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Nora Greenwald sat in the divas' locker room, reading over her script for the night.

A great sense of dismay, followed by a surge of anger, came over her as she read about the match in which she would be participating that night.

"This can't be happening..." she murmured under her breath.

She looked up from the script, her blue eyes scanning the area. There were only a couple of other divas currently present - Dawn Marie, Lisa and Jacqueline.

Lisa was currently going through a garment bag, the older brunette's back toward Molly. However, a moment later, she turned around, and the two women's eyes met.

"What's wrong, Sugar?" The former Tough Enough 2 trainer made her way to the young woman upon detecting the unhappiness on her face.

"Lisa, look at this..." the petite brunette said in a loud whisper as she handed her the papers.

The older woman glanced over the script, her brown eyes hardening as she read over the match description.

"Oh, so it's starting already..." she said in a bitter voice. She shook her head. "Vince is really serious. He's really going through with this crap..."

Nora raised her eyes to meet Lisa's gaze.

"I can't believe this...I have to job out to Stacy in a bra and panties mud match???"

"Look...I know this is going to sound harsh, but...all you can do is deal with it..." the taller brunette spoke softly. She noted the incredulous look the younger woman got in her eye and continued. "You - we - have no choice. It's either go along with Mr. Big Dictator and do all the stupid things he wants us to do and participate in these 'matches' - or give up our principles..."

"But it seems so unfair..."

"That's because it is..." Lisa replied, one eyebrow arched as she eyed her young friend. "But sweetie, which of those two choices do you want to make...?"

Nora shook her head, her blue eyes fixed to the other woman's serious-looking face. Then, feeling the overwhelming need to get out of the room and be by herself for awhile, she strode across the room to the door...

*

Nora rushed through the arena hallway, the horrible feeling overwhelming her. She thought she was going to cry.

She kept on moving until she came to an empty corridor, then allowed herself to give in to the tears.

Nora wept as silently as she could manage, her hands pressed up to her face. Her tears felt hot, and they made her feel even more upset. She'd never expected or wanted this sort of thing to upset her this much.

She hated the way she was feeling - weak. Weak and ineffective, to be exact. Also, she felt as though she had no control over her life - at least where her career was concerned. She needed to be in control, so it disrupted her life immensely.

Finally, she forced herself to stop crying and wiped at her cheeks with her fingertips.

She stepped out of the corridor and started the walk back to the women's locker room. As much as she hated the situation she was in, she knew she had no choice... She would not compromise her principles.

"Nora...Wait!"

She turned at the sound of the masculine voice, a bit startled. She'd thought she'd been the only person in the corridor, but evidently, she'd been mistaken. She hoped no traces of her tears lingered, because she didn't want to have to explain.

"Oh, h-hi, Kurt..."

Kurt Angle neared the little brunette, a look of concern coming over the Olympian's face.

"Are you okay?" the man asked.

Nora eyed the Olympic Gold Medalist warily as she attempted to offer him a smile.

"Yes, I'm fine..." the brunette replied. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, you look like you're upset..." Angle responded. "In fact, if I didn't know better, you look like you've been crying..."

Nora shifted her gaze away from the man's blue eyes at his last word. She bit her lip as she felt fresh tears beginning to well up again. And damn it, she did not want to break down in front of anyone, least of all one of the male superstars.

When the brunette still didn't respond, Kurt nudged her gently.

"Nora?"

"I...I've got to go, Kurt..." the diva said hurriedly, then rushed off away from him down the hallway.

Angle stood there watching after her, a look of great concern on his face.