Don't tell me.

Chapter 3- Unexpected news.

Silence. Dead silence. Awkward silence. Silence. Everyone was silent as they filed into the meeting room which was really just an empty room with not enough space to fit the entire raw roster. Nobody dared to make a sound, nobody dared look at another co-worker. Everyone, instead, entered the room single file and took their seats. All egos had been dropped at the door, all hatred for one another had been dropped for the time being given the circumstances. The only sound to be heard, apart from the obvious thuds and clicketyclops of feet walking, was a few distant tears and sorrowful sobs. The serious expressions mixed with an array of sadness and upset let any passerby know that something had happened.

Once everyone had taken their seats and stared towards the front of the room towards an awkwardly placed podium, the chairman and CEO of world wrestling entertainment made his way up the steps and positioned himself on-looking his employees. Behind him stood his daughter, whose head was down, tears spilling from her eyes and a single tissue carelessly crumpled in her hand to wipe away the many tears. Her brother stood beside her, arm protectively wrapped around his vulnerable sister. He too with tears, yet he wasn't crying. Instead the tears just prickled his eyes threatening to escape if he didn't think about happier things. But how could he? How could any of them think about anything else other than the tragic news that had been placed on their shoulders the day before? Vince McMahon cleared his throat and bowed his head slightly to the microphone positioned in front of him. He hesitated for a moment wondered what to say, wondering how to tell everyone the circumstances and the actions required without causing upset or offence.

"I know it has been a difficult couple of days for a lot of you," he began, slowly raising his head and looking around the room. He was met with distraught faces and tearful workers. He looked down again and continued. "It has been hard for all of us to come to terms with what happened yesterday but tonight is Monday night Raw. The show does and must go on."

Some expressions changed, showing a tone of anger and displeasure at the thought of continuing on as if everything was fine when it clearly wasn't.

"I am sure you are all fully aware of what happened yesterday and I know a lot of you were very close and have been badly affected by the terrible news. I know it has been a shock to the system but the only possible way to effectively hold it together is to try and carry on with tonight's show."

Everyone was thinking the same thing, they knew exactly what the selfish man cared about. He didn't care that the women's champion was dead. He didn't care that people very close to her were grieving their lose. He just didn't care. All he cared about was money and tonight was no different, people had paid their money to come to the live show and wouldn't be pleased if it was cancelled, expenses for the show's broadcast had been paid and were unrefundable. Monday night Raw simply couldn't afford to miss a show, especially with their enemy show quickly growing and soon being broadcast on the same night. No genuine upset or remorse resembled in his features, no sadness was being expressed. He wasn't sorry at all. Well maybe that was a lie, he was probably sad that a valuable worker and the women's champion was no longer there. Besides who else could have the responsibility of being champion.

Stephanie McMahon stepped forward and pulled her father's arm guiding him away from the stand and instead placing herself upon it. She spoke, her voice cracked, her eyes sincere and genuine. She did care, finally someone who really cared.

"I-I know that a few of you have recently been away and only just found out. I am also aware that some of you have only heard rumours and may not know the full facts. So please allow me to explain to any of you who may not know the whole truth." She hesitated and took in a deep breath.

"On Saturday evening Michelle McCool was involved in a car accident. She was driving towards a Smackdown house show and a lorry drove into her. The driver was thought to have fallen asleep at the wheel and lost control. The car was crushed and Michelle was badly injured, but miraculously still alive. It was a couple minutes until another driver drove by and found the wreckage and called the emergency services. The truck driver himself had passed away as his truck went off the road and crashed into a supermarket wall. Michelle was taken to hospital and examined, she was given immediate attention and was thought to have been making good progress. But late Saturday night she went into a comma and sadly passed away yesterday afternoon," she paused and wiped away some tears from her eyes. She could barely bring herself to say anymore, she was deeply affected as she had once been friends with the women's champion. "It is unthinkable circumstances and really tragic and I fully understand if some of you aren't up to competing tonight but as my father said, the show must go on. Tonight there will be a special video tribute to Michelle and all of the matches will be dedicated to her and will be in her honour. Michelle was a tremendous athlete and a real asset to this company. She will be greatly missed and has definitely left her mark both professionally and personally. This news is extremely unpleasant but she would want all of you to carry on and give these fans the best show possible. Michelle always put work first and she would most definitely want you all to do the same. There will be five matches tonight and the rest will be videos and matches of Michelle and some highlights of her career. If anyone would like to speak on tonight's show in her memory and do a little speech or something about her that would be gladly accepted and appreciated. I ask you all, as your boss and your friend, to please put the negativity behind you for tonight's show and after the show grieve. Put on a brave face while the cameras are on and remember," she made a slight smile though it wasn't very convincing. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you. Thank you for your time."

She stepped away and retained her position besides Shane. A few roster members clapped unconvincingly and the rest remained silent, most with their heads down. Vince told them that the week's schedule of house shows would not be taking place but would restart after the next Raw. He dismissed the wrestlers and crew and they all got up one by one and made their ways out to the backstage areas and locker rooms to get ready for the show.

Once outside Melina grabbed onto Eve's arm.

"Are you ok?" she asked in a slightly husky voice. "I-I know you were...close."

Eve nodded her head, the tears and ruined mascara running down her cheeks. She was not 'ok' nor would she be for a long time, but she knew the McMahon's were right- the show must go on.

"I'm fine, just a little shook up. It could happen to any of us and that's the most devastating thing. She was only thirty years old, she had so much to give and she was in the prime of her career." Eve began, wishing she could stop herself from going on. But she couldn't the words kept pouring, telling Melina how much she would miss her friend, how much Michelle was misunderstood and an amazing person really. "I know everyone hated her apart from a few people, but she really wasn't all that bad. She just goes along with it because she was scared she would be rejected from the big guys if she didn't get rough and tough. You know how Vince likes his champions, lean and mean."

Melina semi smiled. She knew exactly what Eve was talking about. When she herself had first joined the WWE she was a monster. Cocky, arrogant, self-centred, obnoxious. She was terrible, full of attitude and feist. She wouldn't let anyone get her down. Melina was now a much nicer person and she was the divas champion, she wasn't going to be mean to anyone because she could stick up for herself without being rude and pushing people away. A few months back, just before Melina had been traded to Raw, she and Michelle had been feuding with each other for months. Melina had been the women's champion and Michelle had tried to bully and antagonise her, finally resulting in Michelle winning the Women's championship and becoming the first diva in history to have held both the women's and diva's championship.

"Just don't be afraid to let your emotions out, yeah? Don't hold them in. If you need to talk why don't you try Steph? She said she was willing to talk anytime."

Eve shook her head. She didn't really know Stephanie very well and the last thing she wanted to do was show any sign of weakness. Melina picked up on this and frowned, followed by a soft sigh.

"Look I know we're best friends, but Eve you have to understand I couldn't possibly help you talk this through. Michelle and I were never the best of friends and I honestly wouldn't know what to say. Of course I'm sorry she passed away and I would have never wanted that to happen but to be honest I never liked her and I don't want to sound harsh but just because she died doesn't mean I have forgiven her for all of the terrible things she did to me, nor does it mean I like her. I am very sorry for your lose and I will try to be here for you and help you all I can but I'm really not the best person for the job..."

Melina was interrupted by a flash of orange walking towards the two divas.

"Eve, I..." he began, looking down at the floor.

Eve looked up wiping her face and eyes with her sleeve. She was met with a serious and mourning face. A face she was getting to know all too well.

"If you're going to say something about Michelle then don't, it's ok. I wasn't her only friend and I'm starting to feel very selfish what with every saying they're sorry to me. I understand your concern but please...just leave." She muttered.

His face looked hurt, he didn't understand her.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked quietly, in complete shock with a sense of understanding.

"No, I did. I did something wrong by ever accepting to come to this show. Maybe if I was still on smackdown and still with her she wouldn't have died. This might not have happened. It's all my fault," she cried bursting into tears. She shoved her way aggressively past John Cena and ran towards the women's locker room. She needed to be away from everyone, she needed to be alone. Yet deep down all she wanted was for someone to be there for her, for someone who understood to talk to. She wanted a friendly shoulder to cry on and maybe he was the one that was destined to fulfil that role.

Half an hour had past and Eve sat in silence staring at the TV monitor in the corner of the small room. She had an urge to turn it on and watch the live show, watch the tributes of her once best friend. But she couldn't bring herself to do so. It would be too painful, it would be agonizing. She didn't have any idea what to do.

It's all my fault. It's all my fault. She repeated to herself over and over again in a quiet whisper. She brought her legs up onto the bench seat and cradled them making herself into a big ball. She wanted to be out of the locker room, she wanted to be with her real friends, her real family on smackdown. She should be with them, it was where she belonged. She belonged with the blue brand. She had started out there and had loved it, she was comfortable and confident there and she had friends, real friends. That was more than could be said for this place. Sure she had Melina, but she was also a real smackdown diva.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. She looked up and immediately snapped back into reality. In a mild and weak voice she called out.

"Hello? Who is it? It's open."

The door opened and to Eve's surprise a tall, dark haired superstar stood in the frame.

"Hi," he said, remaining in his place. "I umm just came to check if you were ok?"

He smiled, yet just like everyone else today, it wasn't a warm smile. It was a half-hearted, lazy kind of smile and Eve had no energy to reply.

"Why is everyone asking if I'm ok?" she sobbed, not looking at him.

Cody Rhodes made his way into the room, closing the door behind him. He walked over to the bench and asked if he could sit down next to her. A weak nod was her reply which he took as a yes and perched himself down next to her.

"Because people care about you Eve...I care about you." He looked at her but she didn't met his gaze. He fidgeted a little.

"Eve, you were very close to Michelle and I know..." he was interrupted.

"No you don't know. You don't know anything, especially not about me or Michelle. Why are you even here Cody? Had enough of Ted and Randy? Got bored so you thought you would come and play mister nice guy for once, see how it feels? Well I don't need you and I don't want to talk to you. Just leave me alone and don't think for one second you know anything." She shouted at him catching him totally off guard. This really wasn't like her, she never shouted. She was always nice and kind and polite to people and normally she would have been very appreciative of his help and kind words. But not today, not now.

"I was just..."

"Just get out!" she bellowed standing up and pulling on his arm. Cody stood up and did as he was told. He didn't want to upset her so he left. He shut the door behind him and walked off to find his legacy teammates.

Eve was left alone. Again. She was all by herself, with nothing but her thoughts for company. Just leave me alone, she thought. I don't need you and I don't need anyone. I just need Michelle. She cried and cried not moving from her position. I just need Michelle.

Well that's it. Another chapter done and dusted. I don't actually plan the story

before I right it, it just comes to me as I go along but I had this idea for

a while now about Michelle. Be sure to review it really helps and I

appreciate it so much. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with it

so far and thanks for reviewing. An unexpected arrival next chapter so stay tuned.

If you want an update please review and tell me so. thanks.

BNM. xoxo