"whiskey please. Now…" I said a little half heartedly

"rough day?" the guy behind the bar smiled at me a little, sliding me not drink.

"no actually…. So don't make it worse. I just want some me time kid."

I knocked back the drink on one, forcing a smile "urghhhhh. Get me another love. Make it a double. And if you could find me a smoke I might consider getting you a tip"

I walked over to a seat in the corner, without giving him a choice. I sat and just closed my eyes a little, enjoying my alone time.

And then felt my cell violently buzz on the table….

I picked it up and had a look, forgetting why I had previously put it on vibrate.

I can see you

Who the hell sends a creepy ass text like that? Should I be scared? No. I looked around that bar before freaking out. And then I saw that face again in the corner opposite.

"urghhh Wade…." I muttered to myself. Clearly, this is what he wanted – a response. But no, what do I say? Keep it cool, Morgan.

"Here's your drink, we only had roll your own tobacco in the back. I hope that's ok …"

"fine, fine" I muttered, shooing him away, and focused on my phone

Wade you creepy bugger

I'm just saying I can see you.

Good for you.

Drinking alone are we?

I nearly lost my composure. I took a little glance over to his direction - and he couldn't comment on my "drinking alone".

As are you I see.

I slammed my phone down, taking a little hit from my glass, but not long enough for a reply to come through.

You look on edge, Knight.

Pffffft. I thought to myself – on edge? Not a chance. I just totally crumbled – so much for quitting everything and staying clean. Booze on once side, cigs on the other. I didn't even bother texting back, I didn't need to waste my time. But as I thumbled with the paper and arranged the tobacco, a voice made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up a little…

"You don't strike me as a smoker, Knight"

I looked up a little and saw Wade looking down at me, a blank look on his face. I hadn't seen this before from him. The lack of expression made his features and eyes stand out. They were almost pouring into me, like he was analysing my mind and reading me.

"I've never smoked in my life"

"no…?"

I hesitated a little, and eventually put the roll up down, moving it away. He was trying to talk, Morgan, you can't just mouth off at him. He's not insulting you, just play along

"You look more of a cigar man" He smiled a little, and took it as an invitation to sit opposite to me. "Why are you here then? Following me?"

Wade chuckled a little and broke eye contact from me. He smoothed back his hair a little, and relaxed some more. "you seem confident… yet distant… it intrigues me"

I noticed his drink was emptied, as was mine, and as I called over two more, I thought about

"I keep a guard up. I get scared…. This is all smoke a mirrors"

Wade reached for our fresh drinks, and passed mine towards me, nodding for me to carry on talking. Which I did – no questions asked.

"I know what you're thinking. A girl that acts like a brat shouldn't be in this business. But it's addicting. Plus every time you wanna turn and pack it up and leave – another smartass punk kid comes along"

He ushered me to carry one talking, which like him intrigued me.

"And how do you feel now, Knight? Still want out?"

"And now…. You'll have to run me over with a car to get rid of me, sunshine."

He chuckled a little, and I almost felt at ease not to insult him.

"So what's your story, Barrett? Why are you misunderstood like me then?"

Normally, I'd get bored of get too awkward to continue this kind of conversation, but I continued. Maybe we had more in common than I first thought.

"some people don't like that I'm very blunt. Very direct."

I leaned back in my chair a little, swilling my drink round.

"Umm hmmm… I know the feeling"

"hell….I'd stab someone in the back if I had to in order to get what I want" Wade spoke, as blunt as he'd previously said. It didn't faze me.

"well… I haven't gone that far yet. But I've been stabbed plenty of times before. I understand occasionally why people do it."

I watched as he brought the drink closer to his mouth, never breaking eye contact with me, even to the point of putting his drink down, never changing expression.

"are you going to tell me about it?"

I leaned in closer – he clearly wanted to know someone. Someone we both knew.

"I'm guessing you want to know about Orton, right".

He let out a low laugh, and smiled. "Maybe we can compare notes. And if it makes you feel more at ease, I'll start with one of mine. I pushed him down a flight of stairs, legged it straight after…. and would bloody do it again"

I'd heard rumors of this... and it didn't scare me one bit.

"Really. See… I don't think our notes and comparable."

"Try me."

I took a long draught of my whiskey, and a long hard think. I wasn't very open about talking about the relationships in my life. Or the one relationship. I had to light my rolled up cigarette for this one.

"Let me put it his way. Being with Randy Orton is like…. Fucking a loaded gun."

Was he taken back by my answer? I guess not. His expression didn't change, and then he beckoned me to carry on.

"Orton's… volatile, he became increasingly unstable. One minute he kicked my head in the middle of the ring, the next there's flowers on my door. One minute he announces on live tv that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. The next I find myself knocked out in his home in a pool of my own blood, with Triple H shaking me to wake up."

His expression didn't change in the slightest, he just simply blinked at me, as I took the last draw from my cigarette and put it out.

"but it's ok… I've learnt from it, it's toughened me up. It's... embarrassing I guess. It's like that little saying – if you don't want to get hurt, you better hurt them first."

I flicked away the cigarette butt, and adjusted in my seat a little – still no response, no shock. Nothing. Barrett was different from others I guess.

"wow…. Morgan…. Perhaps I was quick to judge you."

I leaned in real close across the table

"then you should never judge a book by its cover then, should you?"

And then he leaned in close, almost mimicking me, whispering back to me.

"well then I apologise. You're not like other girls Morgan….You're an alright bird…"

And then I felt my phone buzz on the table.

So does this count as a date then?

I looked up, and saw him smiling a little, his phone hidden under the table a little.

"you cheeky fucker."

"charming little bird!"

We exchanged a little laugh, which finally broke the ice, but I got too nervous, I needed out.

"and on that Bombshell Barrett…. I better go…" I grabbed my cell and keys and got up out of my seat, all set to leave, but a firm grip stopped me as I tried to walk past him.

"not before I propose something to you."

He grabbed my hand, and pulled me in closer to him, any closer and I'd be on his lap.

"I want YOU, to pair yourself with me. You manage me, I'll have your back. We can learn from each other."

It was out of nowhere. I was a little taken a back. I hesitated, what would others say? I don't align myself with people... well not now. I had a lot of personal issues. I can't be number 1, if I don't feel like number 1. But Wade... maybe it would work...

"Morgan…. Don't listen to them. Listen to ME."

Wow - he was almost reading my mind. And then I felt a strange sensation... I felt myself getting closer and closer to his face, my lip quivered slightly, I could just lose my inhibitions right now...

I could imagine it right now, all over him...

But no - - -

"I... I have to go..."

No. I had to keep my cool.

"Morgan..."

I just kept walking. I couldn't give an answer. Not now. I was number 1, not my feelings. Feelings kill