R-Truth and Jillian finished singing their revised songs. Skylar, Hunter and I were about ready to shoot ourselves in the eardrums.

"Well," Skye said, not turning her face from the monitor. "Jillian's rap was pretty bad, as expected, but R-Truth's song had to have been the cheesiest thing I've ever heard in my life sooo... I'm gonna go roll around on the floor for a little bit, 'kay?"

"Knock yourself out babe," I said, stuffing another handful of popcorn in my mouth. Secretly, I was happy she was finally leaving. She left the door cracked and we heard her woo-hooing as she rolled up and down the halls. When her voice was far enough away, I stood.

"Where you going?" Hunter asked, looking up at me.

"Bathroom," I said simply.

"You gonna pee?"

"Uh... no," I said, frowning.

"Shawn," he said sitting up. "There's seriously no reason to do that anymore."

"Uh-huh," I said, making my way over. He kept yelling at me.

"Dude, you've got Skylar now! I know how much you like her. You don't even have to worry about Rebecca! "

I stopped with my hand on the doorknob. Without moving, I growled, "Don't talk about her. Ever."

I slammed the bathroom door behind me and turned on the cold water. I let my arm sit under it for a minute, the icy water cooling my skin before I plunge the waiting razor blade into it. The feeling of warm blood oozing over frozen skin was one of the last good feelings I could remember. As much I like Skye, and I know I like her, I can't get this kind of joy, this ecstasy from being with her.

I slid the razor back across my wrist, making a deeper cut than the last. It had become a game: How much pain could Shawn cause to himself? I played every time I got a chance, which wasn't often. Skye was around a lot, even before today. She wasn't clingy, but she was a leech. She likes being with people, even if there was no interaction. She'll stand at the door while Hunter and I are watching TV until we insist that she sit down. Or until she gives us my favorite line, "So... can I get you guys anything?" That's when we finally just tell her to sit down and watch TV before she hurts herself.

The last line stops running and I wrap my wrist tape back around my arm. I clean everything up and wrap the dirty razor in the rag I keep it in, the safest way to make sure no one finds out about my so called problem. I walk out the door and feel something unite with my chest.

I fell back against the sink as a flurry of punches connected with my chest, stomach, throat, and head. I put up my arm and open my eyes long enough to see the fading Sara tattoo on Mark's neck. I try to push him off me, try to stop the hits and protect myself, but it's all in vain as I start to black out. The last thing I hear is screaming in the background.

XXXXXXX

"He's waking up," I hear someone say. I blink, only to have cold water fill my eyes.

"Ow! What the hell?" I yell, sitting up. My head throbs and I lay back down, shielding my eyes with the crook of my elbow.

"I said he's up!" I hear Skye yell next to me.

"Oh. I thought you said 'Pour more water and shut up.'" Of course. Jeff Hardy.

"Babe?" Skye says, shaking me slightly. "You can open your eyes. Jeff's not gonna throw anymore water."

"Why not?" he whines.

"Because, I'll punch you in your testicles."

I smirk and open my eyes, trying to sit up. Skylar, Hunter, Jeff, and Phil are all looking down at me, concerned looks on their faces. Jeff looked scared, as did Phil. Hunter was mad, and Skye looked like she was about to bawl.

"Don't cry sweetie," I said, stroking her cheek. She grabbed my wrist and held my hand to her face, blinking back tears. "I hate seeing you sad."

"Mark's an asshole," she said, more tears falling from her face.

"Well, it was bound to happen," I said, trying to stand up. It wasn't until then that I realized Skylar was sittingon me. "Skye, could you..."

"Oh, right," she said jumping up. I stood and wobbled a minute, holding onto Hunter for support. Jeff and Phil announced that they were going to get a medic.

"No," I said, standing up straight. "I'm fine."

"Well, then they'll get you some Tylenol," Skye said, waving them out of the room. They nodded and headed towards the med station. I flexed my arms and turned my head, making sure everything still worked. Black dots appeared in front of my face and I tasted blood on the inside of my mouth.

"How long was I out?" I asked, rubbing my throat.

"Since right after Breakout Star of the Year," Hunter answered.

"Damn," I said. I looked over at Skye, who was still silently crying. "Baby, this happens all the time. Mark hates me. It's inevitable."

"But it happened because of me," she said softly. "I don't want you getting hurt because of me. I'm not worth it." I pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "Look, I know you're considered the baby of your family, and Mark is extremely over protective of you, but that's not changing anything between us, okay? You're the best thing that's happened to me in a long, long time, so no matter how much your 'uncle' wants to beat on me, it will never take me any further from you, got it?"

"Yeah," came her muffled reply. She pulled her face from my chest and smiled up at me, that amazing, irresistible smile only she can make. I leaned down and kissed her, but she had other plans. She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me deeper into the kiss. She carefully bit my bottom lip before pulling away.

"Hurry!" she yelled. "You gotta go get your Slammy!"

"And how can you be so sure he's gonna win?" Hunter asked, a cocky look on his face.

"Uh, he's Shawn Michaels, duh," Skye said crossing her eyes at him. We ginned and made our way backstage. Dennis Miller introduced Hunter and his music played. He walked out, as confident as ever, and started talking. Skye watched him, resting her head on my shoulder as her hand pulled on mine, swinging it back and forth. All of a sudden, she turned and ran back down the hall.

"Babe?" I called after her. She didn't answer, but disappeared behind a curtain. "Skye!" I called again. I was about to go after her, but I heard my music being played. I walked out onto the stage to an immense cheer with a fake smile plastered to my face. I hugged Hunter and took the little gold statue in my hand, facing the podium. I waved to the crowd, and waited as Hunter said a last few words. He hit my chest and walked off, while the crowd cheered HBK.

"You know, I've had the uh... I've had the very good fortune of winning this award for the last two years. Last year I defeated the great Ric Flair at WrestleMania in 2008," the crowd answered me with a loud Woo! "This year, WrestleMania 25 I... I came up a little bit short and I did not break The Undertaker's undefeated streak, but I'm still very proud of what he and I accomplished in Houston that night, so I just want to once again thank y'all very much."

I grabbed the Slammy and started to leave, but then Skylar flashed back through my mind. I remembered that night at the party, she was drinking beer, all the trouble she's gotten herself into over the past few months I've known her, starting fires with toasters, getting Jeff's hand stuck in a toaster, almost falling into a pull , the dark, twisted rumors about Edge and Orton, and where was Mark then? Why wasn't he overprotective then?

"Ya know something, Undertaker, I can beat you. I know it, and more importantly, you know it. So here tonight I'm throwing out the challenge. You and me. WrestleMania. One. More. Time." I snatched the Slammy from the podium and walked backstage to find my girlfriend.

"Well, that was pretty damn stupid," her southern drawl came from behind me. I turned to see her hiding behind a black curtain, her blue painted toes the only thing visible.

"What are you doing?"I asked, closing my eyes and pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Hide and seek," she said, poking her head out. "Don't talk directly to me and walk off if you see Cena coming. Now anyways, I went to talk to Mark."

"Did you now?"I asked, turning towards an equipment cart facing the opposite direction."And how did that workout?"

"Well, first he told me I was grounded, which is totally stupid 'cause I'm 21 years old now, which I told him because he can't ground me, and he's all 'Skylar Anne Marie DiBiase, if you even think for a second, I'm going let you date Shawn Michaels you have truly lost your mind!' and was like 'Mark, I'm an adult! I can handle myself! Plus, Shawn has changed a lot since 1997' and he said 'Don't get smart with me!' and I said 'I'm not! But you can't stop me from dating him,' and he was like 'I'll kill him,' and I was like 'So?' and he said 'You can't date a dead person,' and I was like 'Oh can't I?' and Jeffy was like 'Ew,' and-"

"Skye," I said, trying to get her attention.

"so then you were like 'I can beat you! WrestleMania 26! BRING IT!' and Mark was like, 'If I ever see him with you again, I will murder him and you will not be in the WWE anymore,' and I was like 'You can't do that!' and he said 'I know a guy that can,' and I said 'Who?' and he was like Br-"

"Skye, Cena's right he-"

"was like 'Trust me, I'm close enough to Vince to make it happen, and I was gonna argue, but Cena was all 'You can't beat me in Hide and Seek cause you can't see me!' and I told him 'I'm busy right now, Monkey,' and he said 'You're just scared!' and I told him to go give Vince Head or something, so he said something about me giving more head than Kelly and it was so on then-"

"And you just lost the game!" Cena said, snatching the curtain back. Skye stared at him wide-eyed for a second then frowned. "Aw shit Shawn! Why didn't ya tell me?"

"I don't know babe," I said, scratching my head. She jumped from behind the curtain and pointed at Cena. "Well, you can't eat more mixed nuts than I can, Monkey!"

"Whatever! I can eat way more nuts than you!" Cena yelled at her.

"Yeah, cause you're so used to having nuts in your mouth."

"This coming from the girl that eats Candice out every night."

"That's not me! It's my sister!" Skye yelled back.

"Oh, so you're not a lesbian? Cause you could have fooled me, Butch."

Skye punched Cena in the face and turned back to me. "I'm going back to the hotel now. Be careful, okay?"

"I will," I said, stroking her cheek.

"I'm telling Mark," Cena said.

Skye glared at him. "You're man is out there picking a new guest host. Why don't you get ready to jack him off when he gets back to his office?"

"I'm so telling Mark now!" Cena said, running off. I watched him for a second, then turned back to Skye. She had a worried look on her face as she stared in the direction of the stage. I strained to see what she was looking at, but all I saw was bright lights. Dennis Miller was talking and then a loud scream came from the audience. Skye's face fell into a look of pure terror.

"No," she mouthed. She finally looked up at me.

"Skylar, what's wrong?" I asked, bending down to her level.

"He wouldn't," she asked the air around my face. "No way did Mark get through to them."

"Skye, what's going on?" I asked loudly. She jumped and looked at me.

"Shawn, trust me right now, okay? Nothing is wrong with me. I promise. I am perfectly fine. I have to go back to the hotel and take care of some stuff, but I'm in no danger, got it?"

"What aren't you telling me?" I asked, hurt that she'd keep secrets from me.

"Nothing. Well, nothing yet. If it matters you'll be the first to know, I promise. But I have to make sure of it first. You go get ready for your match, okay?"

I stared her down, a dark look falling to my face. "Okay," I sad.

"Thank you baby," she said, leaning up to kiss me. "I love you. See you at the hotel."

"Bye," I said, watching her leave.

XXXXXXX

When I got back to the hotel I found Skye asleep in my bed. She rested quietly, the moom light from the open window creeping through and pouring in over her soft skin. Her chest rose up and down with her breathing, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Her hair fell messily around her face as she turned her head toward me, opening her eyes.

"Hey," she said, smiling softly.

"Hey," I said, leaning down to kiss her. She frowned when I pulled away.

"What's wrong baby?" I asked, pushing her hair from her face.

"I like Sparkle's haircut."

"What?" I asked, frowning at her.

"His haircut. You guys make fun of it all the time and I'm the one who cut it in the first place."

"Who is Sparkles?"

"Chris. Chris Jericho. I cut his hair."

"Oh," I said smiling. "Okay sweetheart, I'm sorry." I crawled in the bed and she pulled my arm around her. I inhaled the scent of her hair and smiled.

"Skylar."

"Huh?" she asked.

"I love you too."