A/N: Thanks to Lionslady11-09-70, Randy4ever, rory21, HARLEY1524, Inday and xAttitudex for the reviews. Italics represent the past event before the meeting at the beach.

Happy reading.

Chapter 10 – Smiling is Good Medicine

This morning didn't turn out to be a good one for Maria. As it turned out, Santino informed her of his last minute plans he made with his friend Carlito. She hated when their plans were being rejected for someone else's. Even if they were made at the last moment.

She talked of the argument with her friends at breakfast. Maria didn't expect them speak of him. Of course they couldn't stand the Italian superstar.

"You need to dump this guy," Mickie said straightforwardly. She was never afraid to reveal her thoughts, even if it may sound harsh.

Maria sighed as she scooped some sugar into her hot chocolate.

"He is the reason why you're being like this now," Candice added. She was just concerned for Maria.

"He probably forgot I guess," Maria told as she stirred the hot chocolate.

Then there was silence. Then along came the sound of the spoon hitting the rim of Mickie's cereal bowl.

"Forgot?" Mickie questioned. "That is bullshit Maria and you know it!"

"Look it happens okay? You know how he forgets sometimes."

Mickie made a scoff. "Oh sure. It's funny how he forgets what you guys plan when he never forgets what he plans with his guy friends. It's like if he picks them over you or something."

Now Maria's head perked up the moment she said that. "I can't believe you said that!"

"Well I'm sorry but that's the impression I'm getting, especially when it comes from your mouth."

"Well you got it all wrong."

She looked over at Candice, hoping that she could at least have someone to back her up. "You don't believe what she's saying, do you?"

The dark haired diva exchanged looks between the two friends and let a sigh escape from her lips. "Yes I do."

Maria's eyes widen in disbelief. "What?! You guys are supposed to be helping me!"

"We are, Maria!" Mickie argued.

"That's not helping. That's being hypocritical."

"It has nothing to do w…"

"Yes it does! You only want me to break things off with Santino just because you guys don't like him."

"Okay we'll admit it," Candice spoke up. "We don't like the guy, period. But this is not what this is about. This is about you. Now be honest Ria, has he ever done this before? Ditching you more than once?"

Maria thought for a moment. She had been ditched many times, not just once.

"Yeah he has, more than once," she admitted.

"And you didn't do anything about it?"

"Of course I have."

"So what happened afterwards?"

Maria said nothing for a moment. She opened her mouth to speak but then Mickie answered the question for her.

"You let him off the hook."

Maria shot a glare out of annoyance. "What is your problem?"

"Don't give me that attitude!" Mickie snapped back.

"I would really appreciate it if you act like a friend to me and not like my mother!"

"Well snapping at me isn't going to fix your wrecked love life!"

Maria scoffed. "You know what? I don't know why I even bother come here when you always judge me on everything I do!"

"Because what you're doing is wrong! Don't you see? You always take his side over ours when it comes to arguments. You always let him do what he wants and when he wants!"

"Mickie…"

"You're letting him win!" Mickie slammed his fist hard into the table, making the items shake with slight vibration as she did so. "You're acting like his puppet, for pete's sake! He's not treated you like you are his girlfriend and I just hate what he's doing to you!"

Maria sighed as she ran her hair through her brown hair. "Well never mind. I'll figure out something."

"Yeah sure," said Mickie. "To let things remain the same as they are now. What a great suggestion."

Maria turned to Candice. "You're letting her talk to me like that?"

"Look Ria, what Mickie was saying earlier about you being a puppet, I believe that it is true. Now before you say anything else…" Candice put in suddenly as Maria just opened her mouth to protest. "I'm not looking to get into an argument. This is not about what we want. This is about you and what makes you happy…and Santino does not make you happy. You deserve better than that him. I'm sorry if this is what you want to hear it but I'm just saying this from my point of view and Mickie's too."

Maria said nothing. She looked across at Mickie, who apparently looked a bit saddened instead of being upset.

"Well…you're both wrong," Maria blurted. "I love Santino and that's not going to change."

And with that statement being said, she snatched her handbag and got up from her seat without looking back at them. She wouldn't dare to, because of one reason.

As a small tear fell freely from her eye, she didn't want her friends how vulnerable she was feeling now.

XxxX

For a split second, Randy's brain froze instantly when she caught sight of him. She seemed surprised to see him there though.

He didn't move nor did he look away. Maybe he would have if his brain didn't choose to become irresponsive to his thoughts.

Maria took a towel from a crew member and wrapped it around her petite body. He watched her walk up to him. She stopped when she met him at the very spot where Randy stood.

"Maria…"he paused. He was at lost for words.

"Randy…what are you doing here?" Maria asked.

Randy tried not to get too lost into her green emerald eyes. He shook his thoughts away from his mind as he prepared himself for what he was about to say to her.

"I came here to give you this." He pulled out a small sliver device from his pocket and handed it to her. Maria looked at the item with amazement.

"My cell phone! I thought I lost it!"

Randy chuckled. "You left it at the table this morning. Mickie and Candice gave it to me to give to you."

"Did they send you over here?" Maria asked in a surprised tone.

"No. But they did plan to drop it off here for you. I insisted on doing them a favor."

"Oh. You don't have to do that."

"I know. Just thought I would do it anyway. What's a girl to do without her cell phone right?"

"I'd definitely freak out for sure!" Maria laughed. "Thank you so much for coming over to give me this. That was really sweet of you."

Randy beamed. "You're welcome."

"So just out of curiosity…how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to see you doing your thing in front of the camera." Randy smirked. "I've got some many compliments to give you, but gosh, where should I start?"

Maria chuckled. "How about keeping it quiet?"

"Aw but isn't that what a guy suppose to do? Complimenting a girl is his specialty, you know?"

"I think you say it best when you said nothing at all."

"How could that be a compliment?"

"Well you were staring at me…"

Randy's cheeks turned rosy pink. "I did?"

"Uh huh. I noticed you were."

"Oh I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…"

"It's alright. No harm done." Maria smirked. "It's like I said before about…."

"Right." Randy made a nod and chuckle. "So how are you?"

"I'm okay for now. How about you?"

"I'm alright, thanks."

"That's good."

"Yeah."

The sound of the seagull chirping and the salty water beating against the sand overtook the silence between them for a minute.

"So…" Maria began, breaking the ice. "It's been a while since I've seen you."

"Yeah it has." Randy nodded.

Maria sighed. "Look this stupid rumor is the reason why we're acting like this and it's starting to get to me."

Randy let out a wear sigh as he folded his arms over his chest. "To tell you the truth, I thought it was annoying. Every time I go inside the arena, I always got those weird looks from people…and they talk about me behind my back."

She could tell how upset he was by his tone. She was a bit saddened by this.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"But I feel like I'm to blame for this."

"You haven't done anything wrong, okay? You're still loyal to Santino. But really I don't see what's the fuss is about. I mean we both work on the same roster so obviously we would see each other everyday. So we went out to see a movie for one night. Big deal. You know what I mean?"

Maria nodded. "Yeah I know what you mean. Actually I get what you mean at the beginning. It's just upsetting for the both of us that people are quick to judge about us when they don't even know the truth."

"Exactly."

"Sorry to interrupt," A crew member piped up. "But Maria, you're being called back on the set."

"Okay. I'll be there in a minute."

As the assistant walked away, Maria turned to him once more. It was awkward to be talking to him but now she was comfortable being around him. She smiled at him. And he smiled too.

"Well I should be going now," said Randy. "I need to pick up a few things before I leave."

"Leave?"

"Yeah. I'm going to St Louis later this afternoon. My mother's birthday is tomorrow so I'm going down there to surprise her."

"Oh that's nice. Well I hope you'll have a good flight."

"I'm driving actually." Randy chuckled.

"Oh," Maria giggled. "Well have a safe drive then."

"Thanks. Well have fun with your photo shoot and I'll see you on Monday."

"Alright and thanks again for my cell phone. I really appreciate it."

"It's no problem at all." Randy smiled. Then he was taken aback by the soft lips pressing against his cheek. This gesture was unexpected and it made his cheeks turned beet red.

"See you around. Bye Randy."

"Adios senorita," Randy said and winked. Maria watched him leave before she head toward the set to continue her photo shoot. Though she didn't notice, she hadn't stopped smiling to herself. She wasn't feeling too good after her argument with Santino. But then Randy came out of the blue and now she was smiling. Mostly because she and Randy were now talking again.

As he walked away, Randy had his hand gingerly rubbed against the same cheek that Maria laid her kiss on. His heart leaped out of his chest suddenly when a voice called his name. He turned in time to see Maria running back to him.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Do you go to Subway?"

"Sometimes. Why you ask?"

"Well on my way over here, I saw one that's not too far from here. I'm thinking of going there after the photo shoot and since you're here, I was wondering maybe you would like to join me? It'll be a farewell lunch before you go."

Randy chuckled as he thought of the idea. "Farewell lunch huh?"

"Yep," Maria said with a grin. "So what do you say?"

Randy just had to smile. She was like an infection when it comes to smiling. You just couldn't help to smile too.

"I'll wait for you here."

A/N: Yes I kicked writer's block ass today! Woo, what an accomplishment! Anyways, review and thank you lol.