Gone

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Amy stood by the vanity mirror in the divas' locker room, fixing her hair.

She couldn't help noticing how the other women seemed to be avoiding her. She supposed it was a natural act, as most - if not *all* - of them had been talking about her for the last few days. Well, it didn't matter. She was still the newbie here, so gossip concerning *her* was to be expected, anyway. She wasn't going to allow it to bother her.

"Hey."

The redhead spotted Trish Stratus in the reflection of the mirror, the petite blonde standing right behind her. She turned around, surprised, and met the other woman's eyes.

Trish smiled, attempting to mask the slight unease she felt. Although she hadn't exactly partaken in the typical gossip about Amy and Adam that most of the locker room had engaged in, she had still talked with Jay. Her boyfriend, of course, had known what had happened between his best friend and the redhead years ago. That night, when Trish had been considering Jeff's suspicions about little Mandy, she'd voiced it to Jay - and he'd told her the truth of what Adam had so recently confessed to him.

"We haven't really talked much lately... How have you been?" the blonde asked, a tentativeness in her voice.

The redhead began to shrug a shoulder, the expression on her face staying somewhat stoic.

"I've been actually not bad."

The shorter woman managed a slightly uncertain smile.

"That's good," she said. She bit her lip, debating with herself whether or not to proceed. She really didn't know Amy all that well, as they'd only met a few months past - but at the same time, she considered the redhead a pretty good friend.

"Would it be all right..." she said, deciding to just bite the proverbial bullet, "... if we just talked for a bit? Privately - just us."

Amy gazed into Trish's kind, warm brown eyes, the concern and uneasiness within not at all lost on her. She could see that the little blonde cared, and was feeling insecure as well - most likely about their friendship - probably wondering if there even *was* a friendship anymore.

Finally, the redhead nodded.

"Okay... sure."

They left the locker room together, and Amy thought about the idea of them speaking 'privately.' There was really so much privacy you could get when you spoke with someone out in an arena halway... Especially when said arena was actually jam-packed full of people.

Trish located a deserted room and pushed through the door, her gaze darting back and forth as Amy entered as well. The moment the door closed behind them, a moment of silence hung in the air.

The blonde woman took a deep breath and exhaled.

"I'm not going to stand here and interrogate you like some cold-hearted bitch, Amy..." she began. "I'm just... concerned... You know I'm your friend."

"Yeah... I do," came the response.

"Is it true?" the blonde continued. "About you and Adam, I mean?"

Amy arched an eyebrow at Trish's words. They sounded so prying to her ears.

"I mean... Matt has been saying such horrible things about you both lately... and I don't believe it for a second. I see how you and Adam look at each other - and I know there's something special there."

The redhead softened at the mention of the tall blond man. A farawy look came into her hazel eyes for a moment before she regained her senses and fixed her gaze on Trish.

"I love him," the redhead said. "And yes, the rumors are true - he *is* Mandy's father."

The little blond was not the least phased by the woman's admission. Instead, she offered her a small but warm smile.

"I know... I just wanted you to know that I'm here to support you guys."

Amy felt touched and reached out to grasp Trish's hand.

"Thank you."  
 
 

Part 40

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