Chapter 9

Paula looks down at Mark. His pleading expression was one she had never seen. A rare moment occurred Paula James was completely speechless. Tears sprung to her eyes.

Mark drops his head. Shit she thinks I'm rushing her. Nice one he tells himself. As he is about to get up she says yes. At first it's a whisper on the wind it's so lightly spoken. He raises his head. She repeats it looking in to his intense green gaze. Mark springs to his feet picks up Paula and swings her around. His concussion temporally forgotten. "Really!"

"Yes really ya big goof." Paula says laughing. As she is swung around again.

Mark stops spinning her around when he makes himself dizzy. "Whoa" He says as he almost does a header into the side of the bar. As he sits down trying to regain his equilibrium back he yells "Hot damn baby, we gonna have the best wedding in the fucking world babe just you wait and see."

Lady enters the bar at that moment looking a little worn for wear, her hair messed her jeans ripped and her shirt in rags revealing her purple The Undertaker print sports bra from trying to slide through narrow the opening in the guard gate.

"Hey guys." She had escaped and decided to hide out in the bar. The door was locked she was so glad she hadn't lost her keys sliding down the building. She had walked all the way into town; she looks up from her keys and sees Mark and Paula looking happier than a bunch of clams. Suddenly Mark's face drops. Paula rolls her eyes and sighs. "What?"

Paula is the first to speak. "So you're back your new boyfriend isn't welcomed here or did he tell you. Lady, how the fuck did you get this shit turning? Angel don't want to see you I'm sure."

A bravado she had no idea where it came from overcame Lady.

"I'd rather talk to her myself Paula. Where is she?

Mark walks toward Lady she steps back. "Look there some shit going on with your fucking name written all over it your best bet is to leave before I get madder than I already am."

"Oh please, with the night I just had nothing you could do short of killing me would surprise me. Now where is Angel?"

Mark grabs Lady before he knows it and growls through clenched teeth. "Get the fuck out of here now." He lets her go giving her a little push.

Lady not knowing how far Mark would go runs out of the bar. Everyone was mad at her. Braden hadn't even been able to let them hear the real deep stuff. She knew Angel would be mad at her for stealing her boyfriend but something there didn't click either. As far as the Braden thing went Angel could have him back if that was what all this was about. Why was everyone so mad at her? She would find out. She just had to.

Sophie is walking out of the back entrance Julius her ex-fiancé comes around the corner and picks her up from behind. "Hey Soph, We need to talk"

Sophie hauls off and elbows him in the ribs; he drops her to her feet. "Why'd you do that, you hit to hard. I was just trying to catch you before you got in the car I bought you and drive away."

"You can have the car back it's on the crush list at the junk yard for tomorrow. Now if you'll excuse me I have nothing more to say to you." Sophie says in a sarcastic tone.

"You did what? Why the fuck you do that? Have you lost your fucking mind" He reaches out and grabs Sophie by the arm. "We need to talk."

Sophie pulls away from his grasp and walks back toward the bar. "Oh why we are talking I almost forgot here this is what's left of the ring. She pulls a packet of metallic shavings form her back pocket and tosses it to him. Julius's eyes widen and then narrow. "Awe you gonna cry? What are you feeling some of what you put me through finally? Huh? What you don't wanna talk no more? You bought me a car big fucking whoop. I bought a 10,000 dollar dress that I can't return. I paid for vacations my time and money was wasted on you for the last 6 years. Time I will never get back. "

Julius stalks towards Sophie. "I said I wasn't ready to marry you I still love you. I can't believe you ground up your ring like that. See that's your problem you're crazy. My mom told me not to deal with you. But no I did, and see where that got me. I got no ring you fucking crushing a car I haven't finished paying for and you're standing here with this smug look on your fucking face. I should kill you bitch. He hauls off and slaps her in the face.

Sophie hauls off and slaps him back. He looks at her with the shock that was on her face when he slapped her. "Please leave me alone. Damnit I said please." Sophie says as she turns away from him walking away.

At that moment Dave who was watching from around the corner\not wanting to be seen by Sophie as he comes out of the shadows. So this was the guy that she was yelling at on the phone. He'd bet money on it. As Sophie renters the bar Dave walks out in the lamp light. "you feel like a big dog now huh hitting on a woman."

"Hey, she hit me back no harm no foul. What's it to you anyways. What's it to you? You some kind of half fag hero or something?"

Before Dave could control his anger he swung and hit Julius in the jaw. Julius crumples to the ground. Dave slides his Sunglass-Hut sunglasses down the bridge of his nose as he glares at Julius. "Get away from her and stay from her. If I see you near her again next time I won't pull my punch" Dave says as he bears his teeth like his name sake would The Animal.

Julius gets to his feet, leering at Dave recognition dawns but he ain't scared of some hyped up superstar. "Lucky punch you big dumb animal. I know who you are but I can still beat your ass."

Dave smiles and backs away he stances for a fight. "I got some aggression to get off I'm warning you, you come toward me and I go ape shit all over you kid. To tell you the truth you couldn't beat half my ass even if I was already out cold. I could give you a work over."

"Leave your Jaw flapping for the microphone FUCK YOU PUNK" Julius tries to swing at Dave, Dave ducks the swing and lands another to Julius's other jaw. Julius stays standing for 5 sconds a door opens from the bar. Julius sees this as a distraction and punches Dave in the face and the fight was back on. Dave punched and kicked Julius until he literally looked like a rag doll. Sophie walked back outside after hearing Julius scream at someone. She sees that caveman and Julius are fighting. As she is about to say something Julius hits the ground. Dave says "I guess that a lucky beating I just through you also because you're still alive."

Dave looks over at Sophie. "Don't, start in on me."

"What, I was going to thank you. Nice one Caveman."

Dave smiles and winces at the bruise that would be there from the guy getting one off on him. He bruised so easily. His Greek complexion was a number one thing with him. He put his finger to the side of his face. He kicks Julius again. "That's for hitting me in the face."

Julius passes out. Sophie walks over and stands over Julius.

"Looks like you got knocked the fuck out ya punk Bitch." Sophie looks up at Dave's indrawn breath. "What Caveman?"

Dave liked this woman he knew that. The guy that he had just beat the crap out of probably knew it too. "Huh? Oh nothing. My name is Dave but for you I'll be a Caveman. I never did catch your name. " Dave smiles his lopsided grin.

Sophie found herself smiling back at him. He wasn't turning out to be all snoop and stupid. Some brain cells were firing. "I know your name.'

"Then it looks like the balance is just right. Here lately I seem to be at a disadvantage where you are concerned. About the stuff you said on the patio. I wasn't snooping on you purposely. Evie had come in so I was coming out there to talk to you. When I heard you yelling at whoever on the phone I figured I would surprise you. I sometimes use humor as a feel good sort of speak. So let's start over. No bookstore no me bumbling like an idiot. I didn't catch your name miss My name is Dave Batista." Dave holds out his hand.

Sophie's smile grows as she says "I didn't throw it your way. My name is Sophie." She takes his hand and at first contact she felt a spark. Dave slowly brings her hand to his lips. Sophie suddenly retracts her hand and runs to her car.

Paula saw the whole thing. She knew about Julius. Grandville was a small town if one person knew your business Paula usually knew. People told Paula lots of things she just didn't want to know. Bartenders in this town knew if not everything about you they know most things about you.

Mark had followed Paula to the back door. He walks over to Dave who is just standing under the lamp light hand still where it was mid-way to his lips. "I don't get her man." Dave says as he drops his hand.

Mark cracks a smile. Dave thought he was a Casanova. "Why, because she's not throwing herself at The Animal? What you gave her a cheesy line and now she supposed to melt at your feet? Boy let me tell ya something. If I've learned anything about Sophie just from chatting with her on the net its that she's not a ring rat waiting for a superstar, far from it really, I've read her blogs I found out the only reason she accepted me as a friend on there was because Angel told her I was ok. Now I'm no shrink or nothing but I say give her some time. Either, she'll come around or she won't."

"I hope she does." Dave sighs. Man I think I'm going to head home. Everyone is ok and has someone to at least stay with. I'll see you in the next city. Oh shit what is the next city? Did you see the sheet? Sam really fucked us."

"Well Dave, Vince told me to stay here the tour comes here in two weeks for Smackdown. " Mark didn't want to think about after the Grandville show. He'd have to start going into the headquarters to get his show listings and appearances.

"I wonder has any hotel rooms opened up. I can't be around her tonight. I like her Mark."

Paula walked up and put her arm around Mark's waist. "Dave please, don't run from her I think she just needs time to herself. As you know her ex really was going to marry her then at the last minute told her he wasn't ready. I mean you do to suit yourself but if you run now. There are no promises that she will be here."

Dave looked down at Paula's hands that were now intertwined with Mark's. He spots her ring. "Damn girl nice rock. Who hooked you?"

Paula's face lights up. "Dave I want you to think on who's hand I'm holding. Then I want to you to think real hard about that question the answer should smack ya in the head soon."

"If it don't I will" Mark says jokingly, as he bends down and kisses Paula making her toes curl.

"Oh shit you…you and Deadman. Wow when did this happen?"

"Oh a few minutes ago. You're like one of the first to know."

" Don't tell anyone." Mark says and looks down at Paula who is giving him a weird look.

"What"

"I'm about ready to shout it from the roof tops. Now you're telling him not to tell anyone. What's wrong is there some condition you forgot to mention."

Mark ran his hand through his hair and sighs. "Can we talk about this later."

"Fine" Paula says and walks back into the bar.

"Wow looks like you might need that smack to the head." Dave says as he walks towards his car.

Mark whips his hair back out if his face. He focuses on the midnight sky and sighs. Mark didn't really know why he told Dave not to tell anyone. He walks back into the bar. Paula was serving her customers.