that you wouldn’t lie to me, and I guess I was right. I was going to stay at this place a few blocks from the airport but if it won’t be a problem I guess I can stay at your place tonight.
She felt bad, about taking the money and staying at his place, but the truth was, she needed it. And they were family. She was right though. If she’d continued trying to get info out of him online he would’ve just kept bullshitting her just so he didn’t have to face his past.
Ashley: Sorry. I know this is a shitty way of having to face everything. I hope I didn’t ruin your night too much.
She looked around the near-empty diner. It was crazy how different he looked, she thought. He had put on so much muscle, probably from his time in prison. She had seen him on TV, but seeing him in person was different.
Jack shook his head reassuringly and took another drink of his coffee. There was no way he was going to turn her away. He didn’t have much family left, and he sure as shit wasn’t going to turn his back on what little he did have.
Not anymore at least.
Jack Graves: Well, you can train with me if you want. My door is always open, but do keep in mind that I’m not going to take it easy on you. If you want to be something in this business, you gotta claw for it. Tooth and nail. Believe me, I’M STILL doing that. But I believe in you and I’m willing to help you out if you want it bad enough.
He finished off his coffee and tossed some money on the table to pay the waitress before standing and stretching with a painful groan.
Jack Graves: So you can take that money and I’ll get you a ticket home, or you can travel with me for a bit and learn the ropes. Either way? I’m gonna make like a tree and get the fuck out of here. I’m tired and sore, and I want a hot shower and a blunt. You coming or naw kid?
Ashley stands up. Her legs felt weak. This was NOT what she expected when flying from Dallas on a whim.
Ashley: Yeah, I’ll come.
The mood was somber, but Jack lightens things up a bit by messing her blonde hair with a large hand to the top of her head. She slaps at his hand as they exit the diner, with ALOT to learn about each other still.
Voice: Hey, asshole.
The voice was familiar, and the sarcastic tone was too, but ‘asshole’? He spun around, dropping his bags, ready to go to war with whoever wanted it, but his face softened as he saw a small, petite blonde, wearing a black jacket, jeans, and black boots.
Voice: You look like you’ve seen a ghost, has it really been that long?
The small blonde approached Jack, who had given up his aggressive stance as he just stared for a moment.
Voice: Dude, I was tweeting you yesterday before you kicked Skye’s ass, remember?
It was the woman simply known on social media as ‘Ashley’, but Jack knew her far better than that, although she’d been much younger the last time he’d seen her. He knew why she was here too. She’d made it clear when she tweeted him. She was looking for her father.
Jack’s late uncle Judge.
He’d pretended not to know what she was talking about online when she’d first asked. It wasn’t that he didn’t want her to know what had happened, it was just… difficult. It had taken a long time for the nightmares to stop, and he’d locked that night away in a vault in his mind. He didn’t talk about it, or think about it… but here was a glaring reminder, staring right in front of him.
Jack pulled out a pack of Marlboro reds and lit a cigarette as he thought about how he was going to break the news when she asked. He took a long drag, and let the smoke billow out of his nostrils as he cleared his throat to finally speak.
Jack Graves: You got big, Ash. I almost didn’t recognize you.
Another lie. He recognized her right away. He’d visited her and her mother with Judge a few times when she was younger. The family that his aunt Joyce knew nothing about. He’d always liked Ashley. She’d always been a smart, well-behaved kid. When he would visit, Jack would always take her to the park, or to get ice cream… anything to get her away from her mom and Judge getting drunk as a skunk and screaming at each other before they ultimately had sex entirely too loudly for a kid to be around.
That seemed like an eternity ago now.
Now, she was here to no doubt find out where her deadbeat dad was. Deadbeat. Ironic.
Jack Graves: What can I do for you little cuz?
He asked, taking another draw off the cigarette. Ashley had flown herself to Vegas for this moment. She wasn’t asking for anything as far as Jack’s meteoric rise in professional wrestling. She didn’t want money. She didn’t want his help, or to make any sort of income off of his reputation and name, instead, she wanted answers.
Ashley: Is there somewhere we can go to just…talk?
She tucked her hands into the pocket of her jacket, which was clearly being worn as a fashion statement since the weather wasn’t jacket weather at all. She looked down at the ground, a bit nervous. The last time they had a serious conversation, Ashley was around eight years old. Now at twenty, the two were more strangers, despite their once strong bond.
Ashley: I mean unless you want to tell me where my dad is around whoever walks through this parking lot, but I’m not leaving until I have answers. I’m not a little girl anymore, Jack. You and him were ALWAYS together, you know where he is.
There it was. The question he knew was coming but wasn’t prepared to answer. She was right though, a parking lot wasn’t really the sort of place to break the news to someone that their parent was dead.
Jack dropped the cigarette and ground it out under his boot before picking his bags back up.
Jack Graves: Come on. Let’s go get a bite to eat. I’ll tell you what you want to know.
He turned to lead the way toward his truck, and twenty minutes later the two of them were sitting at the back of a 24-hour diner, staring at each other awkwardly from opposite sides of the booth.
Picking up a menu, Jack looked it over in silence as he thought about how to tell her the truth.
Finally, a waitress broke the awkward silence.
Waitress: What can I get you two to drink tonight?
Jack Graves: Coffee.
Jack answered, looking up from the menu to glance at Ashley again.
Jack Graves: And whatever she wants.
Ashley: I’ll have a Coke, please.
The waitress smiled and headed off to get the beverages as Ashley nervously pickeds at her fingernail polish. She wanted her answers, she thought. The reality was, her dad left when she was eight years old, leaving her and her mom to fend for themselves, but he was still her dad. She knew Jack would have an idea as to why he left, and why he hasn’t so much as checked on them in the last twelve years. Jack cleared his throat, which prompted Ashley to look up from her nails to her cousin.
Ashley: I don’t even know why I want to know. I’m not a kid anymore, but my mom is like, a fucking walking skeleton. All she does is drinks, and drinks, and smokes, and bitches, and drinks some more, and then I have to find ways to pay the bills. This flight was a pain in the ass to book. We have pretty much nothing, Jack. Where the hell is he?
The waitress returned with their drinks and decided to give them a few minutes to figure out what they wanted to eat.
Ashley: What kind of man does that? You were like my big brother, and you’re his best friend, why didn’t you tell him to come home? To send us money, something. You have no idea how shitty our lives have been. I don’t even know where to start.
Jack blinked at her as he pulled a flask out of his boot and poured some bourbon into his coffee. Stirring it up, he took a few sips before finally giving her the information she came for.
Jack Graves: I don’t know how to say this, so… I’m just gonna say it. He’s dead. That’s why he never came back.
Ashley’s annoyed expression immediately changed. She knew Jack wasn’t one to bullshit. She knew he was telling the truth. Her lively eyes began to dart a bit, looking at each of Jack’s eyes, before shooting down to the table, and then back up to him. It was like she was still searching for answers, even though this one gave finality to the entire situation. For twelve years, she was left wondering. Why wasn’t she good enough? Did he not love her or her mom? What happened? Her bottom lip trembled a bit as she looksed at Jack intently, not wanting to know every little detail.
Jack Graves: Your dad and I.. were involved in some bad shit. I’m not going to get into it all because it’s like digging up skeletons for me too, but you deserve to at least know what happened.
Jack paused, his heart sinking in his chest as he watched her take in the news. He sat the menu aside and let his hand rest on hers, patting it a few times awkwardly as he had no idea how to comfort someone. What he did know was how hard it was to lose a parent, and although her pops hadn’t been in her life the way Jack’s mom had been in his, the pain in her eyes was all too familiar.
Jack Graves: I know kiddo. It’s rough. He uh… was shot by the police the night that I went to prison. I’d like to say that’s why I never came back too, but the truth is I’m a shitty person. I locked away everything about that night and my Uncle. I put it all in a big box in the back of my mind and I forgot it all. I watched it all happen while I was handcuffed Ash, and couldn’t do shit to help him. I’ve had nightmares of that night for damn near ten years. It’s not really a valid excuse, but at least you know why and have the right to hate me.
He let his eyes move back down to the menu, but he found his appetite had vanished. Maybe he’d just stick with coffee.
Ashley: I don’t hate you. I…
She was looking for the right words, but everything seemed to be failing. Her throat was suddenly dry, scratchy, her voice was gone. She popped open the straw from its wrapper and dropped it into her Coke to take a drink.
Ashley: I have to tell my mom.
But how? She thought to herself. Her father was out of her life for longer than he was in it, but she could have never imagined that he was gone. Forever. The reality was setting in slowly, and despite tearing up, a single tear didn’t roll down her cheek. She kept it in. As badly as she wanted to weep, she couldn’t, not in front of Jack, or anyone.
Ashley: I won’t ask what you guys were doing that justified…that…I can’t wrap my head around it. My dad was a fuck up, but he wasn’t….I didn’t think. And you? You took me to get ice cream. You shielded me from the mess I was living around, I just, I never in my wildest dreams imagined you were sitting in a cell and my dad was dead and buried somewhere.
She had so many more questions. Why wasn’t her family notified? What exactly could have been that bad? Part of her wanted to know, but nothing was going to bring him back.
Ashley: I’m sorry. For showing up at your job. I recently just agreed to wrestle somewhere. It's small. Low class. Low rate. Barely any money. It’s for fighters. And I’ve been fighting my entire life it feels like because of my dad, and my mom, and I just wanted to know where he was before I had my first fight at this place. I guess I needed to know that he would approve of his little girl fighting, but I’ll never get that now.
She took another drink as her trembling fingertips held onto the cup. She looked like him, Jack thought. He could see Judge in Ashley.
Ashley: Congrats, by the way. Weird timing I know, but you kicked ass out there.
Why was she changing the topic? She should probably figure out how she’s flying back home. But she just wanted a slice of normalcy now. Her life was about to change with wrestling or fighting in Suplex, and with the newfound realization that she would never see her dad again.
Jack gave her a half-hearted smile, the pain on his face from recounting the events evident as he spoke.
Jack Graves: Thanks. You know… for the record? I think he'd approve. I know it’s not the same as him sayin’ it but I knew him probably better than anyone. He may have never said it but he was proud of you. He knew you’d grow up to be great. So did I. So I have no doubt you’re going to kill it at this place you signed to.
Jack paused and pulled out a bundle of money from his pocket to put it in her hand. Roughly two grand, if she were to count it.
He was never good at saying sorry, so this was kind of his way. Sorry for not being there in his place. Sorry for not telling you sooner. Sorry for being a tremendous piece of shit.
Jack Graves: Take this. Also, where are you staying? Did you just fly out here with no plan but to talk to me? You were always smarter than that kid.
He had questions of his own now. Had she really just hopped on a plane and hoped for the best? Were things THAT bad at home? He knew her mom was a drinker and she’d always treated her like more of a burden than a blessing but…
Jack Graves: Look, why don’t you come stay with me tonight and we can figure it out from there? Where are you training at?
Ashley went to hand the money back but Jack put his hands on hers and closed her hand around the money. He wasn’t taking it back or taking no from an answer from her.
Ashley: So, when I was fifteen, we moved to Dallas. I picked up a waitressing job when I was sixteen and between that money and whatever mom gets from disability is kind of how we survived. I still work at the restaurant. And I’ve been training at some local place. A guy I was talking to is a trainer there. We broke up, but we’re still cool so he never charged me to train.
Her voice was almost emotionless. She was drained at this point, and the waitress could see it every time she walked past the table so she didn’t bother asking them if they wanted food. Ashley felt bad, she could tell by looking at Jack that this brought back some serious trauma for him, too.
Ashley: I flew out here because I knew when we could look at each other that you wouldn’t lie to me, and I guess I was right. I was going to stay at this place a few blocks from the airport but if it won’t be a problem I guess I can stay at your place tonight.
She felt bad, about taking the money and staying at his place, but the truth was, she needed it. And they were family. She was right though. If she’d continued trying to get info out of him online he would’ve just kept bullshitting her just so he didn’t have to face his past.
Ashley: Sorry. I know this is a shitty way of having to face everything. I hope I didn’t ruin your night too much.
She looked around the near-empty diner. It was crazy how different he looked, she thought. He had put on so much muscle, probably from his time in prison. She had seen him on TV, but seeing him in person was different.
Jack shook his head reassuringly and took another drink of his coffee. There was no way he was going to turn her away. He didn’t have much family left, and he sure as shit wasn’t going to turn his back on what little he did have.
Not anymore at least.
Jack Graves: Well, you can train with me if you want. My door is always open, but do keep in mind that I’m not going to take it easy on you. If you want to be something in this business, you gotta claw for it. Tooth and nail. Believe me, I’M STILL doing that. But I believe in you and I’m willing to help you out if you want it bad enough.
He finished off his coffee and tossed some money on the table to pay the waitress before standing and stretching with a painful groan.
Jack Graves: So you can take that money and I’ll get you a ticket home, or you can travel with me for a bit and learn the ropes. Either way? I’m gonna make like a tree and get the fuck out of here. I’m tired and sore, and I want a hot shower and a blunt. You coming or naw kid?
Ashley stands up. Her legs felt weak. This was NOT what she expected when flying from Dallas on a whim.
Ashley: Yeah, I’ll come.
The mood was somber, but Jack lightens things up a bit by messing her blonde hair with a large hand to the top of her head. She slaps at his hand as they exit the diner, with ALOT to learn about each other still.