Dirty Deeds

CH 33: Reconciliation

          Wrestlemania. Every year, we look forward to it. Every year, it seems like it takes forever to get here and then one day, it's time. We spend the whole week leading up to the main event, doing various activities. I love the excitement that goes through the whole company when it's time to head for the biggest stage of them all. I've had weeks of Matt and I together, getting to know his friends and family. I'm starting to feel like they accept me, and maybe even like me. We've been spending so much time together that I've started to believe that maybe we are connected at the hip, as everyone keeps teasing. I've barely seen Punk in all of this. He seems to have resolved his differences with the straightedge society, which is good, but I kind of miss having him around. Layla's still ignoring me, except when we're in the ring. Aside from Matt and his friends, I feel lonely. Luckily for me, I'm never away from them for long.

Everyone is in Arizona. There isn't a guy or girl in the company who isn't staying at the hotel and hanging out together in certain social places. We all have our favorite bars, restaurants and gyms. It's a fun week. Matt and I do a couple of Fan Axxess sessions together, holding hands and taking pictures and generally having a great time. Punk's at one of them, doing a question and answer session with the straightedge society. I sneak over and listen to him for a bit. He sounds completely arrogant, like the heel C. M. Punk you see on TV every week instead of the Cuddle Monkey that I know.

I don't stick around for the match after the questions. Instead, I head back to where Matt is still talking to some fans and I take his hand. He smiles at me, and says to them, "Well, it was nice meeting you." Then he pulls me away, toward the door. "You ready to go to the Hall of Fame ceremony?"

"Sure," I say, shrugging. We walk out to the parking area and get our car, then Matt drives us the eight blocks or so to the next venue. The streets are crowded with people and bicycle cabs. I'm glad Matt's driving.

"So did you see Punk?" he asks, while we're waiting at a light.

"Watched his q and a for a bit."

Matt nods. "You didn't go back and say hi, though?"

"No."

He's staring into traffic when he says, "He told me about the talk you guys had at the house."

"When was this?"

Matt shrugs. "I ran into him in the lobby yesterday. We had to do the menacing pose thing for a tourist." He chuckles. "And then pose for pictures. But after that, I pulled him aside and asked what was up with him."

I sigh. "It's fine, really."

"You've been moping," Matt says.

"I have not!"

"You have."

I glare at him. "I don't have to be always on, you know. Sometimes, quiet is nice."

"I know. But there's a difference between quiet and that far off look you get sometimes. It's okay to miss your friends, Michelle."

"Even when you still see them every day?" I ask, thinking of Layla.

"Don't worry," Matt says. "Tomorrow night is Wrestlemania. After that, the craziness will settle down and Punk will have time to hang out with us again. At least until next year."

"Is it bad that I wish it was over already?"

"Do you?" he asks. "For me, it's like Christmas. I can't believe we're almost there."

Normally, I'd agree with him, but this year? It's been too stressful. "It's been grueling this time. It's like if you lose a beloved family member right around the holidays. That year, the festivities are tainted for you."

"Well, try to have some fun tonight," Matt says with a smile. "I know I'm going to, because I'll be there with the prettiest girl in the whole place."

"Aw!" I scooted so I could lean my head against his shoulder. "I'll try not to be so down tonight. It's just the pre-festivities blues, that's all. You watch, tomorrow, I'm going to be all over this thing."

Matt slips his arm around me. "It's okay," he says. "I think we all get that way from time to time."

We pull into the parking structure and gather up our things. It's not a long walk from the car to the theater, but scores of people are arriving. We're early, but so is just about everyone else. Matt leads me backstage, so we can get changed. Most of his friends are already back there. I wave to Miz and Morrison, then head for the ladies room.

Layla's there. She glances at me, then makes a face. "Nice to see you, too," I say.

"Don't talk to me."

I sigh. "Layla, I don't get it. We've been friends a long time. Why can't you just be happy for me? I miss hanging out with you."

She says, "Obviously, you don't, or you'd have dumped him by now."

"I'm not going to dump him."

There's a long moment where we're looking at one another in the mirror, our gazes caught. Finally, she sighs and looks away. "I... " Then she shakes her head. "He's against everything we've ever stood for, Michelle. He's a loser."

"No, he isn't. I'm sorry you can't see that." I start for the door. I can find somewhere else to change.

"Michelle."

My hand is on the door. "What?"

Layla sighs again. "Don't expect me to hang out with him. I don't like Hardy. But you're my best friend, and... and I just can't do this anymore."

I turn to look at her, and she's holding her arms out. "Huh?"

"I'm still your friend," Layla says. "If you don't hate me for being such a bitch lately, that is."

I can't help the grin that's spreading across my face. "I don't hate you." We hug. "Hey, maybe we can plan another girl's weekend soon."

"Please," Layla says, rolling her eyes. "You were such a pill at the last one."

Laughing, I say, "I'll try to be better, I promise."

"Me too," she says, "although I'm not going to promise. I'll try my best to tolerate Hardy, but..." She smirks at me. "You know I can barely tolerate Punk. Hardy's something else entirely."

"As long as you try," I say, "that's what matters."

We change and head back into the main area together. When I rejoin Matt, he says, "You look like you feel better."

"I do. Layla and I just made up."

Matt hugs me. "Good for you!" he says with a smile.