Everyone hated Jeff.

Really. Everyone.

Almost every single person backstage, with the exception of maybe 3-4 didn't want to watch Jeff get fired. Mandy was one of them. She thought he was sweet, but stupid. Well, maybe she didn't think of him as stupid, just lost. He just wandered around the halls, looking for someone. Maybe his brother, if Matt didn't despise him. Or maybe Lita, if she wasn't in the mood to beat him with her brush.

Mandy quietly followed him. She wanted to talk to him. He was the only one who didn't seem to have an agenda. Everyone else… She sighed. She felt like she had just gotten a script in a bad horror flick.

"You don't have to follow me," Jeff sighed, and turned around to look at Mandy.

Mandy blushed and looked around. She knew she look suspicious. Crouching behind boxes, sneaking behind him. "I wasn't--I mean, this isn't what it looks likes…"

Jeff smiled sadly. "That's what everyone says."

Mandy stood up and looked around quickly. "Okay… I was following you, I'm sorry, it's just that…"

"What? Want to ask me why everyone hates me? Why I look this way?"

She shook her head. "No, I wanted to know why you're the only one who looks so sad here. You're supposed to love this business. I saw videos; you looked so happy. What happened?"
A shiver spread all of his body and he watched her for a moment. "You mean you don't feel what they are all like?"

"I--" she stopped. "Maybe I do. What do you mean 'they are all like'?"

"They're evil, most of them. They all have plans for everyone. Especially…" He stopped, his eyes going wide with fright.

Something had to be behind her, but she didn't want to look. The look on his face was far more terrifying than what could be behind her… she hoped. Mandy turned around and saw a group of men walking down. Some of them she had encountered before. Trips, Rock, Kane, and a few other tall men. She wondered why Jeff was so scared, he could probably match a few of them.

"So what were you…"As soon as she finished turning around, Jeff was no where to be seen. She didn't know which man scared him, but she didn't want to be around them alone. She took Jeff's initiative and ran behind the curtains.

The voices intensified, becoming louder and harsher to her ears. A hand covered her mouth, and a scream threatened to leak out of her throat. She was pulled against a hard body. She guessed it was a man. Then, she heard the voice.

"I suggest you don't scream. It would do neither of us good."

Raven. Shivers went down her spine, one from fear, the other from his oddly seductive voice. She gulped, and tried to crane her head around to see him, but it was too dark. His hand slid around her waist and held her close to him.

The voices at their loudest, Mandy stood still, her back against Raven and she tried to control her heavy breathing.

"So what do you think about the new girl?"

"What's her name, Mandy?"
"Yeah, wonder why Vince hired her…."

"Alex didn't need to get fired, but hey, if Vince wants a hot girl taking pictures, I'm for it. I don't mind a nice piece of ass drooling over me out there."

Their talk did more than infuriate her, she had a flash of herself walking out there and giving them a piece of her mind, then she reminded they each outweigh her by over one hundred and fifty pounds. Easily. Even Raven had to weigh over a hundred pounds more than her.

A tight piece of ass? She'd never been called that. The darkness covered the bright red in her cheeks, maybe her blushing, or maybe her anger. Her arms were curled into fists at her sides.

The men started walking again, the shoes hitting the stone floor with loud plunks.

Raven let his hand slowly off her waist. His hand still rested on her mouth. "Do you promise not to be noisy?"

She nodded.

Raven pulled his hand off her mouth.

They both stepped out in the light, Mandy still angry, and Raven happy to be out of an uncomfortable situation.

"What were you doing back there?"

"I live in those shadows, Mandy. It's the only way to survive."
Another shiver crept down her spine, and she rubbing her arms quickly, trying to warm herself.

"Cold?" He asked, his eyes meeting hers.

Mandy bit her lip to keep from gasping. Underneath his glasses, his vibrant green eyes sparkled with mystery. His eyes… they were more of a emerald, she thought after pondering for a second. "I- uh, yes."

He quickly pulled off his jacket, and threw it to her.

Mandy leapt forward to grab it and hugged it close. She didn't know whether to be wary of him, or to thank him. He was trying to scare her before, but now, she wasn't so sure what his game was. She took a second to put on the jacket, already warmed by him. "Uhm, thanks, Raven?" She looked up after she thanked him, and he was gone, again.

***

"So, I told him he could shove his dick right up his ass. I didn't want that shit. Jesus, him? He's, like, uglier than Vince or something."

"Oh my god, I like totally knew that he was totally after you. He practically had to wipe the drool off his face."

Mandy listened to the two blond divas talk. She didn't know who they were, probably Stacy, Torrie, or Terri. She frowned. All their names sounded the same, like some bubblegum Barbie dolls. Couldn't it be something normal, like Jennifer? Shaking her head, she walked past them, hugging Raven's jacket close to her.

She sighed. Today had been long, distressing, and all around odd. She figured it would be better to get home and go to bed.

As soon as she made it to the hotel where the rest of the wrestlers were staying , Mandy barely made it to her room without falling asleep trying to open the door. Damn sliding cards. So confusing for sleepy people, she thought to herself, and then slowly let herself in.

Mandy threw her bag over on one of the beds and walked into the bathroom to wash off her face. Mandy flicked the light on in the bathroom, then washed her face. She put her hands on the counter and looked up in the mirror. Her eyes were bleary and bloodshot. Dark bags hung under her eyes and her hair was a mess.

Without a second thought, she pulled out the ponytail, shook her hair out, and walked back out to her bed. She stripped of her clothes, not caring to pull on pajamas, walked over to her bed. Shock filled her body as she saw another typed letter waiting on her pillow. As soon as she saw it, Mandy crumpled to the ground, shaking and sobbing. She couldn't believe they had already found out her room. She wouldn't be safe anywhere.

Mandy struggled against the comforter, trying to pull herself up to the bed side. Maybe the letter wasn't bad, just Vince leaving a note to her. Maybe she could hope for that, but she knew that it wasn't.

Mandy sat on the bed, staring at the letter. Should she open it? Did she want to? No, she didn't, but curiosity got the best of her and she grabbed the letter, tore it open, and unfolded the paper, her hands already shaking from fear and anticipation.

Miss Mandy,

Don't think I would leave you alone yet, did you? Did you have fun today? Maybe you met me, maybe I scared you, maybe I saw you, maybe I gave you my jacket. I could have killed you today. Isn't that a frightening thought? Have fun at work tomorrow, look for me, take a picture. It's so much more wonderful to take a picture then to just see me. A picture lasts forever, not like your life, which will soon be up.

Mandy's head spun. The world around her had no meaning, and she wondered before she blacked out if Raven was meaning to kill her. Why would he give her his jacket? Was there something in it to incriminate her? She fell back on the bed and unconscious took over.

To Be ConTinUed----

A/N: Much love to Last Man Standing and Gwen. I wish that other people would review. If I don't get three reviews, I'm not going to post the next chapter. *frowns* I hate blackmailing people, but damn, I just want one more than I usually get. It's to know someone else than the regulars are reading, but I do love you guys that do review. You guys make it worth writing sometimes. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter out soon, willing I get my one more review. Bon nuit, mon amies!

-Saphi Sparks