A/N: I know, you're thinking, nothing for five months, and now two in a weekend. Amazing. So here we go. Short chapter, I know, but I've got some ideas.
Three years later
"Are you a new diva?" Michael Cole asked, puzzled. He glanced at JBL, who shrugged. They'd been at this job together for nearly three years, and JBL had improved tremendously. He still had a pretty far way to go, though, to even come close to Tazz, King, and miles to get to JR.
The woman didn't answer them. She was taking in the show like a fan at her first WrestleMania, all wide-eyed, not believing she was actually there. Whether she was a diva or not, she was definitely new.
The theme song played, and the woman couldn't hold back a small squeal, especially, Michael noticed, when Randy Orton showed up on the TitanTron.
"Well, here we are on Friday Night SmackDown!" Cole said to kick off the show, "Coming to you from Birmingham, Alabama. We also have a special new addition to the SmackDown! locker room here wi—"
"I'm not a diva," the woman interrupted softly.
"Then what are you doing out here?" asked JBL. None of them had gotten any briefing from the company about this. They'd just walked out and this woman was sitting on their announce table, dangling her feet over the edge, with a headset on. Since then, she'd moved to a chair, but hadn't said anything apart from, "Hello." Something looked familiar about her to both of them, though they couldn't quite figure it out. She was tall and skinny with dark hair and eyes and long legs. She was vaguely Spanish looking, and pretty, although not all-men-fall-and-worship-at-my-feet-diva pretty.
She regarded him levelly. "I'm your new co-commentator. The office thought you needed some help on color." This wasn't originally part of Dave's plan, but dropping off the face of the earth for a while—then reemerging skinny and hot—was. And what better way to do it than on SmackDown!, Randy's current show?
"So, who are you?"
"Read the screen," she pointed to the TitanTron where all of their images were displayed, along with their names. "Jacinta Mysterio," it said under hers.
"So you're…" Michael said, suddenly recognizing her. Geez, she looked different.
"Yes, yes, I'm Rey's little sister. Now can we please get the show started? Those two chicks behind us look a little spazzy."
The two chicks in question looked more than a little spazzy. They were screaming at the top of their lungs, and waving signs around. The shorter one's said, "Randy, n. see Perfect" and the other was holding, "Shut up Bradshaw."
So, the show got on the road. Jacinta proved to be quite good at the whole commentating gig, and was greatful for that. She figured this was the only career where muscular, half naked guys would throw themselves at her and she would get paid for it.
After the show, backstage, she just wanted to get back to her hotel room and get some rest. This wasn't to be though. Someone swept her up in a hug from behind. "Jackie!" Randy said.
Jacinta allowed herself to hope. Maybe I've even got a chance, now that I'm not a heifer…
"Jackie, where have you been? It's like you disappeared! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
He's been looking everywhere for me…"Crystal wanted you to be in the wedding, but nobody knew where you were."
Jacinta's heart went crunch, like a piece of extra crispy bacon once you take a bite out of it. "You got married?" she asked.
"Yeah!"
"Congratulations, Randy," she said, sounding happy but trying not to cry. Looks like her and Dave's plan didn't work out so well after all. One of Randy's friends yelled at him to come over there, so he said a quick, "Bye, Jackie, see you around," and left her.
She made her way back out to her car.
"Hi," she heard from behind her. She saw Catrina, another new superstar, whom she had talked up earlier that night during her match. Catrina had tried out for the 2007 Diva Search, but hadn't even made the finals. Undeterred, she clawed her way up through the indies, the way someone was supposed to make it big.
"Hi."
"Is something wrong? You look upset."
"No, nothing." Unfortunately, Jacinta was focused on trying to put one foot in front of the other without breaking down in the middle of the hallway, not on lying convincingly.
Catrina stepped in front of her. "You might as well tell me now, otherwise I'll just bother you until you're my friend, and you'll tell me then."
"Oh, ok," Jacinta said grudgingly, and told her the entire sorry story.
She had forgotten how nice it was to have a girl her own age to talk to.