Author's Note: I just started a new semester, so updates might not be as frequent as some would like, but I promise to start updating more often. I'll plan on weekly updates, and sometimes add a little bit extra. Also, I've had a little change of heart with one of my characters. I originally planned on the Rey/Maria pairing, and I'll probably still stick with that, but I want to point out that I have nothing against Rey's wife Angie. Actually, I think they're perfect together. But sometimes change can be nice, so who would you like Rey to be with for the story? Maria, Maddie, Angie, or someone else? Enjoy, and please read and review… the reviews really motivate me. :) The previous disclaimer applies.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 3: Bottom of the Bottle

"I need another drink," John yelled over Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music" which was blasting through the speakers. 'Stardust' was packed with hundreds of people at the moment, and the combination of the loud music and everyone chattering around him was enough to make his head start pounding.

"What can I get ya?" The bartender asked him.

"A 'Corona'." Shit, who am I kidding; this is my fourth drink for the night already, that's why I feel so terrible.

He couldn't even remember the last time he had stayed in for the night. Almost every night after work he and some of the guys went out clubbing, and it was beginning to interfere with his work. The hangovers the next morning made it difficult to work out and train.

"Cena, you comin'?" A male voice hollered and interrupted his thoughts.

He glanced over his shoulder and spotted his friend sitting in a booth on the far side of the club with a brunette and a blonde. He turned back as the bartender set the cold beer down in front of him.

He shrugged, "Why don't you make it four Coronas?"

"You got it." The bartender grabbed three more and totaled them up, "$9.50."

John tossed a crumpled ten-dollar bill down on top of the bar, "Keep the change." He stood up and grabbed the four beers, then made his way over to his friend's table.

"Hey buddy, how's it going?"

John shrugged, "What's up, Randy?" He sat down and then pointed at the extra beers, "You want one?"

"Hell yeah, thanks man…" Randy accepted his, and handed another to the blonde he was talking to. John handed the fourth to the other woman who was watching him intently.

"Thanks… you must be John." The brunette smiled at him as she took her beer.

"Yeah, that's me…" John nodded unenthusiastically as he took a swig of his beer. His eyes wandered over her body. She had a thin figure and long legs. Her hair was long and dark brown, nearly black, and her skin was a warm caramel color that complimented it.

"Having a bad night, are we?"

"Naw… well… kind of… it's been a long fuc… day…" As he stumbled over words he could tell that the fourth drink was a mistake.

"Maybe you need a little fun to help you relax… why don't we dance?" She touched her hand to John's arm as she spoke to him.

"I guess so…" He stood up too quickly and when he had a bit of trouble finding his footing, he grabbed onto the edge of the table for support.

The young woman laughed, "Maybe dancing isn't such a good idea after all."

"It's cool, I got it…" He grinned stupidly.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Randy looked up from his conversation when the table started shaking from John bumping into it. John waved that thought off and went against his own better judgment.

The brunette shrugged and headed towards the dance floor with him at her heels. "I'm Amanda, by the way…"

He walked up behind her and grabbed a hold of her hips, then leant down and whispered in her ear, "Well, it's very nice to meet you, Amanda…"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

John rolled over in his sleep and collided with someone else. He moaned in frustration and slowly opened his eyes. The daylight seemed so bright that they began to water, and his head ached so badly it felt like he was hit by a bus the night before. He sat up and pulled the sheets tightly around him.

He glanced at the woman tangled in the sheets beside him and recognized her from the previous night. Shit. He forced himself to get to his feet and quickly snatched up his boxers from the floor. As he pulled them back on, his head began to pound fiercely. "Not again…" He attempted to massage his temples and forehead with hopes that it would relieve some of the pain, but nothing seemed to help.

His eyes scanned the room for his jean shorts and his shirt. As he glanced at the clock he realized it was already 12:15 in the afternoon. "God dammit!" He had missed going to the gym, and if he didn't hurry, he'd be late for his meeting with his boss too. He fished in the pocket of his jeans for his cell phone so he could call him.

He flipped the phone open and noticed he had missed a couple of calls. He slipped his shorts on and dialed his voicemail, then slipped out of the room into the hallway.

'Hey man, it's Johnny. Just checking in to see if you're alright since you didn't show up at the gym this morning… give me a call.'

He erased the message and moved on to the next one.

'Yo, John, what's up man? It's ReyRey. Listen, I really need a favor. As soon as you get this, give me a call.' He found Rey's number in his address book and hit dial.

"Hello?" A voice answered.

"Rey? What's up?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"John? Hey… thanks for calling me back." Rey muted the volume on the television and glanced at Maddie to make sure his phone hadn't woken her up. She seemed to be sleeping, but he thought she might be having a bad dream because her face looked unsettled. "I need your help…"

"What's going on?"

"I'm heading back on the road tomorrow, ya know? I only had a six day break… something came up last night, and a friend of mine is staying with me. You have another week left, right?"

"Yeah, but can't you just take them on the road with you?"

"I don't think it's the best idea right now…" Rey hesitated to tell him anything and decided against it, "It's a long story, but I don't think she wants to be around a lot of people."

"Wait—she?"

"Yeah…"

"Well what are you asking me to do?"

"I'm just hoping she can stay with you on your last week off, and if she's not feeling better by then she can come on the road with me for a little while."

"Dammit. Rey, I have a lot of shit to get done this week…"

"Calm down, alright? She's really easy to get along with. You probably won't even know that she's there. Besides, Dave's been on the road, and Eddie goes back tomorrow too. I don't know who else I can ask."

"Fine." He was being blunt, which meant he was annoyed.

"Don't be a dick." Rey rolled his eyes.

"I'm not."

"Yeah, well, I really appreciate this."

"I have a meeting with Vince in an hour, so call me before you come."

"Cool. Thanks man."

"See ya." He hung up.

Fucker. Rey sighed. John needed an attitude adjustment… badly. He took another quick glance at Maddie who was tossing and turning. He was worried about her. They had known each other since they were younger, and they hung out so often that she was like family to him; like a little sister. And never once, in all the time that he'd known her, had she been this insecure and delicate. She was usually a fireball, and kept everyone on their toes.

He nudged her awake, "Maddie?"

"Hm?" She whispered sleepily.

"I thought you might like to get up and take a shower. I'll make you some breakfast…"

She sat up, "Thanks, but I'm not that hungry. I could use a shower though."

Rey nodded. "Maddie…" he turned towards her. He didn't want to put off telling her he was leaving any longer so he blurted it out, "I'm touring with WWE again, and I leave tomorrow." Smooth, okay, could have said that a little bit nicer. He mentally smacked himself.

She bit her lip, "It's okay. I know you're busy Rey."

"But I asked my friend John if you could stay with him next week. He's got a longer break than the rest of us do because of an injury…"

"I don't want to cause problems for anyone…"

He shook his head, "You won't. He's fine with it."

Maddie was skeptical. "John?" The name sounded familiar. Maybe she had met him before. She had met many of Rey's friends, sometimes at events, or sometimes at parties.

"I don't know…" she whispered.

"He's not around that often, so most of the time you'll have the place to yourself. And I'll try to call you sometimes and see how you're doing…"

Maddie was hesitant, but she could tell that Rey was determined as ever, and when he came up with one of his ideas there was usually no talking him out of it, "Okay."