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24 HRS LATER

I breathe in and out, feeling like my heart is in my throat as I rush towards the makeup ladies, praying for a miracle.

Unlike most, I wanted gifted with womanly intuition that naturally allowed me to be good at makeup or hair.

Even after seeing my mom do her makeup for years, I never once acquired the skills.

"Please tell me you can cover this up?"

I ask Lydia, our head makeup artist that gasps in shock as I pull my jacket's hoodie off. I whimper, throwing it back on and nervously sticking my hands back in the over-sized hoodie.

I don't want ANYONE to see me with a big ol' bruise near my eye.

Lydie sighs, sitting me down in the chair and quickly touching the area up. For a split second, I start feeling like makeup is magical, until I look in the mirror and feel defeated as the concealer barely does me any favors.

It's still noticeable as hell.

Pesky, flamboyant bruise.

As I frantically take the makeup brush out of her hand, I freeze up the second I hear my name being called by the most distinct voice in all of the WWE.

Not only is it the voice of authority, it's the voice I least want to hear, ever.

One second he's degrading me,
calling me a lack luster,
and the next he's praising me,
calling me a block buster.
What now?

"Don't!"

Vince says, even rushing in his steps as he takes the brush from my hand and tosses it down. "This" he says, strangely cupping my face, "is my reminder that I did the right thing."

He says, endearingly patting his index finger against my bruised up under eye area. Inside I cringe, feeling like I'm swimming in a crippling pool of glaciers, but on the outside,

on the outside I keep a smile, even managing to nod.

"That's your battle scar, your medal of honor, don't hide it kid."

He says, coming off as both sincere, cynical, and even sweet.

My mind rages, "who are you and what have you done to vince?", but instead I just continue smiling .

Should I even thank him?

"Thank-

When his finger lays on my lips to silence me, I mentally throw up on his ridiculously expensive suit. "No need to thank me, just keep the good work up. I'm sure the Balor Club will bring you even more edge."

Vince says, giving me a creepy old smile before he walks away, leaving me with nothing but goosebumps.

"Whoa, since when are you so early for makeup?"
"We usually have to drag you in here."

Paige chuckles, a playful smile on her face until she drops her at the sight of her eyes glancing upon my black eye.

"I tried covering it up, but the makeup did nothing."

I mumble, embarrassed that my cover's been blown.

"Luckily, I carry around heavy duty concealer." Paige smiles, perking me up as she takes my hand and sits me back down on the seat while she rummages through her luggage until she pulls out a little makeup container.

In the back, Lydie yaps her mouth about how Paige's shade won't match as the Brit glances at her coldly and assures her that she'll make it work.

"Stupid makeup professionals, they think they know everything."

Paige says, rolling her eyes as she blends the product with a gentle hand.

After a few minutes of swirling, tapping, the makeup onto my face with her finger, Paige claps her hands and smiles as she hands me a compact mirror.

"You ... you, Houdini!"

I say, smiling and jumping into her arms for a tight hug as she giggles. Paige grins, patting my head as I look into the full length mirror with a big smile that says,"bye bye black eye."

"I am like Houdini."

Paige acknowledges, impressed by her work as she nods.

"I can make bruises disappear with a little concealer,

And I can also make bitches who hurt my friends disappear."

Paige says, her voice deepening up with aggression at the end.

As she scans me up and down, I sigh and cross my arms. "It was just a misunderstanding, okay? Mercedes was just fired up after something I'd rather not talk about."

I say.

Paige slowly nods, squinting her eyes at me for a few more seconds before briefly hugging me. "Fine, I'll drop it only because I'm really proud of you, Champ."

She grins, bringing a whirlwind into my stomach as I feel dirty being called Champ.

"Well ... "

I say, trying to come around to telling her my troubles until she buts in,

"I'm still coming after that title, Bexter." Paige winks, turning her attention to a backstage coordinator that calls her over for a media obligation.

✕

One minute I'm skipping down the halls, trying to find my way to Xavier's gaming den of nerds, and the next, my heart is racing fast as the hallway lights turn off.

Everything goes pitch dark and silent until I'm fighting for my life, kicking and screaming as I'm dragged backwards. I flail my arms and even try to bite, but it's useless.

"Finn, let me go!"

I shout, convinced it's him as I'm easily dragged. Just when I break the tight grip, I'm shoved harshly.

As I fall to the ground, I see the light and look back, gasping with shock as I realize I'm in front of the side titantron screens.

Confused, I stand up and try to walk away, but it's too late.

Everyone's noticed me.

When I look back in the ring, Sasha and Paige both sit on their knees, looking around with mad confusion as the only two people in the ring are the two.

I look back & forth, trying to figure out where their opponents Naomi + Tamina have gone. As I take a step forward, I see the two former B.A.D. members outside the ring, the duo face down.

"YOU!"

Sasha growls, pointing at me and pulling on her hair as besides her, Paige frowns at me too.

Before I can plead for my life, I look down in front of me and notice a baseball bat I hadn't seen. The two stand up and touch their faces, glaring at me until they decide to come down the ring.

My feet remain frozen, unable to move. As I'm pulled back, I don't register what's happening until I snap out of my own confusion and see who's pulling me away from trouble.

Because I'd rather take a million shots to the face than to ever be near him again, I slap his hand off and then sucker punch him in the face to send the message loud and clear:

"Don't you EVER touch me again!
Old Becky might have forgiven you whenever,
but new Becky,
she'll bury you alive."

I spit, harshly breathing out until the sound of a "pop" alerts me. "See, I told you." Sasha hisses to Paige. The Brit sighs, walking away with a somber look on her face while Sasha just shakes her head.

"Mer, I know you're thinking it was me who attacked you out there, but I-

"Save it Rebecca."

Sasha growls.

"Let me explain-

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Sasha mutters, walking away without ever looking back. With the pent up rage building inside of me, I walk towards the crate to kick it,

but instead, gravity works against me.

As I kick the crate, I stumble and end up banging my face against the top of the crate.

"Rebecca!"

Finn gasps,

at my side in a matter of seconds as I look up and see literal stars. "Just this once..." I mumble, allowing him to carry me to the medics as I drown in my own negative thoughts.

✕

hotel ↴

When Fergal comes to a stop at my hotel, I look out the window and sigh. The entrance is literally only a few feet away, and yet looking at it makes me nauseous.

"Need help?"

He asks, turning his car's engine off as I contemplate taking his help until I remember, I'm supposed to be mad at Fergal.

"No."

I growl, thinking I'm slick and fast as I quickly get out the car. I shut the door behind me, amazed at how I'm able to stand on my own two feet despite my world spinning around.

With one step forward and a terrible headache, I fall straight into the ground. I whimper, cringing in the cold puddle and batting his hands away.

"I don't need your help!"

I snap, wanting nothing more than for the embarrassment to end.

I want a hot shower and food,
preferably in that order too.

"Oh but you didn't mind taking MY help when it was for your own convenience!" Fergal snaps back.

"If giving me a ride is too much for you—

"It's not Rebecca.
Nothing's ever too much,
not when it comes to you."

Fergal sighs, his voice low and apologetic.

"Why'd you interfere in my match again?" I sigh, taking his hand that pulls me out of the cold puddle.

"Rebecca, I swear I didn't."

Fergal says, staring me right in the eye as he lies straight through his teeth.

"Stop lying to me or I'll give you a black eye."

I say, trying to sound aggressive and serious, yet only coming off as playful as he chuckles.

"You already gave me one."

He laughs, pointing at his left eye.

"Seems like your making it a habit of getting all your friends a black eye. First Paige and Sasha, then me." He says, chuckling as I shake my head.

"I didn't do that to them,
and you know it."

"What does that mean?"
Fergal frowns.

"Oh please, stop pretending!"
"How many times do I have to tell you that it wasn't me? Sasha, Paige and I, we're friends. You & I are friends too, I would never."

Finn says as I roll my eyes, my mind already more than made up.

I walk up to Fergal and close the space between us as I get on my tip toes just to be closer to his face. With a menacing voice, I send my threat:

"Lie to me once more,
and I'll make it two black eyes."