Randy pulled into a parking space outside of a sushi bar we'd visited a few times in this city. We got out and headed into the restaurant where once we were seated and our drinks were ordered, Randy finally broke the comfortable silence between us.

"So. What's been going on with you, kid?" He asked.

I sighed. "I'm just a little frustrated. My boyfriend is an idiot."

Randy bit his lip. "Something I've been trying to tell you for a while now."

I tried for an annoyed look but felt myself fail at it. "Shut up."

"Just being honest," He said, chuckling. "Continue."

"He forgot our anniversary was today and has just generally been a jerk to me lately. I just don't know what to do," I blew out a breath, taking a sip of my drink. "He says it's to do with 'stress' and all of this Nexus nonsense but I just can't bring myself to keep believing that."

Randy snorted, pushing the sushi menu towards me. "I wouldn't believe that if I were you, either little Cena. There's no reason he should be taking that shit out on you, still. If he's got a problem with the business he should deal with it like a man, not put it on your shoulders."

I handed the menu to the waitress as she came back and reclined a bit in my chair. "I agree. I just don't know what to do now. I love him, Randy... but this is getting ridiculous."

Randy frowned. "I know this isn't going to be what you want to hear but you can do seriously better than this guy, Ari."

"I just wish he'd stop," I said, breaking Randy's gaze. "I just want what we had before back without all this crap. Just for us to be normal again."

"You still wanna be with this guy, Arianne?" Randy asked.

I nodded slowly. "As long as he gets himself together. If he can't do that then I don't think I can be with him anymore. I'm not gonna take that."

"Well I'm glad of that," Randy said. "I wanna see you happy, Ari. Plus, I've got your back if you need it."

I smiled. "I know you do. And thank you for that. I really do appreciate it."

"Anyway, enough of this sad stuff," Randy said, waving his hand. "Let's talk about something else."


After lunch, Randy and I headed back to the arena. We walked around the arena for a while before we finally came to a stop outside the women's lockeroom. Standing on tiptoe, I hugged Randy and he kissed the top of my head.

"Thanks for lunch," I smiled. "My treat next time."

"Nah, what kind of gentleman would I be if I let the lady pay?" Randy smiled. "My Mom would have my head."

I laughed. "You're a doll, Orton. I'll see you later?"

"Definitely. You on the show tonight?"

"I don't think so," I shrugged. "But you never know what could happen last minute, right?"

"Always," Randy laughed. "See you later, little Cena."

I hugged Randy once more, kissing his cheek. He headed off and I went into the lockeroom. The only person I spotted inside was Nattie. She was rummaging through her bag and turned around as I walked in, smiling.

"Hey girl," She said. "Paul's been looking for you."

I shrugged. "Let him look. I'm irritated with him today."

"Uh-oh. Is everything okay?"

Nattie was the most genuine girl in the RAW lockeroom. She was always sweet to me and one of the few of the girls I trusted fully. She was a friend, not as close as Liz and I were but I considered her a friend. I sighed as I sat down in a chair near her.

"Not really," I shrugged. "Things have been... weird lately. He's been really distant and kind of a jerk. Today is our anniversary... and he forgot."

Nattie frowned. "I'm sorry, hun. That's ridiculous."

"Tell me about it," I said. "That's what Randy keeps telling me. But I think he's a little biased."

"I don't mean to heap anything else on you or anything," Nattie paused, laughing a little. "But you and Randy... seriously, would be the cutest ever together."

I bit my lip, chuckling because there was only one person I'd ever told about how I felt about Randy when I'd first met him and that was Liz. I shrugged it off and said: "You're crazy, Nat."

"Just a thought," She giggled. "So, aside from boyfriend drama, what's new in your world? I feel like we don't get to talk much."

I smiled, because it really was a shame that Nattie and I didn't talk more. So I told her about all the things that were coming up for me. She returned the favor and I was excited for her to learn that a Diva's championship run was coming up in her future. If any girl on our roster deserved it, it was Nattie. We chatted a while longer before heading down to catering together. I was still full from lunch earlier but agreed to accompany Nattie while she grabbed a snack. Before we reached the room, however, I was approached by Stu Bennett, who was sporting his usual television ready half-scowl. I bid Nattie goodbye with a sigh and crossed my arms, waiting for him to speak.

"Arianne, just the young lady I was hoping to see." He said.

"Really, Stu? Because I can't honestly say the same for you." I said.

He scowled at me before continuing. "I volunteered to be the one to inform you that your entrance into The Nexus is coming a bit earlier than September. It's going to happen just before the Night of Champions pay-per-view. So unfortunately, you'll be without your brother for a little more than a month. Terribly tragic news, I know."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Really. I think I'll manage. Thanks for the heads up."

I started to walk away but Stu called out to me again.

"I just thought I'd let you know, that we do operate a certain way within the Nexus," Stu said and I turned around slowly to face him again. "We're all on the same page, at all times. While it's quite clear by the way both of you are coming off today, that you and Paul are hardly such. I suggest that you two figure it out because the time will be here before you can blink."

I gaped at Stu, anger boiling up in me. "I... I can't even believe you would say that to me. I... am going to pretend that half of the conversation never happened because quite frankly it is none of your business. I have nothing else to say to you, Stu."

With that, I turned on my heel and stormed off. Since when did my personal life become something to be shared among the entirety of my future stable? Or the rest of the lockeroom for that matter, as it seems to have been since the inception of the Nexus. I walked aimlessly until I finally happened to run into my brother. Before he even spoke, he grabbed me up into a huge hug. I squeezed him back. I needed that hug at that very moment. I needed my big brother to be just that and not say a word. Just to squeeze me like he was holding me to the ground and keeping me there. I felt tears start to form and let them fall. I'd felt this building up for weeks and was glad that it was John here to comfort me and not anyone else. Before I knew it, I felt the ground being pulled out from underneath me and we were moving. John had scooped me up in his arms and was carrying me. It wasn't long before I heard a door opening and closing and John sat down on the couch in his lockeroom. I wiggled onto an empty cushion and rested my head on John's shoulder, wiping my face.

"What's wrong, Ari-kid?" John asked quietly.

"Everything is just so messed up, John," I sniffled. "I just want a huge pause button and just to breathe for a minute. It all just seems like everything keeps flooding in at once. "

"What do you mean, kid?"

I sniffled and explained to John everything that had been going on since the Nexus had been formed. Everything that was said to me backstage, every good and bad time I'd had with Paul since it all started. How Liz thought he was jealous of the relationship I had with Randy. What Stu had just said to me. Everything flooded out on waves of angry, frustrated tears. Despite myself, I was nearly sobbing by the time I finished talking. John grabbed me in his massive arms, squeezing me tightly. It didn't matter to me if he didn't have the words to make me feel better, because that bone-crushing hug was enough. Being the youngest and having nothing but brothers came with its perks. Every one of them made me feel safe and loved, even if they couldn't particularly articulate the right words to make it right. I pulled back from John finally, wiping my face again. He sighed heavily, keeping one arm around me.

"I'm sorry, Arianne," He said softly. "I wish there was something more I could do to help you. I know it can't be easy to deal with all that crap."

I sniffled. "It's not. I knew it could happen but I didn't think it'd be like this, Johnny. I just want it all to go back to the way that it was when I was in FCW. When Paul wasn't acting like a jerk and no one cared that we were dating. I wish all this negativity would just disappear."

"Ari... can I ask you something?" John asked cautiously.

"Sure."

"How come you never got with Randy? He's had it bad for you since you turned eighteen," John said nonchalantly. "And you have since you met him."

I pulled out of John's grip and gaped at him. "Are you kidding me!"

"You're... mad?" John asked, a baffled expression on his face.

"No! I'm confused! You would have slaughtered me if I dated Randy three years ago," I blurted. "You were the one who expressly forbid me for going out with him! Or any other wrestlers for that matter!'

"Well see how that turned out." John muttered.

"Oh and I'm going to kill Liz! I can't believe she told you that," I ranted. "And what do you mean Randy's 'had it bad' for me?"

"First, please don't kill my wife, that's not okay. Second, I've known Randy since he got here, alright? He's one of my best friends. We talk. He's told me about it."

I deflated, falling back into the couch cushions. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"I figured you two would have worked that out," John shrugged. "Plus, you've been with Paul for the last year or something."

"Two years," I corrected. "Not that it matters or anything though."

John frowned. "I know it's a big thing, Ari, and I'm sorry that jerk forgot. But... look, as your brother I gotta say. You can do much better than this clown."

I laughed humorlessly. "You're not the first person to say that to me today."

"Really?"

"Randy said the same thing," I sighed. "But now I think it means a little more to him than it does to you."

"It means the world to me to see you happy, Arianne," John said. "Whether it's if you sort things out with Paul or it ends up someone else. I just want you to be absolutely happy. You're my baby sister and that's all I ever want for you."

John ruffled my hair and kissed my forehead. I sighed. "Do you think I should break up with Paul?"

"Ah, I can't tell you that, Ari," John said. "That's a decision you have to make all on your own."

"I know, I just figured I'd ask your opinion." I said.

"I want you to do what feels right for you, kid. If that's what will feel right and what makes you happy then do it," John said firmly. "If sticking it out with him is what's gonna make you happy then do it. As long as you can stand by your choice, do what feels right to you."

I hugged John tightly. "Thanks big brother. I really needed this."


After the event tonight, I headed to the hotel after getting a ride with John. I was half-way through checking into my room when Paul finally caught up with me. I felt a hand on my hip and just about jumped out of my skin at the reception desk and turned to see Paul behind me. I glared at him, taking my room key from the clerk and thanking him. I planned to ignore him and go to my room and relax before bed but he followed me to the elevator. I turned to face him, sighing heavily.

"Do you want something, Paul?" I asked sharply.

"I've been looking for you, love."

"Do you know what today is yet?" I said.

"Why do you keep asking me that, Arianne?" Paul said.

"Because until you can answer me then I don't want to talk to you anymore today," I said, jabbing the 'up' button for the elevator. "If you can forget something like this than I don't even know what to say."

"What in the world are you getting so worked up for," He said, voice rising. "You act as if I've forgotten something so direly important that it's going to upset the balance of the universe if I don't remember!"

"No, it won't, but obviously it's upset me. But you can't be bothered to try and figure it out," The elevator dinged behind me and I stepped on, leaving Paul in the hallway. "Please get your own room tonight. I'm really fed up with you and your crappy attitude today."

The elevator doors closed on Paul's puzzled and angry looking face. I pushed the button for my floor and leaned against the wall. I hated fighting with Paul, because despite how annoyed I felt with him, and how unsavory his attitude had been the last few weeks, I loved him. I had a lot to think about when it came to our relationship, but I still loved him and that was making things hard.

I stepped out of the elevator and unlocked the door to my room. Dropping my bag by the bed, I dropped down onto it, sighing loudly. Before I could get too comfortable there, my phone rang from inside my purse, the ringtone telling me it was Paul. I ignored it and went to the bathroom for a shower. By the time I returned and finally checked my phone, I had seven more missed calls from Paul, three text messages - two from him, one from Liz, and a voicemail. I ignored the missed calls and texts from Paul and decided to call Liz, I had a bit of a bone to pick with her.

"Hello!"

"Why in the world did you tell John about Randy!" I blurted out.

"Oh," Liz said. "Bug I'm sorry! We got on the topic of it once, forever ago. I honestly didn't think he'd remember. Why did he say something?"

I explained to Liz what I'd been through today and how the topic of Randy was brought up between John and I. "So he says Randy's 'had it bad' for me since I turned eighteen."

"Well I can't vouch for all that," Liz said. "But I think he likes you more than just a little sister."

"I don't wanna handle this right now, Lizzie," I sighed. "I'm just so frustrated with everything right now and Paul is calling me again! This makes the ninth time he's called me in the last hour after I've told him I don't want to speak to him."

"Ouch, no even talking to him," Liz said. "Is it that bad, Ari?"

"Today, yes. I just want everything to go back to normal, Liz."

"Sounds like you've got a heavy decision on your hands sweetheart."

"I know, and it's not a decision that I particularly want to make," I sighed. "Especially since we're really going to be working together in the next few weeks."

"Ari, you've gotta do what's best for you sweetheart. I just want you to make a good decision. Don't sit and take bullshit, Arianne. Seriously." Liz said.

"I know, and I won't. I just have a lot to think about."