When Alex walked in the arena two days later she prayed she wouldn�t run into anyone until she could get to Jan and the make-up area. Alex hadn't slept in two days and she knew she looked like it. She tried, but sleep never came. Alex had spent the last 48 hours in a frenzy of busy work. She�d finished all her paperwork within an afternoon. After that, she�d gone on a cleaning frenzy. Alex normally hated to clean the house and since she wasn�t at her apartment all that much it wasn�t very messy. However, in her sleep-deprived haze, she�d washed, dusted, and cleaned every room from top to bottom. Her neighbors hadn�t appreciated the early morning vacuuming, but she�d been oblivious. She�d pulled on her darkest shades and pulled a ball cap over her head as she pulled into the parking lot. She skirted away from people as she made her way to where she knew Jan and the make-up table would be set up. �Jan. Do you mind?� she asked as she approached the table. �Help yourself.� Jan answered. �I�ll be back in a minute.� Alex slowly removed her glasses and she began her task. She meticulously covered all evidence of her lack of sleep. She was nearly finished when Paul walked over to the table. Alex unconsciously tensed all over. She continued her cover-up job, her eyes never leaving her face as she continued; neither of them saying anything. �Hello Alex.� Paul finally greeted. Alex's fingers tighten on the make-up brush in her hand. In the weeks that Paul had been back; other than that first weekend; they�d not spoken a word to each other. She couldn�t bring herself to respond. She only continued to put on make-up. �We can�t be civil?� Paul asked. �As civil as your first weekend back?� she asked rhetorically. �Besides nothing I have to say to you would be considered civil.� She answered, not bothering to look at him. She put the finishing touches on her make-up trying to ignore the pounding in her head, which only increased as she continued to stand there. She glanced at Paul in the mirror to see him smirking. Finally she turned and gathered her things to leave. When she put her bag on her shoulder, Paul took her arm. �Don�t touch me.� she said calmer than she felt, pulling on her arm. �So you�re just never going to speak to me?� he asked, not releasing her arm. �Get. Your. Hands. OFF. Me.� she demanded quietly. They stood there for several minutes glaring at each other. �You heard her.� Alex turned to see Matt standing about 5 yards from them. Paul rolled his eyes skyward, �You think I�m afraid of you, little man?� Paul sneered. �It�s not him you should be worried about.� 'Taker growled from behind Alex. Alex jumped slightly as she had not felt him approach. Alex turned back to Paul and saw that Jericho, Jeff, and RIP were now standing with Matt. �Boyfriends coming to your rescue?� Paul sneered. Alex slapped a hand on 'Taker�s chest in an attempt to hold him back when he advanced toward Paul. �Go to hell.� She growled at Paul . �You never did understand the concept of �friends�.� She reminded him. Alex jerked her arm from Paul�s grasp and turned to walk down the hall in the opposite direction of the group gathered near the make-up area. She stood in a corner off the main hallway standing in a sunken doorway, her head resting against the wall. After only a minute, Alex turned her head slightly to see Matt staring at her. She surprised herself in that she�d felt him approach. �That was the scene I had been hoping to avoid.� She admitted abruptly. Matt smiled understandingly, walked closer and put his hand on her shoulder. �Breakups are never easy.� He stated sagely. Alex only shrugged; she�d not meant to say anything in regard to what had taken place. �How are you feeling?� She asked, changing the subject. When Matt looked at her curiously, �Jericho told me.� she answered. Matt rolled his eyes, �He�s got a big mouth.� Matt groaned. Alex placed her hand on his arm, squeezing slightly, �Friends worry, that what friends do.� She explained smiling. �Doc said I�d be okay. But they�re not letting me in the ring until �live�.� He explained. �Good.� She stated happily, reaching up to touch his cheek. �You and Jeff take too many chances in the ring as it is.� �You okay . . .oh sorry . . .� Chris rambled as he walked up, stopping short, �Didn�t mean to interrupt.� �No biggie.� Alex answered, patting Matt�s cheek. �Just fussing at Matt for taking chances in the ring.� She explained smiling. Chris only smiled slightly. Ever the southern gentleman, Matt held out his arm to her. Alex smiled slightly and took his arm as they all turned to walk her down the hall to 'Taker�s dressing room. Just before reaching the door Alex pulled on Matt�s arm to make him stop, and when he did she pulled him to her and hugged him tightly. "Thank you.� She whispered. Matt wrapped his arms around her, hugging her back, lifting her off the ground making her giggle, �Anytime.� He whispered back. As he let her go, Alex tried to decipher the emotions she suddenly felt. She coun�t decipher them completely or who they were coming from. Matt and Chris left her at the door and Alex braced herself before she walked in. When she did all eyes turned to her and she felt pinned. �Before you even ask . . .I�m okay. That was bound to happen sooner or later.� She stated. Kane walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. ~How were your days off? he asked changing the subject. �Busy.� She answered selecting a word that wasn�t a blatant lie. Then felt physically ill for not being able to tell him the whole truth. She walked away from Kane and over to the table in the room. She somehow felt uncomfortable at Kane�s touch. ~Alex? She heard in her head. She was momentarily still, she recognized it as 'Taker, but he usually didn�t communicate with her this way. She closed her eyes to concentrate and was able to block the connection after a moment. She gripped the table, hoping no one noticed, the pain of blocking him was always painful, but now even more so. Alex then avoided any direct contact or conversation with 'Taker as she felt him watching her as she moved around the room. During the past couple of days she replayed that night in her head a thousand times. Alex still couldn�t believe that she�d struck him or that he was even still speaking to her much less defending her. She hated not being able to talk to him, but she couldn�t bring herself to say anything to him. LaShana, Leah, RIP and Alex made idle chatter about their time off. Alex stayed fairly quiet most of the night. Toward the end of the night LaShana pulled Alex aside. �That couldn�t have been easy for you.� She mentioned, hoping Alex would take the initative and talk to her. Alex made a face rolling her eyes and shrugged, �It was bound to happen sooner or later. Now maybe everyone can relax a bit.� She stated poignantly as she walked away. Alex bit back the tears, ignoring the hurt and shock she felt from her sister. |
| Part XI |