CHAPTER SIX
"I hate men." Michelle said by way of greeting when she seen Raine. "It's okay for them to fuck anything that walks but when we do it, we're sluts."
"Um, okay." Raine looked up, busy changing out her tennis shoes for wrestling boots.
"I thought Mark and me, well you know, might get back together but…" Michelle trailed off. "Not that I'm holding it against you or anything."
"Wait, you two were still sleepin' together? Oh what a fucker."
Michelle just nodded, smirking when Raine looked back down.
***
"Must suck huh?"
"Get the hell outta here, boy."
"Do you actually think she enjoyed your old ass?" David taunted, smirking when he seen Mark's shoulders tense.
Mark slowly turned around, his fists clenched. "She was screamin' my name, not yours. That should tell ya enough."
"You mother fucker…"
"Oh jesus christ!" Came Michelle's exasperated voice from the open doorway, having left Raine to change in piece. "You two are arguing over a TWENTY-TWO year old girl like she's a piece of meat. really, it's just pathetic. Besides, Dave, the only reason she slept with Mark is because she was drunk off that spiked punch from the party." Michelle smirked at Mark before walking off. "Raine, love the new outfit!" Her voice trilled back to them.
"Thanks, I think…" Rain said hesitantly. "I'm not entirely sure I can wear this…"
"Corset tops are sexy, sure you can."
Mark had stalked after her, his mind going off of maiming Michelle when he seen Raine. She was wearing a black and purple corset top with black capris that tied around her knees. He had to shake himself out of staring at her chest however, which the corset top was nicely pushing up. He growled when he spotted David ogling her as well, sticking out a foot when he tried approaching her. "You need to watch where you're goin', son."
"Or maybe you should keep your feet tucked in." Michelle said dryly, linking her arm through Raine's, smiling when Mark just glared at her. "Rai, I suppose I should let you get ready for your match. You still going out stepping with me tonight?"
"Hell yes." She was in desperate need of a night out. "See you after the show." Raine watched Michelle walked off, arching an eyebrow as David picked himself off the floor, looking at the pair of them. "You two look… like a mad, married couple."
"Darlin', I gotta talk to you." Mark did not like the way Michelle was acting towards Raine, like they were friends. His eyes narrowed as he gently guided her into his dressing room, shutting the door on David. "Look, Michelle is bad news, Raine." He began, sighing heavily when she just cocked an eyebrow. He was going to sound like such an ass for saying this but… "She wants to be with me and I've let her know many times it wasn't happenin'. She's pissed that we… uh, slept together after our split, ONCE. I only slept with her cause I was drunk off my feet…" He trailed off when he seen Raine's amused look. "Just watch yer back."
"And I'm s'posed to care about all this why?" She asked, arms over her chest. "Look, Mark, I could care less if you and Michelle slept together, are sleepin' together, whatever. I ain't got any claim staked on you. As for watchin' my back-" She shrugged. "I don't really have anything' she wants, now do I?" Raine rolled her eyes when he just arched an eyebrow, shoving past him to vacate the room. "David, listenin' in on other people's conversations is just plain rude."
David took one look at Mark's now stormy face and bolted.
"Chicken shit." Raine muttered, beginning to bounce in place. She'd read a script for the first time, mildly amused with it. Stephanie was apparently trying to salvage Raine's mistake. Supposedly, she was teaming with the Undertaker -even though she didn't like him- to prove to DX she was more than just eye candy. "So we cut a promo about what I did to you to clear things up so to speak?" She mused aloud, tapping her chin, wondering just how much it would cost if she did it all over again.
"Yeah." Mark replied, eyeing her speculatively, mentally reminding himself that if she tried that shit again to choke slam her straight to hell. He shrugged on his long leather trench coat when a stage tech passed it to him, followed by his hat. "You ready?"
"Uh no." Now she was nervous, wondering if this was further punishment, Stephanie giving her mic time. Factor in she would be going to the ring by herself to call him out. She was going to die. "I'm gonna-" She didn't get to say anything else as her new entrance music blared.
Today I am dirty
I want to be pretty
Tomorrow I know
I'm just dirt
Fear the nobodies
Wanna be somebodies
We're dead
We know just who we are
At least she got her music of choice, Marilyn Manson. Raine stormed out past the curtains, taking the stage and almost did hurl. She kept her face a composed mask, walking down purposely to the ring where a mic was waiting. Inhaling deeply, she rolled into the ring and picked it up, wondering if she would be able to do this. "Undertaker…" Raine blinked at how low her voice actually was for a woman, remembering Shawn calling it a 'whiskey' voice once. "I think we need to get a few things straight if we're going to continue with our… partnership." Her tone made it clear she was ordering him out.
She didn't have long to wait because the arena was suddenly blanketed in darkness, the tolls soon following causing the audience to erupt. The music began as the Undertaker walked out and stood on the stage, just staring at her.
Raine remained stoic as she watched him begin his slow walk down the ramp, taking a step backwards as he got into the ring. Breathe, girl, breath she reminded herself.
"The eyes tell the story here, folks."
J.R. was loud.
"J.R. I think she needs to get out of there before she really gets hurt!"
Jerry was louder.
Mentally reviewing what she was supposed to say, which was an apology, Raine decided Stephanie had a twisted sense of humor. The problem was, Raine was fairly certain she would choke on the words if she tried to force them out. She went with honesty, jumping script again. This time in order not to choke up. "Look, 'Taker, I'm not going to apologize for what I did." She said bluntly, staring up at him.
She was also fairly certain she could hear Shane and Stephanie blowing up already.
"I'm not sorry and if I could go back and do it again, I would." She was aware the audience was waiting for him to knock the shit out of her. "But if anyone could understand that, it would be you." She paused, taking a deep breath, waiting for him to knock the shit out of her too. "If you want to take my head off, that's fine, I understand. I'll still get right back up and be here for our match." She lowered the mic, waiting for him to old school her in manners.
His green eyes pierced hers for several moments before snatching the microphone from her hand. "One chance, girl." He said solemnly. "Don't disappoint me." He dropped the mic at her feet and the lights went out. When they came back on, he was gone.
Grateful her head was still attached, Raine made her way backstage, not surprised Shawn was waiting.
"Rai, jumpin' script is not okay. Just because it apparently worked out there doesn't make it right." He said patiently. "You're new, don't take liberties just because you can." He was referring to him being her adopted parent and her friendship with Paul and Stephanie.
"It won't happen again." She promised, not about to admit she hadn't been able to make that apology, not even able to fake it.
"You have another week added to your gym sessions."
"Aww hell."
"I liked it." Stephanie walked up, ignoring the exasperated look on Shawn's face. She knew it had been hard for Raine to do that promo, but she had pulled it off. "You two have a match against Beth and Santino at the next PPV."
"No more jumping script." Paul hissed as Stephanie walked away, knowing the only reason Stephanie wasn't pissed off was because it had gone over well.
"Okay, dad." Raine said, smiling innocently when he growled. She could only shrug and walk away. She had said she'd be present for their match but their wouldn't be one as their opponents would be backing out in another 15 minutes, building anticipation for the PPV.
She was done for the night, yes!
"Hey girl, nice job out there." Michelle said, falling in step with her. "You jumped again thought."
"I know, I wonder if Shane is gonna fine me again."
"He really doesn't like you, does he?"
Raine shrugged, looking guarded for a moment. "He um, thinks I'm like Shawn, cocky. It's a long story."
"He's right, you are cocky."
***
"There are RULES and REGULATIONS, Stephanie!"
"What would you have me do, Shane? Fire her? She's the perfect match for Mark's character and you KNOW it."
"She jumped script again and she hasn't even been working on-camera a month! She needs to be fined again!"
"And what will that prove? How much of an asshole you really are?"
Shane scowled at his sister before storming out.
***
Raine was in the process of removing her boots when Shane stormed in. She already knew he was here to slap her with another fine. "I know, I jumped script. I'm young and cocky and need to show respect to those who have been here longer than me." She said before he could, green eyes narrowing when he flushed an angry red. She knew exactly why Shane didn't like her. That was fine, the feeling was mutual.
"You have a match tomorrow at the house show, against Beth." He said through gritted teeth. "Be ready rookie."
Raine watched him go with a raised eyebrow. Beth? Was this supposed to be a punishment and if so, who the hell was being punished? Her or Beth? Raine wasn't being arrogant this time, she just knew what she knew. She had been trained with bigger, stronger opponent's in mind. Male opponents. "Oh well…" She murmured, finally vacating the arena, knowing Shawn was probably going to get liquored up with Paul. She had her own plans with Michelle and hadn't bothered changing, the corset and capris would do fine.
***
"Your daughter has balls."
Shawn smirked, refilling their mugs from the pitcher between them. "Tell me somethin', I don't know, Paul."
Paul rolled his eyes. No wonder Raine was so damn cocky, look who had raised her. "Are you really going to add another hour to her workout regiment?"
"Why wouldn't I? She's going to be tagging with the Dead Man, gotta prepare her for it."
"You are a cruel man."
***
Why was he here? Why had he allowed Glenn to drag him out? What the hell had he been thinking? He was not a man who went 'clubbing'. He didn't how see Glenn could either but then again, Glenn had never been right in the head. Maybe that's why they were best friends. Though when Glenn began dancing as he walked, Mark had to smack him upside the head on principal. "You do that again and I'm leavin'." He threatened.
"Come on, Mark, where's your spirit? You need to learn how to live a little." Glenn gestured towards a waitress. "We need two beers." He said, bending down so she could hear him over the music.
"I am livin'." He grunted.
"Get off your dead ass and have some fun!"
Mark smirked wickedly. "Does beatin' yer ass count as fun?"
"Um, no." Glenn sat down in a booth, grinning and watched the people dance, laugh and generally enjoy themselves. "Hey, isn't that Michelle and Raine?"
Mark's head snapped around, spotting Michelle leading Raine to the bar. "Yeah." He grunted, nodding gratefully when the waitress appeared, drowning his beer in one swallow and ordered another, feeling rather hot suddenly.
Something Glenn didn't miss, deciding to have a little fun at his friend's expense. "She's a pretty thing, isn't she?"
"Yeah. Smart, gorgeous, funny, strong…"
"Earth to Mark, this is your captain speakin'!" Glenn said through cupped hands when Mark began zoning out.
"Go fuck yourself."
"What fun would that be?"
***
"What the hell are these things?" Raine asked, sipping her second drink slowly.
"Alien Secretion, awesome aren't they?" Michelle laughed, sliding off the bar to go dance. "Come on."
"Uh, I'll pass." Raine said uncomfortably.
"Rai-Rai, it'll be fun! I'll teach you to dance, okay?"
Raine groaned when she was dragged out onto the floor.
***
"Wow… how can a woman who can throw down with the boys look that good? It's not natural." Glenn remarked, watching as Michelle and Raine danced, arching an eyebrow when Mark growled. "I was just making an observation."
"I'm going to knock out your fronts."
"Damn, well… I can always get fakes. I was thinking Kane could use a grill, what you say to that, homie?"
Mark moved to tackle his friend only to wind up in a headlock. "I'm gonna kick your ass!"
"Heard that one before." Glenn snorted, not letting go.