Chapter Three

WrestleMania 21

Cassie entered the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, dressed like an old-fashioned movie starlet. Her hair was done in soft curls and pinned back in a way that reminded her of Marilyn Monroe. She wore a long, sleek white halter dress that sparkled and glittered. Diamond earrings and a diamond choker completed the look. Although she wasn't wrestling on the card, Cassie was still conducting bonus interviews that would appear on the special features of the WrestleMania 21 DVD. Since the theme was WrestleMania Goes Hollywood, she decided she would look the part. It was set that she was going to be interviewing John Cena, Eddie Guerrero or Rey Mysterio - it hadn't been decided yet, Big Show and Theodore Long.

She was heading towards the tech area to get her microphone wired when she heard, "Excuse me! Excuse me!"

She turned to see Chris Jericho rushing towards her. Later on in the night, he was going to be taking part in the six-man Money In The Bank ladder match, an idea he himself had pitched to management. He stopped in front of her. "Wow. Chris Jericho," she said excitedly. "I've always been a huge fan of yours."

"Why, thank you. Are you Cassie?"

"Last time I checked my driver's license, I was," she replied, a smile tugging at her ruby lips. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm really sorry to bother you, I know you're busy, but it's about Dave."

"Batista?" she asked. He nodded. "What's the matter with Dave Batista?"

"He's really nervous about his match right now, and he's actually asking to see you." She blinked. She had to admit that she was flattered. But she pushed those feelings aside and nodded.

"Thanks. I guess I should get over there then. Do you know where his locker room is?" Chris nodded and gave her the directions. She thanked him and began to make her way to the locker room when Chris' voice rang out down the hallway.

"Don't you find it weird at all?"

She turned to face him, befuddled. "What do you mean?"

"Well, Dave Batista is only hours away from the biggest match of his life, and he's asking for a SmackDown Diva to come visit him. You don't find that weird at all?" Cassie took a second to think about what he said.

"No. I don't. Thanks, Chris. Good luck tonight. I'm rooting for you." With that, she made her way to the locker room of Dave Batista.

Dave's blazer was hung up on a hook. He was dressed in pinstripe slacks and a white button-down shirt. He was digging his gear out of his duffel bag, trying to get his nerves under control. Last year, at WrestleMania XX, he had been in the mid-card with Randy and Ric, wrestling the Rock and Sock Connection. This year, he was actually headlining the Raw brand. Against Hunter, his mentor, no less. Batista wasn't too familiar with the idea of allies and friends, but he knew the definition well enough to know that friends didn't try to run each other over in cars.

There was a timid knock on the door. He stood up straight. He figured it was General Manager Eric Bischoff, ready to explain to him the importance of outshining the SmackDown brand tonight. He liked to do that. "Yeah?" Dave called out.

Cassie pushed the door open and made her way into the room. Dave's face lit up. He thought she looked like an angel, the perennial vision in white. "Jericho found you, did he?"

"He did," she confirmed. "I thought I'd stop in before I had to get my mic on. What's on your mind?"

"I wanted to say thank you. For...well, for the warning on SmackDown," he told her. She felt so shy, standing in his locker room with him. It was the first time they had seen each other since he had trashed Bradshaw's limousine.

"You can't trust Hunter. There's a reason why none of his alliances ever pan out," she answered with a slight laugh. He nodded. She seemed to know a lot about wrestling history. She fascinated him. "Relax."

"It's WrestleMania," he replied in his defense. She nodded.

"I get it, but you can't win the title if you throw up on Triple H. It'd be funny, but I'm sure it's not a WrestleMania moment you and Hunter want." He made a sound, shaking his head. She had a point. He needed to loosen up. It was natural to have nerves at WrestleMania, the biggest pro wrestling event of the year, but he had to get himself in order. "Maybe hit the gym for a few minutes. Get on the treadmill or get cozy with some free weights. Unwind." He nodded. "Anyway, I'll see you later. I really should get myself to the techs." She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her wrist gently. She turned to him, slightly surprised. His touch was warm, igniting a fluttering feeling up her arm that made her think of butterflies.

"Are you going to be here after my match?"

"Do you want me to be here after your match?" she asked. He nodded. "Then I'll be here when you come through that door with the World Heavyweight Championship." He smiled. She shot him a shy smile back and let herself out.

It was nearing the end of the night. She had already interviewed Big Show, Rey Mysterio and Theodore Long. She just watched John Cena win his first WWE Championship on the monitor in her interview room. Cassie had audibly cheered when he won, ending JBL's nine-month reign of terror with the title. Readjusting her dress and her hair, Cassie prepared herself for when John came into the room. After the interview, she had to run to Dave's locker room.

John slid into the room and everyone from the cameramen to the sound guys applauded him. "The champ is here!" he called out. Cassie grinned. It had been a rough month for John, who had lost his United States Championship to JBL's Chief of Staff Orlando Jordan. They had blown up his custom US Spinner Championship. Angry, John had reacted by assaulting Theodore Long, who retaliated by putting a no-contact order in place between JBL and John. Three days before the event, Bradshaw had John arrested for vandalizing his white limousine.

He took his place beside Cassie, draping an arm over her shoulder. "John Cena, congratulations on winning your first WWE Championship here at WrestleMania. With an album on the way, a movie in the works and a WWE Championship around your waist, I have to ask: how are you feeling?"

"Dead tired," he deadpanned. She giggled. "But, the fact of the matter is that I did what I set out to do and now the champ is back! To all the members of the Chain Gang who rode with me and had my back, this one's for you. Thank you, and I'd fight for you guys again in a heartbeat." John stepped out of camera frame and they stopped rolling after Cassie made her conclusion. She took off her microphone and rushed to give John a hug.

"Are you going to see the Big Guy?" he asked. Cassie was surprised, but she knew word traveled fast backstage. She nodded.

"He actually asked me to be there waiting for him when he gets back." John looked at her intently. "Don't even start, John. He asked, and I told him I would. Nobody should be alone when they win The Big One for the first time." He smiled.

"Ain't that the truth."

"What are you doing tonight after the show?"

"Painting the town so red that I won't remember a damn thing in the morning," he replied with a laugh. "I'm gonna hit a bottle of JD and call up the fam. You know how it goes. It's a big night." She nodded. "What are you doing?"

"Probably just calling the family. I couldn't handle JD if I tried." He laughed. "I'll let you go do your media rounds. I will see you Thursday. Don't get too drunk, John. You've got a busy week ahead of you." They laughed, both of them knowing that John was making his media rounds in the morning with a giant hangover. They left the interview room and hugged before parting ways.

Dave opened the door to his locker room, smiling when his eyes fell on her standing in the middle of the room. Since leaving the interview room, she had unpinned her hair. It fell down around her face in a way that Dave found seductive. It was all the gel and hairspray, holding her in place. She wished it didn't look the way it did or feel the way it did - it felt like straw - but she was going with it until she could get back to her hotel for a shower. Her eyes fell on the World Heavyweight Championship in his hands. He approached her and hugged her tightly. She was slightly taken aback, but she slowly hugged him back. His body was slick with sweat.

"Thank you for being here," he told her. She had no idea why he wanted her there with him; they barely knew each other. She just smiled and nodded.

"The WWE Champion says congratulations. If you want to meet up with him later, he's hitting a bottle of Jack Daniels at that club just outside LA." Dave knew which one she was talking about, because it was considered a WWE hot-spot when they came to town.

"What are you doing tonight?" he asked.

"Oh, Stacy and Torrie are going out and invited me. I might do that." He nodded. She didn't have any plans outside of going back to the hotel, but she didn't want to be talked into a wild night of boozing with the new champions. She wasn't much of a drinker. "So, you have fun tonight. Good luck at Backlash. You know Hunter is going to be asking for that rematch." He nodded. They hugged again. "I'll guess I'll see you around SummerSlam. Bye, Dave."

With that, she let herself out of his locker room.