Welcome to the Masquerade

Taryn Terrell better known as WWE's Tiffany and her long time friend Mia Moore had known each other since freshman year in college. Both girls had gone to the University of New Orleans and were cheerleaders together. Mia was always a wrestling fan growing up and when they saw the Diva search they both sent in applications and eventually got asked to come to one of the large try outs.

Mia however was unable to go because of her job and was thrilled when Taryn was one of the final girls and later despite being cut got signed to a developmental contract. The two remained close despite both being incredibly busy. Mia had graduated with a double degree in marketing and creative writing and had gotten a job with a marketing agency and was doing well enough that when the company opened up a new branch in Tampa, Florida she was the first choice for one of the openings.

She was beyond thrilled because not only was it a huge opportunity but she would finally get to spend more time with Taryn and get to know her fiancée Drew better. She was also looking forward to getting to meet some of her new friends and hopefully making some new friends herself.

Mia had found the perfect place and had go to Tampa and signed her lease and had been in the process of packing everything up to make her move to and she was getting more and more excited but nervous. She knew it would be an adventure and now she would be able to see Taryn when she wasn't on the road so she knew it would be fun if nothing else. The day finally came when she was leaving her small little apartment in New Orleans and headed to a new adventure in Tampa. The company she worked for would be paying for the rent and she would be left with utilities and anything else since they were relocating her.

All her things were on a truck on their way and were scheduled to get there the next day. Once to the airport she got on her flight with no issues and was on her way but it didn't really hit her until she landed and was waiting for her bags. So many things were going through her head as she watched the luggage go by until she saw hers and grabbed it off the belt and turned checking her phone and looked up seeing her always bubbly friend running over to her with her much taller fiancée tailing behind her laughing a bit.

"You're finally here! Girl we have so much to catch up on and the shopping here is incredible plus I have to introduce you to all the girls and guys and you have to see everything!" Taryn exclaimed hugging Mia she laughed hugging her back.

"Well come on! Of course and us shopping and on the loose I don't think Tampa is ready for these two crazy blondes!" Mia laughed slipping her phone in her purse and the two turned looking at Drew.

He smiled at Taryn and then turned to her friend "I can already tell this is going to be like nothing I've seen before. I've heard all about the two of you. It's good to see you again Mia." His accent wasn't as thick as it was on screen but she still loved it and she could see why Taryn had fallen hard for him.

"Yeah now maybe I'll get to see more then you beating the crap outta guys on a weekly basis and yelling Teddy!" Mia laughed as he shook his head and offered to help her with her bags.

The two were talking the entire way to Taryn and Drew's apartment where she would be staying since none of her things would be arriving until the next day. Taryn had planned to go on out and had told her it would be kind of a double date and had only told her that the guy was a friend of theirs.

"Do I really have to go out tonight? I just landed I probably look like some wild woman who's going to snap at any moment and you want to subject a friend of yours to this?" Mia laughed falling backwards onto the guest bed.

"Uh yes! You have got to be hungry and he is really a nice guy and you look fine girl. Just clean up some and put something cute on nothing too fancy and I promise not to keep you out all night." Taryn laughed falling back beside her.

Mia sat up before grabbing her bag that had her makeup and a hair brush and started to undo the braid she had her hair in. She always got annoyed by her hair getting caught in the seat and going all over when she was traveling so she always braided it. Plus when she took it down it would look nice.

The two girls started doing their makeup, cracking jokes along the way and talking about everything from when they were in college together to what new song they were addicted to. Once they were done Taryn got dressed in a cute pink dress and black heels as Mia looked through her bag really not sure what to wear.

"I have no idea what to even wear! Then again that's nothing new but I want to look nice but not like I was really trying hard to." Mia laughed and the two girls laughed going through her bag until she realized one of her bags was still in the front room by the door.

Not really worrying that her hair was pulled up on top of her head and she was in a tank top and shorts she walked out and headed over grabbing her bag before turning not realizing someone was coming around the corner. She ran right into the much, much larger man and stumbled. She thought it was Drew until she looked up seeing that it wasn't.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there. You must be Taryn's friend, I'm Stephen." The tall red haired man said with a slight smile.

She knew as soon as she looked up that it was Sheamus. She was however surprised by just how big he was in person. Now Mia was no small girl she was 5'8 and she worked out but she felt like an ant next to him. She realized she was just staring and snapped out of her thoughts.

"Yeah that would be me nice to meet you, I'm Mia. I guess I'll be seeing you a little bit so I need to go finish getting ready." She smiled before taking off into the guest room and closing the door.

"He's massive! You could have warned me that the friend was Sheamus. I felt like a peanut next to him and my first impression was running head first into his chest looking like some crazy woman." she looked at her friend before opening up the bag.

"Hey, Stephen is a sweetheart, yes a giant but he's a nice guy and he's Drew's best friend so what better way to welcome you then have best friends go out with best friends." She laughed looking at Mia who was now obviously nervous as she dug through her bag.

"What about this? It's simple but it's cute and it everything in place without too much boob." Mia laughed as she held up a bright blue halter dress with some sequins along the neckline.

"That's perfect! Remind me to borrow that sometime." Taryn laughed looking at her.

Mia changed and took her hair down flipping it over and brushing it out one last time before grabbing her favorite pair of strappy black heels and her purse. Her final touch was a little of her favorite perfume and a couple fun silver bangle bracelets.

"Do I look ok? Not too much or over the top right?" She looked up at Taryn who gave her questioning look and a slight grin.

"Don't give me that look. I know that look that's the look you give me every time you think I have a thing for someone." Mia shook her head knowing this would be trouble.

"Me? Think that? NEVER, but do you?" She laughed knowing that the only time Mia got nervous was when she had a thing for the guy.

"I don't even know him. All I know is Sheamus, not Stephen. All I really know is who I watch nailing guys with steel pipes and kicking their heads off. " She shook her head with a laugh before turning and walking out of the room seeing the two guys ready to go sitting watching TV.

They were talking about something but she didn't catch what it was. When they saw the two of them they stood up and Mia noticed Stephen give Drew a look and the two men laughed a bit. Taryn and Mia looked at each other and rolled their eyes not having to say anything to know they were thinking the same thing.

"You two ready? I thought we were going to starve waiting for you to finish." Drew laughed before giving Taryn a quick kiss as Stephen and Mia smiled at each other before the four headed out.

Casey Camden sat back after her last client had gathered their things and left. She had been working as a massage therapist for a few years now after he moved back to Tampa full time. Her mother was British and growing up she spent a lot of time there when she wasn't in school. She was 23 now and loved living in Tampa, Florida. She had a place of her own and had two jobs she loved and was living a happy single life. She worked a 9-5 day job as a massage therapist and at night was a bar tender at a club called Skye. It was a Coyote Ugly type place and she loved it. She sat back on the table with her back against the wall with her eyes closed thinking about everything that had lead up to where she was today when one of co-workers Ronnie popped his head in.

"Hey Mike said we're free to go as long as everything's cleaned up and in place." Ronnie smiled looking at the about 5'6 girl with brown hair that had purple streaks in it.

"About time I'm ready to get out of here." She said with an evident accent from being around her mother who was British she had picked it up from her and her time there.

"Hey I was wondering if you would be interested in maybe getting something to eat." He looked at her clearly hoping she would say yes.

"Ronnie, I really can't I've got to get home and finish a few things up and get ready before I head to Skye." Casey said as she grabbed her purse and flipped the lights off before waving buy to the rest of the office.

Once in the parking lot and in her car she sat back. She hated doing that but she had been hurt a few too many times and she had walls up so going out with a guy was the last thing on her mind. She was however curious about whom the new neighbor was that would be moving in. She heard it was a young girl around her age. She was happy about that but she just hoped she wasn't bitchy or having different guys coming in and out of her apartment at all hours of the day.

As she drove home she had her windows down and turned the stereo up loving the warm Florida weather. There was nothing like it and it always helped clear her mind to just put the windows down take it all in. She soon pulled into her parking spot and locked everything up before heading into the building. She noticed a note on the door next to hers saying that the new girls stuff would be there at noon. She shrugged before going in and walking into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water before turning the TV on and kicking her shoes off.

After she ate something and a few hours passed she knew she needed to get ready to go to Skye. She was one of the main girls so she rarely had a night off but it was always fun. She headed into her bathroom and pulled her hair down allowing the purple highlights to be better seen. She stood in front of the mirror doing her makeup and adding more sparkle to it. It was a darker club so she had to play up her makeup so it could be seen.

Once she finished she headed into her room trying to figure out what would be best to wear. She found one of her favorite silver metallic club wear tops that had an open back with small chains crossing from side to side. She found a pair of black shorts zippered pocket and a simple black belt with a large embellished belt buckle. She then had to find shoes that would match and finally picked out a pair of all black boots with studs on them and grabbed her favorite leather cuffs slipping them on.

She walked out slipping her cell phone into her pocket and zipping it shut and grabbed her keys but left the light and TV on. It was a safety thing if someone thought no one was home they would break it but if lights and a TV are going they think someone is home.

The lights blurred around her as she walked inside the bar. A smile on her face, the purple streaks in her hair seeming to light up but still blend in with her hair. Casey sat on the bar, turning and sliding under a co-worker's legs as the girl on the bar danced with two others. Shaking her head she walked to check in, punching her code into the register and pushing a strand of hair out of her face. She sighed and looked around, noticing the crowd. The usual but she noted the wrestlers and divas in the crowd, but her vision flew to the patrons looking for someone to pour their drinks.

"CC!" Her boss yelled at her as a bottle of tequila flew from her hands and Casey caught it in time and started the pouring and taking orders. Across the bar, Mia, Taryn, Drew, and Sheamus walked in carefully. Mia had a hand on Sheamus' bicep, holding slightly, so they wouldn't get separated. A head of short brown hair, half slated to one side of his face surged through the crowd as Sheamus and Drew waved their hands at his face.

Sheamus moved his arm away to grab for the man. The man spun and looked at him with a smile, there was a bit of whispering in each other's ears before another man, tall, black haired and well defined in the face erupted from the crowd. Mia stood close to Taryn and Drew staring at the black haired man, he was eyeing her intently.

"That's Wade Barrett and…the brown haired one is Justin Gabriel, but his real name is Paul. Come on." Taryn said tugging her along and Mia just rolled her eyes at the tug.

"Paul went to get some drinks." Sheamus said as she looked after the one Taryn said was Paul. Wade stepped forward, almost nearly in front of Mia. He had a grin and Sheamus was too busy signing autographs to note what was going on.

"Excuse me!" Paul's voice was like soft honey, a British accent erupting from his lips as he yelled at Casey. Lifting her head she looked at him, her eyes locking onto his as she spun the bottle of vodka back around and placed it carefully behind her on the bar's display of alcohol.

"What do you need?" She asked, biting at her lower lip softly. The idea that his brown eyes were making her melt was making her annoyed at her mind. It had been years since she last had anyone and yet she was finding it hard to stay away immediately allowing herself to actually lean towards him, her cleavage spilling out. But it was a test and this guy was passing it. His eyes stayed on hers as he leaned forward so that she could hear him without shouting.

"I need some shots. I'll take…5 of whatever you want to give me…" He trailed off his eyes searching hers for an answer to his question of her name. She smiled and turned away, her boss throwing 5 shot glasses down as the girl worked to reach for two different bottles.

Paul watched her quietly and admiring her body, when she wasn't looking, but only for a moment. He made a note in his head; he would have to get to know her. He was glad that Drew had called them to meet at the bar. Casey finished her show of mixing the shots quickly, cleanly and efficiently in less than a minute and handed them to him. One of her hands brushed his as she smiled again wider.

"Casey…its Casey." She spoke loud enough for him to hear her accent this time. He grinned at her and nodded leaning a bit closer again.

"I'll be back…" His words again trailed off as he disappeared into the crowd. Casey had a shorter shift tonight but made her way up onto the bar, dancing with one of her co-workers, wasting the time it took for Paul to drop off the drinks at the table where the five people sat. Mia was flirting with Wade and he was flirting back, Sheamus was too shy to say anything, surprisingly and Taryn took note of Paul's departure after leaving the drinks. Drew smirked and shrugged his shoulders at her.

As another song started, Casey continued to dance, but felt a hand on her leg, she looked down and it was a drunken patron, he was now proceeding to drag her down. She reared back her fist ready to punch but instead it was the handsome man from earlier who pushed the man away from her and smiled, allowing her to get back up on the stage and then hopping back behind the bar she finished another set of shots, handing them to another person and found him back in front of her.

"I'm Paul." He said smiling and she reached past him, handing a beer to someone behind him. His words seemed to echo across her skin and float to her ears. She turned her head so she was looking at him, she realized her body was leaning across the bar and she nodded.

"I'd rather not scrape myself on the way back over, so could you help me?" She asked him, still suspended and he nodded, taking her hips into his hands and lifting her carefully up enough so that he could place her on the ground on the other side. She grinned and turned to her boss waving her hands. It was time for her to get off, so as she checked out at the register, she could feel Paul grazing his eyes over her body but not in a perverted way.

"Tell me you aren't leaving." He asked as she slid onto the bar and sat, her legs dangling in front of his body, his arms at his sides as he looked at her.

"Well, I guess I could stay a bit longer." She teased him and he helped her as she jumped down, his hand held out, her right hand taking it and landing easily on her feet. She grinned widely at him, one hand on his shoulder for support as she stared into his eyes. She removed her hands from his body and walked with him as they found a corner to sit in, somewhat away from the noise and crowd.

As the night went on, Paul and Casey talked, moving closer by a few inches and smiling, flirting as the scene was across the bar with Mia and Wade. Sheamus was totally plastered and ready to go by the time the bar was ready to close. Taryn and Drew took him with them as Wade offered Mia a ride home. She accepted, as did a relaxed and smiling Casey from Paul. Paul sent a text message to Wade letting him know he would meet him back at the building.

Wade pulled in and smiled at Mia as she waited for him to park, get out and help her out of the car. Walking up to her door she grinned at him and he smiled down at her.

"It was nice to meet you, Wade. I had a really good time." She was refined and calm but giggling on the inside. Wade smiled softly at her and lifted a hand to her cheek, stroking it before he kissed her lips softly.

"Pleasure was all mine, Ms. Moore." He turned and walked away slowly but spotted Paul's car pulling in and he just shook his head hurrying to get in his car and leave. Paul parked but Casey was already out before he could open the door.

"You know, I was going to get that door for you, Princess." He groaned a bit as she punched his shoulder softly and took the arm he crooked for her, sliding her arm through it and spotting her new neighbor trying to get the keys in the door. Casey stopped him at the steps and smiled. Mia looked down and spotted Paul. Her eyes lit up as she realized that he had disappeared and talked to her all that time. She turned her head back to the keys, ignoring them politely.

"I got to say, it's been a while since I had someone worth letting drive me home, Angel." She cooed back and he grinned softly, leaning down, his arm falling from hers and wrapping around her back. She melted against his chest as he kissed her lips, his tongue slid across but he moved away after a moment of savoring.

"I'll call you. I promise." He whispered and she nodded, standing there and watching him leave. She waved and then as she turned to go back up the steps she heard a door slam and looked behind her. She saw Ronnie coming at her.

"You are such a tease. HOW dare you kiss him? And you won't even go out with me!" He yelled and she stumbled backwards, having turned to face him. Mia hearing this turned and dropped her keys, flying down the steps and standing in front of Casey as Ronnie stopped, his fist aimed at Casey. Mia pulled back her own fist and let it fly, feeling the bones crunch. Ronnie took off instantly. Mia turned and looked at Casey.

"Are you okay?" Mia asked, her hand throbbing a bit as she helped Casey stand. Casey nodded and shook her head trying to center.

"Yea, I just…didn't expect that. I'm Casey Camden. You're my new neighbor right?" She asked her and Mia nodded smiling weakly, following Casey up the steps to her door.

"Yea, I'm Mia Moore. It's nice to meet you." She put her hand out as they each stood in front of their doors and Casey took it. "You work at Skye, don't you?"

"Bartending during the night, massage therapist during the day." She explained as she released her hand and smiled, remembering Paul.

"Would you like to hang out tomorrow?" Mia asked picking up her keys and finally finding the right one and opening her door. Casey nodded after a moment of thought.

"That'd be nice, I'm off tomorrow anyways." She grinned and Mia nodded back waving as Casey pushed open her own door, the keys hanging in her hand.

"Great, see you tomorrow." Mia said as Casey waved and walked in at the same time Mia did. Casey went in, quietly, her eyes filled with tears as she reached for her phone and saw a text from Paul. 'Hope you got inside ok, please let me know.' She grinned softly and wiped at the tears, texting him back quickly. 'Not really but I'll explain tomorrow.' She put her phone on the stand next to her bed and let it charge. She would change out of her clothes, shower and then fall asleep peacefully, unbeknownst to her that the next day she would have a blast from her past.

While Casey got settled in Mia went into her all but empty apartment. The initial plan had been for her to stay with Taryn and Drew but she decided to let them have some alone time plus she wasn't sure when the movers would get there. It was always hard to know with movers so she figured it would be best if he was just already here.

She walked into the empty space hearing her heels click on the wooden floor. She slipped out of them and set down her bags. Wade had taken her by Taryn's place so she could get her two bags and then dropped her off.

As she walked around everything started to sink in. She was in a new city and a new apartment. She was able to start fresh in a lot of ways and she was excited to see how thing would go. It was her first night here and she had met multiple people he loved to watch. Sheamus was a really nice guy but he seemed rather removed and kind of kept to himself.

Mia had tried to talk to him and they talked some but he didn't say much. Wade however was very easy to talk to and had kept her mind busy which she liked not to mention he was a complete gentleman. He had a very unique accent which she loved. She was always a sucker for a man with an accent. His eyes were also a very different shade of blue, almost a grey blue.

She was brought out of her thoughts as her phone started to ring and she laughed knowing it was Taryn. She ran over to her purse and pulled it out and answered as she walked out on the balcony.

"So tell me everything what happened with you two!" Taryn laughed as Mia shook her head.

"He just brought me home and we talked on the way here and he walked me to my door." Mia bit her lip with a grin thinking about the night.

"Come on I can tell you have that smirk you get. Something else happened." She laughed knowing her friend all too well.

"OK fine. Before he left he gave me a quick kiss." Mia giggled looking out over the water.

"Awww! He's a sweet heart but I would have thought you and Stephen would hit it off though so I was kind of surprised." Taryn sat back in her chair.

"He's really nice but he just seemed rather removed and I tried talking to him and he didn't say very much so Wade and I got talking and then Stephen just really didn't say anything else after that." She shrugged not thinking too much about it.

"Yeah well what time should be come over to help with moving you in?" Taryn asked curious.

"Uh the mover left a note saying around noon so around then is good." Mia laughed hearing Drew sigh in relief.

After the two girls said they byes and hung up Mia turn around going inside realizing it was getting late and she needed some sleep. All she had was a sofa and fan and the place was silent otherwise. She sat her phone on the floor and changed and washed her face and heard it going off again. She rushed over picking it up seeing she had a new voicemail.

"It's Stu, I just wanted to call and say I had a good time and I'm glad we got to talk. I checked and I can come and help Drew and Taryn move you in. Hope you have a good night. See you tomorrow darling."

Mia couldn't help but smile as she laid back thinking about things. She knew things were getting exciting for her but she had no clue how true that would be.

And for our first chapter…we are yet again back and in session. Our brains have formulated a new story. We will work on the other one soon. Please REVIEW!

Much love,

Animus Patronus + M.