Chapter Eighteen

The Night In Australia

Cassie stood in her locker room, sliding on her black elbow pads. She was getting ready for her upcoming match with Melina. It had taken her three weeks, but she was finally going to get her hands on the "Paparazzi Princess". Cassie had dressed in black bell bottom pants and a glittering butterfly shirt. There was a yellow loop belt hanging over her hips. It was a backless shirt, something that worried Cassie, but she went along with it when Ashley Massaro handed her the double-sided tape.

At the end of the night, after she had cleaned the canvas with Melina, Cassie was going to go out and enjoy Australia with Jillian Hall. The SmackDown Divas locker room had thinned out in the past few months. Christy Hemme had been released. Stacy Keibler was off doing "Dancing With the Stars" on ABC.

Cassie got Melina to agree to drop all the charges against Dave if she won the match. She was surprised that Melina had agreed so easily. So Cassie knew that there was a lot on the line, and it was quickly getting to do-or-die time. She knew that Melina had the flexibility and MNM behind her. Cassie slid on her black boots and laced them up. She turned on her iPod to listen to some music to get her in the zone before her match. Earshot's "Wait" always got her going. She jumped up and down, swinging her arms around, trying to limber up. She added a quick touch of mascara across her lashes and touched up the gloss on her lips before leaving the Divas locker room.

12 Stones' "Broken" blared through the speakers in the arena. The Australian crowd gave her a warm welcome. Smiling, she made her way down the ramp, giving high-fives to as many people in the crowd as she could. She climbed up the steps and got into the ring. Jumping around, she pulled on the ropes and stretched, waiting for her music to fade. She had plans on beating Melina from pillar to post.

The wailing guitars of MNM's music blared through the arena. There was no love for Melina from the crowd. Melina walked out, dressed in black slashed pants and a pink and purple flowing shirt. She strutted down the ramp, refusing to shake hands or acknowledge the fans. She regarded them with outright disgust. She didn't even bother performing the splits into the ring. Melina didn't make it into the ring, as Cassie stormed past the referee, grabbed Melina by the hair and flung her into the ring violently. Melina hit the canvas and arched up in pain. Cassie climbed on top of her and proceeded to hit her with shot after shot. There was a lot riding on this match, and she didn't want to let Dave down.

Melina got the advantage for a little bit, but Cassie fought back, taking Melina down with a double-leg take-down. Melina had been jaw-jacking with the referee and hadn't paid attention to Cassie, who had recovered during the seconds it took Melina to argue. Landing punch after mounted punch on Melina, Cassie felt good. She was screaming, grabbing handfuls of Melina's hair and slamming her into the canvas repeatedly. She savored each strangled shriek and cry of pain that she ripped from Melina's throat as she bashed her head into the canvas.

Melina reversed what Cassie had been doing and tried to pin, but she only got a two count. Cassie was lucky to kick out, since Melina had a grip on her pants. While Melina argued with the referee, arguing that he had counted three when Cassie had only felt two hands hit the canvas, she snuck up behind Melina and caught her with a surprise roll-up pin. The referee counted to three. The bell rang and the 12 Stones music resumed as Cassie got out of the ring in a hurry, leaving Melina screaming and throwing a temper tantrum in the ring.

She had done it. She defeated Melina. The lawsuit was going to be dropped.

Backstage, Jillian was getting ready for a night on the town. She had missed the match. She was dressed in a turquoise mini-skirt and a black blouse that was too tight. Jillian was examining her reflection in the mirror when Cassie walked in and collapsed on the couch in their locker room.

"How did it go?" Jillian asked, not turning to look at Cassie, who had already stood and was fishing through her bag for her shower stuff and a change of clothing.

"I beat her ass. Once I get cleaned up, I have to call Dave and let him know that she's going to drop everything."

"That's great, Cassie. It was real smart of you to get her to put that shit in writing."

"Someone has to be smart. It sure isn't her. She used herself and he showed her that using her body won't get herself or MNM out of anything." But the fact that he had slept with her still bothered her, the fact that he had taken the bait. She hated herself for being so openly forgiving and accepting, but she loved him. Those three words hadn't been a lie to her.

"Have you spoken to him recently?" Jillian asked, sitting down where Cassie had been to lace up her nude-colored stilettos.

"Not recently," Cassie replied, her voice echoing from the shower. Her voice echoed through the room. "But I talked to him about three weeks ago, just after he had surgery. It was a success. But they had to take part of his hamstring and graft it to his arm because of all the times he's torn the muscle."

"What is this, his fourth surgery?"

"Yeah, but it's his third time tearing it. I guess he got infected the first time."

Cassie turned on the shower, cutting off their conversation. She was excited to leave the arena and experience Australia for the first time. John had come down to the area to film the movie "The Marine". He had told her over and over to take advantage of the sights while she was there. Even though it was hard because her schedule was so tight, she had managed. He had made this country his second home while he was down here. She could see why.

When she emerged from the shower, she was changed into a pink halter dress. She made herself up sixties style. Cassie reorganized her bag. She looked up at Jillian. "You go ahead. I'll meet you in the parking lot." Jillian nodded and left. Cassie pulled out her cell phone when the door closed and called Dave. It rang a few times, but he finally answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Dave, it's me. I'm just calling to let you know that I beat Melina, so you've got one less thing to worry about now."

"Really? That's great. Cassie, you're wonderful. You really didn't have to do anything."

"It's fine. How's the arm?"

"Sore."

"I can imagine."

"When do you start rehab?"

"Next week."

"Great. You're going to be back before you know it. Try not to worry. Just know the SmackDown locker room misses you."

"That helps," he said with a chuckle.

"I'll let you go. I'm off for a night out with Jillian."

"Okay. Cassie?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"Right. Take it easy. Bye, Dave." She hung up. As much as she still loved and cared for him, she couldn't bring herself to say it back. She was still hurt, and to say it back to him would be like forgiving him. It was a harsh blow to her ego, hearing him tell her that he loved her after he had done unspeakable things with Melina. Placing her phone in her little pink clutch, Cassie picked up her duffel bag and shut off the locker room lights. After that phone call, she wanted to cut loose with Jillian.