Monday, June 30: WWE Monday Night RAW – Hartford, CT; XL Center
(Show in progress)
(Backstage)
Miz's POV
"Hey Bad News. How are ya feeling? You not getting that Money in the Bank briefcase last night and all, I bet you're pretty sad about that, huh?"
"Newsflash Miz, you didn't get that briefcase either."
"No you're right, I didn't. But at least my girlfriend wasn't the one to cost me the opportunity to grab it, thus making me fall to a very unfortunate position."
"Paige got in the way, but it won't happen again."
"Yeah. But you know what will happen again? Me becoming Intercontinental Champion, when I take this from you at Battleground."
"You're funny Miz, damn comical. We'll see if you can even make it to then..."
(The Miz vs. Jack Swagger)
(Post match)
Having just won the match by disqualification, Swagger still has me in the Patriot Lock and won't let go. I hug the ropes and yell in pain as the referee tries to detach us and break the move. The bell continues to ring but still no cease. After a few more seconds, he finally drops my ankle. The jeers are increasing in the crowd. Bad News Barrett's music plays and I wait for the both of them to enter the ring. I sell my ankle, struggling to get to my feet. Wade enters first and starts getting into my face, "You won't make it, Miz!"
In the corner of my eye, Paige is now inside with a steel chair in hand, but she gives it to him. Barrett holds the chair over me, then forces it down to my already hurting ankle. Then another hit, and another. I wriggle on the mat, trying to separate and create room between us. Two more officials stand a barrier in that space as I attempt to slide under the rope. Barrett's music booms again, when I'm on the outside of the ring with the referees helping me to the back. Paige and Bad News are supposed to kiss to end the segment, but I keep my head low and away from their direction.
Paige had a match with Nikki Bella and has just won with RamPaige. That must've felt pretty good for her. I watch near Gorilla where she's supposed to give another Bella beatdown for more heel heat.
"Hey Miz," Stardust (Cody Rhodes) peeps behind me, "What's up with the scratches on your back?"
"What?"
"Yeah I noticed them when you were out there too, it looks like you got clawed by an animal."
I try my best to recollect any memory of being attacked from the past few days. It takes a moment for it to click that the scratch marks on my back were actually from Paige and our intense escapades. "Oh, yeah... I was just really itchy yesterday—back scratcher! Ha."
"...Okay man. Hey good job tonight."
"Thanks, you too!" Rhodes leaves after that small conversation. Back to the monitor, it's already on commercial break. That means they should be walking through that curtain any second now. Paige comes first, looking like she didn't even break a sweat. Her head automatically turns to find me.
"There's my little rabid animal!" I give her a kiss on the forehead.
She laughs, "...Why rabid animal?"
"Stardust just told me that he noticed the claw marks on my back. I wonder what creature could have done it to me, or who..."
"Oh my god Miz, that is so funny!"
"Mm, hilarious. Anyways, that Nikki Bella ass kicking was brutal. Just perfect." I throw an arm over her shoulder.
"It's not difficult when it's almost real hate, y'know."
"Well, congratulations, the fans hate you. But that doesn't matter, I still love you."
"You're damn right it doesn't matter. It's so much more fun being hated."
Nikki Bella makes her way through the black and passes us. She gives Paige and I dirty looks, then stops to turn forward. "Miz, I just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear about your divorce. It must've hurt, are you doing okay?" I can feel Paige suddenly get tense next to me.
"Thanks for your concern Nikki, but I'm doing pretty awesome now. I couldn't be any more happier." I flash a cheeky grin just to spite her.
"That's good. I wouldn't want you to regret your down grade. See you two around..." With that she leaves in the other direction. Paige lunges to get to her, but I make sure there was going to be only one beat down tonight.
"Regret your down grade? What the hell is wrong with her?"
We begin walking away from the tunnel, but not the same as Nikki's direction, "She's always been that way. I told you, it doesn't matter who hates you as long as I love you. Keep this drama away from your career. It makes her look bad for bringing it up anyway."
"Okay, I know. So tomorrow on SmackDown, how do I pretend to like seeing you get hit over the back with a chair repeatedly?"
"Just think of it as an excuse to make me feel better after the show, if you know what I mean..."
A twinkle shines in her eye then a giggle out of her mouth, "I can do that."
"Yeah you sure can do a lot of things, babe."
Tuesday, July 1: WWE Friday Night SmackDown taping – Newark, NJ; Prudential Centeer
(Show in progress)
(Bad News Barrett vs Dolph Ziggler – Post match)
Paige's POV
The bell sounds as a result of a disqualification. Miz has already made his way into the ring, attacking Barrett right in the center. At ringside, I rush to the timekeeper's area and snag a spare steel chair (say that 5 times fast). A few officials manage to pull a him off Wade for a second. In that open window of time, I slide the chair towards Barrett. I try to keep a straight face at what happens next. Bad News hits Miz in the gut with the chair, and then over his wide back. Then again, and again, as written. Just remember later tonight, Paige...
Up the steps and through the ropes, I walk over to him and revel in Miz's pain as he's on the mat almost motionless. All of a sudden, Wade grabs my face and goes for a kiss. In surprise, I jerk but then remember this is all on footage. My lips are pursed closed but I at least make sure it looks real enough for me to like it. This part wasn't planned at all. Bad News' words of "I just want to make this story the best it can be" echoes within my head. I was hoping this wasn't what he meant. Ugh, yuck. We part and he grabs his Intercontinental title to raise his arms in the air. The happy expression on my face is the complete opposite from the truth.
(Backstage/Post show)
Out of the Divas locker room, I roll my bag out to wait for Miz like always. I'm positive he didn't, and couldn't, see the kiss Barrett planted but I've got to tell him. Quite honestly, when he gets heated over anything regarding me, I feel this other type of love stemming from his protecting anger. Though I understand why Wade did it, not knowing it was going to happen is what bothers me. The touch of his scratchy beard-type facial hair is irritating my face, like an itch under the skin.
From behind, a set of hands jolt into my back. Then those same hands pick me up by the waist. "Let's get out of here, babe!" Miz says.
I'm laughing as he sets me back down. Realizing that I can't skip around the topic, I put on a serious look and concentrate. "Miz, did you see what Barrett did out there?"
"Hit me with a steel chair? Yeah I saw it. I was there."
"No, babe, after that. He kissed me to close the segment."
"That's what he should've done. We talked it out before the match."
"What? So you two knew about it and left me clueless in the ring?"
"...By the sound of it, yes," He throws an arm over my shoulder, "Look babe, sorry if I didn't warn you. It's just business."
"So you're on his side now? After you wanted to punch him in the face for the business when this storyline started?" I don't know what has come over me, but I'm not exactly happy at either of them not sending the memo.
"Woah, woah, woah. Please don't get hostile. I'll you the truth—no, I don't like any of this interaction between you two, but I've put that aside for the sake of the story. I know for a fact you don't like kissing him, so that itself lets me let go of any personal feelings."
The fumes inside shut down as he continues, "I've been here a little longer, so I know how to deal it with. Like when Maryse was with DiBiase, or when AJ and Dolph were all over each other when she was dating Punk."
"No Miz, I understand that part. You two didn't even tell me."
"I thought Wade would, but I guess he didn't. You want me to talk to him?"
"Both of us will so we can set it straight. Everything out on the table."
"Alright, deal. I'm sorry again, babe." He kisses me on the forehead and we leave to the rental car in the lot. That makes me feel better about the situation. Barrett not telling me leaves another sour impression, an even bigger one, in my head. There's a reason why trust falls were one of my biggest fears as a child. Who can you really trust these days? Definitely not Bad News, yet.