Pretender

____________________________________________________________

Dawn Marie bit her lip nervously as she wandered down the arena hallway. She desperately hoped she would not run into Test or Sean O'Haire, the two men she preferred to avoid for the time being. Her boyfriend didn't need to be suspicious of her, although, especially as of late, he seemed so oblivious to anything she did. Apparently, that also carried into anyone she did... As for Sean, after their night of passioin, she felt horribly awkward. While the sex had been great and she'd enjoyed and appreciated his company in general, Dawn didn't feel as though she could face him... Not after the way she'd waltzed on out of his hotel room that night.

On the other hand, she shrugged. 'Maybe it didn't bother him all that much,' she told herself. After all, men did that sort of thing all the time - they had one-night stands and used women for sex and then that was it. Why should that time be any different? But she knew she was deluding herself - not only had she seen something in O'Haire's brilliant blue eyes that told her it was more to him than mere sex - she recalled the way he'd looked at her, the way he'd told her she deserved better... The way he'd told her she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on... The mere thought of these things sent shivers up her spine.

The brunette's breath caught in her throat as she finally came upon one of her friends - Lita was sitting on an equipment case, a small smile on her face as she talked with Edge, the tall, handsome blond man standing just over her. The pair definitely were acting chummy, and Dawn knew her best friend was very fond of the Canadian. And damn it, she hated to interrupt, but she hadn't come across Stacy or Trish at all. Besides, Lita was her closest friend of the group.

Surprisingly, the redhead looked up just in time to see her approaching.

"Hey, you," she smiled.

"Hey, Dawn Marie," Edge greeted with one of his trademark grins.

"Hi, guys..." The brunette again bit her lip, her hands wringing in her nervousness. She really did feel badly about intruding on them, but she felt she had no choice. Turning quickly to Edge, she frowned before speaking again. "I'm so sorry to butt in, but... Would you please excuse us? I need to talk to Lita in the worst way..."

The redhead arched a brow as the seriousness and apparent urgency in her best friend's voice.

"Sure, no problem," the blond man said with a nod. "I hope everything's okay."

"Thanks - me too," Dawn said.

Before he left, the tall Canadian turned back to Lita.

"So, I'll meet you at your locker room after the show, all right?"

"Great," the redheaded diva said, managing a smile despite her worry for the other woman. "See you then."

Once Edge was gone, Lita jumped down from the equipment case, her face serious as she eyed the brunette.

"You have a date with him, hmm?"

The redhead nodded.

"Yeah, he's taking me out later... Dawn, what's going on?"

Dawn Marie's face went serious again.

"Not here..." She grabbed hold of Lita's arm and steered her into the nearby locker room they were sharing with Trish and Stacy, the two blondes still missing in action for the time being.

"A lot is going on," the brunette answered after shutting the door behind them. "You will never guess in a million years what happened last night." She shook her head.

"Does it involve a certain lying, cheating bastard named Test?"

Dawn nearly flinched at her friend's words.

"Well, yes - somewhat... I confronted him."

The other diva's hazel eyes widened just a bit.

And then?"

"He denied it, of course... Anyway, we ended up having a fight, and I left. Of course, that was after I attacked him and he shoved me down to the floor... But Lita - something else happened later..." She wrung her hands before her again, her voice quavering slightly. "I ran into Sean O'Haire and talked to him about what was going on..."

Lita arched an eyebrow at this piece of information.

"And... something happened... Somehow, I ended up back at his hotel room with him, and..." She looked up, meeting her best friend's shocked hazel eyes. "...Lita, I slept with him... I slept with Sean..."









Part 12

Back