The Rivals

||Anita||
As I slumped against the wall, utterly exhausted from my fight, I still couldn’t believe it. Cody had saved me. Paul had whispered for me to put my knees up and then he’d take the pin, but no one had known that but us. And Cody could have been fired…
I felt my eyes tear up; and if there is one thing that you need to seriously understand about me, it’s that it takes Hell in a hand basket to make me cry. I hate crying, especially in front of other people, it makes me feel weak. I didn’t even cry at my family’s funeral. Luckily, I was in a pretty deserted hallway. I thought about what Cody had told Quinn, he actually cared about me? And what he had said about Teddy, Cody wouldn’t risk lying about that, he knew I would just check with him. I slid to the ground, I was too tired to get dressed and in all honesty just wanted to go home. Then I heard him.
“You know, pretty girls shouldn’t cry.” I looked up to see Cody smiling at me. I felt a new wave of tears hit and angrily wiped them away, embarrassed he’d seen me like this. Cody sighed. “I’d ask if I could sit down, but I’m going to guess you want to be alone.” He started to leave, but I reached out and touched his leg. Even though I was mad at him I just didn’t want to be alone anymore. I was sick and tired of having to always fight and fight and fight and I just wanted to give up for one second. I just wanted to forget Eve and Paul, Barbie, even Quinn. I just wanted to have a split second of peace.
“Please don’t leave.” I whispered. He turned bright red, but sat down next to me. I turned to him, my heart aching to see the look of concern on his face. Why me? Why of all girls that he could have did he have to pick me? I looked at him for the longest time before I finally said it. “Thank you.” I whispered.
“For the match?” I nodded.
“And…” I bit my lip, looking at the floor.
“And what?” He asked. I couldn’t hold myself back anymore, I hugged Cody.
“For everything.” I whispered. I pulled back as Cody stared at me, both of us red in the face. I felt my heart stop as he starting getting closer and closer to me. I started to lean in, and when we were close enough that I could feel a current between our lips
My phone went off.
Talk about killing the moment. Cody leapt to his feet and helped me up, telling me I should probably answer it and that he’d see me tomorrow. Before I could say a word for him to stop he was already gone. I let out a long sigh and flipped open my phone.
“Anita.” I said, trying to hide my utter disappointment.
“Hey, where are you?” Quinn? I looked at the time on my phone; I was already half an hour late and I hadn’t even changed yet!
“Oh my God, Quinn, I’m so sorry! Something…came up and I lost track of time. I’ll be right there.” I heard Quinn chuckle on the other end of the phone.
“It’s fine, I’ll just meet you at the restaurant.” She gave me directions and told me that we were all meeting there in about an hour. I let out a long sigh as I trudged back to the girl’s locker room. The stadium was pretty deserted and I felt sick, it reminded me of finding Paul and I wanted to cry again.
But, as usual, I pulled it back to the vault inside me and walked into the empty locker room. I quickly showered and changed, dried my hair and got all cutsied up. It would be nice to just get to have dinner with the girls, but…
I couldn’t get that moment with Cody out of my head as I pulled on my jacket. He cared about me so much, but how could he team up with Barbra and Eve? He had said he had no other choice but. Ugh, my head was so jumbled and I just wanted to sleep. I opened the door to feel it being blocked by something. I looked up and saw Chris, glaring at me. I opened my mouth to scream, but he covered it and shoved me back into the locker room. He slammed my head into the lockers making me see stars.
“Listen here you little bitch, if you ever try to pull a stunt like you did today ever again I will kill you.” I ripped his hand away from his mouth and glared at him.
“You don’t scare me you old pervert!” I growled, but he slammed my head back into the lockers.
“There’s no one to hear you scream you stupid little runt. Now you listen here, Quinn will be mine and there’s nothing you can do about it.” I tried to pull my leg up to kick him, but he slammed down on both my feet with his.
“If anyone’s a little bitch it’s you Chris! You’re just a sad pathetic old man who couldn’t even beat up a girl without knocking her silly first.” I snapped. “So why don’t you just leave Quinn alone?!”
“Because if she doesn’t end up with me, I might just accidently tell Cody that you love Paul, tell Paul you love Cody, and let them beat each other to death! Is that what you want?” He snarled.
I felt my heart drop into my stomach, fear for Cody and Paul overwhelming me. I felt so helpless and I hated it. “I knew you had an Achilles heel somewhere, and it’s those two isn’t it?” He chuckled. “And you say I’m pathetic? You’re just a slut.” I felt sick as he let go and I collapsed onto the ground.
“I won’t let you get away with this.” I swore.
“Oh, but I will. Say hi to your boyfriends for me whore.” Then he was gone. I felt so goddamn useless! I couldn’t even protect Cody and Paul from each other! I felt anger and fear turn my stomach to lead as I slammed the door on my way out. As I was walking out to the parking garage I felt a hand on my shoulder and spun around, fist at the ready, to see Quinn.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, terrified. I knew Chris was still here somewhere and I didn’t know if I could protect her by myself.
“I came to pick you up, I checked your room but you weren’t there, then I saw Cody and he said he had seen you here.” She looked at me for a moment with a questioning face. “Why did he get so red when I mentioned you?”
“I-I’ll tell you in the car.” I said, shoving her out the door and hopefully away from Chris. When I had hopped into the passenger’s seat, shaking from head to toe and wide eyed Quinn just stopped.
“What in the Hell is going on?” She said.
“Nothing.” I lied.
“Anita, please, you can tell me.” I swallowed nervously, remembering Chris’s promise, I knew Paul and Cody would kill each other if given the chance, I had almost seen them do it. I was terrified to think what they might do to each other if I wasn’t there to stop them. I sighed and told Quinn the half truth.
“After you left I went away to think for a while. Cody came over and I told him thank you for saving our asses today. Then, we had this moment and…” I felt ridiculous telling all this to her. “God, I feel like I’m back in high school.” I joked, brushing my hair back with my hand. “We almost kissed, but then you called and he just sort of left.”
“Sorry.” She said. I just shrugged as she started the car and we finally got away from that god forsaken arena.
“I need more time to think, it was just so nice to have someone there, you know?” Quinn nodded.
“I understand completely.” She said with a smile.
When we got to the restaurant all the other divas patted me on the back and told me how good I was and how sorry they were for treating me like shit all these years. They all were swearing up and down that they would cave Barbra and Eve’s faces in when they got the chance and I couldn’t help but smile. But then Cody came into the discussion.
“So, Anita! Cody saved you today, and I couldn’t help but see the way he stared at you when he helped you up.” Beth snickered.
“Or the way he wrapped you so tightly in his arms!” A.J. added dreamily. I felt my face turn bright red.
“W-w-w….” I couldn’t even speak as Nattie smiled.
“Ah ha! She’s got the look! Fuck Paul! Cody is hotter, younger, and crazy about you girl. I say go for it!” She declared, smacking her palm on the table for added effect.
“So did Paul give you a reason for why he’s such an asshole?” Sarona asked. I sighed.
“Well, he says that Barbra and Eve are blackmailing Laurinaitis into him dating Barbra.”
“Bullshit!” Nattie cried.
“Well, that’s what I thought to, but tonight he told me to put my knees up when he hit the splash and that should be enough for me to get a pin.”
“And with everything that’s been going on, it may just be plausible.” Beth agreed. I shrugged.
“I guess.”
“So, who do you like more?” I turned to Quinn, who had asked the question.
“Huh?” I asked.
“Well, you’re probably going to have to choose eventually, so who do you like more?” Wow, that was pretty straightforward. I let out a long sigh.
“I haven’t really thought about it I guess.” I admitted.
“Pick Cody!” A.J. and Nattie pleaded.
“No way, give Paul another shot.” Beth and Sarona countered. I chuckled as they argued who I should pick, Paul or Cody, and I found I couldn’t help but smile. It had just been Paul and I against the world for so long that I forgot what it was like to just get to hang out with friends and laugh like this.
But all too soon it was over and Quinn and I walked back to our hotel rooms. We got to mine first and as She was about to say goodbye I gave her a giant hug. “Thank you.” I said. “I really needed that.” She smiled and hugged me back.
“Anytime.” She said simply.
“So, I’m officially cleared, by a doctor, to fight next week, are you ready for the premiere of the next Tag Team Champs?” She laughed and shook my hand.
“We’ll do what we do best. Kick ass.”
“And take names.”
“See you tomorrow at the gym to work on some moves?” She asked.
“You know it, night Quinn.”
“Night Anita.”
I unlocked the door to my room and changed. I was about to go to bed when I heard a knock on my door. I cracked the door open slightly to see Paul standing there. I felt my heart race as I tried to shut the door, but he just easily slipped it open.
“Ani, we need to talk.” He said, shutting the door and locking it behind him. I blushed as I suddenly realized what I was wearing and stared for the bathroom to change, but Paul grabbed my wrist.
“Let me go-” I started, but was cut off by Paul pressing his lips to mine. I felt my head spin in that way only Paul could make it as he lead me backwards and sat me down on the bed, pulling his lips away.
“Now that I have your attention.” He said with his devilish grin that I missed so much.
“What do you want Paul? Barbra have a headache?” I snapped. His grin dropped.
“Ani, listen to me, she has something over John, I’m not quite sure, but all I know is it’s bad, very bad.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
“Because I knew you would quit.” He said. “I couldn’t let you do that Ani, not after everything you’ve done to get here, not after everything you’ve lost, just because Barbra decided to be a whore. I love you Ani, please, you have to believe me.” I felt my heart ache as I teared up.
“Paul…” I whispered. He was right, I would have quit had I known, he knew me so well that it was scary. He took my hands in his.
“I know that I have a long way to go before I deserve to see you again, but please, Ani, I’m trying. Can you ever forgive me?” I fought back the tears. I wanted to believe him so badly. I just wanted to feel the way I fit so perfectly into his arms again so badly it was clouding my judgment and I knew it.
“I don’t know Paul. I trusted you, you should have told me.”
“I know.” He whispered. “I’ve been having my own nightmares about it ever since.” He looked at me and hugged me. “I miss you so much Ani.” He said, cradling my head to his chest. He pulled back and looked at me, then he kissed me again.
But before anything could really happen there was a knock on the door. Paul leapt up to answer. I told him to stop, not to get it, but he didn’t listen. When he saw who was there he tensed. “Get lost.” He growled. I pushed past him to see Cody.
“Ani…” Cody whispered.
“Cody, please, let me explain-” But he was already running off. “Cody!” I hollered, but Paul grabbed me and pulled me back inside. He shut the door and slammed me against it.
“What do you need him for? You have me.” He said, kissing my neck. I shoved him off of me.
“Why did you do that?!” I demanded. “Why?” Paul’s smile dropped.
“Because I had to.”
“What?” I demanded. Paul sighed.
“John’s not the only one Eve and Barbra have dirt on.” He said.
What the Hell was going on?!