Working for WWE has always been Stephanie's escape - when real life became too much, she could lose herself in the performative world of promos and bodyslams. But today? Walking through the halls, she doesn't feel happy.. she just feels alone.
As she's walking to her office, she can't see the amazingness and wonder that she used to.. all she can see is the room where Paul fucked another woman; the doors she waiting hours by, in hopes of seeing Brie again; the several superstars she's stupidly made an enemy out of over the years.. Until recently, Stephanie never noticed how no one smiles at her when she walks through the corridors - but now, it's all she pays attention to. Literally no one stops her to say hello, or waves at her, or has anything kind to say - she's just alone.
"Stephanie.." someone breaks the silence, catching her attention.
Turning around, Steph's eyes light up at seeing her big brother standing before her; granted, their last conversation wasn't too kind, but she hadn't seen him in person for weeks, and she's in desperate need of a familiar face.
Smiling widely, the young woman throws her arms around Shane, forgetting their professional environment. To be honest, she doesn't care if it came across as childish, Stephanie's in pieces, and she'd love nothing more than a hug from her older brother. Although, Shane almost instantly pushes her off him, and Steph's eyes flicker to the floor with disappointment.
"Hey, what's that for..?" He scoffs.
"I..I'm sorry.. I just- I thought that... it doesn't matter.."
"Right.. look, I only wanted to let you know that the meeting at 3 got cancelled - Dad accidentally double booked himself, so one one of them had to give." Shane explains.
"Oh.. okay, thank you.."
Stephanie honestly can't care less about the meeting being cancelled - if anything, it's a relief. However, what does upset her is quite how painfully professional Shane is with her. They're family, yet she can't sense it; right now, Stephanie feels as connected with Shane as she does with her bloody secretary.
Looking at him, she attempts to remember when they were kids, when they were inseparable, and their biggest conflict was over which wrestler had the best submission hold. Maybe the don't have any conflict at all anymore, but that's only because they talk so little, there's no time for disagreements. Steph's lost Paul, Brie, she's slowly losing her daughters, and now she's realising that she's also lost Shane.. and it's simply so crushing.
"By the way, what do you think of the Bellas?" Shane asks, smirking.
"Wha-what about them..?" Steph replies, her heart twisting slightly.
Her older brother chuckles to himself. "Check your twitter." He winks before walking off.
Instantly, Stephanie's protective side kicks in; maybe it isn't her place to feel protective over Brie anymore, but she can't help herself. The way Shane said it.. he could easily be teasing her, but Steph got the impression that it was something huge. Knowing Shane though, he's probably just overselling the announcement of a new BirdieBee collection. Although, it doesn't stop her from fearing the worst.
Hurrying into her office, Stephanie frantically turns on her computer monitor. Even though it takes roughly 10 seconds to load, it feels about 10 years. Shane must've found this big enough news to bring up.. whatever it is, Steph simply needs to know; Even though Brie isn't in her life anymore, Stephanie's mind still associates her with someone she cares about.
Once the computer screen finally turns on, Steph pulls up google and types in 'The Bella Twins'.
Straight away, her eyes are greeted with a picture of both Brie and Nikki, holding up a pair of baby clothes. After glancing at the headline, Stephanie quickly realises that both of the twins are pregnant.
A tear slowly rolls down her cheek; Steph feels as though she has no right to be sad about this. After all, her and Brie don't talk anymore, but for whatever reason, this news only makes Stephanie feel even more betrayed. Both twins in that photo.. they look so happy, and so they should.. but it just reminds Steph of how unhappy she is within her own life.
Judging by how far into pregnancy she is, Brie most likely knew about her pregnancy while they were still close friends - yet she never mentioned anything? It makes Stephanie feel like their friendship meant nothing. If Brianna could turn to Steph in moments of crisis and breakdowns, why couldn't she tell her about the baby? Perhaps the moments of comfort they gave one another wasn't as powerful as Stephanie believed them to be..?
Brie knowing she was pregnant while they were still talking almost made the whole situation harder to accept. Chances are, when Brianna was telling her to imagine them snuggled up under a warm blanket, she knew that nine months later, she'd have a baby.
The reason that upsets her so much.. well, the idea of Brie unexpectedly finding out about a pregnancy, then freaking out and ghosting people was somewhat understandable.. it wouldn't make it right, but Stephanie could wrap her head around it. But if Brie already knew, Stephanie being cut off can't have been for that reason. Brianna really did just decide not to turn up one day, and that still hurts, even now.
Stephanie covers her face with her hands as she starts to weep. This was confirmation that Brie was gone from her life, and she'd never come back.. call her stupid, but even though she's accepted Brie's departure, she's still been holding onto some form of hope that she'd return, and things would somehow go back to how they were. But she'll have to let that hope go now, and it killed her.
Wether she likes it or not, Steph could've loved Brianna if she'd let herself.. and although she knows that Brie has her own family, who she undoubtably loves - Stephanie's heart cruelly allowed her to believe in the possibility that they could someday be something. Maybe that's her own fault? But you want something so desperately, it's easy to ignore any logic.
But if logic wasn't a factor.. if her heart's wishes could come true in an instant, she'd wish for the scenario which Brie herself put forward; she'd wish for the chance to lay in a warm, comfortable bed, with Brianna lying closely next to her, cuddling her sweetly and delicately stroking her hair.. if Stephanie could have that, even just once, she'd hold onto it forever.
No matter how much she wishes though, that will clearly never happen. And Stephanie's coming to the realisation that she'll have to let all of that hope go.. Brianna's gone, and she can't change that. Soon enough, Stephanie's heart will have to come to terms with it, just like her mind already has. But for now, that realisation is saddening and hurtful.. and all Stephanie can seem to do is cry.