Coincidence how I wrote in Alicia Fox vs Paige at Payback in this story then that's exactly what happened lol
If only this came true, right? ;)
Anyways, don't be afraid to review!
June 9: Monday Night RAW - Minneapolis, MN: Target Center
(Show in progress)
Miz's POV
It seems as though Creative is making their rounds this week. Paige had just told me that her storylines are changing, now I'm being called up for the same reason. Right in the middle of the Paige and Brie Bella match too. Really?
I enter the small room designated for meetings and see David, the head writer for Raw, ready for my arrival. We make small talk as I take a seat near him.
"Alright Miz, we're gonna be twisting the direction of your character this summer."
"How so?"
"Well keeping it brief with your personal life, we know about this relationship between you and Paige..."
Where is this headed?
"Creative notices the chemistry you two have, and thinks it'd be a great opportunity for the both of you to try a challenge."
"Dave, please get to the point here. I just really wanna know why Paige is involved." I'm getting antsy, partly because I already see what he's going to propose.
"You and Paige are gonna be the next on-screen couple."
Whoop, there it is...
"Really? So what's the plan?" I ask.
"First, Paige is gonna be working with Wade Barrett as a type of UK tandem. You are gonna be next in line for an Intercontinental Championship match. As weeks pass, you and Barrett are set to make each other lose matches. Paige is gonna start off completely hating your guts, but what the Universe won't see is that she's actually helping you. At Money in the Bank, she's going to cost Barrett at grabbing the briefcase by an altercation in the ladder match. That will start their downfall. Then at Battleground in July, when she's at ringside for you and Barrett's title match, she's going to be the reason why you win the title that night."
The thought of becoming Intercontinental Champion again is an honor. Having another credible rivalry with a guy like Wade Barrett adds another layer to the cake. But having my girl in the same program is the cherry on top. I'm excited.
"That sounds awesome. When is this gonna take off?"
Dave replies, "In the next couple weeks. We're trying to work with Paige because of her storyline with the Bellas. The plan is to keep Paige's role completely separate from the other, so it doesn't interfere with the Divas Division."
"So Paige is gonna turn heel or...?"
"Yes. Similar to how Ziggler and AJ came to be, you two will the IC and Divas Champion power couple."
"Alright Dave, I'm digging this, a lot."
"We'll keep you posted on everything, Miz. Glad you like this idea."
"Thanks. And I'm excited, it's gonna a lot of fun."
I stand up to leave and shake hands. As I make my out of the room, a smile gets thrown onto my face. How awesome is this? A chance to be champion again, with Paige to share it with me—I couldn't ask for more. Plus, this gives her another dimension to add within her career. It's a win-win for us both.
I make my way to find a monitor.
One on the wall with the live Raw feed shows Paige celebrating after a victory over a Bella. She looks too good holding that title up, all smiles and elation. The camera angle switches to Nikki tending to Brie in the ring. She looks towards Paige on the ramp with a mean mug.
Take that, Nikki!
I can't wait to tell Paige the big news. Detaching myself from the screen, I go to the curtain where she'll come through in a few seconds.
Paige emerges from the black fabric, in cool down mode. When she notices me there, her face lights up. I love seeing her reaction. It's the same as when a puppy reunites with their owner who's returning from a long day at the office.
Her sweaty body crashes into me for a small hug, "Did you like the match? What'd you think?"
"Well, I was called up for a meeting with Dave so I didn't see it..."
She frowns, "Oh."
"But get this! He told me my storyline with Barrett and guess who's also in it."
"Um..."
"YOU!"
It's funny, her face doesn't know whether to be confused or happy at this. "I don't get it. What? How? Why?"
I explain every detail Dave told me and answer her questions as we head back to the locker rooms. Repeating the plans back to myself, I'm already coming up with different ways to spice the story.
"Oh my god Miz, I'm so excited!" Paige responds with the same attitude I have.
We head back to our respective dressing rooms as Raw continues. My match is coming up soon so it's best I get ready. I'm amped even more because my anticipation for the future. Things are definitely looking up now and it'd be a waste to think of the past.
Paige's POV
I'm too ecstatic! On the inside, I'm jumping off walls and flailing randomly. On the outside, I'm trying to keep my cool but the giddy girl is too easy to spot.
"What's that giant smile for?" Emma approaches me in the locker room.
"What? I can't be happy to just be here?"
Cover-ups like these don't work on my Australian best friend. I spill the big news in secret, going over what Miz told me. Hopefully, the plans actually pull through to screen. She responds with the normal sweet nothings as I can't help but jump off even more walls.
In my peripheral, a few Total Divas pass us. I hear Nikki mumble the word "slut" towards my direction. My jaw clenches as I dismiss her energy as best I can. Getting heated now would be pointless because her plans to detach Miz from me have already failed. I won't let her bring me down.
Emma noticed the remark though, "Woah. What was that about?" She whispers to me.
"It's nothing. Nothing I can tell you here, anyway. It's getting really petty, is all I can say." I look behind me where the Bella twins are dressing down from their television and ring gear. Even when they're not looking, I can feel their attitude burn straight through.
"Let's take this somewhere else, Emma." We direct ourselves out the door and begin walking down the hall. As soon as we're out of ear's reach, I also tell her about the discovery before the show and how my name was spat on.
"Are you serious? I'm gonna set Nikki straight right now!"
"No Emma—please, just keep this between us. Miz said to brush it off. If it's ignored, then it'll stop sooner rather than later."
"For once, he's right. That's just sincerely unprofessional. I've lost respect for her."
"But I mean, who could blame her Emma? She is close with Maryse, the woman whom I stole her husband from. I get it. I may not like what she did but I have to accept that it came from defending her friend." As I reflect on the entire situation, I realize this has got to be the most mature thought I've had in a while. How much have I really changed?
"You can handle this, Saraya." Emma gives a pat on my shoulder. Her attention gets directed above my head and all of a sudden, an arm is thrown over the same shoulder.
This isn't Miz...
Slowly, I look up at the man and see that it's Wade Barrett.
"Oh hey, Wade. What's up?" I ask.
"I just got the word that we're prompted for a new story coming up in a few weeks."
"Yeah, I've heard as well."
"With The Miz...hey Emma, do you mind if we can talk privately?" Emma listens to the request and leaves both of us. I'm not sure why he had to send her off like that.
"As I was saying, this new program with the both of you should be done well."
"Yeah Wade, I agree on that."
His voice relaxes, "Paige, don't think I'm oblivious to this blossoming relationship between you and Mike."
Everyone knows now anyway...
He continues,"One thing I don't understand is out of all of the men in the locker room, why him?"
I'm taken back. He says this like I picked Miz off from a list to see which guy would I wanted to do the most. It's getting uncomfortable as he's still near my body. I say nothing but my face screams it all.
"Paige, what I'm getting at is that you don't have to stay with a guy like Miz when there's many options that fair so much better...like me."
Is he serious? I'm genuinely disgusted. How dare Barrett have the audacity to belittle Miz and suggest that I would throw myself at him for Christ's sake.
"Alright, Barrett. I really don't wanna be seen in this topic of conversation right now. I'm gonna go, I have to be somewhere." I attempt at a safe escape.
"Go ahead, Paige. Just remember what I said. I'm looking forward to the storyline."
I jet away in the same direction Emma left and a pang hits as I think about my role in the new rivalry. I thought we was a really cool guy once but my opinion on him has turned in an instant with this exchange. Now just being around the smug like Barrett is hard enough, but actually pretending to like him for the storyline? This is going to be tougher than I originally expected.
(Post match/Post show)
Miz's POV
I make my way back from the match as the adrenaline leaves my sore body. Another night's work, completed. The locker room includes guys scattered in groups, shooting the usual. Settling on a chair near my locker, I check my phone for any messages. A few texts from friends back home, from the parents, but none from Maryse. I wonder if she watched Raw tonight. I highly doubt it, yet I don't depend if she did or not. But there is a text from Paige. I jump seeing her name displayed on screen.
"Hey I'm gonna ride with you to the next city. I have to talk to you about something important. Find me after, love you" The kissing face emoji at the end of the message doesn't take away the fact that something's up. I wonder what...
I find Paige, bags to her side, waiting for me outside where the buses and trucks are lined up. As I come closer, I'm able to see a small smirk.
"Hey babe," I say. One more step forward, she reaches for my cheek and pulls me in for an unexpected wet kiss. "Woah there, tiger."
"Sorry, I just had to do that. It helps when I'm stressed."
"Maybe you should be stressed more often... Anyways, what happened? Why so stressed?"
We make our way to the rental car as she tries to explain what happened between her and Nikki first. Then between her and Bad News Barrett. I'm empathetic because she doesn't deserve this type of harassment in one night. We settle into the car, a far familiar place.
"Do you want me to kill Barrett now or later?" I say.
"Now would be great to be honest. At least I won't have to deal with his stupid remarks about why I'm with you."
"Well, your safety comes first, Saraya. If this means you don't wanna go ahead with the storyline, I'd be okay with that."
"No, Miz! I would never put your career behind just because I can't handle something like this. I'll deal with it and we'll be fine. We'll make it good."
"I'll always be here to protect you. I hope you know that."
"I do, thank you."
"Because if he even tries to look at you that way, I've got some bad news for him and the beatdown will be awesome."
She laughs. I hope that eased her tension. In all honesty, I never thought Barrett would be the kind of guy to hit on a girl so blatantly. Especially someone so young like Paige. It's unnatural for me to think of his darker side because it's never showed before. I need to clarify things with him. He shouldn't be going around with such a big ego. I've made that mistake before and it didn't help at all. Plus, he's hitting on my girl. That by itself doesn't sit cool with me. But he's not worth getting into an altercation with and costing an opportunity at a kick-up in my career.
We drive off into the night, heading straight for the next city which is Green Bay, Wisconsin. This 5-hour drive should be easier now since there's someone here with me again. Those nights where I drove without Paige were miserably isolating. I got sick of my own thoughts. At least with her, the time on the road won't seem as long.
Yay for bonding time!
Hope you liked this chapter :D