February 13, 2012

In the weeks that followed, Penny was distant. All of her free time was spent at the gym. Someone was always with her though. They never heard her say it anymore, but they suspected her of continuing to blame herself for what had happened to Tate. Worried about her mental health, Phil had decided that someone should be with her at all times. She didn't talk much though, not even to Brie, who she considered her best friend.

Instead, Penny had seemed to gravitate more towards Drew. Perhaps it was because they were both divorced that she felt a connection to him, but no one really knew for sure.

Everyone had arrived at the arena where RAW was to be at that night. Most of the Superstars and Divas were in their locker rooms preparring for the show while the crew ran around getting everything in place before the doors were opened.

Penny sat in the green room, with Drew. They sat close to each other, reading the same book. Stu walked in, and at first was taken back by the sight. Penny didn't seem to notice him enter the room. Drew glanced up for a moment, gave him a friendly smile, then his eyes darted back down to the page he was reading.

Penny picked up the corner of the page, "I'm not done yet," Drew told her. She waited, and after a few seconds, he said, "Okay."

She turned the page, and a minute or so later, he said "Okay," again. She was obviously reading faster than him, but wasn't bothered by it.

Stu was uncomfortable sitting near them, watching them. Just as he was about to leave, Penny rose from the couch, placing a bookmark in the book. "I have to go get ready for the show. We can read the next chapter later."

Drew nodded.

Penny offered Stu a half-smile as she left the room, but no more was said.

Once the door was shut, and Stu was certain Penny was gone, he looked at the man he considered a good friend, and asked, "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"You and Penny! You're always together, you sit up against each other, you're reading the same damn book for Christ's sake!"

"Nothing's going on between us if that's what you think. She's just...hurting. I'm just being a friend."

Stu narrowed his eyes at him, "Just a friend? Really?"

Drew nodded, "Yes, really." Drew paused, "Why do you care anyways? You're not with her anymore."

45 minutes later

Penny stood at the curtain in the gorilla position. She was waiting for the commercial break to end. In the mean time, crew members were setting the stage for an important announcement she was making.

The week before, Beth had taken advantage of her rematch clause, but lost. Something had gotten into Penny since the match where she won the Diva's Championship. She wasn't quite sure what it was. It was as if a new fire had been lit inside her, a new desire.

Finally, Joan Jett was blared over the loudspeakers, and she made her way to the ring, the Diva's Championship belt carried proudly over her shoulder.

She climbed through the ropes into the ring, smoothing the front of her dress as she straightened. She took a microphone from the stagehand before turning to face the main camera. A mixture of negative and positive screams erupted from the crowd as she pulled the microphone up to speak into it.

She smirked and rolled her eyes, waiting for the crowd to calm down. With her new in-ring behavior, she was an established heel, but most people felt sorry for her. They had read about her car accident, read about Tate. It was sympathy cheers, and she hated them for it.

"Tonight, I will start a new era in the Diva's division. The Diva's division, quite frankly, is currently pathetic! Glorified models not having to actually earn a damn thing. They're insults to the women who stepped in the ring before us, like Lita, Ivory, Chyna, and various others. Women like Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox have given women's wrestling a bad name. They've insulted wrestling in general, and have made this 'championship' completely meaningless. That's why, as of tonight, I'm destroying it."

She pulled a black cloth off of the tin trashcan that was standing a foot or so from a covered podium. She pulled a bottle of lighter fluid from the trash can before dropping the cloth in it, then she dropped the belt on top of it. She soaked it in the lighter fluid before picking up a pack of matches off the podium. She lit one, and dropped it in the trash can.

There was another mixture of boos and applause as the belt burned. She smiled. Before she could continue with her bit, Natalya's music started. She climbed into the ring, microphone already in hand, "What the hell do you think you're doing? We made an agreement."

Penny laughed, a wicked smile curved on her lips. "I haven't forgotten. I just wanted our match to actually mean something. Now, if you'll excuse me..." Penny walked over to the podium, placing her hand on the cloth that covered the top of it. "I would like to re-introduce to the WWE Universe," she pulled away the cloth, "The Women's Championship! It hasn't been tainted by filth." She picked it up and placed it over her shoulder. "With the help of Natalya, and a select few others, we will begin rebuilding the Diva's division. We'll make it worth watching again. Eliminating the weak and the ones that don't belong here, and helping those who do reach their fullest potential."

Penny looked expectantly at Natalya. "I'm impressed," she told her, "I didn't see this one coming."

Penny smiled, and left the ring, new belt in hand.

February 14, 2012

It was two in the morning when the hotel room door opened. The light from the hall way shined across Phil's face, stirring him from the light sleep he was in. He squinted at the light to see Penny's silhouette in the doorway, taking off her stilettos. "Penny?"

"Yeah, it's me," he voice was low.

"What time is it?"

"Late. Go back to sleep."

"Where've you been?"

"Out." She was in the darkness now, having shut and locked the door now. Phil didn't bother to pry, he knew she wouldn't tell. There was a thud, and his bed shook slightly, "Ow!"

"What did you do?"

"I walked into the bed, what do you think?"

He didn't say anything. He felt the mattress sink slightly to his left. "You're in my bed," he groaned.

"So!" She crawled up beside her brother and laid down. "It can be like when we were kids again. When I'd have a nightmare, and sleep with you. Remember?"

"Yeah, except back then you never woke me up. I wouldn't know you were in my bed until I woke up the next morning to find you laying next to me."

Penny ignored him, and he turned, his back to her.

A few minutes later, Penny whispered in the darkness, "Phillip?"

"Yes, Penelope?"

"You'll always love me, no matter what, right?"

"Of course! You're my baby sister. Why would you think otherwise?"

She ignored his question, and continued, "Even if I did something really horrible?"

"I'd love you no matter what. Mom would kill me otherwise."

She smiled and closed her eyes. Phil waited a few seconds to see if she'd elaborate on why she was asking these questions, but she didn't. Phil started to wonder.