CHAMPION

Chapter 55 White Noise

Jake woke up being filmed, he was confident he would win and he wanted it documented, he had himself getting prepared that morning to go out for the fight, appearing very calm on camera.

"Today is the day bro," Logan said putting his hands on Jake's shoulders, while his brother was leaned down lacing up his shoes, "I'm so ready for this bro, all I can think of is that ring," Logan told him grinning, adrenaline tickling his spine, Jake looked up at him a devilish grin on his face, he stood up clasping his hand into his brothers shoulders.

"Tonight, everyone is going to recognize our greatness, whatever the Paul's do, we're winners," Jake said, he sounded sincere and serious, making Logan nod in agreement, getting even more pumped, "Lets go put on a show bro," He said. The two left out together, their teams had gotten there earlier to film, help coach them and cheer the boys on.

With all the excitement leading up to the place, Jake was still looking for one person, his wife; Erika Paul.

Erika sat in the uber on her way to the venue, touching up her makeup staring into her compact- although it was hard to even look at herself right then...Nerves were almost making her shake, wth every building she passed getting closer to her destination it only made anxiety creep up. She was dressed in all white, supporting her husbands team color, Jake had already called her telling her "not to blink, or she would miss it", he was obviously excited, over the moon to beat this guy and show off in front of everyone, she hadn't seen him this generally happy and excited about something in forever, she just wished she could feel the same way, but she didn't... After what she had done, she was struggling just to look at anyone in the eyes.

They arrived at the venue, seeing fans lines up behind railings most of them already excitedly screaming, as they were slowly being let in, it was just getting started, still plenty of fights to go before Jake and Logan would go on, but that only built the anticipation.

"Right this way," One if the guards said, leading their team to the back, where their isolated waiting room was, it had a tv mounted up on the wall showing the other fights, and plenty of chairs around the spacious area.

"This is surreal," Chance gasped walking in, "I can't believe Jake is actually getting paid to beat someone up," Nick slightly joked, removing his coat, before finding a seat, "You must be so nervous," Kade whispered to Erika, Erika jumped as soon as she felt his presence, she quickly chuckled, nodding her head, "I'm nervous, but of course I'm betting Jake to win," Erika told him, Kade gave her a funny look before agreeing, "Are the guys here yet?" Nathan asked checking the time on his phone, "They should be arriving in a little while," Nick told him, the rooms energy was already a little tense, he just knew it would get even more so once Jake was actually in the building, in a weird twisted way, even though Jake could be arrogant and awful, they had all stayed together so long, they wanted to see him win.

Erika swallowed hard taking a shaky seat, she decided to try and take a little nap before Jake got there, to maybe calm herself down, but honestly she knew nothing would truly work, she was simply closing her eyes to escape the terrible reality she so stupidly created,

on possibly one of the most important days of her husbands life...

"Fight day, fight day!" "Fight day! Fight day!" Jake and Logan chanted coming into the room with their coaches, the brothers had been hyping themselves up when it started to really set in, they were both each others #1 fan right now, and all they wanted was to leave with the win, after how hard they worked, and how much they sacrificed, they deserved that much.

"The champs are here!" One of their friends called out as soon as guy entered the waiting room, the rest beginning to clap for them, Logan pounded his fist into the air in excitement as everyone clamored around them, whilst Jake went through the crowd finding Erika.

Jake leaned down to the chair Erika sat in, he put his hands on her thighs leaning down to her face kissing her soft glossed lips.

"I missed you," Erika whispered wrapping her arms around his neck, Jake tightened his grip on her legs slightly, almost as if to say he felt it too, he placed another kiss on her nose, making Erika flinch a little, the warmth she felt with the closeness of Jake, it felt like home- Jake was the hurt, the pain, the love, sacrifice, tears wiped away, he was so entwined with her, she was so entwined with him, and being away from each other was hard...Erika didn't want this to end, it was so small, but those kisses from Jake, the way he found her first in a crowded room, the way everyone seemed so far away when they were together...

Jake loved her, regardless of the outburst, the fights, and the way her mind had wondered recently, Jake loved her, she felt it with the way he was looking at her, kissing her, the way he wanted her attention and approval with the fight right then...She just wish she had of felt that sooner...

"Jake I'm so sorry," Erika whispered, her eyes burning with tears,

Jake was silent for a moment, he frowned looking at her "For what?" Jake asked, he thumbed away one of her tears, Erika looked into Jake's eyes briefly- She couldn't do this here, she couldn't ruin this for him.

"For getting so emotional! I'm just so excited for you!" Erika told him, Jake grinned kissing her again, "Cry when I win too, it'll look good on video," He told her, Erika just nodded wiping her tears again, "Can I talk to you though... After the fight?" Erika asked carefully, gripping his hoodie with a trembling fist, "Yeah- We're gonna do more then talk, I have a surprise for you," Jake mentioned mischievously,

Erika looked a little surprised, her mind was racing with what it could be, was it a good surprise? He couldn't possibly know what she had to say right?

"Jake-" Erika was about to question him further, but someone beat her to it. "Jake, can you get warmed up? Its just a little while before your up," Jake looked over, he kissed Erika one more time before walking over to get ready.

Erika watched the entire time, she listened to the chatter everywhere as other fights came and went, but she couldn't take her eyes off Jake still, she was waiting with hitched breathing, it should be such a spectacular evening, but her mind was elsewhere... It seemed so slow, but so rushed at once, in a little while she was walking behind Jake as he was going for his ring walk, music played, lights flashed in the otherwise dark place.

They walked out going in a line with security guiding them, Jake's song blared, people booed him from either side, Jake seemed focused, he looked like a killer behind the mask he wore, he was ready, he had something to prove in that ring, and he wouldn't let anything get in his way...

"Hey Paul! PAUL!" Ksi shouted from off somewhere in the crowd, he came out of his dressing room briefly for this, of course it was disrespectful to mess with another fighters ring walk, but after Jake pulling his hair on stage like that, he was still salty, he did his research after that, and planned to fluster him before he got in.

"Do your best mate! Don't end up with Jax bro!" He called out with insane laughter to follow. Jake's friends and family looked over sharply, as Ksi was moved back to his room...To bring up Jake and Erika's deceased baby son like that, just before a match, it was just cruel, something that was just disgustingly distasteful, but Ksi didn't care, he was giving his brother a leg up and getting revenge for the embarrassment he felt on stage...

Erika looked at Jake, her face souring, Jake didn't break his stride though, she couldn't tell if he had gotten hurt by the comment, he didn't let anyone see his weakness, not right then...He was gonna use that as fuel, he pushed through just like he always had.

Soon once people were seated and both fighters were in the ring, it was really time for the show to begin.