A/N: Hey guys, what's up? It's Mikaela again! :D So I read the reviews on the latest chapter (150? Holy crap!) and I read one by sOurpatchkidd that really caught my attention. In it, 'Kidd talks about how the younger talent isn't getting pushed and how he/she (sorry, 'Kidd, I don't know which) isn't all that impressed with Ryback, and since Mel already went on her rant about the situation, I figured I'd might as well put my two cents in. I agree 100% with both Mel and sOurpatchkidd, I personally despise Ryback and I think that's it total crap that he's getting a WWE Championship shot when in reality all he's done is beat jobbers and nobodies. Swagger and Miz not included, because I like both of them and I think they've got talent. I was absolutely in love with Dolph Ziggler more than I usually am last night, because he took the words right out of my mouth when he talked about how the younger guys who've worked their asses off are getting overlooked and replaced with Ryback, who couldn't even wrestle a broomstick. Sorry this was so long, I just had to get it off my chest. And yes, I also agree that what is being done to Zack Ryder is bullshit. So, WWE Creative, if for whatever reason you read this, may it be to steal Mel and I's ideas (we wish), quit burying Zack. Give him and the rest of the young talent a chance. And now with that over with, here's the next chapter. Thanks for putting up with me, guys. :)
Chapter 26
Mel kept her gaze fixed on the floor, her iPod clutched tightly in her hand. Music was blaring in her ears, but it wasn't enough to drown out the chaotic thoughts racing through her head. She was all too aware of Zack's presence only a few feet away, and she wanted nothing more than to run out the door. But she knew that John was sitting outside, so for now she was stuck there.
On the opposite side of the room, Zack was sitting on a bench, his head bowed. Occasionally he would chance a glance at his ex-girlfriend, his blue eyes sad. She looked so alone. He wanted to go to her and hold her, but he could feel the invisible barrier between them. If he wanted to be her everything again, then he'd have to break the walls down. He snorted. Jericho would be so proud.
Finally, he spoke. "It kills me that we're acting like this, you know. We used to be so close."
"Yeah, well, you pretty much ruined that when you broke up with me," Mel replied, her voice cold.
"It wasn't all my fault, Mel," Zack snapped. "I wouldn't have broken up with you if you hadn't swapped spit with Mike right in front of me."
"I already apologized for that!" Mel snapped back. "How many times do I have to say that I'm sorry?"
"I don't know, Mel, how many times are you going to choose him over me?" Zack demanded, his voice rising.
"I don't want Mikey, Zack, I want you!" Mel shouted. "It was always you!" Her voice drifted off into a whisper. "Always you."
Zack raked his hands through his hair and tried to stop the tears that were already pouring down his face. "Mel, I love you," he told her, his voice cracking. "Even after everything that's happened between us, I still love you. And I think I'll love you until the day I die. I want to be with you, but in order for that to happen, you need to stop the mind games. I don't want to be your second choice."
"You're not," Mel whispered. "You could never be my second choice, Zack. Ever."
"Then prove it to me," Zack said, his voice returning to normal volume. "Because right now, it's not looking that way."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
John Cena glanced anxiously at the door to his locker room. "Well, at least they stopped yelling," he said to AJ Lee, who was sitting cross-legged beside him.
AJ's eyebrows rose, and she said, "I wonder what they're doing now?"
"Talking it out, I hope," John muttered. "Between them and Mikaela and Cody, I'm beginning to wonder how this team will ever defeat Randy."
"Randy's having problems too," AJ informed him. "He walks around looking depressed, and he stares over at our side of the arena all the time."
John stared at her. "How do you know that?"
AJ smiled. "I have my sources," she said mysteriously. She took John's hand and laced their fingers together. "Don't worry, Johnny," she murmured, looking up at him affectionately. "Everything's going to be fine."
John smiled tenderly back at her and playfully flicked the brim of his cap, which still rested on her head. "I hope so," he said. But his mind wasn't on the conversation with AJ, it was a million miles away, focusing on something that she'd just said.
Why would Randy stare at their side of the arena all the time?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mikaela Mizanin glanced hesitantly at her fiancé, Cody Rhodes. They were in his hotel room, and he was sitting on a chair a few feet away. She sat on the bed, her arms wrapped around herself. It felt cold without him next to her, holding her. He hadn't spoken a word to her since they'd left the meeting.
Finally, unable to stand the silence any longer, she asked, "Are we going to talk, or are we going to just sit here in silence?"
It was quiet for a moment, and then he spoke for the first time since the botched truth or dare game. "I happen to like the silence," he said, his voice cold.
Mikaela sighed heavily and pulled her knees up to her chest. "Come on, Cody," she said, her tone pleading. "How many times do you want me to apologize? I made a mistake, and I promise that it will never happen again."
"It should never have happened in the first place," Cody snapped, finally twisting around in his seat to look at her. "Do you think that I would've kissed another girl? Fuck no. You're my fiancee and I love you more than anything. I would never do that to you."
"I know," Mikaela whispered, knowing that he was right. "You're right, Cody. I should never have done that to you, and I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?"
Cody stared at her for a couple of seconds, his blue gaze unreadable. And then the chilled look on his face seemed to thaw, and he stood up. "Come here," he said quietly.
Mikaela hopped eagerly off of the bed and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and clinging to him tightly. "I'm so sorry, baby," she whispered into his ear. "I'll never let anything like that happen again, I promise."
"I know you won't," Cody murmured, holding her tight. "Just please don't do that again. It hurt me so bad, and I thought that I was going to lose you."
Mikaela pulled back to look at him, her gray-blue eyes bright. "To Zack? Never," she said, resting her forehead against his. "You're the only one for me, Cody. You and only you."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Randy Orton paced his hotel room, a growl building in his throat. It was past midnight. Where was she?
A knock sounded on the door at that very moment, and Randy practically sprinted to answer it. He ripped the door open and felt all of his panic drain away. The noise in his head stopped abruptly, and he felt a huge surge of relief.
"Sorry I'm late, I–" Mikaela was cut off as he suddenly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest.
"I thought something happened to you," Randy muttered into her hair. "I was going crazy."
"Randy, I'm only five minutes late," Mikaela pointed out, pulling back to look up at him with slight amusement in her eyes.
"A lot can happen in five minutes," Randy said, kissing her forehead. "Especially with a war going on."
Mikaela snorted. "Please, I can take on any of the Divas."
"I know you can, 'Kaela, but it wasn't the Divas that I was worried about," Randy said darkly. His thoughts went to the Big Show, who couldn't care less if the person who bore the brunt of his powerful fist was male or female. He hugged Mikaela closer. "I'm so happy you're here," he murmured.
"It took awhile for Cody to fall asleep," Mikaela told him. "I had to wait a long time until I could sneak out."
Randy's face darkened at the mention of Mikaela's fiancé. "Yeah, about Cody," he growled. "What are we going to do about him?"
"What do you mean?" Mikaela asked, frowning up at him.
"We have to get him out of the picture," Randy said. "Otherwise we'll never be able to be together."
Mikaela's eyes widened, but before she could reply the door to the room swung open, and both of them spun around, surprised.
Mikaela's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach, and she felt like she was going to be sick when she saw who was standing in the doorway.
It was John Cena.
A/N: Well, there's Chapter 26! I hope you guys enjoyed it, and Mel should have 27 up later tonight, so stay tuned! And don't forget to review! :D