Thanks to xAttitudex, JClvr, LionsLady11-09-70, rory21, FastFuriousChick and xXxXxXxCelestial HeavenxXxXxXx for the reviews. Yes I've finally updated! Writer's block is such a pain. Anyways, enjoy and happy reading.

Chapter 7 – Santino's Mistake

"Okay I'm ready to go!" said Maria with a smile of confidence. Her match was coming up next in a few minutes and she was looking forward to it. Though she was a backstage interviewer, she was determined to wrestle in the ring as well. So far her improvement had starting to grow tremendously. Of course she was far from being perfect but she was willing to do her best.

"Yep you definitely are alright," said Mickie with a smirk. "You go out there and kick Jillian's ass! I cannot stand hearing her sing!"

"Doesn't anyone?" Maria laughed. "I'll see you later."

"I'll be rootin' for ya!"

Maria grinned and made a wink at her before she left the women's locker room. It wasn't long before she met Santino along the way. She was upset after he had called off her date last week, Maria was quick to forgive him.

"Maria, you look so amazing."

"Thank you," Maria giggled. "You'll be watching my match right?"

Santino looked at her in disbelief before letting out a chuckle. "Of course! How could I not? Your beautiful face will be on the television screen! If I wasn't going to watch it, I wouldn't have been here looking for you now."

Maria giggled. "Good."

"I know you're gonna win tonight because you are a fighter. Lillian stands no chance against you."

"Well that's sweet of you to say…and it's Jillian."

"Oh Jillian, right." Santino slapped his forehead with his palm. "The names still confuse me you know?"

"I'm sure you'll get them right," said Maria and laughed. "Anyway I have to go."

"Yes of course. Ciao!"

The couple shared a quick kiss and then Maria ran through the hallway. Santino was still shouting out words of encouragement behind her but she couldn't stop to hear them since her match was coming close. She could only smile at this though.

As she got to the next corner, she caught a sight of someone for a second and then she stopped instantly in time or a nasty collision would have occurred right there.

"You're really are in a rush huh?" Randy asked with a chuckle.

"Sorry," said Maria with a nervous smile. "Santino was keeping me back for who knows how long. You know being talkative as he is. So anyway, how are you?"

"I'm good thanks. How about you?"

"Fine thanks. Just about to go to my match."

"Which starts now?"

"Exactly, which means that I can't stick around and talk."

Randy chuckled. "Alright. Well to keep conversation short, I just want to say that I had a good time with you last week."

"I had fun with you too," said Maria with a smile. "It was nice of you for inviting me along to see a movie."

"I wouldn't have asked if you had something better to do."

"Uh huh," said Maria and chuckled. "Anyway what time is it?"

Randy looked at this arm and made a tap at this 'imaginary' watch. "Let's see…the time is…."

Maria raised her brow at him. "How could you answer if you don't have your watch on?"

"Easy. It's time for you to get to the ring!"

"Oh snap!" Maria said and slapped her palm against her forehead. "I totally forgot why I was running in the first place! Bye bye!"

"See ya later!" said Randy and laughed as he looked on to see her hurrying past a crew member who looked back at her. Randy shook his head and chuckled at this as he turned around to get to his locker room. A smile was still on his face.

Unbeknownst to the two friends, there was someone who had happened to be digesting the words that she was hearing during their conversation. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was Maria going behind Santino back?

"Now this is very interesting. I gotta get this out!"

And with that idea in mind, that smirk came upon her face.

--

"I came along one day and you rearranged my life! All I gotta say is I must've done something rrrrriiiiiiight!"

Jeff appeared to be in a very good mood for some reason and that had brought to Randy's attention. He looked up at him and was amused by his singing.

"What's up with you man?"

Jeff was smiling like crazy but then he maintained his composure as he let out a deep breath.

"Randy you wouldn't believe what just happened."

"What?"

"Welllll…I was with Candice just now."

"Uh huh. And?"

"Annnnd…she kissed me."

"No way! She didn't."

"Yes she did man, yes she did!"

Randy laughed. "Wow man. What can I say? You finally got the girl you wanted. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," said Jeff with a smile. "I feel like I just won a grand lottery or something you know? This feeling is just…amazing. I can't really describe it. It's simply wonderful. I think I'm going crazy, am I?"

"No of course not," said Randy. "It is how you feel after all. I don't know much about being in love since I've never been in your position--"

"Yet," Jeff finished the sentence for him and made a smirk. "But you will."

Randy made a sigh. "Sometimes I think so but now I'm not so sure."

Jeff sat down on the bench and turned to him. "Oh come on man, don't give up hope. I'm sure she's out there somewhere. Maybe you've found her already but you haven't realized?"

"If I've already found her then I must have been blind," said Randy with a roll of the eyes.

"You know what I mean," said Jeff with a chuckle. "Love could come in and just slap you right in the face when you least expect it."

"Yeah...so I've heard."

"Don't worry about it. You will find someone in no time! Trust me on that, alright?"

"Okay," said Randy with a smile. He still had doubts about it though but maybe Jeff was right. Maybe he would find her one day. She would be out there somewhere….

"I'm so ready for my match tonight," said Jeff. "I just know I'm going to win the intercontinental championship tonight. I just know it!"

"Yeah I'm sure of it," said Randy with a smirk. "That kiss fueled you up huh?"

"I guess it did," said Jeff and then began to do the happy dance. Randy tried to not to laugh as he watched on.

"I came along one day and you rearranged my life! All I gotta say is I must've done--"

Unfortunately Jeff wasn't watching what he was doing as he tripped onto a bag and fell back first onto the floor. Randy got up quickly and went over to him, looking down.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Jeff managed to say and raised his arm in the air to make the 'Gunz' sign. "The rainbow haired warrior is always okay."

"Good," Randy said and chuckled. "Next time put your bag into its proper place instead of leaving it lying around….or someone could trip over it."

"Gotcha," said Jeff and then made a groan. Randy bit his lower lip to hold onto his laughter as he helped his friend up.

--

Santino had a big smile on his face after his girlfriend successfully scored a pin fall over the blonde diva.

"Yes! Take that Lillian!" Santino shouted at the screen of the monitor. He smirked as he watched the referee raised her hand in the air. He knew that Maria could pull it off because he strongly believed that she was a strong fighter.

"Oh Santino I'm glad you're here. I just--"

"Ciao Carlito!" said Santino with a smile. "You just missed the match! My Maria was simply amazing!"

"Well actually that's why I came here to talk to you about."

"What?" Santino raised his eyebrow at Carlito as he stood up from the bench. "What do you mean?"

"I came here to talk to you about Maria," said Carlito. "Apparently she's the hot topic of the whole locker room. She and Orton."

Santino was confused as to why people would be talking about her. Now he was even more confused that another superstar was being talked about as well.

"Orton? How is he involved?"

"Well the rumor has it that the both of them have been seeing each other."

Santino looked at the Caribbean superstar in disbelief. "What?! This is absolutely outrageous! Maria would never do such a thing! She's with me!"

"Well that's what I--"

"Absolutely outrageous!" Santino roared. "You see here? This cannot go on. These a-rumors have to end now. I'mma gonna find him and I'mmma go-ing to settle this one and for all!"

And with that being said, he marched out of the door in fury.

--

Maria skipped down the hallway happily, being bubbly as she was. She had a big smile on her face as she was proud of herself for making a good effort in her match. Along the way, she met Mickie running towards her. Maria smiled as she had assumed that she was going to congratulate her.

"Hey Micks! I won!"

"Yeah I saw and you did great."

But she didn't sound as excited as Maria was.

"So….what's wrong?"

"Something happened while you were in the ring."

"What is it?" Maria asked with concern.

"There has been a stupid rumor spreading around that you and Randy are going out behind Santino's back."

At that incredulous revelation, her jaw dropped and her eyes began to widen.

"What?! This is so unbelievable! I would never do something like that! Especially to Santino!"

"I know you're not that kind of person. That's why I had to come out here and tell you as soon as possible. I think you better find Santino and get this straightened out 'cause who knows what he might do. He could be looking for you now or--"

"Oh no…"

The last thing that Maria wanted was a fight between him and Randy and that was the first thing that she pictured in her mind.

"I have to find him now! I hope I'm not too late!" Maria exclaimed and ran past Mickie.

"Maria, wait!" Mickie yelled back.

But it was already too late as Maria dashed into the corner.

--

"Orton!"

He heard a voice calling and turned to the person who was standing in the corridor, looking mad about something.

"I wonder what's up with him," Jeff whispered.

"I have no idea," said Randy. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up with you."

Jeff nodded and made a glance at the Italian superstar before turning to go his way to the catering room. Randy turned to Santino again as he began to wondered why he called him. It wasn't like they were friends let alone talk.

"What's up?" Randy began, just to be polite.

Santino made a soft chuckle and shook his head. "Don't try that dumb act on me."

"What act?"

"And he asks me what act," Santino uttered and made a laugh. "You are quite fun-nee. You're good at pretending that you don't know when you actually do know what everyone knows what I just found out!"

Santino could really talk fast when he wanted to.

"Uh..." Randy furrowed his eyebrows. "Come again?"

Though Randy was confused, Santino took it as being denial and he was starting to get annoyed.

"I told you before to not act like that," What the hell were you doing with my Maria?"

"Nothing. What are y--"

"You are such a liar!" Santino snapped. "I'mma go-ing to tell you this right now! Stay away from her or you'll be hearing from me. Is that understood?"

"Listen man I don't know what you're going on about but--"

He got cut off in his sentence as a harsh knock to the face made him tumble back a few steps. Then a scream was made out of nowhere and it sounded like it was a woman who apparently witnessed the incident.

"Santino!" Maria cried. "What have you done?!"

He turned to her and smiled. "Don't ah-worry Maria. He's not going to bother you anymore."

Maria looked across at Randy and suddenly felt a drop in her stomach that something would happen.

And unfortunately she was right.

Randy put down his palm from his face to reveal a single drop of blood tricking down from his nose. The expression on his face was now made out of anger.

"So this is where you REALLY CROSSED THE LINE!"

In a flash of a second, Randy grabbed Santino by the collar and slammed him into the wall and the fight went out of control. A series of fists were made between two men as Maria looked on in shock. It was so unexpected. As the fight prolonged, the brunette had no choice but to do something about it.

"Guys! Stop it right now!" Maria yelled. It didn't work. If she can't stop it verbally, then she thought, would have to take full initiative of the situation. So she reached for her boyfriend's arm and held onto it tightly.

"Maria, what are you doing?"

"I'm putting this fight into a stop. That's what I'm doing."

"You're letting him win?"

Maria scoffed. "This is not about winning. This is about stopping a fight before anyone gets hurt."

"I know how you are concerned for me and I understand that. But you don't have to throw yourself in this. This is between him and me."

"But Santino--"

"Butta you know what. You're right." Santino made a glare at Randy and then continued on, "This fight will get nowhere if it goes on. Butta let me make this clear Orton, I'mma not through with you!"

"So what? You think you can punch me in the face like that? You think I would just take it and walk away? I don't think you have any idea who you're dealing with otherwise you wouldn't have been acting so stupid like now."

"Who are you calling stupid? You--"

"Santino, just stop." Maria insisted.

"But he called me--"

"I said stop," said Maria with a frown.

"Alright fine I'll stop," said Santino. He turned to Maria and made a smile for her. "For you."

Maria made a sigh and then said, "Good."

"Come Maria. Let's ah-go," said Santino as he linked his arm to hers. "We have something to celebrate! Your victor-ree of course."

"But wait what about…."

"No buts. You deserve it. I'm thinking of a-perfect glass of red wine along with rah-vee—ol-lee. That's your favorite, no?"

"I--"

"Perfect!" said Santino with a grin. "Let's go." He turned to Randy once again and made a smirk. "Arrivederci."

So he went away, taking his girlfriend with him. Maria turned behind to look at Randy for a brief moment before turning away. As the couple disappeared from his sight, Randy past his hand up to his nose again and looked at the fresh red mark that had appeared on it. He clutched his blood stained hand up tightly into a fist as he shot a fiery glare down the empty corridor where Santino last stood.