Title: If This Isn't Love
Rating: M
Summary: He's the proclaimed trash talking, temperamental, womanizing, SOB of the locker room. She's a sweet, docile, kind-hearted, and somewhat ditzy diva who can't help but fall for the cocky bad boy especially when things are turning sour with her boyfriend, Mike (The Miz). She believes she can somehow get past the whole jackass façade that he portrays and see him for who he truly is--but even she'll be surprised by the skeletons he keeps in his closet, all the while coming to terms with her own. randyXmaria pairing mostly; rated M for sexual content, language, some drug use, the nature of Maria's past, attempted rape, suicidal reference and all the other exciting crap that makes this worth reading lol. please read and review
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing in this fanfic. The characters, places, hotels, clothing brands, etc. all belong to their respective owners. The only things I own are the original plot of the story as well as the fictional female clothing brand Deliciouz Kouture.

Note to Reader: I changed some dates, championship holdings, brand placing, and other minor details to make this work the way I wanted. Please R&R!!!

Character Archive: Evan Bourne (Matthew Korklan); Triple H (Paul Levesque); Alicia Fox (Victoria Crawford); The Miz (Mike Mizanin)

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Chapter One

"Maria, come on! You've been in the bathroom for nearly a half-fucking-hour," Matthew shouted as he pounded on the bathroom door. Maria rolled her eyes as she drew another perfectly straight black line under her left eye with her eyeliner, completely ignoring her friend. As much as she loved him, she wouldn't leave the bathroom until she was completely finished getting ready. She couldn't just leave the room looking like a half-put-together slob. Nope, she had to look just perfect.

It was a quarter past noon, and in a few hours, they'd all be heading down to the Izod Center for the night's weekly edition of Monday Night Raw, here in New Jersey. Not only would Maria have to see her maybe-maybe-not boyfriend Mike (whom she'd successfully avoided for the past three days) but she had no choice but to go along with the bullshitted storyline Vince and the rest of the writers put together that not only exploited the fallout between the two of them in their real life relationship, but it made her seem like the unfaithful one when it was the complete opposite. Sometimes, it really pissed Maria off how insensitive "the suits" could all be towards something so personal but she knew they didn't care about her feelings or anyone elses for that matter. If she wanted that big fat paycheck next week she'd have no choice but to simply deal with it.

"Maria! Seriously, get the fuck out of there. I need to go unless you want me to piss on your carpet!" she heard Matthew yell again. God, he was so overdramatic. Maria fluffed her bouncy red curls a few more times before swinging the door wide open and doing a model-like pose.

"How do I look?" she asked innocently, batting her mascara covered eyelashes at him in a flirty gesture.

"Pretty, like you usually do," he said, doing that squirmy dance people did when they had to go bad. "Now can you let me through before my dick fucking explodes from all this pent up pressure?"

Matthew shoved her out the way and slammed the door shut behind him. Maria just giggled.

"Ooh, la la," Maria's other best friend and roommate, Victoria, commented as Maria struck a few more exaggerated poses. "Looks like someone's trying to look extra sexy today. Might I ask who for?"

"So, I can't just look nice without you thinking it's to impress someone?" Maria scoffed, placing her hand over her heart in a show of mock hurt. She had on a frilly white blouse, light colored super skinny jeans, and white alligator skin knee high boots.

"And here I thought you guys knew so much about me."

"We do," Matthew stated, as he walked casually out from the bathroom. He picked up the remote off the ground and hopped onto the king sized bed along with Victoria and began flipping through channels. "We all know the answer to that question but I don't think you want to hear the truth. Am I right?"

Maria scowled and stuck her tongue out at them. Sometimes, it irked her how well Matthew and Victoria really did know her. If she were being honest with herself, she'd admit that she wanted to look extra fly just incase she ran into Mike before the show—but she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of admitting that. Nope, she had too much pride for that.

"Oh, shut up. Both of you know absolutely nothing," Maria said as she walked around the bed and bent down to pick up her favorite white and gold Miu Miu purse off the floor.

"Girl, you really need to get an ass," Victoria observed, laughing alongside Matthew, who was holding his sides and laughing at the unexpected remark.

"Now you know I love you but sweetie, your booty is f-l-a-t. Dang, Cena was right last week—you've got no booty whatsoever." Maria felt her cheeks heat up as she stared her supposed-friends down. She knew they were just joking but that comment hit a sore spot. Especially since John Cena called her out about it while they were in the ring last week (in Chicago, her hometown of all places). In front of 10000 live fans and millions more watching at home. She didn't hold it against John, being that he was just reciting what had been in the script but now everybody had something smart to say about her butt, or lack thereof.

"Whatever. I'm leaving," Maria said smugly, holding her head up high as she made her way over towards the door.

"Aw, come on Maria. We were just teasing," Matthew said, still grinning. He didn't mean to hurt Maria's feelings, he really didn't. But it was just too funny and Maria always got mad when people made little jokes about her. But he thought she looked super adorable when she was mad so he couldn't help it. Besides, he personally liked her butt—it wasn't too big but it wasn't too small either. It was perfect, especially considering her petite frame.

"Yeah, Boopie," Victoria said, calling Maria by the nickname everyone in the lockerroom had given her. "We were joking. No homo, but you have a nice little butt." That caused her and Matthew to start laughing again and Maria tried her hardest not to give in and laugh along with them.

"I know, but I'm still leaving either way." Maria said, letting a small smile touch her lips.

"Where are you going?" Victoria asked as she took the remote from Matthew and flipped through channels on the widescreen plasma TV.

"Umm," Maria hesitated. She didn't even know herself. She just wanted to go out, you know? Instead of being cooped up in the hotel room. "I don't know. But I'll meet you both at the arena so don't wait up." She gave a wave to the both of them before shutting the door behind herself and strolling down the hallway in her usual carefree manner.

As she were about to round the corner, she bumped into no other than Miss Queen Bitch herself, Maryse, and her drone Kelly. For as long as she could remember, Maryse had never liked her. Why, she didn't know but she was usually the target of Maryse's harsh jokes and taunts in the divas' locker-room. In her naturally kind manner she would always try to befriend her but Maryse pushed her away.

"I'm so sorry," Maria said, holding out a hand to help Maryse up (who had fallen) but Maryse batted it away as if it were a perky fly. Instead, she took Kelly's hand to help her get up.

"Watch where you're going whore," Kelly said, folding her arms against her ample chest. She looked Maria up and down before flipping her pin-straight blond hair over her shoulder and nodding towards her partner.

"My sentiments exactly," Maryse said as she began a rant in French. Maria wasn't sure what she said but she was sure it wasn't anything nice.

"Besides, you wouldn't want to hurt the little one, now would you?" Maryse said callously, as she giggled with Kelly at their inside joke. Little what? Maria thought as they laughed. Both Kelly and Maryse purposefully bumped in to Maria, nearly knocking her down, before resuming on their way back down the hallway.

God, I really need to check the hotel before renting a room. Maria thought to herself as she slipped on her big tortoiseshell sunglasses and walked into the open elevator. Being stuck with the Plastics, as Maria referred to them, was bad enough but knowing she was sharing the same hotel with them was too close for comfort. But at least she wouldn't be involved in tomorrow's house show in Buffalo, New York so when Maryse and Kelly left, she could be alone in peaceful solitude once more. She was wrapped up in her thoughts as she pressed the button for lobby and hummed along with the elevator music.

When she reached the lobby, Maria made a sharp left around the corner, jogged down two flighst of stairs, and walked along a long plush carpeted hallway before coming to a big steel door that read VIP Smoking Lounge. She took out the special key card that hotel staff had given her, swiped it through the reader, and opened the heavy metal door. Inside, the room was dimly lit with leather couches pushed up against the walls and various two-person tables set up in the middle. There was a bar to one side (sans bartender) and a black baby grand piano on the other. Soft Jazz music wafted through the air and the room was otherwise empty except for a lone person sitting at one of the tables with their head hanging down—seemingly in defeat. The room was positively shrouded in smoke and Maria noted that all the smoke present seemed to be emanating from that one person.

Maria slid off her glasses and took a few steps closer to the person to make sure they were alright. She couldn't help it; she was just that kind of person. The closer she got the more familiar the man sitting dolefully became. It wasn't long before Maria fully recognized the person—what, with his fitted black Hollister tee (that outlined and defined his muscular chest, flat abs, biceps, triceps, and every other "eps" he had), stonewash jeans, and perpetually pensive expression. It was none other than Randy Orton—Mr. Playboy, in the flesh.

"Randy? Uh, are you okay?" Maria asked as she put a hesitant hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her but Maria wasn't sure if he was really seeing her. His eyes seemed to be glazed over and the whites of his eyes were completely bloodshot. He seemed way too far gone, Maria noted as she glanced at the dozens of half-smoked Marlboros that covered the floor around his feet.

"Randy? It's me Maria," she tried again, this time placing both hands on his shoulder and giving him a slight shake. He blinked a few times, as if finally taking in his surroundings. His eyes slowly met hers and for a moment, Maria sense the feeling of helplessness in them. But soon enough that moment of vulnerability was gone as Randy's usual intimidating glare took its place.

"Oh, um," Maria stammered as she quickly let go of his shoulders and held her hands to her chest. She would never say it but she felt so inferior next to Randy now. He always had an air of confidence about him, which was actually one of his most attractive attributes, but the way he looked at her now made her feel as if she were two inches tall and mentally incompetent—but then again, thanks to Vince and the Creative Team, that's how most people perceived her.

About two years ago, she remembered she'd complimented him about his pretty aqua blue eyes. She'd said they were as blue and clear as the open ocean, which had made him laugh. She loved his laugh and told him he didn't laugh often enough. When he laughed, it was totally genuine and just warmed your heart when you heard it. That was one of his few good days when he didn't haves such an attitude. It was days like that which you could really see what an amazing person he was. Only now it seemed like the ocean had iced over and there wasn't a hint of humor on his handsome face.

"What the hell do you want?" Randy sneered, cutting his eyes at her as he took another drag on the burning cigarette in his hand. Whatever trance he had been in moments ago was broken and he was back to being his usual rude self.

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to see if you were...um, alright?" Maria said quietly. She couldn't look him in the eyes. No, his gaze was too intense. Instead, she looked down at the table.

"I'm...fine," Randy said, though he didn't sound too sure of himself. He took another hit of his cig before throwing it to the ground and burying his head in his hands.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Maria asked hopefully. She wasn't sure why she wanted to know what was bothering him so much but she pushed that thought aside. She wanted to help him with whatever was bothering him; She really did.

"Why the fuck would I want to talk about it with you of all people?" he said callously. Maria snuck a peek, though she wished she hadn't, as he stared her down with ruthless, criticizing eyes.

"Because I can help—" she began but Randy cut her off.

"You can't help me. It's because of bitches like you that I'm pissed the hell off right now so just do yourself a favor and fuck off," he said, dismissing her. He opened up another pack of cigarettes and lit a new one.

"Fine, whatever. I was just trying to be nice," Maria said, choking back the tears that threatened to fall. She knew she shouldn't cry over a jackass like Randy Orton but she couldn't help it. She stomped to the other side of the room—as far away from Orton as she could get—and lit a cigarette with shaky hands. She held it up to her nose, inhaling deeply, before putting it to her lips and taking a drag. She hated the fact that she had begun the nasty habit of smoking but was relieved because of the almost instantaneous relief she felt.

To think she almost agreed to sit and chat with Randy Orton about his problems. Ha, maybe it was a good thing he dismissed her. The brutal truth was that they were in two separate leagues so she had no idea what came over her in thinking she could talk to someone like him who'd never accept her help or advice. Acting in the ring was one thing but outside the ring, it was a totally different ball game. But soon enough, she'd be mellow enough to forget about Vince and the WWE, Randy Orton, Maryse, and just about every other thing that pissed her off.

At least, that's what she hoped.

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Randy watched her walk away and for a moment, he almost called out to her to apologize.

Almost.

Though what got to him was how genuinely upset he seemed to have made Maria. He could tell she was trying to hide it, but he could hear her crying softly as she quietly smoked her cigarette. He didn't even know she smoked because it was completely unlike her. He really hated seeing that she was all alone and crying because of him. After all she had done nothing to warrent his going off on her. Contrary to popular belief, Randy really wasn't as cold and heartless as his character portrayed. When he was pissed off, everyone knew how cruel he could be with his words but he didn't mean it—at least, he didn't mean it completely. Sure, the message behind the words is what he meant but the words and tone he would use were just to make people leave him alone so he could think in peace. That's why those who knew him knew not to totally take everything he said to heart. But what he'd done to Maria he knew she didn't deserve. Not at all.

He really didn't want her to cry but he figured it would just take too much effort to correct his wrongdoings. Women were too complicated and after all, it was seemingly innocent yet lying and deceitful women that got him into the predicament that he was in now.

Yeah, it would take way too much effort.

The best thing he could do now was just to leave her alone. She'd get over it eventually.

He got up and threw his final cigarette on the nearest ashtray. He couldn't exactly say tearing through three and a half packs of Marlboros had eased his restless mind but they had helped mellow him out some. Now he felt extremely tired and he just wanted to chill out for a few hours before heading down to the Izod Center. Yup, that was a perfect plan.

As he walked towards the door, he looked over towards Maria in the corner of his eye. His gaze met hers for a moment before she turned her face away. He wished he hadn't bothered looking over at her because seeing her made him feel even worse. Her cheeks were wet with tears and whatever makeup she had applied earlier was running down her face. She looked so lost and hurt and it pained his heart to see that. He let out a breath as he opened the door and left.

He tried to convince himself that just leaving was the best he could do. He didn't want to hurt her any more than he already had. He leaned against the door once he shut it and rubbed his temples. He wasn't high enough to even believe his bullshit lies but he had no choice.

He had other more important and urgent matters to deal with.

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Okay so what did you guys think of that? I know you guys are probably bored now because of the lack of major action right? Don't worry, it's coming soon. That was my first ever fanfic and I'm excited about it because I know exactly where this is going to lead up to. I'll update as soon as I can, as long as I don't lose my inspiration for this story LOL. I mean, I love love LOVE Randy Orton and Maria is one of my favorite divas so I've always thought this could work out. I didn't want to base the characters solely off their storyline portrayal because I wanted this to seem real and flow naturally (because if I had, true wrestling fans would know my characters would act totally differently than how they are in this fanfic). Also, I'll try to tie this in with events that are happening in real life as much as possible. Either way it's trial and error from here so wish me luck! Please read and review people!