Don't Look Now
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I only own Olivia and Robbie, in this chapter :o) This never happened, and it probably never will…though a girl can dream ;o)
"Alright. Is everyone ready? The show starts in less than fifteen minutes," Olivia Adams spoke on the headset.
"Hey Liv, what do you think? Should I go out there wearing the jacket? Or should I just stick with no jacket and keep the vest?" Mike Mizanin asked the Senior Television Advisor for the Smackdown roster. She was the one the talent really preferred to work with. She was focused and hard-working, while also being fairly easygoing and approachable. She did her best to make the whole atmosphere comfortable.
"I say you should ditch the jacket. I think that you look really good without it," she finally replied, after contemplating her answer to his question for a couple of moments.
He gave her a smirk. "That's what I thought, too. Thanks, babe. I know I can always rely on you."
She winked at him, before being pulled aside by one of the backstage hands that she was in charge of. "Liv, I can't find Wade Barrett's new kneepads anywhere here. We got them earlier today, and…I just…I don't know…where they went," Robbie spoke, his voice slightly shaky. He was one of the newer guys on the job, and he tended to think that his job was always in jeopardy, even over the smaller problems, when it really wasn't.
"I'm pretty sure he has them already," she replied, her voice calm. "But don't worry about it. I'll check with him. You just take a seat for a few moments, breathe, and relax. It'll all be okay," she tried calming him down, though he still seemed on edge. Liv made her way down one of the many hallways, turning at one particular corner and finding the room she was look for. Liv knocked on the locker room door with that had gold plate reading the name 'Wade Barrett'.
The door quickly opened. The man known to the world as the former leader of one of the most hated WWE stables, the Nexus, hovered above the unintimidated woman. A kind smile formed on his face. "Hello there. How can I help you?" he sweetly greeted.
"Hi. I'm Liv. I'm the Senior Television Advisor for Smackdown. One of my employees is having a complete meltdown because he thinks that your new kneepads are lost. Did you by any chance get a hold of them already?" she asked, while introducing herself to the WWE Superstar.
"Well, Liv, it's very nice to meet you. I'm Stu Bennett," he introduced himself. "You can tell your employee to relax. I have them already," he replied, giving her a nod and grin.
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much, Stu." Liv pushed a button on her headset. "Robbie, he has them already. So, no need to worry." She let go of the button. "He's one of my newer guys, so he's paranoid that he's going to get fired," she told him.
He laughed. "Oh, well, there's no need for him to be paranoid or anything, especially when it seems to me that his boss is more of a sweetheart than a hardass," he replied.
Liv smiled. "I save being a hardass for only when it's really necessary," she explained. "Then again, I do love those rare moments when I get to be a complete and utter bitch." She laughed after her comment. "This is your first night here on Smackdown, isn't it?"
Stu nodded. "Yes, it's my first official night on the Smackdown roster," he replied.
"Are you excited about it?" she asked, showing legitimate interest in what he had to say.
"Absolutely. I feel like the new guy again, but this time everyone already knows who I am," he told her.
"Well, everyone here is pretty great. But if anyone gives you any problems, just let me know."
"That's very kind of you."
"I mean, I know you can take care of yourself, but if I have to slip a laxative in someone's water or coffee…well, I'm not above doing it," she told him with a smirk and a wink.
Stu laughed. "I barely know you, but I like you already," he said. He truly liked this woman. She seemed sweet and very down to earth. Not to mention, she was drop dead gorgeous.
"Well, it's mutual. I've seen you on Raw, and I know you've visited Smackdown. You're very talents, and we're very lucky to have you here," she said, genuinely meaning it.
"Thank you. I hope we can become friends. You seem like a really good person."
Liv smiled widely. "That's very kind of you. I hope that we can be friends, too."
"Well, if you happen to find yourself not busy at any point in time, you're more than welcome to hang out with me," he offered.
"Thanks. I'll probably be running around like a crazy person, but I do hope to see you around, Stu," she sweetly said, backing away slowly, as she had to get back to where she preferred to remain during the tapings.
"I hope so, too, Liv."
She gave him a final smile, before turning and making her way back to her original location.
"Thank you so much, Liv," Robbie gratefully gushed, as soon as he caught sight of his boss.
"Oh, don't even worry about it, Robbie. There's usually no need to stress yourself out because everyone's usually going to be okay," she explained, giving him a gentle pat on the arm.
He nodded.
"Hey Liv, what do you think? Should I go to the pink gear tonight? Or should I wear the baby blue gear?" Barbie Blank asked, walking over to the well-liked woman, holding both of her options.
"You know I love the pink," she replied with a smile.
"Me, too," she argued. "You're the best."
Liv shrugged. "I try." She felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind, though she knew who it was.
"I wish you would come to Raw," Mike spoke softly, resting his chin on her shoulder.
She looked over at him. "Aw, my dear. I'm sorry, but you do have Laurel. She's awesome."
"Okay, first of all, I know awesome, and there's no advisor awesomer than you. Second of all, you're hotter than she is."
She rolled her eyes. "You're such an idiot when you want to be, Michael," she commented with a smirk.
"But you love me anyway."
"Sometimes."
Mike let go of her, and she turned to face him. "This is why I love visiting Smackdown."
"Why?"
"My bestest friend in the whole entire world is here…and that would be you, if you weren't sure."
She shook her head. "Sweet talker," she quipped.
"You know you love it."
"You're on in three minutes. Now, zip those pretty little lips and get ready," she instructed him.
"At least you think they're pretty."
"Oh yes. Me and the Mizfits," she retorted with a smirk. "Meaning me and Kev," she said, grabbing onto Kevin Kiley's arm.
"Hey Liv," he greeted.
"Hey Kev."
"You're looking as beautiful as ever," he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Why thank you."
Kevin smiled. "How are you?"
"Good. Working hard, as always."
"You're the hardest worker I know."
She smiled. "Aw. You're so good with the compliments."
"I do try."
"Having fun on Raw?"
"You know it."
"You look good out there."
"Are you hitting on me?" Kevin joked.
"Why would she hit on you, when she knows she can be hitting on me?" Mike protested.
"Because I'm a lot better looking than you," he matter of factly replied, while smirking.
Mike laughed. "Oh really? Really?"
"Yeah, really," Kevin spoke.
"Really?" Mike continued, in character.
"Okay, boys. There's no need to fight over me," Liv interrupted the two men in front of her. "I love you both very much. But as much as I'd love to stand here with the two of you fighting over me, I need you two to get your asses out to that ring," she instructed.
"Alright. Will you hang out with us after the show tonight?" Mike asked, giving her a cheesy, pleading smile.
"Please?" Kevin backed him up.
Liv laughed. "We'll see about that. I have to finish up with the show, take care of the post-show packing and clean-up. So, it really depends on how all of the goes," she responded.
"Okay. What if I help you tonight?" Mike asked.
"That's not your job. Your job is to keep that face pretty and hold that title," she teased him.
"Are you mocking me, Miss Adams?" he asked, placing a hand to his chest, acting offended.
Liv giggled. "Yes, I am."
"You bitch," he whispered, his voice sounding hurt and offended, as he continued his little act.
She smirked and placed a hand on his chest. "Oh you know how much I love you."
"That's true, I do know that," he agreed. Mike placed a kiss on her cheek. "I'll find you later."
She gave him a wink, as he and Kevin were ushered out to the gorilla, before heading out on the ramp towards the ring. Liv turned around and walked over to Robbie. "Can you do me a favor and make sure that Nick and Vickie are just about ready? They're on in twenty minutes or so."
He eagerly nodded. "Sure." He quickly ran off in the direction of their locker rooms.
Seeing as Liv had everything under control, she took a seat next to the monitor and decided to watch the show for a bit.
Stu was still in his locker room. He thought Smackdown would be a good fit for him. Soon enough PJ and Heath would be joining him, which he was definitely looking forward to.
There was a knock on his door. He opened it. "Well, I'll be. If it isn't Drew Galloway," he spoke with a smile forming on his face.
"Hey Stu. I wanted to stop by and say hello. I heard that you were joining me on Smackdown now, which is really great," the WWE Superstar known as Drew McIntyre greeted his former FCW tag team partner.
The two men hugged. "I'm really happy you're here, mate."
"Have you seem any of the guys here?"
"I haven't really spoken to anyone yet, aside from Liv," he explained.
"Oh, you've met Liv, have you? She's the greatest. She's like everyone's best mate here."
"She's also really beautiful."
Drew laughed. "She definitely is. But you're not gonna get very far if you try for her."
"How would you know? You've gone and got yourself married to Taryn," Stu pointed out.
"That's true, but I know Liv. Plenty of men have tried, but I can promise you none of them have gotten anywhere."
"Really? Why not?" "She doesn't like to mix business with pleasure. And she also doesn't sleep around. And she insists that she doesn't want a relationship or a reputation for being a whore," Drew explained.
"How do you know all of this?"
"Because Taryn is really good friends with her. They still keep in touch, even since Taryn left."
"Oh? That's interesting," Stu thought aloud.
Drew laughed. "Even you couldn't get in her pants, Casanova," he teased with a smirk.
Stu shrugged. "I don't really agree with you there, but I guess we'll just have to see what happens."
"Well, good luck with that," he replied with a nod.
"I guess I'm just ambitious."
"Apparently."
"So, who are you traveling with after the show tonight?" Drew questioned his friend.
"As of right now? No one," he answered.
"Come with me," he invited.
"Are you sure about that? I don't want to cause any problems with anyone else, if you've already got a travel partner," he explained.
"Well, I travel with Jake, but I know he won't mind," his friend confidently replied. "Besides, we have a truck rented, so we've more than enough room for another guy."
"Thanks, mate."
Drew gave a slight nod. "Well, I'm going to get ready for my match tonight. I'll see you later, Stu."
"Thanks for coming by. I'll see you after the show, eh?"
"Definitely." With that, Drew turned and made his way back to his locker room.
Stu closed his locker room door and sat back on the couch. Though his intentions weren't exactly pure, he also had no intention of hurting Liv or anything like that. Stu just had no interest in getting himself involved in a relationship. But if what Drew said was true, Liv didn't either. And considering that he could keep his mouth shut, Stu didn't think there would be a problem with having a non-romantic relationship with her.
A/N: This was the winner of January's Short Story Poll, so here's chapter one :o) I really appreciate everyone who took the time to read all of the choices and vote. It definitely means a lot to me. I have another poll that will be going up shortly, though the stories are being posted one by one. I also want everyone to know that I will be making some of the other choices into full-legnth stories, seeing as everyone really seemed to like more than just this option. Love you guys! I hope you enjoy this! Please, don't hesitate to let me know how you feel. If you have any ideas or suggestions, you're more than welcome to review or PM me :o) Love you all! XoXoXoXoXo