Jaylynn pulled her hair up under a
bucket hat that was pulled down low over her ears. She didn't
want anyone to see the bruises on her face. Her dark sunglasses
hid the marks that had formed around her eyes.
Shane parked the car and hit the
trunk release. "Are you sure you don't want me to drive you down
to the entrance?" he asked. Jaylynn shook her head no and exited
the car. She grabbed her gear bag out of habit and then walked
silently next to Shane, her head down in the hopes that none of
the fans would recognize her.
She heard a few whispered murmurs
and a few fans yelling for Shane. As Jaylynn walked past them
she heard a voice say, "I think that's Angel!" Jaylynn flinched,
hoping that no one believed her. She picked up her pace when she
heard voices calling out her name and camera's clicking. Shane
positioned himself so he was blocking the camera's view of her.
Once they were inside the arena's
door, Jaylynn sighed. "Thank you Shane." she whispered and she
could have sworn that Shane turned a tad red in the face. "Do
you want to go to the ladies locker room?" he asked and Jaylynn
nodded.
"ok, but I really don't want you
to leave there without someone with you. I know you won't want
to hear this, but you aren't safe alone. McMahon is here." Shane
told her. Jaylynn felt the now familiar pang in her chest. "He
is?" she squeaked.
"Yes. He was at Raw too. He's been
ordered by Vince to keep away from you, but I don't want to take
any chances. So, promise me you'll keep someone at your side
this entire time." Shane said.
"I promise." Jaylynn agree'd.
***
Jaylynn entered the locker room
and heard a few surprised gasps. "Jaylynn, what are you doing
here?" Amy asked, moving to give her friend a gentle hug.
"I checked myself out of the
hospital this morning to come to the show. Shane drove me."
Jaylynn said. Amy narrowed her eyes and Jaylynn quickly added,
"Helms. Helms is the one that drove me."
Amy relaxed her glare. "How are
you feeling?" Trish asked as she approached with Kali. "Ok.
Sore, but...ok." Jaylynn smiled slightly.
"You know, if you want him killed,
I haven't quite filled my dead body quota this week." Kali
offered. Jaylynn smiled. "No. Thanks, but no. I just wanna
pretend to have a semi-normal life." Jaylynn said.
"Hun, you live in the world of the
WWE...there's not such thing as normal with us." Trish said.
***
Jaylynn walked down the hallway to
the catering area with Trish at her side, bubbling with
conversation. Jaylynn occasionally nodded mutely, listening but
not really hearing. The closer they came to the catering area,
the more she could hear a multitude of loud voices and laughing.
As they entered the room her eyes
widened as the room seemed to be packed with Superstars. "WE'RE
HERE FOR YOU JAYLYNN!" was spelled out on a banner hanging on a
wall.
"What the hell?" Jaylynn asked.
Trish laughed. "This is our way of telling you that we are,
well, here for you...that we support you." She said.
From the back she heard Matt
Hardy's voice yell, "Plus, we get to Party!" Jaylynn smiled.
"Wow! Thanks. I don't know what to say." she said quietly,
hoping that she wouldn't start to cry. She felt their eyes on
her, looking at the bruises on her face. The red mark on her
neck. "Party on." she said, before backing up along a wall,
feeling overwhelmed.
Trish had moved to talk to Helms
and Jaylynn slid along the wall to the doorway. She slipped back
out into the hallway, taking a calming breath. With their eyes
on her, she had felt like a freak on display.
Jaylynn felt a gentle hand rest on
her shoulder and put on a brave smile before turning around. The
smile instantly died on her lips. "Jaylynn, I...I know that
it'll never be enough, but...I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt
you. I lost control. I just wanted to say that I was sorry."
Shane McMahon spoke.
"Shane, leave me alone. Please."
Jaylynn whispered, fighting the growing panic that froze her to
the spot. "Not until you believe me baby, I'm sorry." Shane M.
said.
Before Jaylynn had a chance to
respond, a fist shot out of nowhere, connecting to Shane's jaw.
Shane fell to the ground, surprised by the punch. Jaylynn turned
shocked eyes to Kali, who looked back at her with a grim look.