Chapter 21

Thank god the last two days of the Mexico tour fly by and there is no more drama. We have a short day off before Smackdown Live in Fargo. I walk in with the boys and immediately run into Mark Carrano. "I need to talk you." He says sternly. "Meet me in my office right after you drop off your bags." He orders before walking away without another word. "Well this can't be good…." I say nervously looking at the boys. "Guess I will see you later." I head off to the locker room and drop off my bags and head straight to Carrano's office. "Take a seat" he says to me as I walk in the room. We sit in an awkward silence but I swear the sound of my heart pounding is echoing throughout the room. The door opens and I'm both freaked and relieved to see Ravyn walk in. The look on her face says she feels the same about seeing me.

"Ladies." Carrano starts the moment Ravyn sits down next to me. "Tonight is a big night. We're going to start your feud." He says and relief runs through me. "There is going to be a tournament to determine a new number one contender…and JJ you are getting the push." I have to try to not scream at the top of my lungs at this news. "While at the same time Ravyn will be avoiding defending the title at all costs." We both nod in understanding with huge grins on our faces. "Now, I'd like you to have these." He hands us both a box wrapped in brown paper. We take the boxes and look them over. "Go ahead and open them." Carrano encourages.

We don't need to be told twice as we both rip the paper off the boxes. I get mine open first and my jaw drops at the sight of my very first piece of merchandise. The black shirt is colorfully decorated with pink, teal and lime green stars and my name on the front. The back of the shirt bills me as 'everyone's favorite underdog.' At seeing my shirt Ravyn rips into her box with an excited fervor and pulls out her own shirt. The purple shirt has a tornado sweeping over her name and the back says 'destroying everything you love.' We are both in awe as Carrano instructs us to wear the shirts tonight as they are going to be for sale in the arena tonight and available on by the time the show is over.

Excitedly we head back to the locker room eager to show off our shirts. I change into my gear and rush off the seamstress area to get some help cutting my shirt up. We finish cutting several slits and adding ties to the shirt before I put it on and snap some pictures for social media. I then put my jacket on to hide the shirt and go off to find the boys. I find them in catering talking to Tom Phillips. I go bouncing up to them barely being able to contain my excitement. Dolph chuckles, "Well I guess Carrano had good news for a change?" he asks and I nod excitedly. "They are starting a tournament tonight to find a new number one contender to Ravyn's title…and well…you are looking at her!" I say happily bouncing up and down again. "Yes!" Dolph says hugging me. "Yeah! That's great!" Zack adds. "Oh! And check this out!" I step back and unzip my jacket letting it fall off my shoulders revealing my shirt and then turn to show the back. "Your own merch! Finally!" Zack says with a fist bump of congratulations. "I'm going to need one of those." Dolph says pulling me close. "Better get out there and buy one then. They are for sale in the arena." I joke.

I head off to hair and makeup as the show kicks off. I meet up with Ravyn and Renee to film a segment. Renee announces the tournament before she turns the conversation to what Ravyn said last week. "JJ…do you think she was talking about you?" I give a slight eye roll, "of course she was talking about me Renee. Champ thinks she is all high and mighty right now with that gold around her waist. That just as easily could have been me if Maryse didn't distract me during the battle royal. She got the opportunity after having been gone for six months…" before I can continue Ravyn steps into the shot. "You really think that you deserve a shot at my belt? You realize that it only took me a few short weeks to win this title? You've been here months. What have you accomplished?" she smirks, "let's be honest here J, you never even have singles matches anymore because you can't handle a one on one fight. That's why you always team with Dolph and Zack." I'm not sure how to respond to this causing her smirk to grow. "Maybe if you can win some singles matches and advance in this tournament then you'll deserve a title shot." She adds before turning on her heel and leaving Renee and I alone again. I sigh, "she is right to a degree Renee. I have been tagging with Dolph and Zack a lot lately. That's because I've been having fun working with the boys NOT because I can't handle singles matches. That's where my former friend is wrong. Our careers have paralleled each other for ten years…until recently. She got her opportunity and took it while I allowed myself to become complacent and lose focus on the big picture. Starting tonight though I'm back on track. I'm going to show her, the WWE Universe and myself that I can win this tournament. I like having a challenge and this is the biggest challenge of my career. You just watch Renee…I'll get my shot at her title." I smile at Renee before walking off camera.

After the promo I meet up with Nattie who I am facing in the first round of the tournament. We plan some spots for the match on our way to gorilla. They play my interview with Renee just before hitting Nattie's music. They hit my music and I go bursting through the curtain and make my way down the ramp. I hop up onto the apron and climb through the second rope and walk right up to Nattie ready to go. The ref calls for the bell and we lock up. I take the early advantage but before I can do too much damage the opening chords to Ravyn's music echoes through the arena. I stop my attack on Nattie distracted by the music. I look up the ramp as Ravyn appears on the stage and saunters her way down to the ring. As I'm distracted Nattie takes advantage and clobbers me from behind and quickly gains the upper hand of the match as Ravyn makes her way to the commentary table. I get the advantage back a few minutes later and get the pin on Nattie for the win. I make a point to the climb the turnbuckle nearest Ravyn's spot at the commentary table and stare determinedly at her.

After a few days of live events we go back to Florida for a couple days off. I breathe a sigh of relief as I walk into my apartment for the first time in over a month. I ditch my bags by the door, "I was beginning to forget what this place looked like." I say collapsing onto the couch as Dolph closes the door before joining me. We decide to call it an early night both falling asleep curled up on the couch watching a movie. The next morning we have breakfast before Dolph goes off to a big shindig at Zack's house with all the guys. I decide to go hit the PC after he leaves hoping to get in a good workout.

The PC is unusually quiet as I walk through the doors. I climb into one of the many rings and begin running the ropes and work on warming up. Just as I'm finishing up my warmup a voice speaks up behind me, "Well look what the cat dragged in." I grin and turn around as Billy Gunn jumps up onto the apron and climbs into the ring. I hug my former coach and we exchange some small talk about life on the main roster. "So, what brings you here?" He asks. "Just wanted to roll around a bit but no one is here…until now. How about it coach? Want to train like the good old days?" He laughs, "I'll help you out…but you have to help me out in return but it has to be kept a secret." He informs me. "Ohh! I like secrets. What is it?" "This isn't going to be announced until Mania weekend but…over the summer there is going to be a Women's tournament and two of the girls from it are coming in to train in about an hour if you want to help." He tells me, "of course I'll help! This sounds exciting!"

I let Billy warm up and soon he is putting me through the ringer. He has me hitting the ropes harder than I ever have and taking bumps. It's like being a NXT rookie all over again. Soon we lock up and run through some moves. By the time we stop I'm winded and sore, bruises are already forming on my arms and back. "You've still got it kid." He says and I laugh breathlessly. "Thanks coach. Hey…would you mind doing me one more favor?" I ask hopefully. "Will you teach me the famouser? I want to surprise Dolph with it and of course pay homage to you." I say putting on my best puppy dog face. He rolls his eyes. "Stop that. Of course, I'll teach you my move. Just tell that boyfriend of yours to stop being so good at it. He does it better than me." I laugh and we get back to work. He helps me through the timing and mechanics of the move. Soon I have it down and execute it perfectly on Billy and am surprised to hear applause. I stand up from the mat and see a blonde and brunette standing outside the ring. Billy greats them and introductions are made. The blonde is Toni Storm from New Zealand and I excitedly explain that we are heading there in just a few days. The brunette is a southern girl by the name of Sarah Logan. Billy and I stand on the apron and watch them work. I'm blown away by their talent. Billy then has me work with them both individually as he coaches from the outside. After a while Billy tells us to stop. He thanks me for my help as I climb out of the ring. I say my goodbyes and head back to my apartment.

I shower and when I get out I stand in front of the mirror wincing as I see the bruises on my arms and back. My whole body hurts and all I want to do is lay with a heating pad on my couch and watch TV. I change into a pair of sweatpants and a sports bra tying my still wet hair up into a messy bun. I head to the couch plugging in the heating pad and lay down with a groan. I reach for the remote but before I can turn it on there is a knock on the door. I freeze holding my breath willing whoever is on the other side to go away. Another knock and I groan standing up and shuffling to the door. I open the door and immediately regret it.

Standing on the other side of the door with a sickening fake smile on her face, flanked by a Total Diva's camera crew is Nikki. "JJ!" she exclaims cheerfully before noticing my appearance, "oh my god! Are you okay? You look terrible." Her voice oozes with fake concern. "Oh, I'm fine." I answer playing along. "I just worked out at the PC and have some war wounds to show for it." I explain. "What are you doing here Nikki?" I ask as nicely as I can. "Nattie, Trin and I were going shopping for dresses for Hall of Fame night and Nattie mentioned we were near your place so we decided to see if you wanted to come and join us!" she says sweetly and I hope my face doesn't convey how awful of an idea that sounds like to me. "Oh…no…you know I'm pretty sore…I'm just going to stay home." I stammer trying to come up with any excuse I can to not go shopping. "No! you must come! It will be fun. Make a big girls night out of it, we can get dinner and drinks afterwards. That is of course unless you and Nic have other plans. Speaking of Nic…where is he?" She looks around me into the apartment. "He's not here. Zack is having a bunch of the boys around to his place so he is gone for the night." I admit not being able to come up with a lie quick enough. "Well that settles it. You are coming. Go get dolled up, the girls are waiting in the car."

She pushes her way past me into the apartment followed by the crew. I clench my jaw in anger before turning around. "Really Nikki…I don't want to go. I'm not a fan of shopping." She keeps insisting I go as she wanders around the living room looking at all my mementos. I can tell that the only way I am going to get rid of her is to give in. I sigh, rolling my eyes as I walk into my bedroom. Get dolled up my ass. I put on my favorite pair of jeans and an old Storm Wrestling Academy t-shirt with my pair of classic black Chucks. I leave my still wet hair up and head back into the main room. Nikki eyes me up and down, "I thought I said to get dolled up." She whines. "I don't get dolled up Nikki. What you see is what you get with me." I walk to the door, "so are we going?" She huffs, walking past me out the door followed by the crew and I stay behind to lock up before following them down the car.

We head to a nearby high-end shopping mall in Orlando and I cringe looking at all the names of all the famous fashion designers. This is going to be torture. I trail behind the girls dragging my feet as we walk into stores selling Dulce and Gabbana, Versace, Vera Wang, Gucci, Armani, names that come with anxiety inducing price tags. I don't even touch the dresses. I just offer my opinion if asked. Nikki keeps trying to get me to try things on but I flat out refuse. "Don't you want to look hot on the red carpet?" she asks running her hands down a very tight red sequenced number she is trying on. I shrug, "it's not at the top of my list of priorities to be completely honest. I care more about whether or not I'm even going to be on the card for Mania." I admit. "You've got the feud with Ravyn you just started…why wouldn't you be on the card?" Nattie asks stepping out of her dressing room in a pink and black dress. "That's my hope but you know nothing is guaranteed in this business…especially for us women." Even Nikki has to agree with me on this having been cut from a Mania match a few years ago.

We head into another store and it's much of the same. The girls try on dresses and insist that I do the same. Finally, I cave just so they will leave me alone. I grab a simple black dress off a rack and step into the dressing room. I put the dress on and step back out and the girls 'ohhh' and 'ahhh' and I just roll my eyes. A dressing room attendant comes in as I'm standing there and begins the sales pitch but then freezes eyes locked on my bruised arms and back. "Look, I know it's none of my business but if someone is hurting you…." She begins and I blush, "oh no that's not happening at all." I say and tell her that I'm a wrestler. I can tell she doesn't believe me even as the others back me up. I just go back into the dressing room and take the dress off.

In the next store Nikki starts harping on me again, "you should still care about your appearance." She says pulling a slim lowcut blue dress off the rack and holding it out to me, "here you should try this one on." I flashback to the last store and the dressing room attendant. "No way. That is not a me dress at all. I'm just going to get an Uber and go back to my apartment." I start to walk out of the store but they follow. "No way! You aren't leaving. Come on J, please stay." Naomi begs. "Nikki will behave, won't you Nikki?" she says addressing Nikki with a stern voice. Nikki just ignores her and addresses me. "Why don't you want to dress up?" I sigh. "It's just never been something I've cared about. Nice things weren't an option when I was growing up." I say hoping that will be enough of an answer. "Just because it wasn't a priority in your childhood doesn't mean you can't make it a priority now. We as Divas have to take pride in how we look. We are representatives of this company…there are expectations." Nikki tells me as we exit the mall and head to her car. "And lately the women's division has just been one giant scandal after another. Leaked photos, vides…you and that friend of yours are making us all look bad." She spats unlocking her car and I spin around to face her, "and what? You think a designer dress will change that? Maybe I should get a nice boob job too? I didn't come here to look good. I'm here to wrestle. I don't care how people view me. Growing up in the foster care system and having THAT label on you gives you a tough skin and puts the real things that are important in life into place." That bombshell seems to shut Nikki up as I climb into the backseat.

We drive in silence back to my apartment. I say a brief goodbye before climbing out of the car and escaping back to the sanctuary of my apartment. Another disastrous outing with Total Divas. I change back into my comfy clothes and head straight to my couch. I pull up a movie and just let it play as background noise to my thoughts. Nikki basically said the same things I overheard her telling Brie, but at least this time she said them to my face. And then my big fat mouth and to go and blab about my past. God know what rumors are going to start circulating the locker room by the time we get to Hawaii.

I fall asleep on the couch and don't wake up until a very hungover and tired Dolph comes stumbling in. "You like hell." He jokes and I laugh, "you should talk…rough night?" I counter as he sits down next to me with a groan. "Yeah well a night of drinking will do that…what's your excuse?" He asks. "I went to the PC yesterday. Billy kicked my ass." I say showing him the bruises. "Damn. Those are brutal. You look like you got in a bar brawl." I laugh, "a woman in the dressing room at the mall thought I was a victim of domestic violence." I say remembering the dressing room attendant's words yesterday. He narrows his eyes at me in confusion, "what were you doing at the mall?" I groan and tell him everything about yesterday. Dolph groans too when I finish the story. "She can't leave us alone can she? And she has the nerve to bring up the photo?" I nod. "Can I tell you something else?" I ask nervously knowing that I need to come clean about all the Corey things. Ravyn was right, he deserves to know. I take a deep breath and dive in with the confrontations I've had with Corey leading up to the photo. "It's my fault that this is happening…I threatened him and he retaliated…" I say. "No. stop that. He is a sick fuck. None of this is your fault. You hear me?" I nod. "I just wish it would stop. Ravyn and I finally have our feud and I feel like we can't enjoy it because we are waiting for the next bomb to drop." I look at him sadly. "I know it's easier said than done…but you both should just try to focus on the work. Put Corey out of your minds and have fun. She's the champ, you guys have so much history to throw into this feud that it will be epic and you both deserve to enjoy it." He advices me. "I hope we can do that. First, we have to get through this next tour. Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand? It's going to be amazing. I love this job." I say with a smile on my face.