Friday 6th April

''You did really well.''

''I sucked.''

Alexa bit her lip, trying to find the right words to calm Danielle down. FCW were holding a show in Punta Gorda and the blonde had just had her first ever match against Saraya and Ivelisse.

''You didn't suck... well, maybe a little.'' She teased, earning a laugh from the other woman. ''Considering you've only been training a little while, you did good.''

Danielle sighed, sweeping her hair out of her eyes. ''I just... I find it hard to train with Tom.''

''I know the feeling.'' She muttered, having had her own issues with the man in the past. ''Look, if you want I can still help you. It just won't be as often as before so you'll have to put up with Tom too.''

They arranged some dates they could meet to train before Danielle headed to the changing room, leaving her in the hallway replying to some e-mails on her phone. She wasn't alone for long, a few moments later Jon walked around the corner with Ray 'Leo Kruger' Leppan.

A snort of laughter left her mouth as she took in their appearance.

As well as his normal trunks and boots, Jon was wearing his black denim jacket and his pair of aviator sunglasses. Ray was dressed in a black, leather waistcoat, a pair of glasses that were similar to Jon's and his usual wrestling attire. Both of them had dripping wet hair, Jon had three-day scruff all over his face and the South African man's mustache was trimmed to perfection.

Ray peered at her over the top of his glasses. ''What's so funny?''

She just shook her head, opening the camera app on her phone and quickly snapping a picture of the two men, still chuckling to herself.

''We're up in ten, guys.'' Ettore appeared, slinging an arm over her shoulder. ''What're you laughing at?''

She met his eyes with a smirk, jerking her thumb towards the pair in front of them. ''One of them looks like a porn star and the other looks like a drug lord...''

He turned his gaze on the men, letting out a loud guffaw. ''Oh my God...''

Jon's brow furrowed as he looked at the man beside him before glancing down at himself. ''Wait, which one am I?''

''Drug dealer?'' Ettore supplied, grinning as he high-fived her. ''Nailed it.''

Ray arched an eyebrow. ''Why am I the porn star?''

Alexa and Ettore shared a look before speaking in unison. ''The mustache.''

I'll be there in ten.

You still haven't told me where we're going.

For food...or sex... I haven't decided. You know me, I'm hungry and horny 24/7.

Let's just bang.

And then order dominos?

Sure. You can even eat it while we have sex, I don't even care.

Marry me.

Alexa rolled her eyes at that and dropped the phone back into her purse.

After arriving back in Tampa following the show, Jon had informed her that he would pick her up at eight and that she had to dress nicely.

''So, where's he taking you?'' Saraya inquired, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned on the door frame.

''He didn't say.'' Alexa replied, slipping on her shoes before moving over to the mirror, pulling at the hem of her dress. ''It's not too short, is it?''

The younger woman's eyes dropped, a smirk settling on her face. ''Nah, even if it is, I'm sure Jon won't mind.''

She laughed, moving back over to the bed to pick up her purse just as a knock sounded at the door. They made their way downstairs, Alexa yanking open the door as Saraya watched curiously from behind her. Both women's eyes widened in surprise at the sight that greeted them, the latter letting out a soft snort.

Jon was wearing a suit. An actual, proper suit.

Alexa was positive she had the most ridiculous expression on her face and quickly snapped herself out of her stupor. ''You scrub up surprisingly well.''

Jon just smirked at her comment, his eyes still drinking in her appearance. He had seen her in dresses before, he thought nothing could top the one she wore to the Hall of Fame, but he as wrong. The cream one she had on hugged her curves and made her legs seem as though they went on for days, he was half-tempted to just drag her inside and have his way with her.

Saraya suddenly piped up. ''You actually own an iron, who knew?''

Jon flipped her the bird before returning his gaze to the woman in the doorway. ''You look amazing.''

''Thank you.''

''This place is super nice.'' Alexa whistled, eyes darting around as she took in the restaurant he had taken her too.

She had no idea what prompted his sudden desire to take her on an actual 'date' and she wasn't complaining... but she wasn't used to things like this and felt extremely out-of-place.

''Yeah, it's pretty nice, I guess.'' Jon agreed, rubbing the back of his neck uneasily. This wasn't something he did often; in fact, it was probably the first time he'd ever dressed up to take a woman to a fancy restaurant.

''You've never been here before?''

''Do I look like the kind of guy that comes to a place like this?'' He cocked an eyebrow. ''I asked around, a few people told me about this place.''

They still had a few minutes before they were given a table, Alexa bit her lip before meeting his eyes with a grin. ''I think we should go someplace else.''

His brow furrowed in confusion. ''What?''

''It's obvious this place isn't for us.'' She shrugged. ''There's a pretty cool place a few blocks away, let's just go there.''

Twenty minutes later found the couple sitting in a small booth at Pop 'n Sons, a local diner. They both felt much more comfortable in the more familiar surroundings, despite sticking out like a sore thumb. Their conversation flowed easily while they waited for their food, quickly moving onto the topics of their contrasting childhoods.

''So, all of those amazing promos you did in the indies, were they true?'' She asked, taking a slow sip of the drinks the waitress had brought out.

''It was all true, just more... exaggerated. My childhood was crappy. My dad wasn't around, my mom was an alcoholic and a junkie... I pretty much raised myself.'' He told her, taking a swig of his own beer. ''She's clean nowadays, claims she's found god or some shit, she's also now a lesbian... which is cool because now we have things in common, we both love boobs and booze.''

''Sorry you had to go through all that.''

''It is what it is. People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in life are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them."

Alexa treaded in a soft voice. ''Have you seen your dad since.''

She knew that he wasn't one to open us easily and was silently surprised at his candor, she liked that she was getting to know him better. It proved to her that there was more to their relationship than just sex.

''I stopped wrestling for, like, a year, between 2007 and 2008. I got normal 9-5 job at a gym, had a normal life which was pretty great for a while. That was probably the first time in my life that I had any kind of relationship with my dad.'' He looked across at her thoughtfully. ''What about your mom?''

''What about her?'' She asked slowly.

''I, uh, listened to the podcast you did with Cabana.'' He explained. ''Have you ever, you know, tried to get back in contact with her?''

''No, why would I?''

''I don't know, maybe because she's still your mom.''

''I don't need anybody in my life who doesn't want to be there.''

Despite the indifference she was showing, he had seen the flash of hurt in her eyes at the mere mention of her mother. It was then that he realized just how right he had been with his assessment of her. She reminded him of one of those tiny dogs which barked extra loud, because they wanted to compensate for their lack of strength.

Their plates being brought over to their table stopped him from responding and Alexa was distracted by her food, quickly tucking in. He couldn't help but chuckle as he watched her bite into the burger, pieces of cheese and sauce dropping out of the side.

''What?'' She asked around the food, narrowing her eyes.

He just smiled fondly. ''Nothing.''