Chapter 3

"You seriously want to drive at 2 AM to Bridgeport?"

Zelia nodded, taking a bite out of her sandwich with a content sigh, starving since she hadn't ate anything all day. "I've been doing it a lot lately." She admitted, knowing Valisa thought she just left extremely early since she hadn't been able to catch her at the hotels.

"You have lost your mind. Why not just talk to him and get it over with?" Valisa demanded, hating that her friend was literally running away from a man. "What's the worst thing that can happen honestly?"

"It's not about that. I just…I'm not ready yet. I know I'm being a chicken about it, but…you didn't see the look in his eyes. He was shocked to see me here and I also saw betrayal. I just need a little more time to get my thoughts in order and then I'll talk to him. But not until I'm ready. And if he doesn't like it, tough." Zelia refused to be pushed to talk to Jon because it was a very sensitive and sore subject for her. "Now why do you look flushed?"

Valisa could tell the subject was closed as far as Jonathan Good went and explained what happened with Phillip in the cafeteria. Then she mentioned Joe and a big smile crossed her face, ocean blue eyes sparkling at the thought of him. In the almost 6 years Zelia worked for the WWE, she'd never once witnessed Valisa smile that wide over a man. Granted, they both dated wrestlers, or tried too, but it never worked out, mostly due to egos getting in the way.

"I have to tell you, it was incredibly sweet of him to let me go in front of him just to get me away from that idiot." Valisa shook her head, taking a bite out of her own sandwich, chewing thoughtfully.

"Yeah it was, who would've thought the Shield guys could be gentlemen?" Zelia snickered, taking a sip of her water and looked up at the stars, wearing a long sleeved light blue top and dark blue jeans since it was wintertime. "So what happens if he talks to you again? Or better yet, what if he asked you out?"

"Are you kidding? I'd accept." Valisa replied with no hesitation, smirking. "I told you, he can reign over me anytime."

"Oh my god, change of subject NOW."

Lunch finished as both headed back inside the arena to finish setting up for the night's show. It began lightly snowing, but nothing would stop Zelia from leaving that night after they took the set down. Not unless a huge blizzard swept through in the next few hours, which wouldn't happen. Valisa hated driving at night, so Zelia would be traveling alone. She didn't mind it and stopped in the women's restroom to use the facilities really fast. After she finished, Zelia washed her hands and dried them, walking out only to slam right into Randy Orton.

"Damn it." Zelia muttered, rubbing her chest since it felt like she'd just slammed into a brick wall and slowly looked up until jade met mystic blue.

Randy smirked, having a hold of Zelia's upper arms and wasn't surprised when she pulled away from him. "What I don't get an apology?" He asked cockily, watching her try to walk around him.

"You don't deserve one." Zelia shot back, feeling him following her and scowled, tempted to mule kick him when he pushed her against the wall. "What the hell do you want, Orton? I'm going to be late for work if you don't let me go."

"Like I care." Randy snorted, giving her a onceover and ran a finger down her cheek, chuckling as Zelia swatted him away. "I think I do deserve an apology. Or better yet, a kiss…"

Whatever made Zelia decide to date this clown, she would never know and still hadn't figured it out yet. He was pompous, arrogant and downright cruel when the situation called for it. Randy also had a temper that was explosive, one of the many reasons Zelia ended their relationship. She couldn't handle it or the fact he tried controlling everything she did, including who her friends were. Needless to say, after 4 months of that, Zelia kicked him to the curb with a big smile on her face.

"How about a kick to your balls?" Zelia retorted sweetly, gritting her teeth when he stepped closer to her, pinning her to the wall to where she had nowhere to go. "Randy, I'm warning you…"

"Just one little kiss…" He pressed, his hot breath blowing across her face and turned his head, tapping his cheek. "Right here and I'll let you leave."

Jade eyes turned acidic instantly as Zelia felt her hand twitch, deciding to give this dickhead what he wanted. "Just one?" She asked quietly, acting as if she'd go through with it and watched the triumph enter those mystic blue eyes.

"Yeah, just one."

"Okay."

Leaning forward, Zelia looked as though she would actually do it and, a second later, a loud smack echoed throughout the hallway they stood in. Randy's head snapped to the side further, making his neck ache from the velocity of the blow, but he didn't move from his stance. Instead, his head just slowly turned back to face her until evil mystic blues turned pure ice, his upper lip curling in a sneer. A red handprint marred the side of his face, the shape clear as day and Randy decided he'd return the favor. Just before his hand could collide with Zelia's face, a large hand wrapped around his wrist and hurled him away from her.

Zelia sighed with relief at the sight of Glen Jacobs and Bryan Danielson, –the WWE fans knew him as Daniel Bryan or D-Bry- who were two of her closest friends besides Valisa. Glen had offered to train her to become a wrestler, but after a few sessions with the giant, Zelia respectfully walked away. Bryan was a sweetheart and a phenomenal wrestler, always lighting it up whenever he was in the ring. They were currently the WWE tag team champions and known as Team Hell No.

"Just what in the hell do you think you're doin', Orton?" Glen demanded angrily, hazel eyes narrowed, wanting to beat him to a bloody pulp for THINKING about putting his hands on Zelia.

"You must really have a death wish." Bryan muttered, heading over to check over Zelia, thankful she seemed to be perfectly unscathed. "Big Red, she's alright. Just let him go, he's not worth it. We got more important things to worry about."

"Get the fuck out of here and don't let me catch you near her again or you will regret it." Glen promised, watching as Randy scampered down the hallway with his tail tugged between his legs and turned to face the woman he considered a little sister. "Are you really okay?"

Zelia nodded, shaken up from that encounter with her ex-boyfriend. "Thanks you guys." She murmured, hugging Bryan and then reached up on her tiptoes to embrace Glen. "I shouldn't have slapped him, but he pissed me off."

"I know, I saw the whole thing. I was waitin' to see what he'd do. He wasn't layin' a finger on you, believe that, Zel." Glen released her, giving her a cursory onceover and smirked, glancing at her hand. "That was one hell of a slap, I'll give you that."

"Yeah, I've been sort of working out a little more lately." Zelia replied sheepishly, shaking her hand since it still stung from the slap. She'd put all of her strength into it.

"Havin' a change of heart to get in the ring?" Glen asked, hoping she was because he knew she'd make it as a Diva and could potentially bring honor and prestige back to the Diva's championship.

"No, just wanna be able to defend myself. I wouldn't mind learning how to deliver some of Bryan's lethal kicks." Zelia joked, jade eyes glittering.

"We'll see, but just to be on the safe side, let's take you to Larry to check you over." Bryan's arm wrap around her waist just as Brianna and Nicole Garcia-Colace approached them. They were known to the WWE fans as Brie and Nikki Bella 'The Bella Twins' and Bryan currently dated Brianna. "Hey babe."

"What happened?" Brianna asked, looking concerned and knew Bryan was close friends with Zelia, so she didn't feel insecure. "Is she okay?"

"That's not necessary, Bryan." Zelia sighed when Glen proceeded to lift her up in his arms, one arm under her legs and the other around her back, her head resting on his shoulder. "You're not gonna take no for an answer are you?"

"Nope, you should know me better than that." Glen grinned, hazel eyes sparkling and nodded down at Bryan. "She's fine, Brianna. Just had a nasty encounter with someone that needs an ass kickin'."

"God, it wasn't Randy was it?" Brianna asked, immediately gagging along with Nicole, both of them looking identical as they stuck their finger down their throats. "I'll never forget what that asshole did to my bag years back."

Nicole wrinkled her nose in disgust, groaning. "Brie, don't bring that up please."

"Sorry." Brianna felt Bryan wrap an arm around her waist, kissing the top of her head. "You need to get checked out, Zel. Just to be on the safe side."

Contrary to what many thought, backstage Brianna and Nicole were some of the sweetest women Zelia ever met and she had zero problems with them. "I don't think I have a choice since Big Red has a hold of me. I just hope Ben doesn't kill me for being late coming back from lunch." She wished death upon Randy for this, scowling.

"You let me worry about Ben." Bryan stated, thankful his girlfriend wasn't jealous of Zelia since he considered the woman to be a little sister like Glen did. "I'll go talk to him discreetly and explain what happened. No need for this to get out any more than it already has."

"We won't say anything either." Brianna assured her softly, looking at her sister.

"Absolutely. I need to go find John though and finalize plans for dinner tonight. Catch you guys later." Nicole took off down the hallway, wondering if she should mention this to her boyfriend since he was a locker room leader of the WWE.

"Thanks you guys, I appreciate it." Zelia felt Glen start walking and sighed, hoping everyone was too busy getting ready for the show so they didn't see her being carted off to the trainer's room.

Glen felt her apprehension and dared anyone to say a word to her in front of him, glancing down at her. "You're troubled about somethin', sweet pea. I can feel it. Wanna talk about it?" He asked in a low rumble, taking his time since he hadn't seen much of Zelia the last few weeks.

Zelia wasn't sure if telling Glen her past with Jonathan Good was a smart thing to do, chewing her bottom lip nervously. "Not yet." She knew Glen wouldn't press her about it, one of the many reasons she trusted him.

There was no reason to push the issue because Glen knew Zelia would eventually come out with whatever bothered her. "I'm here for you, so is Bryan. Don't forget that. You've been scarce the last couple weeks. We've missed you."

"I won't and I'm sorry. Just been leaving every night after a show and going to the next town." Zelia couldn't believe how much her avoidance of Jon had affected her friends, feeling guilty about it. "I'm driving to Bridgeport tonight if you wanna join me. It's only an hour and 45 minutes away from here. Up to you though, Big Red."

Glen wondered why she didn't just stay in the hotel the WWE provided, but kept his thoughts to himself and decided to take her up on her offer. One: He didn't want her driving by herself in the middle of the night. Two: He honestly missed his little sister and figured she'd come clean about whatever had her running to the next towns over the past 3 weeks.

"What time do you get done with takin' down the set?" Glen asked, a natural night owl so he'd more than likely still be up whenever she finished.

"Around 2 or 3 AM. I'll understand if you can't come with me, I was just offering since you missed me." Zelia grinned up at him, feeling his lips brush across her forehead and sighed when they arrived at the trainer's office.

When Zelia first started in the WWE back in 2007, everyone automatically assumed her and Glen were dating because their friendship came naturally. Too naturally to some. She couldn't help that Glen was incredibly easy to talk to and get along with. He was a great listener and gave great advice in return, especially to a newcomer. He welcomed her with open arms and didn't have to, but since he'd been around the company since 1997, he had a lot of respect in the locker room. The rumors were quickly squashed when Glen started treating her like a little sister, even calling her 'sis' on occasion. People got the hint and moved on. Bryan became her friend through Glen shortly after he debuted and things just snowballed from there. They were also close with Valisa, more so than Zelia since they'd known her longer.

"What happened?" Larry asked as soon as Glen walked inside his office carrying Zelia.

"She had a nasty encounter with Orton." Glen knew Larry would keep his mouth shut and whatever was said in his office remained confidential. "Need you to look her over, make sure she's okay."

"Glen…" Zelia groaned, feeling her cheeks growing hot as he set her on the bedding and kept her eyes glued to her lap. "This isn't necessary…"

"Yes it is, now shut up and let him look you over. It'll give this old man a peace of mind." Glen said simply with a smirk, knowing he had to go get his makeup done before the show. "The faster you let Larry look you over, the faster you can get back to work and I can go get my contact put in."

"Fine…" Zelia grumbled, rolling her eyes and let Larry do his job.

"She's good, nothing wrong from what I can tell." Larry confirmed a few minutes later, feeling Glen watching him like a hawk. "You really should listen to the lady next time, Jacobs."

"Why, got somethin' better to do?" Glen shot back, folding his arms in front of his massive chest.

"No, not really, but I'm sure it was embarrassing for her that she had to be carried down here by you."

"Good point." Glen muttered, running a hand through his curly brown ringlets. "I'm walkin' you down to the ring just to make sure that asshole doesn't try somethin' else."

"My personal bodyguard, how nice." Zelia joked, hopping off the table and walked out of Larry's office with Glen, thankful he hadn't lifted her long sleeved shirt all the way.

Randy did bruise her when he grabbed her after slamming into him, but what Glen and Larry didn't know wouldn't hurt them.