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Victoria sighed as she retrieved herself a bottle of water in the catering room.
It didn't surprise her, but she'd been most everyone's focus since the previous night after InVasion, after she'd proven herself to be a WWF spy.
Members of the Alliance were hostile, to say the least, whenever they happened to pass her in the arena or hotel hallways alike. Ivory had threatened to beat the crap out of her, and even Torrie Wilson had threatened to pull our every hair on her her for what she'd done to her. The raven-haired diva had merely smirked at the comment, knowing full well the platinum blonde with the silicone-inflated chest had more of a chance of sprouting wings and flying than being able to do that.
Still, she couldn't help that all the jeers and taunts bothered her. It wasn't so much that she'd lost friends, it was more a sense that she felt as though she didn't truly belong. And Victoria felt that way about the Alliance *and* the WWE.
'No,' she told herself, 'that really isn't very fair me of.' After all, she had Kurt. Lita and Edge had been nice to her as well. And then, of course, there was Y2J Chris Jericho.
Thoughts of the handsome, smartass blond man brought a tiny smile to her lips. There was no denying she was attracted to him, and she had a strong feeling it was very mutual. Jericho had been so nice to her, even back in the beginning, while she'd been masquerading as an Alliance member. She wondered if he was dating anyone right now. She wondered...
"Victoria?"
The feminine voice interrupted her reverie, and the muscular diva looked up to see Stacy Keibler standing a few feet away, the leggy blonde looking concerned - and a bit wary and nervous as she glanced quickly up and down the hallway. No doubt, the Alliance diva would be punished if she was caught speaking to a turncoat like her.
"I just wanted to warn you," the tall blonde said in a voice barely above a whisper, "I overheard something... I think Stephanie and Stone Cold have something planned for you."
Victoria arched a brow at this news.
"Oh, they do?" she asked.
Stacy nodded.
"I don't know any details, but... I like you, Victoria... You were so nice to me when you were training Torrie and me, so... Well, I just thought you should know."
The raven-haired diva nodded in appreciation.
"Thank you, Stacy. I really mean that." She'd known the leggy blonde was a good person, and not at all like Torrie Wilson or Stephanie McMahon.
"Well... I'd better scoot."
Victoria dared to reach over and give Stacy's hand a squeeze.
"Thanks again."
The leggy blonde smiled sadly, then continued down the hall.
Sighing, Victoria returned to the WWF divas' locker room. Just about the moment she stepped inside Lita and Trish Stratus were eyeing her with alarm.
"What? What is it?"
"Victoria, you've got to hear this," the redhead said, and the blonde agreed, both women gesturing to her to come around so as to see the TV monitor.
In the center of the ring stood Steve Austin, a mic in the Rattlesnake's hand. He looked none too pleased as he spoke, and then, he spoke *her* name - calling her out so he could 'have words' with her.
So, this was what Stacy had just been warning her about... She swallowed hard but straightened her shoulders and started for the door.
"You're not going *out* there!" Trish exclaimed.
"Yes, I *am*," she replied. Then, without another word, she left. She was going to
meet Stone Cold out in the ring.