Raw: October 1, 2007

Candice looked at me as we hung out in Catering. "I'm stuck in a segment with Beth tonight."

I shrug. "That sucks. I surprisingly ended up in a match tonight."

"You just wrestled on Heat last week."

"This one is on Raw."

"Great! Who's your opponent?"

"Melina."

"It'll be a good match I'm sure. I think you can win."

"I know I can."

"So how's everything going with getting Chris and Tyler to talk?"

"Chris has agreed to apologize and to do this lunch. Tyler is a bit more reluctant."

"Do you know why?"

"We both know what it is, Candice. Randy's words got into Tyler's head too much."

"I think he'll do it for you though. You're his baby sister."

"I hope so. Ya know, I thought working with someone I spent part of my childhood around who's also my brother's best friend would be cool and fun, but these days, it drives me nuts."

"How nuts?"

"If Chris wasn't guaranteed to be on Raw when he's back next month, I'd be asking to move to SmackDown or ECW at this point just to get away from Randy Orton."

"Oh, that's bad."

"I know." I put my head in my hands. "I'm just so sick of him. He can't leave me be. Every time I turn around, I have some issue that's linked to him in some way."

"He was always overprotective of you."

"That doesn't excuse his recent behavior, especially considering the last time we were on good terms was ten months ago."

"I don't think you're wrong about that. I'm just saying that could be part of Randy's issue. Do you think you'd still be friends with Randy if the RKO Incident didn't happen?"

"I don't know. It might've depended on whether or not I still ended up with Chris. I was so open to Chris's pursuit because I didn't have Randy around, but if I still ended up with Chris, this would've still happened, making friendship with Randy hard."

"I don't doubt it." Candice glances behind me.

I turn to see Randy right at the entrance to the room. "That's my cue to leave. See you after my match."

"Okay."

I got up and headed to leave, which meant I had to pass Randy as he was still lingering at the entrance. As I passed him, he looked at me.

"We need to talk." Randy comments.

"Not at work." I respond.

"When else will I get the chance? You always do your best to avoid me at home. This is my chance."

"I don't want to be in this conversation, so you better make it quick."

"I know that things got way out of hand, but Chris put his hands on me. It wasn't the other way around."

"I know that, but there was no reason for you two to even be talking to each other."

"I didn't initiate the conversation, Rissa. Chris did. Believe me, I had every intention of avoiding the two of you as best as I could during the party."

"Well, you did a damn good job at that. You two caused a huge scene."

"And I apologized to Tyler because it was the right thing to do. I bet Chris hasn't."

"He would if Tyler would give him the chance. He won't, and that's because of you. If you hadn't run your mouth, I wouldn't be stuck in this situation."

"This is not my fault."

"Yes, it is. You talk about regretting losing me as a friend, but all you do is cause issues. It's ridiculous. A damn good way to start your way back onto good terms with me is to stop involving yourself in my personal life. I'm done with this conversation. I have a match to go get ready for." I go to leave.

"Do you think Chris is ever going to allow us to be friends again? He won't."

I stop and look at Randy. "He doesn't control what I do."

"I know that, but he'll sabotage any attempt of us trying to get back to being friends. I guarantee it."

"No, he won't. I don't know what's skewed your views on Chris, but you're wrong, Randy. I know that."

"I've known him longer."

"That doesn't matter. You two never got along, so you were never close enough to know him."

"I know him well enough."

"Get your head out of your ass, Randy." I walk out of Catering without listening to Randy's response.

("Paparazzi" plays)

"The following Divas match is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from Los Angeles, California, Melina!"

("Move It Up" plays)

"And her opponent, from Saint Louis, Missouri, Marissa!"

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Melina and I lock up. I get her in a Headlock. She elbows me in the ribs to escape before hitting me with a hard Right Hand and taking me down with a Clothesline. Melina grabs me and hits a Suplex before pinning me.

1…2…kickout!

I roll out of the ring to create some separation between us. Melina runs after me, and I catch her with a Superkick. I roll Melina back in the ring before getting back in myself and pinning her.

1…2…kickout!

Melina and I avoid a Clothesline from each other. She hits me with a Thesz Press. I roll her into a pin, but she rolls through. Melina kicks me in the gut before hitting the Last Call. Melina pins me.

1…2…kickout!

Melina grabs me, but I hit her with a Right Hand. I then kick her in the gut before hitting her with a DDT. I then climb up to the top turnbuckle and hit a Moonsault, but Melina gets her knees up to counter. She goes to grab me, but I grab her arm and counter into an Armbar. Melina taps out.

"Here is your winner, Marissa!"

I smiled as the referee raised my arm in the air. Maybe, tonight wasn't so bad after all.

Candice pulled me into a hug. "Congratulations!"

I hugged her back. "Thanks. Maybe I'll get my way back into contendership soon."

"I hope so."

"Miss Smith," A stagehand says to me. "Mr. Regal wants to see you in his office now, and he specified to come alone."

"Oh. Alright. I'll head to his office."

Candice smiles. "Maybe you've already been noticed."

I shrug. "Maybe. See you in a little bit."

I head towards William Regal's office to see what he wants. I had a feeling that it was something good, considering I had been pretty successful in matches recently. My mood immediately changes as I open the door to see Randy sitting in the office as well.

Regal looks at me. "Close the door behind you and take a seat, Marissa."

I do just that. I don't say a word and don't even look at Randy, even though I could tell out of the corner of my eye that Randy was watching me.

Regal looks at both me and Randy. "Do either of you know why I wanted you two in here?"

Nobody spoke. Regal stared at both me and Randy for a period of time, making things seem tense in the room.

"Fine then." Regal says before he crosses his arms. "You two are in here because word has gotten around that you are arguing out in the open backstage almost every single week. This has to stop. Randy, you're twenty-seven. Marissa, you're twenty-five. You both are old enough that I shouldn't have to have you in here and lecture you like a parent about your arguing. You two need to stop."

Randy opens his mouth to say something, but Regal glares at Randy, stopping Randy from saying anything.

Regal continues. "There are going to be severe consequences if you two don't stop this. I hate to say this, but if this doesn't stop, one of you two is likely going to be moved to SmackDown or ECW."

Randy rolls his eyes. "I'm going to be the WWE Champion after No Mercy this Sunday. I won't get moved."

"I wouldn't be so confident about that, Orton, even if you do become the WWE Champion this Sunday. As I was saying, you two also have to go do a signing together this Friday in Chicago to promote No Mercy. If I hear of even one public incident between the two of you, Randy, you won't be getting your WWE Championship match this Sunday, and neither of you will be anywhere near any championship picture any time soon. Am I understood?"

"Is that all?"

"Yes, Randy, that's all you needed to hear."

"I'm outta here." Randy stood up and left.

I got up from my seat and went to leave myself.

"I still need to talk to you for a few moments, Marissa." Regal says to me.

I sit back down. "Okay then."

"I hate having to say this, but it'll more than likely be you that does get moved if things don't work. I know it's unfair, but this isn't even my ruling. It's Vince's. It'll be less likely that a lot has to be changed if you get moved to SmackDown or ECW instead of Randy. I know you don't want that because if you did, I know you would've taken the chance that we both know Stephanie gave you."

"This is the only show that has a championship that I can wrestle for. Even if I wanted to go to SmackDown or ECW instead, it would've been a bad move for my career. I'm not going to get the chances that Randy would no matter what show he's on. Hell, at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Chris got a championship opportunity before me when he gets back."

"I'm not going to say that you're wrong, but you know things are dependent on who the champions are and how successful you are in your matches."

"And I've been doing great since I've been back. Hell, I'm the only person other than Candice that has beaten Beth. This match for the Women's Championship at No Mercy should've been mine. I've been busting my ass since I've been back. Nothing has come out of it. You know what, go ahead and send me to SmackDown or ECW. Randy and I will probably get into another argument if you don't, and it won't make a difference anyway since I'm not getting my opportunity."

"Marissa…"

"If you can't tell me why Randy can get so many opportunities despite already losing to John but I can't get one despite winning so many matches and never actually losing the Women's Championship in a match, I don't want to hear it. Send me the info about this signing. Let me know if I'm moved to a different brand. I'm headed out and going home."

I leave, but my eyes lock on the monitor. John was getting attacked by Randy after his match against Mr. Kennedy, but I could tell then and there that something wasn't right.

John was injured.