"Allen, I don't know if you've realized it or not but Crystal is literally the EXACT opposite of you. The girl wears more bling than Carmella on a fancy night, on the average day" Karl sighed peaking my interest as I happened to be walking past their locker room on the way to my own. "I appreciate you guys caring, but isn't there that opposites attract bullshit?" AJ's voice sounded almost immediately afterwards "I'm with Karl man, I just don't see what you see in her" Gallows piped up, I really shouldn't be listening but I was kind of intrigued, shaking that from my head I walked off, I needed to get my head on straight for my segment with Charlotte tonight. This was it, if we nailed this segment it was easy breezy until No Way Out where I would get my first chance at a title. "Hey! Crystal, did you just walk by the locker room?" AJ asked jogging to my side making me blush a little bit "Yeah, why?" I asked playing it off casual not wanting him to know that I had started to eavesdrop. "Did you by any chance hear anything?" he asked chewing on his lower lip nervously. Smirking I reached up and pulled the skin from between his teeth "No, I'm sorry, did you call for me?" I asked playing it off "My head is so wrapped up in this shot I'm getting I've been so out of it" I stated honestly, I just wasn't wrapped up at that exact moment. "Oh no, I just...Luke and Karl were saying some stuff. I didn't want you to have heard right before your big night" he shrugged making me arch an eyebrow "No, it's cool. People say shit about me all the time." I shrugged patting his shoulder before I moved past him and continued into my locker room his footsteps almost right behind me. "I don't want you to be upset you know? They're my friends and I want ya'll to get along" he sighed leaning against the wall as I dug through my bag and pulled out my makeup to touch it up. "I'm fine AJ. I promise. We're cool" I assured pausing to look at him until he nodded slowly. "Well, we're going out after the show...you should come with get to know them a little better." He prodded moving forward to wrap his arms around me. "And it can be a title celebration" he added making me laugh "Who says I'm even going to win?" I asked pulling away from him to remove my cardigan before I moved into the bathroom to the mirror.
"I say you're going to win. You are more talented than any other woman on this roster" he smirked wrapping his arms around my hips from behind and pulling me into his chest. "Mmm I love that you have such faith in me" I smirked touching up my hair and makeup before I turned to face him again. "Baby I will walk to the ends of the Earth cheering you on." He grinned making me smile "How did I get so lucky to have such a perfect Southern Gentleman" I asked softly "That ass" he shrugged seriously making my jaw drop "I'm kidding Crystal. I kind of like your face too" he shrugged laughing as I smacked his chest "I see how it is, just want me for the goods" I shrugged unzipping my dress and letting it fall to the floor revealing my nearly naked backside to the man. "Jesus Christ, I've been blessed with a god damn angel" he groaned following me into the main area where I began wiggling into my ring gear. "You're such a dork" I laughed spinning around to press a sweet kiss to his lips "oh, we didn't mean to interrupt" Karl's voice sounded revealing him and Luke standing in the doorway "Don't worry about it, come on in" I offered quickly pulling on my ring top and a t-shirt as both men walked into my locker room. "We just wanted to wish you good luck" Luke mumbled, my eyes widening at the words from the big man "Wow, thank you. I really appreciate that" I said honestly as I sat down to tie up my boots "AJ, we need you for an interview" Renee called through the door "If I'm not back by your match good luck and I'll be cheering you on" AJ said quickly before heading out the door leaving me alone with Karl and Luke who looked awkward at being alone with me. "Thank you" I said softly lacing up my boots and getting to my feet. "You don't have to thank us?" Karl stated "Yes I do, I know you guys don't like me, you don't like that AJ and I are together. So the fact that you still came to wish me good luck means a lot." I stated honestly "It's not that we don't like you Crystal, you seem like a really cool chick" Karl started fading off "It's just you're…different than AJ's past girlfriends and we worry about him" Luke finished making me smile softly "I love that you guys care for each other so much, but maybe me being so different from his previous relationships is a good thing seeing as they didn't work out" I shrugged "I don't want to cause problems or anything but I do really like AJ and I really want us to work out. You may not believe me and you may not think I'm good for him, but I love him and even if you don't approve I'm going to give him my best" I shrugged "I'll see you guys at the club after the show." I added softly patting Karl's shoulder as I walked past to head to the curtain for my match.
"THERE SHE IS!" AJ shouted as I walked out of the arena, my newly won Women's Championship belt hanging around the strap of my duffle bag. "Congratulations sexy" he murmured pulling me into a kiss before pulling me away and shoving me towards Luke and Karl "Congrats Crystal. That was a hell of a match" Karl smiled giving me a one armed hug "You did great kid. I was impressed. It's not often someone can win a two on one match like that" Luke added making me laugh "I did feel kind of bad about kicking Ric" I admitted shrugging slightly as I was ushered into the back seat with Karl. "Sweetheart if he didn't want to end up on the wrong side of you he shouldn't have gotten involved." AJ offered up "Don't feel bad, it's a casualty of sticking his nose where it doesn't belong" he assured sending me a wink in the mirror. "Thanks AJ" I blushed slightly taking the hand Karl offered to help me out as we pulled to a stop outside of the club across from the hotel. "Thank you" I whispered sending him a small smile before accepting the hand AJ was holding out for me "tonight is going to be good" he murmured squeezing my hand, his mood almost infectious as I couldn't help but smile brightly in return. "I'm glad I met you AJ" I stated allowing him to lead us over to a booth in the back corner before he went to grab drinks. "Maybe we were wrong about you Crystal. You make him smile and happy and that's all we want for him" Karl admitted sending me a genuine smile "He makes me happy, and I give you full permission to kick my ass if I ever jeopardize our relationship." I stated seriously accepting the hug from Luke who was closest to me. "Deal" Karl laughed holding out a hand for a fist bump. "No one is yelling or fighting this is a good sign" AJ grinned passing out drinks before wrapping an arm around me. "I think we'll be fine to be left unsupervised Dad" I teased pressing my lips to his cheek before the conversation and drinks started flowing heavily.