Chapter Two: Long Time, No See

I head backstage, Phil following after me. I can't tell you how bad I feel about what happened out in that ring a few minutes ago. How could half of my best friends want to challange me for the title? I understand it's coveted to be a champion and everyone wants to be big with their name in lights but it hurts to know that you might have to fight someone you care about. I can understand fighting The Miz, Jack Swagger, and even Luke a little bit. Fighting Alex and John is pushing the envelope. But Rey...that's the one that gets me the most. I know the fans don't know but he is my father. Having to fight him in a one on one match is going to be hard for me. I mean, do you all remember when we were in a over the top rope battle royal together? I could barely fight him then and had to wait for Phil to eliminate him. I don't know if I could fight him face to face. "Lillie wait up!" Phil calls after me.

I turn to look at him, "Wait up for what? You're waiting for Luke! I would prefer not to see anyone who was out there a few minutes ago. You know, when I was out there listening to who would be competing against each other for my United States Championship?" I don't mean to have an attitude but I guess I do because Phil looks hurt.

"Baby, he's still our friend and a member of the Straight Edged Society. Maybe he can tell us why he did that," frowns Phil. "I mean, he's normally a good guy when it comes to fighting friends and all of that. He wouldn't do it without a reason." He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me in for a kiss.

I nod and lay my head against his chest, "Your always the voice of reason." I see someone come to rest behind Phil and I look up to see Luke. "So your in this tournament huh?"

He nods, "Look, I'm only doing it because Vince told me that if I won I could pick anyone to be my valet to the ring and that I would get to step out on my own. I don't mind being a member of the Straight Edge Society but...I could have Serena back here again. You guys know hos much she means to me. If I could get her back here..."

Now I can see his reasoning and it doesn't seem to crazy. In fact, I think I would do the exact same thing in his shoes if Phil was the one I was trying to get back into the game. "Luke...if it does come down between me and you, I won't go easy on you even though your a friend of mine. I'll take on a fight with you just like any other competitor holmes."

Luke smirks at me and nods, "I wouldn't expect it any other way. Now, if you and Phil will excuse me I have a date with Serena tonight."

"One last thing before you go," Phil says to Luke, "Who are you fighting in the first of the tournament?"

"I got settled with The Miz," Luke replies before turning out and walking away. So at least I can put that image in my head. And Luke is a good fighter and all but, even as much as I hate to say it, The Miz is more cunning and more powerful. He'll have a hell of a time actually beating him. I shake my head and head back to my locker room, Phil still tagging along behind me. When I get to my locker room, there's a young man standing outside of it.

"Can I help you sir?" I ask, loud enough for him to hear me. He turns and I feel like I'm standing face to face with a ghost. He's got a remarkable face with black hair cut short that it spikes, two familiarly cold brown eyes set in a tanned face, and a smirk that I thought I'd never see again in my entire life. "Alberto?"

"Lillie, long time no see!" he smiles at me as he heads toward me. Phil steps in front of me slightly, almost protectively.

"Lillie, who is this?" Phil asks.

That's a good question. You see, this mans name is Alberto Del Rio and we trained together at my Uncle Hector's school. He hasn't changed much since then and back then, well, I had a huge crush on him. He's a good man with a good heart. I didn't know that he was WWE bound. "Allow me to introduce myself, mi amigo, my name is Alberto Del Rio. I'm an old friend of Lillie's from her childhood. We trained together in Hector Guerrero's school."

I nod, "Alberto was one of the few friends I actually had after dad died. Everyone else thought..." I stop myself short. Phil doesn't know alot about my past still, especially not about the fact that I use to cut. I'm almost afraid that if I tell him, he'll leave me. I never even told Dave about that and I don't love Dave half as much as I love Phil. "everyone else thought that I was pretty much a loser."

Alberto nods, "And I was pretty much a nerd. She helped Hector focus on my strengths. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for her. I just came to tell her hey."

I smile, "When did you get in?"

"Well, I saw that you're the champion and that's bueno," smiles Alberto. "I also saw that there's a tournament to get it away from you. Now, I don't know the other guys from Adam but, well, Rey...he shouldn't do that. He's basically an Uncle to you."

I hold back my laugh, if he only knew the truth. "Yeah, that's pretty rough. So you're a superstar here now? Oh, and I almost forgot, Alberto this is my boyfriend Phil Brooks."

Phil nods and then looks at me, "I'm gonna go get changed. I'll catch up to you later Lillie." He walks off and I turn back to Alberto.

"So, your either interning here or your the new Smackdown superstar everyone's talking about." I laugh as I unlock the door to my locker room and let Alberto walk inside first.

"I'm the new superstar esse," Alberto smiles.

"Nice, it'll be good to have another friend here. As long as your not going to be my next opponent for my title that is," I laugh. I walk into the bathroom and change into my street clothes, which consist of a white tank top and black jeans, and then walk back out. Alberto is smiling at me.

"You really did grow up to be the kind of champion your padre would be proud of," he smiles.

I blush and shake my head, "You always had your silver tongue. Glad to see that didn't change. What have you been doing since I last saw you? I mean you were in the school before I got hospitalized and then when I came back you weren't there..."

"My parents moved us back to Mexico," he smiles at me and lays back on the bench. "I didn't even get to tell you goodbye. You were my best friend. I wanted to see you one last time. But, hey, that's neither here nor there."

I smirk, "That's true. Well, when can we hang out again? I mean, I would love to spend more time with you but I kinda promised that I'd go eat with Phil."

Alberto smiles and gets back up, "Why don't you tell me as soon as I get comfy huh? We could always hang out tomorrow? I mean, we work together."

I nod and open the door to leave again, "That sounds like fun." I hug him, "It's great to see you. Maybe next time we can talk more too."

He nods, "Yeah. Can I have your phone number?"

I pull a piece of paper out of my pocket and write down my phone number, "Here. I've got unlimited texting to so don't be afraid to talk to me."

He nods and pockets it, "I'll send you a text and let you know it's me. Talk to you later." He walks away and I smile to myself. Certainly somethings never change. And me and Alberto being friends is one of those things.