Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed since the last chapter: Taka-Ichi-Sisters, Hope Falls, BubblyShell22, gtea-angel and Latisha C. I hope you guys like this chapter! Please keep on reviewing and (even though it's late, and probably will be much later by the time I finish this) have a happy new year!

Everything you say to me

Takes me one step closer to the edge

And I'm about to break

I need a little room to breathe

'Cause I'm one step closer to the edge

And I'm about to break

I find the answers aren't so clear

Wish I could find a way to disappear

All these thoughts they make no sense

I find bliss in ignorance

Nothing seems to go away

Over and over again

-One Step Closer by Linkin Park

Inside of Me

Chapter 9

"Later tonight, we have Shelton Benjamin and Gail Kim versus Kane and Mina!" Jim Ross announced to the arena.

"Maybe this time Mina won't run out on her match," the King laughed.

J.R. pointedly ignored his partner. "You've got to wonder how Mina is doing since Kane unleashed the bombshell that he is her father, and not Matt Hardy."

Mina frowned as she heard the announcers' voices on the nearby monitor in the women's locker room. The room was full of women changing into their wrestling gear. Mina wasn't stupid—she'd notice all of the side glances that they'd been giving her since she'd stepped into the room. She gritted her teeth to stop herself from asking someone to turn it off. Asking that would be like admitting to these complete strangers that this was seriously bothering her.

The redhead sighed to herself as she pulled a mesh shirt over her lime green tank top. 'I shouldn't be worrying about this,' she thought, slipping on her Lycra pants. 'I'm going out there tonight and I'm proving to the world that I'm good enough to be here. I'll worry about the rest of it-my life-later.'

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the chick that ran away from a title shot." Mina glanced up from her bag, where she'd been depositing her street clothes, and immediately straightened, her eyes narrowing. Gail Kim stood in front of her, hands on her hips and the Women's Championship strapped around her shoulder. Two other women stood on either side, giving Mina a look like she was filth.

"My, oh my, would you look what the cat dragged in?" Mina replied, looking Gail up and down.

Gail's gaze turned venomous. "You've got some nerve," she said, stepping closer to Mina. "You run away from your first match, not to mention it being a title match, and now you pick a fight with me?"

Mina was partially inclined to point out that it was Gail, in fact, who was picking the fight, but it seemed like a waste of words. Before she could speak, someone else cut her to the chase. "Gail, could you for once get some manners and stop trying to intimidate everyone that can steal the title from you?" Mina looked to her left and studied the Diva who had come to her verbal rescue. She was a fellow redhead—though more of a strawberry blonde than anything—with blue eyes and about 5'4" in height.

Gail turned her superior glare over to the other Diva. "Christy, I don't think you have room to talk. You only got here because the fans liked your ass better than the rest of the wanna-bes."

"I proved that I belonged here when I won your title last month," Christy replied, stepping up to Gail and prodding the title as she spoke.

"Yeah, but you couldn't keep it," Gail snorted, "It only took me three weeks to get it back."

"Only because your little groupies interfered," Christy shot at the two blondes latched onto Gail.

Gail smirked. "A champion has to be ready for everything and it's obvious that you aren't championship material."

"Last time I checked a champion was an honorable person," Mina mused. "And from what I hear it's obvious that you're the furthest thing from it."

"Listen to me, newbie," Gail hissed, turning her full attention on Mina. "You're either against the Roses or you're with us."

Mina burst out laughing. How pathetic was this? "Whoa, whoa, whoa… 'The Roses'? Gee, that's intimidating. Almost as intimidating as you," she added, a lopsided smirk on her face. "And if you excuse me, I've got to go get ready to kick your ass in about…oh, ten minutes." Mina smiled at the look on Gail's face and headed toward the door, sending one of Gail's accessories stumbling when she knocked into her shoulder.

"That was priceless," Christy told her, and Mina turned around. Christy had followed Mina out.

Mina smiled. "You didn't do so bad yourself."

Christy smiled in return, extending her hand, "Christy Hemme."

"Mina—" she bit her lip and then shrugged, "Just Mina."

"Nice to meet you."

"The same," Mina replied politely and hesitated. "I've got to go and stretch, so…"

"I'll see you later," Christy said, smiling.

"All right. Bye!" Mina started to leave when Christy spoke.

"Hey… Watch out for Connie and Tracey. They don't look like much, but they're nasty fighters."

"Thanks," Mina nodded before heading her way. As she made her way through the throngs of people, she forced herself to focus on her upcoming match. She felt the frustration that had built within her well in the pit of her stomach, and she smiled.

Gail Kim was going to wish she'd never opened her mouth.