It's been two years since the RAW on my dad's birthday. My dad's a strong 42…thinking about retiring to something else…he was considering starting a wrestling school. I was nearing 21…it was 3 days to my birthday to be exact…and everyone was exited, namely me. The twins, who were seven now, were in second grade and living with my mom in West Newberry and touring with us in the summer. I still remember the day they were almost taken away from us.
Flashback – 2 years ago, Day after Cena's Birthday
Ari and the gang woke up to the sound of a 5 year old's cries. Ari and Shelton walked into the room and Matias was sitting on the floor screaming at the top of his lungs. His left arm was hanging limply to his side.
"Matti! Calm down mijo, we're going to get you to the hospital quick!" Ari said. She threw on a pair of jeans and stuffed her feet in her shoes while the rest of the gang did the same. Once Shelton, Ari, Matti, Angel, and Rome were in the car, Ari sped off.
"Angel, Mija what happened?" Ari said as she sped through traffic.
"We was jumping on the bed and Matti fell off. I heard a big snap." She said looking at her brother with wide eyes.
"Matti's going to be fine, okay, we're going to take him to the doctor."
When they pulled up to the hospital however, Social Services stepped in. They thought that Ari and Shelton were responsible for the scars on the twins' back. They tried to take them away and put them into custody of the State of Missouri. When Shelton and Ari told them the situation, Social Services gave the twins back. Matias had broken his upper humorous, something that was very difficult to do. He had a full arm cast for almost four months.
End Flashback
I was walking through the hallway of the hotel kind of bummed. I didn't know why, but I just wasn't happy about being in the WWE anymore. I mean, yeah, I was a fan favorite, and I was half of the Intergender Champions with my brother…Shelton and Matt fell out onscreen and I took my brother's side, Shelton was heel. And Amy was Women's Champ and half of the Women's Tag Team Champs with Christy. Matt and Jeff were Tag Team Champs, Matt also being Intercontinental, and Jeff also being Cruiserweight. Chris Jericho was WWE Champion, while Adam was World Heavyweight Champ.
Everything was peachy, but something in me was kind of sad…like I didn't want to wrestle anymore. I knocked on Uncle Randy's door. He'd retired and was now the Commentator on Smackdown with Uncle Paul.
"Hey girl…what's up?" Uncle Randy said smiling.
"Uncle Ran, can I talk to you?" I said, sighing.
"Yeah…what's wrong?" he said, letting me in. I walked over and sat down on the bed. Uncle Randy sad across from me on the other bed.
"What's going on baby girl?"
"I…I don't know if I want to wrestle anymore. I don't know why, because nothing makes me happier than putting on a great show for the fans, but the past two or three months, I've been really contemplating quitting wrestling."
"But…why?"
"I don't know…I mean, I guess it's because all of my friends from high school are finishing college and going on to start their careers, and I never got that experience. You know, going away to college. I've never been away from my dad for more than 3 months…and that's cause I was going to school….and those three months, I had my mom!" I sighed.
"So you want to actually be able to live life…not just work. You want to go on Spring Break and be a college kid, right?"
"Yeah! I mean, you got to do it…dad got to, Matt got to, Shelton did, EVERYONE really. I went straight to OVW after high school…I never got that chance."
"I know. But you know I can't make that decision for you…you have to. You have to look inside your heart and ask yourself if this business is really what you want to do. If you were stuck wrestling everyday for the rest of your life, would you be happy? If not, maybe you should think about going to school…if so, than this is where you need to be."
"So you're not mad that I might leave?"
"No way princess…I know that this is your decision…I know that this is your life and you want to be happy."
I looked up at Ran and wiped the tear that had allowed itself to roll down my cheeks.
"Don't cry…"
"But dad's gonna be SO MAD! He told me that it made him proud each time I stepped in the ring….that seeing me and Matt follow in his footsteps made his life worth living." I sobbed.
"But that doesn't mean that you're unimportant or that he's trying to live through you…"
"I never said that…I just don't think he'll understand."
"Who won't understand what?" a voice said from the door. We looked up and Uncle Paul and Uncle Dave were in the doorway.
"Ari's thinking about leaving the business…going to school."
"Really? Do you want to leave like, forever, or go to school, finish and come back?" Uncle Dave asked, sitting down next to me while Uncle Paul sat next to Uncle Ran.
"I don't know…I just think I need to get out of here for a while…it's getting hard to live my life out of a suitcase…I just want a place for more than a week that I can call home that isn't my parent's place."
"Baby girl, I know what you mean…I have no intention of telling you that you have no choice, or telling you that you're making a bad decision. Look, take a deep breath and look in your heart…you'll know what to do." He said.
"I know, you're a smart girl…you can do anything you put your mind too…what are you going to study?" Uncle Dave asked.
"Criminal Justice with a minor in Social Work."
"Good field."
"I want to be a Social Worker…I always did if wrestling didn't work out."
"Sounds like you have figured out what you're doing…"
"Yeah…guys, I'm going to school."
"Excellent…congratulations." Uncle Randy said, hugging me.
"I'm proud of you…that's a difficult decision." Uncle Dave said.
"Too hard if you ask me!" Uncle Paul laughed.
"Question…how do I tell the guys?"
"I say, tell them once you're accepted somewhere." Uncle Paul said.
"See, that's the thing…" I said reaching into my backpack. I pulled out a piece of paper and handing it to my uncles. They all read it at the same time.
"UCLA?"
"I applied two weeks ago."
"And they accepted you?"
"Yeah…I was thinking about going…I mean, LA's not a bad venue…and WWE comes there all the time."
"Good point. Does your dad know yet?"
Knock, Knock
Uncle Dave went to the door and laughed.
"Speak of the devil!" he smirked, opening the door.
"Hey guys, you ready for the game?" he asked, Matt, Shelton, Hardy, AJ, Jeff, and Shane, Rome, and Uncle Wayne behind him.
"Game?" I said, kissing Shelton quickly. He hugged me and I settled on his lap when he sat on the bed.
"We're playing basketball, 5 on 5."
"Oh…hey guys, I have an announcement to make." I said. Uncle Randy nodded to me when I hesitated.
"What's going on babe?" Shelton said putting his arm around my shoulder.
"Well…for the past few months, I've been thinking. I'm at the top of my game, and I'm doing well. But I haven't been happy. Not happy at all…so, I've decided that I'm leaving the WWE and going to school." I said. AJ, Jeff, Shane and Hardy looked at me and nodded. I'd talked to AJ about it, making him promise not to tell anyone, but I guess he broke that promise. He hadn't known my decision yet though.
"College?" Dad said softly, looking at me.
"Yeah…I applied and got accepted to UCLA."
"My little girl's going to UCLA?" he said, breaking into a smile.
"You're not mad?" I said confused.
"Why would I be?"
"Well, I mean, you always said that your life was happier every time that me or Matt got in the ring; I thought you'd be upset that I was leaving."
"You're leaving us?"
"Matt, I'll still be coming around, you know I can't stay away!" I smiled.
"How are you getting out of your storylines?"
"Well, you know my storyline, me and you are going at it with Trish and Jay…I'm going to get mad at Trish and pretty much beat the shit out of her with a steel chair and Shane's going to run out and fire me."
"Cool…I bet you've wanted to do that anyway." AJ smirked.
"Yeah…so you guys aren't mad?" I said, looking around.
"I mean, the four of us are kind of bummed you're leaving, but we're not mad…" Jeff shrugged.
"I'm happy for you sis…" Matt said.
"You know me and your dad are proud of you." Uncle Wayne smiled.
"Us too…" Uncle Wayne said, motioning to him, Uncle Paul and Uncle Dave.
I looked at Shelton, who hadn't said a word since I'd made my announcement.
"Why are you leaving? We…we have something good going here, and you want to leave me?"
"Shelton, it's nothing like that…I'm just not happy here right now…I just want to go and get my degree so I have something to fall back on just incase…"
"But you know I'm planning on WIFING you. I was gonna wife you Ari…you was already Wifey to me…but I was gonna make it official…now, now, I can't believe that you're leaving and forgetting all about me, and the twins, and everything that we built." Shelton said, standing up.
"Hold up, I've know Ireland longer than ANYONE here, and I know for a fact that she's wanted to be a social worker since she was 5. I'm proud of her…and you should be too instead of being so selfish man." Rome said, looking at Shelton.
"But she's leaving me Roman! All of our dreams, everything we worked for, all those movies, and parties, and nights we spent together over the last 4 and a half years will be for nothing!"
"Do you really think I'd leave you? How stupid are you? You're 24 years old Shelton…act like it. You're acting like a jealous 17 year old." I sighed.
"Well excuse me for actually giving a flying fuck about our relationship…because as of right now…I don't!" he screamed, walking out of the room.
"FUCK YOU TOO!" I yelled and I sat on the bed fuming.
"You alright?" Matt said.
"No, but I will be…he's such an ass right now…"
"Want me to take him out?"
"No Rome…it's cool…he'll calm down…I hope."
"He had no right…I was seconds from beating the shit out of him." Uncle Dave said. Uncle Paul and Uncle Randy nodded in agreement, as did Uncle Wayne.
"I'm going to relax for a bit…give me about 5 hours…I'll be back in my room by then." I said.
"Ooh…she's really fucked up over this one…"
"Where's she going?" AJ said.
"The Mall…she's going to try to buy her troubles away." Matt smirked.
I shopped until I dropped. It didn't take long. I bought some candles, white roses, some sexy new negligee, massage oils, edible glow-in-the-dark body paint, and chocolate sauce.
"we fought…now it's time for the make-up." I thought smiling. I drove back to the hotel and stashed my stuff in my room. Then I went to Amy's room, where she and Christy were watching Troy. I sat and watched the rest, then told them about my decision to go to school. They were bummed majorly, but not pissy. I looked at the clock…it was 9:00…Shelton should be back from the basketball game with the other guys. I went back to the room and opened the door. When I walked in, I froze.
Lying in the bed on his back was none other than Shelton…on top of him was Carmella. They were so into what they were doing neither noticed I was in the room. I saw red and ran across the room and dived on the naked Playmate. I punched her in the face and head so many times I lost count. I only stopped when Shelton pulled me off of her. I turned around and punched him too. I beat the shit out of the both of them…mainly Carmella. When Shelton tried to stop me, I hit him…HARD. I broke his nose at least…that much I know. Carmella was covered in blood…her blood. So was I, all the way up to my elbows. I looked at Shelton, who looked defeated.
"WHAT THE FUCK?" I yelled through my tears.
"Ari, let me ex-"
"Shelton, I swear to god if you say 'baby let me explain', I'm going to kill you…and that's a promise. HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? AFTER ALL THE SHIT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH? AFTER FOUR AND A HALF YEARS? AFTER TAKING IN THE TWINS, AND ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF WE DID TOGEHER? YOU GO AND FUCK THIS SLUT? I GAVE YOU MY VIRGINITY YOU MOTHER FUCKING DOG! I GAVE YOU A PART OF ME THAT I CAN'T GET BACK, AND YOU JUST…BETRAY ME! FUCK YOU! FUCK THIS! I'M OUT OF HERE…I'M GOING TO L.A., AND I'M NEVER COMING BACK. I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR LITTLE BROKEN SLUT…BECAUSE YOU JUST LOST THE BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO YOU!"
I packed up my suitcase and left the room. When I got in the hallway…there was a line of people there…and the first one in line, Matt.
"You heard me huh?" I asked, sniffling.
"Yeah…I'm gonna kill him…I'm sorry baby, but I warned you he wasn't worth anything." He said walking in the room. Dad was standing there, along with pretty much everyone.
"Baby girl…" dad said. I dived in his arms and I cried. For the first time since my incidents with my mom 5 years ago, I cried like a little baby. Dad just stroked my hair and let me cry. I opened my eyes and looked up. Uncle Dave was livid…as was uncle Paul. But by far, the ones that scared me the most were Uncle Wayne and Uncle Randy. That was, until I saw Uncle Mark, and Uncle Eddie.
"Tio…" was all I could get out before crying again.
"Aw, Pajarita…don't let him see you broken." He said in spanish.
"But my heart is broken…it hurts so bad…Why did he do this?" I sobbed in spanish.
"He doesn't know what he's losing…go on to College, get your education, and come on back when you're ready, alright?"
"Yes…I'll come back when I'm ready." I said nodding.
"When is your first semester beginning?" Matt asked coming out of the room with a swollen hand.
"Three weeks…Matty, I'm sorry you lost your best friend because of me."
"Not because of you…and you know how it goes…blood is thicker than water…and right now, Shelton's losing a lot of it."
"Could one of you get my bag for me? It's still in there." I said, feeling lower than low.
"I'll get it." A voice said…I didn't look up to see who. I went to the girls room and told them what happened. We drowned our sorrows in chocolate and movies.
I stayed with them the last three weeks with the WWE. Matt, Hardy, Jeff, Shane, AJ, Amy, Christy, and pretty much all of my family in the WWE decided to have one last movie party to see me off two days before the big day.
Dad, AJ, Matt, Rome, Uncle Randy, Christy, Tessa, Nikki, and Uncle Wayne came with me to help me move into my dorm. When my last bag was unpacked, and Ash's dish was in the corner, I looked at the group of people standing around the dorm. I had a room mate, but she wasn't there yet.
"I'm gonna miss you guys so much…I can't believe how many people are here to see me off…I love all you guys…" I said near tears. I hugged Amy Christy Tessa and Nikki at the same time, all of us a mess.
"Don't be a stranger now…give us a call every once in a while?" Amy said, stroking my hair.
"Deffinately…and come visit when WWE's in town?"
"No way I'm not coming. No way any of us aren't coming."
Then I hugged those Hardy brothers next, then Shane.
Hugging AJ brought me to tears again.
"Don't cry Mermaid…just call your best friend every once in a while. How long have we known each other? Almost three or four years? Don't think that just because you're going to college that you can get rid of me…I'm visiting often!" he said, kissing my forehead.
"I love you Allen. You 're my best guy friend…what am I gonna do with out you?"
"I love you too…Ariel." He said.
Uncle Wane stepped up next.
"Baby girl, I'm proud of you…I know what you want to do and regardless of whether you make Dean's List, or fail your class…I'm proud of you."
"I love you Uncle Wayne!" I cried throwing my arms around his neck.
"Oh, I love you too baby girl." He said, kissing my head.
"Uncle Ran…" was all I got out…I hated good byes…they always meant that someone was leaving. I hated that that someone was me.
"Shorty…comes on…go on and smile. You know you're happy to go to college. Smile…for me?" he teased, poking my stomach. I giggled and smiled for him.
"That's my girl…now, LA is different…don't get into any shit now, you hear me?"
I gave him that 'Are you serious!' look and he laughed and kissed my forehead.
"I love you Shorty…I'm gonna be here checking up on you."
"Good…drop by anytime, alright?"
"I know." He said.
"Ireland…you know I'm coming back…I have friends out here. Keep a space on this floor warm for a brother?" he said, kissing me and hugging me tight as he could.
"I love you Romie-Rome." I said to my second big brother. Next, I turned to Matt and my dad…the two hardest good byes.
"Don't even say anything, please." I said. "You'll just make me cry harder. Just hug me?" I said holding my arms open. Dad scooped me up and I let out a sigh.
"Give me a call anytime…day or night…don't hesitate." He said. I nodded and turned to my brother.
"Ari, I know you're gonna punch me in the arm, but I have to say something…Rome got to, so I do too." He said in Spanish. I just nodded. "Munchkin…I, I'm gonna miss you. We've never been apart really. This is gonna be hard on me, and I'm gonna visit whenever Rome does. I love you girl…and remember, we do anything for family." He said. I threw my arms around him.
I let everything I'd been feeling that last month go, and I just hugged my brother. The room was quiet. I stepped back out of the hug and I punched him in the arm.
"Call me when you get to the next City. And I'll still be watching you guys. Dad, on my vacations, if you need me to help at the school, I'm there. I love you guys so much." I said hugging the two. My dad's eyes were full of pride. Matt's were too. I think everyone's eyes were at that time. I looked at the clock on the wall…if they didn't leave, they'd be late for their house show in Fresno…a three hour drive.
"Guys, we have to get out of here." Rome said. He'd finally gotten that job with Ring crew and he needed to be there two hours before the show. I gave everyone a hug and I gave dad a letter to give to Shelton. He nodded and they left. I lay down on my bed and sighed.
"Hi, you must be my room mate." A voice said from my door. I looked up and a really pretty Italian girl was standing there. I nodded.
"Yeah, I'm Ari, Ariel Cena."
"Mi...Mia Toretto." She smiled.
A new chapter in my life has begun.
SHELTON'S POV
I was sitting in my locker room at the house show feeling like shit when there was a knock at the door. I opened it and standing there was Matt.
"Hey man." I said looking at the ground. I couldn't look him in the face anymore.
"Don't 'hey man' me Shelton. You killed something in my sister…she told me to give this to you."
I took it and nodded. He walked away without even saying goodbye. I opened the envelope and out fell a small envelope and a letter addressed to me. I opened the small envelope. Inside were the locket, ring and bracelet I'd given her over the years. I opened the letter.
Shelton,
I thought we'd be together forever…I seriously did. When I say we, I mean me, you, and the twins. I did look at them as my kids. They may not have come out of me, but I loved them like they were blood. I couldn't believe that you did what you did. I honestly thought that you loved me. I guess I have to get used to the fact that the only people you can trust is family…and as of this very moment, you're not family.
They say that no man is worth your tears, and the one who is will never make you cry. I thought that you were that man. I was wrong. The good thing that came out of my relationship with you was finding my Rome again. If he hadn't been there, you honestly would be dead right now, because he was the one who pulled Matt off of you.
As much as I hate to say it, and you know I do, Matt was right…you did play me. You played me like a fucking guitar. I can't believe I fell for the game you pulled on me. "I love you, I'm gonna wife you…" What a load of honest bullshit. I'm not mad because I was with you, or that you did what you did. I'm mad because I love you still…I honestly think I always will because you have a piece of me that I can't take back, I gave you something that I can't get back from you…and that's what I hate you for. I gave you a piece of me that is irreplaceable. Something that isn't EVER going to come back to me no matter what. My broken heart will mend eventually…but the scar you put on it will be there forever.
Ari
THERE IT IS, THE FINAL CHAPTER OF A REAL FAMILY…LOOK OUT FOR THE SEQUAL CALLED "FAMILY IS MORE THAN A WORD"…THE FIRST CHAPTER COMING SOON!
WILL ARI AND SHELTON EVER GET BACK TOGETHER? WILL ARI EVER GO BACK TO THE WWE? WILL I EVER STOP MONOLAUGEING? LOL JUST LOOK OUT FOR THE THIRD INSTALMENT OF THE CENA'S ANGEL SERIES.