Author's Note: Since I've uploaded the 16th chapter, this site hasn't been functional, whether it's really the site or just my stupid computer, I'll never know. I've decided to start this chapter, but be warned, it may be a slower chapter than usual. I'm not sure. I go wherever the mood takes me… Please review!
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Dangerous Business
Chapter XVII
Smackdown!
8:09 P.M
Liz sighed quietly, looking down the empty hallways carefully. Over the last twenty minutes, she'd been into so many comforting embraces; it made her feel weak and loved at the same time. But all she wanted now was to be left alone. Alone. Liz shook her head quietly. If she didn't keep herself busy, her thoughts kept turning back to him. But it was hard to keep her mind busy. Everything – from one little detail or simple phrases reminded her of him. Sighing again, the brunette walked down the lonesome hallway. Catching sight of one of the monitors, she remembered that the cameras had caught the clip of her coming out of Rob's dressing room, crying. Crying. Another word that made her feel ashamed and weak that she had done so.
"Liz!" Liz groaned to herself, pausing as she heard the familiar beat of footsteps on the concrete behind her.
"What?" she muttered, noticing the loss of her title as she moved to do the familiar motion of shouldering it as she turned.
"Is it really true that you and Rob are over?" Coach said eagerly, holding up the microphone. Liz rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath before replying.
"Yes."
Coach, taken aback by her abrupt and blunt answer, paused before prodding further, "Did this happen – "
Liz clenched her jaw tightly and interrupted, "Yes, we broke up, yes, we broke up today, yes, it hurt me, and yes it was Rob that broke things off." She glared at Coach, "Anything else?" she cocked her head, challenging him to make another question, "Or are you going to actually ask me something relevant to my career in the WWE?"
Coach, shielding away from her glare, spoke once more, "Tonight you have a match against Nidia in a part of a tournament for the Number 1 Contender for the Women's Title. If you win tonight, you will face the winner of Trish versus Molly, and Victoria versus Jazz in a Triple Threat match," he stated.
"After I destroy Nidia tonight," Liz said, emphasizing, "I'm going to do the same thing to Trish, Victoria, Jazz, Molly, Lita, and whoever the hell else wants to stand in my way in getting my title back," she glared down at Coach, newborn fury and anger dancing beyond her eyes.
"Liz!" another voice called from behind her. She didn't need to turn around to place the voice to Edge.
"This interview is over," she hissed, turning around and walking away from him.
Edge cocked an eyebrow as she walked up, "Rumor is that you're acting really," he paused, "What was that word that Jericho used? Bitchy, I think it was."
Liz narrowed her eyes, "What's your point?" Edge sighed, running a hand through his blond hair. She sighed, "It's better being sarcastic and mean then lying around and crying," she murmured. "And why did Jericho say that, anyway?"
"He saw you take apart Molly for getting in your way after you left his locker room," explained Edge, still bearing the confused look in his eyes, "Why were you in his locker room anyway? Aren't you two - "
Liz cut him off, "No, we aren't fighting," she sighed, "He apologized while I was out," she explained to him. He nodded, shifting his weight to his other foot as he continued to be silent. Liz sighed quietly, taking a quick glance at her watch. Her match was almost up. Her eyes remained settled on the floor until she felt Edge's hand squeeze her shoulder lightly.
"Take it easy on Nidia," he said, "The only person who deserves to be beaten to a pulp tonight is Rob, and Big Show and Randy have that job tonight."
Liz smiled weakly, "Never thought I'd be rooting for them," she said quietly, "Never thought I'd wish for Rob and Kane to lose."
"You might want to go and see Jeff," mused Edge, "He seems to think that you're ignoring him." Liz nodded, turning around and starting to head down the hall, hands lose at her sides, her head down. "Liz?" he called after her. She turned her head to him, and just then he recognized the lost expression in her eyes. "Everything will turn out in the end," he said. She nodded, but couldn't bring herself to believe his words.
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Liz walked out to her music, but this time the familiar roars of the fans did nothing to sway her numb state. She didn't pose and egg the fans as she walked to the ring and slip in. As the familiar mat sprung beneath her feet, she looked to the ramp as Nidia strutted to the ring, accompanied by Jamie Noble. Liz sighed quietly as Nidia posed, and undid the ponytail that kept her light brown hair away from her face. But as Nidia continued to try and flaunt her body, Liz felt the familiar urge to show her up. She smiled, and arched backward. Her top was like a thick tube top, only there was no material in the center of her chest, only string tying the material together. As she arched backward, the strings seemed to expand. Nidia growled and leapt towards her. Liz snapped backward to the mat, pressing her wrists back as they hit the mat, making her back close, but not touching the mat. As Nidia leapt over her, Liz pushed up on her hands, pushing herself backwards and up. Once her feet touched the mat she leapt backward and put up her elbow. Nidia let out a cry as her upper chest and Liz's elbow collided. The bell rang. Liz grabbed Nidia's hair and pulled her to her feet roughly. Liz grabbed Nidia's arm and twisted it backwards. Nidia slapped her arm in pain. Liz pushed harder, and when it appeared that Nidia would pull out of the hold, she slammed her knee into Nidia's stomach. Liz grabbed her head, twisted around, and pulled them both to the mat. Once she hit the mat, Liz leapt up, dragging Nidia to her feet once more. Nidia fought back with a punch, and pushed Liz to the ropes. Liz ran back, slid beneath her open legs, and clocked Nidia on the side of the head with her boot. Nidia went down face-first. Once she hit the mat, Liz stalked over. She placed her left shin diagonal over Nidia's calves – effectively pinning her legs down – and bent her right leg over it so that her knee was against Nidia's back. As Liz sat on her left leg, she didn't try to lessen her weight any. She reached forward, however, and applied the sleeper hold as best as she could, and arched backwards.
The hold was apparently effective, as Nidia let out a cry of pain. After a moment, Nidia began to feel the effects of the odd sleeper. She struggled violently, jerking her head from Liz's grasp. Improvising, Liz snatched Nidia's arms and yanked backwards, now able to apply more force. Liz felt Nidia trying to jerk her legs out from under her shin, and Liz let go. Nidia was once again stomach first on the mat, grabbing at her back. Liz snapped her boot, and Nidia gave out a small cry of pain. Liz yanked Nidia to her feet and kneed her savagely into her stomach and dashed for the turnbuckle. As Nidia recovered and stood up, Liz flew off of the turnbuckle, clasped her arm around Nidia's head, and delivered a swinging DDT off of the turnbuckle. Liz pulled Nidia to her feet once more.
"It doesn't look like Liz has any intention of ending this match soon," J.R commented as Liz performed a backbreaker, "I dare to say that she's taking out her anger for Rob out on Nidia…"
"Rob would deserve what Nidia's getting from Liz!" exclaimed King, "Who in their right mind would dump Liz?" Liz ignored the commentators' as they spoke, picking up Nidia again. Liz let go of her hair for a few seconds to punch Noble from the apron, where he stood, yelling at the ref. As Liz turned around, Nidia tried to get the upper hand, but Liz blocked her punches. As she made a particularly sloppy punch, Liz ducked, got behind Nidia, wrapped her arms around her waist, and lifted Nidia over her onto the mat. Once she let go, Liz headed to the turnbuckle once more. After a brief considering moment, she took a glance at the motionless Nidia, and leapt off of the rope, performing a moonsault. Liz barely winced at the pain coursing through her stomach. Ignoring the ref once again, she hauled Nidia up by her hair and tossed her into the turnbuckle. She backed up to the opposite one and ran full speed at her. A few feet from her, Liz leapt off of the mat, her left foot colliding with Nidia's stomach with her motion, and using her right foot on Nidia's chest to gain height as she clutched Nidia's forearms. Liz landed, kneeling down in front of Nidia, her arms locked with Nidia's. She used her arm strength to pull Nidia. Nidia ended up, her shoulders on the mat, her back parallel diagonally to Liz's.
"1…2…3…!" the ref counted, signaling for the bell. Almost immediately, Liz felt a sharp jab in her stomach. Jamie stood above her, steel chair clutched in his slick right hand. Liz leapt to her feet, not fazed by the chair. Jamie held the chair, ready to swing, in front of his face. Liz jumped in a karate-style dropkick, one leg extended, the other curled beneath her, and her head above her feet. Jamie quickly stepped aside and slammed the chair into Liz's forehead. His strength in his swing, combined with her momentum, spilt the skin along her forehead. Liz lay, face up, in the middle of the ring. Through the corner of her eye, she saw that Jamie had discarded the chair and was bending next to Nidia, his face paled in concern. Liz didn't take the time, nor did she have, the time to consider why that hurt more than the chair shot. As the thick blood trickled down her forehead, Liz slowly reached her hand to the char. Once her hand was firmly around it, she leapt to her feet, the chair up behind her. Jamie looked up, saw her, and then the chair. Liz took a step back, took a quick pretend swing forward, sending Jamie ducking, and then took the end of the chair and smacked it into his forehead. A minute or so after he stood up, slowly, she swung the chair like a baseball bat into his bleeding forehead. Liz dropped the chair, her ears ringing with the sound of the chair against flesh. Quietly, she slid out of the ring and headed up the ramp. She didn't stop once to look back as if she was guilty or proud, she didn't stop to pose to the fans. She just bowed her head, and trudged up the ramp, leaving no trail to her emotions behind her. As she came backstage, the medics on hand were waiting for her. Liz shoved one gently, but firmly, away and traveled down to the Women's locker room, entered, got her stuff, and left without a word but with plenty of stares from the other Divas.
"Liz!" Liz sighed quietly, turning around to face Edge once again. She sighed, expecting him to rant on about her just about destroying Jamie and Nidia, but he didn't. "Listen, I was talking to some of the guys," he said. Liz gave him the 'get to the point' look. He smiled, rolled his eyes, and continued, "And we're heading down to see the fireworks in some town tonight."
"Huh?" Liz cocked an eyebrow, swiping the blood off of her eyelashes in irritation.
"You didn't forget that today is the fourth of July, did you?"
'How ironic,' Liz thought, 'That I got independent today.' "By guys you mean the guys and their girlfriends?" she commented as a question.
"Well… Guys and good friends?" he applied.
"Who's coming?" Liz said, absentmindedly.
"Trish and Jeff, Shane and Dominique, hopefully you, me, and a couple other guys that have nothing better to do."
"Like who?"
"Brock, Jericho, Tommy, and I think that's it." Liz sighed at his hopeful face. "I won't take no for an answer," he smiled, and teased, "Remember last time you said no when I offered for social activities when you were living in Canada?" Liz smiled wryly when she thought of the last time. Edge and Christian had gone swimming, and Edge wanted her to come. Liz said no – and Edge ended up carrying her over his back and dumping her – white shirt and all, into the pool, much to the delight of Christian. She knew there was no use in saying no – and she loved fireworks.
"Fine," Liz said weakly, running a hand through her hair, unintentionally wiping the blood into it.
Edge smiled, "Go to the medics, and then clean up, and I'll meet you by the door."
Liz sighed, but finally agreed. As she approached the medics, two walked up, determined that her head didn't need stitches (as if she didn't know THAT), and stuck some cream and a band-aid on to make it look like they did something. Liz shook her head quietly as she left, vaguely hoping that the rest of the night didn't turn out a waste of time, and it actually ended up relieving her of some stress.
She didn't figure that it could add to her stress.
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Author's Note: The site is operational again. Yippee! I'm so tired… It's 12:43 in the morning, and I got up at 4:34 this morning. Stayed up until midnight last night… Anyway, I hope you like this chapter – it may have gotten me grounded. Anyway, REVIEW!
Bye,
LK08