How It Feels To Fly
Contessa Clarke (known as Tessa or C.C. to her friends and family)– A 21 year old recent College drop-out who is struggling to keep her family together by working as a dancer at Harpers, a sleazy night club, in Texas.
Connor and Courtney Clarke – Contessa's 5 year old twin brother and sister. They find themselves in their sister's care when their mom goes to jail for trafficking drugs for her no good boyfriend.
Mark Calaway – Newly retired WWE wrestler has an encounter with Contessa that turns his world upside down.
Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, Adam Copeland, and Glen Jacobs – Friends of Mark's who pop up to check on him from time to time after his WWE day's end.
Chapter 1: Vixen
Contessa Clarke almost vomited as she began to get into her latest costume. This one was a vulgar red and black three piece set with a corset like top and a teeny tiny pair of panties that were to be covered by leather chaps which, when Tessa thought about it, was actually better than the hot pink two piece bra and g-string ensemble that she had been forced to wear the previous night. Tessa shuddered when she saw herself in the mirror, her lips painted blood red heavy blue shadow coating her eyes, it wasn't her at all but it was what Ralph had wanted. Telling her that she had too much of a baby face without the make-up to pull off the stage name, "Vixen". Tessa hated that stupid name, she was definitely no Vixen in fact she was a virgin who knew absolutely nothing about what turned guys on. She just got lucky when she was out on stage at Harpers probably because all of the guys who threw dollar bills at her shaking feet were too drunk to realize that she had absolutely no idea what she was doing. She truly hated the place but the tips were good and she was in desperate need of money. It had been two months since her mother "got put away" for helping her loser boyfriend, Jared West, traffic cocaine across state lines. She could still hear the fear in her mother's voice the night she called to summon her home from college. She was halfway through her junior year at the University of Texas working on her Business Management and Accounting degrees and if not for her brother and sister she would have hung up in her mother's face, but with her mom facing eight years in prison Tessa knew that she had no choice but to return home.
"Tessa I am going to be going away for a while so I need you to come home and take care of your little brother and sister until I can get out," Pamela Clarke told her daughter over the phone.
"But mom I can't just leave school to come back home," Tessa argued but she knew before her mother's next words were even spoken that that was exactly what she was going to have to do.
"There is no one else to watch Connor and Courtney, Tessa, if you don't come home then the department of social services will take the twins and put them in foster homes, Tessa, they might split them up," her mother said and Tessa could tell that her mother was crying.
"Alright mom I'll be home tonight," Tessa said with a sigh as she placed the phone back on the cradle and began to cry herself, "Goodbye college life, hello motherhood," Tessa said once the tears subsided and she began packing her bags to head back to the life she so desperately wanted to get away from.
"Hey, Vixen, you're up next," Ralph, the owner of Harpers, said coming into the changing room bringing Tessa out of her daydream.
"I'll umm be right there Mr. Harper," Tessa said crossing her arms over her chest as if to keep Ralph from ogling her.
"I told you sweet cheeks call me Ralph," he said looking her up and down one last time before turning and leaving the room.
"I don't know how much longer I can do this," Tessa said to herself in the mirror before heading towards the stage.
"Come on Mark just hang out for a little while longer," Randy said as he sipped on his beer, "There is a lot of hot ass walking around here tonight man, you must see someone in here you like."
"Yeah, man, I mean tonight you wrestled your last match as "The Undertaker" this is your farewell celebration form your best friends at least give us another thirty minutes of your time. Who knows when we will all get to hang out like this again," Adam said slapping Mark on the arm.
"Fine, thirty more minutes then I'm going home to relax in my recliner and watch sports center because that would be more fun than hanging out in this place," Mark said just as the DJ began to introduce the next girl.
"Yeah whatever hush the old man talk and watch the next act," Glen said causing everyone at the table to laugh, everyone except Mark that is.
"Alright fella's here she comes the one you have all been waiting for, the one the only, Vixen!" The DJ said as "Buttons" by the pussycat dolls blasted through the speakers.
"Damn, she really knows how to move," Jeff said after watching the woman for about a minute.
"She's terrified look at her she is shaking like a leaf up there," Mark said watching just as intently as Jeff and the rest of his friends.
"The only thing I see shaking is that little round ass of hers," Randy said taking a twenty out of his wallet and tossing it towards the stage. "Hey there is no rule saying that you have to only toss ones up there," Randy said with a shrug when he saw the look that both Mark and Glen gave him.
Mark continued to watch her dance and knew that she was out of her league around the rowdy group of drunken bastards that occupied the club when one of the patrons slapped her on her ass while she was bent over unzipping the chaps.
She shrieked so loud that it actually hurt Mark's ears. She swatted his hand away but he didn't want to take "No" for an answer.
"Aww come on now, Vixen, stop playing hard to get," The guy had said when his hand was swatted away again.
"Cut it out Silas you know you're not allowed to touch the dancers," Tessa had said trying to get control of the situation before it really got out of hand.
"You know you like my hands on you Vixen, I bet you'd like something else I have inside you too," Silas said as he tried to grope Tessa again.
"Hey, I think the lady asked you to keep your hands to yourself," Mark said no longer able to just sit there and watch the girl be harassed.
"And just who the fuck are you mister?" Silas slurred.
"I'm a man that you don't want to mess with now sit down and shut-up before I make you," Mark said standing showing off his almost seven foot frame.
Silas looked at Mark and instantly paled he took a step back before turning his attention back to Tessa.
"You're a goddamn tease that's what you are! You just keep shaking your ass like that and one of these days "No" won't be a good enough answer," Silas said before grabbing his drink and walking to the back room where the private dances were held.
Tessa sighed as the music finally ended bending down to collect her tips she caught the stare of the massive stranger that had stood up for her. Sticking her money into the lacey garter she wore around her thigh she mouthed "Thank you" before disappearing behind the curtain.
"What was that all about?" Randy asked Mark as they made their way out of Harpers.
"Nothing," Mark said with a nonchalant shrug causing all his friends to give him a questioning look.
"Look the kid looked scared to death so I helped her out of a jam no big deal okay so drop it."
"Looked like a big deal to us, did you see the look Mark and "Vixen" shared before she left the stage?" Adam asked.
"Oh yeah I definitely saw the look," Jeff said and quickly dashed out of Mark's reach when Mark grabbed for him.
"I'm warning you assholes," Mark growled.
"Alright, alright we will drop it, but you have to admit that little lady was hella hot," Jeff said wiggling his eyebrows.
"That's it Hardy you're dead!" Mark said going after Jeff again.
"Hey Mark don't kill him he's my ride back to the hotel," Adam said as he watched Mark try to get his hands on Jeff but after realizing that Jeff was quicker than a jack rabbit he gave up.
"Damnit I left my keys in there," Mark said digging into his pockets one last time in an attempt to find his car keys.
"Want us to go back in with you buddy?" Glen asked his friend.
"Naw, you guys go on ahead it's late and you bozo's have a house show tomorrow afternoon," Mark said turning around back towards Harpers.
"Okay then we can meet up afterwards before we have to get back on the road," Glen said as he climbed into the passenger seat of Jeff's rental.
"Sure thing, see you then," Mark said throwing his hand up seconds later as he watched his friends drive away.
Tessa was exhausted. She had come into work at five working as a waitress until it was her time to dance on the stage. It was after two now and as she walked to her car in the dark parking lot she sighed at the thought of going home taking a nice hot bath and climbing into her comfy bed. She was so focused on getting home that she never heard the footsteps creeping up behind here until it was too late.
"My my what do we have here? If it isn't the little Vixen herself," Said the voice from behind Tessa.
Tessa turned around to find herself face to face with Silas drunker than she had ever seen him.
"What do you want Silas?" Tessa said trying to sound calm even though she could feel herself shaking.
"You know what I want, Vixen, and now that I have you all alone I am going to get it," Silas said the stench of his breath hitting Tessa square in the face.
Tessa turned to run but Silas was too close grabbing her around the waist he tossed her into the alley behind Harper's and grinned, "Now be a good girl honey and I will be gentle with you, be a bad girl and I will be as rough as I want to be, do you understand?" Silas asked as he pinned Tessa up against the brick building.
Mark was walking back to his truck when he heard a noise coming from back in the alley. Thinking that it was probably some hungry animal rummaging through the trash Mark kept walking. Right as he got to his truck he heard a bone chilling scream and going on complete instinct Mark sprinted towards the scream. He wasn't sure what he would find, but he hoped that whatever it was that he wasn't too late.
"Silas, you're drunk please just let me go and I won't tell anyone about this," Tessa pleaded.
"Shut up bitch!" Silas said striking Tessa hard across the cheek.
Silas ripped Tessa's top as he tried to kiss her, but Tessa turned her head and tried to push Silas away. There was no way Tessa was going to just let Silas have his way with her she would fight him even if in the end she was not victorious she would at least know that she didn't just lay down and give in.
Silas was unfastening the snap of Tessa's pants when Mark's large hand grabbed him by the collar. Silas was flung clean across the alley but managed to get up quickly. He found a broken bottle and ran back towards Mark jabbing at him with the weapon, but Mark easily shooed him away managing to punch him hard in the face causing him to collapse to the ground and stay there.
"Are you alright?" Mark asked turning to face Tessa once he was sure that Silas was unconscious.
"I…I…I will be," Tessa stuttered out wrapping her arms around her exposed breast.
Mark pulled off his leather jacket and handed it to Tessa, "Here put this on, what were you doing out here by yourself anyway?" Mark asked as Tessa graciously accepted his jacket.
"I always walk out alone there has never been any problem before now," Tessa answered truthfully.
"Yeah well when you work at a place like this you should always expect problems, kid," Mark said looking down at Tessa, "Are you hurt?"
"No, I don't believe I am just feeling a little foolish for letting my guard down, I never do that."
"Look, your shaking like a scared rabbit why don't you lock up your car and let me give you a ride home," Mark suggested and immediately regretted it when he saw the fear flash across Tessa's face.
"Hey, I'm only offering to take you home I don't expect anything in return," Mark clarified quickly.
"I will be fine, but thank you anyway," Tessa said scurrying past Mark and towards her car.
"You're welcome, Vixen," Mark called after her.
"It's Contessa actually," Tessa said stopping long enough to give the big man her name then jumping into her car and speeding away.
Mark watched her leave and before heading to his own truck he turned to the man on the ground as he groaned in pain, "That ought to teach you to mess with a defenseless woman you dumb bastard," he said with a growl before getting into his truck and going home.
A/N: This is definitely a work-in-progress but I hope you guys like it! I will try to get a new chapter up ASAP I promise (-: