Chapter 10: Overdoing It and Overstepping

Rae couldn't believe it.

"You guys are going somewhere else for a wrestling show?" She looked at Trent and Chuck as they were packing their bags right before Fyter Fest.

"Yeah, we were asked to perform in Pittsburgh." Chuck said. "The higher ups gave us permission to go."

"Are you taking Ava?" She asked as she watched Ava help Trent fold some of his clothes for the trip.

They, Joy and Rae, were expected to work for Fyter Fest with a few temp workers. This was down in Orlando, they were going to be back in Jacksonville late after the show if they didn't go out. Joy had been in contact with the performers and getting back to them on wardrobe and wardrobe designs, but there were also talk about a party afterward. This was the first time that Chuck and Trent weren't going to perform for an AEW pay-per-view.

"No, I figured she's safer with you. Plus you guys are short handed and she could be of some use." Trent said.

They were all gathered in Trent and Chuck's room in the house. Well not all, Joy and Orange were in the kitchen, Orange was "helping" Joy with lunch. How they all agreed that chicken fried rice was the best lunch, Rae didn't question it. Maybe it had something to do with the man that had been texting Ava almost nonstop for about two weeks.

Kenny Omega

Rae knew the man could be trusted, but it was like watching two adult teenagers, especially when half the time Ava didn't know how to respond to him. Even while helping Chuck and Trent get ready to go, Ava's less than used phone dinged.

"I'm worried about Joy." Chuck said when Ava got another text.

"Why? Is she okay?" Trent asked.

"It's...texts. She's getting some strange ass texts from unknown numbers threatening her."

Rae stopped. "Texts? What sort of texts?"

"I want you, you're mine. Remember me. Crap like that. I tried to asked her about it but she just pretends nothing is happening."

"Could it be her ex?" Trent asked.

"No, he's in jail. At least, I think he is." Chuck said. "I asked Orange to stay here and watch the house while we're gone."

That was a smart thing, Rae would have done the same thing. If the ex was out and about, he could find Joy easily. Considering the last time that the ex came around, Ava disappeared when the fighting started. Rae knew Ava could never survive a verbal attack, why would she survive a physical one.

When MJF grabbed her back in Vegas, it was like that one time at Chuck's old place. When that man came at Joy the first time...it was horrible. They found Ava hanging around a river playing with turtles and frogs and stuff. That was her way of getting away from hurtful things, especially with the crappy childhood she had. She had been gone for almost two hours.

"We'll figure things out, Rae." Trent said as he brought her out of the awful memories. "You just need to be alert and make sure that nothing is going on while we're gone."

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks. And why are we having a get together tonight if you leave early tomorrow?"

"Penelope, Kip, Jimmy and a few others wanted to hang out. We figured it would be a good thing. You won't have to deal with drunks." Chuck said.

"They are going to be in the house. I don't need anyone puking and pissing themselves."

The phone went off in Ava's back pocket. Rae groaned and dropped the pair of socks she had been working on.

"Tell that doofus that you're helping your brother pack. I swear...I will fly over to Japan just to kick his ass. What does he want?" Rae asked.

"He's sending me pictures and videos." Ava's shy voice said as she looked at her phone.

"Of what, a dick? Because if he is..."

"The Sega Arcade in Japan. He sent me a video of him winning something. He said he'll bring it when he gets in tomorrow for the show."

Ava was watching more anime because of that man. The shared Netflix account had been nothing but anime under Ava's account. It was as if she couldn't get enough of it. Well, any of them that had animals at least. And the woman had a perpetual blush any time Kenny texted her anything.

Yep, she was going down the love lane.

"Are you okay being around Omega?" Trent asked Ava.

She shrugged. Would she open up to Trent about Kenny? After all, Trent basically had Kenny walk with them back to the hotel that day in Vegas. Trent was as protective of Ava as Rae was, but where Rae was more physical in her protection, Trent was...well discreet.

"I think I trust the guy." Trent said. "I trust that he'll not harass you like MJF did at Daily's."

"He wants to do something after the pay-per-view. May I go?" She asked.

"By yourself?" Rae questioned.

"I...I..." she dropped the shirt she had been trying to fold.

Trent picked it up. "If you don't want to, you don't have to. Tell him you're not okay with it, if it's bothering you so much."

"I can go with you." Rae said. "I'll back him off if he's making you uncomfortable."

Ava ducked her head.

"Or you could go alone." Rae said and smiled at the other woman.

Ava, turned away from the bed and walked out of the room. Trent, Chuck and Rae looked at each other before Rae followed after Ava.

She went into the kitchen, only to stop with Ava at the doorway. Joy and Orange were kissing in the kitchen.

"I think the rice is burning." Rae said when seeing Ava's sullen face.

"Shit!" Joy yelped and pushed Orange off of her and went to the stove. "Damn it, Rae, no it's not. And stop laughing!" That was directed to Orange who was leaning against the counter with his cane and laughing.

"Well, it's funny." He walked up to Joy and kissed her cheek. "They'll get used to us being together."

"Does that mean Joy is moving into your room?" Ava asked in her quiet voice.

"No," Joy looked over her shoulder. "Not for a while."

It wasn't that bad of a living situation. Chuck and Trent shared the largest room. Joy and Ava had the second largest room while Rae and Orange had the two small rooms that apparently had been two add ons before they had bought the house. It was nice living together, but it wasn't something that she was going to be doing for the long run. When she had enough money she would move out on her own.

"Well, when you do, I'm sure Ava and Omega will want to have game nights in her room."

"Can you stop?" Ava asked before she headed for the back sliding glass door.

"Honey, you having a thing for a guy is great. I'm just..."

"You're jealous. Why don't you try to date someone for once," Joy said as she checked on the rice. "I'm sure a certain cowboy would like to have a chance."

Rae crossed her arms. "Not going to happen with that man."

"Then why did you ask about him before our job interview?"

"I don't have to give a reason." Rae crossed her arms. "But since you asked, I didn't want him to be there."

Ava left out the back door. Their yard bumped up against a trail that would take her to the beach. A public beach, but it was close to some of the tide pools in the area.

Maybe she was pushing Ava's buttons, Rae thought as she went to watch the dark haired woman. It was just so cute seeing her flustered around a guy that was being too oblivious about his own feelings and yet he didn't know what he was doing to the woman in question.

"You know, Raelynn, you can be harsh sometimes." She looked at her brother. "You need to loosen up a little, maybe think about yourself for once and not someone else."

"It's a good trait to have, but it's not what Ava needs right now." Joy added.

Rae looked between Orange and Joy, she only had to turn her head just a little to see Trent and Chuck standing behind her. She pulled at her short hair a little when she scrubbed her fingers through her locks.

"Yeah, I guess you might be right. A little."

Just then Rae's phone went off. She looked at the Caller ID and saw that it was Brandi calling.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hi, Ms. Cassidy," Brandi started.

"Rae is fine with me. What can I do for you?"

"Could you come to the office today? I know, I know, we've had so many meetings but it's a side project of mine that I need help with."

"Depends on the project, ma'am."

"Well, we're working close with an organization that deals with autism and I thought that since you worked with children like that, then you wouldn't mind helping me. It's just a meeting at my office here at Daily's Place."

Rae pinched the bridge of her nose. "Let me see if there's any costuming stuff that needs to be done today. When is this meeting?"

In an hour. It would take her no more than twenty or so minutes to get to Daily's. Rae told Brandi to hold on and covered the mouth piece of her cell phone.

"Brandi wants to assistance with a special needs organization. Do any of you need help right now?"

"No, but Penelope and her boyfriend and their friends are coming over for dinner tonight." Joy said. "Maybe it will be a party."

Oh right, there was that. Since working with AEW, Joy had managed to get some friends. At least it was Penelope Ford and Britt Baker, it was a sort of house party and get together before the guys had to leave for their performance in Pittsburg.

"I might be a little late, it depends on how long this thing runs." Rae said.

"Sure, we got it from here."

"And..."

"We'll keep an eye out for Ava." Trent said.

Rae got back on her call with Brandi and told her she would be there for the meeting. After she hung up with her employer, Rae went and got into some more professional looking clothes, her interview outfit she had from when she was offered the job of working in wardrobe with Joy.

It was just a party. There was going to be drinking and fun stuff, at least that was what Kip Sabian told Adam. After spending a few days at home in Virginia, and then with Orlando's Pay-per-view that was happening, he didn't mind having some fun before the show.

With his best cowboy boots, his best plaid shirt and jeans, Adam rolled up to the house that was located a short distance from the beach. It was a nice neighborhood, the house itself was two stories tall, gray from the paint being eaten away from the salt air. Typical for Jacksonville.

The little black hair woman that answered the door was someone he hadn't thought he would ever see without her brother.

"Hi, Ava." He said.

She didn't have as bad of a bruise. It had been really bad for a while, from what he heard about her. She ducked her head as she stepped back for him.

"Hey, what brings you here?" Trent asked as he stood up from a couch.

"Sabian invited me. I can leave if Rae doesn't want me here."

"She's not here. She's helping Brandi with some business stuff. She might be gone for a while." Orange said. "If you promise not to drink a lot, you might be on her good side."

Ava closed the door behind him and walked down the hall towards what Adam could only assume was her bedroom.

After he arrived, Adam was joined by the three guys of Jurassic Express, Jimmy Havoc, Penelope and Kip in the front room. There were beers, Joy made a few cocktails and Ava stayed in her room. Adam sat in a tall back chair in the living room.

He stared at the beer in his hand. He hadn't drank much off it, it was more like a decoration than a useful instrument.

"You're quiet tonight, Page." Marko Stunt said from his place on the opposite side of the coffee table.

"I'm just not feeling it."

"Rae should be done with Brandi project soon." Chuck said. "I think. Who knows what they're working on."

"I made a fool of myself in front of her. I don't think I want to do that again." He put the beer down on the coffee table. "How's Ava been doing? Ken had mentioned another confrontation at Daily's Place."

"Yeah, she was with me." Orange said. Joy sat on the armrest next to Cassidy and he wrapped his arm around Joy's waist. "He was being a Karen and throwing around his association with The Elite as if that meant anything."

"Did he touch her?"

"Never got close."

Adam nodded. "I'll give Cody my two cents on this, I don't think the guy should be in the group if he's being a downright ass about it."

He hadn't cared for the guy, but he was a friend of Cody's so it was something that he had to deal with. MJF definitely wasn't the kind of person he was willing to hang out with, he tolerated him which was the most Adam could do.

"Most of the Elite came from the original Bullet Club before we broke up when we left NJPW. He didn't." Adam said as he stared at the beer bottle.

Luchasaurus laughed. "The little idiot seems to think he can boss us lessers around."

"Of course he won't do it to Lucha here," Jack the Jungle Boy added with a laugh of his own. "Kind of funny to see him turn tail anytime Lucha walks in on MJF hassling myself and Marko."

"So you two get harassed by MJF, too?" Adam asked.

"Yeah pretty much. Course we don't give a damn and ignore his higher than thou attitude." Marko said. "He has that attitude with the staff as well."

Just then the front door opened and in walked Rae. Her hair was pushed back from her face, she wore a nice looking form fitting black dress with low pumps. Her bright red lips stood out the most, until her cold blue eyes fell on Adam where he sat.

"You're here?" She asked.

"Sorry, Rae. I invited him." Kip said from across the room with Penelope.

"I haven't drank enough to get a buzz. If you want me to go, I can." Adam stood up.

A tiny pinkness flashed across her cheeks as she stood with everyone looking at her. Adam stood not ten feet from the little woman. She stood with her shoulders back as she held a few pieces of papers in hand with her purse draped over her shoulder. Her pretty eyes narrowed.

"No, you can stay. I can be civil. Where's Ava?" Rae asked.

"Her room." Adam and Trent said at the same time.

"I'll be with her then."

Rae looked at Adam long enough to give him the hint. She wanted nothing to do with him.

Fair enough, Adam thought as she walked down the hall towards the bedrooms.

"You know, if you want to win her over, try to do something nice for Ava or Joy." Orange said.

"Sorry?"

"That forlorn look told us everything." Trent stood up with his empty beer bottle. "Do as Cassidy said. Tomorrow, if MJF bothers Ava in front of Rae, step in. Or do something nice for Joy or Ava. Do something to prove you're a nice guy."

"Where's the bathroom?" Adam asked.

"Down the hall, second door on your left." Joy said.

He walked down the hall, only stopped because there was talking coming out of the room on his right. He heard Rae talking, probably to Ava.

"God, what am I going to do?" Rae asked.

He leaned forward and saw through the open door Rae pacing in front of a bed. Ava sat on said bed and she watched the fiery woman. Ava's head turned in time with where Rae paced, which was mildly cute.

"It's like he's always around when I don't want him to be." Rae said.

"That's how I feel." Ava said in her quiet tone, it was a miracle that he could actually hear it. "About Kenny."

"Yeah, but you've never had a guy like you. This guy is cute, hella fine, but damn it. Why did he have to be just like my Dad?"

Like her Dad? What did her old man do to piss her off at all of those who actively drank for fun?

Adam slid into bathroom and stared at his reflection. His hair was tied back from his face, his shirt for once wasn't creased.

He pulled his phone out and called Kenny.

"Hello?" Ken asked and then groaned.

"Hey, it's me. Sorry if I woke you up. I'm at The Best Friends' house for a party."

"And you're not dead?"

"Your little girlfriend has feelings for you." He said that and groaned. That wasn't how he wanted to let Kenny know nor was he trying to be an ass.

Kenny was silent on the other end of the call. Not that Adam had wanted to tell him that, but it was obvious from how much Kenny spoke about Ava that he had a thing for the woman. Adam knew he screwed up with Rae, but he was giving Kenny a foot in the door.

"I'm not..."

"Uh huh, anytime we talk she usually comes up. So, how about you help me and I help you."

The Cleaner didn't say anything for a long moment. Adam could hear him moving around.

"What do you want me to do?" Kenny finally asked.

"I don't know. I just need to prove to Rae that I'm not an alcoholic."

"You are."

"I haven't had a drink since getting here. You know I would never be able to call you if I was raging drunk."

Kenny hummed in agreement with him. "Fine. I'll think of something."

He smiled at his reflection. "Thanks, man. Hang on."

Adam left the bathroom and knocked on the door across the hall. It slowly swung open and the two women looked at him since Rae was the one that opened the door.

"Hey, Ava. Kenny's on the phone. Do you want to say hi?"

The swear words that he was hearing from his friend was mildly funny to hear. A mix of English and Japanese swear word Adam had heard over the years spilled out of the receiver. Ava didn't hear, she stared at Adam and her face turned bright red behind the curtain of black hair. Rae stood with her arms crossed, a little bit red in the face herself as Adam held up his phone.

Ava reached over and paused the video on the laptop she was sitting with on her bed. She stood up and walked over to Adam. The extremely short woman ducked her head and put out her hand.

"Here's Ava, Ken." Adam said before he handed the phone to her.

"K-Konichiwa, Kenny." She said in that tiny voice of hers. She was trying to use the other language he knew. It was cute.

Adam could almost see Kenny pacing in his kitchen in Japan, probably wearing a mark in the floor in the middle of the night. When he got to that point, which Adam had seen before, he turned into a teenager all over again.

"Uh huh," Ava said.

"What do you think you're doing?" Rae hissed at him.

"Helping a friend out." He looked at her.

"Okay. B-bye. Oh, Sayonara, Kenny." Ava said and then held the phone out to Adam. "He hung up and called you an asshole."

"I kind of figured. Night, ma'am. See you later, Rae." He tipped his imaginary hat and went back to the living room.

Adam didn't drink for the next two hours. But he was well aware that Rae would stick her head in from time to time as the others got in on a Smash Bros game to see who was paying for pizzas later. By the end of the party, it had been the first time in a long time that Adam hadn't drank to have some fun.

Thanks for reading. This was the best that I could come up with.