before he cheats | a.cole

thirty nine

The crowd is immediately on my side as I back Britt into the corner. I strike her several times with my forearms and elbows, using most of the ref's five count before backing away. Once I know that I won't be disqualified, I kick her side. She cries out and falls.

I turn and run into the opposite corner. I lean back and look at Britt. I run and jump, hitting her with both my knees. The crowd cheers as I roll away from her.

Sitting on my knees, I say, "Get up, Britt. You wanted this." I get up and push her head back so it hits the turnbuckle. "You asked for this so get your ass up."

I back up and wait for her to get up. She doesn't so I begin to kick her several times. The ref begins his count and I back away.

The crowd rallies behind me, chanting my name and "NXT". I stare at Britt before crouching in front of her. I look at her and say, "Aw. Looks like someone isn't as tough as she makes it out to be." I laugh.

She finally looks up at me and says, "Go to hell."

I stand up and stare down at her. "Get up, tough girl," I say.

I back away and let her get to her feet. She uses the ropes to get back up. I watch her carefully. She tries coming at me but I hit her with a clothesline. She falls onto her back but quickly gets back up. She tries it again and I try to superkick her. She catches my leg and I hop on one foot.

Britt does the Dragon Screw legwip. She uses every ounce of energy she has to do this move.

I land and something happens in my knee. It makes a loud pop noise and feels like something tears in the joint. I scream in pain, holding my knee close to my body. I'm curled into a ball. The crowd has gone quiet and the bell rings. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to make the pain go away.

"I need some help," the ref yells. "Get some help." The bell rings, ending the match.

I feel a hand on my side and I look up to see Adam. He's hovering over me and I cry, "It hurts."

Adam takes my hand and he says, "I know. It'll be okay soon."

I cry in pain.

I know that I tore something in my knee and I am praying to anyone that it's not what I think it is.

Adam sits me up and I look at him. He has a hand on my back. Britt stands behind him. She looks terrified. I'm carried out of the ring on a board. My leg is in a cast. Adam holds my hand as I'm carried off.

I'm put in an ambulance. The pain in my knee has gone from sharp pains to a dull ache. From what I can see, it's swollen.

Adam gets in the ambulance with me. He sits next to me and I look at him. His head is in his hands. The EMT starts driving.

"Adam," I say, my voice hoarse. I reach out to him. "Baby, look at me."

He looks at me and I can see his cheeks are wet. He's been crying. He says, "I'm so sorry."

I think he knows it too. He knows it and that's why he's so upset.

"I'm okay," I say.

Adam looks at my leg and he says, "You're in an ambulance headed to a hospital. You're not okay."

I reach out for his hand and he lets me take it. I say calmly, "I'm okay. It may not be as bad as we both think."

I'm holding back all the tears that I can. I know what's coming. I've seen it happen before and now it's going to happen to me.

The ambulance arrives at the hospital and I'm wheeled into the emergency room. I'm moved off the stretcher and onto a hospital bed. I change into a hospital gown.