January 10, 2012

Penny walked into the arena the next day, ready for the Smackdown taping. She was greeted with cheers and "welcome backs" from everyone who hadn't been at RAW the night before. Now that she had revealed herself, there was no need for oversized hoodies hiding her face. The Bellas ran up to her throwing their arms around her, "Come with us," Nikki said.

"Where? Why?"

"Just hush and come with us," Brie told her.

She rolled her eyes and followed them to the green room. As soon as Brie opened the door everyone shouted "Surprise!" Both, wrestlers and crew members, had gotten together to throw her a welcome back party.

She grinned and said, "Y'all shouldn't have. This is so sweet." There was a large cake with 'Welcome back Penny!' written on it.

Brie and Nikki both squeezed her tight and said, "We missed you."

It didn't take long for Penny to grow tired of the party. She quietly slipped out and started walking down the hall to her locker room. She was looking over the program for the show tonight, and didn't notice the man standing just around the corner talking to a crew member until she walked right into him.

"I'm so sorry," she said, before he turned around.

Stu turned to face her, and all words suddenly escaped her. "Penny, welcome back."

"Thanks." She smiled, not really sure what else to say.

"You've changed your hair."

Suddenly self-conscious, she ran her fingers through her no longer dark brown hair. "I figured new me, new look." There was a long pause, "Do you like it?"

He nodded, "Red is very fitting on you."

She smiled, "Thanks."

"Why aren't you at your party?"

She shrugged, "I'm just not really up for it right now. Besides, I think it was more for them than me."

"Right, the only time there's a party is when there's a birthday."

She nodded, "Well, I should get going." Penny wanted to make this uncomfortable meeting end as quickly as possible. She slipped past him and took off down the hall.

Stu thought about telling her he was headed that way as well, but decided against it. Instead, he waited until she was out of sight, then he started towards his locker room.

He sat on the bench, lacing up his boots when Heath walked in. "So...Penny's back," Heath said.

"I noticed."

"Are you two gonna..." he trailed off, not really knowing how to word the rest of his sentence.

Stu knew what direction he was headed in and shook his head. "I don't think so," he told him. "She didn't even act like she wanted to be near me when we ran into each other."

"You weren't at the party. Were you avoiding her?"

"No, I just wasn't in the partying mood."

"You still love her?" His tone implied it was a question.

Stu shrugged, "I don't know. I thought I always would, but...it's been so long. She's changed."