Thank you for clicking on this link and taking a minute to read my story. I've had some of these ideas swirling around in my head for a couple of weeks and I decided to get them out. I don't know if I should try and continue this story or not- I DO have a little more written- so PLEASE leave a review/comment and let me know if you're interested in more! I'm really bad with doing a synopsis but basically this will all take place after Extreme Rules and if I can get my ideas out and caught up, it will pretty much follow along with what is happening currently on RAW/Smackdown/PPVs- including the draft and brand split- with my own spin on what happens while the camera aren't rolling. So I guess you can say it's a mixture of reality/AU.
I don't "own" anyone except my own personal character and her friends/family that aren't part of the WWE.
Hope you enjoy!
All she wanted was a hot, fresh, strong cup of coffee and it appeared that there was nobody in sight to help her fulfill her want. Leaning over the counter, she looked around and called out another "hello?" She sighed loudly, blowing some loose hair in the process, and folded her arms across her body.
Carter Kelly was in the lobby of her hotel in Baltimore. She knew it was early, earlier than most people liked to function, but the sign posted next to the register at the small Starbucks kiosk said they were open. She didn't want to take the time to go to the hotel restaurant but it was looking like it may be her only option. She fished her phone from the pocket of her black yoga jacket and sighed again.
"Whatever…" she mumbled and started to turn on her heel to walk away.
"I'm SO sorry!" a high pitched voice squeaked. Carter whipped around to see who the voice belonged to and took in the sight of a petite brown haired young girl with an obviously distressed look on her face. "I've been fighting with one our machines and I'm so sorry I wasn't out here. Can I still help you?"
Carter frowned slightly and stepped back to the countertop. "I just want a venti Americano, please. No sugar, no cream."
"Perfect," the brunette smiled and jumped to making her drink.
Carter leaned her hip against the kiosk and returned her attention back to her iPhone. She fired off a quick tweet: MAJOR case of the Mondays so far. Can only go up from here, right? Followed by a few frazzled face emojis and then switched over to her email.
A minute in to deleting her junk emails for various coupons and discounts to clothing stores and concert pre-sales a text message dropped down from the top of her screen: No need for the tweet. Your face already says it all.
Carter's eyes shot up and searched the lobby. In the corner seated at a tall pub style table was the texter, clad in black soccer pants and a black band tshirt and semi-hiding behind a partition. He grinned at her as she rolled her eyes and fired back her own text: Brush your hair.
"Here's your drink," the brunette piped up. Carter turned to accept it and fish some money from her small ID holder and change purse. She heard an audible laugh as she was searching and knew he had just read her text. The brunette interrupted Carter's thoughts, "please, it's on the house. I'm sorry again for the wait."
Carter smiled. Her first smile so far that morning, "thanks. I hope your day gets better."
"Thank you."
She took the warm cup and turned on her heel to make her way across the lobby.
Seth Rollins stood from his seat as he saw Carter approach and gave her another small smile as she reached out to embrace him in a hug.
"Welcome back," she mumbled in to his chest and pulled back to look at him, "can't believe the cat drug you in last night. I thought I was seeing things when I saw you backstage and that little stupid wink, you jerk."
He chuckled and stepped back. "Nobody knew. Well, mostly nobody knew," he shrugged. "It had to be a total surprise."
"Well it worked. I've never heard you get so many cheers before. I was going to hunt you down last night after the show but I knew people would be all over you…figured I would run in to you today."
Seth nodded, shoving his hands in to the pockets of his soccer style athletic pants. "It was a whirlwind but it was a good whirlwind. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you…"
"No, it's fine," she interrupted. "Storylines, blah blah. No reason for an apology."
"And I'm sorry I didn't get in touch with you after; it was crazy and then I had to get her and I figured you were probably still asleep. I kind of just let you hanging yesterday, I-"
"Seth it's fine, I promise. This is not an instance where I'm going to get mad at you for blowing me off. You had a lot going on."
There was a short silence between them as Carter took a sip of her coffee. He could see the delight on her face as she got her first sip of the hot liquid. He did feel bad about the night before and he had an inkling that her dismissal of his apology was only partial truth, but it would have to be left at that. Throughout his time off the road for his injury, his surgery, and his recovery, Carter had been one of the handfuls of people that stayed in constant contact with him. They had never been especially close before, they didn't even really run in the same cliques; Carter was a backstage reporter and spent most of her time with the divas. With the exception of Dean Ambrose she and Seth didn't share any close friends, but she had suffered the very same injury during her years as a college softball player and her support and ability to empathize with what he was going through had been a huge rock for him.
"Why are you down here so early?" he asked.
"I promised Nattie that I would take her to a barre class and the only one we had time for today is at 7. I'm supposed to be meeting her there and then I have a meeting with Carano and Stephanie," she crinkled her nose at the mention of their names.
"Well you should get to it. I just wanted to be sure I got to give you a proper hello."
"Headed to Crossfit?"
"Always," he winked at her. "I needed some coffee too, though."
Carter nodded, "well I know I'll see you at the arena later. I need to jet so Nattie doesn't get all worked up about where I am." She paused for a moment and cocked her head to the side slightly, her lips form a small smirk, "I'm glad you're back, skunky."
"The blonde is gone. I'm not skunky anymore."
"You'll always be skunky."
Seth rolled his eyes and waved his hand in a dismissal, "go. Be on your way."
Carter laughed out loud and she walked off from him, sliding sunglasses down from her head as she stepped through the glass doors and on to the sidewalk.
Seth watched her leave and shook his head, letting a small smirk form on his lips. It had crossed his mind a few times as to how their long distance, mostly mobile, friendship would translate once he made his return to the main roster. They'd only seen each other a few brief times over the past months, even at Wrestlemania he had made himself scarce. It seemed like it was going to be fine, though, and he was happy with that.
Aside from being a backstage reporter, Carter also handled most of the social media that ran prior to and during WWE events. She had just finished posting a video of the New Day demonstrating their dance moves to instagram and Snapchat in a segment she was labeling "WWE's Dance Crew Showdown" and was hoping to hunt down Nattie and Sasha next. She laughed to herself and shook her head turning to head down the hallway to catering.
Rounding the corner she came in to full contact with something very solid and stumbled back slightly. Two hands grabbed her shoulders to steady her and she sucked in her breath when she looked up in to dark brown eyes.
"Steady, Sunshine," Seth commanded.
"Sorry," she muttered. "I wasn't even paying attention. I was trying to be sure this video posted."
"Social media is ruining this world…"
Carter frowned at his teasing grin, "so are kids practicing moonsaults off their kitchen counters but, you know…" She shrugged, cutting her eyes to the ceiling. Seth raised his eye brows, giving her a questioning look. "What? You NEVER jumped off your kitchen counter? Not even once?"
"No…"
"You're a liar. And you still haven't brushed your hair."
It was his turn to frown at her. "I'll have you know, I have. Twice. I'm a dude, I don't know how to do the hair thing."
"We have stylists."
"It's going to be drenched in water in about an hour."
"But….Ok. Anyways, I'm sorry I ran in to you but thank you for saving me from falling. I need to try and find some of the girls and post a few more things before the show starts." Seth stepped to the side and motioned for her to continue on her way. "Have a good show tonight," she stated matter of factly and threw up a small salute before starting on her way.
Seth watched her walk, taking a brief second to admire her legs in the leather leggings and heels she was wearing. He shrugged to himself, cracked a smirk.
"Shit!" Carter exclaimed and spun around quickly. Seth dropped the smirk and cleared his throat as she took the 3 or 4 steps back to him. "I do have some news for you. I got in to work mode and it slipped my mind and I haven't really had anyone else to tell, but….I don't think I have time for all of it right now. But, it's good news…I think so, at least. What are you doing after the show?"
He licked his lips and pursed them together, trying not to smile. The one thing he had forgotten over the course of their budding friendship was how different her energy translated in text messages versus real life. It was refreshing, though borderline annoying, but endearing.
"Going to the hotel and sleeping. I never do anything after the shows."
Carter made a sour face at him. "Really?"
He shrugged, "recover. Refuel. Get some rest. I have to go back to Orlando tomorrow before the house shows; one last check up."
She glanced down at his knee and back at him. "You want to get a drink with me after? Or food? Or a smoothie or whatever? Some kale."
"I eat food, C. You know this, you've eaten with me."
"I know but you're back now; you're Crossfit Jesus."
Seth laughed out loud. "I'm what?"
"Bruh. You don't get on social media much do you? Hashtag Crossfit Jesus has returned. Hashtag Crossfit Jesus saved us. Give it a few days and there will probably be a Crossfit Jesus t-shirt floating around." Becky Lynch came around the corner and Carter reached out to stop her. "One, I need you for a video. Two, tell Seth what his nickname is in the WWE Universe…" Carter motioned at him.
Becky looked at Carter and then at Seth. "Crossfit Jesus."
"Thank you. Meet me in catering?"
Becky nodded and continued on her way. Carter looked at Seth.
"Food after the show will be great. Hashtag I'm walking away now."
She smiled. "Be careful out there."
Carter watched him leave this time and then continued on her way to catering. She spotted Becky Lynch at a table and went to join her.
"Thank you and sorry about that."
"You and Seth are friendly now," Becky stated, her voice dripping with her Irish accent.
"It's a little weird," Carter shrugged. "I know I told you I had kept in touch with him."
"You said you had the same injury he had before."
"Yeah, when I was 20. I just thought it would be good for him to have someone he knew that really understood what he was dealing with. We are friends, we were friends before he got hurt, but I don't know. It seems different now that he's back here."
"I think you're just closer than before so that makes it different. You're more aware of each other now."
Carter uttered a low "mmhmm" and nodded.
"And you're lonely," Becky added.
"No," Carter shook her head. "I don't have a reason to be lonely."
"Carter…" Becky gave her a sweet smile. "I get it. I miss Bayley and Ferg every day. It's okay to have friends around you and miss people and I know you miss the twins. You were inseparable for a long time. Maybe it's good to have someone 'old' as part of your life that can help adjust to the 'new'."
"I still love you though," Carter smiled.
"Of course you do." They both laughed. "Just enjoy the company and don't over think anything. I think it's cute."
"Anyways!" Carter rolled her eyes. "How's the Lasskicker feel about doing an Irish jig for snapchat?"