Chapter 15:

"Do you know how much you suck for not being at Judgment Day last night?" Chris Jericho practically pounced on his best friend as she entered his locker room the following Monday night.

"Aw, miss me?" She grinned cheekily at him. "Poor baby. I wasn't there to console your ego once Sweet Chin music hit."

"You evil witch!" Jericho snorted. "Just for that, I'm really going to beat the hell out of your boyfriend tonight."

Haley laughed. "Darling you know I love you, and I'm sorry you didn't beat HBK last night."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Yeah, and how much are you going to love me tonight, when I put a Y2J style ass kicking on your boyfriend?"

"Look, this whole vendetta against Shawn thing is between the three of you." Haley shrugged. "I'm going out to the ring for your match by myself and sitting with JR and King. And since I'm your best friend, you wouldn't dream of putting me in the middle here."

"You play dirty." He mock glared. "Pulling the best friend card. You're lucky you're best friend is the Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla, the Sexy Beast, Y2J, otherwise I'd be pissed at you for not being my little cheerleader tonight."

"You get me for everything else." Haley laughed. "Hey, I'll still be out there, just rooting for both of you."

"Yeah, yeah." He rolled his eyes. "We'll see where you loyalty lies soon enough."

"Drama queen." She shot back with a wicked grin. "Besides, if it's any consolation, I missed you like crazy over the past four days."

He smiled brightly at her. "I missed you too, Hales."

Before their conversation could continue, the door opened and Batista walked in, dressed to compete. "Hey baby." He bent down and pressed a quick kiss to Haley's mouth before she could react.

And then, the Animal turned his attention to Jericho. "Look, I've got a serious issue with Shawn and I'm going to take care of it at One Night Stand. And you are not getting in my way."

Jericho huffed out a breath. "I wouldn't dream of getting in your way, I mean, you're Batista!" He exclaimed mockingly. "I wouldn't even think about it. I mean, you're obviously the better man right?"

"Guys!" Haley protested, but went ignored.

"Maybe I should just go out to the ring right now and forfeit!" Jericho continued. "Or, better, I'll wait for you to cheap shot me and give me the Batista bomb you gave me last time on the Highlight Reel!"

Dave held his stare, not giving the brassy Canadian any indication of a reaction.

"Or maybe, I'll just go out there and beat the living hell out of you tonight and take out the rest on Shawn Michaels myself at One Night Stand. Hmm?" Jericho smirked.

Batista chuckled in disbelief. "Look, you and Shawn beat the hell out of each other last night. You're in no shape to compete and you know it."

Jericho nodded. "Okay. All right. If you feel that way, then well good luck to you good night." He said, unbothered by Batista's comment.

Batista cocked his head to one side. "If that's the way you want it, good luck to you too."

Then two men backed off as if to separate, still holding one another's gaze. Then simultaneously, they got right back into one another's faces.

"Guys, please don't do this now." Haley tried to wedge herself between them. "Save it for the ring."

Batista merely smirked, before turning his back on Jericho and leaving the locker room.

"I hope you take a good long look at your boyfriend, Haley." Jericho turned an angry stare on his valet. "Because after I'm through with him tonight, he won't be looking the same ever again!"

The Intercontinental Champion stalked into the shower room to finish getting ready, leaving Haley by herself.

"You know sometimes," She muttered exasperatedly. "I hate my life."

As Gavin DeGraw's "In Love with A Girl" hit the airwaves, the RAW crowd popped loudly in response. Haley, in a little black and white babydoll dress and black and white stilettos, appeared on stage holding her title belt high.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome, the WWE Women's Champion, Haley Mariano!" Lilia Garcia announced the brunette's arrival.

"Well King, it looks like we're about to be blessed with the presence of our current Women's Champion!" Jim Ross turned to his longtime commentary partner.

"I'd love to blessed by her anytime, puppies!" King exclaimed in excitement, as Haley exchanged high fives with the fans on her way to the announcer's table.

"How do you think Haley's dealing with the peculiar situation she's in tonight? Her best friend and her boyfriend are scheduled to compete and she's unfortunately caught in the middle." JR continued, ignoring his friend's exclamation over the young woman's attributes.

"I can say I'm happy for it right now, as here she comes!" King stood to pull out the chair for the Women's Champion.

"Hi King." Haley kissed his cheek affectionately and went around him for a moment to give the same treatment to JR. "Hello to you too, JR."

"Thanks for joining us out here tonight, Haley." The now ruby faced Texan mumbled.

"Thanks for having me." Haley adjusted her headset and sat in the empty seat beside King.

"I have to tell you, Haley, Batista is one lucky scamp to have you as his girlfriend." King told her with a minor touch of jealousy.

Haley's giggle was broadcasted through every television set around the world that was tuned in. "Thanks King, I remind him of that daily." She joked.

"Haley, I have to ask how you're feeling with this upcoming match. You're essentially stuck between a rock and a hard place." JR steered the conversation back onto the program as Jericho's countdown began on the titantron screen.

"You're absolutely right, JR. It's not easy. I have to watch my best friend, barring Candice of course, and my boyfriend beat the hell out of each other." Haley agreed. "It's not going to be the most pleasurable experience for me."

"Well, you have to understand where both men are coming from." JR went on as Batista theme "I Walk Alone" by Saliva could be heard. "Shawn Michaels duped both of these men and arguably no one takes more exception than that man right there, the Animal."

"Speaking on a personal note," Haley added. "I can tell you that Dave is normally one to bow out gracefully when he loses. He's a very respective sort of guy, but Shawn Michaels made a fool of him by faking that knee injury. Dave isn't going to be as graceful about this one."

"Well we'll find out just how much exception Batista's going to take when facing Jericho for the right to meet HBK at One Night Stand, momentarily." JR commented as Batista finished posing on the turnbuckles. "I can predict right now this will be one hell of a slobber-knocker."