Chapter 9
The next day at school, when Maria and Madison entered their second period class, English, they were surprised to find a different teacher. Everyone in the class was.
"All right, please, settle down, everyone, and take your seats," The teacher said once the bell had rung.
Everyone sat down in their seats and looked to the front of the class.
"I'm Ms. Johnson," The teacher said. "Mrs. Peacock's husband had a heart attack yesterday evening."
"Oh, my," Maria said.
"Yes," Ms. Johnson said. "I'm filling in for her, right now. I do not know how long that will be. But the good news is, it is only the second week of school. I want to get to know all of you right now. So I am going to take attendance. And then tell me about yourself. Your age, a favorite class, favorite foods, favorite movies and/or TV shows, friends, family, a boyfriend or girlfriend, perhaps. I am a hopeless romantic. So please tell me anything."
She moved over to her desk and grabbed onto the class roster she had. "Please stand up and talk as well." She read off the first name.
Maria sat happily listening to all her classmates talk.
"All right, Maria Helmsley," Ms. Johnson read off.
Maria smiled. She stood up. "Hi."
"Hi," Ms. Johnson said. She took a close look at Maria. Is this Hunter's daughter? "Hi Maria. Tell me about yourself."
"Well, everyone already knows that I moved here over the summer from New York," Maria said.
"What brought you here from New York?"
"My family. My parents, sister, and I moved out here, because my mom's father and brother wanted to go full on in the family business with my dad. My grandpa is Vince McMahon and my uncle is Shane McMahon."
"Is your mom Stephanie McMahon?" Ms. Johnson asked.
"Yes. Have you heard of my family?"
"You could say that. I actually went to high school with your parents. And your uncle and aunt."
"That's cool."
"Small world," Ms. Johnson said. "Tell me more about yourself, though, Maria."
"Well, I am sixteen. My sister is Amy. She's a senior and seventeen. Madison over here is my best friend," Maria said, placing her hand on Madison's shoulder. Madison smiled at Ms. Johnson.
"We'll get to you soon, Madison. I'm sure," Ms. Johnson said with a grin.
"Not until the R's," Madison said.
"Okay. Continue, Maria."
"Okay, I also have a boyfriend, Bobby Roode. And that's all I want to say really," Maria said.
"Well, we'll get to know each other better. Tell your parents and your family Dawn Marie Johnson says hi."
"I sure will."
"Go head and sit back down, sweetheart." Ms. Johnson read off the next name grinning.
Maria smiled herself. She thought it was so awesome that Ms. Johnson went to high school with her parents and Uncle Shane and Aunt Marissa.
Later that day at lunch, Maria told Amy about Ms. Johnson.
"Oh, my God, that is awesome," Amy said.
"Who is this?" James asked.
"Dawn Marie Johnson," Maria said.
James laughed. "Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Hunter never told you about her?"
"Why would they tell us about her?" Amy asked.
"Mom and Dad have told me about her. Uncle Hunter dated her for a few years before he started dating your mom. It was very bad."
"Why was it bad?" Maria asked.
"Well, apparently, Dawn Marie ended up cheating on Uncle Hunter. He was furious. Like Mark was with Angelina."
"Can you blame a guy for being furious for his girlfriend cheating on him?" Mark asked. "A girl is furious too when her boyfriend cheats on her."
"Yes," Gail said.
"But anyway," James continued. "Uncle Hunter broke up with her and that was when he and Aunt Stephanie really started talking. Then started dating. She flipped out about that. She caused a huge scene at school one day. She actually got into a fight with your mom. She didn't fight back. There were a lot of witnesses and they were all in defense of your mom. Dawn Marie got expelled from school because of the fight. It was just bad."
"She was that girl?" Amy asked.
"Yeah, Mom told us about her getting into a fight with a girl in high school and she got expelled because it was really bad. But she never said who," Maria said.
"Probably with good reason."
"And now she's probably laughing that I am in her class."
"Wouldn't be surprised either," Amy said.
James shrugged.
After school later that day, Maria happily walked to the parking lot to meet Bobby for him to take her home.
"Hey Maria," A male voice said.
Maria turned at the sound of her name. She saw Randy Orton.
"Hi Randy. How are you?"
"I'm great. How are you? Did you have a good day?"
"I had a great day. I love school."
"That's good. I get through just to get through it," Randy smiled. "But I am a good student."
"Are you going to college next year?"
"Maybe. Not one hundred percent sure. I might take a year off. I might go to community college first. I don't know. How about you? College in two years?"
"Yes. I have an interest in something in the medical field. I am really good at math and science. Maybe nursing."
"Oh, that's a great career choice. My mom is a nurse herself."
"That's awesome!" Maria said.
"Maybe we could get together sometime and you could talk to her about it. She could give you the path you need to go down to be a nurse," Randy said.
"That would be so cool."
"Here, give me your number."
"Sure." Maria told him her cell phone number.
"I'll text you later or something."
"Awesome. You are so sweet. I better go. Bobby is waiting for me."
"Oh, yeah, yeah. I need to meet AJ."
"Oh, well, you go. I'll see you later."
"Bye," Randy said.
"Bye," Maria said, walking away.
Randy smirked. Yes, we'll make arrangements for you to meet my mom and talk. Then you and I can talk more and stuff. I will have you, sweetheart too.
"Hello one or both of my daughters," Stephanie shouted from the living room when she heard the front door open and close.
"Hi Mom," Maria shouted back. She went into the living room. She saw her mom stretched out of the sofa reading a book. "You would more than likely know Amy would be home from Mark's motorcycle."
"Very true," Stephanie laughed. She got up from the sofa. She hugged and kissed her youngest. "How was school?"
"Very interesting," Maria replied. "We have a new teacher."
"Oh, why?"
"Mrs. Peacock's husband had a heart attack yesterday."
"Oh, dear," Stephanie said.
"But you'll find this very interesting," Maria replied. "The teacher is Dawn Marie Johnson."
"Dawn Marie Johnson?!"
"Yes. James told me and Amy about her dad, you, and her."
"Yes, that was not a good situation," Stephanie said. "Your father and I did not give you the full details about that situation because of how bad it was. We never heard from Dawn Marie after she was expelled."
"That's really crazy. Why do girls freak out when a guy is with someone new about she had cheated on him? Mark's ex did that yesterday with Amy."
"Yes, Amy told me about it. I do not know why, sweetheart. There is just temptation. But I had never loved anyone other than your father. Even the few times we had broken up in college. I dated a few guys the times we were apart. But not very long, because I missed your father. Those times we were apart we just needed some time to cool off and find ourselves. But we belonged together."
Maria smiled. "I'm glad it all worked out."
"If not, you and Amy might not be here."
"True."
"But I am glad it all worked out! Because I love my girls very much!"
"I love you too, Mommy," Maria said, hugging Stephanie.
"I love you forever, beautiful."
Later that evening at dinner, Hunter and Stephanie told their girls the full story about the Dawn Marie situation.
"It was the same thing between me and Dawn that was with Mark and his ex-girlfriend," Hunter said. "I was on and off with her. But she convinced him every time she wouldn't do it again. I was done. Then I was talking with your mom about everything going on, because she was being sweet. She said I deserved better and I did. And I got her."
"You were together two years, Dad?" Amy asked.
"Freshman and sophomore year of high school. I was done mid-semester junior year."
"Dawn confronted us one day just yelling and screaming," Stephanie said. "She called me names and everything. She then attacked me. School security and a few teachers heard the commotion and came over. I didn't fight back. Your dad grabbed at her and she was yelling still, cursing. School security and the teachers asked what happened. Dawn kept on yelling, ignoring them. Kids around us said what happened.
"Dawn, your father, and I ended up in the office. Your father and I explained what happened. Dawn told her side. All three of us ended up in the principal's office together. Dawn still wanted at me. She was expelled, because she was cursing and everything at him."
"What did Grandma and Grandpa think about this?" Maria asked.
"They were very shocked. Uncle Shane and Aunt Marissa couldn't believe she had snapped like that."
"I couldn't believe it either," Hunter said. "That was crazy as hell. I haven't thought about it in a long while either."
"Same here," Stephanie said. "I hope you don't have any problems with her."
"Same here now," Maria said. "But we'll see."
"If there are any problems. You go straight to a school administrator, okay?" Hunter said.
"I will, Daddy. I won't talk about anyone. I'll just go to class and do the work."
"Good girl."
"But something else interesting happened today," Maria said.
"What?" Stephanie asked.
"A guy at school, Randy Orton, and I were talking about school. I told him I was thinking about becoming a nurse. He told me his mom is one and that we should get together so I can talk to her. I got his number to do it. He has a girlfriend so I have no plans on getting with him in any way."
"Hopefully, she won't go crazy," Amy said. "He's dating one of Angelina's friends."
Maria shrugged.
"That's nice, though," Amy said.
"It is," Stephanie said.
"Maybe you could come with me, Amy for that," Maria suggested. "That way it isn't bad, you know. Hopefully."
"Sure, sure. I love science as much as you do too, hun. But I prefer business as a career choice," Amy said.
"That's my girl," Stephanie said.
Everyone laughed.
