~A huge mall in Kansas City. It was swamped with shoppers who were grabbing some last minute X-Mas gifts. Various Christmas tunes accompanied them. Amongst this group were A.J. Lee and Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn, wearing a big, fuzzy hat, carried two large bags in her arms while A.J. only held one, relatively small bag. She looked rather crestfallen as she sighed deeply to herself.~
A.J. Lee: I thought I was going to be buying a lot more gifts this year.
~Her head snapped sharply to the side~
A.J. Lee: Silly me.
~Kaitlyn bit down on her lip and looked down at her friend.~
Kaitlyn: U-Uh, let's try not to be so down in the dumps, right? You've got a big chance. And congrats on your victory over Eve.
A.J. Lee: ...
Kaitlyn: Um, yeah, if you win your match at the PPV you might get a shot at Maryse.
A.J. Lee: Biteherfaceoff.
~A.J.'s fingers twisted up as she imagined strangling the blond~
Kaitlyn: But you've gotta win this while Christmas Tree match dealy thing first.
A.J. Lee: Oh, I can do that! Just gotta watch out for all those prickly parts. And ornaments. I hope it's covered in popcorn. I could munch on that for stamina while I climb.
Kaitlyn: Mm. I guess that's a sound strategy. What about your opponents?
A.J. Lee: Once again, Kelly Kelly's finisher is shoving her butt in someone's face. And I'm not scared of Hendrix unless she tries to bite my head off with those big ol' chompers of hers. And I have the added motivation of wanting to tear out Maryse's intestine to strangle her with then.
Kaitlyn: ...Uh...
~A.J. smiled sweetly up at Kaitlyn with an expression that didn't match what she had just said.~
Kaitlyn: ...Do...you...want some bubble-tea?
A.J. Lee: YES! I LOVE BUBBLE TEA!
Kaitlyn: OK. Cool. Just...don't go anywhere.
~Kaitlyn had almost wanted to keep A.J. on one of those leash's parents that hate their children used. She slowly turned to the vendor to purchase some bubble tea while making some idle chit-chat. Eventually a mall cop approached her. Kaitlyn checked the name tag to see if it said "Paul Blart." It didn't. She frowned slightly~
Security: Mam? We need some help with your little sister.
Kaitlyn: Little sister? I don't have a little--
A.J. Lee: KAITLYYYYYYYYN!
~Kaitlyn looked up in the direction the voice was coming from. A.J. was at the very top of an enormous brightly lit, Christmas Tree that was positioned in the middle of an ice skating ring. Mall cops were trying to get her own while onlookers stared in confusion.~
Kaitlyn: A.J.?!
A.J. Lee: KAITLYN! LOOK! I climbed all the way up HERE! This is probably TEN TIMES as tall as the tree that's going to be in the match! I can win! No problem!
Kaitlyn: Great! That's really great! Just come down before you electrocute yourself!
A.J. Lee: You think I can win, right?!
Kaitlyn: Yes! I think you can win!
A.J. Lee: And you don't think I'm CRAZY do you?!
~Kaitlyn had to hesitate for a moment on that one.~
Kaitlyn: No! You're not crazy! Just come down! Please!
A.J. Lee: ...Kay!
~A.J. wiggled her way all the way down and once she was close enough to the floor, she dove off and clung onto Kaitlyn's back like a monkey. Kaitlyn whispered to one of the mall cops.~
Kaitlyn: She's not well. I'll take her home.
~Kaitlyn, as quickly as she could, rushed for the nearest exit.~
***
~Now in the parking lot of the mall as snow fell from the evening sky, Kaitlyn leaned against her car while A.J. skipped in a circle around it.~
Kaitlyn: A.J., look, you have really got to try and control yourself.
A.J. Lee: I was practicing for my match! And it was good practice. I don't see the big deal.
Kaitlyn: I guess in some reality that might be true but--
A.J. Lee: Oh! Can we go do karaoke?! "Row, row, row your boat gently down the WATER FALL!" Ha ha!
Kaitlyn: ...You are completely cr--
A.J. Lee: What? I'm WHAT, huh?
~A.J.'s face had become very stern and serious as she glared up at Kaitlyn.~
Kaitlyn: You're my friend and--
~Before Kaitlyn could respond, A.J. pulled back and smacked her rather harshly across her face. Kaitlyn's head twisted to the side. A.J., proud of herself, dusted her hands off and started to skip away. ...Despite the fact that they had driven Kaitlyn's rental car.~
Kaitlyn: Oh, I don't think so!
~A.J. didn't get very far when Kaitlyn reached forward and snagged the tiny Diva by the waist of her pants. She proceeded to hoist A.J. over her head and chuck her straight over the hood of her car. It took a moment to sink in exactly what she did and she slid her hands over her mouth~
Kaitlyn: Omigod! A.J.! I'm so sorry! Are you--
~A.J., hair all snowy and messy, popped up over the opposite side of the hood and hissed. She began to storm off in the snow.~
Kaitlyn: Wait, wait! Please wait! You can't walk back to the hotel in this!
~Kaitlyn was basically chasing after her at this point~
A.J. Lee: YOU THREW ME OVER YOUR CAR!
Kaitlyn: You smacked me like you were my pimp or something! It hurt!
A.J. Lee: I don't deserve to get smacked! Or have my boyfriend cheat on me! Or have some whore insult me every chance she gets!
Kaitlyn: No! You don't! And I'm sorry I almost called you the "c-word"! But you can't mistreat the people that are trying to help you!
~A.J. stopped in her hands and slowly turned around.~
A.J. Lee: I won't smack you again.
Kaitlyn: And I won't gorilla press slam you again.
A.J. Lee: Can we go back to the hotel? I'm going to climb our Christmas tree a few times to get some practice in.
Kaitlyn: ...Sure.
~Kaitlyn led her unbalanced little friend back to the car as the snow falling began to pick up.~