"So you see" Finn says sweetly to Summer. "I really need a partner for this mixed tag match tonight. Could you think about it, and get back to me later?" Summer nods, mesmerised by Finn, and watches as he walks down the corridor. "And cut!" the director yells. Finn grins and walks up to Summer. "Thanks" he says. She nods and walks off to the locker room while Brie takes her place. She gets her makeup checked and Finn walks over to her, getting in position for his next promo. "Action!" the director yells. "So?" Finn asks. "How about it? Be my partner for the mixed tag tonight?" "Are you kidding?" Brie asks. "It's against my sister! Do you really think I'd stoop that low? Sorry Finn, but no." She pushes him away and this time it's the diva who walks off. The director yells cut and Brie smiles as she walks back to us. "You ok?" she asks quietly as the director goes over the footage. I nod. "Getting there" I say. "I'm not letting him interrupt me at work. This has nothing to do with work. I just need to focus on my job." She nods and smiles as the director tells her she's free to go. "I'll see you later" she says, hugging me before heading back to the locker room. "Lora, you're up" the director says. I nod and get into position. "We're not actually going to show you on camera" the director says. "Build up some suspense as to who the partner really is." "Fine by me" I say. "I look like death warmed up anyway. Let's get this done so I can go and get makeup done." Finn smiles. "As if you need it" he says softly. I grin. "Finn darling" I say. "These aren't bags under my eyes, they're suitcases. Now come on. And one take please." He salutes me and gets ready.
He's the master of the one take, and it's not long before I'm sat in the chair in makeup. Suddenly the atmosphere changes, and I know I'm being watched. "Go away Jon" I whisper. "Please. Not here. Not tonight." "This is the only way I can get you to listen to me Lora" he says, standing in front of me. "You run, every time, you run. How can I make this right if you won't even hear me out?" "Make this right?" I ask, looking at him. "You seriously think you can make this right? A few words aren't going to make everything ok again Jonathan." He nods. "I know" he says quietly. "I know, and I know I was stupid to run, but I didn't know what else to do. You were stood in front of me Lora, and all I wanted to do was hurt somebody. Joe, for saying those things, or Colby, for doing them, but not you. Never you. I would never, ever, hurt you." "So how do you know Joe got it wrong?" I ask. "Denise" he says simply. "That woman, she's a marvel. She sat me down, made me realise how stupid I've been, made me realise how much I fucking love you." There's a slight gasp from behind me when he says that, and I turn around in the seat. Renee. "How the fuck is she still lurking around here?" I yell. "She got fired! Surely there's some rule against her even being back here!" She runs down the corridor quickly. I look back at Jon. "I'm not doing this now" I say. He flinches against the words. "After the show then?" he asks finally. I shake my head. "I'm going home after the show" I say. He nods. "Me too" he says. "Rest up and catch up on laundry before house shows this weekend." I nod. "Enjoy Vegas" I say. "Probably see you on Monday at Raw." He frowns. "But you said..." he stammers. "You said you were going home." "I am" I say. "Wales. To Lex. I'm off house shows this weekend. Back Monday for Raw. See you then. Bye, Jon." I whisper the last bit, but he hears it as if I've shouted. He waves weakly and walks down the corridor. "Don't you dare cry" Eileen, the makeup girl, says. "I don't know how you're gonna hold it all in, but you are not gonna cry. Not until after your match, anyway. Understood?" I nod and slide out of the chair, thanking her weakly before heading back to the locker room.
I've sat and stared at the walls for what seems like hours when Finn knocks the door. "It's time Lor" he says softly. I nod, standing up and following him to gorilla on autopilot. "Enough" he warns. "Time to paste on a smile, get out there and kick some serious ass." I smile and hug him as his music starts. "Go on" I say. "I'll see you down there in a few." He nods and walks through the curtain. I watch him make his way to the ring on the monitor, jumping when Jon speaks. "Finn again, huh?" he asks softly. I nod, not daring to look at him. "Oh Balor" Nikki says into her microphone. "Did you manage to get a partner for tonight? We've all seen you asking all the divas backstage out of pure desperation. I mean, my own sister? What were you thinking?" Finn nods, taking a microphone. "I think I got one sorted" he says, looking up at the tron. Dolph grins as nothing happens. "Are you sure?" he asks. "Cos to me it seems like you're all alone..." "That's my cue" I whisper, pushing past Jon as my music starts. Finn grins as I make my way to the ring. "No way!" Nikki yells. I shrug and take the microphone from Finn. "Good to see you in your own gear tonight Lora" Nikki teases. I smile, twirling for her. Sandra has made me some black hot pants to wrestle in, and a cropped Shield shirt. "You like, Nikki?" I ask. "I'm sure Sandra can make it in a bigger size for you..." It works. She's on me straight away. Dolph drags her off as Finn drags me to our corner. The bell rings and the fight is on.