I'm not a whore. I never have, nor will I ever sleep with any of my coworkers for personal gain. There's always going to be people who talk, whether it be behind your back or to your face about things they have no idea about. Other women in particular. There are plenty of women who will bitch about society's double standards when it comes to the acceptable amount of sex men and women have, but when they finally meet a woman who has sex like a man, they jump on the bandwagon and call her a whore. I don't have many friends among the women backstage because they all think I'm some kind of skank who sleeps with the guys to get ahead in this business.

I know women like that. I've worked with women like that. That's not me. If I'm going to get ahead in my job, it's because I'm talented in the ring, not in the bedroom. None of the girls seem to understand that, so we don't exactly talk. We get along well enough to have decent matches in the two minutes we're usually allotted but once the match is over, we part ways without another word. I don't mind, as long as the professionalism is there, I'm not worried about what the other girls think of me.

But then there are days like today when I'm just not in the mood for crap and it seems that the apes want to continue to throw it my way. The Women's lockeroom was crowded when I walked in that afternoon and the first thing I heard when I opened the door was my name coming out of Barbara Blank's mouth.

"Serah's a slut," She said. "We all know it. And now she went and dumped Cody? Go figure."

I sighed loud enough to get their attention. "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, Barbie."

The group seemed to gasp as one and those on the outside of the circle turned to look at me. Barbara was standing in the center as the circle became a line, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I don't know what you mean." She said smugly.

"You don't know what that phrase means, or you can't understand what I'm saying?" I said. "Either way, I wouldn't put the misunderstanding past you. But your ignorance continues to baffle me. What I mean is..."

"I know what the phrase means," Barbara snapped. "I just don't know why you chose to use it in reference to me."

"Well then you really are as stupid as people think you are," I said, shaking my head. "You shouldn't make assumptions about people when the rest of the world makes the same assumptions about you. The difference between you and me is, I have the guts to admit what I am, and have the proof to deny what I'm not. You on the other hand, just sit and whine and pout when someone says something oh so hurtful to you. Then you have the nerve to say the same things about others. You're a hypocritical bitch, Barbie."

Her jaw dropped and I smiled at her. I knew this wasn't going to make my any friends, but I didn't care. I also wasn't about to let her drag my name through the dirt, not when she had no room to talk about anyone.

I turned on my heel, ready to leave the room. My hand was on the doorknob when I stopped, and turned half-way back to look at them all. "Oh, and by the way girls, if I come back and find my stuff tampered with again. Heads are gonna roll."

I turned back and walked out the door without another word. The other women and I may not ever be friends, but they certainly weren't going to push me around. I headed down to the catering room and there I found, sitting all by his lonesome over a cup of coffee, Mike Mizanin.

Mike was always an interesting guy to me. Sometimes he was a little too much Miz and not enough Mike. Sometimes when the two blended together perfectly, when Mike filtered through just enough of Miz's obnoxious overconfidence and let it blend with his cute, almost sheltered small-town nature, he was one of the best guys to be around. But lately, Mike hadn't been much of either of his selves. He'd gone through a tough breakup a few months back, and getting knocked back to mid-card status after a glorious, must-see run as WWE champ had shaken his confidence.

I walked over to him and sat down. He didn't look up until I started tapping my fingers on the tabletop. He glanced up, a small smile crept over his lips.

"Serah Carlisle. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He said.

"Pleasure's all mine, Mr. Mizanin," I smiled. "I just saw you sitting here all by your lonesome and figured I'd come offer my company."

Mike's smile grew and he sat up a little straighter. "You look ravishing today, Miss Serah."

I giggled. "Charming. So how are you doing lately. I've noticed you've been a little down in the dumps."

Mike sighed heavily. "It's been rough. I'm trying my hardest but I don't know what else to do. It's like... I've just fallen off the face of the planet and it sucks. I wanna be where I was before. I wanna have that spot again. I don't know what else to do."

I frowned, reaching over and patting Mike's hand. "Chin up. You're a champion. Regardless of whether you have a belt or not. You've got what it takes and you know it. I believe in you, Mikey."

He smiled briefly, but it soon dropped into a frown. "Serah... you... you're dating Cody, right?"

I laughed. "No. No, no. I don't date."

"Really? I saw you with him so much..."

"Cody and I hung out a lot. We've got common interests but we weren't dating," I said. "But, to clarify, I'll go on a date, but I don't do relationships. Just not my style."

"Okay, so then you wouldn't mind if I asked you to go to dinner with me after the show tonight?" Mike said, his smile returning quickly.

"How could I refuse our most must-see champion?" I said, winking. "Of course I'll go. That'd be nice."

"Great! So... I'll meet you after the show?" Mike said.

"It's a date."

I take great pride in my job. I've worked and trained and busted my ass to get where I am. It's a shame that the women's division in the company doesn't get the developmental time and respect we deserve, but somehow, I think that even if we did, some of the girls we have wouldn't be able to keep up with the pace some of the rest of us are capable of working at.

Two weeks ago I started a feud with Eve Torres. For the first time in a long time, I was working as a baby face. They'd thrown me into the storyline as what I could only think of as a joke from the creative department. I was the one objecting to Eve's poor treatment of Zack Ryder. Her using him to get ahead in the business. Considering he was mid-card at best, Eve could have chosen better. I know that word travels fast backstage and I had a feeling that they were trying to make a point to me, pitting me against Eve with the gimmick she had going. A lot of people, the girls in particular, thought that about me. That I was the girl that laid down to move up. Tonight I had a mixed tag match with Matt - a.k.a. Zack - against Eve and her partner, who just happened to be my date for later tonight, Mike.

I was grateful for more than two minutes to wrestle a match, but I knew it was only because of the boys. Eve and I would only get one shot at being in the ring, but I was determined to make the few spots we had shine. This was my job, and I took it very seriously.

Somehow, though, I'd managed to let Matt talk me into wearing matching colors tonight. So my usual teal short shorts and white glittery bra-top were replaced in color by his normal purple and orange. I'd refused to wear the 'broski' headband on my head and settled for wearing it around my thigh like a garter. I met up with Matt at Gorilla position, he was bouncing from foot to foot behind the curtain.

"Hey! Lady Broski," He grinned big as I approached, throwing an arm around me. "You look great! Ready for this?"

I chuckled softly. "Ready as ever."

I put on a smile. I had to, working as the good guy. Out there, in front of the fans, I was Dahlia the brand new baby face who'd earned and embraced the love of the fans after years of working as a heel. My smile sagged a bit when our opponents approached, Eve with her arm draped around Mike's waist, giggling like an idiot.

"Oh, look," Eve sneered. "Matt, you've got yourself a real hoeski."

Mike pulled her arm from around him. "Stop it, Eve."

"Aren't you clever, Torres," I snorted. "Did it take you all day to come up with that? Did you do it all by yourself? Or did the other girls help you?"

"Hey, ladies, come on," Matt said. "No need for all that. We're all adults here, stop the name calling."

"You shouldn't sound so upset," Eve said. "I'm sure you, just like everyone else backstage, has heard of the reputation that follows Serah around."

"That doesn't mean everyone has to listen," Mike said, sounding annoyed. "Some of us are able to form our own opinions about people."

"So she's laid down for you too, Mike?" Eve snickered.

I felt Matt tense beside me, his arm twitching like he was going to grab mine to hold me back but I stood still. Mike's face turned furious but I only laughed at her.

"That's just you proving how stupid you really are, Eve. Spreading rumors about me in the faces of people who wouldn't believe you to begin with," I said, planting a hand on my hip. "Honestly boys, I'm not worried about it. The uneducated will always talk out their asses because they like the sound of their own voice. It's ineffective however, if no one is listening."

With that, I turned away from Eve and Matt's music cued up across the arena. The last thing I heard was Mike's soft laughter before Matt and I headed out the curtain.

"The following mixed tag-team contest is scheduled for one fall," ring announcer, Justin Roberts began. "First, making their way to the ring, the team of Dahlia and Long Island Iced-Z, Zack Ryder!"

Dahlia followed behind Zack, fist pumping and grinning. She slapped hands with the fans before running up the ring stairs, ducking into the ring as Zack held the ropes open for her. The two stood in the center of the ring, fist pumping and yelling Zack's signature "Woo! Woo! Woo!".

"And their opponents, the team of Eve Torres, and The Miz!"

Miz marched down the ramp with Eve strutting behind him, primping and ignoring the fans. The two got into the ring, Eve taunting Zack Ryder. Dahlia stepped in between them, pushing Eve back. Eve charged forward at her, only to have Miz pull her back and shove her towards their corner. Dahlia and Eve took their places on the apron of the ring while Ryder and Miz started off the match. The men locked up in the center of the ring, Miz getting the upper hand and pulling Ryder into a headlock. Ryder worked his way out, throwing Miz to the ropes. Off the rebound, Miz knocked Ryder down with a shoulder block. Miz posed, taking a moment to trash talk Ryder before grabbing him up off the mat. Ryder struck back with a series of three elbows to the stomach. Ryder fired off another elbow to the side of Miz's head and threw him into the ropes, knocking him down with a big clothesline.

Ryder picked Miz up from the mat, throwing him into his corner. Ryder went for a big corner splash but Eve tagged herself into the match. She ducked into the ring, flicking her hair over her shoulder and smiling at Ryder. Confused, Ryder attempted talking to Eve, asking her why she acted the way she had. Eve simply laughed, yelling Ryder that he was a loser and slapped him across the face.

Having seen enough, Dahlia jumped into the ring, pushing a stunned Ryder out of the way and tackling Eve to the mat. Dahlia got to her feet, bouncing off the ropes and hitting Eve with a front-flip leg drop. Dahlia went for a cover but Eve kicked out after a two count. Dahlia pulled Eve up but Eve landed a forearm shot to her midsection, causing Dahlia to back away. Eve grabbed her by the hair and slammed her face first into the mat. Eve flipped Dahlia over to her back, performing her usual booty pop before attempting a standing moonsault, Dahlia however, got her knees up just in time. The red-haired diva got to her feet, grabbing Eve up again and catching her with a kick to the stomach. Eve doubled over and Dahlia hit the ropes again, coming back with a twisting neckbreaker.

Dahlia went for a pin but Miz broke it up, grabbing her by the ankle and pulling her away. Dahlia scrambled to her feet, offended by Miz's interference and went to land a slap to his face. Miz grabbed her wrist but as he shoved her aside, Zack Ryder came flying out of his corner, hitting Miz with the Rough Ryder. As Dahlia got back to her feet, she turned around and was met with a big bicycle kick from Eve. She went for a cover, but Dahlia managed to kick out at the last second. Annoyed, Eve grabbed Dahlia up from the mat, tossing her into the corner. Eve backed up towards her corner, going for a handspring elbow, but as she was mid-flip, Ryder tagged himself in and Dahlia dropped to the apron, leaving Eve to land in the turnbuckles. Ryder jumped into the ring, taunting Eve as the crowd began to chant 'hoeski'.

From behind, however, Miz grabbed Ryder and hit him with the Skull-Crushing Finale. Miz dragged Ryder to the center of the ring and pinned him to pick up the win.

Following our match, I headed back to the Women's lockeroom to clean up and get changed before heading out with Mike. The lockeroom was empty for the most part and I ignored the girls that were there, taking the things I needed and immediately heading for a shower. Once I finished, I changed into a pair of dark, high-waisted denim shorts, a loose, flowing hot pink button down and a pair of strappy tan-colored wedges. Heading back into the lockeroom to get the rest of my things, I added a few accessories and was ready to head out.

As I headed out of the lockeroom, I spotted Cody passing by. He paused when he saw me, his lips curving down into a frown. I sighed, hitching my purse a little further up my shoulder and stopped.

"Cody." I said.

"Serah," He continued to frown. "About earlier..."

I sighed. "I told you before. That's done. You know me, Cody. And you know that what you want isn't what I want."

"Why not? We could be really great together..." He said.

"Listen. I've tired to be nice about this. I really have. But first of all, you're clingy," I said, crossing my arms. "Second of all, why is it never good enough for any of you that it's just not what I want? I don't want to be anyone's girlfriend. I don't want anyone to be my boyfriend. I just want to fuck and not be asked a million questions. I want to satisfy the needs I have as a fucking woman and not have everyone poking their noses in my business about it! So no, Cody, we wouldn't be good together because you want more and I don't."

Cody looked confused - almost offended - but I stood my ground. I wasn't about to be pushed around by these boys because they couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that I was clear about what I did and didn't want. Prepared to walk away from Cody, I spotted Mike down the hall, coming towards me. He glanced down the hall and the frown he wore turned to a scowl.

"You move on quick." He spat.

"Yeah, I do," I said nonchalantly. "And so should you."