"Ready to go out?"
"Yeah... I've been waiting on you and Brie," I responded with impatience.
"Oh shut up Lauren. Beauty takes time to perfect."
"I'm still learning, Nikki. Remember, I'm only a newbie. That's why I'm spending time with you veterans." I said while smiling.
"You're lucky we like you, otherwise we wouldn't give a newbie the time of day. And did you just call me old?"
"No Nikki. Jesus, you are such a woman."
"Excuse me! What does that make you then?"
"A young lady."
"As if! Come on. Let's grab Brie and head down because I can't deal with you anymore by myself."
Nikki and I walked out of her hotel room and headed towards Brie and Bryan's down the hall. This was becoming normal for us to go out and enjoy the nightlife of whatever town we were currently in. Obviously it was for Nikki's benefit because she was often alone lately since John was busy being WWE's face of the company. She was becoming more reliant on her sister and I to keep her company and her mind off of her loneliness. Brie wasn't usually prone to going out- she was usually so attached to Bryan's hip. But I guess she could even see the pain in her sister's face as of late.
"Finally! It's about time!" Brie whined as she answered the door.
"Look, you can both shut up," the high maintenance twin exclaimed.
Brie gave me a puzzled look.
"She's just mad because she takes forever to get ready," I answered.
Bryan came to the door and embraced Brie.
"You ladies have fun tonight. Be safe. Call me if you need a ride or anything."
Brie gave Bryan a kiss, and then our night began.
We walked to a bar that was just two blocks away from our hotel.
"Next time you two decide that you want to walk somewhere, TELL me not to wear six inch heels."
"No one told you to wear six inch heels, Nicole," Brie reminded her.
I kept quiet. Nikki has been quite moody lately and Brie knew how to handle her. I was just happy to have friends on the main roster, especially friends that were Divas. I was in developmental for two years before I got called up to the main roster, so it was nice to already have friends in high places. It was also refreshing because I've been known to get along a lot easier with guys than I do with girls.
We walked into the bar and Nikki made a beeline towards a bar stool.
"Oh my God! My feet are killing me!"
Brie and I just smiled at each other in agreement that Nikki was extremely amusing.
We took a second to get settled in then ordered a round of drinks. The Bella's got cocktails, I decided on a beer.
"You're such a dude, Lauren," the lonely twin expressed.
"Are you going to carry me back to the hotel in your six inch heels?"
"Oh! So that's what you've been hiding!? You're a light weight!?"
"Shhh! Stop being so loud Nicole," Brie interrupted.
"Loosen up, Brie. I'm having fun."
I was embarrassed that the whole bar heard Nikki scream that I'm a light weight, but whatever. Nobody even knows who I am yet. I was called up from developmental two months ago, waiting for direction from creative. They were originally planning for me to debut in a storyline feuding with AJ Lee and I'll never forget the night it was supposed to happen. I was backstage, in gorilla, waiting for my cue to head out and attack her. Her match against Kaitlyn was almost over. They just had one more big move to hit, then AJ would go in for the pin and win. She climbed to the top rope, got in position, lost her footing, and landed on the mat the wrong way. The next thing we saw was the ref signaling for the medics. My heart sank. I felt horrible for AJ, but that night was supposed to be my night. Since then, I've been waiting patiently for my next chance. Hoping that there would be another chance…
I snapped back into reality with Nikki shoving a shot in my face.
"Here, drink."
I inhaled the scent to inspect it. "Ohhh hell no. Nikki, you know I don't do tequila."
"Stop being a bitch and just take it."
I reluctantly downed the awful, bitter taste and tried not to throw it all back up. I grabbed my beer to mute the awful after taste and the burning in my throat.
I called over the bartender and requested some rum shots for us. If it was going to be one of those nights, I need it to be on my terms and rum was a much better route than tequila.
As we took our new shots, two guys approached us and offered to buy us another round. We agreed because we were obviously on a mission, or just plain stupid. After three shots and a beer, I was drunk and loosened up. Usually I wasn't such a social butterfly like Nikki, but tonight I impressed her with how outgoing I was being. I was laughing, buying more shots, and just really enjoying my time.
After countless drinks and alcohol consumption, I knew I was done. I needed to go outside and get some fresh air because the liquor started to hit me harder and harder. I walked outside and went right around to the corner of the building. I didn't want to be seen. I just wanted to regroup and try to sober up quickly before I made an ass out of myself in front of Nikki and Brie. I didn't want them to think I was some little girl who couldn't hold my liquor and embarrass them. I was taking a couple of deep breaths when suddenly a man approached me.
"Hey, I came outside to see if you were okay?"
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. Just needed some fresh air. What's your name again," I asked trying to sort through my intoxicated brain for answers.
"My name is Sean, sweetheart. My friend inside is Tom."
"Oh, haha. You guys are super fun! I'm glad we met you two tonight," I said slurring my words. God, I was pretty drunk. Apparently I couldn't even stand up straight because Sean put his hands on my hips. Or I at least assumed that he was trying to help me by putting his hands there... Until suddenly, he went in for a kiss.
I slapped him.
"What the hell," Sean screamed.
"Why did you kiss me? Please get off of me. I don't want this."
"Yes you do." He started moving his hands up and down my back and trying to kiss me. Once I started to try to push him off of me, he got more aggressive and pinned me hard against the brick wall.
"No. Seriously, please stop. Please." I begged, half crying. I was feeling defenseless due to my drunken state. I started hyperventilating, panicking because I knew how this could turn out.
"Dude, get off her. She said stop, so stop."
A muscular, tall man came around the corner. I stared at him feeling like I knew exactly who he was, but there was too much going on right now for me to be able to focus. 'Focus Lauren, this guy could help you, or hurt you even more,' I thought to myself.
"And who the fuck are you? Mind your own business, dick," Sean replied.
I saw the look of disgust draw on the man's face when I recognized him. Thank God. A familiar coworker. A hot coworker. Someone that I've had a crush on for the past two months. I smiled at him and he smiled back for a second. His face suddenly dropped into seriousness as he rushed after Sean.
In an instant, he pulled the guy off of me and punched him square in the nose.
"Jesus, Jon!"
"Now did you get the hint? The lady doesn't want to be bothered," he yelled at Sean who was on the ground holding his nose.
I could see blood seeping from his hands. I looked at Jon, shocked. I started to panic more. I came outside to calm myself down, yet here I am, more anxious out here than I was inside.
Sean got up, still holding his nose with blood pouring everywhere. He walked around the corner towards the entrance of the bar, keeping his distance from the man that spared his life but his eyes steady on him.
"Are you okay," my hero asked turning his attention to me.
My breathing was shallow and fast. Tears started falling from my eyes. I couldn't talk or focus. I just wanted to be out of this situation and not drunk anymore. When Jon noticed that I was upset, he put his arms around me and embraced me in a hug, trying to calm me down.
"Shhh. I know that was scary, but its okay now. I'm here with you. I won't let him come back and try to hurt you again."
"Jon, I know that you are only trying to help, but honestly, I have the biggest crush on you and you're only making my heart rate go higher right now."
That made him chuckle. He backed away with his hands in the air.
"I'm sorry. I could see that you're freaking out and I was just trying to calm you down in any way that I knew how. Would it help if I told you that the feeling is mutual?" He was shyly smirking.
I did a double take looking at him, trying to decide if he was being honest while I was still taking deep breaths.
I smiled at him, "It helps, but still has the same effect. Can you just pretend that I'm not here for five minutes and let me gather my shit?"
He then made it a show to lean on the wall a couple feet away from me, and exaggeratedly pulled out his phone and started playing on it.
It actually made me feel at ease knowing that he was still around in case that guy did come back. But Jon's presence was also making me nervous, in butterflies in my stomach type of way. I continued to breath, and attempted to walk around a little bit.
"How are you doing kid?"
Right in the middle of his question, I fell and busted my ass and started laughing uncontrollably.
"Did you just call me 'kid'?" I shot an inquisitive look his way. "I'm not that much younger than you."
"But you're still younger which is the key word. I usually date older," he answered as he helped me to my feet. He secured me by putting his arm around my waste.
"Is that a deal breaker for you," I asked flirtatiously.
"Not at all darling. It's kind of refreshing, honestly. Plus, I should mention that I was planning on taking you back to your hotel," he gave me a reassuring wink.
"Sure, handsome. I'll let you take me anywhere," I said, half jokingly.