A.N. This chapter is shorter than usual. I finished it on the bus while bringing my son to daycare this morning. To my reviewer requesting use of personal tour buses I am going to try and incorporate it. If anyone has requests of any kind, please feel free to ask, I am always willing to try out new things.

I don't know if anyone noticed, but Eli is from Massachusetts, not Nevada, she is simply billed as being from Nevada. And Talos is not her real last name.

Chapter 5

When his music plays, Eli walks out to the ramp with him, her arms crossed over her chest as she stands off to his side. His entrance routine is just about the same, minus the close proximity his "new girl" is always at. When he gets up on the turnbuckle with his belt she stands with a smirk, arms crossed just watching him. He motions for her to come forward, she stops just inches from the spot he jumps down to. Their lips meet in a quick but rough kiss, just as his opponents music starts. It's Alex Riley.

Punk and Eli exchange words just as the ref motions for her to get out of the ring and get on the floor. The bell sounds and a pretty decent fight starts. Riley gets the upper hand, but Eli has the ref distracted, giving Punk the chance to break free. As the fight continues on, Eli is unaware of the venomous eyes watching her until it's too late. A pair of arms grabs her from behind; her scream gets Punk's attention who then turns his back on Riley. Chris Jericho is her captor. He appears to whisper something sinister in her ear, but what he really tells her is to prepare to catch herself. Riley attacks Punk from behind, a three count follows the assault. Punk struggles to recover, getting to his knees just in time to see Jericho's nasty smirk as he snaps Eli forward, the small woman colliding harshly with the side of the ring. Her small body crashes to the floor, seemingly unconscious. It's hard for her not to laugh when the crowd reacts. "Look at that Punk," Chris motions to Eli's crumpled form on the ground, the man somehow retrieving a microphone. "Look at what you caused. Doesn't that just make you want a drink? Don't you want to numb away that guilt? It must be eating you alive. Just give in Punk, give in."

Punk is standing at this point, yelling hard to hear threats and curses at Jericho. Before she knows it, a pair of arms is pulling her up, her head rolls and she groans, her eyes fixing on Punk's form. He was clearly in pain but his concern was obvious. More words are exchanged. Jericho had left the arena before Punk exited the ring. He slings one of her arms around his shoulders, supporting her with his body, before moving back up the ramp with her.

Once they are through the curtain, Eli gives them space, standing on her own. Before either of them say a word Chris comes over, looking Eli over. "You're okay, right?"

"It's gonna bruise, but nothing major, went as planned Chris. Thanks for the warning." She grinned, eyes shifting to Phil who was staring pretty intently at her.

"No problem, kiddo." Chris nodded, sideways glancing at Phil with a smirk. "She's a tough one, eh?" Phil returned his smirk with one of his own and Chris walked off with a wave.

"So," Eli smiled, "I'm free Friday. When should I pick you up?"

"I'll pick YOU up at 7, outside the hotel."

"Well geez, I thought I was the one taking you out?"

He was still smirking. "I'll save that dinner you owe me for another time; I got a place I want to take you."

"Casual or fancy?"

"Dress nice sweetheart." Was all he said before he walked off towards hospitality.

A squeal startled Eli, who turned quickly in Barbie's direction. The blonde was standing off to the side with Cameron and Naomi (Ariane and Trinity), and had just witnessed everything that had just happened. The Brodus Clay dancers both wore smirks. "Wow Eli! And you were so worried about working with him!"

"Hey Barbs! Ari, Tri." Eli greeted cheerfully, her cheeks flushed. She had already talked to Barbie before the show and her fellow Diva was excited for her. "He's a great guy." she nodded.

"No kidding! That was so impossibly cute." Barbie gushed.

Ariane and Trinity excused themselves; they were on deck and had to get ready with George/Brodus. "When can you get out of here, I was thinking we could go get a couple drinks, I need to wind down." Eli questioned, head tilting to the side.

"I'd love to, but I already made plans with Cody. He wants a Super Smash Bro's rematch. He can't stand it when I kick his butt with the princess chick."

Eli laughed loudly. An image of Barbie and Cody bickering over video games flashing through her head, "I thought you were supposed to let guys win at shit like that. Something about bruising their egos."

"HA! Cody's ego is so inflated he could spare some of that air. 'Sides, my ego needs a little of that." Barbie declares. "Anyways I got to go find him, ask Vikki I think her and Rosa were planning to get drinks."

"Thanks have fun with Cody." Eli replied as Barbie began her hunt for her boyfriend. With a sigh, Eli headed back to the locker room. She'd wanted to talk to Barbie about some things she wouldn't feel comfortable talking about with any of the other girls. She could always try Helena's phone when she got back to the hotel. Her little sister did always say that the time didn't matter.

When she got back to her hotel room she found a yellow package had been slipped under the door. She immediately knew what it was. Her flight ticket to London, her bus assignment (She'd be rooming with Barbie, Milena/Rosa, Beth, and the twins.), and the European tour schedule. She had a lot of anxiety about going overseas but she couldn't be more thankful for the friendships she'd developed.

Running the shower Eli got cleaned up. She hadn't even bothered changing out of her ring attire before leaving. The tight black leather pants and the small belted black leather top were pretty simple but horribly uncomfortable. Her gear also included a pair of flat knee high boots and a single elbow length glove that didn't have a middle finger or a thumb. It was gimmicky to say the least.

Once settled in her bed, Eli dialed Helena's number and waited. It rang three times before voicemail picked up. She sighed, "Hey Lena, it's your big sister calling. Give me a ring when you get this. Love ya!"

Curling up in the comforter, she clicked the tv on, drifting off into a slumber. Her last thought was of Phil and how excited she was about going on a real date with him.