Torrie thought every last bit of drama was done with for the night. She took a hot fifteen minute shower that calmed her nerves considerably, then dressed and returned to the women's locker room.
"Hey." Candice Michelle gave her a small, tentative smile and took small steps toward her. The brunette's face looked kind as she reached over to touch her shoulder. "You okay? I heard all that yelling in the hall a few minutes ago."
The blonde was surprised but grateful as she looked up at the other diva. She sighed.
"Yeah, I'm okay. That was just Michelle threatening my job again."
Candice's perfectly plucked brows drew together in a frown as she sat beside the other woman.
"What?"
The blonde shook her head with disgust.
"You know she's dating the Undertaker, right? Well, ever since they hooked up, whenever something doesn't go her way - at least when it comes to me - she goes running to him." She rolled her eyes. "I really can't stand having to work with her."
"Well, I can't stand having to work with you, either!"
They looked up to see a still enraged Michelle standing in the doorway. In a huff, she slammed the door behind her, causing Torrie to nearly jump out of her skin. Candice and Torrie exchanged shocked glances. Other divas in the room grew silent as they stared at the spectacle. A few opted to leave in small groups so as to avoid any physical scuffle that might erupt.
"You bitch!" the irate blonde shouted as she stood towering over her opponent for the night. "How dare you talk to me the way you did out there! Do you know who you're dealing with? Do you?!"
Torrie sighed tiredly and looked away from the other woman. She waved a hand at her in a dismissive fashion, wanting only to go about her own business.
"I asked you a question!" Michelle shrieked. "And I want - no, I demand an answer!"
The Idaho native bolted to her feet and faced her squarely, her eyes narrowing.
"Yeah, I do know who I'm dealing with! I'm dealing with the former Diva Search contestant who had to spread her legs for a veteran to get anywhere in this company!"
Candice's brown eyes widened in shock as she witnessed what happened next. Michelle suddenly launched herself at Torrie, and the two tumbled to the floor in a blonde heap. Curses flew through the humid air as they hit and clawed at one another.
In a flash, the brunette jumped in to assist. From another portion of the locker room, Mickie James ran in to grab hold of Michelle. The two blondes struggled as they attempted to break free to fight again, but the brunettes refused and amply held them back.
"Enough!" Candice shouted, but it was mostly directed at Michelle. That girl had certainly changed a lot since they'd competed in the first Diva Search together. It was almost frightening to the brunette.
"What the hell is going on here?!" a new female voice yelled from the doorway. Stephanie McMahon stood there, her eyes angry as she absorbed what had just happened. Torrie's heart sank as she realized someone must have run for the boss' daughter. She hoped she wouldn't get into trouble, and certainly not like she had back in December! She couldn't deal with that again.
Stephanie was indignant as she looked both Michelle and Torrie up and down. She might have known it was those two, but the truth was, she didn't like Michelle one bit. Things had been different back during and after the Diva Search she'd been part of, as the brunette had taken a liking to her. In fact, she had been the first to offer and even promise the blonde a job with the WWE. As far as she was concerned now, that had been a mistake.
"You two - my father wants to see you - now!" Stephanie muttered through gritted teeth. She was not the least bit amused by the fact that they'd had a fight.
Candice gave Torrie a look of sympathy, stepping forward as she started to go.
"Stephanie, if I may... Torrie didn't start it. Michelle did."
The other brunette said nothing, but she gave a short nod before following the two blondes out into the hallway.
Torrie practically cowered on the inside as she walked behind Michelle. This was probably the next to last place she wanted to be. What if Vince put her in that hellhole again? After all, when it happened before, she had been in a fight prior to it. And once again, she'd been defending herself, nothing more, nothing less.
She could swear she detected a slight hint of sympathy glimmering in Stephanie's blue eyes as she glanced at her - yet, she couldn't tell for sure. If that was indeed the case, she hoped with all her being that the woman's father would have a heart and go easy on her.
The tall blonde suddenly caught the gaze of Jeff Hardy out of nowhere. The young man was hanging out in a remote corner of the hallway, chatting with an old friend of his, Shannon Moore. His kind, warm green eyes seemed to be silently communicating with her somehow, comforting her. It was as though he was telling her not to worry, because everything would be okay. She only wished she felt as confident as she walked by, casting a glance back at him over her shoulder.
What did I ever do to deserve this? she thought miserably.
Stephanie moved up ahead of the two other woman as they came to Vince's office. She knocked, then opened the door without waiting for a response. She held the door open for them to enter, giving her father a curt nod before trotting off.
Torrie took a seat, her nerves frazzled as she looked into the eyes of her boss. She folded her hands primly in her lap, willing them not to shake. She took a quick glance at Michelle sitting at her right and fought against scowling. It was difficult due to the fact that she was the reason she was here right now.
"Ladies, ladies," Mr. McMahon began, clapping his hands together, "I'm disappointed in you. We can't have our divas brawling in the locker rooms, or out in the hallway. Keep it for the ring."
Neither woman spoke a word. The boss looked each one over, eventually focusing mostly on Michelle.
"You know, it'll do no good to constantly throw your weight around, Miss McCool." Especially when you barely have any, he thought. Who did this girl think she was? "It doesn't matter what you say to Mark. Remember that I am the boss around here."
Torrie stared, transfixed, at the man. If she wasn't feeling so intimidated and worried, she would have smiled. It was especially nice to see the bitchy blonde looking so humbled.
"If I hear of you two fighting again at an arena and it's not inside the ring, I'll suspend you both. That is all - you're free to go."
Michelle practically bolted out the door the moment she stood up. It was obvious she wasn't accustomed to being in trouble with the boss.
As for Torrie, she felt as though a momentous weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She closed her eyes as she left the office, a deep breath slowly exhaling from between her lips. She was startled as she opened her eyes to the realization that someone had sidled up to her.
"Told you there was nothing to worry about." Jeff winked at her. Smiling as he softly touched her shoulder, he stepped away. He offered her a hand in a wave goodbye before continuing back down the hallway.
The blonde stared after him, perplexed as she waved back. She realized at that moment that he wasn't called
"enigma" for nothing.