"Thanks for the ride," Melissa asked, grinning from eat to ear. Out of the goodness of his heart, her boyfriend was dropping her off at work in his car since the air conditioning had stopped working in hers. He hadn't told her yet, but he would be having it fixed today as a thank you for moving him in to his new home while he was on the road.
"Of course. I'll pick you up after the live show tonight." Melissa leaned over and quickly kissed Stu on the cheek before jumping out of the car.
"So, that's back on?" Melissa looked up to see Tim standing by the entrance of Florida Championship Wrestling tying his sneaker.
"None of your business," she shot back at him as she brushed past him and entered the gym of the FCW training center. Afraid that Tim was going to give chase, she walked briskly to her office immediately turning on her computer to check her email. Still nothing from Layla or Terri. "What the fuck..." she murmured out loud to herself as she sat back in thought. She checked the tracking number on the FedEx website, it was delivered to Terri's house in time. Melissa picked up her phone and dialed Terri's number. It rang three times and went to voicemail. "Hey Terri, it's Melissa from FCW. I was wondering if you received that package I sent with Layla's costume and AJ's drawings. I tracked it through FedEx and it says it arrived. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't stolen off of your porch or anything. Please give me a call when you get this. I'm a little anxious over it. Thanks. Hope all is well." Melissa sighed outwardly. Ryan opened her office door. "You don't knock anymore do you?"
Ryan smiled. "Nope."
"What if I was naked or something?"
"Naked? In your office?" Ryan asked with a smirk. Melissa nodded. "Why do you think I just opened the door without knocking?" Melissa didn't laugh. "I'm just kidding, Mel." He could tell she was distracted.
"No, it's not that. I'm just confused I guess. You know the costume package I sent off to Terri?" Ryan nodded. "It was delivered, but I don't think she got it. I'm worried it was stolen off her porch or something like that." Ryan had to smile a little. Of course Melissa would draw that conclusion. She would never think anything bad about anyone. "Anyway, enough about my troubles. I'm sure it can be explained. What's going on with you?"
"I'm going to be signing autographs at the show tonight along with Heath." Ryan sat down in the chair in Melissa's office. He appeared nervous. "Mel, I have a question for you."
"Shoot," she said turning her attention over to Ryan.
"I saw you leave to have lunch with Stu yesterday. Are you guys back on?" Ryan knew her answer was 'yes,' but it gave him a reason to get mad at her and make her feel guilty. He was hoping that it would turn her attention away from him and he wouldn't need to be a part of the situation that was going to develop between her and Terri.
Melissa processed his question for a brief moment of time before answering. The slight nod her head provided Ryan with the answer that he needed, but she spoke anyway. "Yeah...," she trailed off.
"So, then, this," he pointed between the two of them. "This is never going to happen?"
"I gave you a chance and you shot me down," she said. "I really tried to give it a shot."
"Come on, Mel. You know that's not true." Ryan added. This was going to be hard for him to continue. It was breaking his heart. He cared about her too much to see her relationship with Stu ruined because of something Terri did. He didn't agree with her relationship with Stu, but it made her happy and that was what mattered. He stood up and made his way towards the door. "You're really selfish, you know that?"
"What are you talking about?" She was shocked at his accusation. No one had ever accused her of being selfish.
"I stood up for you. I listen to you and all that shit you went through with Stu," Ryan added.
"In the beginning I thought you were being there for me as my friend," she said choking back tears. "And then I started..."
"Of course you did, Mel, because you're in your own little world where no one else matters to you," Ryan said. "That's why I took you home that night." She turned her head away and wiped the tears away that were running down her cheeks. "Oh great," he said rolling his eyes. "Playing the victim. I'll see you around." He stormed out of her office, slamming the door behind him.
Melissa spent the afternoon locked in the backstage arena setting up her supplies in case there was a tear or snag with someones outfit. Other than a possible wardrobe malfunction, she wasn't needed. Thankfully, she was able to hide backstage away from everyone. Away from Ryan and also from Tim, who had a tag match that night with Derrick Bateman against Eli Cottonwood and his old friend, Hector. She had spoken to Stu earlier in the evening and convinced him not to come to the show. He needed time off and also needed time away from wrestling. Melissa always had plenty of time alone to herself and she felt guilty that Stu never seemed to have any. Plus, he was excited about unpacking and wanted to start painting his spare rooms. She had placed three more calls to Terri and sent her a few text messages. She had yet to receive a reply. Despite that, everything seemed to be going well with the evening until Ryan and Heath walked by her backstage. He didn't even look at her or make eye contact, but Heath stopped to chat.
"Mel! I forgot that you would be here! It's good to see you, how are you?" Heath asked. He was genuinely excited to see her having only seen her once in the past few weeks. Ryan had stopped walking a few feet away from them and waited patiently for Heath.
"I'm great. It's good to see you," she leaned in for a hug. "Ryan told me you guys are signing autographs tonight."
"Yeah. I don't know how Stu got out of it this time," he said laughing. "I'm glad you guys are back together. I'll get to see you more."
Melissa forced a weak smile and glanced over at Ryan. "Yeah, I'm glad too." There was a brief pause as neither had anything to say to each other. Melissa was desperate to end the conversation. " Well, I should get back to work. I hope you guys don't get attacked by any crazy fan girls," she said.
Heath chuckled. "Me too, Mel. Have a good one!"
As expected, Stu arrived at 11:15pm to pick Melissa up and chose to wait for her outside. He wanted her car to be a surprise. She shot him a text to say she'd be a few minutes and he replied with saying he'd chat with Heath while waiting. After packing up her sewing supplies, she walked over to her dark office to drop them off when she heard a noise coming from the locker room. It sounded like someone punching a locker repeatedly. Slightly scared, Melissa walked in to the locker room to find Ryan standing there, a glint of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Hi," she squeaked out. Startled, Ryan turned to her and didn't speak. She was nervous to continue the conversation given how he had treated her earlier. "Is everything ok?" Ryan looked down at the ground and didn't speak. Tim had been right. Melissa really had a hard time letting go of people who were awful to her. "I know that you..." she began chocking back her tears again. "Uh..hate me right now."
"I don't hate you," Ryan interrupted angrily.
Melissa nodded. "Okay, well. I think there is something else going on with you that maybe I..."
His eyes darted over to her. She was fidgeting and playing with the hem of her skirt in her hands. "There is nothing else going on with me," he shot back. His only line of defense against her was to stop her thoughts and comments with his own.
"Mel!" a voice called out from the front door of the gym. Stu had grown concerned over the amount of time she had been taking.
"In here!" she yelled back. She had been physically paralyzed by Ryan's behavior and unable to move. Ryan had begun emptying the contents of his locker in to his duffel bag. Melissa wanted to ask what he was doing, but she was fearful of the answer she would get.
Stu approached them. "Everything ok? I've been calling you." The Englishman turned to Ryan. "Hey."
"I'm sorry. I must've had my phone on silent," she responded. "I'm ready to go."
"You look exhausted, love. Let's get you home," Stu pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I have a few surprises for you." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and escorted her out the main entrance of FCW. He opened the drivers side door of her car. "Had your A/C fixed today." She turned the key in her ignition and her air conditioner came on full blast.
"You didn't have to do this," she said, feeling slightly guilty that he felt the need to reciprocate her good deed from the day before.
"It's what we do, Mel. We take care of each other," he said. "I'd love for you to stay the night tonight, if you're up for it."
"Of course. I'm always up for it," she said.
The conversation between them made the drive to Stu's home fly by rather quickly. She walked in to his home and saw a few more boxes than she expected.
"Things from storage?" she said fearful that was going to say what she already knew to be true: He had moved her in.
"No, just stuff I didn't get to yet," he said. "I did swing by your place today and pick up a few of your things though."
"You did?" she asked in frustrated disbelief.
"Yeah. Do you want a glass of water?" She sunk down on the couch as he brought her in a glass of water.
"You didn't listen to me," she said.
"I'm sorry. Did you say no to the water? I didn't hear your answer so I chose to bring you one in anyway," he responded.
She stood up and swung her purse over her shoulder. "No, I said I didn't want to move in with you yet," she said. "You didn't listen." She ran her hands through her hair as she paced back and forth in the sitting room. "I think I'm going to go home."
"Jesus Christ, Mel." Stu stood up and moved towards her. "I just went over there and packed an overnight bag for you. I didn't want you to have to wake up early and run home to get ready. What the hell's the matter with you?"
Everything was hitting Melissa at once. The fight with Ryan, the missing costume piece, the new home, and her admitted love for Stu. "I can't breathe," she whispered as she flailed her hands. Her breaths were quick and short. "I'm sorry," she said.
Her motions sent Stu into a panic of his own. He did his best to remain calm and speak to her in soft tones. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her more. "Shit, love, you're having an anxiety attack. Come here," Stu wrapped his arms around Melissa's waist and pulled her close to him. He stroked her hair and made shushing noises to help her calm down.
Melissa finally spoke when she regained her composure. "I'm so sorry I just acted like that." She grabbed the water and took a sip.
He brushed the hair from her face. "What is going on with you? You were acting weird when I picked you up tonight. And why was Ryan emptying his locker out?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe he doesn't need space at FCW anymore now that he's back on Smackdown with you guys." It was a bullshit excuse, she knew the real reason was that he didn't want to be around her. "I'm fine though. Really. I think I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed. I'm sorry I jumped down your throat."
"Hey, it's ok," he spoke softly. "If this is all too fast, just tell me. We can slow down. You can move in when you're good and ready, okay?" He felt her chest tighten up again against him. "Or not at all. I just want you to be honest with me about what you're thinking and feeling. I don't want you to hold it all in and freak out again on me, okay?"
She looked up at him and smiled. "Okay."
"Now, I think we've both had enough excitement for one day. I'm painting the bedroom tomorrow so you only have one more night to enjoy it's bare white walls." He held out his hand and helped her off of the couch. Melissa really needed his warmth and protection at this moment. During a day when everyone around her seemed to be rejecting her, he was there for her. And she loved him for it.
AHHH! What do you guys think? Thanks for all the feedback on the last chapter. It was awesome and helpful. I'm interested in any and all thoughts you have. As always, thank you for reading my story. I appreciate it so much!