The sound of grungy metal filled Shadow's ears as she pushed open the Team
Xtreme locker room door. Amanda came in after her, closing the door
quietly. Not that it mattered since the noise itself was so loud from
within. Shadow turned around to grin at Amanda who raised an eyebrow as if
to say 'and you think my music's bad?'. Shadow rolled her eyes at this and
shook her head slightly. Amanda gave her a shove in the back in response as
they turned the wall corner to find all three members of Team Xtreme going
through their pre-show chill out. In fact, the atmosphere was impossibly
serene considering the level of noise that filled the room. Jeff lay on one
of the benches on his side, propped up by an elbow and was deeply involved
in writing something on paper, stopping ever so often to scribble at it.
Matt was sat watching some wrestling tapes he'd got hold of, as usual his
mind totally focused on wrestling. Lita looked up from where she was sat
cross-legged on the floor directly behind Matt, cutting up a Live for the
Moment tee. She grinned at them
"Hey guys" she called loudly over the loud music "sorry about the noise, Jeff's choice this week"
"That's ok" answered Shadow equally as loudly "mind turning it down a little so we can talk normally?"
Lita nodded and stretched back, switching off the portable stereo without even looking, it was like a reflex action. Jeff lifted his head at the sudden silence, confusion showing clearly in his eyes
"Why'd you....oh hey guys, wanted to talk huh?" he said
"Yup, we'll leave you to chill soon ok?" replied Amanda
"Thanks"
Jeff lowered his head again, back into his own little world, the fact that he had a match in a few hours not bothering him at all it seemed. Matt lifted a hand, not turning round to signal that he knew they were there. He was completely absorbed in the video he was watching.
"So what we can we do for you?" asked Lita, putting her scissors down to give them her full attention
"Just wanted to see how you're looking forward to fighting Chyna in a few weeks" said Amanda as she flopped down onto the floor, Shadow doing the same
"Truthfully? I'm looking forward to it but I am nervous as hell!" replied Lita with a grin "I mean, it's Chyna, the woman is phenomenal but then I'm hardly ordinary myself, right?"
"Right" confirmed Shadow with a slight smile
"So it's challenge, the first real one I've had in months so I'm getting ready, training, watching some tapes to see her style, I didn't think the last part was necessary but King of the VCR here said I had to" Lita laughed, gesturing at Matt
"It's all good preparation" called back Matt
"Anyhow, you got a match tonight, against Molly Holly" announced Amanda "we figured you'd like a decent opponent to give you some practice"
"Good call, thanks guys" Lita said picking up her scissors and beginning to cut the tee again
"You gonna come party tonight?" said Jeff suddenly, lifting his head to look at them properly
"If you're going then I guess we'll tag along" replied Shadow
"It had better be better than the last place you took us" added Amanda
"What was wrong with it?" protested Jeff, putting his pen down
"What was wrong? The music was way off! It was all cheesy dance" exclaimed Shadow
"Not to mention the fact that some drag queens came onto you and Matt" added Amanda, shaking with laughter at the memory
"OK, that last part sucked" said Jeff quickly, trying hard not to blush but failing
"You're telling me! it took me ages to convince that blonde that I wasn't gay because Amy had decided to mysteriously disappear for half an hour, he thought I'd made her up" snorted Matt "it's the last time you pick the club little brother!"
"Oops, did I really leave you for all that time?" asked Lita innocently, as she held her modified top against her chest experimentally
"Believe me, it was a long long time" confirmed Matt, finally switching the VCR and turning himself around to face the group, trailing an arm down the back of the chair so that his hand rested on Lita's shoulder
"It probably seemed like a long time when you're being trailed by a gorgeous blonde guy in a dress" suggested Shadow, trying without success not to laugh
"Did you take a look at him close up? It wasn't pretty" exclaimed Matt
"Enough already! I won't pick the club next time!" Jeff said, holding his hands up in surrender
"Good" answered Lita "because the music really did suck"
"Thank you!" exclaimed Shadow triumphantly
"Geez look at the time! Lets go train Shadow, we don't wanna keep Raven waiting" said Amanda, getting to her feet
"Yep, you're right, lets go, catch you guys later?" Shadow asked as she got to her feet beside Amanda
"Wait a second!" Lita called scrambling to her feet
Shadow and Amanda turned to her expectantly. She paused, seeming unsure how to broach the subject, looking back at the guys were obviously listening anyway.
"What do you think of Eddie Guerrero?" she asked softly
"Guerrero? Slimy little weasel who cheated on Chyna for no reason and broke her heart, a prime ass pig" answered Amanda
Shadow nodded in agreement
"That's what we thought" said Lita "but the thing is, he, well he helped Matt win a handicap match last week for no reason and tonight, it's him with Matt and Jeff against Edge, Christian and Rhyno! I mean what is the guy doing and how are we supposed to trust him?"
"Man, I have no idea!" exclaimed Shadow, frowning "wouldn't trust him on just one act though, he's gotta have plenty of aces up his sleeves"
"Thanks, just wanted an opinion" replied Lita, sitting back down and bending her head over her latest creation, Matt peering over the back of the chair at it
*
"Today you enter the next stage of your training" said Raven softly
He produced a kendo stick from behind his back in one hand and a trashcan lid in the other.
"Hardcore rules matches, something I know you never tackled in wrestling school" he continued
Shadow and Amanda looked at each other and saw the same fear and excitement they knew was in their own eyes. This was definitely new.
"You've been learning combos and how to handle the weapons outside the ring, now is the time to bring it into the ring" he said
"Woah, I think I'll back out of this one" said Trish suddenly
"Oh come on Trish, it could be useful when you're attacked or something" argued Amanda "it'll prove you mean business"
"I guess, hitting Lita with a trash can would be fun" Trish replied with a sly smile
Shadow opened her mouth to retort but caught sight of Raven waiting patiently until they finished talking so decided against it.
"You're each going to face me with a hardcore weapon, just attack and we'll see where improvements can be made, Amanda you're first" he said, turning his head to look at her
Amanda gave a start and with a resolved sigh, climbed up onto the apron to get into the ring. As she did, Raven suddenly ran at her, the trash lid raised above his head. Amanda ducked and drove her shoulder into his gut then as he bent over, flipped herself over the ropes and his back to land on her feet. Raven turned to face her and got a superkick to the face which grounded him. Shadow and Trish clapped on the outside, watching it all as it happened. Amanda looked around wildly, what could she use? She grabbed the kendo stick from the mat and when Raven staggered to his feet, went to smack him in the gut with it. Raven grabbed the stick and kicked her hard in the stomach, tearing the stick from her grasp and smacked her hard over the back with it. The THWACK it made on impact could be heard clearly. Amanda dropped to her knees, her back throbbing with stinging pain. She reached for his feet but Raven stomped on her hands and then hit her again with it. Amanda felt around on the floor for something and found another trash can lid. As she held it, Raven grabbed it and tried to take it off her but Amanda pulled him close then suddenly let go, causing the lid to fly up into his face hard. Taking advantage of his dazed state, Amanda bounced off the ropes into a hurricanarana and then grabbed the kendo stick , preparing to hit him with it before lowering it
"Can we stop? My back is really hurting now from those stick shots" she asked
"Yes" replied Raven, raking his hair off his face as he got to his knees
"So how did I do?" Amanda asked, leaning against the ropes, the kendo stick still in her hands
"Good, you've got the general grasp of combining hardcore rules style with wrestling but you've got to learn to use the weapons more, it'll take time" he replied, getting to his feet as he spoke "both of you come in the ring now"
Shadow and Trish hauled themselves up onto the apron and then into the ring. As Raven was about to speak, a voice loud with more than a hint of mocking to it called out from the ramp
"Hey essa! You gonna be finished some time soon? Some of us want to get some training sometime today"
Shadow rolled her eyes at the voice and turned to see Eddie Guerrero sauntering down the ramp, smirking. Amanda pressed her lips together to stop herself from saying anything she regretted later as she often did.
"Soon Eddie soon" replied Raven quietly, staring unblinkedly at the intruder
"Hey, I'm just saying that some of us with a little more talent than you and a higher place on the card want to get some work done" said Eddie, holding his hands up "basically get outta the ring, you understand essa?"
"Look Guerrero, we're still working so why don't you just wait?" exclaimed Amanda, unable to keep quiet any longer
"Oooh, what have we here? One hot little mamacita" said Eddie looking her slowly up and down "it's ok baby, you'll get a chance to wrestle with Eddie sometime soon, just not when there's people around"
"Just go ok? We're trying to work" said Shadow angrily
Trish didn't say anything but glared at Eddie in that sultry angry way she did, her hands on her hips, radiating steamed up anger.
"Being greedy aren't we essa? Having three hot mommies all to yourself?" smirked Eddie to Raven "hey let a real man in, there's plenty to go round"
As he spoke, Eddie had reached the bottom of the ramp and began to climb in. With a look at each other, Shadow and Amanda leapt forward. They both baseball slid him, knocking him to the floor. Shadow got down on her hands and knees in front of the ropes and called back to Amanda
"Hey Manda! Do a Jeff!"
With a grin, Amanda ran and leapt off Shadow's back, launching herself over the ropes and splashed onto Guerrero, taking him down again.
"Hey Amanda, catch!" called Trish
Amanda turned and caught a trash can lid, flashing a thank you smile at Trish. She slammed it onto Eddie's head and went for another shot when he blocked it and began throwing hard rights at her, causing her to drop the lid.
"C'mon Trish" said Shadow, sliding out of the ring.
Shadow climbed the crowd barrier, carefully walking along until she was almost behind Eddie
"Hey essa!" she called mockingly
When he turned, she jumped into a hurricanrana on him, getting to her feet as soon as she could. Trish stood on the steel steps and when Eddie got to his feet, flew into a flying clothesline at him. Then all three of them grabbed him and threw him over the crowd barrier. They high fived, their faces flushed and all breathless. Then they turned back to the ring to find Raven standing in the centre of it, arms crossed across his chest.
"Slight advantage with three on one" he said, not a hint of humour in his voice "you can be equal one on one with practice"
"He means good job" said Amanda
"Now get back into the ring and we can continue training" continued Raven as though Amanda hadn't said anything
Raven sat down on the ropes, it was the first time he had actually physically made a polite gesture to help them into the ring, they took it as a gesture of respect. Trish and Amanda slipped through and as Shadow did, she smiled, patting him on the shoulder blade in a gesture of thanks as she passed. Raven got off the ropes and threw Trish the kendo stick, signalling that it was her turn now and so training resumed.
*
"Sexy blonde Canadians!" shrieked Amanda suddenly, right in Shadow's ear
"Thanks, I get that from guys a lot but not usually from girls, sorry I don't swing that way" answered Trish as she walked beside them
"Not you! Them!" said Amanda, gesturing with her hand down the corridor
Sure enough, Edge and Christian were stood leaning against a stack of anvil cases, talking animatedly, punctuating their talking with loud laughter and jubilant high fives. Trish arched an eyebrow at the pair and then turned back to Amanda who was looking adoringly at them
"I could get you an introduction, possibly" suggested Trish "thought I don't know why you want to know them, how can you be interested in a tag team that Terri Runnels managed? Besides, aren't you friends with their enemies the Hardy Boyz?"
"Last point taken" conceded Amanda "I like the Hardyz but Shadow is one who's really into them, sexy blonde Canadians are my guys"
"Is she for real?" questioned Trish, looking at Shadow
"Oh yeah, they're an obsession with her, she can't get enough of them" said Shadow with a laugh "you get used to it after a while"
"Don't know how, as far as I'm concerned, I'm the only sexy blonde Canadian around here" declared Trish, flipping her hair off her shoulders
"Yeah but as you said, I don't swing that way" smirked Amanda "and how can you not like them? They're gorgeous!"
"Oh very easily, they're annoying!" replied Trish, saying the last word loudly
"It's no good Trish, there's no getting her away from the idea" laughed Shadow
"There's so many to choose from! I mean, there's Edge and Christian and Chris Jericho..." Continued Amanda
"Who just happens to be Edge and Christian's enemy right now" cut in Trish "they want to kill him and I'm sure the feeling's mutual"
"Oh it is, so much so that Jericho's booked himself into the Tag Team Turmoil match at Judgement Day just so he can get at them" said Shadow "and he hasn't got a partner"
"Nuts as well as arrogant" shrugged Trish "nice combination"
"It's her choice" replied Shadow with a smile
"Yeah, a bad one too" Trish said as if Amanda wasn't there, she turned to Shadow and linked arms with her "lets go back to the office, we've got a show to run"
"Actually we have, not you, you're just an observer" said Amanda darkly, underlining the last word
"That's what I meant" answered Trish smiling widely
"You gonna come Manda?" asked Shadow, trying to quickly change the subject
"In a minute" replied Amanda distractedly
Trish and Shadow walked off together, leaving Amanda to look longingly at the Edge and Christian. She didn't even hear him approach
"What are you looking at?" a heaving voice hissed in her ear
Amanda jumped and turned around to find Rhyno staring at her in that off- centre chilling way of his, his Hardcore Title belt barely fitting around his wide waist. She tried to smile; to not show she was more than slightly afraid of this hulking psychotic 'Man-Beast' but it was hard when she was
"Hey Rhyno, I'm just watching the world go by" she said weakly
"No you weren't! You were watching them; you were spying for someone weren't you? Who were you spying for? Was it Chris Jericho? Or Test?" Rhyno's voice got more and more shaky and charged, as if he was full of paranoid rage, then Amanda realised he was
She began to back away a little, some of the smaller wrestlers she could take on, but not Rhyno.
"I'm not spying for anyone" she protested, trying to run away
Rhyno saw her move and blocked her path. Every time she tried to get away, he blocked her. Edge and Christian, as near as they were, were oblivious, still happily chatting to each other. Then a stamping noise wormed it's way into Amanda's cold numb mind, it was Rhyno stamping his foot on the floor as he moved away. For a moment, she felt relief that he was backing off, then she realised what he was going to do, he was crouched ready for a Gore. She began to panic, every way she tried to escape, he blocked, always watching her with his wild staring eyes. He was waiting for the perfect moment to launch himself at her, throwing her off her feet and onto the ground. She closed her eyes, hearing him begin to run, in a few seconds he would meet his target and she was ready for the pain, it wasn't like she hadn't taken a spear before.
Then there was..nothing, she opened her eyes astonished that she was still standing up. Rhyno stood looking a little dazed, then suddenly a steel chair hit him over the head again, then was rammed into his stomach. Amanda gaped, knowing she probably looked particularly stupid doing so but doing it anyway. The person doing this to Rhyno was one Chris Jericho. Suddenly Rhyno swiped the chair out of Jericho's hands and headbutted him hard, causing Jericho to stumble back. Amanda quickly climbed onto a nearby anvil case and crouched waiting until Rhyno turned around to face her and then jumped in a crossbody onto him. She picked up the chair and pounded his fallen body with it. Jericho then picked him up and backdropped him onto the concrete. Rhyno lay still. Amanda didn't know what to say.
"How..?" she began
"I came looking for E&C but found him first" said Jericho as way of explanation
As if hearing a reference to them, an angry voice rang out
"Hey! Jericho totally wiped out Rhyno!"
"Let's go" said Amanda, suddenly not wanting to be near Edge and Christian if they found her here
Jericho didn't say anything but leapt over Rhyno's body and ran down the corridor. It seemed there was nothing for Amanda to do but follow with an enormous smile on her face. She was being chased by two sexy blonde Canadians and following another.
"Maybe prayers are answered" she thought cheerfully to herself as she took of down the corridor after Jericho
Read, enjoy, review! Thanks for the people who read this and review, I'm so glad u like it, u make it worth the effort! (shout outs - ZOE: cool; Shadow's ur fave? She's based on me, yay! Keep reading, T'LAREN: thanks for saying this is awesome, I kinda like it myself!, FALLEN ANGEL: how did I know u'd like that 'sexy blonde Canadian to go' bit? I wrote it just for u anyway! Glad this is kicking ass in ur mind!, HARMONIZED: yay, so glad u like this story as I love to write it and let my imagination go wild, lol, roll on Christmas and JENNI: glad u're still reading, Raven in love? Who knows? Lol, I have ideas!) Keep reading and reviewing!!
"Hey guys" she called loudly over the loud music "sorry about the noise, Jeff's choice this week"
"That's ok" answered Shadow equally as loudly "mind turning it down a little so we can talk normally?"
Lita nodded and stretched back, switching off the portable stereo without even looking, it was like a reflex action. Jeff lifted his head at the sudden silence, confusion showing clearly in his eyes
"Why'd you....oh hey guys, wanted to talk huh?" he said
"Yup, we'll leave you to chill soon ok?" replied Amanda
"Thanks"
Jeff lowered his head again, back into his own little world, the fact that he had a match in a few hours not bothering him at all it seemed. Matt lifted a hand, not turning round to signal that he knew they were there. He was completely absorbed in the video he was watching.
"So what we can we do for you?" asked Lita, putting her scissors down to give them her full attention
"Just wanted to see how you're looking forward to fighting Chyna in a few weeks" said Amanda as she flopped down onto the floor, Shadow doing the same
"Truthfully? I'm looking forward to it but I am nervous as hell!" replied Lita with a grin "I mean, it's Chyna, the woman is phenomenal but then I'm hardly ordinary myself, right?"
"Right" confirmed Shadow with a slight smile
"So it's challenge, the first real one I've had in months so I'm getting ready, training, watching some tapes to see her style, I didn't think the last part was necessary but King of the VCR here said I had to" Lita laughed, gesturing at Matt
"It's all good preparation" called back Matt
"Anyhow, you got a match tonight, against Molly Holly" announced Amanda "we figured you'd like a decent opponent to give you some practice"
"Good call, thanks guys" Lita said picking up her scissors and beginning to cut the tee again
"You gonna come party tonight?" said Jeff suddenly, lifting his head to look at them properly
"If you're going then I guess we'll tag along" replied Shadow
"It had better be better than the last place you took us" added Amanda
"What was wrong with it?" protested Jeff, putting his pen down
"What was wrong? The music was way off! It was all cheesy dance" exclaimed Shadow
"Not to mention the fact that some drag queens came onto you and Matt" added Amanda, shaking with laughter at the memory
"OK, that last part sucked" said Jeff quickly, trying hard not to blush but failing
"You're telling me! it took me ages to convince that blonde that I wasn't gay because Amy had decided to mysteriously disappear for half an hour, he thought I'd made her up" snorted Matt "it's the last time you pick the club little brother!"
"Oops, did I really leave you for all that time?" asked Lita innocently, as she held her modified top against her chest experimentally
"Believe me, it was a long long time" confirmed Matt, finally switching the VCR and turning himself around to face the group, trailing an arm down the back of the chair so that his hand rested on Lita's shoulder
"It probably seemed like a long time when you're being trailed by a gorgeous blonde guy in a dress" suggested Shadow, trying without success not to laugh
"Did you take a look at him close up? It wasn't pretty" exclaimed Matt
"Enough already! I won't pick the club next time!" Jeff said, holding his hands up in surrender
"Good" answered Lita "because the music really did suck"
"Thank you!" exclaimed Shadow triumphantly
"Geez look at the time! Lets go train Shadow, we don't wanna keep Raven waiting" said Amanda, getting to her feet
"Yep, you're right, lets go, catch you guys later?" Shadow asked as she got to her feet beside Amanda
"Wait a second!" Lita called scrambling to her feet
Shadow and Amanda turned to her expectantly. She paused, seeming unsure how to broach the subject, looking back at the guys were obviously listening anyway.
"What do you think of Eddie Guerrero?" she asked softly
"Guerrero? Slimy little weasel who cheated on Chyna for no reason and broke her heart, a prime ass pig" answered Amanda
Shadow nodded in agreement
"That's what we thought" said Lita "but the thing is, he, well he helped Matt win a handicap match last week for no reason and tonight, it's him with Matt and Jeff against Edge, Christian and Rhyno! I mean what is the guy doing and how are we supposed to trust him?"
"Man, I have no idea!" exclaimed Shadow, frowning "wouldn't trust him on just one act though, he's gotta have plenty of aces up his sleeves"
"Thanks, just wanted an opinion" replied Lita, sitting back down and bending her head over her latest creation, Matt peering over the back of the chair at it
*
"Today you enter the next stage of your training" said Raven softly
He produced a kendo stick from behind his back in one hand and a trashcan lid in the other.
"Hardcore rules matches, something I know you never tackled in wrestling school" he continued
Shadow and Amanda looked at each other and saw the same fear and excitement they knew was in their own eyes. This was definitely new.
"You've been learning combos and how to handle the weapons outside the ring, now is the time to bring it into the ring" he said
"Woah, I think I'll back out of this one" said Trish suddenly
"Oh come on Trish, it could be useful when you're attacked or something" argued Amanda "it'll prove you mean business"
"I guess, hitting Lita with a trash can would be fun" Trish replied with a sly smile
Shadow opened her mouth to retort but caught sight of Raven waiting patiently until they finished talking so decided against it.
"You're each going to face me with a hardcore weapon, just attack and we'll see where improvements can be made, Amanda you're first" he said, turning his head to look at her
Amanda gave a start and with a resolved sigh, climbed up onto the apron to get into the ring. As she did, Raven suddenly ran at her, the trash lid raised above his head. Amanda ducked and drove her shoulder into his gut then as he bent over, flipped herself over the ropes and his back to land on her feet. Raven turned to face her and got a superkick to the face which grounded him. Shadow and Trish clapped on the outside, watching it all as it happened. Amanda looked around wildly, what could she use? She grabbed the kendo stick from the mat and when Raven staggered to his feet, went to smack him in the gut with it. Raven grabbed the stick and kicked her hard in the stomach, tearing the stick from her grasp and smacked her hard over the back with it. The THWACK it made on impact could be heard clearly. Amanda dropped to her knees, her back throbbing with stinging pain. She reached for his feet but Raven stomped on her hands and then hit her again with it. Amanda felt around on the floor for something and found another trash can lid. As she held it, Raven grabbed it and tried to take it off her but Amanda pulled him close then suddenly let go, causing the lid to fly up into his face hard. Taking advantage of his dazed state, Amanda bounced off the ropes into a hurricanarana and then grabbed the kendo stick , preparing to hit him with it before lowering it
"Can we stop? My back is really hurting now from those stick shots" she asked
"Yes" replied Raven, raking his hair off his face as he got to his knees
"So how did I do?" Amanda asked, leaning against the ropes, the kendo stick still in her hands
"Good, you've got the general grasp of combining hardcore rules style with wrestling but you've got to learn to use the weapons more, it'll take time" he replied, getting to his feet as he spoke "both of you come in the ring now"
Shadow and Trish hauled themselves up onto the apron and then into the ring. As Raven was about to speak, a voice loud with more than a hint of mocking to it called out from the ramp
"Hey essa! You gonna be finished some time soon? Some of us want to get some training sometime today"
Shadow rolled her eyes at the voice and turned to see Eddie Guerrero sauntering down the ramp, smirking. Amanda pressed her lips together to stop herself from saying anything she regretted later as she often did.
"Soon Eddie soon" replied Raven quietly, staring unblinkedly at the intruder
"Hey, I'm just saying that some of us with a little more talent than you and a higher place on the card want to get some work done" said Eddie, holding his hands up "basically get outta the ring, you understand essa?"
"Look Guerrero, we're still working so why don't you just wait?" exclaimed Amanda, unable to keep quiet any longer
"Oooh, what have we here? One hot little mamacita" said Eddie looking her slowly up and down "it's ok baby, you'll get a chance to wrestle with Eddie sometime soon, just not when there's people around"
"Just go ok? We're trying to work" said Shadow angrily
Trish didn't say anything but glared at Eddie in that sultry angry way she did, her hands on her hips, radiating steamed up anger.
"Being greedy aren't we essa? Having three hot mommies all to yourself?" smirked Eddie to Raven "hey let a real man in, there's plenty to go round"
As he spoke, Eddie had reached the bottom of the ramp and began to climb in. With a look at each other, Shadow and Amanda leapt forward. They both baseball slid him, knocking him to the floor. Shadow got down on her hands and knees in front of the ropes and called back to Amanda
"Hey Manda! Do a Jeff!"
With a grin, Amanda ran and leapt off Shadow's back, launching herself over the ropes and splashed onto Guerrero, taking him down again.
"Hey Amanda, catch!" called Trish
Amanda turned and caught a trash can lid, flashing a thank you smile at Trish. She slammed it onto Eddie's head and went for another shot when he blocked it and began throwing hard rights at her, causing her to drop the lid.
"C'mon Trish" said Shadow, sliding out of the ring.
Shadow climbed the crowd barrier, carefully walking along until she was almost behind Eddie
"Hey essa!" she called mockingly
When he turned, she jumped into a hurricanrana on him, getting to her feet as soon as she could. Trish stood on the steel steps and when Eddie got to his feet, flew into a flying clothesline at him. Then all three of them grabbed him and threw him over the crowd barrier. They high fived, their faces flushed and all breathless. Then they turned back to the ring to find Raven standing in the centre of it, arms crossed across his chest.
"Slight advantage with three on one" he said, not a hint of humour in his voice "you can be equal one on one with practice"
"He means good job" said Amanda
"Now get back into the ring and we can continue training" continued Raven as though Amanda hadn't said anything
Raven sat down on the ropes, it was the first time he had actually physically made a polite gesture to help them into the ring, they took it as a gesture of respect. Trish and Amanda slipped through and as Shadow did, she smiled, patting him on the shoulder blade in a gesture of thanks as she passed. Raven got off the ropes and threw Trish the kendo stick, signalling that it was her turn now and so training resumed.
*
"Sexy blonde Canadians!" shrieked Amanda suddenly, right in Shadow's ear
"Thanks, I get that from guys a lot but not usually from girls, sorry I don't swing that way" answered Trish as she walked beside them
"Not you! Them!" said Amanda, gesturing with her hand down the corridor
Sure enough, Edge and Christian were stood leaning against a stack of anvil cases, talking animatedly, punctuating their talking with loud laughter and jubilant high fives. Trish arched an eyebrow at the pair and then turned back to Amanda who was looking adoringly at them
"I could get you an introduction, possibly" suggested Trish "thought I don't know why you want to know them, how can you be interested in a tag team that Terri Runnels managed? Besides, aren't you friends with their enemies the Hardy Boyz?"
"Last point taken" conceded Amanda "I like the Hardyz but Shadow is one who's really into them, sexy blonde Canadians are my guys"
"Is she for real?" questioned Trish, looking at Shadow
"Oh yeah, they're an obsession with her, she can't get enough of them" said Shadow with a laugh "you get used to it after a while"
"Don't know how, as far as I'm concerned, I'm the only sexy blonde Canadian around here" declared Trish, flipping her hair off her shoulders
"Yeah but as you said, I don't swing that way" smirked Amanda "and how can you not like them? They're gorgeous!"
"Oh very easily, they're annoying!" replied Trish, saying the last word loudly
"It's no good Trish, there's no getting her away from the idea" laughed Shadow
"There's so many to choose from! I mean, there's Edge and Christian and Chris Jericho..." Continued Amanda
"Who just happens to be Edge and Christian's enemy right now" cut in Trish "they want to kill him and I'm sure the feeling's mutual"
"Oh it is, so much so that Jericho's booked himself into the Tag Team Turmoil match at Judgement Day just so he can get at them" said Shadow "and he hasn't got a partner"
"Nuts as well as arrogant" shrugged Trish "nice combination"
"It's her choice" replied Shadow with a smile
"Yeah, a bad one too" Trish said as if Amanda wasn't there, she turned to Shadow and linked arms with her "lets go back to the office, we've got a show to run"
"Actually we have, not you, you're just an observer" said Amanda darkly, underlining the last word
"That's what I meant" answered Trish smiling widely
"You gonna come Manda?" asked Shadow, trying to quickly change the subject
"In a minute" replied Amanda distractedly
Trish and Shadow walked off together, leaving Amanda to look longingly at the Edge and Christian. She didn't even hear him approach
"What are you looking at?" a heaving voice hissed in her ear
Amanda jumped and turned around to find Rhyno staring at her in that off- centre chilling way of his, his Hardcore Title belt barely fitting around his wide waist. She tried to smile; to not show she was more than slightly afraid of this hulking psychotic 'Man-Beast' but it was hard when she was
"Hey Rhyno, I'm just watching the world go by" she said weakly
"No you weren't! You were watching them; you were spying for someone weren't you? Who were you spying for? Was it Chris Jericho? Or Test?" Rhyno's voice got more and more shaky and charged, as if he was full of paranoid rage, then Amanda realised he was
She began to back away a little, some of the smaller wrestlers she could take on, but not Rhyno.
"I'm not spying for anyone" she protested, trying to run away
Rhyno saw her move and blocked her path. Every time she tried to get away, he blocked her. Edge and Christian, as near as they were, were oblivious, still happily chatting to each other. Then a stamping noise wormed it's way into Amanda's cold numb mind, it was Rhyno stamping his foot on the floor as he moved away. For a moment, she felt relief that he was backing off, then she realised what he was going to do, he was crouched ready for a Gore. She began to panic, every way she tried to escape, he blocked, always watching her with his wild staring eyes. He was waiting for the perfect moment to launch himself at her, throwing her off her feet and onto the ground. She closed her eyes, hearing him begin to run, in a few seconds he would meet his target and she was ready for the pain, it wasn't like she hadn't taken a spear before.
Then there was..nothing, she opened her eyes astonished that she was still standing up. Rhyno stood looking a little dazed, then suddenly a steel chair hit him over the head again, then was rammed into his stomach. Amanda gaped, knowing she probably looked particularly stupid doing so but doing it anyway. The person doing this to Rhyno was one Chris Jericho. Suddenly Rhyno swiped the chair out of Jericho's hands and headbutted him hard, causing Jericho to stumble back. Amanda quickly climbed onto a nearby anvil case and crouched waiting until Rhyno turned around to face her and then jumped in a crossbody onto him. She picked up the chair and pounded his fallen body with it. Jericho then picked him up and backdropped him onto the concrete. Rhyno lay still. Amanda didn't know what to say.
"How..?" she began
"I came looking for E&C but found him first" said Jericho as way of explanation
As if hearing a reference to them, an angry voice rang out
"Hey! Jericho totally wiped out Rhyno!"
"Let's go" said Amanda, suddenly not wanting to be near Edge and Christian if they found her here
Jericho didn't say anything but leapt over Rhyno's body and ran down the corridor. It seemed there was nothing for Amanda to do but follow with an enormous smile on her face. She was being chased by two sexy blonde Canadians and following another.
"Maybe prayers are answered" she thought cheerfully to herself as she took of down the corridor after Jericho
Read, enjoy, review! Thanks for the people who read this and review, I'm so glad u like it, u make it worth the effort! (shout outs - ZOE: cool; Shadow's ur fave? She's based on me, yay! Keep reading, T'LAREN: thanks for saying this is awesome, I kinda like it myself!, FALLEN ANGEL: how did I know u'd like that 'sexy blonde Canadian to go' bit? I wrote it just for u anyway! Glad this is kicking ass in ur mind!, HARMONIZED: yay, so glad u like this story as I love to write it and let my imagination go wild, lol, roll on Christmas and JENNI: glad u're still reading, Raven in love? Who knows? Lol, I have ideas!) Keep reading and reviewing!!
