The Fear Has Gripped Me

-Monday Night Raw, March 17-

The Divas Champion had a stellar victory over Summer Rae tonight. The match took place early on in the night which is a shame because it quickly became overshadowed by the rest of the card. Summer Rae's dancing gimmick apparently annoys Tia as much as it annoys me because she didn't even bother to attempt a handshake. Some memorable moments include Summer Rae almost getting the better of the champion numerous times during the match through roll ups as well as an impressive looking DDT. Tia's standing hurricanrana sent the crowd into a brief state of shock before a decent applause broke out and Tia responded with a curtsy.

-Smackdown, March 21-

Nikki Bella issued a challenge to Tia on this week's show. Nikki said that she wanted a title shot at Wrestlemania and it looked as those Tia was going to accept the challenge before Natalya made her presence known. Stephanie McMahon came to the ring and made the decision that on Raw it would be Nikki Bella vs. Natalya in a #1 Contender's match.

-March 24, 2014; Brooklyn, New York-

The Legendary Divas photoshoots were coming to an end and Tessa's was one of the last shoots. She had been told that she would be the 'Mouth of the South' Jimmy Hart and her immediate reaction was to remind the people in charge that Jimmy Hart wasn't a wrestler. It didn't seem to matter to the higher powers, though, and Tessa was handed leather looking jeans, a polka dot blazer, a black skinny tie and a pair of strappy high heels and told to go change.

The realisation that she didn't have a top to wear underneath the jacket reminded her of the conversation she'd had during her Divas Day Off shoot. 'Who do you think we are? TNA? Please, we have class,' the photographer had said. She borrowed some fashion tape from Brie and tried her hardest to keep the jacket closed enough that her bra wasn't seen; there was no way that she was going braless. Nikki had suggested it only to be reminded that Tessa's breasts were not quite perky enough to pull that off.

"I feel really slutty right now," Tessa whined to Brie as they walked towards the photography room. "This tie is sitting right in my cleavage and I look like a stripper."

"It's only for the shoot and you're pretty enough," Brie said as she looked over Tessa again. Tessa pursed her lips. "You don't look slutty. If you looked slutty they wouldn't be making you wear it. Is this even about the photoshoot, though? Or are you just thinking about Sami seeing you wearing a Jimmy Hart outfit?"

Tessa blanched. Sami Zayn was debuting and she had been told the previous week that Tia would need to greet him on camera and she needed to be giddy about it. The plan was making her feel sick to her stomach; it had been a long time since she'd been so nervous.

"I'm so nervous," Tessa said quietly. "I really think I might be sick."

Brie put her arm around Tessa and pulled her in for a hug, assuring her that she had nothing to be worried about and that she didn't have to spend time with Rami outside of their backstage segment together.

-Live on Raw-

"We're being joined by the Divas Champion for this next match up," Michael Cole said as the camera panned to the commentary table. "Tia, how are you feeling about this number one contender's match?"

"Well, I know that whoever wins this is more than deserving of a title shot," Tia said calmly. "Though I can't say that I'm not a little worried."

"Worried?"

"Both Nikki and Natalya are former champions, they both know what they're doing in the ring and I don't think beating them is going to be an easy feat. It wasn't easy to beat AJ."

"Do you think either of them deserves it more?"

"Whoever wins deserve it more, Michael," JBL cut in. "She doesn't know the answer to that yet."

"Let her answer the question, John."

"No, he's right."

"I'm always right," JBL said before he started to call the match.

Tia sat there for the entire match and watched as Nikki Bella and Natalya fought for their right to face her at Wrestlemania. She was asked about how she felt to be getting a match at the most important show on the wrestling calendar and she grinned before babbling on at a million miles an hour about how it was an honour and that her childhood dream was going to come true.

When the match ended and Nikki Bella was named the number one contender, Tia removed the headset and applauded. Nikki walked to the ropes nearest Tia and pointed at the championship that was sitting atop the table.

"It's mine, Tia!"

"You're going to have to beat me first," Tia said with a smile and a happy shrug.

-Off Air-

"You know that you're going to have to pry it out of my dead fingers, right?" Tessa asked Nikki as they walked back to the locker room together. She was aware of the cameras trailing behind her and trying not to do something stupid like drop her Championship while she was being filmed.

"If it was a real fight I'd kick your ass," Nikki claimed.

"I don't know," Tessa said with a laugh. "Judo background and Japan. I think I've got you covered."

Tessa laughed harder when Nikki's arm wrapped around her neck and she was pulled into a sleeperhold in the middle of the hallway.

"Awesome girls. We've got it." a camera man said and Tessa was taken out of the moment extracted herself . She was still getting used to them being around so often and she struggled to believe that any of the girls were okay with it. Having a camera so close to her made her freeze up more often than not – it was like interviews or commentary.

"So, now that those guys are gone," Nikki said, watching over her shoulder as the camera crew disappeared, "Brie said that you're nervous about Sami."

"I have to speak to him. I have to work with him. I've never felt like this."

The revelation scared her even further. They walked into the locker room and Tessa immediately sat down and put her head in her hands.

"Tessa, it's not even for 5 minutes. You've read what they want you to say, right?"

"I managed to avoid the little rehearsal thing because of the photoshoot."

Nikki stared at Tessa in disbelief before she rolled her eyes, breathed out a laugh and went to have a shower. Tessa had literally been avoiding Rami all day and it could cost them both when they were about to go live on television. It was his debut and she was endangering it because of a few nerves.

Okay, so not a few nerves. A lot of nerves.

There was a knock on the door and Tessa prepared herself, she knew that it was someone coming to get her for the segment. All the way to the designated area she had to remind herself to take deep breaths and not show any signs of trepidation.

It all went south when she saw Rami talking animatedly with Dean Malenko. He looked up almost instantly. Tessa dropped her gaze and checked for any chips in her nail polish.

"Clear the area. We're going live in 30 seconds!"

Tessa had really cut it close. She had been told to head there directly after she got backstage, but that would mean more time not looking at Rami.

"T-"

"Everyone ready! 3, 2-"

-Live on Raw-

"Sami!" Tia called out, grimacing when her voice echoed through the hallway. The newest member of the main roster turned around with a small smile on his face as Tia walked towards him.

"What's up?" he asked, a light laugh in his voice as Tia stood before him with a huge grin.

"I'm the welcoming committee – unofficial welcoming committee," she said, bouncing up and down ever so slightly.

"Awesome," he responded with a nod and kind smile.

"So, uh, welcome to the main roster and to, um, Monday Night Raw." It was clear that her behaviour had been affected by his presence – she was giddier than usual, bouncing up and down and animatedly using her hands. "Good luck tonight, not that you need it or anything. I mean, you're Sami Zayn – you know who you are. I'm gonna go before I embarrass myself anymore," she pointed haphazardly behind her, pulling an awkward face as she did so.

"Thanks, Tia," he chuckled, watching her carefully as she turned to walk away.

She didn't make it very far, though, before she turned around and continued speaking, this time more rushed and giggly, "If you want to hang out or you need a friend, like, I'm always here, you know? We can hang out or be friends or-" she cut herself off when she noticed that his smile had only grown bigger and that he looked ready to laugh at any moment. "I'm really going now."

"I'll take you up on that offer, so you know."

"Okay, okay. Great," she said with a large grin, nodding quickly before catching herself and pulling a face. Her embarrassment was evident to everyone but so was her giddiness. She quickly turned away from Sami, who was watching her curiously with a small smile on his face, and walked out of the shot.

-Off Air-

She kept walking. Her heart was pounding in her ears and her stomach felt like it was rising through her chest. Despite the people that were calling after her, Tessa did not stop as she found an exit. It was maybe 30 degrees outside and she felt the cold hit her instantly; her nose and ears began to sting at the sudden change in temperature.

Quickly, she gathered her hair in one hand, pulled it to the side and doubled over.

In her entire life it had only happened once. Being nervous never made her feel sick to the stomach; much less cause her to vomit a car park.

"Okay," she heard Summer say from behind her, her nose probably scrunched up at the sight and the stench. "Tess, that's really gross."

Tessa groaned and stood up straight, "I know."

Summer moved towards Tessa slowly and gently placed a hand on her back. The blonde directed them back into the building and walked them directly to catering in search of a bottle of water.

"How'd you know where I was?" Tessa asked before clearing her throat and grimacing.

"You ran out of the building in heeled boots," Summer stated simply. "Anyone near the area heard you if they didn't see you."

Tessa sat down in a table as close to a corner as she could find and slowly sipped at the water that was placed in front of her. Summer sat next to her and smiled at her sympathetically.

The only other time she had vomited because of nerves was that night in October of 2008. She had walked into the locker room to see both Colby and Rami with broken noses. Colby had snarled at her as he walked past her and simply told her that he never wanted to see her again. Rami, on the other hand, stopped at her and asked her why. In a moment of panic she'd told him the truth: she also loved Colby. The look that crossed Rami's face was what sent her over the edge and she ran out of the building. She hadn't even had time to pull her hair back or bend over far enough: she vomited on her shoes and into the ends of her hair.

Maybe she hadn't come as far as she'd thought.

a/n UntilNeverDawns, Imagineer1392, nmoxracha, naive melody, peachilee, Straight Edge Queen, Carol Reigns, Guest, deanambooty and ajroleplays for taking the time to review!