Disclaimers - Don't own anything except the idea for this story and the character of Armistead.

Time Of Your Life

Chapter One: It All Started With a Prank...

Luke Armistead was upset. No, scratch that, he was pissed. Carlito had really done it this time, what with rigging a paint bomb in Armistead's locker. RAW's resident jokester had cleverly used neon green paint, just so Armistead might put the blame on DX.

Not that it even entered Armistead's mind to do so; he'd made friends with most of the superstars when he'd come to the WWE and RAW about three months ago. The fans liked him as well, and Vince had told him to keep up the good work.

Armistead calmly wiped green paint from his face and strode toward the door. This was no time to lose his temper; he had a Caribbean clown to find and maim.

As soon as he stepped outside, he laid eyes on the former Intercontinental Champion, who was chatting with a backstage crewmember. Carlito saw him and grinned, then his smile faded as he realized he'd better run. Armistead heard him mutter, "That's not cool." before taking off down the hall. Armistead followed seconds later, passing a bewildered Jeff Hardy, who looked even more confused when he saw Armistead, and was about to address him when Armistead blew past him.

"I'll tell you later; got me a Cabana boy to kill!"

Jeff shook his head and decided to let it go for now. Carlito deserved any thrashing he got; his locker room pranks were getting old. If only the guy would be stupid enough to play a prank on Umaga, then everyone's problem would be solved...

Armistead rounded the corner and discovered Carlito was nowhere in sight. There were several doors along the hallway ahead, so he figured he'd better start searching. He saw several Divas chatting in the hallway, and he grimaced, knowing he'd have a good chance of catching Carlito if he simply asked them if they'd seen which way the little creep went.

Gritting his teeth, but outwardly displaying his most engaging smile, he walked over to them and cleared his throat. The moment Torrie Wilson, Candice Michelle, and Maria Kanellis laid eyes on him, they started choking back giggles. Armistead decided to play it off, using the sense of humor that most women seemed to think was one of his best qualities.

"Yes, before you ask, ladies, it's not easy being green."

Torrie and Candice burst out laughing, while Maria appeared to think Armistead was being serious, for she actually looked like she felt sorry for him.

"If any of you have seen Carlito, would you be so kind as to point me in his direction?"

Torrie and Candice appeared to be nowhere near done with their giggle-fest, so it looked to Armistead like he would have to wait for Maria to answer him. Armistead decided to help her out.

"Maria, darlin'...have you seen Carlito? You know, the guy who has an apple fetish and probably needs a weedeater to cut his hair?"

The bubbly Diva suddenly brightened.

"Oh yeah, Carlito! Yeah, I saw him! He went through there!"

She pointed to the door right across from her, and Armistead mentally groaned at the sign on the door:

DIVAS' LOCKER ROOM

Oh, crap was Armistead's initial reaction. He shook off any hesitations he might've had and strode toward the door.

"Hey, Luke...what happened?"

Armistead's progress was halted by the arrival of the only two pranksters on RAW to rival Carlito: DX. Triple H - as usual - was carrying Susie, his sledgehammer, and Shawn gave Armistead a happy little wave.

"Nice color, don't you think, Shawn?" Triple H asked his best friend, who nodded emphatically.

"Real nice shade of green," The Heartbreak Kid agreed.

"Glad you think so," Armistead replied. "Apparently the prankster who pulled this off used this color in the hopes that I might blame you two for this. But, seeing as how he took off running the minute I came out of my locker room, his guilt's undeniable."

Triple H and HBK looked at each other, then turned back to Armistead.

"Carlito again," they chorused, and Armistead nodded.

"Would either of you two gentlemen be interested in helping me teach him a lesson he won't soon forget?"

Triple H's grin widened as he looked down at Susie and patted her lovingly.

"I'm in...which way'd he go?"

Armistead pointed to the Divas' locker room, and Triple H's grin widened even further.

"I'll lead the way."

Armistead chuckled briefly at Triple H's teenage-like reaction as the 10-time champ strolled through the locker room door like he owned the place. Shawn rolled his eyes, placed his hand over them, and followed, Armistead close behind.

Once inside, all three superstars came to a halt. Well, actually, it was more like Triple H came to a stop, Shawn - his hand over his eyes preventing him from seeing anything - bounced off him and then bumped into Armistead as he came through the door. The entire incident was reminiscent of The Three Stooges.

"Why'd we stop?" Shawn asked, still refusing to let himself peek.

"Just savoring the moment," Triple H replied. "It's not every day we get to be in here."

"We're not supposed to be in here!" Shawn complained. "We're just passing through, so let's pass through and be done with it!"

"Oh, fine...ruin my fun," The Game muttered, as he stalked through the locker room to the door on the other side, Shawn holding onto his shoulder after banging his shin on a bench or two.

"This is about par for my stroke of luck," Armistead muttered, "when DX passes through alone, every Diva in the company's in here changing, but when I'm with them, the place is deserted...suuuurre..."

Triple H laughed, while Shawn cast a disapproving look his way...well, in the direction HBK thought Armistead was in; he still hadn't taken his hand away from his eyes.

The trio was halfway across the room when there was a brief shriek of surprise, followed by a "What are you doing in here?!"

Triple H turned to look, and nearly dropped his beloved Susie on his foot. Shawn turned in the direction - or what he thought was the direction - of the voice and, still refusing to let himself see anything, nearly crowned himself good on a clothes hook. Armistead caught up with DX, and his jaw nearly hit the floor.

Before them was the Women's Champion herself. Mickie James. One of the hottest Divas in World Wrestling Entertainment. In nothing but a towel. A very short towel.

"Oops! Sorry, Mickie...just passing through! We didn't think anyone was in here, honest!" Shawn addressed one of the benches, causing Mickie to look at him strangely.

"Um, yeah, what he said!" Triple H replied, not taking his eyes off Mickie as he fumbled for Susie, picking her up before turning to Shawn.

"Come on, Shawn, let's go."

"Right behind ya!" Shawn replied, and ran for the exit, only to trip over a bench and fall headlong in a heap on the other side. Triple H rolled his eyes, walked over, pulled his friend up, and helped a dizzy Shawn - who still had his hand clamped over his eyes - to the exit. He pushed HBK through the door and gave Mickie one final thorough look-over before letting it shut behind him.

Armistead scrambled for the exit as well. Despite the fact he was friends with the gorgeous young woman before him, he was also a gentleman, and for him that meant no looking at other men's fiancees. He averted his eyes and ran for the door.

"Sorry, Mickie...won't happen again, promise! In fact, I'll forget it ever occurred!"

The Women's Champ actually laughed, letting Armistead know she wasn't upset.

"Oh, please...like I believe that!"

Armistead reached the door and turned back. He grinned guiltily at her.

"Yeah, you're probably right. I'm a gentleman, which to me means I shouldn't comment, but..."

"But what?" Humor sparkled in Mickie's eyes.

"Forgive me for saying this about a taken woman, but hot damn, you're gorgeous!" Having said this, Armistead ducked out the door without a second look. Once outside and running again, he let his mind drift back to the living fantasy he'd just encountered. If only she'd been single and we'd been alone...who knows what might've happened! he thought, then mentally smacked himself for even thinking that way. The girl was engaged and perfectly happy; off the market meant off limits, so there was no use dwelling on might-have-beens.

Not that what he'd seen wasn't more exquisite than he'd ever imagined...

Coming Up: What's gonna happen next? Will Carlito get what's coming to him?