Dirty Deeds

CH 1: Nice Guys Finish Last

             People often ask why bad things happen to good people. They wonder about bad people having all the luck. I'm here to tell you, it's not luck. Heroes are generally unwilling to do whatever is necessary to succeed in this world. They won't pull down the weak and climb over their bodies to get what they want. They're noble and well liked. They're also not the ones wearing the gold around their waists, most of the time. I've been told all my life that nice guys finish last. I've seen the proof with my own eyes, time and time again. I came to the WWE, knowing that I would be a heel. I didn't want to be someone who was cheered for; I wanted to be a winner. To me, those are mutually exclusive. So I don't care if you're booing me. I don't care if you think I'm a nasty character. I'm smart and I'm beautiful and best of all, I'm a winner.

Sometimes you get guys like C. M. Punk, who don't realize nice guys finish last. They try really hard to be a hero. I could have told you years ago that he was going to end up as a villain. Despite everything he's done to try and save people from themselves, he ends up being the most hated on the roster. And who do the people love? Jeff Hardy. Where is Jeff Hardy now? Broken down, fighting a massive legal battle and praying that he can keep wrestling with a fifth rate company. And he's there because of C. M. Punk.

Not just the "loser leaves" scenario that you may have seen on TV. He's there because Punk knows a guy who will do favors for you, if you have enough money and more ambition. Someone who is connected. That drug bust seemed kind of convenient, didn't it? Interesting timing. It wasn't a coincidence, I'll tell you that much. You don't cross a guy who knows people and expect to get away undamaged. Hardy should have known better.

*%$

"Maria's my valentine." I roll my eyes when I hear Matt Hardy's words coming from the monitor. He's worse than his brother when it comes to wanting to be a good guy. The man's so sweet and pathetic, and he seems genuinely hung up on Maria. Maria, of all people! Just the thought makes me want to snarl.

"Michelle?" Layla says. "You've got that look on your face again."

If I hadn't caught the reflection of my face in the glare of the TV, I might not have believed her. Layla's a ditz, but she's willing to do whatever I say, which makes her useful.

"Maria's his valentine," I say, mockingly. "That's sooo sweet!" I roll my eyes, and Layla laughs.

"At least they're suited to one another," she says. "Neither one of them can win a match. It's like watching Chavo fight Hornswoggle!"

"Ugh!" If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a match between Hornswoggle and Chavo. It was funny the first time. The twentieth time? Not so much. Layla smirks because she knows what I'm thinking. She ought to; I swear, I said it at least five times a day when the WWE was working that Hornswoggle/Chavo angle to death.

"I hate Maria," Layla mutters finally, when it's been quiet for too long.

"Me too," I said. I keep thinking about her and Dolph and how I couldn't pry the two of them apart. They're finally apart, and Dolph hasn't been worth a damn since. He's not even a contender anymore. Too bad, too, because he's not a goody goody like Matt Hardy. Still... I contemplate the screen. "What do you think of Matt Hardy?"

Layla scrunches up her face at me. "Seriously? He's a loser. At least Jeff got the title before he crashed and burned."

I shrug. "You may be right."

"Uh oh. Girl, I know that look. We're flawless, Michelle, and he's not. Besides, he's too much of a nice guy to dump Maria, especially for you."

I feel a grin spreading across my lips. "Mm. You may be right." I stare at him on the screen. Matt's pulled out a win for his team. Yay? "But he does have potential." I turn and meet her eyes. "How much do you want to bet that I'll have him eating out of my hand by Wrestlemania?"