AN: Eeek. Sorry for the long wait, guys. I've been swamped by AP reviewing US History, Biology, and English Language/Composition. Pair that with other homework, volunteering, friends, and my boyfriend, and you've got a reason for my lack of update. Though, I know it's not a legitimate reason for leaving you guys without a chapter for so long. I'll try to be better for the next one, which will be the second to the last. Unfortunately, APs keep getting closer and closer; there's only a month left until the first of the three. If you don't see anything from me soon, I'll try and have the new chapter up on May 8 or 9. Read and review, please! --Kiora Storm
Chapter 9: I Can Be Your Teddy Bear
March 20, 2006
Maria Kanellis stood in the middle of the ring at the start of Raw, a nervous expression gracing her face. She looked like she would prefer not to be in the middle of the ring for whatever reason she left her backstage setting. A microphone in hand, one would think that she was about to interview another superstar, though in a different location. Somewhat encouraged by a faintly cheering crowd, she began to speak, although hesitantly.
"Last week," she started, "John Cena defeated Val Venis in a 'For Her Hand' match, in turn winning exclusive rights to a relationship with me. And I want to settle this now. Can you come out—"
Maria was interrupted by a giggle blasting through the loudspeakers. The giggle led into the theme music of the WWE Women's Champion, Trish Stratus.
"Maria, just because he has exclusive rights to you doesn't mean that you have exclusive rights to him. And just because he has exclusive rights to you doesn't mean that he would want you. Heh," she scoffed, looking Maria up and down scathingly, "I'm not sure why he would."
Maria's fiery personality soon emerged, ready to take down the other Diva, "You want to fight for him? All right, let's fight."
"Any time, anywhere, sweetie," Trish replied derisively.
"Ok," Maria said quickly, her voice hitched a little, "Right here, right now—"
Maria was cut short from further detailing the match by the WWE Chairman, Vincent Kennedy McMahon. Video footage of him, situated in his locker room, a little excited, projected on the Titantron. He seemed eager to set up a match to settle the growing feud between the two Divas.
"Your reasons are justified. You can have your match," he said, his voice a little raspy from yelling. "But I think we should establish some rules for this match. It'll be a Bra and Panties match," he announced amidst cheers from the male demographic. "But! The winner will not be determined by stripping her opponent down to her lingerie first. Instead, after stripping the other to the bare minimum," here he stopped and leered suggestively at the two ladies in the area, "you will need a legal pinfall on the stripped opponent to win. See you ladies tonight," McMahon winked.
Maria Kanellis bounded through the drapes covering the Gorilla position, stopping just in front of the Titantron to blow kisses to the crowd. She made her way down the ramp to cheers louder than those she usually received. Perhaps they were on her side; perhaps they believed she would be able to defeat Trish.
Maria nailed some forearms and then a Thesz press followed by some right hands. Trish tripped Maria into the ropes and ripped of the Diva's white booty shorts, exposing sparkly pink panties. Trish hit some stiff knees to the head and pinned Maria for a two count. Trish slammed Maria to the mat by her hair and covered for another two.
Trish pulled Maria onto her back by the hair and then did so again but Maria flipped over and nailed a kick to the face. With Trish down, Maria pulled of the other girl's pants. Trish came back and sent Maria to the outside, and then Trish threw her back in for two. Trish went for the Spider's Web but Maria reversed into a tilt a whirl headscissors. Both ladies then charged at each other looking for a clothesline and both crashed to the mat. Maria nailed right hands but then took hits from the elbow in the corner. Maria went to take off the other girl's top, but Trish blocked, and then Maria hit the whirlybird headscissors.
Maria followed up with a spinebuster for two. With Trish still down, Maria tore off the other girl's top, leaving Trish in her bra and panties. She had her opponent down to the bare minimum; now Maria needed a finisher to secure the win. In the process, Maria's top was ripped down the middle but still on. The referee took Maria aside to debate the legality of her state of undress. Trish stood idly by until Torrie Wilson stormed into the ring, unseen by a still distracted referee, hitting a swift kick to the chin of the WWE Women's Champion. With Trish down, Maria followed with a three count for the win.
Ecstatic over her win, Maria asked for the mic after her match.
"John," she called, "I tried to tell you that there was nothing between Val Venis and I. I never loved him, especially not in the same way I love you. I still love you, John." She was breaking down, despair evident in her voice.
"Please can you come down here so we can talk about this?" Her pleas grew hysterical, but Cena did not respond to her calls.
Before speaking again, Maria sighed deeply. "And I guess I can't make you see the truth. I thought we had something special. I guess not. Goodbye, John," she exited the ring amidst mild boos, unknown to her if they were directed to her or Mr. Cena. She made her way up the ramp, but stopped mid-ramp when Cena's entrance music blasted through the arena.
She didn't want to encounter him after he left her alone; she wasn't sure when she would be able to face the man she loved once again. She waited for him to emerge from behind the Gorilla position, but he never came. The crowd began to chant for Cena. She looked confused, especially since the boos soon turned to cheers signaling his arrival.
"Maria," he called. She turned and saw Cena in the middle of the ring. Despite her apparent want for him, she shook her head and said, "I can't do this anymore." She couldn't always be the one who allowed herself to succumb to a man's sweet words of apology. She didn't want to be that girl anymore. She turned to continue her way up the ramp and into the locker room.
"Baby, wait. Don't go," Cena quickly amended.
"I'm sorry, John," she said dejectedly and continued on her path up the ramp and into the women's locker room.
As she disappeared behind the curtain, John bowed his head to the sighs and moans of the cheerless crowd. Though she disappeared from physical sight, the cameras followed Maria to the locker room and the Titantron displayed her path. John lifted his head to look at the projected moving image on the giant screen. A conniving smile soon graced Cena's face, contrary to the crowd's thoughts that he bent his head in dejection.
"Don't worry. I got this," he reassured a baffled audience.
Maria opened the door to a room filled with balloons in her favorite colors and purple hyacinths, taken to mean "I'm sorry." A handmade poster was propped up in the midst of all this, reading "I'm sorry. Take me back?" And the central piece, sitting with a small smile and innocent eyes, was a teddy bear from Build-a-Bear Workshop, fashioned to look like the Champ himself, dressed in a Chain Gang tee and hat, Reeboks, and black shorts, a chain link around its tiny neck.
Maria gasped at the lengths Cena went to win her approval once again. She heard his voice from ringside, floating through the arena, "I'm sorry, babe. I hop you'll forgive me."
She picked up the soft teddy bear and sat down on the couch. A smile graced her face as she nuzzled her nose in the fluffy fur of the teddy bear. She didn't have to think twice about her response.