Chapter 36:
As soon as Haley stepped into the baggage claim area of the airport, it didn't take long to find her ride. Or rather, it didn't take long for her ride to find her. In just a few moments, she was laughing and returning the vice like embrace of Candice Michelle.
"Okay, so after my little display of affection here, you are not allowed to ever leave me again for that long." Candice pulled back to look at her. "Although, you do look a far sight happier than when you left though."
"I think SmackDown! was just what the doctor ordered." Haley smiled brightly at her best friend. "But, if it makes you feel any better, I missed you too."
"You better have." Candice linked arms with Haley, as they grabbed her one suitcase off the conveyer belt. "I'm glad your little side trip helped though."
"It really did." Haley let Candice lead her out of the airport and towards where she parked her rental car.
"So now you can tell me what Torrie couldn't. I heard you spent a lot of time with a certain Animal." Candice sat in the driver's seat and turned on the car.
"We're just friends, Candice. I like talking to him and spending time with him." Haley rolled her eyes. She knew there would be an inquisition when she got back and Maria and Mickie weren't even here.
"Apparently, since you also roomed with him too." Candice put the car in drive and began to maneuver through traffic. "Come on, Haley, you might as well just tell me. It's not like I'm going to let you off that easy, especially after you abandoned me for those SmackDown! bitches."
"You like those SmackDown! bitches." Haley chuckled.
"True, but that's not the point. The point is, you roomed with a man who is the definition of Greek God and I want all the skanky details." Candice pressed.
"There's no skanky details involved." Haley blushed. "I slept in one bed, he in the other. We hung out with the group and watched movies when we were alone. Nothing happened, I have a boyfriend."
"Yeah, one with a major stick up his ass." Candice muttered. "Come on, Haley, it's me you're talking to. Can you seriously say there is no sparkage between you two?"
"All right, so he's gorgeous. And yes, there is some sparkage, but like I said, I have a boyfriend, with whom there is also sparkage and too much going on in my own brand than having to contemplate what it could mean." Haley sighed. "I've got enough to deal with."
"Look, I'd agree with you if you and said boyfriend weren't at this major riff right now. I mean honestly, are you just going to up and forgive John for what he said to you? He was out of line. Now don't get me wrong, I love the guy like a brother, but he is way fiercely competitive. He had no right to treat you the way he did." Candice spared at glance at Haley, who seemed to be considering everything she was saying. "So, what I'm getting at, is that you are allowed to start thinking about other prospects. If John's going to treat you like dirt, then you need to dump his ass and find someone better because you deserve it. And hey, who is better than one of the sweetest, but fiercest, most talented guys in the company?"
"True." Haley conceded the point. "I've just run away from problems enough for one week. I need to sort things out with John before I even think about anything like that."
"Okay, just be careful." Candice warned, as she pulled into the parking lot of the hotel.
"I will, promise." Haley laughed, stretching her arms over her head.
"And Haley, I wouldn't blame you for going with Randy either." Candice winked. "Not only is that boy completely fine, but he seems to really care about you."
"Oh, enough." Haley giggled and rolled her eyes, stepping out of the car.
"All right, just had to say my piece." Candice climbed out and held her hands up innocently.
"Thanks Candice, for the talk and for picking me up at the airport." Haley told her seriously.
"Hey, what are best friends for?" Candice popped the trunk before closing her door. "By the way, we're having a girl's night in our room tonight. Mickie and Maria are coming over around eight o'clock, that work for you?"
"Sounds perfect to me." Haley pulled her suitcase out of the trunk before closing it up again.
"Good." Candice took the handle from her. "Want me to take your luggage up while you go deal?"
"How did you know I wanted to…?" Haley trailed off in confusion.
"I'm your best friend, it's my job. Go ahead. I'll meet you upstairs." Candice waved her off and began dragging Haley's suitcase into the hotel.
Haley smiled softly. She had never had very close girlfriends in her formative years, now it seemed as though she had plenty of them to make up for it. She was very grateful for them and to them for their friendship.
She dug through her pursue for her original room key. It was the key to the room she should have been sharing with John, but since their fight they hadn't spoken. He had called a couple times while she had been on the SmackDown! tour and she had sent him straight to her voicemail. Only a few people knew she had flown to Anaheim and she had kept it quiet from him throughout the week. But, it was now Friday and tonight the match would air, so she couldn't avoid him for much longer.
Besides, what she said to Candice was true. They had to sort this out at some point. Why not now, that they both had time to cool off? With a deep breath, Haley entered the building and took the elevator up to the fifth floor. Every step she took towards the room made the nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach draw tighter.
Haley stopped in front of the wooden door. Last chance to back out, she thought. With renewed determination, she lifted her hand and knocked lightly on the door.
"Unless you know where Haley disappeared to, I'm not up for company." John's reply was muffled through the door.
She took the key card and slid it in, unlocking the door and opening it. "Well, I think I know where I am, so does that count?"
John had been lying on his back across the bed, staring mindlessly at the ceiling. The moment her voice registered in his ears, he sprung up with a look of shock on his face. "Hales?"
"In the flesh." She stepped fully into the room and closed the door behind her. In case it got ugly, she didn't want to disturb the rest of the floor.
"Where have you been?" It tumbled out of his mouth, the only thing he could think to say.
"You didn't look for me in Randy's room, screwing his brains out?" She bit back harshly, to the point where John actually winced.
"I'm serious Haley, I was really worried about you. I called your place in Boston several times, and your caretaker kept telling me you were on tour." John rubbed a hand through his hair.
"Well maybe you should have thought of that before you became an asshole." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I was at SmackDown! John, looking to see if they wanted another Diva on their roster."
"What?" John's blue eyes widened. "You can't just leave! The Women's title is here on RAW. I'm here on RAW! I know I've been the cruelest son of a bitch on the face of the planet, but you can't just leave me."
"Yes, I can. If anything I should, due to your behavior over recent weeks, but you can relax, as I was kidding. I was at SmackDown! but to promote the Divas Battle Royal at Summerslam." She frowned deeply. "Though I have to admit I was a lot happier there than I am here at this point."
"I deserve that." He looked down at his hands guiltily. "Look, I know I can say I'm sorry until I'm blue in the face and it won't change what I said or how I hurt you."
"That's right, John, you hurt me. So not only do you deserve that, you deserve a lot more. You were just plain nasty to me the last time we spoke." She hissed.
"I know." He kept his gaze on the floor. "That eats me up inside. I can't get the look on your face out of my head when I said those things to you. I was so angry, I'm not even sure why, but I hurt you and that's unacceptable."
"You're right John, it is unacceptable. And you know what, I deserve better than that. You can't just treat me like your slave. I'm your partner. I'm willing to support you in everything you do; I'll gladly help you out when I can. But I don't deserve to be berated for winning a match for you. That match was for you to build momentum and you got it. But, because it didn't go your way, you became a raging asshole."
"I know, Haley. I've felt like shit about that all week." He whined.
"Yeah John, well so have I." Haley sighed heavily. "You also didn't have me calling you a slut for Orton, when you know damn well how serious an issue sex is for me, and how I view cheating as one of the biggest sins you can commit."
"I'm sorry, Haley. I wish I could take it back." He pleaded.
"Yeah well, let me tell you this John, if things don't change and I mean very soon, you're going to lose me, for good." She threatened, before turning to stalk out the door.
"Wait Haley!" John moved quickly and managed to snag her wrist before she walked out the door.
"What John?" She practically snarled.
"I love you."
A/N: Haha, cliffhanger! Sorry guys, had to throw one in once and awhile.
1: Jeff
2: Batista
3: Randy
4: John
5: Chris