Dave led Trish down an aisle of the small diner they had gone to after the show. The spot they chose was relatively far from where everyone was staying, so he didn't expect to run into any of his fellow Superstars there. At this point, he really didn't care if people saw Trish with him. He was far past worrying over the approval of Evolution. He was more concerned with someone seeing him with her. God only knew what Triple H and Ric Flair would do to Trish if they discovered the two of them were associating.
Just a precautious measure, Dave tossed his gaze around the nearly empty diner. When they reached their booth, Dave stepped back and gestured for her to have a seat. He slid in across from her, grimacing when his knees bumped the bottom of the table.
When a waitress approached them, both ordered a small coffee, and then they got to talking. It wasn't long before Trish opened the discussion up to Dave's involvement with Evolution.
"Why are you with those guys?" she asked rather abruptly. Dave simply arched his brow at her, so she continued. "It's obvious that you aren't like them, and they've hardly supported you lately... so why are you still there?"
The best he could offer in response was a shrug.
"I can't just leave, Trish. Hunter and Ric, they made me what I am today. I'd still be midcarding on Smackdown if they hadn't recruited me for Evolution. I guess I owe it to them to stay," he said.
Trish watched as Dave folded his hands together, resting them on the table. A frown marred her pretty complexion.
"You can't be happy," she voiced her concern.
Dave scoffed at her remark. He couldn't even remember the last time he smiled. He rested back in his seat - as much as the restricted space would allow him. It struck him as odd that she would mention happiness.
"You know, you haven't exactly been a ray of sunshine, either," he said knowingly. "And yet - just like myself - you do what you have to do. You keep on going."
Trish shook her head emphatically. Their scenarios were nowhere near the same.
"That's different, Dave," she said, her eyes darting away.
"How is it?" Dave questioned, though his tone was not in the least bit harsh. If anything, it sounded sorrowful. "Both of us are in situations that force us to be someone we're not, and both of us have to do things we genuinely don't want to do, just in order to keep up a facade. What's the difference?"
Trish sighed, placing her elbows on the table and burying her face in her hands. Sure, their situations had similarities. But there was one crucial thing that distinguished hers from his, and it was something she was hardly proud of.
"There's a huge difference," she said to him with a heavy exhale. "I'm not being forced to do anything. My career rests in no one else's hands but my own, and yet I act like this. I was so blinded by my obsession with being champion that I let myself turn into a monster. I don't have Evolution, or anyone, to blame."
"That's not true," Dave assured her, leaning forward just a bit. "There were plenty of elements in your life that influenced your behavior. Christian, Tomko, all their buddies... they all played their part. They convinced you that you were someone entirely different than how you are."
"It's inexcusable," she disagreed, lifting her head. "They only fueled the fire... I started it on my own. At least you can say your career depends on it."
"Trish, you can't honestly believe..."
"Hey, lets face facts," she said, cutting him off. "I brought every last ounce of this on myself, and now I don't know what the hell to do. I've got nothing left, and it's frightening."
Dave frowned as he studied the beautiful blonde closely. She looked so lost, so distraught. When she looked him, he felt as though he was looking right in a mirror. He saw so much of himself in her. The look in her desperate eyes matched his own feeling exactly.
He reached over to her, taking her tiny hand in his own. He surprised her with his gentle touch, and an even softer smile.
"I'll help you, Trish," he said genuinely. "In fact, maybe we can help each other."
-A week later
Stacy managed to get herself into quite the predicament. All she had done was come out to the ring to help honor JR in what had been declared by the Oklahomans as Jim Ross Day. Now, she found herself staring down at the mat, praying that Triple H would not have the heart to give her the Pedigree... she didn't envision that happening any time soon.
JR had tried his best to bail her out, but to no avail. Evolution gave no one mercy. Even Danny Hodge, the three-time NCAA wrestling champion, tried to save her, but his efforts were futile. Flair and Triple H had rid the ring of everyone but Stacy, and now she was screwed.
She struggled against his grip, moving frantically around. How could this happen? Someone told Hunter and Ric about her relationship with Randy. She had no idea who could have told them, but they knew, and they hadn't wasted a moment before they exploited it.
Stacy winced as Triple H held her hands behind her back. If the Pedigree could put the most talented of wrestlers down for the three count, she could only imagine what it would do to her. She shuddered at the thought of what had gotten her into this position. That disgusting Triple H wanted a kiss. She would never kiss that lecherous excuse for a man. She'd rather be Pedigreed.
A sudden burst of applause gave her the hope that she wouldn't have to. Sure enough, only a moment later, Triple H's grip on her disappeared, and the champion went flying. Stacy fell to the mat, and by the time she gathered her bearings, Triple H and Flair were escaping up the ramp. She narrowed her eyes at him, and at his no-good lackey.
She tilted her head back and saw her boyfriend, his blue eyes filled with distress. He stared holes into his former mentors until they disappeared, and then shifted his gaze to her. He made sure she was okay, and helped her up. On their way up the ramp, Stacy noticed how distracted he looked.
"Randy, it's okay," she insisted, giving his hand a squeeze. "I'm fine."
He nodded, but he didn't look comforted in the least.
"Someone told them about us," he said as they stepped through the curtain. "And when I find out who it was, I'm going to murder them."
Stacy frowned, pursing her lips together. She knew he was going to react this way.
"Look, I know you're angry, but please don't do anything drastic," she pleaded, trying her best to calm him. "They found out... it happened, and we're both fine."
"Yeah, for now," Randy snorted. "Come on, Stace, do you really think it's going to stop? I have a title match against Hunter this Sunday at the Rumble. They aren't going to stop tormenting us till then, and if I win, it'll get even worse."
Stacy remained silent as Randy wrapped a frustrated arm around her shoulder. It was no use arguing... he was right.
The pair continued on down the hallway, until Randy stopped abruptly. He froze and his eyes turned cold, narrowing down the hall. Stacy sent him a questioning look, tugging at his arm.
"What is it?"
"I think I just figured out who told Hunter and Ric," he said.
A dangerous gleam flashed through his eyes, and Stacy followed his gaze. Her eyes widened just a bit as she glanced down the hall and saw Dave Batista.
