After the Show

[Denise du Pris]

Act 1: Feelings

“You can close your eyes to the things you do not want to see, but you cannot close your heart to the things you do not want to feel.”
Unknown

The scene opens on the St. Pete Forum in Tampa Florida. The night sky was filled with stars that cast their gaze to the earth below while the full moon shone it beams to those below. The arena was now empty except for the few stagehands that made their way about the arena getting everything ready for the next show. A few of the fans stayed behind in hopes of getting an autograph from their favorite superstar as they left for the evening. We soon see Denise moving down the hallway from her meeting with Klayton, with her thoughts going a mile a minute. She hardly knew him and now she was going out on a date with him. What was she thinking? Had she been thinking at all? She needed some fresh air to clear her head, and to make sure Daredevil would be all right for the next part of the journey. She opened the door, and felt the cool air on her face, as she headed toward the horse trailer that sat between the large trucks. Her metal spurs clicked on the cement as she walked toward the trailer. She smiles softly as she opens the door, and leads the horse out into the night. She goes back in and grabs a bag of feed and pours into a bucket and lets him start to eat as she begins to brush out his coat, and mane.

Denise: What am I thinking? I haven't like this about anyone in a long time, and now a guy I hardly know asked me on a date and I jumped at the chance to take him up on the offer... I just became Tiffany. When he comes out I'll tell him I can't tonight... But then again I don't want him to think I'm a total bitch...

Daredevil finishes eating, and Denise tosses the bucket back into the trailer, before pulling out another and pouring fresh water into it. She runs her hand over his coat and sighs, as her cell phone begins to ring. She soon answers it, and smiles softly.

Marcus: It's me. I just wanted to check on you. How are you doing with Daredevil?

Denise: He's fine. I'm just giving him something to eat. Then I might let him stretch his legs a little bit before we get ready to head for the trip to Atlantic City.

Marcus: Good. I have a friend that lives outside of the city that has a stable if you want to make sure he's all right until the show next week.

Denise: Sure. Let me know what they say and where they are so we can arrange something for him, while I stay in the city.

Marcus: Sounds like a good idea. I'll call you back in a while.

Denise: All right. I'll talk to you later then.

Denise hangs up, as she spots a young man walking toward her, with a piece of paper in hand. He hands it to her and walks off once again, as she opens it seeing who she was facing for this week. She couldn't believe it. The man she had just been talking with, and had a date with was now her opponent for the week. This wasn't going to be easy, but she couldn't let her feelings get in the way.

Denise: Is this even possible? Why did they put us up against each other? Wait... Why am I concerned that we're facing each other? It's not like we're dating or anything. This week isn't going to be any different then any other match that I have ever been in.

She tosses the note away and grabs Daredevil's saddle from the trailer, along with the bit and bridle, and a blanket. She tosses it on his back, and starts setting up the saddle.

Denise: Klayton, I know that you have talent, and that you can handle your own in the ring, but Monday night it won't matter. I'm not going to step down and let any man walk all over me in order to get a win. If you want to this match that bad, then prove to me that you can actually stand on your own against me. I'll be the first to admit, tonight didn't go as I had planned it or anything, but it's all right, because there will always be other matches, and I will claim my victories over anyone who stands in my way now, and I hate to say it Klayton... You will be my next victim.

Denise soon has the horse saddled and ready to go. She hops up on his back, and gently taps his side as he starts into a light walk. She knew he had been in his trailer for a little while and a little ride would do him some good before they started for Atlantic City.

Denise: Come on boy... Let's stretch your legs.

Denise puts the horse into a fast canter, and moves along the parking lot. Daredevil's hooves clicked along the cement as he ran at a high speed, as Denise's hair blew back in the wind, along with the black trench coat that she wore. Her thoughts were filled with the match that was coming, and the date with that same man in just a few hours.

Denise: *Voice Over* I don't think I've ever been this conflicted before, but I have to do what has to be done on Monday night, and not think twice about how I get it. I never let this happen before and I'm not going to start now. This is business and nothing but business, but for some strange reason I have a connection with you Klayton, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because you actually showed me respect. Not many people have ever done that, and when they didn't, it was never pretty for those that stood before me. I am not a person that takes kindly to insult.

After a few minutes Denise pulls back on the reigns slowly, and Daredevil comes to a slow walk once again, and leads him to a small patch of grass in front of the arena to let him graze.

Denise: I've seen the world change more than once, and every time that I do, I have to say that each generation impresses me more and more. When I just a girl, the world was so different, and so mysterious, but now that I've seen it all, and will continue to watch it change until the day I die. Monday night is just another one of those experiences for me, and they will continue until I grow tired of it all, and move on. But it will be a good while before I leave. I'm not going to leave until I get what I want, and hold at least one piece of gold in my hands before I ever leave the UWA.

Denise smiles at the thought, and soon pulls on the reigns once more. Daredevil stops grazing, and she leads him back to the trailer once again. She hops down, and starts to remove the saddle, and all the other stuff, before putting him back in his trailer, before closing the door. She pulls out Klayton's number and sighs. There was still no sign of him, and she needed to head back to the hotel she was staying at to get ready. She pulls out her cell phone and begins to dial. She let it ring, and ring, but eventually it went to his voice mail.

Denise: Hey Klayton its Denise. Listen I'm going to head back to my hotel, and get ready. I'm staying at the Tradewinds Resort on the beach. My room number is 2516. Whenever you're done with what you have to do, come and get me... I'll be waiting. See you soon.

With that Denise hangs up, and heads for the rental car she had. The black convertible sat by itself with the parking lot now emptied. She opens the doors and slides in. The car soon roars to life, and the top slowly comes down, as Denise pulls out of the parking lot and heads out into the busy streets as the scene fades to black.

Act 2: Getting Ready

The scene opens on the beautiful glistening beach at the Tradewinds Resort. The moon glistened brightly over the sand, as the waves crash along the shore. The resort looms high above the beach, where people have turned in for the night, or out enjoying the sights and sounds of Tampa. The camera pans to one of the large penthouse suites that over look the beach where the lights are still on, and there is movement inside. The curtains were pulled back and the balcony doors were wide open, to let the cool night air into the room. We soon see Denise sitting at the vanity that was in the room, brushing out her hair. Her cell phone rings, and she sighs, as she leans over to the bed and picks it up.

Denise: Hello?

Sam: Hey... I thought I would check in with you.

Denise: I'm fine. But my match didn't go the way I hoped it would tonight.

Sam: Yeah I caught the match. That's why I wanted to call. I mean you almost had it won, and then had the table’s turn... Are you ok?

Denise: I'm fine. Besides it's been a while since I've been in the ring too.

Sam: Yeah, it's been a while. So what are you doing tonight?

Denise: Would you believe that I'm going out on a date?

Sam: You? That is hard to believe. I mean the last person that you dated was Jason. By the way any luck finding him?

Denise: Nothing. But yes I am going out tonight. One of the guys I'm in the fed with asked me to go out with him tonight and I said yes. I have no idea why either...

Sam: It's not like you just to do that... Do you think he's one of you?

Denise: No. I would have felt it as soon as I looked at him. We were in the same match tonight, and I didn't feel anything like that. He's mortal Sam.

Sam: Or maybe it's because you haven't been fucked in a good while.

Denise sighs, and sets the phone down putting it on speaker.

Denise: It's not that Sam... I don't know why, but I feel something with him, and I'm just not sure what it is. But here's the kicker... We have to face each other in a match next week.

Sam: Ouch. So if tonight goes well you two might become an item, only to have to kick each others asses in a match next week?

Denise: Yeah tell me about it. I've been conflicted all evening. I don't know what to do. I mean after the loss I had tonight I want to win this match and show him up, but at the same time I feel like I want this to work out between us.

Sam: You can't let your emotions get in the way Denise. You have to go into that match to get the win and nothing more. Besides it's not personal... It's just business between the two of you.

Denise: I know. I keep telling myself that. Next Monday night is going to be my time to shine, and nothing else. I want to get this win, and make sure that I can secure my spot for the number one contenders spot for the Title that was on the line to begin with.

Sam: That's what you have to do. I don't see a way around this really. You can go into that match with winning on your mind, or the fact that you two are more than friends will get in the way and you won't put him in his place.

Denise sighs, knowing Sam was right. She couldn't let anything get in the way of her winning this match no matter who she had to bring down to get what she wanted.

Denise: I know. Hey listen I have to go. I still have to finish getting ready and he'll be here soon. I'll call you and let you know how it went.

Sam: You better. I want to know everything.

Denise: You'll be the first one I call. Talk to you later.

Denise hangs up, and leans back in the chair. She was almost ready to go. There soon comes a knock at the door, and she smiles softly, as she gets up from where she sat. The tight black leather pants clung to her body, as did the tight shirt as she grabbed the long black leather coat off of the bed, and headed toward the door, as the scene fades to black.

Act 3: Dream Date

The scene opens on the boardwalk along the beach in Tampa. The cool night air moved about those few that were brave enough to wander the city at night. The waves crashed along the shore, as the stars twinkled high above in the sky. We soon see Denise and Klayton walking along the boardwalk Denise sips on a frozen lemonade that she had in her hand as they walked along passing a few people drawing glances as they passed by. Denise just sighs, and continues.

Denise: I can’t remember the last time I did something like this.

Klayton: I don't want you to be alarmed but I have something to tell you. Just promise me that you won't let it affect our date because I can see your having just as much of a good time as me.

Denise looks at him with her bright blue eyes sparkling in the dim light of the lights that were coming from the shops around them.

Denise: Trust me, I don’t think anything you could tell me would alarm me. I’ve seen a lot in my time believe it or not.

Klayton: Well a while ago I was feeling lonely and basically told this other girl Ruby stuff just to get her in to bed. Now the reason I did that was because I could but she never made me feel the way you make me feel.

Denise looks at him, and stops in her tracks. She knew there was something about him. But when she looked into his eyes she saw sincerity. Klayton stands there looking into the beautiful blue sparkly eyes of Denise's.

Klayton: I'm going to sort it out after our date I just wanted to be honest and hope it didn't affect the date.

Denise: So what happened to this Ruby person? Are you still seeing her?

Klayton: I haven't seen her since it happened, I was just confused and not thinking. What I'm trying to say is I regretted it the day after and was putting on a show for the cameras. She still keeps bugging me like a bunny boiler I just need to go sort it out later, so it's not as if I'm cheating and it's why I wanted to be honest.

Denise looks at him and sighs. She had it happen before and she knew that when it did someone was going to come after her. But at least this time she would be mortal.

Denise: I understand, and I'm glad that you were honest with me about it. Most guys wouldn't be.

Klayton still hadn't stopped looking into the beautiful eyes of Denise he was enchanted by their beauty.

Klayton: Well things seem different with you, I'm feeling things I haven't felt in a long time since well the death of my ma, pa and uncle. Sometimes I still talk as if they're here and that's because to me they're still here.

At this point Klayton places Denise's hand on his heart when he said about his ma, pa and uncle still being here. Denise blushes slightly, knowing what he meant. Even after the time had passed when Denise's own family had passed away it was still hard. she had lost friends and lovers over the time that she had been alive.

Denise: I know what you mean. My family have been dead for a very long time, but I always feel them watching over me. I remember when I first came here. It was so different then. The world was still young and new, and so full of places to explore... But now... I've seen them all grow and change into popular tourist spots and family towns. That's why I like the feeling when I stand in the ring I think.

Klayton took Denise's hand placing it in his, holding her hand as he looked at her knowing just how much their lives sounded the same.

Klayton: I can clearly see you have gone through a lot just like myself. It was only two years ago the accident and many seem to think I was at the hands of their death. Now whether I was or haven’t been is irrelevant, as I loved them if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be where I am today. Since that day I haven't been able to feel that love I had for them i really haven't been able to feel much apart from pain.

Denise smiles softly knowing that he was pouring his soul out to her. There was only one other that did this, and she hadn't found him... Maybe she wasn't meant to find him after all.

Denise: Trust me I've seen a lot, and been through more than you can imagine. There are only a few of us that actually know what it is to die, and come back to life.

Klayton knew the feeling of death after all for the first four months after the death of his ma, pa and uncle he was forever having to be brought back to live. He would often overdose among do other things and was always saved, he soon came to realize that it was better to bring that pain to others not him.

Klayton: I can certainly relate to knowing what it's like to die and be brought back I was often having to be brought back. I'm actually glad I asked you out for this date because you're the only one who seems to understand me.

Denise smiles softly as she takes his hand in hers.

Denise: I'm glad I did too. Come on. I've been wanting to try this little place out since I got here. It's just down this way.

Klayton's face for once actually light up with a sweet looking smile rather then the usual sick and twisted smirk. Klayton followed Denise feeling rather lucky as he did.

Klayton: Cool lets go gorgeous.

Denise nods, as they start down the boardwalk once again, as the scene fades to black.