This chapter feels slightly filler-ish to me, but I had to get it out of the way. The next chapter should be much more interesting!
Jet found it hard to reconcile the immense disappointment and frustration she felt at being injured at such a critical time with the huge bubble of excitement in her at being able to go back to her home away from home. Orlando had become a distant memory over the past few months with barely any time off, and nowhere near enough to warrant going all the way back to Florida just to have to fly out to the other side of the country again. She missed her friends more than she could put into words.
She leaned back against the headrest while she sat in her car, parked in the Performance Centre, just letting the winter sun hit her. It was so cold everywhere else that she'd been for the last month and now she was back in the heat that she'd never quite get used to but still loved. She was half tempted to fall asleep there for a moment and just enjoy the lack of pressure. Jet's eyes closed and she drifted into a comfortable state of thoughtlessness.
Until someone knocked on her window.
Jet's right eye peeked open, glancing out of the glass to see a familiar face pressed right against it, grinning goofily. "You gonna sit in there all day?"
Jet smirked, gathered her things together, and finally stepped out of the car.
"Sami, how's it going?" Jet asked, her smile bright when Sami drew her up in a tight hug.
"Good! How are you? I've been wondering when you'd bring your ass down here. You getting too much of a big shot to hang out with us developmental kids, huh?" he teased.
Jet nudged his shoulder with her palm, scowling playfully. "Big shot or not, I can still kick your ass."
"Sure, sure, we'll see." Sami threw his arm over Jet's shoulders, leading her into the building while she limped slightly. "Everyone will be psyched to see you. Do they know you're coming?"
"Yeah, you've got the honour of my company for a few weeks."
"Oh right, the hamstring. I was watching. Everyone could tell the second it blew."
"Aw, and here was me thinking me and AJ were proper discreet about it," Jet laughed.
"You, discreet? Not a chance," someone scoffed from behind them.
Jet almost jumped in excitement. She span around so fast she nearly made herself dizzy, and dived into the arms of the man standing with a smirk on his face, not caring about the stress it put on her hamstring.
"Yeah, you better hug the shit out of me," he ordered. Jet wrapped her arms as tight around Corey's body as she possibly could.
"You definitely like him more than me," Sami stated, putting on a pout.
"Of course she does," Corey said as he set her back down. "I'm her best friend."
"Nah, she told me she loves me in the parking lot."
Jet snorted. "If I recall, I said I could kick your ass, not that I love you."
"Same thing." Sami waved his hand dismissively.
Jet shook her head but couldn't help grinning. She patted Corey on the butt. "I'll catch up with you later, but Brisco wanted me to check in with him when I got here. You boys up for going out tonight?"
Sami and Corey both nodded. "We'll rally the troops together for Jet Madden's triumphant homecoming."
"Too right."
Jet offered both men an easy wave as she headed for the offices. The meeting with Gerald Brisco was short. The recruiter (the man who had recruited Jet, in fact) just wanted to welcome her back to Orlando and give a basic rundown of what she'd be doing over the next few weeks.
"They've told us you'll be with us for eight weeks, but I know you. You'll have that leg better way before that."
Jet smirked and patted the back of her thigh lightly. "Definitely. I can't sit around for too long, I'll get bored."
Gerald chuckled, nodding along. "I'll let you go. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there waiting to catch up."
"Waiting to harass me more like," Jet laughed.
Corey was waiting on her outside, watching Tyler Breeze work out in the ring with Billy Gunn. Jet dropped down beside him, neither saying anything. Jet leaned against him, just enjoying being back in such a familiar environment with the people she'd trust her life with. She glanced around the Center and couldn't believe how different the atmosphere was in Orlando compared to on the road. There wasn't a single person part of NXT that Jet could honestly say she disliked. There were plenty that she didn't know very well, but every single one of them could have a polite conversation and a safe match. Jet couldn't say the same for some members of the main roster.
"You doing good?" Corey asked quietly, turning to smile softly at Jet.
"Yeah, doing good. Tired and hurt but good."
"You staying at Paige's place while you're here?"
"No, I've still got my apartment."
"Good, you're close enough for me to harass every night then."
"I told Brisco you'd be horrible to me. Sami, come save me!"
A ginger head perked up from across the Center. "Did someone call for a saviour?"
As soon as he was close enough, Jet wrapped her arms around Sami's neck, pulling herself onto his back and beaming at him over his shoulder. "I'm injured, so you're gonna be my assistant for the next few weeks."
"Assistant? More like pack mule. But sure, I can do that. What exactly am I saving you from?"
"Corey's being mean."
The tattooed man put his hands up innocently. "I haven't done anything, she's lying."
"It's not nice to be mean to a cute little kitten, Graves."
"Kitten?" Jet repeated, her brow crooked in amusement while Corey snorted.
"You are a kitten," Sami insisted, tapping Jet's nose with his index finger. "A kitten with claws, but a kitten nonetheless."
"You know you're only getting away with that because you're carrying me around, right?"
"And because you love me?" Sami tested, a sweet smile gracing his face.
Jet sighed dramatically but tickled his ginger beard affectionately. "Sure."
"Come on, mule, we actually have work to do," Corey told Sami, nudging him in the hip with a playful roll of his eyes.
Sami followed dutifully behind Corey, trudging with Jet on his back to the ring to run over some moves. Sami set Jet carefully down in a chair, pulling another one forward for her legs to rest on.
"God, you're milking this injury, huh?"
A sly smile crossed Jet's face as she heard the familiar accent. She tilted her head at the approaching man. "Well if it isn't the Jumping Geordie. Nev-Nev, how's it going?"
Adrian dropped down into the chair beside Jet while Sami and Corey got to work. "Fabulously. Word in the Performance Center is that there's some shenanigans on tonight?"
"Shenanigans?" Jet snorted. "We're just going out for a few drinks as my welcome back to Orlando party. You're coming, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it. Are you hanging around all day?"
Jet shook her head. "Nope, just came in to see Brisco and say hi. I've gotta get things sorted at the apartment so I'll probably head out in a little while."
"Well, you get yourself off home and I'll let people know. Need a hand to the car?"
"Nah, I've got it. The leg's not so bad anyway." Jet dropped her legs off the chair and stood, with only a tiny bit of help from Adrian. "Bye boys!" she called to the two in the ring. Sami paused, giving Corey the opportunity to kick him in the stomach. "Never take your eyes of the prize, Zayn. Shouldn't a seasoned veteran like yourself know that?" Jet teased.
Sami grumbled something under his breath while rubbing his gut. Both of them leaned on the ropes, Corey tapping his cheek. Jet dropped a kiss on it, smiling brightly at them both.
"I'm going home. When you guys are all finished up, give me a call. If Corey doesn't kill you first."
Jet usually prided herself on being one of the sensible ones during nights out. Apparently, after five months of barely having a moment to herself, she took the opportunity to get bladdered without any consequences. She could blame her friends for being the enablers that they always were.
Jet, Corey, Sami, Adrian, and Paige headed out to one of their old haunts to let loose on one of the few nights they had before a show or training.
"Why isn't Em here again?" Jet asked, her voice slurring after her fourth drink.
Paige rolled her eyes. "I've told you this seven times, Juliette. She's not feeling well. Will you please stop asking that now?"
"Maybe," Jet shrugged, reaching for her drink again.
"Go easy there, young 'un," Adrian laughed, plucking the glass from Jet's hand and setting it back down on the table. "Drink some water before you finish that, yeah?"
"Alright, dad."
Corey barked out a laugh and threw his arm around the back of Jet's chair. "Leave her alone, Nev! She doesn't get any time off, let her enjoy it."
"I'm not sure how much she'll enjoy it tomorrow," Sami added.
"You're all so boring. Except Corey, he's fun. But fine, I'll get some water." Jet stood on uneasy legs. "Ooh!" she exclaimed when she felt her balance going completely. Adrian's hand shot out to grab Jet's wrist, keeping her upright. "Whoops! Thanks," she giggled, steadying herself.
The Geordie rolled his eyes playfully, knowing Jet couldn't hold their booze as well as she thought she did. "Careful. If you faceplant the floor, the bosses will know."
"Super careful," Jet nodded seriously, starting to walk again. She heard Corey laughing behind her at how wobbly she looked. "Shut it, Graves."
Corey stood, not wanting to see Jet get herself in too much trouble. "You're a mess," he laughed, taking hold of her waist to make sure she could walk to the bar.
"And you're a very mean man."
"God, you're actually smashed."
Jet shoved Corey and only served to nearly make herself fall over. "You're such an asshole. Quit it, you're meant to be the one sticking up for me."
"Want me to take you home before you embarrass yourself in front of everyone else?"
Jet scowled and grabbed her glass of water with more force than was necessary. "No," she stated firmly. "I want you to go away."
She stalked back to their table, somehow managing to stay upright, while Corey watched with an amused smirk. Adrian looked ready to catch Jet before she was even close to the table. She flopped back down in her seat, taking large gulps of the water then bradishing the glass in Adrian's direction.
"See? Water."
"Well done, I'm very proud," he replied sarcastically.
Jet stuck her tongue out at him as Corey retook his seat beside her.
"What time is it?" Paige asked. Sami pulled his phone from his pocket, glancing at the bright screen.
"2:20."
"Anybody ready to go home?"
Jet shot her friend a thoroughly unimpressed stare. "You're such a Southern softie."
"This isn't a competition, love. Some of us have to work tomorrow," Adrian replied as he stood ready to leave with Paige. He reached across the table to ruffle Jet's hair. She scowled and pulled away.
"Good thing for you, because I'd win if it was a competition. I guess I'm just better at everything than you."
"Except the Red Arrow."
"It's called the Jetstream."
"No, it really isn't."
"Children, children, stop it," Corey ordered.
"Tell him my finisher is better than his," Jet demanded, poking Sami in the ribs.
"They're the same finisher," he replied diplomatically. That fact had caused a little bit of a problem for management when Adrian had arrived the year after Jet, bringing the corkscrew shooting star press with him. They got around it by creating the short-lived tag team of Juliette Madden and Adrian Neville during his first couple of months with NXT. It hadn't lasted long but it had been great fun for both of them.
"No," Jet enunciated, drawing the word out over several syllables, "Mine's better."
"Sure, yours is better."
"Good boy." Jet rewarded Sami with a kiss on the cheek. She scrunched her nose and pulled away quickly. "Your beard tickles."
"Terribly sorry. I'll go shave, shall I?"
Jet looked horrified for a moment. "No, I love the ginger fuzz! It's pretty," she declared, patting the facial hair lightly.
"Okay, someone really should take her home," Sami declared.
"I've got it," Corey offered.
"I don't wanna!"
"Too bad. Come on, get up."
"No," Jet pouted.
Sami sighed and stood up, lifting Jet easily with him. He draped her over one shoulder, then thought better of it in case she threw up down his back. He set Jet back down on her feet, sighing a little when she fluttered her eyelashes and put puppy dog eyes on.
"Don't look at me like that."
"I've got it," Corey repeated, turning Jet away from Sami. "I'm immune to the puppy eyes now. Come on Jet, you need bed."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes."
"Fine."
Sami kissed her cheek quickly, relieved he wouldn't have to deal with that stare anymore during the night. Adrian and Corey took up her sides, making sure she didn't wobble too much. They could all hear Paige from somewhere behind them, laughing at the spectacle.
"I really do hate you all," Jet asserted, pointing her finger at the men and seeming not to notice it shake.
"You'll thank us in the morning, sweetheart. Come on, get moving."
The noise coming from Jet's phone was way too early for her liking. It look her at least five minutes and three separate rings of her phone for her to actually move to answer it. She'd only managed to get to sleep at four in the morning and it was barely nine o'clock. She just shouldn't be awake. Not even looking at the ID on the screen, Jet slid her thumb along it to answer.
"What?"
"Good morning to you too," AJ replied sarcastically.
"It's too early, what do you want?"
"You know you're plastered all over the internet?"
"Huh? What for?" Jet asked, her voice muffled by the pillow she had thrust her head into.
"Gossip. You and Graves are making the dirtsheets." AJ informed her. "I thought you wanna get with Punk?"
"What? I didn't say that!"
"Okay fine, you said he's hot, but same thing."
"There's nothing with me and Corey anyway." It wasn't the first time the two of them had been a suspected couple, considering the amount of time they spent together. They'd both learned to just take the rumours at they came and usually ignore them. Short of one drunken kiss two years ago, there was nothing between them besides friendship.
"I dunno, the pictures make it look like he was all over you last night."
Jet rolled her eyes, ready to assert her innocence, but was cut off by a beep on her phone. She glanced down at the screen. "Hold on, I've got another call trying to come through. Give me a minute."
Jet pulled up the second call and held the phone against her ear again. "Hello?"
"You've answered twice in four days, I'm impressed."
Jet was fully awake immediately, the cold voice sending shockwaves over her. She couldn't even respond, too stunned to know what to say.
"Cat got your tongue, Juliette? What a shame. Almost as much of a shame as you getting injured is. I guess your career's going to go down the toilet now that you're off screen. No one cares if they can't see you. Hell, even people that do see you don't care."
Jet couldn't tell if her heart was beating so fast out of anger or out of fear.
"I told you to leave me alone."
"Yeah, you did. Shame I didn't listen, huh?"
"What do you want? Haven't you taken enough from me already?"
"Want? I want everything, Juliette. And don't you worry, I'll get it. I'll be seeing you."
Kurt hung up right then, leaving Juliette with shaking hands and no air in her lungs. It took him barely three minutes to reduce her to a fearful mess and he wasn't even there. If he could do that over the phone, Jet couldn't fathom what it would feel like to actually see him. The thought horrified her.
I'll be seeing you.
He sounded so sure, like he already knew when. She didn't doubt it – he'd always been good at terrorising her. If Kurt wanted to be seen, she'd see him. The very thought turned her blood to ice.
With shaky fingers Jet went back to her call with AJ.
"Sorry, I've gotta go."
"Huh? What's going on?"
"Nothing, I've just gotta go. I'll talk to you later," Jet said hurriedly, hanging up before AJ could argue. When the call ended, Jet scrolled through her contact list to find the one person she knew she could rely on for any situation.
Corey showed up at Jet's apartment within ten minutes holding a box of chocolate brownies. He knew there was something wrong with Jet, just from her tone on the phone, but he knew not to push too hard.
"You're the greatest," Jet smiled, taking the brownies to the couch.
"Hey, those are shares!"
"Yeah, Jet's sharing them with Jet." It was so much easier to feel carefree when she was with Corey. He knew everything about her and had yet to run away, giving Jet the safety net of believing that she could tell him anything without pushing him away.
Except this, maybe.
She wasn't sure how to bring it with him, not after all this time. She wanted to come right out and say it but she was fearful of his reaction. Through all her mental deliberation, Jet hadn't noticed Corey still talking to her. Her vacancy fixed the issue of how to tell Corey – it made him ask straight out.
"What's up with you? You seem light years away."
Jet looked up, still wringing her wrists subconsciously. "I'm not sure how to tell you."
Corey sat down immediately, his brow furrowed in concern. "Well now I'm worried. You tell me everything. Come on kiddo, what's going on?"
Jet sighed as she leaned against Corey's shoulder, wrapping her arms around his bicep. "Kurt's been calling."
Corey stilled immediately, his breath becoming slow and shallow. Jet could see his hand tighten into a fist. "Give me your phone," he instructed quietly.
"What? Why?"
"I'm gonna call him back. I'm gonna find out where he is then I'm gonna beat his face in like I should have done three years ago."
Jet grabbed tighter onto his arm, preventing her friend from getting up. "Don't. He's not done anything, it's just calls. I'm not having you end up in jail on my account, Graves."
"Juliette, give me your phone."
"It comes up as a no number, you can't call him," Jet told him quickly, seeing the fury burning behind Corey's eyes. "Calm down, there's nothing you can do."
"Calm down? You expect me to calm down after hearing that the guy who sent you here like an abused puppy has been calling you?"
"I won't answer any more. I'll only answer the calls that I know are from you guys. Please don't get yourself into trouble."
Corey was fighting an internal battle with himself. He so desperately wanted to find this bastard and hurt him in the most creative ways he could think of, but he knew Jet would worry about him constantly and he didn't want to put that extra pressure on her.
"One more call and I'm hunting the prick down – deal?"
"Deal," Jet agreed eagerly, relieved she wouldn't have to bail Corey out of jail somewhere. "Thanks for coming over," she added a little softer.
"Don't tell anyone because it'll totally make me seem not cool at all, but I would pretty much jump through fire for you, sweetcheeks. I bought you brownies. I don't buy anyone brownies."
"Wow, I feel very loved."
"So you should. Come on, let's just watch a movie and stuff ourselves with brownies to work off tomorrow, how does that sound?"
Jet smiled sincerely, never more grateful for Corey than right then. "That sounds great."
Yeah, still feeling filler. Sorry.
Next chapter: Jet heads for the Tribute to the Troops show and to two people who have missed her a lot, and one person who isn't as happy to see Jet around.