A/N: Another big thanks goes to BreakTheWalls for the continuous support for this story. Also thanks goes to all the readers as well, without you this wouldn't happen. Onto number sixteen, sorry it's a short one, let me know what you think.

Chapter 16:

Head Games

Karina

A month has passed by since Fight For The Fallen took place. I finished my training with Kenny two weeks ago, which was somewhat of a relief to me. It was now August 19th. Only twelve days away from All Out, and was kind of a big deal. I was finally going to be stepping into the ring officially as a participate in the Casino Battle Royal on the Buy In.

In those weeks, my mind continued to go back to the kisses I've shared with Kenny. After coming to my house to assure me that I had done nothing wrong after kissing him, he proceeded to kiss me. It confused me; but I had been professional and pushed it to the back of my mind. Neither one of us spoke about it, despite me wanting to.

"Kay, it's getting so close now. Are you nervous about getting in the ring again?" Hayley asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

We were sitting in our favorite cafe drinking coffee after going for our morning run, which had become a daily thing since my training ended. I think she wanted me to be ready and I appreciated the concern; but it was overbearing sometimes. "A little bit; but you know, I do well under pressure." I answered with a smile, taking a sip from the cup of coffee in my hand.

"I've been meaning to ask...have you talking to Kenny at all since your training ended?"

"Just a text here and there, nothing major. He's in the process of moving from Japan back to Canada, so I'm sure he's been occupied. He doesn't need to talk to me every day. We aren't a thing no matter what you think."

Hayley choked on her coffee spitting it across the table. I blinked several times, watching her laugh at my response. I took a napkin that was placed next to me to wipe her coffee off my face. There were several glances in our direction. Rolling my eyes, I got up from my seat and started towards the door.

She caught up quickly, "I'm sorry. I don't know you why keep denying the attraction between you two. There is nothing wrong with being with someone." She said, hooking her arm through mine.

"You know why I don't do relationships or have you forgotten what happened in the last one."

"Of course I haven't forgotten, how could I? That doesn't mean that you should be alone for the rest of your life. All men aren't like how Adrian was."

I knew that. Kenny was not Adrian; but the pain of those memories have come flooding back to me more and more every time I think I could move forward. Not to mention, he had sent me a couple text messages knowing that I have signed with the same company as him. Kenny didn't need to be drug down by the mess that was inevitably going to come full circle. "Okay, I won't push anymore; but at least think about it. There is obviously a connection between you two."

"Maybe; but instead of trying to play matchmaker with me, why don't you concentrate on your own wedding."

Yeah, that happened in those weeks of training. Jayson finally grew a set of balls and asked her to marry him. It really had been a sweet moment. I was happy for them. Yet, at the same time, I felt even more alone. They were going to be joined and would eventually start a family of their own. Where would that leave me and Celestial?

Pulling back into my driveway, I could see Jayson outside talking to someone. From the back, he seemed familiar and when he turned to face me, I swear my heart stopped beating for a moment. Landon Hale. My former vocal partner was on my porch.

"What are you doing here?" I asked calmly, getting out of my car.

"Talking about making a return to the band." He answered, fully turning in my direction.

"Why? You said that you couldn't compete with my love for wrestling. By the way, I signed with AEW and will be wrestling again."

Landon ran a hand over the top of his clean shaven head. He had acquired two new tattoos on the sides of his head in tribal markings in his absence. Hayley quickly came to her fiance's side. Narrowing my eyes, I didn't trust that he wouldn't just up and leave when things didn't go his way. "True, I did say that. However, I've had time to think about things. I actually don't want to sing anymore. I know that Nick left, so allow me to take his place. You can have full vocal duties."

"I guess there is no harm and seeing where it goes. Come on in." I said, walking towards the front door of my house.

The second the door opened, I could hear the chime of my phone getting a text message. My stomach started to flutter, wondering if it was Kenny. Hayley wasn't wrong when she mentioned the attraction between us. I wasn't even going to lie about it, because it was there. The hesitation was lingering longer than I would have liked.

The three of them already went down to the studio, I stayed behind pulling my phone out of my back pocket. "We should probably meet face to face before All Out. I don't want things to be tense." The message read, my stomach immediately stopped fluttering. The emotion was replaced with that of panic.

"It's not necessary. I won't be speaking to you. I want my career to succeed this time around. I'm not going to let you ruin it."

"If you won't come to me, then I'll come to you."

The moment the message came in, there was a loud knock at the door. I knew the others wouldn't hear it being in the studio and there were sound proof walls to drown out all outside noises.

Sitting my phone down on the kitchen island, I cautiously made my way to the front door. My palms became clammy as my fingers curled around the knob of the door. Pulling it open, Adrian stood on the porch with his hands tucked into the pockets of his dark colored jeans. His long dark brown hair was pulled back into a tight bun behind his head. He also chose to where an AEW logo t-shirt.

"There is no reason for you to be here." I insisted.

"I beg to differ. We have to be able to coexist backstage."

"You won't need to worry about me causing issues for you. I plan to avoid you all together."

His eyes narrowed the second the words left my mouth. The glance only lasted a few seconds before his eyes lightened up. "Alright, I won't push you to talk to me. I just wanted to tell you that I've had time to think about the past and about all the things I've done...they were wrong on so many levels. It really is good to see you."

I watched him walk away. There was a darkness in his eyes and I just couldn't let myself believe a thing he told me. Leaning back against the wall, I slid down to the floor and pulled my knees up against my chest. Burning tears came faster than I could even think about crying. Hayley quickly was at my side, seeing Adrian pull away from the house. "What the hell was he doing here?" She snapped, pulling me into her embrace.

"Playing his games again…" I managed to choke out.

I never wanted to see someone so badly in my life; but in that moment, I wanted to see Kenny. It pained me to think about the fact that I couldn't. I wanted to wrestle again and I would put my past behind me to live that life again. Quickly wiping the tears away, I stood up from the floor. "I can't let him affect me like this. I'm stronger than that. Let's go work on some music." I stated, clenching my hands into fists at my sides as I walked towards the studio in my basement.

I knew, deep down, that Adrain wasn't finished playing the mind games with me. That had always been his strong suit in keeping me in line when we were together and now that we weren't, he saw the fact that we work for the same company as a way to manipulate me once again. Despite what he might think, I've grown as a person over the last year since our separation. I wasn't going to relapse. I refused to be the broken woman I had been back then, too much was on the line.