Lacey's POV
I didn't dare tell Vince that Randy and I no longer traveled together. Somehow, my public outburst with Randy at the radio station never reached Vince or any of the Creative Team. I had kept true to my promise and Randy's less than polite request of me staying away from him; it had been almost a month since we've talked other than a RAW show. I found it so odd how the fans knew nothing of the difficulties between us; to them we looked like the perfect pair. The fans now cheered Randy whenever he went to the ring, with me usually at his side. In all my years of wrestling, I had never been cheered for so loudly, or in such high graces of Mr. McMahon. If Randy didn't hate me, my life would virtually be perfect. However, I couldn't be so lucky.
I walked into the arena with my hair in a high ponytail and searched for the list of matches for tonight's RAW. The writing on the board was small and sloppy, and I thought I was seeing things when I saw the Diva's match for the night scribbled out with a different name above the old one. Scribbled out, the original match was Candice Michelle vs. Melina, but now it had my own name against Melina, who was now the Women's Champion. I smiled excitedly, ecstatic to finally have my own match instead of accompanying Randy to the ring or cutting promos.
"Ah, I see you've seen the changes for tonight's schedule." I turned to see a man with a beard, someone who I assumed was in charge of the writing. I nodded, smiling slightly. "Vince demanded you face Melina tonight instead of Candice. The plan was to build a rivalry between Melina and Candice for the title, but I have a feeling Vince wants you to go over at the next PPV instead." He explained casually while still sounding business-like. My heart gave an excited flutter; I was so close to having another title run, I had never expected it to be so soon after coming back from my ankle injury.
"Well, that's great to know. Thank you." I said politely. He gave a respectful nod.
"If you have any complaints or concerns, please come see me or the team, as well as Vince." I nodded and started for the Divas locker room. Unlike my first night back, where I saw no one and everyone hardly acknowledged me anyways, I was suddenly popular. I was earning nods and greetings from wrestlers and people who I hardly spoke to.
"Hey, Lacey, you comin' out with us tonight?" John Morrison asked from his place next to Mike the Miz and CM Punk. I gave a friendly shrug, stopping beside them briefly in the hallway.
"Maybe, I'll have to see."
"You should stop trying to corrupt such an innocent girl anyways." Phil scolded, slightly smirking. I chuckled and Mike rolled his eyes.
"I bet she's not so innocent as she seems." Mike teased.
"Such a good girl, she is!" John cooed playfully, rubbing the top of my head. I swatted his hand away with a laugh.
"Stop!" I scolded them with a laugh and ducked away. They laughed lightly, but my attention dispersed from them and instantly went down the hall I could make out a familiar tanned 6'4 figure. I heard someone speak, but I didn't catch their words.
"Lacey?" I turned back and all three of them were staring.
"Er, sorry, I have to go…" I murmured absently, anxious to meet the figure in my direct view. He was getting closer and I was almost certain he was staring at me too.
"We'll see you tonight?" Mike called as I hurried away.
"Uh…maybe!" I called over my shoulder, feeling their stares on my back as I came to stand face to face with Randy. I desperately wished Randy would just smile every now and then, but then again he wouldn't be the same Randy if he was prancing around everywhere and cracking jokes.
"Hi." I said curtly. He nodded.
"How've you been?" I would never truly get used to how deep his voice was. My mind could only imagine what he sounded like when he first woke up in the mornings.
"Good, thanks. I have a match tonight." He nodded again, looking down at the bag in his hand.
"So I've been told. I'm coming out in the middle of it." If I were a dog, my ears would've have pricked up in interest at his words, sort of like the way dogs always got interested when they heard their name.
"You'll be watching at ringside?" I asked.
"Yes, with great interest." He said before his gaze turned to one of ridicule. "Hopefully you'll be able to carry yourself and not make a fool. My expectations aren't too high."
"Well," I replied, my voice containing the same amount of mockery his eyes held. "I'll try to put on a good show." With that, I pushed past him and continued to the locker room to start getting ready. Once I walked in, I saw all the girls sitting around. They greeted me with bright smiles.
"Hey, girls!" I greeted them. Melina stepped forward with a smirk, giving me a one-handed hug.
"Hey. You ready for tonight?" She asked. Before I could answer, Candice walked by, throwing me a silent look before exiting the locker room. I looked to Melina quizzically and she shrugged. "She might be a bit upset. But don't worry about her, she'll get over it. We have to plan our match." I nodded, my excitement instantly growing high.
"Right. I have a few ideas, actually."
—-
John Cena's POV
Never had I ever been this intrigued in a Diva's match. It made me proud to see just how far Lacey has come ever since she started here, and I was beginning to realize she truly had it in her to carry the women's division on her shoulder's.
"Wow, Lacey just looks spectacular, as always!" Jerry "the King" Lawler said, and I couldn't help but agree from where I sat in my locker room. I imagined the atmosphere at ringside, and couldn't help but wish I was there.
Ironically enough, it was only a few minutes later when Randy walked out, walking with the gait of a slow and cunning predator. Lacey would always glance out at him at different periods of the match. He stood just outside of the ring, watching intently.
"Now, King, I'm not sure what Randy's intentions are." JR murmured.
"Nobody does, he's unpredictable! I don't understand why Lacey's with him!" The match continued, sometimes going back and forth, but mostly staying in Lacey's favor. Melina was on the mat, when Lacey turned and threw a sly, seductive smirk to Randy.
"Did you…did you see that look, JR? I wonder what that was…" He stopped as Lacey completely dropped to the mat and waited, waited to strike as a snake did. Melina was beginning to rise to her feet, and Lacey mimicked her, her face vivid and wild. Once Melina was standing upright, Lacey struck and brought her down with a nearly picture-perfect RKO.
"RKO! RKO! Lacey just hit an RKO!" JR exclaimed. I was awestruck.
"You think Randy taught her how to do that?" The King asked as Lacey pinned Melina for the win. Her music brought the arena to life and the crowd to their feet. She stood before leaping energetically onto one of the turnbuckles and pointing out to the crowd before smirking down at Randy, who returned her smirk. Again, I found myself wishing that I could be the one at ringside.
—
Lacey's POV
It was nearing the end of RAW, and I left the locker room with my bag in hand. My match with Melina was definitely one of my best in my career so far; I was so proud of how it turned out.
"Lacey." A rough voice called my name and I jumped out of my thoughts and turned to see Randy with an unreadable expression. My stomach turned. "Was that RKO something Vince told you to do?" I shook my head nervously, afraid he wouldn't approve.
"Um…no. It was my idea." I felt him looking at me as I looked at the ground.
"Hm." It sounded more like a growl than anything. I peeked up at him, coming to a halt.
"I did said I was gonna put on a show." He chuckled.
"It wasn't as a bad as I thought. You had the proper form….it can be perfected with a little help." He almost looked close to smiling, and I couldn't help myself from smiling; this was the happiest I had seen him in weeks.
"And would you be the one offering help?" The smile was beginning to grow bigger on his face, but before he could answer, another voice cut him off.
"Lacey!"
"Lacey, we're leaving soon, come on!" I turned and saw a bunch of the guys and a few of the Divas waiting to go, with John standing near the front.
"Why don't you just go- your friends are calling " The smile was gone when I faced him again. He turned away quickly, and I took a large step after him, reaching up to spin his shoulder around so he would stop and look at me.
"Come with us!" He looked down at me and stared directly into my eyes for a long time.
"Stop trying to change me." The words were menacing and spoken slowly like a warning, but underneath it was a plead from his inner self for me to leave him alone, and I sure as hell wasn't about to do that.
"I'm not." I told him honestly, speaking just as slowly and not taking my eyes from his.
"Then let me be."
"No!" He opened his mouth to argue, but I continued hastily "I mean, Randy, this isn't good! You can't just keep be introverted like this. You need to venture out of this damn shell of yours. Do something crazy!" He narrowed his eyes, annoyed.
"I'm about to do something crazy if you don't-"
"Come on Randy, just…try something new. Come with us.." This was the first time I had seen his eyes ever waver in uncertainty. As he shook his head, his eyes hardened.
"No. It's not my thing." He turned away from me like an angry and eager twister, eager to move. I latched onto his wrist, and I felt him tense up. His eyes questioned my actions, almost as if he couldn't believe my boldness. "You just don't give up, do you?"
"No, I don't. I won't." It was a verbal promise that I spoke. He lightly took his wrist from my grip.
"I'm telling you now; it's not wise to waste your time or effort on me. Go." He left without giving me a chance to protest. I stared after him with more to say and realized it had come to this, a tiring battle to see who would break first. As long as Randy didn't give in or I didn't give up, it would keep going until we reached an end.
"Lace?" I turned back half-heartedly to John, waiting next to a few of the other guys. "You coming?" I hesitated, running a hand through my hair.
"Honestly, I don't think so…" I trailed off and John began taking steps towards me. "No, no it's fine, go out with the guys, John. I'll be fine, I just want to sleep." The lies flowed from my mouth freely.
"You sure?" He asked, and I nodded.
"Of course. I'm fine."
"Alright." He stopped in front of me. "Remember, you can call me if you need anything. I'll answer." I nodded, smiling lightly. I turned stiff when his large hands cradled my face and he leaned forward to press his lips to my forehead. "Be safe, Lace." He turned away and walked, and for a couple of seconds, my mind was on John, instead of Randy.