Chapter 35:
"I still think Haley's imitations of Batista were the best part of the night." Torrie Wilson stated matter-of-factly. "That was freaking great!"
Michelle McCool shot Haley a sly look. "It was pretty cool, Haley. It's like you channeled Batista."
Haley rolled her eyes and didn't comment, choosing to sip from her wineglass instead. She was seated at a cramped table in the back of a bar, the only place open at eleven pm still serving dinner. Up front, drinks were being served and bodies moved together on a small dance floor. She sat between Batista and Kelly Kelly, and she was surrounding, by Torrie, Michelle, Chuck Palumbo, CM Punk, and Billy Kidman.
"Especially when you shook the ropes, Haley, that was so funny." Torrie giggled. "I think you should do that every time you come to SmackDown!"
Haley sighed dramatically. "Oh come on, I think Batista's match was a bit more impressive than ours. And, you can't take away from the main event tonight with Rey Mysterio."
"Stop being so modest, Haley. You gave one hell of a performance, that's worth recognition." Dave laid his hand over hers. "It was pretty cute, seeing you do my signature moves."
"Okay, okay, I did great tonight, but I still think Mysterio and you, did better." She squeezed his fingers. "Let's just hope I can keep up my winning streak Monday night."
"You've beaten Melina how many times now?" Billy Kidman raised his eyebrows. "I think you've got it in the bag. I've seen your matches on RAW Haley, you're good."
"Thanks Billy, that means a lot coming from you." Haley flushed from his praise. "I'm going to sound a like a dork and a complete rookie again, but I've been a fan for awhile."
"Then I guess I won't be too bold when I ask if your Comet is just the backwards version of my shooting star press?" He grinned.
"In a way." Haley admitted with a laugh. "I love watching you do that move, it's sick!"
"Well, if I make it back to SmackDown! I'll see about getting that ban lifted." Billy shared a loving look with Torrie.
Don't make me get buck in here!!
Shorty drop 'em to the ground like she ain't got manners
Too much booty for one man to handle
When all i need is a one night scandal
And Ima get buck in here!!
Damn lil' momma you know you fit my standards
You the type to make me grip that handle
Lick shots in the air, bustin' that grandam
While you make it clap clap clap clap clap
You gotta shake that thang, shake that thang
While you make it clap clap clap clap clap
Just shake that thang, shake that thang
"Oh, I love this song!" Torrie exclaimed, clapping her hands together for emphasis.
"You know what, me too." Haley agreed, rising to her feet. "Let's go show 'em how Divas get buck in here."
"I totally like the sound of that." Torrie stood and followed Haley out towards the front of the bar towards the dance floor. Michelle and Kelly shared a look, hesitating for a moment, before rising and following their two friends.
Haley giggled, linking hands with Torrie, as she swayed and rocked back and forth to the music. Beside them, Kelly and Michelle began dancing back to back, catching the attention of many males surrounding them. But, the four Divas paid them no mind, simply content to dance with each other.
Meanwhile, back at the table, Billy Kidman sat back and smirked at his companions. "You guys realize that the hottest women in this joint are with us right? How lucky are we?"
"Hey, I'm still shocked someone as pretty as Michelle wants to spend time riding motorcycles with me. There were rumors about her and Taker for a while." Chuck shrugged. "I'm just happy to spend time with her."
"Kelly turned on her girlfriends to be with me." CM Punk shook his head. "I don't think I'll ever understand that. It makes me feel a little less guilty though, that she has Torrie and Michelle all the time."
"Man, I screwed up with Torrie so bad before. I'm just amazed she's giving me a second chance." Billy sighed. "I'm not taking any chances this time."
"She loves you, Man." Chuck assured him, before turning to the only silent member at the table. "What's with you and Haley, Batista? You two seem pretty cozy."
"I'll tell you I hate that she's on RAW." Dave admitted. "I wouldn't mind having her around all the time. It would keep her away from all the heat that goes down on RAW too. She's different from most of the Divas. She's more into her maneuvers than how she looks out there. She's real and she's beautiful and I like her a lot."
"So why aren't you two a couple then?" Billy pressed, looking completely stupefied as to why the two were not together.
"Because, she's got a boyfriend." Batista rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "You know, John's my friend. He's a great Champion, a good partner and a hell of a guy. But, that belt that he totes around is the world to him. Being the Champion is the most important thing in his life. And right now, he's dealing with a man who has the ability to take that all away from him."
"Randy Orton." Chuck supplied.
"John's only focus is keeping that belt. It's making him short sighted and Haley's suffering because of it. He's neglecting her, blaming her, whenever he comes close to losing it. Because his focus is only on his career, he makes no effort to support her." Batista sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair. "At this point and time, John Cena should not have a girlfriend. I think if he wasn't the Champ and there wasn't such pressure to keep that belt, he and Haley would work out fine. But, that's not the case and now Haley's the one getting thrown into the middle."
"Literally." CM Punk shook his head in disgust. "Haley's really got a lot of guys in the company sniffing after her, being new meat and all. Randy Orton in particular, he could care less about the Divas, whether they are his partners or not. When Kennedy attacked Haley a little over a month ago, Orton played hero. Now she's stuck between her boyfriend and his number one rival."
"John went off the handle when she scored that pinfall last week." Batista practically growled. "It was a match to start building momentum and he was treating Haley like crap. He was pissed when she won the match for them, because he wanted to make the pin himself. They got into the mother of all fights. I'd like to take him out for what he said to her."
"What did he say?" Punk took a sip of his soda, unlike his comrades; he was sticking to his hardcore straight-edge lifestyle.
"Some not nice things concerning her and Orton in a bedroom, crap like that." Batista clenched a fist for a moment, before relaxing. "Because he's her boyfriend it affected her more than it would have had someone else said it."
"You really care about her, don't you?" Chuck asked.
Batista glanced over his shoulder to see Haley politely decline a request from some faceless guy, before continuing to dance with Torrie. It had been a long time since the Animal had experienced any real feelings for a woman. Since his marriage ended a couple years ago, he had stuck only to friends with benefits or one night stands. That or he just kept to his own company.
Then he met Haley. She had intrigued the hell out of him the first time they met. She had been a blur of brunette colored energy that had bounced off him like a ping pong ball. She had been flirty, charming and left him staring after her in confusion and disbelief. Later that night, she had caught his attention with her subtle, but sexy moves on the dance floor. She continued to surprise him by not only dancing with him, but they actually held a real conversation with no heavy sexual undertones implied. He still was being surprised and somewhat amazed by her.
"Yeah man, I do." He took a swig of his drink and let the corners of his mouth lift in a smile. "She sure is something. Can you blame me?"
"Nope." Chuck agreed. "Not one bit."
"She's very sweet." Punk added. "It really is too bad she's on RAW and not traveling with us all the time."
"She deserves the title." Billy disagreed. "I like her, don't get me wrong and like having her around, but she's got too much talent to waste on Victoria, Layla and Brooke. She needs to be on RAW, fighting her heart out for some gold."
"I agree." Batista clinked glasses with Kidman. "Too bad the title's not on SmackDown! is all."
A/N: Batista admitted it! He admitted it! He likes Haley, whoo! That's not to say he's the one, mind you, just that there are definite feelings on both parts. Also, I had to have Billy Kidman in here, I just love that guy. That shooting star press really is sick! I wish he would come back to the WWE. He's such an outstanding cruiserweight. I liked him back in the WCW days. Anyway, now we're headed back to RAW, hope you enjoyed the brief SmackDown! vacation and some Animal loving thrown in. I definitely put the foundation in for a possible romance between the two, so stay tuned to see if he's the one I pick.
As far as the voting goes...Jeff is still kicking ass, in both cases! Man, I hope he wins at the Rumble.
1: Jeff
2: Batista
3: Randy
4: John
5: Chris