Chapter 19:

Haley headed back to the RAW Divas locker room first to wish Candice good luck before her match. True to the her word, the former Go Daddy model had become Haley's best friend over the past two months she'd been on the roster and she hoped Candice would be victorious tonight.

"Hey Candy." Haley greeted her friend dressed in purple for her match.

"Hey babe!" Candice straightened, securing her top. "That totally sucks about your match. Poor Maria, how is she?"

"She's blaming herself." Haley shook her head sadly. "Brian, Michelle and I tried to convince her otherwise, but I think her constantly getting pinned is starting to get to her."

"Aw," Candice frowned. "She keeps improving every time too. I wish she'd catch a break."

"Me too." Haley sighed. "God damn it, Kenny Dykstra had no business out there. Maria would have won us that match too. There was no way Victoria was going to kick out after the People's elbow."

"At least this gave her and Brian a huge push!" Candice pulled the top half of her hair up into a pony tail.

"Yeah." Haley smiled softly. "It was really cute the way he came down to the ring and attacked Dykstra for harming her."

"Yeah it was." Candice reached over and tugged one of Haley's curls playfully. "Keep looking on the bright side there. Your performance was awesome and Maria and Brian are getting closer."

Haley laughed. "I'll feel better once I get me some consoling loving from the Champ."

Candice pretended to look scandalized. "You hussy!" She accused, before giggling.

Feeling much more at ease about the match, Haley grinned at her friend. "How about you, still nervous?"

'Nope." Candice shook her head. "One of my best friends told me that I have more heart than Melina has and I've got this match made."

"I don't think those were my exact words, but that's the gist of it." Haley shrugged. "Well good luck out there, Miss-soon-to-be-Women's-Champ. We're going out to celebrate after!"

"You bet your ass we are!" Candice headed for the door. "You better be here when I get back, not off playing tramp with the Champ. I expect full blown congrats from you, Missy."

"Seeing as his match is right after yours, you can count on it, Candy." Haley stood. "Batista and Edge should be almost done, so I'd get to the Gorilla if I were you."

"On it." Candice headed out the door. "Later Haley!"

Haley ran a hand through her hair, before making to leave the locker room as well, when Maria came in, looking flushed and happy. "Haley!" The auburn haired Diva squealed and hugged her. "Brian asked me out to the club tonight!"

"Maria, that's awesome. I'm so happy for you." Haley returned her friend's hug. "I guess you're feeling better then."

The RAW interviewer pulled back and lost some of her glow. "Not exactly. Haley, I need your help."

"What do you mean?" Haley asked, completely confused.

"Look, I can't ask Mickie or Candice this, because well it's kind of embarrassing. But I can ask you because well, you've never treated me like a complete airhead and you're the most talented Diva to come through here straight off the bat." Maria rambled.

"Maria, it's okay." Haley braced her friend by putting her hands on her shoulders.

"I need you to train me!" Maria blurted out, eyes wide.

"What?" Haley took a moment to register the statement. "You want me to train you?"

"Haley, everyone's watched you out in the ring. You didn't just come here as a pretty face. You came here with a purpose. You've beaten the Women's Champion twice and you've only been here two months. You've even held your own against Johnny Nitro and Mr. Kennedy. You've also taken out Jillian Hall and Victoria and just tonight you flew off the top rope into Beth Phoenix. You've got talent and courage. All the guys in the locker room respect you for your skills as well as your looks." Maria explained. "I've been working hard to improve and it's not getting the results I want. Part of that is due to Santino and part of it is because I need to work harder. I need you to train me."

"Are you sure about this?" Haley raised an eyebrow. "I mean, sometimes I still think I need to step in the ring with a trainer every now and then because I'm still not as good as I want to be."

"Haley, I'm not looking to be the Women's Champion or anything. At least not right away, but I want to be able to hold my own in the ring, maybe even win a few matches now and again. And, so if I do lose, it's not because my skills are pathetic." Maria babbled.

"Maria, I have never thought you were pathetic out there. Green, yes, but never pathetic. You have so much enthusiasm out there and you never run, even when the odds are stacked against you. Like I told Candice earlier, you've got something that Divas like Melina, Victoria, Beth Phoenix and Jillian Hall will never have when they enter the ring. They can't learn it either, it's a natural skill, one that will make you a champion." Haley put a consoling arm around Maria. "You've got heart, Kanellis. Now, it's time to mold that passion of yours. If you want a trainer, you've got one."

"Oh Haley, thank you so much!" Maria hugged her tightly again. "I won't let you down, I promise. Next time, it will be me pinning Victoria, no matter what Kenny Dykstra tries to do."

"That's exactly the attitude I want to see tomorrow morning, ten am. Meet me in the gym and we'll get started. I'm going to pop in and see John for a moment, but I'll be back in time to congratulate Candice when her match is through." Haley pulled away from Maria.

"Okay." Maria put on that goofy smile of hers and waved her off, as Haley exited the locker room.

The Women's title match was just starting so Haley knew she had to hurry if she wanted to catch John before his match and make it back in time to greet Candice.

"John?" Haley poked her head into the locker and smiled, when she saw him lacing his signature air force sneakers.

"Hey baby." He looked up, his irresistible dimples flashing.

"Ugh, I can't believe we lost." Haley sat down beside him and leaned against his shoulder.

"You lost? Why? Did Maria do something ditzy?" John inquired.

"What? No!" Haley jerked away to glare at him. "Didn't you watch the match?"

"Well." John flushed. "I kind of fell asleep."

"You what?" Hurt swelled within Haley like a thousand tiny knives pricking her skin. "John, it was my very first pay-per-view match, how could you sleep through it?"

"I'm sorry, Hales it just happened." He looked sheepish. "I need to rest before my match anyway."

"But through mine?!" Haley stood and began pacing. "Kenny Dykstra interfered in the match and nearly broke Maria's face. She was about to win it for us too. If Brian Kendrick and Chuck Palumbo hadn't come down to the ring, he might have done worse!"

"Hales…." He tried to plead, but she cut him off.

"I mean, it was disappointing enough that you weren't in the Gorilla waiting for me after the match, but I figured since you had to prepare for yours you'd meet me here to comfort me at least a little after what happened. Now I come back here to find out that you slept through it, after you promised me, you'd watch it!" Tears pricked behind her eyelids. "This match meant a lot to me John, I've never competed on a pay-per-view before. "

There was a brisk knock on the door. "You're on in five minutes, Mr. Cena." A faint voice drifted through the wood.

"Look Haley, I'm sorry okay. I don't know what else to tell you. It's not like I did it on purpose. Now if you excuse me, the Champ has to go defend the title." John grabbed his belt and made his way to the door.

"You don't even care, do you?" Haley felt defeated all over again.

"I can't afford to right this second, Hales. I'm about to go defend my title in one of the toughest matches of my life, not stress about a little Diva match. We'll talk about this later." He told her, before walking out.

She let the tears spill over once the door closed. "No, we won't." She muttered, gathering her belongings. "We'll talk when I'm over this."

She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She let the corners of her mouth lift when she noticed the five missed calls, all from Dwayne. At least there was one guy she could count on to always support her even with a crazy schedule. She hit the send button to call him back and went in the direction of the Diva's locker room.

She needed the comfort of her mentor slash older brother figure and her best friend, who had been successful in her match and now wore gold around her waist. Candice had consoled earlier, Dwayne would comfort and help correct her mistakes for next time.

A/N: John is so freaking clueless lol. Poor Haley, but things are looking up for Candice and Maria. Coming up, Haley gets the consoling she wants from three different superstars and it's time to party!

1: Jeff

2: Batista

3: Chris

4: John

5: Randy