After the disastrous radio interview escapade, there was nothing else for Memphis to do but hide out. She was humiliated, once again at the hands of Randy Orton. She didn't feel like explaining or answering questions or facing anyone, even though she was on friendly terms with most everyone backstage and she knew none of them would blame her for her boyfriend's irresponsible actions.

Later on, she took a shower and dressed into her referee garb. She pulled her hair back and put on her makeup. The outfit was neatly pressed and crisp. Outward appearances were everything. She had fought a tremendous battle against the powers that be about her uniform. She wanted it to be professional and closely resembled to her male counterparts. They wanted it sexier…perhaps a tank with the midriff baring. Memphis had won that fight because it was important to her not to be thought of as a joke. Once again, Randy had ruined that.

She walked into the corridor headed towards Gorilla. She knew in an hour or so, they would begin opening the doors for the thousands of fans who had waited outside. As usual, everyone was busy and running around preparing for the live show. She ignored the stares. She was used to that. Randy had prepared her well for that when she had first started with the company. It was funny how the more things changed, the more they stayed the same.

Turning the corner, she nearly collided with someone. It was Randy. He was in full wrestling gear…trunks, Viper tee shirts, boots and knee pads. He was just as greasy as ever, this time in more ways than one. Their eyes met and she waited. She waited for him to lower his head. She waited for him to apologize profusely. She waited for some kind of reaction. There was none.

"Hey babe," he said casually.

Memphis shot him daggers.

"Randy…"

"I sent you a text, called your phone. It went straight to voicemail."

"Really?" she did her best Miz impression.

He frowned.

"What's wrong with you?"

Memphis had had it. She was not one to make a public scene. Any disagreement she had with Randy was discussed privately behind closed doors but he had already put their business out there. In fact, he had put everyone's business out there.

"No, I think I should be asking what is wrong with you?"

"Memphis…"

"Have you lost what is left of your mind?" she put her hands on her hips. "How could you?"

"What the hell did I do now?"

Memphis laughed in spite of the situation.

"You know what? The sad thing is, you don't even know. You're standing there looking at me and you don't even comprehend what you just did."

Randy rolled his eyes.

"Look, I didn't know it was that time of the month. I don't know why you're pissed and I honestly don't feel like kissing your ass and playing guessing games right now. If you're gonna be a bitch right now, I'll just talk to you later."

He moved to walk around her but she stopped him right there, physically grabbing his arm. Now everyone in the hallway was looking their way.

"Fuck you! You're not walking way, not this time!

"Memphis!"

"The radio interview?"

Randy stopped. It had been all in good fun. He really hadn't meant any harm. In fact, it was more like guy talk, kicking back over a few brews. But it wasn't that. It was press. It was him representing the WWE. And he had behaved terribly unprofessionally. He had heard about it no sooner than he had left the station. Vince McMahon was pissed. When he arrived at the arena, everyone was glaring at him. He could admit he had gone too far but it wasn't like it was the end of the world or anything.

"Look," he sighed. "I screwed up. Trust me, I have already heard about it."

"And that's it?"

"What?"

"Are you sorry?"

"Yeah, Memphis, I'm sorry."

She did not like his tone.

"You don't sound very fucking sorry!"

He looked around. He hated everybody watching and listening to everything. He roughly grabbed Memphis' hand and dragged her into the empty Green Room, slamming the door behind them.

"Don't ever fucking try that shit in front of people again, you got me?" he pointed at her, teeth gritted.

"You have done a lot of shitty things but today took the cake."

"What is the big fucking deal?" he muttered.

"You really have to ask that?"

"It's not like I lied," he defended.

"And that makes it all better?"

"Look Memphis…"

"How could you humiliate Barb like that? Randy, that was so messed up on so many levels! And I don't want care whether or not it's true. That is her business. It was not your place to call her out in front of the world. You might not care but she is a real human being with real feelings. It wasn't right."

"Fine. I'll apologize to Barb."

"Don't do me any favors."

"I shouldn't have said it. Damn. What else do you want from me?"

"I want you to grow up, how about that?"

"I can't take it back."

"No, you can't and that's what makes it so bad. You really hurt me."

He threw his hands up in frustration.

"If you won't accept an apology, what am I supposed to do?"

"I just want us to be close. I want us to mean something. I get that you have trust issues or whatever and that its hard to open up. I am the same way. But if I am your girlfriend, you have to at least make an effort."

"And I haven't?"

Memphis felt the tears coming.

"You never told me about the drugs. Dammitt, Randy, I knew it was bad, I didn't know it was that bad. And to hear about it on a goddamned radio show in front of everyone we work with? That was like a punch in the gut."

Randy looked away.

"I'm not proud of that shit. I'm a fuck up. That's what I do, Memphis. I used to get fucked up on pills a lot. I liked getting high. It messed up my life. I got suspended, I lost Sam and I nearly died. Is that what you want to hear?"

"Randy…"

"Cause that's the truth. And I don't think you want to hear that. I don't think you're ready for it. You just want to hear about hearts and flowers and rainbows and unicorns and all that other romanticized bullshit that doesn't exist in real life. Look, babe, I hate to break it to you but in case you didn't notice, I'm not Mr. Straight Edge. I made some mistakes, bad ones. And I am ashamed of it. But it is what it is. It's my life, my past."

"Why couldn't you share it with me?"

"Get off my dick!" Randy yelled at her. "Would you quit smothering me?"

"Oh now I am smothering you?" Memphis got in his face.

"When you act like a bitch and nag and demand that I confess to you every thing I have ever done in my life, yeah, it is a little smothering. This isn't goddamned therapy hour last time I checked."

"I don't see how this is going to work…"

"Oh here we go again. Nice, Memphis, real nice. Every single time we have a motherfucking argument, you have to act like a spoiled little kid and threaten to break up with me. Your threats are getting kind of old and you should know I don't like to be threatened…by anyone."

"Don't you turn this around on me. Randy, you know how I feel about you. You know that I want to be with you. But I don't want someone that has no care or concern for hurting other people's feelings. And I don't want to be with that careless, tacky guy that was running his mouth this morning for what…laughs? Attention? Come on, Ran. You are better than that. I just want you to be a good guy, a real man…the person you have shown me the last few months. And I do want you to trust me and open up to me. We all make mistakes. I would never hold that against you, judge you for it…or feel for you any less."

He sighed.

"I was out of line. I guess I have a lot of apologizing to do for this morning and it starts with you."

"You made me look like a whore on the air."

"I didn't mean to. You're not a whore. I'm sorry."

"Yeah? Me too. God, everyday I have to live with what I did. I cheated on Phil. I hurt him, betrayed his trust. I feel awful for it. He will never forgive me and I don't blame him. It is bad enough with all of us working together, this tension. But what you did…you can't. I know you two never got along and never will but that gives you no right to rub salt in his open wound. And it gives you no right to make me look like a slut. You're not the only one that made mistakes in life. One of the biggest I made was so I could be with you. That's how much you meant to me, Ran. So please don't make me regret it. And please don't rub it in my face or put it out there for the whole world to judge me. Because that sucks. And when you do that, you suck, too."

Randy usually spoke and acted first and thought last. It was a major character flaw, one that always came back to haunt him. This was no different. He had messed up again. And he was sorry.

"Babe," he tried to hold her.

Memphis squirmed out of his embrace.

"I can't. Not right now. You're sorry and I guess that is really all you can say but right now, I just need to be away from you."

With that, Memphis exited the Green Room. Walking ahead back towards Gorilla was when she saw him. Phil was dressed in his gear as well. And he looked furious. She knew Randy was behind her. When Phil saw him, he took off on a dead sprint that ended in a full on charge. He grunted as he lunged at Randy, nearly knocking Memphis off her feet in the process. The two titans collapsed on the floor in a thud, curse words and fists flying. It seemed like forever but the actual physical confrontation lasted less than a minute as the entire locker room was on hand to break it up.

"Fuck you! Fuck you, motherfucker!" a red faced Phil yelled at the top of his lungs as it literally took five men to restrain him.

"You ain't shit, boy!" Randy called out.

"You want to keep running your mouth, I swear on everything that I love, I am gonna do my best to keep sticking my boot in it!"

"You want some, come get some!"

"I don't need a fucking invitation, asshole!"

Memphis was horrified. Phil stormed off and she chased after him, sobbing.

"Phil! Phil! Please wait…"

He stopped and turned, fire in his eyes.

"Are you fucking kidding me? What are you doing? Memphis, just go!"

"Please…"

"No! This is all your fucking fault! I don't want your excuses or apologies or explanations! How many fucking times do I have to spell this out for you? And you honestly think turning on the water works is gonna make a difference? It doesn't! It won't! I fucking hate you! Do you hear that? I can't stand your lying, skank ass!"

"Phil," she cried out one last agonizing time.

Just then Randy rounded the corner but there would not be a second altercation. Another towering, intimidating presence joined them. And he would not be ignored.

"Enough!" Vince McMahon commanded. "What the hell is this? Huh? What is wrong with you people?"

"Talk to that stupid dickhead over there," Randy pointed at Phil.

"Oh shut the fuck up!" Phil retorted.

"How about both of you shut up?" Vince interjected again. "I am sick of this! This bad blood has been brewing for years! And you…" he turned to Memphis, with disdain all over his face. "This is all your fault because you couldn't keep your legs closed!"

"Vince!" Randy warned.

"I am not putting up with this night in and night out! You two want to kill each other, tear each other apart? Fine! Go for it! I will let you do it on the grandest stage of them all! I will let you do it at Wrestlemania but goddammitt, you won't do it backstage at my shows! You got that?"

With that he stormed off and a few referees that had joined, pulled Phil away. Memphis turned to see the sick smile on Randy's face. Kayfabe or not, if they had the opportunity for any physical confrontation, it would be devastating. Tear each other apart is exactly what they would do. And it would not make things better. It would not be the end of it. It would only make them worse. Far worse than any of them could ever imagine.