Chapter 7
John and Trish broke up countless times before and during those instances, I always tried to be neutral and sympathetic to both sides. In this case, however, it seemed like I had no choice but to be in with Trish because I didn't want to talk to John and ask him about what he truly felt or why he agreed to such decision. I was afraid to know the truth. I felt that if he would be honest with me, I'd just end up knowing the fact that he never liked me and that his decision had nothing to do with me.
Weeks passed and Trish seemed to be fine with everything. We've been touring Europe since last month, stopping places such as Greece, London and Ireland. Just yesterday we arrived here in Italy. Trish busied herself with work and wrestling training, hardly showing negative emotion towards what happened, it was as if she wanted to forget it altogether and just move on. I tried to do the same.
Okay, Diane. Just a few more strokes to go. I repeated the words in my head over and over to make me feel better. My back was aching and I felt the beads of sweat form on my forehead as I continued applying makeup on Candice's face. It was the going to be a live show tonight and we've been rushing to prepare since we arrived late in the coliseum due to some transportation issues. We should've arrived at around 5pm but since our cars arrived late, we got to the location at around a quarter to 7pm. Everyone went crazy and tried to prepare as fast as they could since the show was scheduled to start in an hour and a half. I didn't have any chance to sit down since we arrived because I immediately started working on the divas as soon as we got inside the locker room.
Candice was the last diva to be worked on so I've been exerting all of my effort to make her up. I've been consoling myself with the idea of a hot coffee and a soft chair as soon as I finish with her.
"Diane, you should slow down." Candice advised, seeming to feel my tension as well.
"I can't. You'll be on in 15 minutes, you have to look perfect." I said the words too fast that it almost sounded garbled. I never took my eyes and hands off of Candice's face. Each brush stroke on her eyelids illustrated my desire to finish fast and to rest immediately. It seemed like my spine would break any minute now, the strain seemed to be flowing from my legs up to the back of my head. Having no professional space to work in definitely contributes to this, especially since I had to stand for hours doing so.
Every stroke of my eyeshadow brush seemed to hypnotize me until I felt my cellphone vibrate inside the pocket of my denim shorts, distracting me. I finished mixing the black and blue colors in Candice's eyelids, carefully keeping my precision. Candice opened her eyes and beamed at me. She looked perfect. The makeup I did for her matched her blue dress beautifully.
She thanked me as she stood up from the stool and walked into the shower room. I sighed in relief as I sat down on her now empty seat. My butt felt great, it was as if I could hear the angels singing down at me, as I felt comfortable again. I took out my phone from my pocket and was surprised to see Randy's name flash on the screen.
There's someone waiting for you outside.
I became curious as to whom but I realized that I'd never know the reason if I didn't obeyed. I got to the hallway and looked around. Everyone was busy with the preparations of the show and it seemed like no one had been waiting for me. I walked to the end of the hallway then back, finally surrendering. I sighed when I realized that I'd just probably fell for a prank.
"That was quick."
I jumped and turned around just to see Randy smirking at me. He was holding two cups of coffee in both hands.
"Randy!" I gave out a startled cry. "You scared the hell out of me!"
He laughed, showing off his neat, white teeth. "Sorry about that."
Oh God. He looks so cute. I found myself thinking as I looked at him.
My cheeks got warmer when I realized that he was already in his wrestling attire. He was wearing black wrestling briefs and a WWE T-shirt with his name on it. His black knee-high boots along with his kneepads completed his look making it seemed like he was all set for the show.
I looked away, trying to not to fix my eyes on his. "What are you doing here?"
"You didn't get my text?"
I just nodded in response. Randy and I have been hanging out frequently since last month. There have been rumors about us but we just shrugged it off, there was no need to explain anyway. We were two different people but it seemed like we were the perfect counterparts, we're really close friends and there was nothing more to it.
"I bought you one. I figured you'd be so tired and I didn't want you to go near the coffee machine yourself." He told me with a smile. "Here."
"Thanks. That's so sweet." I stared at him for a while before finally taking the cup of coffee. "You really didn't have to."
"I want to." He winked at me and pointed at the seats by the side of the door. We walked together and sat down side by side, saying nothing.
The hair in my arms stood up when I felt his leg brush against mine as we sat there silently. His skin was warm and I couldn't help but chuckle when I felt the body oil from his leg dampen my left leg as well.
"Sorry." His deep voice seemed amused. "I have to put body oil before matches so I'd look better for the cameras. It also makes submissions and holds easier."
"It's okay." I mumbled as I took a sip from my coffee. "You already look great but I guess it helps."
He looked at me and I couldn't help but smile at how noticeable I was when I flirted with him. Obviously, something in this coffee made me like Randy. It's either that or I've developed a very unhealthy schoolgirl crush on him because of his body oil. Shit.
"So, you're done for the day?" He asked me as he took a sip of coffee.
"Hopefully." I sighed in relief. "My back feels like Big Show stepped on it."
We both laughed when we saw Big Show, a 7-foot tall wrestler for the company, pass by and give us a bad look.
A few moments passed and we found ourselves with nothing more to say. It was weird that I'd feel this way for Randy now. I guess being with him everyday contributed somehow. He never fails to amaze me everytime, he was always so sweet and perfect.
"It's those damn briefs." I whispered to myself as I took another sip of coffee.
"What?" He turned to me.
"I said, what a relief!" I quickly replied, hoping he didn't hear what I just mentioned.
People were coming in and out of the hallway and rooms but somehow it didn't distract us. It was like we were in a bubble and people couldn't affect us even if they tried.
Except for one person.
John was sitting a few chairs from where Randy and I were. He seemed to be ready for the show too and was just waiting for his cue. He looked back at us and I saw the astonishment in his eyes. It seemed like he didn't see us there earlier, it appears like he just got there a few moments ago.
"Hey there!" Randy greeted him with a smile.
"Hey." John smiled back making my heart skip a beat. "Didn't see you guys there."
"We were just taking some time off and drinking coffee. What's your match tonight?"
"Single against Big Show. Not much." John replied. I looked away and tried my best to act nonchalantly. His mere presence gave me the butterflies.
"We'll be on in a while." Randy said as he stood up. He took my empty cup and grinned down at me. "I'll be back, I'll just throw these."
I couldn't think of a point to argue so I just watched him walk away, leaving John and me in the most awkward situation possible. I remained still for a few seconds before finally deciding to stand up. It'd be best to just walk away like I always did in situations such as these.
"How's Trish?"
John's deep voice startled me before I started to move away. I looked down at him and he was staring at me directly, his expression sincere. I decided to sit back down.
"She's great." Was all I could reply.
"That's good to hear." He replied back. "Diane, I've been meaning to talk to you about something actually."
I held my breath and tightened my grip on the edge of my seat. There was nothing John could possibly tell me that I could think of, nothing except for Trish. If he wanted her back, why would he even use me as a bridge? Was he that emotionless?
"Wh-what about?" I stuttered while trying my best to remain calm.
"I don't think we should be this way anymore." He told me. His still had this sincere look on his face and I could feel my knees weaken. It was so unfair that after all this time John still had that same effect on me.
"I don't understand." I tried to act relaxed, as if I had not determined what he meant by that.
"Exactly." He responded. "We can't act like nothing happened between us."
I cringed. It was the first time in 7 months that I've faced the fact that something happened between John and me. I feel so unused to hearing it out loud, as if it was some sort of rumor that couldn't possibly be true.
"We're fine like this, I don't get the point on why we have to talk about that." I kept my voice low so that no one would possibly hear us.
"We're not okay, you know that." He rebutted. "Trish and I aren't together anymore. Why are we not allowed to be like before?"
"Trish not being your girlfriend does not erase the fact that she loved you." I looked at him directly in the eyes. "She still loves you. You don't expect her to just brush off her 2-year relationship with you, do you?"
"I'm not saying that!" His shoulders fell back as if in surrender. "All I'm implying is that we should try to bring back what we had."
"Why?"
"Because it was special." I felt my body stiffen with those words. John looked at me in the way that I could not possibly explain. It was as if he was pleading with me through his eyes. I tried to control myself, thinking that with 'special' he really meant as a friend.
"Yeah, sure." I answered, looking away. "I guess we can be friends."
Just in time, Randy walked back to us. He had a huge smirk on his face as he did so. I sat up and walked to him, taking him by surprise as I grabbed and hugged him tightly, the exact way I wanted to hug John right at that moment. I felt his hard chest against my face as I buried myself in him, trying to drown away my feelings for John.
"Thanks for the coffee." I said, removing my grip on him. He stared down at me with a surprised expression on his face.
"No problem." He told me, obviously taken aback with what I just did. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just tired." I looked at John. "It was nice talking to you."
He nodded at me and gave me a small smile. Hopefully he never saw it in my face that I wanted to hug him so badly. I glanced at Randy, giving a small smile before I quickly walked away.
