The Rivals

||Anita||
Paul just hugged me for the longest time as I walked back in from the ring. “Why is Teddy doing this?” He asked finally.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to try to sort all this madness out.” Paul laced his fingers with mine as we walked to John’s, well, for tonight Teddy’s, office.
“Anita! Just the person I wanted to see.” He said with a huge smile. “Good Morning New Orleans wants to interview you tomorrow, so you’ll be leaving for Baton Rouge-”
“Teddy. What the Hell is with me and Quinn in a tag team against Chris and Cody?” I said, cutting him off. But I could feel nervous from just thinking about being interviewed, I couldn’t just walk out again…
“Anita, the people want to see you guys become friends. Ever since she helped you and you helped her the webs been buzzing! My phone has been ringing off the hook from the board of directors saying #girlpower, #frienimies, and both your and Quinn’s names are trending worldwide.
“I don’t give a shi-” Paul started, but I elbowed him in the ribs.
“But putting us against the two guys who’d love nothing more than to put us out for six months on medical leave? A tag team match, whatever that’s fine, but against Cody and Chris?! I’d rather go against Kane and the Big Show!”
“Well, the opponents have been decided, so I suggest you be careful. Who knows? Maybe we can fit Paul coming down and interfering into the story line.”
“If I interfere I guarantee you Cody will never walk again.” Paul growled. Jesus, he was really upset. He glared at Teddy for a few more seconds before he turned and stormed out. I looked back at Teddy, smiling apologetically before following Paul.
“What the Hell was that? You know he could fire you in ten sec-” Paul just turned around and grabbed me, smashing his lips to mine so desperately that it made my head spin. He pulled back and just looked at me for the longest time.
“Promise me you’ll be careful, you know Cody will beat the Hell out of you if the ref isn’t looking. And Chris is even worse if you ask me.”
“You’ve got that right.” We both turned to see John Cena smiling at us. “Anita, watch your back out there, Chris is crazy.” I nodded.
“I will, thank you John.”
“Anytime, if you two can beat them I don’t think I’ll ever cheer so loudly in my life. Best of luck.” John stuck out his hand to me and I smiled and shook it.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” As John walked up a bunch more of the superstars and divas flocked over, offering advice and apologizing for being so cold to me my entire career. I had to be dreaming, this was just unreal! As I finally said I had to pull away and go get Quinn I couldn’t wipe the giant smile off my face.
I could get used to this.
But before I could get to Phil's room, where I was positive Quinn was, I saw Barbie. She smiled wickedly at me. “Don’t get used to the fame Anita. It won’t last.” She quipped.
“We’ll see about that.” I shot back before knocking on Phil's door before I knocked her lights out.
“Come in!” As I opened the door I probably still had my famous sneer on my face, but when I saw Quinn rubbing Phil's back I couldn’t help but smile, but then it was back to business.
“I tried to get the match cancelled, but it’s still going ahead. We have to head down now.” Quinn nodded and kissed Phil as he whispered something to her, I blushed, embarrassed to interrupt such an adorable moment.
As we walked down to the ring together, I asked Quinn about my plan and if she’d be willing to go along with it, she seemed a little put out at the idea at first, but when I explained that it would cause pain and humiliation for both Cody and Chris she agreed with a huge smirk. As we were waiting to go out I looked at her. “Hey Quinn?” I asked.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for helping me earlier, with Cody, I appreciate it, I’m sure Paul does too.”
“Thanks for kicking Chris in the face. That was kind of awesome.”
“Hopefully I’ll get to give an encore performance.” I said.
“I hope so too.” She laughed.
As we headed out together we still had to act like we didn’t like each other, walking as far apart as the ramp would allow us to and arguing about whose entrance should be played as the techies switched back and forth to an awkward remix almost of the two. We sat in opposite corners of the ring as Cody and Chris entered, and argued about who got to start. I shoved her out of the ring and had my back to Chris and Cody yelling at Quinn to stay out of my way when I felt myself get flipped over for a pin. I kicked whoever it was until I was able to get my shoulder up at two. I rolled away and jumped to my feet to see Cody smiling at me.
Shit, this was going to be tough, in addition to having seven inches and almost a hundred pounds on me, Cody was ruthless. So I would have to be even more so as I stared him down. I ran at him and went for a hurricanrana, taking him straight to the floor. Your boyfriend being one of the best aerial attackers in the WWE means he teaches you a lot of his moves, and I was ready to show the world that speed beats strength every time and he took some time getting up. When he flew at me I hit him with a dropkick, which hit most of my usually opponents in the face, but hit Cody in the chest, knocking the wind out of him as he staggered backwards, furious. He ran at me, hitting me with a belly to belly suplex which sent me flying into the corner. I felt the ring post collide with my spine and knew I’d probably have a nasty bruise later, but I stoop up at motioned for Cody to come at me at the crowd went wild.
Cody went for a spear but I ducked so he went face first into the ring post. I grabbed him and drug him to the middle of the ring and went for the pin, but he threw me off of him with no trouble at all, sending me rolling to the ropes. I slammed my hands on the mat in agitation and leapt back to my feet as he slithered over and tagged Chris. I was about to go for him, but I heard Quinn beg for a tag, but when Chris lunged at me I gave him a huge boot to the face, then went over and tagged Quinn.
To say she went batshit crazy on him would be the understatement of the year. She did not stop beating on him until he got her in a DDT and went for the Walls of Jericho. I ran into the ring and kicked Chris in the face, causing him to release the hold, and smacked Quinn in true heel fashion, shoving her to the outside of the ring before she could tap and taking her place against Chris. He smiled at me, but before he could go over and tag Cody I grabbed him by the head and gave him a nice little bulldog. I then went for the pin, but Cody came in and threw me off him. Cody grabbed the rope and kicked Chris to tag himself in and shoved him outside the ring. I took the distraction to climb to the top turnbuckle and when Cody turned around I gave him a nice little aerial roundhouse kick in the face, landing on my feet and standing up to smile at him.
But before I could try to go for a pin Chris smacked Cody and hopped into the ring. I looked back at Quinn and nodded, time to put our plan into action. I slid out of the ring as she climbed into the ring and walked up to Chris, walking her fingers up his chest and smiling at him, completely distracting him as I climbed up to the top turnbuckle again. Then before Chris even knew what was going on Quinn grabbed his ankles and flipped him onto his back, setting him up for me to hit the From New Orleans with Love, a back flip off the top turnbuckle that went straight into a pin. Quinn ran over and speared Cody, sending him to the floor as I flew through the air. This was the first time I had ever actually used this in a match, and I’m sure Paul would kill me later, but I landed as planned, although it hurt my ribs like Hell, and Chris looked like he was out for the count. The ref slid over and counted and Quinn and I picked up the win as the stadium erupted in cheers. I could help but keep a huge smile from breaking over my face as the crowd began to chant “Girls kick asses” I looked at Quinn and remembered that the last time the crowd had seen us together I’d ran after her infuriated, so we still had to act uneasy around each other. And as the ref raised our hands together, I pulled mine away and sneered at her that this didn’t change anything.
Then I stormed out of the arena, but smiled the second I was away from the cameras as Paul stood there with a giant smile on his face and took me into his arms. When Quinn walked back I gave her a giant high five. “Sorry about being a bitch, but we have to keep up the onscreen stuff until our match at Wrestle Mania.” I explained. She dismissed the matter with a wave of her hand.
“No worries. I just hope you can teach me that sick back flip thing some time.” I chuckled, but Paul’s face dropped.
“About that; I thought we agreed you wouldn’t try that if there was a chance that someone could mess it up?” Quinn winced, realizing she’d gotten me in trouble.
“No guts no glory Paul.” I replied simply. “Besides, I had a great teacher.” Phil ran up to Quinn and embraced her, telling her how amazing her fight had been and I couldn’t help but smile. But my happiness was short lived as Barbra walked up, cameraman in tow.
“Justin, what are you doing with her?!” She demanded.
“Kelly, I can explain.” He started, putting up his hands, but I took the chance to stalk up to Barbra, trying to keep from smiling when she slunk back the slightest bit.
“He’s spending time with a real Diva Kelly, and not some skanky Barbie doll.” Quinn and Phil had tried to get out of the shot but Barbra, desperate to save her story, called to Quinn.
“Quinny! Come on! We can take down this man stealer together!”
I could tell Quinn was at an impasse, she had shrunk away from Barbra in her earlier match, so maybe she could talk about how she was turning against her? Quinn walked up to Barbra.
“Kelly, if you want to try to keep up with this charade, fine. I helped you steal Justin from her once, I won’t do it again.” Nice balance, I would have to commend her later.
“Wait.” I said, remembering we had to keep our rivalry going even though all I wanted to do was give her a high five. “You helped her?”
“Hell, I planned the whole thing.” Quinn admitted, “But it’s gone far enough. If you want to keep being a skank Kelly, be my guest, but I’m finished with this.” I grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.
“We are not finished with this.” I spat and punched her in the face, she went with it, and then I turned to Barbra with a sick little smile. “You’re next.” I threatened, I gave my best evil laugh as Barbra took off for the hills and the camera cut out. I turned around and helped Quinn up.
“Nice improv.” She commented.
“You too. Nice way to balance out the face and the heel a little bit.” Quinn gave a fake bow and I chuckled.
“Well, we better get going. Ani has to get up early.” Paul said, slinging his arm around me.
“Oh, do you have an interview or something?” Phil asked. I nodded.
“Good Morning New Orleans, they’ll probably ask how it feels to be back home and all that.” I informed them. Hopefully they won’t talk about… as my mind began to wander Quinn’s voice snapped me back to attention.
“Does that mean you won’t be on Smack Down?”
“I’m just headed up after my interview.” I informed her. She nodded and smiled.
“I’ll be sure to check it out. Might learn something.” We both chuckled.
“Probably not. I just hope they don’t make me play ‘Are you smarter than a wrestler’ like they did to Bryan in Seattle. Night Quinn, night Phil”
“Goodnight!” They said in unison. As we headed back to the hotel I prayed that the anchor wouldn’t decide to talk about that night.
As I sat in my chair, across from Matt Jacobs, the anchor, I tried to hide my nervousness. He smiled at me. “For being in front of a camera so much you seem pretty nervous.” He teased. I shrugged.
“People kind of like me now, so someone might actually watch this.” Matt seemed pretty put out at my comment, but I just smiled as the camera rolled.
“Today we are lucky to have the beautiful WWE Diva and New Orleans’s favorite daughter, Bobbie!” The studio audience roared as I gave a small wave. We talked about my wrestling career for a while, my rivalry with Quinn, and how I was going to squish Barbra like a bug. Finally the conversation turned more to me. “So, Bobbie, how does it feel to be back home?” Matt asked.
“It’s great Matt. You never know how much you miss a beautiful city like New Orleans until you get to come back and remember why you loved it in the first place.”
“Well, it hasn’t been as beautiful since Katrina. A lot of the city is still being rebuilt to its former glory. Is that why you left?”
“Actually Matt, after Katrina I took a three year break from my then budding wrestling career to help rebuild the city that’s given me so much.” The audience whooped and hollered again.
“But this city has also taken a lot of things from you, isn’t it true you lost your parents and little brother when Katrina hit?”
I took a moment to compose myself before answering. “Yes, but I was one of the many who lost loved ones to Katrina.” I thought Paul had told the studio to tell Matt that if he mentioned that I would kill him after the show?!
“I’ve been told that you actually tried to go back to find your family before the storm hit New Orleans, is that true?” I nodded.
“I was driving down there, the storm was right on my heels since I was coming from Florida, to try to get to my family and evacuate them. But… a car crashed into me, sending me into another lane where I was hit by a truck and was knocked unconscious. I woke up three weeks later in the hospital.”
“And your family was missing?” Matt asked.
“Yes, so I went down there and tore through the rubble and debris until I found the storm cellar, where I was sure they’d be. But when I opened the door…” I stopped as I felt a tear roll down my face. “I’m sorry.” Matt handed me a tissue and I dabbed at my eyes. “A piece of wood had locked the storm cellar door shut, and it had flooded, so they drowned.” The studio was dead silent. Yeah Matt, I hope you feel like a douche bag. I waited as he just stared at me, probably not expecting something so horrific. “After that I couldn’t leave my beautiful city in rubble, so I called FCW, where I was wrestling at the time, and told them that I had to help. They said they understood, so I took a three year break and came back into wrestling in 2008. And I’ve been donating money and time whenever I can until New Orleans is the beautiful city that we all know and love again.” I hoped that would help with the awkward silence, but it was still quiet until I heard a single clap, then a few until I was getting a standing ovation from the studio audience. I smiled at them as they started chanting my name.
“Bobbie, thank you for sharing that with us.” I nodded; it was kind of nice to get it out in the open after all these years.
“That’s the first time I think I’ve ever told anyone that.” I admitted.
“Well, I’m glad it was with us, ladies and gentleman, Bobbie!” The crowd screamed their approval again as I stood up and hugged Matt, then left the studio. Paul stood there with open arms and hugged me tightly.
“I’m so proud of you.” He whispered. I smiled. I was proud of me too.
That night I was browsing my twitter before the show when I saw all the posts tagging me and talking about how cool and brave I was. I blinked a few times, people usually called me a bitch on Twitter. I smiled as Teddy walked up to me and smiled, giving me a huge hug.
“What?” I asked.
“Have you seen the script?” I shook my head. “They’re giving you a title match against Beth, and you’re going to win.” I felt my legs drop out from under me. I’d never had a title shot before. I covered my mouth to keep from screaming as I hugged Teddy. “Now, as for Wrestle Mania with you versus Quinn, they haven’t decided who will win, it’ll most likely be an open match, but tonight is all about you.” I tried to keep the tears at bay. “And they’re going to make you an in-between, no more being a heel all the time.” I smiled as I went to tell Paul, who was as excited as I was.
As I headed out to my theme song I heard thunderous applause.
And I was on top of the world.