Here. We. Go.

Miz's POV

"What? Nikki told you that?" I say, furiously.

We settle back in the hotel room. The show has wrapped up, but since it's Tuesday, we have a few days before the next one. I sit on the edge of the bed, packing the luggage bag at my feet. Paige had just told me about her encounter with a Bella twin, as she puts her things away in a duffle set on a small table.

It's frustrating how no one understands what I'm going through and decides to intervene like they know exactly what's happening.

I don't even know what's happening at this point.

"She needs to mind her own business. You know, I've never really liked her anyway," I continue to spew a rant in anger. Even when Maryse thought so highly of her, I knew it'd be impossible to befriend someone so devious.

"She expects me to drop everything, and said that she's only looking out for me and you." Paige rebuttals. She throws one of my WWE Shop shirts into the bag.

"I can handle this on my own." I grab the shirt and hand it to her, saying to keep it.

I can. I've been through worse... right?

Come to think of it, I haven't. I've never had to face someone I love and tell them I don't anymore, at least not as strongly as I do for someone else. That's heartbreaking. Emotionally traumatizing, even. It's shallow and selfish. It hurts.

The pain I'm going to have to inflict on Maryse and on myself is terrifying. The thought renders me motionless.

How am I going to do this on my own?

Paige kicks the bag out of the way and kneels in front of me, "Hey...it's okay Miz." Under the dimmed lampshade lighting, her face brightens the visual range.

"I promise you we can get through this, you and me. I won't let you go alone. I'm gonna be right here for you." I feel her warm palm come into contact with my left cheek. Her comfort is what I need but I'm not sure it's enough.

"Thank you, Saraya." Like this morning, I find myself searching into those chocolate eyes. I can see hope—hope for me, and hope in us.

I reach to remove stray strands of long hair away so I'm able see her face better.

"Together?" I ask.

"Always." She lightly smiles.

I lean in and give her a kiss on the forehead as another sign of gratitude.

Wednesday, June 4; Mizanin Home - Los Angeles, CA

(Nighttime)

Miz's POV

I pull up to the driveway. Several variations of terror hit me like a giant tsunami in that moment I parked the car. I'm drowning in fear. As I let go of the stick shift, I notice my hands are uncontrollably shaking. I let out a deep yet broken breath. There is so turning or taking it all back now.

A hand grabs mine and firmly squeezes. I turn to Paige who's trying her best to calm me down. She decided to fly with me to California just for this. Up until this point, I felt like any conversation would be empty words so we haven't had a deep talk since last night. There's too much on my mind that won't let me relax.

I gulp and close my eyes to take a second.

This is the last sanction I have...

No regrets.

I open the car door and step out. It's almost like I'm having an out of body experience. Am I really taking these steps? The sound of the other door closing snaps me back. Paige returns to my side and waits until I get to the house's front entrance. Getting the keys out of my pocket proves a harder task than it ordinarily is because this time, I'm unlocking a house of dangerous energy.

I turn the knob and creak in, like it isn't my house and I'm trespassing on private property. I look around, the lights are on and I hear a television going.

"Miz, is that you?" Maryse's trademark French-accented voice echoes through the walls.

I answer back with what sounded like a bird going through puberty. I look back to Paige who's still behind me, uncomfortable, but she's better off than I am. The door closes behind both of us and we inch to the living room. I hear footsteps getting closer, building up with each quick heartbeat that has ended up in my ears.

"Hey babe when did you—" Maryse comes in and stops at the sight of Paige over my shoulder. Her hair is up in a messy bun, wearing sleepwear that consist of a tank and long pajama pants.

"Oh, hi Paige?"

I can't seem to make eye contact with her. I'm sure guilt reads across my face like a void stamp.

Paige tries to keep her words minimal.

"Is she staying with us tonight?" Maryse asks as if there's nothing to think of it.

I get close and give her a kiss on the cheek before finally uttering, "We need to talk."

"I don't know how to say it... I'm sorry Maryse...

"What...what did you guys do?!"

"I've fallen in love...with Paige."

(1 hour later)

Miz's POV

The whole sit down with Maryse became a giant blur and flurry of emotion that involved unrelenting rage. It came with a slap to my face but I had that coming. Soon after, it all ended with a slap to Paige's face as Maryse grabbed her car keys and stormed out.

I didn't know what to do with myself. I couldn't move or speak or think. The "perfect life" we worked so hard in building, just crushed and destroyed in one deception-filled snap...

"Mike, we're married and you cheat on me like this? Then tell me you're in love with another girl? I can't believe you!"

"I know...I couldn't help myself. I'm sorry Maryse."

"No you're not, Mike! If you are, then say it's a fucking mistake and send her home right now."

"...It's hard to—"

"Yeah, exactly! Goodbye, I'm leaving you!"

I sit in my living room in total numbness. Everything around me is completely unrecognizable.

The things displayed on the wall and spread around the room mean nothing to me. The picture frames of Maryse and I are nothing. Since the past hour, I've gotten a chance to collect what's left of me. It's similar to a vase shattering into a million pieces and having to put it back together again. It's a slow process to fix this.

It's quiet and the heavy air looms over like a fog, though it wasn't as bad as it was when I had to confess that I cheated on her.

It's more at peace now but there is none in me whatsoever.

Paige hasn't left my side in this silent hour. I wonder how she can just sit there without a word. Nevermind, I know why.

It's because she loves me enough to just be there, to make sure I'm not alone like she promised...

I look to the left of the couch where she sits ever so patiently. This sight of grace and comfort is again, what I need, but not enough to fix the mess I am at this moment. She's too good to me...

Paige's POV

Miz makes the first move in the last hour of tense atmosphere. He looks to me with glossy, red eyes.

This hurts just watching him. I couldn't imagine what he's going through.

I immediately grab his head and hold him close. Anything to sooth the pain, anything to make it better. Miz starts crying into my shoulder and I rub his back while a hand rests on the crease of his neck.

The sobs increase as I allow him to let it all out.

The way Maryse handled it was exactly how I expected. The entire time I stayed put, standing against the doorway before entering the living room. It was surreal. The slap I received felt like I deserved it, and I realize I do so I let the feeling sting into me. Though, that still didn't change the way I felt about Miz. He means so much now and I'm touched at how he thinks the same with me.

Miz begins to lean more into my body, ending up lying across the couch while using my lap as a pillow. As he stares into the ceiling, I massage his head for consolation.

His eyes are a shocking contrast of blue and red, but the color in that expression reads nothing but dullness. I keep a close eye on him. He closes his eyelids like he's about to fall asleep.

"Paige..." The first word in over an hour is my name. He sounds broken, "Will you take what's left of me?"

Nothing has ever made me feel the way it did when that question left his mouth. It's powerful. Any type of verbal response could never do it justice.

Instead, I hunch down and give him a soft kiss on the lips. We taste of sympathy and apologetic madness. The gesture was more for reassurance than pleasure. Right now in this very moment, Miz needs somebody to be there; I'm going to be there for as long as he needs me.

"I love you, Mike. I really do." I say as best as I can.

All he does is curl the corner of his lip in a shy smirk which is the first sign of light in this dark night. It's good to witness and be the cause of his recovery.

"I love you too, Saraya."

No matter how many times I've heard those words, it gets me every time. The butterflies let loose in the pit of my stomach.

We sit just as we are for another hour or so. The quiet house served us an opportunity to open up to each other. When Miz spoke, I was massaging his head, taking in every detail. When I spoke, he gave me nothing but his undivided attention. This became the best personal conversation I've had with anybody. It wasn't long before I got to see his wide smile again.

I was completely hesitant as to what I was getting myself into when Miz introduced me to him, but I wouldn't take back a single moment since then. This is real, we can be happy together. I believe in this insane idea called love, and I believe in him.

Sooo, was the wait worth it? ;) This story has just begun, ladies and gentlemen. New twists and turns for Miz and Paige, I'm excited to share them with you!