Change of Plans
After a quick lunch filled with more divorce talk and laughs, Beth and John set off for the house show in Illinois. Halfway into their drive, they started talking about their favorite matches that they had been a part of. For Beth, it was her tag team match that she had with Natalya against LayCool at the 2010 Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay per view.
"…and then I took Michelle's big ass boot to the face." Beth said with a laugh.
"I remember that! I have never seen anyone sell a kick better than you did there. You were as stiff as a board and just fell over; that was pure craziness."
"Well thank you, I take that as a compliment."
"As well as you should! That was a great match that the four of you put on. There was one part of that match that I will never forget."
"What part is that exactly?"
"Definitely the scariest moment was when Michelle threw you between the ropes and then you fell on the back of your neck. I cringed when your body folded over on itself."
"Yeah that was not fun at all."
"How did you even finish the match?"
"To be honest, I really don't know. The only thing that I can think of is that there was a lot of adrenaline running through me. Over the next couple of weeks, my ribs and neck hurt like a bitch." Beth said as she rubbed the back of her neck from instinct.
"I bet they did and I don't think your SuperStars match didn't make matters any better."
"Oh hell no, they really focused on my neck and I think that it just made things worse. Anyway that's enough about my match. What is your favorite match of yours?"
"To tell you the truth my favorite match isn't one that I wrestled in, but I was a part of it."
"Okay, you've grabbed my attention."
"Good! Ha, anyway it was the match between Wade and Randy for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series 2010."
"Ah, I remember Survivor Series well. That's when I returned after Nattie won the Divas title."
"That's also when I was 'fired' from WWE when I pushed Wade into the RKO by Randy."
"Oh yeah, so why were you given that angle?" Beth asked as she steered her car off at their exit. They had finally made it to the town the house show was in.
"Originally it was so that I could have some time off so let my body rest and to spend some time with Liz. By that point, I had been on the road for almost a month straight." John started to say, but faltered when he mentioned his ex-wife's name.
"But I'm guess that didn't really go as you had planned it."
"Not at all, I mean after Raw I did go home for a couple of days. But in those few days, Liz and I did nothing but fight. She would make me sleep on the couch, which only aggravated my neck more than normal. Anyway, that's why I came back earlier than planned; I was done arguing with her. It got to the point where I just couldn't be around her."
"I'm sorry, if I would have known I wouldn't have asked."
"Beth, it's okay. It's not your fault; I'm the one who brought up the conversation." John said with a grin as he grabbed her right hand that was resting on the gear shift and gave it a tight squeeze.
At his touch, Beth blushed and was thankful that the windows were down causing her hair to whip around and cover her face. The gestured didn't last long as the drive to their hotel was short and it didn't take them long to get checked into their rooms. They were going to meet up in the lobby before heading to the arena, but when Beth got down there, she was surprised at the sight in front of her. John had been found out and was surrounded by a small group of little kids.
When Beth had traveled around with other SuperStars, they would go out of their way to go out in disguise so they wouldn't be spotted. Her heart fluttered with admiration when she saw the huge smile that was spread across John's face. Not really paying attention, she didn't notice that John had pointed her out to the little kids. The next thing that she knew, the kids made their way over to her.
"Hey, it's Beth Phoenix! Can we get your autograph?" asked the smallest little boy in the front of the group, snapping Beth out of her thoughts.
"Yeah, sure thing; what's your name?" she asked as she kneeled down to his level.
"M-Michael." He stammered which caused the former Divas champion to smile and giggle to herself.
Now it was John's turn to stare in admiration. He loved the way that Beth's face lit up when the kids asked her for her autograph. Never had he seen her smile so big. Walking over, he stood by Beth and took the time to take a picture with each and every one of the kids. After saying their good-byes, Beth and John walked out of their hotel and over to Beth's car. After putting their duffel bags in the trunk, they climbed in.
"That was amazing, and so are you." John said as he shut his door and turned in his seat to face Beth.
"That was pretty amazing and hardly. You are great with little kids and they love you."
"Not as much as they seemed to have loved you. I just wish that I had a camera to capture that smile that spread across your face when Michael asked for your autograph."
"Oh please, it couldn't have been any different than the way I smile normally." Beth said as she started the car and started to head six blocks up the street to the arena.
"No, it really was different. Your face literally lit up, it was unbelievable."
"Well thanks, I guess. Changing gears to wrestling, do you have any idea on what you are going to do tonight?"
"Actually, I do. I am going up against Ziggler again. The only difference this time around is that it is supposed to be a mixed tag team match."
"Really, and who is your partner going to be?"
"I was hoping that it would be you."
"You want me to be your partner, but why?" Beth asked as she pulled into a parking spot and shut the car off.
"Because you are the definition of a true Diva: you are sexy, smart, and most definitely, you are powerful. Also, you can get some revenge on Vickie for all of the shit she talked about you."
"Vickie is going to be Dolph's partner? Then I'm in!"
"I figured that you would be." John grinned as he climbed out and went straight for the trunk.
"Am I really that predictable?" Beth joked as she walked up, joining John at the rear of the car.
"I never said that; you are putting words in my mouth."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Let's go on in so I can find Nattie."
John couldn't help but to laugh at her response. That seemed to be her answer for everything as of late. Slamming the trunk closed, John once again grabbed Beth's hand, lacing his fingers with hers, and together they walked into the arena. It didn't take long for the SuperStar and Diva to see other people that they worked with. The first people that they saw were Kelly Kelly and Eve walking out of the catering area. Ignoring their glares, Beth kept her head held high as she continued walking towards the Divas locker room with John, her smile never leaving her face.
Once they reached Beth's locker room, she went to walk in, but John pulled her back. Being caught off guard, Beth stumbled and fell in to John's body. Looking up into his eyes, she couldn't help the cold chill that ran up her spine. Smiling at the beautiful blonde in his arms, John leaned in close.
"I'll see you in a little bit for our match. Don't let anything that Vickie has ever said about you; throw you off of your game."
"I don't plan on it. Believe me; she's going to regret the things that she said about me when I get my hands on her."
"I can't wait to see you release your inner hellcat on the so called 'Cougar'." John said with one last smile as he gave Beth's hand one final squeeze before walking off.
With her heart fluttering a mile a minute, Beth finally walked into the locker room. Instantly spotting her blonde counterpart, she made a beeline for her.
"Beth, it's about time you showed up! You have a lot of explaining to do." Natalya said when she spotted the Glamazon walking towards her.
"I know that I do; you don't even know the half of it!" Beth said, but before she could continue on with her story, Kelly and Eve walked in, talking in a hushed tone.
It was then that Beth gave to two Divas death stares. She was sick of them and they were the root of the demise of her relationship just as much as Vickie was. She planned on ignoring them, but when she heard them whisper her name, she stopped to listen.
"Are you kidding me?"
"No I'm not. Didn't you see them walking in together? They passed right by us when we were walking out of catering, all hand in hand." Eve explained.
"She's at it again huh? Punk just wasn't high enough up in the WWE ranks, so she had to sink her nasty claws into Cena?"
"It seems that way. I don't know she could do that to him or to herself."
"That's just wrong. I wonder if John knows that she is just using him." Kelly said out loud before noticing that Beth and Natalya were staring.
"Oh, hey Beth. How are you?" Eve asked in a mock innocent tone.
"Screw you fake ass bitches. I am so sick of the two of you. Don't you have anything better to do than to try and ruin my life?"
"Whatever do you mean? Do you know what she's talking about Eve?" Kelly asked in the same fake innocent tone that Eve used.
Beth began to advance towards the blonde and brunette, but was held back by Natalya. Kelly and Eve looked at each other and bust out into a fit of laughter. This caused Beth's face to turn bright red in anger.
"Eve did you hear who is in the main event for tonight?" Kelly asked, egging Beth on.
"No, who is it?"
"It's supposed to be a mixed tag team match. Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero against John Cena and, here's the shocker, Beth Phoenix!"
"See, it's already working. She has sucked John in so far that she already has a spot in the main event!"
"Well that didn't take too long now did it?"
Before Beth did something that she would more than likely regret, she powerwalked her way through the two Divas, shoulder checking them both in the process, and went to find John. With tears in her eyes, she finally found his locker room not too far from her own. Knocking on his door, she just waited. It didn't take him long to open the door and when he did, she was confused.
"Beth, what's wrong?"
He just left her not more than ten minutes ago and when he did, she was all smiles. Now, there she was standing in front of him, tears streaming down her face.
"I-I can't do…I can't be your tag partner tonight. I'm sorry John bu-but I have to go." Beth stammered in between sobs.
"Wait, what happened?" John asked, clearly worried.
Before he could get an answer, Beth took off down the hall, out the door and out of the building leaving John wondering what was going on.
****A/N****
Hey y'all! Sorry that it has been so long since I last updated this story. I've had a bad case of writer's block for this one. But fear not! I have overcome and here it is! Just like all of my other stories, it is NOT factually correct. It's just things that I think explain things well, at least in my own mind haha! Anyway, thanks for all of the reviews, and I hope that you enjoy this latest chapter!
-Megan