One month later...
Sunday, August 17: WWE SummerSlam – Los Angeles, CA; Staples Center
(4 hours before pay-per-view starts)
Paige's POV
The last month has been incredible. Incredibly busy. When Miz and I became a champion couple, the only word we knew was media. Interviews early in the morning, late at night, left and right. I've been opened up to the world of promotion, and it's something so new to me. To say I'm used to it now isn't even the case. But I'm slowly getting into the groove, all because of him. And we're doing it together.
"Happy birthday, Paige!" Nikki and Brie come up to me with open arms and I'm caught in a Bella sandwich. It's sweet of them. Today, I turn 22. Regarding these girls, we've become good friends. I wouldn't call it Total Divas status, but I can talk to them easily. If I ever need any advice to spice up my relationship, they're there before I even think to ask.
I thank both Bellas as they leave to the facilities in the locker room. Now suited in gear, I'm ready to head out to see how everyone's doing. Before I get a chance to turn the door handle, my vision gets blackened.
"Paige! Just wait," Emma's voice comes through as the cloth gets tighter around my head, "This is all a surprise."
"Oh geez, what's happening now?" I hear the door click open and I feel my way through the frame. A cool breeze indicates that I'm out of the room.
"Don't worry, I got you. Keep walking." There's a tug at the bandana and she maneuvers me to the right, I think.
After what seems like a hundred steps, I'm stopped. Already, there's energies of bodies in every direction. There's a car honk and a truck backing up from a distance. Am I outside?
The knot loosens behind and the cloth gets dropped to my neck. The summer sky shades it all in bright colors. Once my vision is finally clear, I see it. I see him.
My main focus gets drawn to my boyfriend wearing my Think Again shirt, with a bouquet of roses in one hand and a small round cake in the other. When I realize that he's under a giant banner that reads, "Happy Birthday Paige" in giant purple and silver letters, where every Superstar and Diva we know is surrounding him, I shrivel up. I have no idea what to do with all of this attention. My cheeks burn and all I can find to do is cover my embarrassed face. They start singing the birthday song and Miz comes up slowly, leading the choir.
Still behind my own palms, a pair of arms go around my back. His trademark shape and smell, at least I can be embarrassed in his arms.
"Happy birthday, baby." I hear his quiet voice flood my left ear, and I melt. He'll always have that effect on me. Their singing ends and loud claps ensue. Finally looking up to him, Miz's blue eyes in the daylight buckle me at the knees. I'm still not capable of saying a word nor collect any coherent thoughts at this moment.
Miz wraps his arm around my shoulders and guides me back to the parking lot party. He must've planned the celebration without me knowing. I understand the rest of the guys, but I'm surprised Emma and Summer kept their mouths shut about this. He really didn't have to go through the trouble, I appreciate it all. Best boyfriend award goes to mine.
"Wonder how we got so far,
Do you remember who you are?..."
(A Wonderful Surprise by The Downtown Fiction)
(Post show)
Tonight, I had to drop the belt to a returning AJ Lee. I don't mind it for the sake of business, but it's bittersweet. My first reign as Divas Champion felt like I was on Cloud 9, then I suddenly fell into thin air. Luggage feels unusually light and I frown at the missing metal plates inside. In the locker room, I'm one of the last girls left. I've grown accustomed to Miz's schedule of being the last to leave. A white envelope that says Paige in rough handwriting sits next to my things. It's my birthday card from him, which I haven't opened yet.
I take a seat on the wood bench and slow down this moment. Whenever Miz spends time on something, I'm guaranteed to be softened to the core. There's a picture of a cartoon cat on the front wearing a birthday cap, where the card inscribes: Happy Birthday to the most purrr-fect person ever!
I laugh. He's so cheesy. Opening the card, there's a giant paragraph to the open left side.
"August 17, 2014
Happy 22nd Birthday to the most beautiful girl in the world. I'm so proud in your progress and how far you've come as a performer. (Wow this probably sounds like your dad wrote it) Anyway, in the past three months there are really no words to describe how much I love being with you. Every day, every hour, every minute, every second—I can't get enough of how you make me feel. Hope your birthday this year felt special but hey it isn't over yet if ya know what I mean ;) There's more I mean to write but I have no problem with saying to your face. Your pretty little face. I love you Saraya, with all my heart.
—Mike"
What a sweetheart. This isn't the first time he's written something for me... the card suddenly reminds me of the letter he wrote in Japan. Wait, do I still have it?
I dive into my bag and begin opening every zipper and pocket. Please let me have it. My hands are shaking in the rush. C'mon...
Finally finding the correct pocket, the inside one of the very bottom holds the only thing in it—the small folded up month old paper. "To Paige—when you're ready" The ink of the pen looks faded but completely readable.
Am I ready, or just impatient?
The past three months have meant more to me than anything I've ever cared for. My heart says yes; my head says...maybe. No, I know.
I open up the folded rectangle carefully, so it doesn't tear. The beat inside my chest is getting more prominent, traveling to each ear. Taking a deep breath, I'm the last Diva in the locker room right now. They can wait, this is all too important to me.
I start reading his handwriting.
"It's been a while since I've written one of these... so much has changed in my life that I don't know where to start. I met a girl. I'm getting a divorce. I'm about to become Intercontinental Champion for the 3rd time in my career. That keeps it brief.
I always ask how I've gotten this far without totally losing myself. Life can flip in a shot of an arrow. I don't know if that's a curse or a blessing. Ever since I was a kid, I've been told to do whatever makes me happy. 'Let go of things that cease your own happiness', or something like that. At this point, the choices I've made to get here and the events that have unfolded all took place on tough roads. Slowly, I'm driving off those roads with a smile on my face, every day."
The first two paragraphs where he's talking to himself hit me, he was so set on moving on so early in our relationship. A man of his word, through and through.
"Because of her. Because of Saraya. Serendipity."
The pang of tears hit under my eyes. I'm sure the rest will be downhill from here...
"Just writing that name makes me happy. I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep it this way. I've moved on. My heart has come to terms with somebody I used to feel the strongest for. In this letter, I can say that so surely. Though I'm not saying I'm ready to let somebody take my heart whole again, it's on its way. In my marriage vows, I promised to stay loyal and faithful. Death do us apart. It's not death a marriage should worry about, it's the power of love. The power of desire and attraction to another person. I apologize to Maryse for those words that I couldn't keep. She didn't deserve any of the pain I brought to her. I apologize for breaking something so beautiful.
But I'm not sorry for falling in love. I'm not sorry for the way I feel."
I'm a mess, again. Tears are streaming down my face in such a way I never thought were possible just by reading something. His words are so raw and honest with himself. My hands are trembling, holding the flimsy piece of notepad paper. It leads to ask, was I ready for this?
I love you Saraya-Jade Bevis. May one day that gold ring on your finger be replaced with another, to unite us. You have me for as long as I have you. This fear of me leaving you, please don't be afraid. I'm never going to abandon the kind of love you've given me. I've never been so whole than when I am with you. I'll wait until you're ready. I'll wait as long as you want.
Let me be the one to call you babe, let me be the one to protect you from harm, let me be the one to make you happy for the rest of your life.
Let me be the one...
—Mike"
"Let me be the one..." There's a drop on the letter, then another, and another. I fold it away again before my tears destroy the ink. I don't know what to feel. I sniffle, trying to stop the waterworks from getting worse. Miz, why'd you do that to me? There's so much depth to process in his letter but the number one thing which stood out was that he wants to be with me for the rest of his life. He wants to marry me. I love this man with every breath in my body, but when that day comes where he proposes... Is that what I really want?
There's a reason why he told me to read it when I was ready. Barely turning 22, the timing was off. But is there such thing as a correct time? Hell, I could have forgotten about the letter all together and never realize its place in the bag. This moment was exact.
"I'll wait as long as you want."
The whatever length of time we have together frightens me. Will he be there next year? Will he be there tomorrow?... That's why I have this fear of Miz leaving in the first place—down the road is completely unknown. Three months for my heart come in such a way that is it now, how many until I no longer want to wait? Will he still want me?
A loud bing sounds off in the room. I jump, then realize it was my phone in my back pocket.
It's Miz: "Hey babe you ok in there? Let's get out of here, your bday isn't over :)"
It takes a moment for me to reach back and adjust to the current surroundings. This letter was written in the past that leaves me thinking in the future. Where does this leave right now, the present?
Right now, I'm in Los Angeles, California, coming off the heels of one of WWE's greatest yearly pay-per-views. I'm celebrating the day I was born over two decades ago. I have a man who loves me waiting in the parking lot—the sweetest man in the world, and he's mine to call my own. What the hell am I waiting for?
I place the letter back in its place, along with the rest of the stuff I dug out. Out the locker room door, the butterflies soar inside from the person I'm headed to see. The contemplating thoughts get brushed off when the night air hits my skin and I see Miz standing in front of the car's trunk with his arms open.
He yells, "There's the birthday girl!"
My feet pick up and I crash into his arms. My favourite. "Sorry about the wait, had to tend to girl stuff." And that's the truth.
"That's fine, babe. I'm just excited to leave so I can show you your next present." He throws the bag in for me and shuts closed the back compartment.
"Another one? Miz, you didn't have to!" We close the car doors simultaneously.
"But I wanted to. C'mon, did you really think I would skip out on making this the best birthday in your entire life? Twenty-three, twenty-four... the rest of 'em are gonna have stiff competition!"
I laugh, "Well, you sure know how to spoil a girl, don't you?"
"Only my girl. Now let's go," he starts the car, "your present is waiting." He starts backing up but brakes the car hard, "Oh yeah, almost forgot—put this on." He hands me a black bandana.
"Really? Another one? Really?"
"Hey, I'm not taking you if that doesn't get placed around your eyeballs."
I surrender, and fold it around my head. The car begins moving again and I'm left in darkness. The excitement builds up in the form of guessing all of the possibilities of this mysterious gift. Every guess gets shut down by him on the drive. Again, what could this boy have in mind?
I'm standing outside over concrete, I think. I'm almost frightened because of how quiet he's being. Aside from the cues of stepping and turning to the left or right, no other hints can help me determine where the hell I am. I'm sure we're on top of a building because of the stairs we had to climb, blindfold and all for me—not fun at all.
The cooler night air hits the remaining open patches of skin on my face. His voice comes in from the left, "Alright babe, you ready?"
"No Miz, but that won't stop you, I know."
"Start it up, guys!" He yells away. Start what up?
There's a whooshing, slow at first, then it increases. Wind blasts forward, nearly knocking me off my feet.
"Go ahead, Paige. Take a look."
I reach up to the bandana and undo the knot in the back. When the fabric drops, I see a giant vehicle yards away from me. It's a helicopter.
"A helicopter ride for a happy birthday!" Miz shouts, trapping me in his large arms. I'm nearly speechless. He begins walking our bodies towards the machine as the booming sound fills my ears. "Oh my god, are you serious?!" I yell at him. I wonder if he heard me through the heaviness.
A guy named Stephen, dressed in proper flight gear, helps us settle into the tight seats. Miz lets me sit at the other open side, he's placed right next to me. Our safety belts are adjusted, and headsets with microphones are put over our heads and the force of the blades makes its way to the inside of my chest.
"I can't believe we're about to take off in a helicopter right now," I say, knowing he heard me this time.
"It's gonna be awesome."
"Happy couple, say cheese!" Stephen, in the seat in across from us, holds up a camera. I smile the most eager smile as it flashes. I'm glad this sliver of time just got captured, I'll able to look back at it knowing the kind of happiness I had.
Within a few minutes and after necessary precautionary operations, the pilot tells us that we're good to go. Staring at the building, the landing pad marks begin shifting then gets smaller.
Miz takes my hand in his and squeezes. The blue in his eyes have turned to a shining silver and his shy smirk makes me fall in love all over again, "Look."
Turning back to the view, the entire city of Los Angeles is lit up under me. The streets, blocks, buildings, and signs are glowing in a multitude of colors against black. Being so high up, it's that same feeling. The sensation in my legs whenever I'm looking up from a great height sparks through every muscle. Even when I'm sitting down, it just seems as if I'm about to jump. It's a truly amazing feeling... I'm alive.
Though the future is driven by its own unpredictable accord, there is always a way to make it your own. Tonight is one giant step in the direction I want for mine. My future with Miz. I'll take it day by day, week by week, but for now it's the little moments. It's the big moments. It's the moments just like these when all we know is that we're together, and that's the only thing that matters. The past is unchangeable, the future is waiting. But I'll stay right here.
Right here where I'm happy... with him.
D'aww I loved writing this chapter. Please review! [2 chapters left :O]
And if you're interested, I wrote a oneshot called With You Tonight, feel free to check it out too. Thanks again you guys!