Chapter 52:
The heavy sense of foreboding that Haley carried with her, intensified as she approached the locker room she shared with her boyfriend. Victoria's words still echoed in her head and only worsened when the high-pitched girlish giggle sounded from just inside the door. Moments later, Eve Torres pranced into the hallway with a flirtatious hair flip and come-get-me smile. Dave appeared just after her, coming to lean against the door jam.
"Thanks again, Dave." The SmackDown Latina cooed. "You sure know how to up a girl's spirits. We should do this again sometime."
"Sure." Dave nodded casually. "It was good to see you, Eve. Thanks for stopping by."
"Anytime." Eve winked, before traipsing down the hallway with an obvious show in her hips.
Haley barely controlled the urge to follow after the Diva Search winner and rip all that pretty brunette hair out. It was as if the outer edges of her vision were tinged with red from tightly wound fury. If she could be, her skin would be green with jealousy; an emotion she tried to avoid at all costs. She just couldn't help but feel territorial over Dave.
"What was that about?" She asked, moving rapidly toward her boyfriend now that Eve had turned the corner of the hallway and was out of sight.
"Baby, hey!" Dave's expression brightened and he stepped forward to embrace her tightly. "You were great out there. I'm so proud of you for that sledgehammer shot. I'm sure Hunter was grinning like a fool too. And, even I'll admit, the double RKO was pretty cool."
"Thanks." Her voice was muffled from his chest, so she pulled back enough to look up at him and speak clearly. "What was that about?" She repeated.
"Oh, you mean Eve?" He shrugged. "She passed by coming from Adamle's office. We said hello, and then she decided to fill me in on the SmackDown gossip. Nothing terribly exciting."
"Oh." She frowned, slightly unconvinced that was all it was, at least on Eve's part.
He smirked in response. "Baby?" He waited for her to look up at him before continuing. "Are you jealous?" He teased. "Haley Audra Mariano, since when do you get jealous?"
The obvious amusement in his tone made her feel foolish. "I'm sorry." She sighed in embarrassment. "I know, it's not like me at all."
"No it's not." He gently chastised. "You know I love you, and only you. What brought this on? Did Randy say something?"
"No." Haley shook her head. "Victoria did. She was just spouting off stupid remarks, taunting me, and I let it take root when she mentioned Eve being all over you. It was stupid, I know better. I'm sorry. I do trust you, it was just a stupid reaction."
He bent down and kissed her forehead. "You don't have to apologize, Haley. Being jealous is a natural human emotion. I trust you too, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of your time spent with Randy. I know you guys are close, but anyone can see he's hooked on you."
"Maybe." She conceded. "But there's nothing going on with Randy and me. Not like that anyway. He's my best guyfriend, especially now after the whole Chris thing." She assured him.
"And there's nothing going on between Eve and me." He replied. "But like I said, we're human and jealousy comes with the territory of being in love."
She rolled her eyes. "And they say you have rocks for brains."
"Well, they say you and Hunter are having some hot illicit affair behind Steph's and my back." He joked with a broadening grin.
Her eyes grew as wide as saucers. "Do they really?"
"No." He chuckled.
"Dave!" She playfully hit him in the abs. "That's not funny."
"Yes it is." He shook his head, before kissing her deeply. "I love you, Haley."
A low sound of approval rose from the back of her throat. "I love you too, Dave. I don't know why sometimes, but I do."
"I'm irresistible." He smoothed his hands down her hair to her shoulders. "I'm going to go beat the hell out of your ex-boyfriend, want to come watch?"
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I'll watch from the monitor. I do not need to be in the middle of this one."
"All right." With one last kiss, he released her and stepped backwards. "By the way, jealousy looks good on you, Hales. In fact, it's kind of sexy."
This statement got her to laugh. "Go beat Cena, maybe I'll find you sexy too."
"You find me sexy all the time." He smirked again, starting to back down the hallway. "It's whether you can control yourself around me, that's the question."
"Shut up, you conceited ass!" She called after him good-naturedly. "You can bite me."
"Later tonight." He promised with mischief dancing in his eyes. "Just tell me where." He saluted her before disappearing around the corner.
Once he was gone from view, the smile faded from Haley's face and the doubt crept back in. As much as she hated to admit it; she was worried. What was Eve Torres up to? And why would a SmackDown Diva need to see the General Manager of RAW?
Meanwhile, Dwayne Johnson watched the Summerslam pay-per-view with a half interested eye now that Haley's match was complete. He had absolutely no interest in Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix. The Italian superstar was simply an idiot and a joke to every wrestler that called himself professional. And, the Glamazon was a bully that Haley had proven could be beaten.
Mickie James only held his attention due to the title belt she carried over her shoulder. It was a title she had stolen from Haley, not once, but twice. Already he was making plans to deal with her once he made his return to RAW. No one messed with his baby like that and got away with it. Randy had helped Haley with the Burchills, but Dwayne would help take care of the mastermind.
Just take the fall
You're one of us
The spotlight is on
(Ahh ahh)
Oh the spotlight is on, oh
Dwayne took a moment to search for his ringing phone before flipping it open. "Hey there Haley baby, I was just thinking about you."
"Good things I hope." Her tone was light, in a superficial way that only his well-tuned ears could pick up on.
"Always." He frowned in concern, even though she could not see him. "What's wrong baby? Do I need to kick someone's candyass?"
She laughed. "No. I forgot how well you see right through me, or in this case hear. It's nothing big, just a personal girly problem I have to work out. No offense, but I'm going to use Candice for this one."
He wrinkled his nose and leant back against the couch with the phone glued to his ear. "Oh well, then that's okay; as long as it's nothing serious. You had a great match tonight. I'm impressed by how well you and Orton play off one another. The double RKO's was cool. And I bet Hunter was positively beaming at the sledgehammer thing."
She giggled and he heard minor shuffling in the background. "I haven't caught up with him yet to find out. But thanks for the compliment."
"You earned it." He assured her.
"So what's up with you? Any new movie deals?" She asked.
"I've got a couple projects brewing at the moment." A secretive smile crossed his handsome features. "I'll let you know as soon as I figure it out."
"Okay." She agreed, with a touch of reluctance in her voice.
"I'm more interested in your progress anyway." He switched the subject back to her match. "I'm so proud of you, Haley. You stood your ground tonight, and really expanded your range."
"It's the only way I'll get my title back." She said as a way of explanation.
"You'll get a helping hand for that soon enough." He said confidently.
A/N: Happy Belated Thanksgiving everyone. It was crazy at my place this year, 25 people in my house, wow. Crazy!
Up next, Haley questions Maria about Eve, gossips with the SD girls, and Randy Orton and John Cena had an interesting confrontation.
Rachel: Oh I have plenty of interesting plans with our love triangle, don't you worry.
Vjsimpact: haha I'm so glad.
HighflyinJeffHardy: Thank you so much. I'm really glad you liked Over It and it's sequel. It gives me a thrill whenever someone says they enjoy it. I love Jeff and Randy too, I'm so jealous you've met them. I'm dying to meet both of them, and of course my Dave too lol.
Purplefeather21: Hmmm…Survivor Series is kind up and down. I'm thrilled Cena got the title. I'm disliking Jericho's gimmick with a passion. Edge being Champ, I'm not so thrilled with. I wanted either Triple H to retain (again I can't help it, he's my fav) or Jeff to finally get his shot. Sorry, not much an Edge fan here, he irritates the crap out of me. Lol. And don't worry about being a baley and raley fan, I'm right there with you.
INdy MiLk: Thanks love. Hope you didn't have to wait too long.
Nic-002001: I know, tell me about it. I can't stand Edge, he irritates the crap out of me. If Triple H was gonna lose, I wanted it to be to Jeff. He deserves it and Hunter had a nice long run, so I'm happy with it. Plus, the Game is always more intense in the title chase. I think RAW's been picking up in the past couple weeks, even without Cena, though Jericho as Champ killed a huge bit of it. I'm still hoping for the Age of Orton, or Batista to reign soon though.
FrequentlyDazzled619: Mhmm…still not happy about Edge just fyi lol. He irritates the shit out of me. If Triple H lost to anyone, it should have been Jeff.
Aaron W: haha Trips was very proud of course, which we'll see very soon. Haha, if it was a wrong place wrong time scenario, Haley would know to give the benefit of the doubt, nope, it's coming down a bit differently this time around. As for Survivor Series… I know, tell me about it. I can't stand Edge, he irritates the crap out of me. If Triple H was gonna lose, I wanted it to be to Jeff. He deserves it and Hunter had a nice long run, so I'm happy with it. Plus, the Game is always more intense in the title chase. I think RAW's been picking up in the past couple weeks, even without Cena, though Jericho as Champ killed a huge bit of it. I'm still hoping for the Age of Orton, or Batista to reign soon though.
Dreamin'BIG: Jericho used to be a great heel cause he was still funny…now he's the worst heel on the planet. He should just go die. He's pissed me off so much that I will no longer have him make a face turn in my story as originally planned, I was going to have Haley save him the way he saved her…not anymore…stupid ass that he is. He's making me all giggly and happy over Cena again. I out grew that like two years ago haha.
Hardygurl84: They're the bad guys, you're supposed to hate them. Lol. I hope Hardy gets it from Edge, the man irritates the shit out of me. If Hunter was going to lose to anyone, it should have been Jeff. I was ready for it too, cause Hunter got a nice long title run out of it this time, so I was ready for Jeff to get his turn. Urgh…fucking Edge, go back to whatever Hell you were in, no one missed you.
Caleb's Babe: Yeah, Randy does have his cute moments.
I luv Drama and Jeff Hardy: I'll try to check it out asap.
SBMFanatic: Yay for Cena…boo for Edge…stupid fucker. He irritates the shit out of me. If Hunter was going to lose to anyone, it should have been Jeff. I was ready for it too, cause Hunter got a nice long title run out of it this time, so I was ready for Jeff to get his turn. Urgh…fucking Edge, go back to whatever Hell you were in, no one missed you.
TheeAllure: haha I'm partial to that line myself. Randy's movements have always been graceful and predatory in the ring…like a jungle cat and panther just seemed to fit. This time, Haley just said I love you like she would to Candice, or Jeff. Purely platonic, to your best friend. But Randy knows something Haley does not and it will be revealed next chapter.