a pep in my step.

tonight, the walls are coming down.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Lifting her arms over her head, the tiny brunette bent down forward – stretching out the muscles of her body until after a few moments when she was finally finished. She stretched her arms out one more time before glaring down toward the arena floor and slowly making her way toward the gorilla area.

Tonight she was set to face Beth, an opponent who she hadn't faced in quite some time and found it pretty unusual that she would be facing her – she was expecting to face off against Maryse and more so hoping it. If she could just get one more pin over Maryse than perhaps she could be consider the number one contender for the title.

But tonight, Maryse was Kelly's opponent (of course).

As Mickie passed the catering area, she noticed a lot of crew members just hanging about with coffee mugs in their hands. Though none of that really drew her attention – the crew members were always taking "breaks" – what really drew her attention was a long-legged blonde diva up ahead.

She had been dressed in her attire being that her match was coming up soon – a bit after Mickie's own match – but she hadn't seemed too worried about facing off against Kelly, or preparing much for the match. In fact, the self proclaimed "Sexiest of Sexy" had just been chatting with a dark haired figure standing in front of her.

The hair twirling, the innocent giggles…it was so obvious. Maryse was flirting and once Mickie noticed who the figure was, she understood why – most of the other divas flirted with Shane. Vince barely was around to make as many decisions as Shane and Stephanie did – especially when it came to Raw – and Stephanie wasn't easy to bribe.

Holding her head down, Mickie tried to make her way past as quietly and unseen as possible.

"Mickie James!"

She heard her name being called and immediately bit down on her lip as she turned around and saw a small grin on Shane's face.

"Shane, hey." Quietly, she said back.

"Hey. How are you?" He said it as if he hadn't spoken to her in months – when in reality – he had actually spoken to her quite recently. No need for conversation, now.

The tiny brunette nodded her head. "I'm pretty good. You?"

"I'm great." He answered back and then tilted his head toward the blonde who now stood beside him. "Eh Maryse, would you mind giving Mickie and me a second?"

In an instant, the French diva scoffed in disbelief before choking out a laugh – she immediately thought it was some sort of joke. As far as she was concerned, there wasn't a man alive who wouldn't want to spend every second they could with her.

But as she scanned Shane's expression – as he just awaited for her to make her leave – Maryse learned it was not a joke.

Muttering something French under her breathe, the blonde diva slowly made her exit. Whilst passing the tiny brunette, she glared toward her – scanning her from head to toe and scoffing as if saying, what's so special about you?

Once Maryse finally disappeared down the hall, Mickie sighed uneasily. Awkward much?

Shane slightly smiled, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall behind him.

"I uh, should go get ready for my match?" The small diva suggested – the draw of silence between them was just uncomfortable. Honestly, any McMahon intimidated Mickie. She may've been in this business for around four years or so, but she was intimidated by them all just the same. "It's up next, I think."

"Oh, right, right. You're facing off against Ryse tonight, right?" Ryse? Ugh. Did she really tell him to call her that?

Shrugging it off, the petite diva shook her head. "No, I'm facing off against Beth tonight."

"Beth? That's ridiculous. You should be facing Ryse, no?"

"Kelly's facing her tonight."

Shane rolled his eyes in a knowing way. "Of course. My dad must've booked that match, sorry." Mickie only simply smiled. If it was Vince's fault then Shane surely didn't need to apologize on the behalf of his dad at all. Not to mention, Mickie was use to getting the back seat – even if her matches with Maryse were fun while they lasted. "It's really unfair. He never lets my favorites get good matches."

Mickie's small smile slightly widened before breaking out into a small cackle. "Sure, Shane." She ran her hands through her mane. Her Shane's favorite? Perhaps, favorite screw up. Favorite useless diva, or something…

"I'm serious. I'll try to see what I can do for you next week. 'Til then, just keep your head up. Every match counts." He coolly smiled toward her before beginning to make his exit but then turned around. "Just remember to be impressive. I'll definitely be scouting out your match in the back."

Ever just swear that you felt like this really bad vibe? Well soon after Shane had left, that had been exactly what Mickie felt as she stood behind in the catering area for a few moments.

A small glimpse of the self proclaimed legend killer passing her by – with his icy blue eyes locked on her – just sent chills down her spine. She couldn't really explain it, but she had a bad feeling about how the rest of her night would go. Something just told her to keep her eyes peeled opened for the rest of the night…

"Mickie!" Instantly jumping up by instinct, Mickie was soon turned around by a taller figure who soon appeared to be John Cena as he wore a wide grin on his lips. "There you are."

Mickie's brow arched as she scratched the back of her head, uneasily. "And, there you are?" She retorted back, puzzled.

"Sorry if I startled you, earlier. I just wanted to let you know how ashamed I am for leaving you the other day at breakfast."

"It's fine," Mickie lied – but it just sounded like the right thing to say at the time – "Why did you need to leave so quickly, anyway?" Curiosity seemed to catch the most of her and if the situation hadn't been as serious as it was, then perhaps John would've let out a chuckle or two.

"Ken was released."

That was it. That was John's simple answer that he choked out and could barely make eye contact with Mickie whilst he said it.

Mickie knew if John could have it his way, then he wouldn't have said it at all. It probably devastated him hearing those words, especially hearing those words out of his own mouth – but he had to tell Mickie the truth, or else he would sound as if he was just trying to leave her high and dry back at breakfast.

The tiny brunette ran her fingers through her mane, unsure of what to respond to – her mind was busy trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Ken released? One of the best in the business was actually released? It didn't make sense.

To Mickie, Ken was one of those guys who would retire or would quit. She never saw it any other way because he was just too good at everything – performing, working the mic, he was perfect at it all and she really admired him for it all.

She saw herself a more potential superstar to be released soon; to hear it be Ken, well, that just really left her speechless.

"I-I don't know what to say." Unhappily, the diva retorted as a wide frown took place on her face.

"Mickie, we need you out there – you're on in five minutes!"

Both Mickie and John turned toward a crew member who stood in the shadows, she had a clipboard in hand and a headset sitting on top of her head as she began chatting away in the microphone.

"Uh, you should probably go." Quietly, John whispered toward her.

The petite diva could only slowly shake her head as she glared down toward her wrestling boots and then back up toward John. "How can I perform out there after hearing that, John?"

"You have to, Mickie. You have no choice, none of us do."

It sucked that his words were right.

Mickie wasn't the only one affected by Ken's released. He was close to practically everyone on Smackdown, Raw and ECW. He perhaps may've been a bit outspoken, but only in a humorous and likable way.

Quietly sniffing and wiping the bottom of her nose, the petite diva nodded her head.

"And Mickie?" The brow eyes of the tiny diva slowly drifted up to meet the pair of perfect blue eyes that belonged to only John Cena. "If you want to talk about this then we can do it after your match, for now, just focus on kicking some Glamazon ass, okay?"

His small and charming smile caused Mickie to slightly grin back in retort – it was pretty difficult for her to be happy at all though she forced herself to smile, hoping that even though she was just pretending to be happy then maybe it would help her eventually be realistically happy.

Rubbing his thumbs on both Mickie's cheeks, John offered her one last warm smile before slowly heading off.

"Mickie!"

Her brow eyes soon drifted away from an exiting John as he disappeared down the hall and then turned her direction toward the impatient crew member who gestured with her hand for Mickie to hurry out toward the gorilla area.

As the tiny diva nodded her head, she soon rushed over toward the crew member who grabbed a tight hold of Mickie's wrist and rushed her toward the gorilla.

"Okay, cue the music!" The crew member ordered and instantly then after Mickie's "Obsession" theme began playing.

The loud sounds of her theme blasted through the arena along with the loud cheers of the crowded that immediately recognized her music.

The tiny brunette skipped her way down the ramp, attempting her best to keep her grin spread from cheek to cheek.

Sliding under the bottom rope, Mickie climbed onto the turnbuckle and pointed to one of the fans out in the audience with a large smile on her face – her fans did honestly cheer her up, even if just for a moment.

As Mickie's music soon died down, the familiar sound of Beth's music began soon receiving a loud chants of boo's from the entire arena.

Watching Beth proudly walk down the ramp brought back old memories to Mickie – she could perfectly recall any and every match she had against Beth. If anyone brought out the "fighter" in the tiny brunette, it had been the Glamazon herself.

As the bell sounded off, Mickie soon drifted herself away from the reminisce of the past and put her mind to focus on the match.

The two divas began in a lock up – Beth receiving the better end of it, but of course the tiny diva was not ready to give up. Beth drove Mickie into the turnbuckle head first immediately causing Mickie to fall onto the mat soon after.

The match from there had went in all favor to Beth until Mickie finally received the upper hand by fighting her way from a "Glam slam" that Beth attempted to put Mickie in. Mickie allowed faith in herself to keep her fighting.

With each remembrance of needing to have faith in herself had helped her only hit Beth harder and with more damage.

Though something soon scurried across her mind for only a second – Ken – and it only took that one second that Mickie had stood there frozen for Beth to set her up for a Glam Slam and finish the petite diva off for a three count.

As the bell signaled for the ending of the match, the tiny brunette gripped onto her head, trying her best to numb down the pain as she finally awaken fully.

She struggled to make the image of what stood above her clear – it appeared to be Beth standing over her victorious. She wore a proud grin for her victory.

Shortly after, Mickie felt a few hands grip onto her arms though she could barely keep her heavy eyelids opened. The bright lights from the arena ceiling above her had begun blinding her as she unknowingly was dragged out of the ring by a few refs and then helped up the ramp.

Mickie hadn't known why this slam had hurt more than any of the many other slams she received. Maybe it didn't? Maybe Mickie was just going under by all that she had heard today – Ken was actually released? It was too much for her to carry.

-

As Mickie finally reached the backstage area, she gestured to the refs that she was fine to make it back to the Divas locker room on her own and that had been exactly where she headed straight to – she hadn't bothered changing or showering. She only – in quite a hurry – grabbed her shoulder bag and rushed out of the locker room.

She heard a diva in the shower and was sure that it was probably Kelly still washing from her match earlier, Mickie didn't need the load of conversation.

Holding the strap of her bag, Mickie made her way through the halls whilst running her fingers through her mane.

She never wanted to see her hotel room more than this moment. The sight of the walls and closed doors just angered and hurt her even more.

She hated this place – it released one of her closest friends and it (at the moment) was the last place she wanted to be.

The tiny diva closed her eyes to protect her tears from slipping from her eyes. Once she opened her eyes back up she saw three figures walking down the hall: Ted, Cody and of course, Randy.

They all eyed her down but Mickie attempted her best to ignore them and not make any eye contact back. She hadn't been intimidated; it just had been one of those moments where she hadn't thought it was worth her time, honestly.

As Ted and Cody walked past her, Randy stayed behind and gestured toward both Ted and Cody that he'll catch up with them as they scurried off down the hall.

"What do you want?" Rudely, Mickie asked. It hadn't been anything personal toward the legend killer – even if he still was not her favorite person on the roster – but she had already been in a quite a horrible mood.

Randy hadn't said anything but walked toward Mickie, each step she took back he only stalked that step and took another step toward her until she was backed into a wall behind her – as she went to turn away, he blocked her in with his arms.

"What do you want?" She asked again, this time more annoyed than the time she asked before.

Randy scoffed. "You know exactly what I want. What you saw between Sam and I stays sealed."

Quickly, the tiny brunette gestured an annoyed eye roll. Did this guy really think that Sam and him were like Wrestling's Bradgelina? No one really cared much for their marriage, especially Mickie.

"Please Randy, if you are worried about others finding out your relationship with Sam isn't as fairytale-listic as you two like to sell it out to be, I have a newsflash for you, everyone knows that already.

"I'm serious, Mickie. If you tell anyone – anyone – what is going on between Sam and me, I swear I'll-"

"Is there a problem here?"

The self proclaimed legend killer and the tiny diva – who stood in between both Randy's arms – both instantly tilted their heads toward their left where a dark haired figure stood who soon appeared to be Shane McMahon as he wore a suspicious frown and walked closer toward the two. Randy gestured a long eye roll as he removed his hands that blocked Mickie in and then shoved them in his back pockets. "Hello Mickie."

"Hi Shane." Quietly the diva said, trying her best to offer a small smile.

"Everything alright?"

Before the diva could answer, Randy had stepped in front of her and glared down toward Shane. "This doesn't concern you, Shane."

"Actually, it does, Randy and so does she. So unless you want my father or…your wife," it was then that Shane released a short cackle as the cold, blue eyes of the legend killer narrowed, "knowing about this, I suggest you walk away." Shane said as he pointed toward a different hallway.

Randy immediately decided to hesitate before leaving – he really hadn't been finished. He wasn't secure with the chances of Mickie not saying anything to anybody.

But he knew had he stayed a second longer, he wouldn't be secure with still having his job, as well.

Biting down on his lower lip – and his tongue for that matter – Randy glared down toward the ground and slowly made his exit as both Shane and Mickie's eyes had been glued toward him the entire walk.

Shane slowly shook his head as Randy finally disappeared down the hall. "I apologize on his behalf, Mickie. He's such an asshole." The tiny diva gestured a short nod before turning to make her exit before feeling the touch of Shane's grip holding her back to do so as she turned back around to face him. "One second. Do you care to explain to me why exactly you played as Beth's punch bag tonight?"

Shane's brow was perfectly arched as he crossed his arms over his chest. The brunette only shook her head in retort.

"It's okay. You can tell me, Mickie."

The tiny brunette ran her fingers through her mane whilst shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know, Shane. It's just, my mind was elsewhere I guess," she released a long sigh through her lips – not even wanting to go on from there, "…John told be about Ken." A silence drew, Mickie expected Shane to fill in the blank for her and not make her speak the rest but he remained with the same expression as if she hadn't said those exact words than he would pretend he hadn't known anything about it. "…about how he was released during the weekend."

Shane gestured a slow nod. "Right. I should've expected you would be finding out about that earlier." Of course she would. How long did he really think she would be out of the loop? "I really am sorry Mickie. It wasn't my decision. It was everyone's decision in entirely. I-I wish I could tell you the reasons for it, but I hope you do believe me when I say that what's best for Ken is not being in the WWE right now – it has nothing to do with WWE being best without Ken."

Did it not really? It sounded like a bunch of false info. Mickie just couldn't help but believe otherwise when his speech sounded like something that his daddy dearest helped him prepare up for anyone who would ask. Mickie just wished he'd be honest and tell her that they released Ken because they didn't know what to do with him, or some realistic answer.

As she glared down toward the ground, Shane held onto her wrists. "Listen. I have a good idea." The tiny brunette's brow eyes slowly drifted up toward him. "Sense you have no other plans for tonight, how about I take you out to one of the bests Italian spots in the town?" Mickie let out a small cackle in disbelief. "C'mon, I'll even pay."

He wore an innocent grin and all around, he did seem like a pretty innocent guy but Mickie knew even that wouldn't stop the other divas from talking. Even if she just went on a friendly trip to dinner, Mickie knew that she would hear rumors of it being different.

"Please?" Quietly he whispered with a wide grin.

The petite diva eventually shrugged her shoulders. "….Why not?" She decided.

What could be the harm? Shane had done nothing but be very sweet to her recently. She hadn't had many friends on Raw. She was somewhat close with Kelly and very close with John. Other than the two, she didn't have many and most of all – Shane was very good with giving advice and compliments. He had a way of making her feel better which is what friends do.

He smiled in victory. "Yes!" He exclaimed, causing the tiny brunette to loudly giggle.

"Shut up." She hushed him as he laughed along. Mickie readjusted the strap of her bag as she walked out of the double doors of the exit area as Shane traveled by the side of her.

;

end of the third chappy.

hope you all enjoyed that. [: