Chapter 88:

Candice Michelle followed the hostess to a table at a small Italian Bistro. She was dressed comfortably, but still stylishly, in dark boots cut jeans, a frothy white lace camisole under a black blazer with three quarter sleeves and black leather boots that added three inches to her still slender frame. Her dark hair had been curled in large ringlets then held off her face by a clip at the nape of her neck. Her make up was minimal due to a naturally healthy glow that stemmed from a long day at the Spa yesterday with Kelly and Haley.

She looked like dynamite, which was exactly what she wanted when meeting with her soon to be official ex-boyfriend, Dwayne Johnson.

She ordered ice water with a slice of lemon from the waitress and began to browse the menu while she waited for him to arrive. He didn't make her way long.

She knew the moment he arrive by the charge in the atmosphere. The man commanded attention wherever he went and by the excited murmurings that suddenly flitted through the restaurant, he had arrived. She hated the electric charge that shot through her nervous system when she caught sight of him walking through the front doors.

Did he have to be so handsome? And that smile should be illegal.

"Candice." His dark eyes were all for her as he strode past the hostess podium and made his way toward her. He leaned down to kiss her cheek before dropping into the chair opposite her. "You look gorgeous, Mama. Have you been waiting long?"

"No." She told him coolly, folding her hands neatly in her lap. "Dwayne, listen…"

"Wait," He held up one tan hand to stop her from whatever she was about to say. "These past two months I've made several big mistakes. But before you give me the ax, which I deserve, can you just hear me out, please?"

Candice sighed. "I suppose."

"Great." He waved the waitress away, wanting to get the talking portion out of the way before he ate. "Candice, I don't want to break up with you. So don't dump me, no matter how much I deserve it."

"You don't want to break up with me?" Candice repeated looking dubious. "Dwayne, you've barely paid attention to me the past couple weeks?"

"Candice I've been prepping for my big return and I have an ego the size of Texas." He looked chagrined. "It makes me short sighted and I apologize for neglecting you. The truth is that you're exactly the kind of woman I can see myself really falling for. I just need the chance to make this up to you."

"It's not just me, Dwayne." Candice dropped her eyes to her hands. "What you did to Haley…she's my best friend and…"

"I know, no one hates me more than I hate myself for Haley's pain." He leaned forward so that she looked up at him. "I will make it up to Haley though, Candice. And I want to make it up to you too. I've cut ties with Randy Orton. I went to Dave personally and apologized. And when Haley's ready to hear me out, I'll get on my knees and beg for forgiveness if I have to. But you, Candice I'll really kick myself if I lose you too."

"I don't know, I…" Candice trailed off. She wanted to believe him. She had grown to care about him in the short time she'd gotten to know him. She would love to continue the relationship, but couldn't if he ignored her and hurt Haley again.

"Candice," He pulled both hands out of her lap and gripped them in his. "Do you honestly want to stop seeing me?"

"Well, no. I…"

"I don't want to stop seeing you." He told her firmly. "From tonight on, I'm going to be the kind of boyfriend you want and deserve. I'm going to fix things. I just need you to give me a second chance. Please?"

She looked at him for a long moment before relenting. "One last chance, Dwayne. If you neglect me or hurt one of my friends like this ever again, we're done. And you have to make up with Haley."

"I will, I promise you."

Meanwhile…

"What the fuck was that last night?" Ken Kennedy demanded as he walked up behind the auburn haired Diva and slung his arm around her shoulders. "Since when did you turn into Evan Bourne?"

Haley laughed, grinning up at him. "Oh I don't have Evan Bourne's skill in high flying just yet. But you can't deny my new finisher's not badass?"

"Mr. Kennedy declares….that your new finisher is badass." He joked.

"I miss your little internet show." She poked him playfully in the ribs. "Bring it back!"

" prefers the Dirt Sheet and other stupid shit instead." He scoffed in mild disgust. "People are morons, that's why I don't have friends."

"Liar, you're my friend." Haley chuckled.

"Bite your tongue woman." Ken smirked. "That gets around you'll ruin my rep."

"The horror if people actually thought you were a nice guy for a change." She shook her head in amusement. "So how's the bicep? You returning any time soon?"

"Rehab still." He sighed heavily. "I've resorted to interviewing your Coach on SmackDown."

"Triple H does great interviews don't complain." She chided. "And if you need interviewing tips, you can always go talk to Maria and get her advice."

"Oh yeah I'll go get some tips from Maria. Think she'd design me some new gear too? I'm thinking something with zebra print for my return." He said sarcastically.

"Don't be a jerk." She rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you actually be with the SmackDown tour?"

"What? You're not happy to see me?" He let a real grin cross his face. "I've got a meeting with Stephanie McMahon later today. Don't you have signing to get to?"

"Car's out front and ready to go, I'm just waiting on Jericho, who I have to do this signing with." Haley grimaced. "Three hours sitting next Chris, signing autographs and taking pictures."

"Well…shit." Ken started laughing. "That's just bad luck for you. Have you two even spoken since the whole broken glass thing?"

"Nope. I've avoid him for the most part. But I can't today." She shrugged. "And at this point, it's better than Randy. I would kill Randy if I had to sit next to him for three hours."

"Well just think, at Armageddon you get to make sure he loses, Ms. Guest Enforcer." He ruffled her hair. "Look at you, taking after Chyna."

"Hey! I have to pose for photos you asshole!" She darted away from him, using her fingers to smooth her hair back into place and grinning at him.

"Suck it up, quit being such a wimp." Ken chuckled at her reaction.

"HALEY!" Chris Jericho's voice echoed cuttingly across the hotel lobby, causing her smile to vanish. "We don't have all day you know!"

The former World Heavyweight Champion stood by the revolving door leading outside, glaring at the pair of them. Ken grit his teeth and clenched his fists at his side. "You want me to go with you?" He said quietly to Haley.

"No, go have your meeting. I can handle him." She shot him a grateful smile and squeezed his arm. "If you're still around come have dinner with Dave and me."

"Will do." He nodded. "Have fun."

"Thanks, see you later Ken." She straightened her shoulders and strode purposefully towards Chris Jericho. "Sorry. Ready to go?"

"I've been ready." He snapped. "You were too busy flirting with that idiot to notice."

"Ken isn't an idiot." Haley shook her head. "He's my best friend. Kind of how you used to be." She said before stepping through the door and out onto the sidewalk.

Chris joined her a moment later. "Those days are long gone."

"I'm well aware of that. But we have to spend the next few hours together so you could try to be civil." She pulled her sunglasses out of her bag and placed them over her eyes before slipping inside the company car.

"Fine." He grunt, sliding in behind her. "Nice new finisher by the way. It's about time you started improving."

"Thanks, maybe the next time you fight Dave you'll be on the receiving end of it." She said with an overly sweet tone in her voice.

"Bitch." Chris muttered under his breath.

"Assclown." Haley retorted with a smirk.

A/N: For all you Miz fans who were a little offended by my rant, I apologize. But, I don't like him. I didn't like him when I was in High School watching the Real World on MTV and I don't like him as a wrestler. I get that he loves the business and what not. I don't even mind him as a midcarder. But him being World Champion and headlining Wrestlemania did not sit well with me. There are other guys on the roster with more talent, charisma and a passion for the business who deserved it more. John Morrison had it all over the Miz entertainment wise and never got a World title. Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas are superior athletes and Charlie never even got a singles title. Miz had ties to MTV which keeps him in the limelight. I don't find him entertaining as a heel. He's annoying and his wrestling skills aren't anything spectacular. You are welcome to like him yourselves I respect your opinion, mine's just different ;)

Also Chang-Tong, lol I didn't say the Diva's match was awesome. I said Kelly was awesome. I remember her debut and look at her now. It's looking at two different people. Debut Kelly was there for looks alone. Kelly now has improved by leaps and bounds. She's improved so much and she's young so she'll keep getting better. I'm proud of her. lol

Also Erica, I would love to join you in an attack against the Creative team in keeping WWE cool. DOWN WITH BROCK LESNAR! Here comes the pain? Yeah the pain of suffering through his presence on my television screen! Ha!

Hope you all enjoyed the interlude with Mr. Kennedy, guh I miss him so much! He's doing brilliant in TNA…big mistake WWE. If he ever comes back I will die of happiness.

Also, Dwayne is on the road to redemption. And a little Jericho at the end for you. Even though he is a total as clown I can't let go of my love for the sexy beast lol

Up next…Haley and Dave fluffiness! :D