Fresh Start (On Fourteen)

I have to say, cab drivers in New York are brilliant.

Sitting in the back of this cab, I did admittedly fear for my life but he expertly weaved in and out of the traffic. Darted down alleyways I swore were way too narrow for the cab and went the wrong way on a street I'm pretty sure might have only been a one way, but he got me to the address Zay had sent me in one piece. At least mentally.

I pay the guy, giving a big tip that had him smiling ear to ear.

The building looked like that town house from Home Alone 2. Even had signs of renovations going on. As I walk up the front stairs, fearing I'd trip without a railing, the door flies open. Zaylee grins from ear to ear.

"Ready for revenge, Laci-poo?"

"Don't call me that! And no. Why on earth did you think it was okay to kidnap my ex?"

Zaylee shrugs. "It's not like I tortured him."

She steps back, allowing me inside and to my amazement, the inside is actually tastefully finished. She leads me into a back room where Douglas is tied and gagged.

"Fuck me...." I hurried forward. Immediately taking the gag out, revealed to be a sock... a ring worn sock of my own that I had thought had been left at a show. "You stole my sock? Really Zaylee?"

She shrugs again. "I figured it would come in handy. Have you smelt your feet?"

Her nose screws up into one of disgust. I then set about untying my one and only ex-lover.

"You're such a spoilsport. You could have gotten even for him leaving you in the dust while he went out and traded you in."

Douglas was still passed out and without the restraints he was at risk for falling over.

"Help me get him on the couch. What did you knock him out with..." I look at her. "And don't you dare say my sock." The cheeky smile slides off her face as she reluctantly helps me.

"I put some roofies in his drink. No biggies."

We drop him none-too-gently onto the leather couch.

"You gave him date rape drug! Fucking hell. You realize that you could go to prison for this?"

The impact of her actions still hasn't hit her.

I kneel down beside his head. He was still just as handsome as I remembered, only now I could see a couple laugh lines around his eyes and one or two strands of natural silver in his dark hair. He was older than me, and technically, our relationship had been illegal. Not that it mattered now.

"Douglas... wake the fuck up you preaning peacock." And I slap his face. Maybe a little harder than I needed to. As much as Zay was right about me wanting revenge, this wasn't the way to do it.

His dark eyes flutter open and it takes only a second for him to realize it's me. He smiles momentarily before seeing Zaylee and his lips dip into a scowl of anger.

"You!"

I push him back onto the couch as he starts to try to get up.

"She's a little crazy, but she didn't actually hurt you and she could have. I'm sorry she did this..."

"Don't fucking do that. Don't aplogize to that fucking clown." Zaylee says, closing the distance to stand next to me. "He dumped you for something he thought was better."

Douglas looks at her and then to me. "Is that what this is about? Because I'm with Madeline?"

He smirks now.

"I never thought you the jealous type Laci, it looks good on you though." He moves a hand to try to brush some fallen strands of hair behind my ear but I catch his hand. It only makes him smile wider.

"You've gotten pretty quick too. I like to think that's because of me."

Both Zaylee and I roll our eyes as if on cue.

"She's good because she's good, you pinhead." Zaylee is more fired up then I've ever seen her.

"I know that. But without me, she never would have become a wrestler." He sits up now but closes his eyes as the room spins. "Even you can admit that Laci. You are always going to be my little ginger rose."

"Stop. Stop it!" I stand. I wasn't ready for this right now. Not ready to confront the biggest demon I had, literally a man that called himself "the demon".

"You lost that chance, Laci. You decided to leave instead. But you have been making something of yourself in that little hole in the wall company. Not winning titles though."

There was more to life than titles, but telling The Demon that was like talking to an empty room. His life centered around titles and dominance. He had tried to dominate me and I had backed away. Then he backed out and right into the thirty-three inch thighs of a former playmate.

"I don't regret it."

There. I said it out loud but I doubt I had convinced him of anything. Instead he chuckles.

"I don't believe you. Now, if you don't mind,I'd like my belongings back."

Zaylee looks to the large antique desk in the corner. "They're over there, get them yourself." She then stalks out of the room, stomping and cursing under her breath like the baby tyrant she was.

Douglas manages to find his balance and over to get his wallet, keys and sunglasses from atop a mess of old newspapers and fast food wrappers.

"I wish our reunion could have been in better circumstances. I won't press any charges on your friend Lace, but I suggest you get a leash on her... and a muzzle. We'll see each other again though. I promise."

He crosses the distance quickly, his hand descending to the side of my face, I'm not fast enough to stop him though before he's forcing his lips to mine. It's only a second before my senses clear.

"Ow." He pulls away, blood dripping from a wound in his bottom lip. Yeah. That's right. Don't fuck with me.

He smiles. "Still feisty and a little kinky. I'm sure your new boyfriend will love it." He goes to the doorway. "Adieu for now."

He winks before he leaves. Two seconds later I hear the front door close shut. I sink down into the soft worn leather of the cough. It's still warm from his body. Zaylee coughs from the doorway.

"That went well..." the sarcasm drips from her words venomously. She shoves garbage off the desk before sitting on it, her legs dangling with the height difference.

"I don't need you to do shit like that Zaylee. I need... to handle my shit on my own."

Her blue eyes turn to a deeper anger. "Well sorry for caring enough to try."

"If you want to try, how about just offering to listen. To be there. You talk about how you want to be a better person. To prove to Kyle that you're not going to run again? Then maybe you need to learn how to be an actual friend for a change."

I stand. I am so enraged. I can't stand her face right now. "I'm out of here."

I stalk toward the door and she's behind me.
"Fine. Don't ever ask me to do anything for you again."

I turn. That was it. "I never fucking asked you for anything. You just popped into my life uninvited and started fucking with it. I get it Zay. You don't know how to do this because you were never really encouraged to be it. I'm telling you right now. I have seen glimpses of the person you are under the surface. I think if you really let go some of that useless baggage, there might be room for you to let someone, anyone, beyond your walls."

Then I leave.
And immediately regret it.
I turn to go back and Zaylee is at the open door.

"It's too late to go back to your suite. Stay and maybe we'll... talk... or something... yeah."

And on that note, we did. I ended up knowing so many things. Some were personal Zay facts. Like her guilty pleasure is knitting and she actually loves the colour pink. Others were just music and tv favourites. She had closed out every one, thinking they would only end up hurting her in the end, but by letting me in, even just a little, had changed our dynamic so drastically.

When I left the next morning, I realized something. The address was E 14th Street. Unlucky thirteen had led to a fresh start on fourteen. I think that was a pretty clear sign. I liked signs.