A/N: Hey guys, miss me? I wasn't gone as long as I'd thought, as I managed to work out an alternate internet connection until I get it sorted properly next month... so I'm back with more updates. I actually finished writing this while I was away, so leave me reviews, and you'll get the last two chapters quickly.

Before I post this, I'd just like to say that I've been planning to write a Christmas themed one-shot, but I'm stumped on who to use for it, so... I'm letting you guys decide. Give me a shout, either in a review, by PM or on twitter if you follow me there, and let me know who you'd like to see in it!

Lastly, big thanks go to hardyrhodescenafan1, xHalosandwings, nikki1335 and Liloxbubbly for reviewing the last chapter, I love you all!

Chapter 21

Nic

Never in a million years had I expected to mope around, listening to soppy chick music and ignoring everyone around me because I'd broken up with a girl... but as I sat in the Smackdown locker room, an entire week after things had gone down with Tegan, that was exactly what I was doing.

I felt like such a wuss as I sat in my ring gear, my iPod placed on my knee, the music blaring through my headphones to drown out everyone around me. I didn't want them to talk to me; I didn't want their fake smiles and sympathy. I didn't even want to be there, doing what I loved.

All I wanted was to go back to a week earlier and never leave home, so that I had never found out what Tegan had done, and vice versa. If we'd have stayed, none of this would have happened. We'd have still been together.

I felt the wires of my headphones tugged before they popped out of my ears, bringing me back into the world I didn't want any part in. I pushed back on the bench so my back was pressed against the wall, a glare that could kill on my face as my eyes shot up to see who the idiot was who had disturbed me.

But of course, who else could it be?

"What do you want?" I asked, dropping my head back against the wall and closing my eyes. I didn't even have the energy to argue with him anymore. It wasn't his fault that I was where I was. As much as I hated his guts, I was the one that agreed to the bet. I had always had a choice... as had Tegan with her own.

"I thought you might want this."

I didn't open my eyes right away, wanting nothing to do with whatever he was talking about, but the curiosity got the better of me as I felt him wafting something in front of my face. I finally peeked; jumping out the way slightly at the money he was flashing only inches away from my head.

"What the fuck?" I spat, sliding down the bench a little so that I could stand up. It was only then that I realised Zack had entered the room too, and was stood behind John with a confused expression on his face.

"Come on, man, you're not seriously gonna tell me you don't want it, are you?" John asked, holding the money out in front of him. I looked down at his hand in disgust, not believing that he was actually asking me that question.

"Are you being serious?" I shook my head, laughing without humour.

"Urr, yeah... why wouldn't I be?" He asked, pulling a face that asked if I was some sort of crazy person, "You slept with Tegan, so you won the bet. Alright, for some crazy reason you wanted to stay with her rather than take the money... but that doesn't matter anymore. Why wouldn't you want the money when she totally fucked up?" He paused, a huge smirk growing across his lips as he lifted the money towards my face again, "And if I do say so myself, good riddance."

I closed my eyes, sucking in a breath as I tried to control myself. My fists balled at my sides, and I tried desperately not to grab a hold of John by his collar.

So what if Tegan had done exactly the same as I had? There weren't words to explain how disappointed I was, how utterly broken I felt because of what she had done... but I still couldn't stand the thought of anyone but me thinking, or saying, bad things about her.

"So man, you gonna take the money or what? Maybe you can use it to go out and find yourself a girl, you know, forget about that whore who..."

Before John had even finished his sentence, my eyes flashed open and I snapped. I could take it to a certain point, but there was no way in hell I was going to stand there and listen to him call her that. Maybe she was a bitch, maybe she'd ruined my life, but she wasn't like that.

"You son of a bitch," I growled, not even feeling my arm as it swung back. It was like a totally different person was running my body as my fist slammed forward, right into the middle of John's cheek. I watched as he fell to the floor in slow motion, the five hundred dollars flying everywhere around him... but my anger still hadn't gone.

I stepped forward, ready to continue my assault, but a pair of arms wrapped around my stomach and threw me backwards. I pushed against the person beside me; my eyes clouded with red as I turned to see Zack holding onto me like our lives depended on it.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He shouted, pushing me back against the wall and standing in between me and John, "Nic, jesus man, calm down."

I looked between my two friends... or at least, one of them, and one that I used to call my friend. I took in another deep breath, lifting my hands to run through my hair as I realised what I'd just done. A month ago, no matter how much Jomo pissed me off, I would have never gone this far... what had Tegan done to me?

"She's just a girl, man," Zack shook his head my way.

I shook my head, an unhappy smile appearing on my lips as I looked away from the two men in front of me, my eyes finding the door. I knew I had to get out of there, and quick, before they said anything else to piss me off. My patience was thinner than ever, especially when it came to the subject of Tegan.

"She isn't just a girl, Zack," I shook my head, beginning to back away from them. I watched as John stood up from the floor, holding on to his cheek and sending me a look that could kill. "I'm in love with her, man. I love Tegan..."

I watched as Zack's expression changed from confusion to shock, and even John's eyes widened at my confession. I shrugged there way before I turned around and opened up the locker room door, not wanting to be around them any longer, especially after my confession.

A month ago, I would have rather died than admitted to the guys that I was in love with someone, but it didn't matter to me anymore. Why would it, when it was all over with? It didn't matter how much I felt for Tegan, it was never gonna happen. I may have been able to forgive her, with time, but I was pretty sure she'd never do the same for me.

Tegan

I smiled to myself slightly as I looked out at the crowd from the top of the ramp, the majority screaming and cheering my name after my big win over Melina. I waved with one hand, trying to show them all how much I appreciated them for being there, for spending their hard earned money to watch me... but it wasn't as easy as that. Usually, the crowd could cheer me up in a heartbeat, but not today. Not after what had happened exactly one week ago.

With a small sigh, I span around and took the last few steps before I pushed the curtain aside and slipped into the backstage area. My eyes darted around frantically, hoping and praying that I didn't see the one person I'd been trying to avoid since I'd arrived there.

I let out a breath of relief when I noticed there wasn't a bleached blonde hair in sight. Just the thought of seeing him made my stomach twist in agony. How would I ever be able to face him again after what had happened between us? After what he had done to me? After what I'd done to him?

"Tegan?"

My eyes widened at the sound of the familiar, female voice, and I silently cursed myself. I'd been so busy looking around for Nic that I hadn't even thought about staying away from anyone else... but right now, she was someone I wanted to see about as much as I did Nic.

"I'm kinda busy right now, Nattie," I sighed, my eyes barely flickering to see her concerned expression before I began to walk away. I let out a sigh as I spotted her nearly running beside me to keep up. I guess I wasn't going to get away as easily as I'd hoped.

"We need to talk, Tee," She added with a sigh, resting her hand on my arm. I rolled my eyes, stopping in my tracks as I turned to look at her. She looked terrified, as if I was going to bite her head off for what she had done... but honestly, I wasn't mad with her for telling John the truth. If I'd have been in her position and I'd found out what Nic had done, then I'd probably have done the exact same as she did.

No, the only reason I didn't want to be around her was because she was the only one that knew what was going on, except for the few other people involved. She was the only one that knew what had happened between me and Nic, and that terrified me, because I knew the minute she started to talk to me about it I would break down. I'd done that more times than I could count during the last week, but only ever in private. I hated showing my true feelings around others, especially people who were so close to me.

"About what?" I asked, trying to play dumb as I looked down at my wrestling boots, scuffing them against the floor.

"About what happened, about..." She paused as my eyes rose to hers, silently pleading with her not to finish that sentence. She knew me well enough now to know I hated talking about my problems. All I wanted was for her to leave me alone so I could get on with my life, and hopefully get over Nic while I was at it. "How are you?"

"How am I?" I chuckled in disbelief, wondering if she could possibly ask me a stupider question, "Oh, I'm just peachy."

"Oh Tegan..." She sighed, shaking her head back and forth. I watched as she bit her lip, letting out another sigh. Was she going to hurry up with whatever she wanted to say, so that I could head back to the hotel, eat ice cream and watch chick flicks till I bawled my eyes out? "Well, I might just have something that will cheer you up a little..."

I pulled a face, thinking there couldn't be anything at all that could cheer me up at that moment, but I was still intrigued. What did she have up her sleeve, this time?

"Yeah? And what might that be?" I asked, trying not to let my interest seep through into my tone, but I failed miserably. Nattie smirked my way, and I rolled my eyes, wafting my hand in front of her to get her to talk.

"Well, I just got back from a meeting with Vince. We had a rather long and interesting talk about who I should lose the belt to at the next PPV, because we both decided it was time... and well, after a little persuasion from me, we chose someone," Her eyes rose to mine, her smile growing wide as she spoke the last few words, "Congratulations, babe! You won the bet, and although it all went pear shaped, I had to do something that made it all worth it... so, here you go. You have your title shot, if you still want it, of course?"

I stared at her, my expression completely blank as I tried to work out if she was being serious, but as she stared back with wide eyes, I knew she was telling me the truth...

I just couldn't believe she'd gone and done that, after everything I'd been through over the past week.

"I, urr... you're joking, right?" I shook my head, lifting a hand to run through my hair.

"No..." She looked worried at my words, and took a step closer to me, "Come on, Tegan, this is what you've always wanted."

"What I wanted until Nic came along," I shook my head, stepping away from her. "You knew that, you know how I felt about having a title shot after what had happened between me and Nic... just because things messed up doesn't mean I've changed my mind."

I watched her shake her head back and forth my way, her face set in disappointment, but I didn't care. She could think whatever she wanted about me right now, because it wasn't going to change how I felt. I didn't want the title shot. Not anymore. No matter how many times I would complain about my job not being what I had thought in the future, I didn't care.

"And for the record," I spoke up again as I began to walk away from her, "It isn't the only thing I've ever wanted. The only thing I want is Nic," I barely even whispered, hating how my voice broke as I span around and walked away.