Pay per view Sundays were always a big deal in the WWE. It was a night when the RAW and Smackdown brands merged and the two sets of Superstars gave their all in the matches that had been promoted all month long. It was a night where feuds were started and settled. A lot went into those shows, especially when they were held at big arenas like the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the site of that Sunday's three hour extravaganza as well as home to both RAW and Smackdown for the next two nights after that. Memphis had been given the task of officiating the big match between John Cena and Nexus member Wade Barrett. It was her only match of the evening but it was a headliner and she had been super excited. Plus it seemed that this match might actually go as planned. One of Randy Orton's favorite schemes was to get his buddies to switch up spots mid match in order to throw Memphis off and confuse her. But John Cena was no stooge. He took his in ring work very seriously and had no plans of making any last minute changes. Stu Bennett, the man behind the Nexus leader seemed to be on the same page.

A few of the Superstars had driven down to L.A. right after the Saturday night house show in San Diego. Memphis had been one of them, traveling with her road dog, Phil Brooks. They had arrived at their hotel a little after ten and after putting her belongings away, Memphis had gone down to the arena. It was late and the crew had long gone. The building was empty but she knew in less than 24 hours it would be filled with screaming and excited fans. There was just something about being inisde an empty venue. Wearing workout clothes, she made her way down to the ramp and climbed up on the apron between the ropes. She took a seat in the middle of the ring and rested her weary head on top of her knees, deep in thought. She sat that way for a long time until footsteps walking towards her garnered her attention.

It was Phil. He had been worried about her. She had been different for the last week or so, ever since her very angry and very public confrontation in the ring with Randy Orton. Memphis had become distant and aloof. As close as she and Phil were, it now seemed like she was trying to avoid him. It was like their close friendship no long mattered anymore to her. It bothered him. It actually bothered him more than he wanted to admit. In fact, her recent behavior had troubled him so that it had left him to wrestle with the very nature of his true feelings for her.

"How'd you find me here?" she asked.

Phil shrugged.

"I texted you a couple of times to see if you wanted to get something to eat."

"Sorry. I left my phone back in the room. I just came down here to check things out. I honestly didn't think I'd be down here this long. I guess I kind of spaced out."

"You okay?" Phil asked as he climbed inside the ring and took a seat beside her.

"Yeah."

"You told me once that you liked to come down to the ring sometimes when it was empty, when the fans and the crew weren't around. I remembered that so I thought I might find you here."

"You know me too well, Punk," she sighed.

"You excited about tomorrow night?"

"I can't wait. I'm pretty pumped. The Main Event at a pay per view…doesn't really get any better than that. This is what I've always wanted."

"How's it going backstage? The other refs still being douche bags?"

Memphis rolled her eyes.

"Of course. And I'm sure me getting this match won't help things."

"They're just jealous."

"I know."

"You think it'll ever get better?" he kicked at the canvas.

"I don't know. I used to think so, hope so now I don't know. And I'm tired of thinking about it quite honestly."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I'm over it…all of it."

"Memphis…"

"I come to work every day on time and do my job to the best of my ability. I'm cordial to everybody which is really kind of pointless because no one is ever really polite back. I mind my own business and don't bother anybody and what does it get me? Everyone continues to treat me like garbage for no reason and when they're not being mean, I'm basically getting the cold shoulder. I have done nothing to deserve it and it is very unfair and I am tired of it. So I told myself that I'm gonna stop caring. Stop caring about everything…what people think about me, what people say about me…all of it."

"If that's how you feel, who could blame you?"

"I don't need anyone. I worked damned hard to get here and I did it on my own. I was alone then so what's the big deal if I'm alone now."

Phil smirked at her.

"Tell me how you really feel."

"I'm glad you think this is funny."

"Memphis, relax. I didn't say it was funny. In fact, I get how you feel. It's just that…"

"That what?"

"I don't know," he looked right at her. "The last couple of months, would it be presumptious to say that you and I have gotten close? I mean, sure it's graded on a curve considering I am the only person on the roster that doesn't ignore you or terrorize you but I'd still say we're friends just the same."

"What's your point?"

"My point is, you can be honest with me."

"I know that."

"Do you really?"

"Punk, come on. When have I not been honest with you?"

"Memphis, sometimes I don't think you're honest with yourself."

"Where in the world is this coming from?" she turned to him.

"Look, I know I give you a hard time and I joke around a lot but when it comes down to it, I really care about you. You have to know that. You're a tough chick…I get that. Hell, you've had to be to make it this far. You went to law school and made something out of yourself and when you realized that didn't make you happy, you went after your real dream. It wasn't an easy road but you stuck with it. Now that you've made it, you've got a lot of haters trying to ruin it for you but you keep your head up. You pretend like it doesn't bother you. I know you can't let them see you sweat but with me…I'm just saying it's okay."

"Punk…"

"Orton and the others guys are jerks. No one in this company has given you the respect you have earned and that sucks. But some of the stunts they have pulled and the things they have said…they have been downright cruel. I know it hurts you."

"No, it doesn't."

"Memphis…"

"Why does this bother you so much? And it isn't the first time you've brought it up. I don't get it. You're supposed to be my friend. You should be proud of me for staying strong yet sometimes it's like you're the main one waiting for me to break down and roll around moaning and crying on the floor hysterically or something. What gives, dude?"

"It's not that. It's just that I want you to know you can let your guard down with me."

"That's not gonna happen," she rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath.

"There you go again. You know, Memphis, if you keep pretending that you don't care about other people and if you keep pretending like you don't need anybody, one day you really won't."

"I don't."

"Yes, you do. I thought you and I were cool but now it seems like I am just another person on that long list of those you don't need or give a shit about."

"You're taking this way too far and way too personal. I mean, why does it matter? God, you're acting like you're my boyfriend or something."

"If I were your boyfriend, you wouldn't be sitting here alone in this ring right now pouting. And I'd do my best to treat you the right way and not hurt you like a lot of other people obviously have before in your life."

His last comment struck a nerve. Memphis frowned before looking up.

"Punk, what are you saying?"

"I know I'm not the mushy hearts and flowers type of guy that likes to hold hands and bake cookies and all that crap but I do wear my heart on my sleeve. It takes a special woman and when I fall, I do fall hard."

"Punk…"

"I don't like to beat around the bush. It's stupid. I say what I feel."

She swallowed hard.

"And what…what are you feeling?"

"The past few weeks you've grown on me and I guess what I'm trying to say is that I like you…a lot. I was hoping the feeling is mutual. I've been thinking about it a lot lately but I didn't know how to tell you and I didn't want to make stuff all weird. I also didn't want to be that guy that you lean on just because he's there and because no one else is. I don't know, Memphis. You've got a lot on your mind and I don't want to make it worse. I care and I'll always be here for you. You've got your reasons for feeling the way you do and even if I don't agree with it or understand it, I'll respect it. So I'll leave you alone and when you're ready to talk, just let me know."

He stood and went to exit the ring. Memphis felt her heart pound. Something inside of her just didn't want him to leave.

"I don't cry," she said in a voice that was barely audible.

"What?" he stopped.

"I said, I don't cry. I want to…sometimes," she looked down. "Sometimes it really hurts, you know? You work hard to get somewhere and you're finally in the midst of living your dream and it's so wonderful but at the same time, it sucks. I don't know. I guess I want the best of both worlds. I guess I want to have my cake and eat it too. I, I feel like everybody is out to get me. I feel like I was supposed to be welcomed into the loving arms of this big happy family but instead it's the total opposite and it sucks because I don't have a safe place to go and it's like I didn't have anybody to trust…until now."

"Memphis…"

"It's hard for me to let down my defenses. I never thought about you in that way. You've always been just a friend…an amazing friend. But it has been tough and yeah, as close as I feel to you, it's hard for me to be vulnerable in front of you. I don't mean to but I feel like I intimidate a lot of the guys."

"You don't intimidate me," he walked back over and sat beside her. "And I'm not like a lot of other guys."

"I know," she said softly. "Gosh, why does it have to be so hard? So crazy?"

"That's just life, Dollface."

He put an arm around her.

"Did you mean what you said?"

"Which part?"

Memphis looked him in the eye.

"The part about liking me?"

He shrugged.

"You're a cool chick. You're hot. You're sweet. You're smart. You're funny. You look great in stripes and now I know who to call if I ever get another speeding ticket."

She giggled as she playfully punched him in the ribs.

"Are you ever serious a day in your life?"

He answered her question by leaning over and placing a kiss across her lips. It stunned her at first but once the few seconds of awkward tension passed, she relaxed. His lips felt nice. He was a good kisser. And he was genuine. It felt comforting to be wanted for a change.

"Did you get the answer you were looking for?" he asked when he finally pulled away, leaving them both breathless.

"Wow," she managed to mouth.

He grinned and straightened his collar.

"Typical reaction. I get that a lot, you know."

"I imagine," she smiled. "Look, I told you how hard it is for me to let my guard down. I'm working on it and I'll try to work a little harder on it. Before I guess no one was worth me letting them in."

"And now?"

"Now maybe that's starting to change," she admitted.

Memphis closed her eyes and leaned in, letting her head rest against the security of his shoulder. All her life, she'd had to be the tough chick, the no nonsense girl always in control, always in charge. She had forgotten what it was like to be taken care of, to be rescued. And as he placed a gentle kiss on top of her head, the sweet and reassuring feeling of that memory came flooding back. It was nice to be protected, to feel wanted. It was nice to not have to be that girl with the wall up. It was nice to finally let someone else in.