-September 19, 2010-

"Hey, you haven't seen Michael, have you?" I tapped Melina on the shoulder, causing her to turn around and sigh.

"Claire." She said somewhat sternly.

"What?" I asked, knowing why she was acting as she was. "Okay, fine, I know I shouldn't be wanting to talk to him, but I just found out he's winning the championship next month…"

"Fine. He and Alex are stretching. Down there," she pointed down the hallway, "one of the rooms on the right."

"Thanks Mel. Break a leg tonight, yeah?" I gave her a quick hug before I ventured off to find Michael.

I'll be the first to admit that I was only making everything hurt more by trying to talk to him all the time. He's just impossible to stay away from, no matter how hard I try. He's someone I never wanted out of my life, and no matter how much he wanted me gone from his, I couldn't let that happen.

As I walked down the hall, I looked at each door to see if they had signs on them. The first one was open with no one inside, the second one had a Supply Closet sign written on it and the third one had nothing.

I knocked on it lightly and heard shuffling before it opened slightly, Alex poking his head out.

"Hey," she smiled, "How's it going?"

"Good, great." I answered, smiling back.

"I'm going to assume you aren't here for me," I shook my head, the smile still on my face, and he opened the door further. "I'm gonna grab something to eat before we go on."

Mike looked up as Alex left the room, his eyes rolling when he spotted me. I shut the door behind me quickly and stood with my back to it, blocking the only escape route. He stood up straight and crossed his arms.

"Claire."

"I know, I know. I'm being painful and needy and…" I inhaled deeply, "I just wanted to say that I'm really proud of you."

"What?" he asked with a furrowed brow.

"I, uh, heard that you're getting the title."

"Oh, yeah, right." He said as though he'd forgotten all about it. He looked at me expectedly and I looked at my feet.

"I didn't really have anything else to say." I admitted quietly, wringing my hands together. "Sorry?"

"For what?" he asked me, sitting down on a folding chair.

"Telling you you weren't going anywhere." I finished. I didn't move to sit down in the other chair; I just slumped against the door. "I knew I was wrong when I said it, but this is proof. I guess."

"Thanks." He said after a few minutes of silence, "For, you know, being proud and what not."

We may have talked after that, but I don't remember. What I do remember is just looking at him. I'd known him long enough to have him memorised. Everything about him from the way his eyes moved when he spoke, to the way his nose twitched when he smiled. Everything made up the man I had fallen in love with.

The man who had apparently fallen in love with me.

"I have a match, so I need to go." He said slowly, standing up and stretching his arm over his head.

"Yeah, of course." I stepped to the side, moving out of his way. "It sucks that you're losing the title."

"But it means I'm moving on to bigger and better things." He smiled widely, his hand resting on the door handle.

"Of course," I smiled at him proudly. "Merde." I assure you it's not meant to be rude, it's the French equivalent of 'break a leg'.

I expected him to say it back or to just leave the room. Though, that's not what he did.

He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine ever so softly. No matter how soft, I still felt a spark run through my body. From head to toe I felt like I was on fire.

There were no words spoken as he pushed down on the handle and exited the room. I stepped into the doorframe and watched him walk down the hall. He didn't seem different at all; he didn't react to the kiss. He didn't appear to have a stomach full of butterflies or even feeling guilty that he had kissed me when he was still with Maryse.

Maryse.

I was stationed at the curtain during all of the Raw matches in case anything went wrong. Not that it would though, because everyone knew what they were doing. They were professionals. And Randy hadn't yet left his locker room.

I had made sure that Michael had gone through the curtain before I assumed my post. I knew that I wouldn't be acting normal in his presence; I couldn't risk having anyone know what had happened. No one was allowed to make judgements until I knew what was going on.

The match went as planned, almost flawless in its execution. That's a potentially bias view of the match, but you can watch it and decide for yourself.

When it finished – Michael tapping out to the LeBell Lock – I tried my hardest to keep my cool. But sitting on the crate, waiting for the three of them to walk back through the curtain, I was positive my heart beat could be heard by the crowd.

Daniel was the first person through the curtain, wielding his brand new title. I smiled at him, watching as he tried to take in the moment. Your first title win in the WWE is always a momentous occasion and the joy you feel being able to carry the title around is surreal.

When Alex and Michael walked through the curtain a few minutes later, I smiled sheepishly, looking down at the clipboard in my hands. I could feel eyes burning into the top of my head, but I couldn't look up and see if it was Michael or Alex looking at me. I didn't want it to be Alex, because I knew that he'd want to know what was up with me, and I didn't want Michael to have a smug look on his face.

A person sat down beside me. All I could see was their legs. It definitely wasn't Alex because he had been wearing black pants. Judging by the skin, I knew it to be Michael.

"I'm going to be home for my birthday. I'll see you there?"

a/n thanks to Mistress Merows and Showni13 for reviewing! This story is coming to a close, I'm not sure exactly how many chapters are left but I can't imagine it will be more than five.

Mike and Maryse are getting married. I am super fucking excited and I fangirled. I ship them hardcore haha

Please take a minute to go to my page and vote on the poll, as well as read about the little 'What If' project I'm working on =D