Chapter four:
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Morrison enters. "The Champ just resting while the rest of us work our butts off." He notices him, by myself, on the couch with a bag of chips.
"Hey, doc said to rest my ribs." He defends eating a chip.
"Really, you are not cleared yet." Morrison surprise. "Why are you still here?" This probably what he wanted to talk to them. Trish inform him about the phone call she received from Derrick.
"I am cleared for promos not wrestling yet. I need to rest for my match with The Miz at payback."
"You won't be 100% by then." He mentions.
"I know I just need to be cleared. If I am not, I will be stripped of the title. I am not letting this injury ruin my shot." He says determine.
"You will get a title shot back when you recover." Derrick shrugs as Morrison widens his eyes. "It is not confirm, but he had that 'no second chances' look.
"Damn, your choice is to compete still injured or stripped." He reiterates.
"It is more complicated than that. I chose to compete when I am cleared because this could be my only shot." He fears that they will lose faith in him if he they are to strip him of the title.
"Are you crazy?" Morrison express. "You are the hardest working wrestler I know, you will get another opportunity. This injury and opportunity is not ending your career, it is just a roadblock." He builds up his confidence.
"Thanks." He gives a small smile. He put that to the back of his mind with Layla being there before.
"I bummed you out, didn't I?" He notices his upset expression as he pushes away the chips.
"A bit, but hey it is okay. You did a great job out there." He changes the subject.
"Thanks, I am going to find Trish so we can hang out." Morrison utters.
"That would be great." Derrick agrees.
Layla is at the catering table preparing food for them. She kind of ordered that he needs to eat something besides chips that he had in his bag. With a ton of arguments, she prevailed.
"Layla!" Trish calls out. During Trish's match, her shoulder popped out, so she went to the trainers to pop it back in.
"Hey, great match out there." Layla vaguely compliments not really paying full attention to it.
"Thanks, except my shoulder popped out." Layla's eyes widen. "Don't worry nothing serious, I just have to ice it when I head back to the hotel." Trish assures.
"That's good, Derrick would be upset if you were injured too." She knows how important they are to him.
"Speaking of Derrick, did you check up on him?"
"Excuse me." She misinterpreted with 'did you check him out'?
"Did you see how he is doing, the favour I ask you to accomplish?" Trish repeats with a confuse expression.
"Oh right." She speaks a bit loudly. "I did he caught on to why I was there in the first place." She recalls almost immediately her purpose.
"Of course." Trish rolls her eyes. "I bet he told you to leave."
"Yeah, however he ask for chips, so I gave him the bag in his bag." She mentions just that part. She is not sure how Trish would react with all the other details.
"Typically, he gets someone to fetch his food."
"He is still injured."
"I know, but he could have waited until one of us was there, we could have helped instead of you."
"It is not problem." She really doesn't mind she offered her services with another detail she won't share with her.
"For his stubborn ways, how about you come with us to hang out?" Trish offers.
"I don't know. I don't want to intrude." She feel like a fourth wheel.
"You won't be no worries. I guess you were saving the food for later." Trish notices two plates in her hands.
"Why would you say that?" Layla confuse as she tries to not get caught.
"Usually one plate is enough for one person." She motions between the two plates.
"This one is for you." She lies. "However, since you are going out, I can eat it." She hands Trish her plate.
"Nonsense, we can eat again and then burn it off later." Trish takes the plate.
"Sounds like a plan." They sit down at the table to eat. Layla tries to not worry that Trish is eating Derrick's food.
Derrick looks at his phone. "Where could she be?" He wonders, with all of her reasons to eat real food, she should be here already. Each minute more chips enter his mouth have his appetite to eat them. "Maybe it is a long line." He make excuses for her.
After a few more minutes, he unlocks his phone to call Trish. Maybe she is talking to Layla for an update.
"Hey."
"Hey buddy, we are approaching your room now." Just a minute later, they enter the room, including Layla.
"Hey did you get-"
"How are you feeling?" Layla interrupts which gives Derrick a confuse face.
"You asked me already, you were-" Layla mouths 'please' as she pouts afterwards signalling that they don't know.
Derrick smiles. "I am still in pain like you wondered before."
He answers. "I am sorry for wasting your time." He signals.
"It wasn't any trouble, really." She tries to redeem herself. She can sense some disappointment.
"Okay." He just utters. "What do you two have planned?"
"We are going out, the four of u." Trish responds.
"Four of us?" He looks over to Layla who shrugs. She was just invited a few moments ago.
"Yup, do you not want here there? You did order her to give you chips." Trish speaks in a stern tone.
"Ah, right ordered, I ordered her." He sarcastically smiles. Layla just blushes at this lie.
"You could have just waited for us. You know we would help you with anything."
"I know I am sorry Layla for that." He apologizes.
"It is okay, again it is not a problem." She gives a sweet smile.
"Now, after your promo we will actually have a dinner together, no secret dates, no intentions, just three best friends hanging out with Layla of course."
"It is okay if you three want to hang out." Layla suggest.
"We discussed this you won't be a nuisance. Sometimes you can think like Derrick." She teases with him always implying being a third wheel.
"Hopefully not as stubborn." She jokes as Morrison and Trish both snicker.
"Hey!" Derrick disagrees.
"You can be stubborn, you even admit it." Morrison agrees as Derrick huffs.
"She just join and you already corrupt her; this is not fair." He whines.
"You have to be quicker." Morrison mentions.
"I am a neutral party." Layla says to keep the peace.
"Don't worry my stubbornness can be on my side." He includes.
"Anyways, let us get you ready for you promo." Trish and Morrison help him sit up. Morrison winks at her in the process to signal that she did this better. This action makes Layla blush slightly.
'I came to play' surrounds the arena. The Miz comes out to jeers. Miz walks down determine to accomplish anything to win back his title. As he enters the ring, the crowd repeatedly calls out 'You tapped out.' Miz does his sarcastic laugh finding this amusing.
"I finally get why Derrick loves you, the WWE Universe, it is because you are all bandwagon people; typical ones." They boo. "No, hear me out, you cheer for him because you love an underdog especially a short underdog." He insults his height. I mean look at all the underdog who are successful in the ring: Rey Mysterio, that's it." He chuckles. "Oh, is it because he is the good guy, all the kids love having the good guy beat the villain. I am sorry kids evil, the villain will always tell prevail." He grins evilly. "Do you know why? They have more freedom to accomplish their tasks; no rules or boundaries. The hero need to consider everyone else while the villain doesn't care he wants what it is his. Right now I am in the plan to recapture my title, the title I lost to a 15-minute fame wrestler. " They cheer which makes Miz roll his eyes. "Derrick you had your spotlight, so it is time to relinquish my title. You see heroes do surprise villains, but villains will destroy any hero." The children boo loudly. "Truth hurts, now Mr. McMahon inform me that Derrick is still not cleared to compete. Apparently, my beating is to severe to have him out of action for this week." The crowd boos at this update. "This is the good part if he is not cleared by our match, he is stripped. Yup, your hero will fall as they make me the WWE champion. You will all bow down to-"
"Yeah, we will bow down for the toilet." Derrick appears on the screen. "I don't know if anyone feels sick or nauseated after that story about heroes and villains, although I am nauseated already."
"Oh Derrick." Miz shakes his head. "How are the ribs? Do you want me to sign them as a remainder of how you will lose the title to me?"
"Actually, I would like you to sign something." Miz surprise. "I want you to sign this contract that if you lose our match, you will have to lose any shot at the title for as long as I am champion." He holds up the contract.
"That won't be that long." Miz utters.
"Oh Mr. Pinocchio." The crowd snickers. "I plan to wear this title proudly for a long while." He confidently predicts.
"That long while will end sooner than you hope, whether or not I defeat you." He argues back.
"Are you underestimating me again? Haven't you learned your lesson?" Derrick curious.
"I made one mistake, but I won't repeat it. That title will return because at 100% you won, however you will be less than that, that will be your downfall. Your weakness are your ribs which makes you vulnerable. Every hero has kryptonite and I will exploit it to the max that maybe they will have to end the match. You won't be able to breathe because of the excruciating pain. Your precious friends will leave you as they don't want to be part of a wrestler on the shelf. Also, you will always be reminded that I put you on the shelf, losing your opportunity for maybe being the greatest. With that said, I have a surprise for you." He smirks having plenty of mind tricks.
"What are you going to do?"
"You will find out before our match." He vaguely reports. "If I tell you that wouldn't be much of a surprise."
"Whatever your tricks won't work."
"They will." Miz grins. "Just a hint: Compassion is deadly. See you this Sunday." He drops the microphone to head backstage.
"King, what do you think that means?"
"I don't know 'compassion is deadly', could that mean that one of his friends will cost him the match?" King speaks a theory.
"Could be or Miz will attack one of his friends?" Cole includes his theory.
"No one knows except The Miz."
"What does that mean?" Derrick ponders frantically. "You two are not part of this story line, right?"
"Not that we know of. Just relax, maybe this is just mind games to clog your focus even more. He knows you have a lot on your mind with your ribs, being cleared by doc, and if not cleared strip of your title." Morrison weighs an option.
"He knows that I care deeply about you two. If you two get attack, I won't be able to focus." He expose with them knowing already. Trish lost focus which causes her shoulder to pop.
"We will keep an eye out. You just focus on getting cleared the hang out can be at your hotel room. We can watch movies and eat popcorn." Trish suggest.
"Sounds relaxing." Derrick smiles.
"Layla, you are still invited."
"I-" Derrick nods. "Okay, I will meet you guys there, what room number?"
"631." Trish answers.
"Thanks." Layla exits.
"Now, do you want to wait until Raw is over or head there now?"
"I want to clear it with Mr. McMahon first then we can go." Derrick request.
"Of course."
"You remember the plan." Vince reminds Layla.
"Yes sir." She feels uncomfortable with this now. Her feelings for Derrick is growing with each minute she hangs out with him.
"This is another test for him. We want to know how he is with emotions." Vince explains his intentions.
"It won't cost him anything, will it?" Layla questions.
"Depends on his reaction, no one knows except you not even The Miz." He emphasizes the secrecy of this plan.
"How does he know that-"
"Vague details that's all. Layla, this is also the time for you to shine. This is your moment embrace it." Vince advise.
"Thanks Mr. McMahon." Layla leaves passing Miz unnoticed, he grins.
"Oh Mr. McMahon." Miz calls out.
"Okay, what shall we watch first?" Trish inquires sitting in the lap of Morrison near the foot of the bed.
"Not funny, I don't want to laugh." Derrick at the headboard sitting up with a pillow behind his back.
"Okay, horror, thriller." Trish wonders.
"I am not a good guest for those, how about romance?" Layla request warning them.
"Chick flicks." Morrison speaks in annoyance.
"I might fall asleep so I comply." Derrick accepts.
"The host has respond romance it is." Morrison whines. "You like this one; A Walk to Remember." She pecks his cheek.
"Fine." He did prefer that movie with the beginning scene.
"I will sit on the chair." Layla mentions to not be awkward.
"Nonsense, there is room on the bed. Derrick will behave, won't you?" Trish teases.
"Yes mother." He replies with a smile.
"Okay." She sits beside him as Trish presses play.
"You didn't tell her about being my helper." Derrick wonders.
"No, she would think I like you."
"You don't." Layla blushes. "You do." He gives a sly smile.
"I don't know I just know... can we just be friends?" Layla hopes.
"Friends helps friends out, I accept your offer." Derrick smiles.
"Great, now share the popcorn." She scoots over to grab some.
"Okay, although if we finish it you will be the one to make more."
"Absolutely." She smiles seeing his brown eyes up close."
By the end of the movie, everyone is asleep being to be awake early for the next show. Trish is cuddled in Morrison's arms on the end of the bed while Layla fell asleep with her head on Derrick's chest.