Chapter 40

"So he's really leaving, huh?"

Keyla nodded, pursing her lips together while staring down at her beer and tried keeping the tears at bay. "Y-Yeah…" Her voice slightly cracked as Lennox reached out to take her hand, squeezing it. "I quit the job too since he doesn't need a personal camerawoman anymore…"

"And the fact you're in love with him, he doesn't feel the same way about you and it hurts to be around him right now." Lennox finished, taking a long swig from her own longneck and leaned back against the couch. "You know, even though he's a jackass, the bastard still made it big and signed with the WWE. We need to do something for him."

Raising a brow, Keyla could only imagine what Lennox had in mind. "Like what?"

"A going away party. It'll give Mox a chance to say goodbye to people that helped him along the way and, as much as it pains me saying this, he deserves it. Not everyone makes it to the big leagues. It needs to be celebrated." Not to mention Jon and Danny were best friends, so she knew her boyfriend wanted to do something to celebrate Moxley's success.

The next chapter of Jon's wrestling career was about to begin and he'd worked very hard, putting his body on the line every time he stepped in the ring. Keyla knew firsthand because she'd seen bloodbath after bloodbath transpire, losing count how many times she'd cleaned him up after the brutal matches. They would have time to plan the perfect going away bash because Jon had to leave to go on tour and tie up loose ends with his Independents career. He would be gone for 3 and a half weeks, spend his last few days in Philadelphia and then make the big move to Tampa.

"Alright, let's do it."

Sami was there for Jon's final match against Austin Aries, a brilliant wrestler that took everyone he fought against to the limit. Jon was no different, losing his final match in Evolve and received a standing ovation for giving his all in the match. The fans read online about Jon Moxley signing with the WWE, so they knew they were losing a rare treasure from the Independents. A true King. Nobody had the mindset, fortitude or passion Moxley did and all of his fans, his cult following included, knew he would succeed in the WWE without any doubts. They were one of the reasons Jon had gotten a call from WWE in the first place and they signed him without having a tryout. That almost never happened and Jon had once again made history in the company he was about to wrestle for.

Afterwards, Jon gave a brilliant promo on how he thought he could beat Austin Aries that night and cracked jokes about saying the word 'fuck'. Since he wouldn't be able to use it again once he was in WWE, a PG rated company. What the hell was he thinking? Jon Moxley was the total opposite of PG rated – more like R or XXX rated! Still, this was all Jon ever wanted in his life and the fact he was getting this opportunity was still mind-numbing. A few of the wrestlers he battled over the years with came out to congratulate him and handed Jon a beer, giving him a proper farewell with the fans chanting his name as loud as they could. However, Sami Callihan, one half of the Switchblade Conspiracy, being there for his tag team partner's final match meant the world to Jon. Sami told him to go make the big bucks and never look back, both of them embracing tightly through the ropes.

Later that night after the emotional ending to the Evolve pay-per-view event, Jon and Sami went out for a few beers to talk. "I'm doing the right thing…right?" Jon glanced over at his best friend, the only person who had been on his side through thick and thin.

"Is there a reason you shouldn't go to WWE? Isn't that what you've always wanted, bro?" Sami turned the tables on Jon, knowing exactly why he was second-guessing his decision to take WWE's offer and not stay in the Independents. "I mean, if you didn't sign the contract and move to Tampa, what more is there to accomplish in the Indies? WWE is the dream. Or is this about a certain roommate of ours?"

Jon snorted, shrugging and ran the pad of his thumb around the rim of the glass before downing the rest of it. "Both." He couldn't deny how he felt for Keyla anymore, knowing it didn't make a difference now that he was running off to Tampa to join the WWE. "I don't wanna be a fucking coward. WWE is the dream and always has been. I just wanted your honest opinion."

"Then don't be and tell me the truth." Sami turned to fully face one of his best friends, arms folded across his chest and could feel Jon tense up instantly. "Do you love her?"

"What kinda question is that?"

"Answer it."

"What if I do?" Jon retorted, keeping his eyes locked on the beer in front of him and refused to meet Sami's somewhat hardened gaze. "You gonna kick my ass for having feelings for your ex?"

Sami scoffed at that, shaking his head. "I would've already kicked your teeth in if I had a problem with it, bro. I know she doesn't belong to me anymore and I let her go long ago. Now answer my question."

Up until now, Jon had fought his feelings tooth and nail for Keyla, not wanting to admit them because he didn't think he was capable of love. He grew up in a messed up environment full of drugs, sex and violence. Keyla deserved better than a scumbag like him who couldn't even confess how he truly felt. But this was Sami, his ex-tag team partner and best friend, both sharing countless hours on the road throughout the years since they both started pursuing their dreams of being professional wrestlers. Whenever Sami was down and out, Jon picked him up and vice versa, neither letting the other give up, even in the darkest hours of their lives.

"This stays between us, understand? If you tell her, I'll fuck you up."

"Just say it, Jon." Sami ordered, feeling a sense of déjà vu since he'd had a similar conversation with Keyla a few weeks ago about her feelings for Jon. "Go on."

Pushy fucker, Jon thought, requesting another refill on his beer and shut his eyes, scrubbing hands down his face. He'd recently cut his hair short, doing it while on the road, so Keyla had no idea all of his curls were temporarily severed. They would grow back no doubt, but Jon felt like he needed a new look entering the next chapter of his wrestling career.

"Fine, I fucking love her, alright? I love Keyla. There's nothing I can do about it either because I'm moving to Tampa and she's staying in Philadelphia." The confession left a bittersweet taste in his mouth, but surprisingly Jon felt marginally better now that he told someone.

"True." Sami wondered how long Jon had been battling his feelings for Keyla, but decided not to push the man more than he already had. "You could always, you know, ask her to join you on the road in WWE…"

All Jon could do was stare at Sami like he'd grown 3 heads and ended the night on that note, heading up to his room for some much needed sleep.

The day of Jon's going away party and celebration on his WWE signing came faster than Keyla wanted. She was shocked Jon had actually cut his hair, but didn't comment on it. No matter what he did to himself, she still loved him and those feelings would never change. Standing on a ladder, Keyla held one end of the huge banner Lennox and Danny had made up for the party while Lennox held the other side. They were trying to make it as level and straight as possible, the lettering on the banner matching the font Jon used to make his MOX wrestling trunks. It was white and black, his colors, and countless tables were set up throughout the huge backyard. Food was catered in, courtesy of Keyla, along with other decorations featuring WWE. With every piece setup, Keyla's heart slowly cracked with little fragments falling to the pit of her stomach. Tomorrow, Jon would get in his vehicle and make the long drive from Philadelphia to Tampa, Florida, only this time he wouldn't return.

He would be gone forever.

"That's good enough." Taking out the staple gun, Keyla put enough in the corner of the banner where she knew it wouldn't fall and then tossed it over to Lennox. "I need to check on the desserts."

"Keyla…" Lennox frowned, watching her friend walk inside the house and knew this had to be incredibly hard to deal with. "Damn it…"

Standing in the kitchen, Keyla could only stare out the window at the festive looking backyard, thankful the snow had melted in time. It was 60 degrees outside, the perfect weather for an outdoor event and Keyla hated Mother Nature for being so subtle on this day. Why was she putting herself through this pain and agony? Why did she agree to have the going away party at the house she shared for nearly a year with Sami and the man she loved? It didn't make sense, but then again not a lot had in Keyla's life lately. Turning the faucet on in the kitchen sink, Keyla splashed her face with the cool liquid to keep her tears and emotions in check, shutting it off a few minutes later.

"Need help with anything?"

She jumped out of her skin at the sound of the gritty voice behind her and whipped around, holding the towel against nose and mouth, amber eyes wide. "Fuck, you scared the shit out of me, Jon!" Keyla whacked him with the towel and shook her head, walking past him to the fridge to check on some of the desserts to spent most of the night making.

Sleep evaded her these days.

"You're jumpy. What's on your mind?" He asked, leaning against the kitchen counter watching her through slightly narrowed electric blues. "You can only check on whatever is in the fridge so long before you have to face me again, Keyla."

Shutting her eyes momentarily, Keyla closed the door to the fridge and sucked in a sharp breath before turning around to face him, plastering on a smile. "You are the guest of honor, so you're not helping set up your own party. Are you all packed up?"

Jon nodded, closing the distance between them and pressed Keyla against the refrigerator door, his eyes boring into hers intensely. "I'm gonna miss you." He admitted openly, sliding his hands up and down her sides, not realizing just how much that confession nearly drove Keyla to her knees.

It nearly killed her to hear those words and Keyla was sure the waterworks would start up again. Luckily, they didn't. "Me too. I hope you'll come visit the little people in Philadelphia sometime when you get time off. Don't forget who your real friends are."

"Never." Jon vowed, able to make her that promise without hesitation and slid his fingers down her cheek. "Especially you. I won't ever forget you and we'll always be friends, no matter what. If you ever need anything, day or night, I'm a phone call and plane ride away."

Keyla didn't believe that, knowing Jon was just saying what he thought she wanted to hear and cracked a small smile up at him that didn't touch her eyes. "I know." Caressing his t-shirt covered chest, she breathed in as much of his scent as she could consisting a mixture of cigarettes, gasoline and his own personal musk. "You'll always be my reverie, Jon Moxley."

Confused, Jon didn't understand what that meant and groaned when Lennox came walking through the backdoor leading into the kitchen, ruining the private moment. Keyla extracted herself from his arms and went back outside to finish setting everything up for the going away party. Lennox didn't know what to say to Jon and walked past him to set up the table with another tablecloth Keyla bought. The balloons would arrive soon to put the final touches on the décor, but all Lennox could think about was how much this was killing her best friend to say goodbye to the man she loved.

"She called me her reverie…" Jon broke the silence between him and Lennox, grabbing a beer from the fridge, needing something to take the edge off the tense moment. "Do you know what that means?"

"A daydream or fantasy; impractical idea too." Lennox answered, taping down the tablecloth and was surprised when Jon stepped up to help her. "You are more than her reverie, Jon. Trust me when I say that."

Standing on the front porch slightly hungover, all Keyla could do was watch as Jon loaded the remainder of his boxes in the back of his truck. She was convinced he would end up selling it, but apparently the vehicle meant a lot to him. It was the first major purchase he made right after winning the CZW championship for the first time. Now that she thought about it more, through a hazy cloudy brain, it made perfect sense why he didn't sell the truck. Sipping a cup of java to keep her hands busy doing something else other than clinging to Jon begging him to stay, Keyla leaned her head against the bannister and blinked tears away.

Not yet, not until he was gone, then she could lose control and cry her heart out.

"That's the last of it." Jon announced, breaking Keyla out of her deep thoughts and stood on the second porch step, shoving his hands in the front of his jean pockets. "Thanks for letting me stay here for a while and putting up with my ass. I owe you for saving us from the shitty apartment…"

Keyla smiled softly, waving him off dismissively and took another sip of her coffee. "No thanks needed. It was fun while it lasted…" Damn it, the tears were coming on fast and she had to think of something to stop them before a single one fell. "You have the trip mapped out and everything so you don't get lost, right?"

"Yeah…" Jon could hear the shakiness in her voice and went to her, taking her coffee to set it on the ledge of the wraparound porch. "Keyla…"

"Y-You don't have to say anything, Jon. Just give me a hug and get your ass on the road before you run any later." Keyla couldn't handle hearing anything emotional from this man, not now when she was trying to stay strong enough until he left. "You're going to do great in WWE, I just know it. You've got everything it takes to be the top guy in the company. And don't let anyone tell you differently. You hear me?"

Nodding, Jon held her tighter and buried his nose in her dark blue hair, feeling his own emotions welling up threatening to explode out. "I will. I won't let you down, I promise." He whispered, not trusting his voice at the moment and didn't release her, never wanting to let go.

Keyla was the one who pulled back first, tears shimmering in her amber eyes and smoothed out the front of his t-shirt like she had so many times throughout their complicated time together. "Go. Don't look back. And remember, you always have a home here if you need it." Caressing his cheek with the back of her hand, Keyla reached up on her tiptoes until their mouths connected for the final time – the final kiss.

As she watched him climb into the driver's side of the truck, Keyla wrapped her arms around herself and let the tears slide down her cheeks freely. Never would she forget his electric blue eyes or handsome smile, when he cracked one. Or the way his hair fell in his eyes whenever he got hyped up during his promos, the caring side only he showed to her, nobody else. Jon Moxley truly was Keyla's reverie and she wondered if she'd ever see him again, sniffling. Heading back into the house, Keyla didn't know how she would continue her life without Jon in it and would have to figure out a way.

The End.

**Well, it's been a long difficult road, but thank the stars we've all made it! Thank you so much for the encouragement and all the reviews regarding this story. Being my first Jon Moxley (strictly) story, I was nervous about it. You all rock and have so much love, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now the question you all are asking yourselves: Is this is the end of Jon and Keyla? Or do they deserve to meet up again? Sound off in the reviews and let me know if you want a sequel. Hope you all enjoy the wrap-up and much love to all my readers and lurkers!**