"One of these days you know your going to have to face facts and admit you need more then those lights and the fans to get you through."
If he actually allowed himself to take stock in a lot of the things Ted had told him over the last few hours, both earlier in the day and now, then he would have to admit that what his fellow wrestler was telling him was the truth. John was not a man that took admitting his faults lightly but when he did, he did so lock; stock and barrel. This was seeming to be one of those times.
Melina had filled his consciousness for so long that it seemed that without her, he was travelling alone at the speed of light but unable to take any of the things he saw and passed in. For so long the only thing he did see was her. Trying to revert back to the John Hennigan he had been before her; before even the wrestling had become his life, well it was no easy task and Ted's words just sent that message home more then ever.
He believed deep down that he deserved more then the fans, more then the lights, and more then what the wrestling business gave him but being on the road, and being lonely so much of the time had become second nature. It had gotten to the point where as much as he deserved love, and to settle down; he knew it was practically unattainable until he could finish this career that he now called his life.
He knew he should be mentally preparing himself to go out there and fight in the middle of the ring, giving the crowd its moneys worth but he found that with Ted's words stuck in his head, it was the last thing on his mind. Instead he tried to recall marriages, and relationships that seemed to stand stronger even with the crazy business they were all in.
Shawn Michaels came to mind instantly. On more then one occasion over the years John had gone to this man for guidance, seeing himself as the now younger version of what Shawn had indeed become. There was no denying that the resident Heartbreak Kid had many faults, but the one thing that stayed true to the man now was his faith in a higher power and his amazing marriage to Rebecca, one that was sure to have bumps but also one that never seemed to cave in despite this business that he worked in.
Hunter was another example. Paul to those that really knew him but there was no marriage more sound and solid then that of him and his wife, and current McMahon heiress, Stephanie. They both worked side by side and John had to admit that when looking back on him and Melina when they were first starting out and then as they became more solid, this was the relationship he wanted to emulate.
Too bad she wasn't thinking along the same lines. He mentally chided himself again for going back and focusing on her, allowing her to override any other thought in his brain. She didn't hold him anymore, in fact hadn't spoken to him in months, so why was he still letting her have control?
The locker room door opened and Ted and his opponent, Morrison's sometimes tag partner, Ron Killings, sauntered into the room, sweaty and dishevelled and obviously in need of some extreme shower time.
John was hoping that just having a match would deter Teddy from jumping on him again about his need to date, but hope never did drive him far before the minute the two men locked eyes Ted spoke.
"There's a surprise waiting for you out there later Johnny boy. Three rows back from the front row by the ring steps near the ramp. You can thank me later."
Not saying anymore Ted headed into the showers, leaving John to wonder just what the hell he was talking about. He had obviously meant someone in the crowd, as he was pretty specific about the location of the surprise but just what, or who that was escaped him.
Was Ted trying to set him up for something bad out there? Or was he just plain trying to set him up period? With some random fan?
Figuring he would take his chances asking Ron what the hell was going on, but not expecting much of a response; as Ron knew nothing about what had happened earlier in the day and the ribbing he had been living with since.
"You know what the hell he's talking about?"
Ronnie shrugged but wasn't finished. "He locked eyes with some female out there after the match was over and he was picking his chin up off the floor. It might have to do with that."
Throwing his buddy a smile, Ron made his way into the showers, leaving John to wonder just what the hell Ted was up to. At least now he knew it did have to do with a female, and if Teddy had locked eyes with her, it couldn't be good.
This night CANNOT get any worse. John thought to himself as he again tried to put his game face on and mentally prepare for his match that was creeping closer to being up.
Or could it?
She watched Ted make his way to the back, going behind a big black curtain that was contained on both sides of what Matt had told her was the entrance ramp. As she watched him saunter up, she shivered inside at the look he had given her when he locked eyes with her just mere minutes ago when he was lying on the floor damn near in front of her.
There had been a look of recognition there, not that the look alone surprised her, they had just met briefly that morning, but there was more to the look he threw her and for the life of her she could not figure out what it meant. What was the hidden meaning behind the smile he had given her before finally getting up and sauntering away and up the ramp from which he had just entered fifteen minutes before?
"Where the hell is Cheryl? She is going to be livid when she realizes she missed one of her favourite men!" Matt yelled to her, over the booing of the crowd. She pulled herself away from trying to sort out just what Ted DiBiase had looked at her so strangely for and turned her attention to the conversation at hand.
"I'm not sure but since I need a bathroom break, maybe I will go and look for her."
She didn't really need to use anything but she needed to get up and move around and get away from the seat that still seemed to have the wrestlers eyes burning holes in it. So if she had to lie to do that, then so be it. And maybe she would find her sister along the way.
"Yeah, see if you can find her, and break it to her gently, because she is going to be mad!" Matt said laughing, knowing that Melissa had no idea just how upset Cheryl would be at missing one of the very things she came to see but itching to see how the other newer sister would handle it.
"Will do. Let me know what I miss."
As she excused herself out of her seat and then up the aisles to the outside, where concession stands, and memorabilia stands were around by the hundreds, she took in a deep breath.
She had heard of small worlds before, and sometimes meeting someone by chance somewhere could turn into a good thing, but this was a little too close for comfort, especially given the look he had thrown her way. What were the odds that the melodic speaking man from the gas station was a professional wrestler? Determined to pull herself together, she went off in search of her twin.
