PART EIGHT

TWO MONTHS LATER

Michelle stepped up to the locker room door of Evolution, knocking firmly and waiting. A few moments later, the door opened and Dave Batista appeared in the doorway. He smiled down at her, holding the door open so she could enter.

"Hey kid," he said, walking over to a table up against the wall as she plopped down on the couch. "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing... nothing at all. I'm pretty bored actually," Michelle replied, reclining back on the couch.

"Yeah?" Dave said, picking up a bottle of water off the table and turning back to her. "Where's Trish?" Michelle's eyes lit up a tthe mention of her best friend's name.

"I don't know Dave. I thought maybe *you* would know where she was," she said, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"Why would I know where she is?" he asked innocently. Michelle laughed at the almost nervous tone in his voice. He could play dumb all he wanted, but she knew better.

"Please Dave... you know you like Trish. Hell, *all* of us know it, you're just too scared to admit it. Come on, you two have been inseperable for the past few weeks," she replied. Dave exhaled loudly, smiling at her.

"So?" he asked, to which Michelle rolled her eyes.

"So... did you tell her yet?" she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest expectantly. The smile faded off of Dave's face, and he fell silent.

"You didn't," Michelle said, answering her own question. "Dave, you *have* to tell Trish that you like her." Dave shrugged, his head dropping between his shoulders.

"I-I don't know Chelli. I just have a bad feeling about doing that," he said quietly. Michelle raised an eyebrow.

"What are you scared of, Dave? That she won't like you? Trust me, I *know* Trish, and I know that she likes you. You have nothing to worry about." When she saw that his uneasy expression still remained, she sent him a small smile of reassurance. He sighed, rubbing his eyes.

"It's not that. I mean, I wasn't worried that she wouldn't like me back... I feel the chemistry between us. I just... I feel like I'd be ruining her reputation in a way. She's a pretty, easy going girl, and everybody just loves her. Me, on the other hand... well, I'm just a..."

"A caring, loyal, sweet guy... one I know that my best friend would love to be with. Your selling yourself short, Dave. Just because you and Trish are from different crowds, but that doesn't mean you can't be together," she cut him off, her voice strong and firm. She had no clue why, but Dave could have the *worst* streaks of insecurity.

"But everyone would think..."

"Fuck what everybody else thinks. All that matters is what you and Trish think," Michelle interrupted again. "I want you to promise me something, Dave. Promise me you'll tell Trish how you feel, and that you won't let other people's opinions stop you." Dave hesitated replying... he iwanted/i to talk to Trish, he just wasn't sure he could.

"Michelle, I..."

"Hey..." another male voice called.

Michelle and Dave turned their heads, watching as Randy Orton stepped up to them, fresh from the showers. iSaved by the Orton,/i Dave thought to himself. He then quietly excused himself from the room, leaving the couple alone. Randy wattched as the door shut behind Dave, and then he slowly made his way over to Michelle, sitting down next to her. Before she even got a chance to greet him, Randy cupped her face with his hand and kissed her, his tongue tracing along her bottom lip before slowly entering her mouth. Michelle sighed against him... God, he was a good kisser. She allowed the kiss to continue on, but eventually she needed to come up for air, so the blonde woman reluctantly broke it off.

"Nice to see you too," she said, smiling brightly. Randy returned her grin, leaning in and kissing her once more.

Things between the two of them were definitely less angsty than what was going on with their two friends, Trish and Dave. Just about two months earlier, Randy and Michelle had officially become an item. As the weeks passed, Michelle found herself falling more and more in love with the young man from St. Louis. Physical attributes aside, Randy was a beautiful person... one who was apparently very misunderstood. Michelle had heard countless stories - from wrestlers, employees backstage, fans, and the media alike - about how Randy was a huge party animal. She had heard so many stories about his late night partying, as well as his numerous affairs with women he met on the road. She found all of the rumors almost comical because of how false they were. Randy didn't party *nearly* as much as was reported he did, and when he did go out to a bar or club, Michelle was always by his side. Wherever they went, Randy's arm was always looped around her waist.

That was another thing Michelle loved about Randy. Of all the women he had to choose from - and there were certainly plenty of readily available women willing to throw themselves and Randy's feet and kiss the ground he walked on - he chose her. It made her feel alive, beautiful, wanted... just out and out loved. Their kiss broke once more, and she smiled up at him.

"So," she said. "Did you find out what type of match you have tonight?" Randy nodded, his arm resting around Michelle's shoulder as he pulled her to him, holding her close.

"Yup... Dave, Ric and I have a six man tag match against the Dudleys," he told her.

"Sounds good," Michelle replied, snuggling up against him.

"Yeah, it should be," Randy agreed. "I think it'd be cool to have some more matches with them in a future."

Michelle nodded her agreement. What the two of them didn't know was that Randy *wouldn't* be competing in many matches against the Dudleys in the near future...

Hey all! Hope you like the latest chapter.  Just a little note to Michelle – Nash will be appearing soon enough!  Just didn't want you to think I'd forgotten him. =)  You guys know what to do!