Labor Day. This specific day of the year where manual labor jobs earned a three-day weekend meant something entirely different to the students of Stamford University: This day hosted the first official party of the school year. The entirety of Greek Row would without a doubt be the rowdiest it would ever be during the year (except for maybe Homecoming, Halloween, and the End of the Year party).
Of course, this Labor Day celebration would be the first for Dean, Roman, Seth, and Zack as official members of BPO. No longer were they considered to be "pledges", but that didn't necessarily mean that the hazing and good-spirited down talk was going to stop any time soon.
Dean found that to be true come Monday morning with a text from new BPO Chapter President, Kevin Owens.
BPO Brothers,
Mandatory meeting at BPO in fifteen minutes. One second late, consider yourself banned from the festivities later tonight.
Sincerely, You're Worst Fucking Nightmare
Dean's excitement fueled grin couldn't be contained. Ever since he returned to SU, he'd looked forward to finding more time in his schedule for BPO however he could. Even the night before, Dean found it nearly impossible to sleep.
"Babe," Dean tapped his fiance on the back of her head. "I gotta get goin'. BPO meeting in fifteen."
Alexa poked her head out from under the comforter. "Holy shit, really?" She asked, wiping a little displaced drool from her chin with the heel of her hand. "You better get going then. You probably don't want to keep Sami waiting."
"Uh, Kevin, actually," Dean specified. "He used the wrong 'your'. It had to have been him."
Dean hurried around Alexa's bedroom, collecting his clothing from the floor. Alexa pulled herself onto her elbows, watching her man scurry about like a chicken with his head cut off. BPO, of course, wouldn't be the only ones starting up again. While Dean couldn't help how joyous he felt, Alexa had her plans in regards to ZBZ later in the day as well.
Dean, with a toothy grin slapped across his face, caught Alexa's eye, as well as her light smirk and soft eyes.
"What?" Dean asked with a slight chuckle.
"You just look so happy," Alexa responded. "I like it when you're excited."
"It's a good day to be alive, darlin'," Dean said. "BPO is back. The party later is going to kick major ass..." Ambrose glided back to the bed. He sat on the edge, leaning into his bride-to-be with a light smooch. "...it's been one year since I stole beer from this smokin' little blondie. It was the best decision I ever made in my life. I wonder whatever happened to her?"
Alexa giggled. "She decided to marry you and let you occupy her thoughts ninety-nine percent of the day."
Dean pecked Alexa's lips again. "Don't think half a blowjob is all I have planned for today. I promise we can get lunch or somethin' before we head to the lake. I owe you maybe ten thousand dances. I know how much you love those little cakes from Nitro, so I can grab one that says, 'Thanks for letting me sleep with you after I pissed you off and kinda assaulted you last year'."
Alexa scoffed. "If kissing me while running from people is assault, then what do you call the other shit you like to do to me?"
"Evidence," Dean replied simply, baiting a laugh from his beloved. "But you'll be married to me soon, so it's not like you can testify against me or anything."
Alexa lightly shook her head. "Such a dork. Maybe if you get done before me, you can swing by ZBZ? We can get lunch after our meeting. It doesn't have to be anything overly expensive."
"Well, no, but our one year since we officially started dating will be."
Alexa grinned. "And what about the first anniversary of our engagement?"
"Private jet to Vegas for a weekend of nonstop gambling and drinking."
Alexa kissed her boyfriend. "I might hold you up to that. You better hurry though. Now you only have, like, nine minutes to make it across campus."
Dean pecked his lips against Alexa's. He let it linger for a moment before switching his focus to her neck. Alexa exhaled sharply, rustling her fingers through Dean's shaggy hair. Dean nipped the soft skin over Alexa's clavicle. Alexa yelped in surprise, then pushed Dean off.
"Hurry!" Alexa giggled.
Dean rushed for the door. "I know! I love you!"
"I love you too! Have fun!" Alexa heard the door slam. She snickered and rolled her eyes. "God, I love him so much."
Alexa retrieved her phone. With a million of her ideas flowing through her head about the upcoming year for her sorority, Alexa sent out a mass text for a meeting to all those who already pledged to ZBZ.
Dean bounded up the front steps of BPO two at a time; His heart thumped with elated joy. Even though last year was mostly surviving the hazing and battling the recruitment process, Dean's most favorite parts of his Freshman year were everything he did with BPO. Whether it be parties, events, or just seeing his fraternity brothers on campus, Dean looked forward to BPO more than he did most things in his life.
Dean stepped into the front foyer of the familiar house. Luckily, he was still early and only a few people were waiting. Braun Strowman, Chad Gable, and Curtis Axel stood waiting in the front room.
"Gentlemen," Dean spoke with a grin. "Fancy seeing you here again."
Braun slapped a bear-sized paw on Ambrose's shoulder. "It feels good to be back."
"I'm just glad I won't have to take ice baths or eat slop anymore," Gable quipped, making the others chuckle.
Dean added, "Well, Kevin and Sami are in charge now. They might make us do the whole thing over for shits and giggles."
After not too long, the other current members of BPO made their way into the house, including, Zack, Roman, and Seth.
"The Mrs make you brush your teeth before you left?" Dean joked to his brother.
Roman shook his head. "I'm not mad that you say that, but I'm pretty pissed that she did do that."
"Should've stayed single..." Seth chuckled.
"Being bossed around and having a girlfriend is better than cheating and having no one, I'd say," Zack shot back.
Dean and Roman shared a laugh. Seth, though he didn't laugh, stuck out a fist for Zack to bump, silently admitting it was a good rib.
The active members of the chapter chatted with one another. The deadline had come and gone already, many times over in fact, but nobody was in a rush to hurry things along. There was a mutual feeling of ease in the room with everyone. BPO truly did feel like a home away from home away from home. That's why, when the meeting was officially about to start, nobody noticed Kevin or Sami looking over the upstairs banister.
"Hey, fuckers!" Kevin barked over the noise, bringing full attention to himself. "What the hell do you think you're all doing standing around?"
Nobody knew how to respond to that. Even Dean, who was usually quick with a sarcastic comeback, was taken slightly off guard by Kevin's words.
Sami spoke up. "Grab a beer, get in the living room. C'mon, guys! You should know this shit by now!"
A wave of cheers sounded from the crowd. Mr. Bootiesworth, the unofficial butler of house BPO, dragged a cooler into the living room. Every member took an ice-cold can of beer. Kevin and Sami, each taking a can of beer for themselves, stood at the front of the room before everyone.
Kevin nodded slowly. "Welcome the fuck back, everyone!"
More cheers and sharp whistles erupted. Kevin held his beer in the air, spoke a few words in French, then sipped his beverage. Everyone else followed suit, sharing a toast to the beginning of a new year.
"Now, let's talk business for a minute," Kevin said. "Tonight is the Labor Day party. Everyone who goes here knows what's going on tonight. It's in our top four parties all year. One of Sami's and myself's responsibilities as co-presidents is to make sure this party is one of the fucking best. I'm not saying we 'Project X' this house and burn the neighborhood to the ground, but we cannot let this party flop. Bring your friends, bring women, bring beer, bring more women, bring more beer..."
"Do NOT request fucking country music tonight!" Sami cut in.
"Especially that," Kevin continued. "Tell everyone you see on the street that this party is happening. I want this year to start the best it possibly can. I want people to look at BPO and think, 'oh those guys? They're the coolest mother fuckers on campus. They throw these parties that would make Rob Gronkowski jealous.' I want us to be so successful that we have other schools calling us about bringing a chapter to them. That was Christian's ultimate goal and I want us to plant the seeds of expansion becoming a thing. Any questions?"
Gable raised his hand. "How come the party was in August of last year? And why was it still considered the Labor Day party?"
Kevin shrugged. "I have no idea. Something to do with campus security and John Laurenitis throwing his weight around thinking he has any fuckin' say it what we do."
"Any questions about tonight or BPO in general?" Sami asked.
Dean raised his hand. "Is the pre-game still at Lake Backlund?"
"Good question, Ambrose. Unlike Gable. Yes, the pre-party is still at Lake Backlund like it was last year. Spreading the word down there is just as important as telling other students. If we get a few townies or LEGAL age high school seniors, then that's awesome. Anything else?"
Nobody else raised their hand. Kevin nodded. "Ok, good. Alright, mandatory participation time. We're gonna go around the room, tell me one important thing you did this Summer."
"Are we middle school girls?" Gable snickered.
"You are one bad joke from getting kicked in the face, Gable," Sami shot back.
The laughter Gable was looking for blew up in his face. Kevin shook his head and nodded over at Braun.
"Start with you, big man," Kevin said.
Braun shook his head. "I don't know. I didn't do a lot this Summer. I just hung out with my girlfriend and helped out on my family's farm."
"Did you get laid?" Sami asked.
Braun chuckled sheepishly. A wave of excited exclamations sounded from the rest of his BPO brothers.
"Yeah, I did," Braun established. "It was the Fourth of July. Papa and Nana were shooting fireworks on their property. Sarah and I went for a walk in the cornfield after that. She told me she was ready, so..."
"In a cornfield?" Dean quipped.
Kevin nodded. "Congrats, Strowman. You're officially a man now."
Dean stuck out his fist towards his teammate. "My man. Atta boy."
Braun bashfully touched his knuckles with Dean's.
"Zack?" Kevin continued.
"I got married," Zack held up his left hand, showcasing his silver wedding band. "Bay and I tied the knot during the Summer. Found out we're having twins."
"Marriage and babies, eh?" Kevin commented.
"Thanks for the invite, by the way," Sami shot back with a snicker.
"I did invite you," Zack stated. "Remember? You broke customs and ate a hotdog and Kevin tried hooking up with my cousin."
"Oh yeah..."
Kevin looked to Dean next. "Your turn, dipshit."
Dean exhaled heavily. "Well... fuck, I can't think of anything."
"Even if it's something lame like paying taxes," Sami clarified. "Doesn't matter."
Dean grinned. "Uh, I had sex on Disney property."
"Me too," Roman said.
"Same here," Zack added.
"Ditto," Seth bragged.
Dean furrowed his brow when Seth spoke up. As far as he knew, Seth spent the weekend alone. AJ and Dana were with each other the whole time, and none of the bridesmaids were near Seth during the reception. Seth noticed Dean's skeptical look but didn't say anything.
Eventually, everyone had their turn. Kevin purposefully skipped over Gable after his stupid comments earlier. Roman mentioned getting a new girlfriend, while Seth talked about spending time with old friends while visiting his parents.
"That's everyone," Kevin confirmed. "The pre-game starts in two hours at the lake. Do not be late or consider yourself out of BPO. I cannot stress enough how important this all is to us, especially everyone in this room."
Everyone started to go about their business.
"Ambrose!" Kevin called out. "Private meeting in the chapter room. Right now."
Dean looked to his two best friends for their input. Roman shrugged; Seth shook his head, having no idea what it was about either.
"Comin'," Dean replied, following the co-presidents to the chapter room.
Dean entered the back office, making sure to shut the door behind him. Kevin took a seat behind the desk, propping his feet up while Sami sat in a beanbag chair off to the side. Ambrose plopped down in one of the armchairs in front of the desk.
"Dean Ambrose," Kevin began, drawing the member's name out like he was trying to pronounce it correctly.
"That would be me," Dean replied. "The man, the myth, the delightfully deplorable."
Kevin spoke again. "Before Christian left last year, he gave me a DVD to play before the party tonight. He made sure to bring you in before we watched it. I haven't seen it yet because I gave it to Sami to hang onto, and he lost it in his car and only found it yesterday morning. Now, I don't know what our former president would want with a pile of shit such as yourself, but I was never one to question his orders."
Dean chuckled. "I appreciate the compliment, sir."
Sami placed the disc in question on the DVD tray. Kevin switched on the flat-screen TV, then switched the input to "Media Player."
Once Kevin hit play, there was a brief moment of just black screen, but then the familiar face of former BPO President, Christian Cage, popped up.
"Hey, fuckers," Christian spoke, looking directly into the camera. "First things first: Kevin, get your feet off my desk. Sami? If I see that beanbag in my office, I'm stuffing you in it and throwing it in the lake."
Kevin pulled his feet off the desk the moment Christian mentioned it. Sami, with a shrug, stayed sitting in his beanbag.
The pre-recording of Christian continued talking. "Now, as I mentioned last year, my hope for BPO going forward is expanding to as many schools as possible. At the time of this recording, fourteen states have at least one BPO chapter on campus. There are roughly five thousand universities in the entire United States. If we can somehow manage to plant BPO at every single one, that would be fucking incredible. Tau Kappa Epsilon has two hundred and ninety across the country. I might never see that kind of expansion in my lifetime, but I want to see us give it our best fucking shot. I gave four years of my life to BPO, and I will have that until the day I die. I want BPO to be the biggest and best. And I know that, with Kevin and Sami taking over next year, it will continue to grow. I'm assuming Dean is in the room right now, so I want to talk to him specifically right now. Dean, of your entire pledge class, you were the one that showed the most promise. I wasn't joking when I said I wanted you to run BPO one day. You can, because you have the same 'kiss my ass, I'm going to do what I want' mentality that this fraternity needs. Brotherhood, loyalty, and reputation are what BPO is built upon. I know the three of you won't let me down. When it comes to recruitment, I want Dean to be in charge of bringing in new members. Shape them to be like you, Dean... maybe not exactly like you since you're a pile of dog shit, but I want them to all think like you. Alright, enough of this shit, I want you guys to go throw the best party of the year. I still have no fucking idea why some people thought August was the same as Labor Day. It was August fucking twelfth. I don't get why-" The video cut off before Christian finished his sentence.
Dean sat staring at the screen in utter disbelief. He knew Christian had faith in him to one day lead BPO, but he didn't know it would be this soon. It was no small task either. Recruiting members to BPO meant ensuring the survival of the fraternity. If nobody new joined, then SU BPO could easily shut down and fade into obscurity. Dean knew this would be hard work, but he also didn't even consider the idea of letting Christian down.
"Wow," Kevin said. "Mr fuckin' Big Shot over here..."
"One less pain in the ass we have to deal with," Sami pointed out.
"Fuck, man," Dean muttered.
"You better not fuck this up," Kevin warned.
Dean shook his head. "No... fuck no, I won't."
Alexa Bliss' heart couldn't be beating faster than it was right now. House ZBZ was her full responsibility now, and its success rested completely on her shoulders. Whether or not she would be able to pull this off was still up for debate, but she didn't plan on backing out no matter how much her anxiety skyrocketed.
Bliss greeted each of her returning sisters as they entered the sorority. Bayley was the first to arrive. The hugger embraced her friend tightly, making Alexa's back pop in several different places.
"Glad you could make it back, Bayley," Alexa praised.
"Of course, silly goose," Bayley chirped. "ZBZ is still the bestest sorority in the whole entire world. Michael and Minerva continuously dropkicking my bladder won't stop me from coming to meetings."
Alexa grinned. "Good. I'm glad you could make it, sweetie. I set out snacks in the living room. And yes, we have extra-salted pretzels."
Bayley's eyes widened. "Oh? Well, maybe I'll take a few samples to make sure they aren't poisoned or anything."
Several more returning members walked in, including Sarah Logan, Cathy Kelley, Ember Moon, and Liv Morgan. Alexa was about to close the door and begin the meeting, but a strong hand poked through and held the door ajar at the last moment.
"Hello, love," Becky, with Sonya in tow, stepped into the front room of House ZBZ. "Sorry, we're late. Mornin' practice ran a little behind."
"No problem at all, Becky," Alexa flashed a smile at Sonya. "Sonya. It's so good to see you again. Are you interested in pledging to Zeta Beta Zeta?"
Sonya shrugged. "Figured I'd give it some thought. Becky was talking about this party tonight. It sounds fuckin' kick ass."
"Oh, aye," Becky agreed. "How about you save us a spot, eh? I need ta talk ta 'Lexa real quick."
Sonya nodded, then departed after a kiss from her girlfriend. Becky watched Sonya saunter away for a moment, then turned her full attention to her the chapter's president.
"I'm guessing Charlotte isn't coming?" Alexa asked.
Becky frowned. "I dunno. I haven't talked ta her much since the weddin'. Maybe she'll show up later er somethin'."
"Yeah, maybe," Alexa figured.
Alexa took her spot at the front of the living room. A nervous chuckle escaped her lips as everyone turned their full attention to the tiny brunette. Alexa sighed, then took a deep breath.
"Welcome back, everyone," Alexa told the room full of young women. "I'm amazed by the turn out this year. A few people didn't come back, which is perfectly fine. Those of you who did are freakin' rockstars. And we do have one potential new member. Everyone, this is Sonya Deville. She's a Freshman this year from... New York?"
"Jersey," Sonya corrected politely. "Shamong, if you want."
"Well, ZBZ welcomes you," Alexa turned her focus to the entire group again. "This meeting won't take long, because we do have a busy day planned. There are snacks here if you're hungry. And that is if Bayley wants to share her pretzels."
"Nope," Bayley stated, earning a few laughs in response. The pregnant hugger used her baby bump as a makeshift shelf for her snack of choice.
Alexa cleared her throat. "So, Trish started this chapter to make a difference for the women on campus. Sororities like Delta Xi Alpha, Gamma Pi, and Epsilon Sigma Rho like to recruit based on looks or legacy. That is unfair to a lot of students at SU. I'm not saying you aren't attractive either. You are all extremely beautiful in your own way, and one of the reasons ZBZ was brought to SU was to bring that point to light. Anybody from any background, race, religion, or sexual orientation can be a ZBZ sister. I want to spread the word of ZBZ tonight during the party. Anyone you want can join. Of course, the process will be the same for everyone interested in joining."
Liv raised her hand. "Where's AJ?"
Alexa chewed her tongue. "AJ is taking time away from school right now. She'll be back before the end of the semester."
"She was really fun," Sarah added; Many others agreed with her.
Alexa nodded. "I agree. Which is why she'll be welcomed back with open arms."
"Oooh oooh!" Bayley's hand shot up. "Can I initiate my daughter?"
Cathy spoke up. "We get it, you're pregnant."
Bayley playfully stuck her tongue out at Cathy as the others laughed in good spirits. Seeing everyone laughing and having a good time helped raise Alexa's spirits. Her main concern of most people, heaven forbid everyone, losing interest in ZBZ with her at the helm had minimalized to a near-microscopic size.
Alexa continued. "If you guys have any other questions, feel free to ask. Otherwise, I'll see you all later at BPO. The pre-party is at Lake Backlund at two, by the way."
The current members of ZBZ had pretty much stayed seated, choosing to talk with one another and enjoy the assorted refreshments. Alexa chatted with Liv and Bayley until she heard the front door open. Alexa politely excused herself, then walked through the archway into the front foyer.
Dean stepped into the house. "Is this where I can sign up?"
Alexa crossed her arms, a broad smile stretching across her face. "Excuse me? Is this an invasion from Beta Pi Omega?"
Dean held out a plastic food container. "More like, Beta Cake Omega. Get it? Cuz it's cake and not pie..."
"You went to Nitro and got me one of the mini cakes?" Alexa read the icing through the lid. "'Happy One Year, My Love. Forever Yours, Dean.'"
"They had flavored frosting," Dean pointed out excitedly. "I managed to snag the last chocolate fudge cake. I know how much you love those, and they were always out back home. The icing is cherry, cuz I know that's your favorite icing to go with fudge."
Alexa gripped Dean by the front of his shirt. Dean breathed an excited yell that was quickly silenced by his fiance's sweet kiss. Alexa held her dear fiance close, feeling the seconds tick by like hours. Dean felt his hands over Alexa's hips, dragging his palms up her sides, then quickly tickling his fingers over her ribs. Alexa broke the kiss as she broke out in a fit of giggles.
"I take it that means you like it?" Dean asked.
Alexa nodded. "I love it, baby. I want to eat the whole thing right now, but I don't want to feel bloated in my bikini later."
Dean cocked an eyebrow. "The blue one or the yellow?"
"Red and white, if you're lucky," Alexa cooed.
Dean grinned. "Well, I've always been lucky. How'd the meeting go?"
"Good. I was a little nervous, but I kept it short and sweet. Becky brought Sonya, so I already have one new pledge."
"One down, ten million more to go," Dean looked off in the direction of BPO. "Maybe we should have a competition and see who can recruit the most people to their houses. Christian wants me to lead the recruiting process."
"Holy shit, are you serious?" Alexa asked.
Dean nodded. "As serious as Bayley's pregnancy tests."
Alexa glanced around the room, deep in thought. "Maybe we should see who can recruit the most people. Loser buys dinner for a month?"
"Loser wears the dress at our wedding," Dean suggested.
Alexa's brow was raised with curiosity. "You would wear a dress if I won?"
"I've done more for less, babe."
"I believe that, and it scares me a little," Alexa fed her fingers through Dean's. "So, where are you taking me for lunch? We still have a little bit before the pre-party."
Dean said, "How about Vega's? It seems a little sardonic to our old pal Seth, but I've missed the salty food and harsh criticism from the wait staff if I don't order extra cheese on everything."
Alexa giggled. "I could go for a greasy cheeseburger. Grease helps prevent a hangover, right?"
"It helps nurse a hangover," Dean pointed out. "God knows what helps stop one, but he likes to laugh and not tell us mere mortals the secret."
Alexa's face lit up. "Oh, that reminds me. I want to show you the President's Suite later."
Dean furrowed his brow. "The what?"
"I get the biggest bedroom in the house because I'm the ZBZ President now," Alexa specified. "Only I'm allowed a key and nobody else is supposed to share with me."
Dean snickered. "Well, that's no fun."
"But I am allowed to make a few exceptions," Alexa teased with a wink. "Maybe BPO and ZBZ have a few meetings to discuss our houses' relationship."
"BPO's recruiter having a slumber party with the ZBZ president?" Dean gasped. "I smell a scandal. Where's the school paper?"
Alexa giggled. "You are adorable. Come on, I wanna get to Vega's before it's too late. I'll let you have some cake if we hurry."
Dean opened the front door. "Then you lead the way, m'lady."
Alexa pecked her boyfriend on the cheek. She bid farewell to her ZBZ sisters, then ventured outside with Dean.
Becky's day started simple and unproblematic with Sonya tucked under her arm and the gentle lemon-yellow sun peeking through her curtains. Life was good, but things would take a drastic turn as Lynch was about to find out.
Becky always liked to think she came prepared for most things in life. That's why she took it upon herself to wear her swimsuit to the ZBZ meeting so she didn't have to return to her dorm to change. Sonya, however, didn't do the same and needed a return trip to Race Dormitories to retrieve the proper clothing.
Becky stood outside her apartment building, glancing at her phone through her dark-rimmed sunglasses. Thankfully, this Labor Day was warm enough for Becky to feel comfortable enough to wait around in her black bikini top and a pair of baggy gym shorts over her bottoms; Plus, with all her hard work in the weight room, Becky felt like showing off her progress a bit. Sonya promised to be back before long, but Becky knew her girlfriend liked to take her time getting changed, which was no problem since Becky's unproblematic morning still had her in good spirits.
Becky sent a selfie of herself waiting outside the building to her girlfriend. Sonya, making Becky laugh cheekily and hide her phone, sent a photo of her naked body with the caption "might just wear this". Becky, though she was a mess of giggles, playfully agreed to the idea.
"Hey, Bex."
Becky looked up from her phone. Her bright grin instantly dropped to a frown. Charlotte Flair, the last person Becky wanted to see while her spirits were through the roof, approached the Irishwoman's position on the sidewalk.
Becky rolled her eyes. "What?"
Charlotte shrugged. "Just walking by. I'm meeting someone at Duggan Hall to give me a ride to the lake."
"No, why are you talking to me?" Becky pressed, her annoyance quickly flaring up.
"Bex, come on. I apologized a million times. I'm not allowed to say hi now?"
Becky crossed her arms. "Sonya wouldn' like seeing ya out here."
"Even after I chased away that wannabe Amanda Nunez?" Charlotte chuckled.
Becky nodded lightly. "Yeah, that was nice of ya. Saved me a trip to the police station."
"Right? You looked like you wanted to kill the bitch. Who was that anyway?"
"Jus' a gurl that used to pick on Sonya in high school," Becky sighed. "Apparently, t'ere's an ongoing t'eme with the lesbians on campus. But you wouldn't know."
Charlotte frowned. "Becky, I'm not gay."
"Here we go..."
"I'm not!" Charlotte insisted. "I mean... I'm attracted to guys. I'm not attracted to women."
"Did you forget what's in me pants?" Becky quipped.
Charlotte tried a stern front, but a slight smirk broke through. "I haven't. I'm... attracted to one girl, but she's got a girlfriend, so it's not like I can do anything about it."
Becky crossed her arms. "So that's t'e real reason yer tryin' ta talk to me?"
"Yeah? I don't want you to feel weird. I'm trying to be more honest with myself lately. I'm just glad the paparazzi decided to take the day off today and doesn't make this conversation a front-page story."
Becky felt a little twinge of sorrow for Charlotte. Aside from the conflicted feelings and rocky relationship between the two, Becky knew about the dilemma Charlotte's family was going through. She'd watched the news and saw Ric was in a world of shit. Even though she was supposed to hate Charlotte, and laughed when Sonya made a few snide comments about how much the Flairs deserved this lawsuit, Becky still felt horrible for her ex-friend.
"How is yer dad?" Becky asked.
Charlotte shook her head. "I'm not allowed to talk to him. His lawyers think he should focus solely on the lawsuit and apparently, his kids are a distraction. My step-mom calls me sometimes, but she's not allowed to talk about the case."
Becky dropped her head. "I'm sorry it's shite. I can't imagine what it's like fer you lot."
"All of my credit accounts are frozen, so I don't have to worry about maxing out my cards," Charlotte chuckled.
Becky grinned. "Right, because yer so worried about t'at."
"I still have a separate savings account. I might have to get a job if I want to keep attending SU."
Becky feigned a gasp of shock. "What? Does Charlotte Flair need to work? Call t'e presses, I 'ave t'e story of t'e century!"
Charlotte chuckled. "Fuck you, Becky."
"Yeah, you would."
"I would, but you're with Sonya," Charlotte admitted under her breath.
Becky's smile faded. "You'd just run off again."
"No..." Charlotte wondered if she should go into further detail about her latest experiment with Eva, or even the dabble into adult videos starring two women, but she decided to keep those cards close to her chest.
"I will admit t'at I came on a little strong," Becky said. "You were a good friend in Cabo. T'en you kissed me the night befer formal and I assumed you were ready."
"Alcohol is a funny thing, Bex."
Becky furrowed her brow. "How do you feel now?"
"Just a stupid crush. I'll probably live."
"Only probably?" Snickered Becky.
"Give my eulogy at the funeral if I don't," Charlotte fired back.
Becky bellowed a loud belly laugh. Charlotte grinned, loving the fact that Becky was starting to warm back up to her, from the sounds of it at least.
Becky settled down with a light giggle. As she tried to think of what to say next, Charlotte cupped her cheek and pressed her lips together. Becky's heart melted as a wave of desire washed over her soul, but she stepped back and covered her mouth, shocked at what she'd just done.
Charlotte searched the area, making sure they weren't being watched; God forbid a random asshole with a camera happened to catch them.
Becky didn't say anything. She stayed rooted to her spot on the concrete, her brain on fire but her heart slowly sinking to her feet.
"I'll see you at BPO later," Charlotte promised, then made an effort to quickly walk away.
Becky's mind had been wiped like a dry erase board. Her heart knew she'd just done something unforgivable with a woman she wasn't even supposed to be talking to. But her brain, and especially her loins, begged her to uproot her feet and chase the blonde woman down and return the favor. Before that option could be seriously considered, Becky felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. It was a selfie of Sonya in a black swimsuit top and dark green trunks with white trim. Becky, a wall of guilt lowering on her, realized the girl on her phone was exiting the building in front of her.
"Hey," Sonya slipped an arm around Becky's waist. "Ready to go?"
Becky crushed her lips against her girlfriend's. Sonya, pleasantly surprised by the sudden show of affection, squeezed herself a quick feel of Becky's ass.
Sonya broke the kiss. "Well, hey there."
"Hey yourself," Becky cooed.
"Those selfies did the trick, huh?"
Becky imagined Sonya's nude body from a moment before, but the image blurred behind a visual of Charlotte's nude body from the night of Zack and Bayley's wedding.
"Yes, luv," Becky sighed. "So sexy. And all mine."
"All yours," Sonya repeated with a smirk. "Save it for later. I wanna get to the lake. Are Finn and Liv here yet?"
Becky happened to glance up the road just as Finn's car came into view. Becky, still feeling like a terrible person, waved her friend down. Hopefully, mass amounts of alcohol and other substances could get her mind off of Charlotte.
Dean Ambrose stood on the shoreline of Lake Backlund, a can of beer rested in his hand and a smile stretching across his face.
"This looks familiar," he told Roman, who was watching Tessa slowly descend into the dark blue water.
"I vaguely remember something like this happening last year," replied Roman. "We weren't dating anyone though."
Dean found his fiance, clad in her red and white bikini, near the shallower end of the lake with Bayley.
"I know I've always been lucky, but never this lucky," Dean told.
"Who woulda thunk it?" Roman chuckled.
Dean turned to his right. "You don't look like you used to, Seth. What the hell happened?"
Becky, who Dean was speaking to, slowly shook her head. "I don' know why I still talk ta you sometimes."
Dean chuckled. "Because you don't have much choice."
"Yer probably right there, lad."
Alexa waved from the water. "That's my cue," Dean announced, heading for the lake.
Becky looked up at the cliff face over-looking the lake. "I'm gonna head up, Roman. Wanna come with?"
Roman nodded. "Yeah, why not?"
Dean embraced his fiance from behind and lifted her into the air. Alexa yelled out gleefully, ordering her fiance to put her back down.
"I was saving you from drowning!" Dean insisted with a laugh.
"Uh-huh," Alexa splashed some water. "Dick. You wanna head up? Tessa and Sonya were saying they wanted to jump off. I convinced them it's SU tradition for Freshman and transfers to jump off the cliff."
"You little devil," Dean teased. "I think you spend too much time with me, babe."
Alexa smirked. "That could be changed if you really think so."
Dean pecked Alexa with a kiss. "You look fuckin' incredible, by the way. I like the view."
Alexa pushed her hands in Dean's pockets. "You're my best view."
Dean shrugged. "Nah."
Alexa giggled. "Come on, let's head up," she turned to Bayley and Zack. "Are you guys gonna come with us?"
"I can't jump off!" Bayley chirped.
"Well, then just come up and watch us jump-off," Dean offered.
Alexa's eyes widened. "What the hell do you mean 'us'?"
Dean moved his hand back and forth between himself and Alexa. "You and me. You're not chickening out on me, little Miss Bliss."
Alexa crossed her arms. "No. Dean."
"You act like I can't pick you up and carry you up the cliff."
Alexa chuckled dryly. "If you even come near me, I'll cut you off for a month."
Dean thought Alexa's comment over for a second, making Alexa think he was reconsidering, but then he flung Alexa over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes with extreme ease. Alexa, stuck between giggling and screaming, kicked her feet and begged for help. Zack helped Bayley to her feet, then both halves of the married couple calmly followed their other two friends up the cliff face.
Seth Rollins already made the tedious hike to the top of the cliff long before Dean tried to carry Alexa to the top. Rollins watched in awe when his best friend managed to make the entire trip with a tiny woman draped over his shoulders in a fireman's carry, but burst out laughing when Dean, sweating and out of air, dropped to his back and struggled to catch his breath.
Seth sipped his beer, searching the crowd for anyone he could talk to that he hadn't already been acquainted with. His eyes spotted a few people he knew, but he did a double-take when one of the people were looking back at him. Seth grinned, recognizing the blonde almost instantly.
"Dana, hey," Seth greeted his ex with a side hug. "I haven't seen you since the wedding. How's it going?"
"I'm alright," said the aforementioned woman. "I got dragged out here by some of the girls on my softball team. I would've just stayed in my dorm, but it can never be that simple."
Seth chuckled. "I know the feeling. It seems I do a lot of dumb shit for my friends."
Dana nodded, trying to shake the mild awkwardness from the conversation. "Have you talked to AJ since the wedding?"
Seth shook his head. "No, why?"
"She calls sometimes. We just talk about how she's doing and if she's missing anything important. I think she's just making sure you and I don't get back together."
Seth snickered. "That won't happen. I'm too busy chasing off crazy Latinas to focus on a girlfriend these days."
"You're not with anyone right now?" Dana asked.
Seth shook his head. "Nope. I hooked up with a Freshman a few weeks ago. Now she won't leave me alone. But my roommate is also hooking up with her. It's complicated."
"Isn't that your middle name, Seth?" Dana joked.
Seth shrugged. "Yeah, probably," as he said that, he noticed Toni climbing up the cliffside. "Seth 'Fucking Complicated' Rollins."
The exes stood in silence for a moment. The people Dana was with called for her to come back, which made Dana laugh and assure them it'd be only another second. Seeing Dana's grin made Seth happy, while at the same time miss the days when they were together. But still, with everything they'd been through with Seth's affair, the Impala, AJ, Halloween, and a million other things, it was clear the best option for both was to remain, at the most, good friends for the time being.
Dana said, "It's been nice talking to you. Maybe we can get together for a coffee or something. Just to chat."
Seth nodded. "I'd like that. Shit talk some of our classmates or somethin'."
Dana grinned. "Yeah, sure. Or maybe you could show me your cool car."
"Remember that? Simpler times."
"Yeah... way more simple."
Seth hugged Dana once more, even offering a quick peck on the cheek. Seth then made his way over to the football team's kicker, whose skin-tight dark blue swimsuit made Seth's thump in his chest.
Dean laid sprawled over the warm rocky surface near the peak of the incline leading to the popular jumping-off point. He thought carrying Alexa would be a simple enough task, which it normally was, but he failed to realize that walking up a cliffside with his tiny fiance on his shoulders wasn't the same as carrying her from the living room to the bedroom.
Alexa knelt beside her fiance. "You know I'm not that heavy, right?" she joked, scratching her fingers over Dean's chest and stomach.
Dean stared up at the clouds. "Yeah, but I felt like being dramatic. Besides, I have a leg cramp and from this POV all I see is booby."
Alexa snickered. "You say you're an adult, but the second you see boobs you turn into a third-grader again."
"Well, yeah," Dean stated. "Every guy, no matter what they do for a living or how old they are, will giggle like a child when they see boobs. Every single time."
Alexa gasped. "Oh no! He needs CPR!"
The tiny brunette started to lightly push on Dean's chest. Dean sputtered a laugh, wondering what suddenly got into his fiance to give her this boost of goofy energy. Alexa then pressed her lips against Dean's, drawing the kiss out and sliding her tongue into his mouth.
"There! I saved him!" Alexa announced.
Dean shook his head. "No, you made it worse. Your kisses take my breath away, babe."
"I'm going to shove you off this cliff," Alexa shot back, baiting a wild cackle out of Dean. "And not where there's water either."
Near the cliff's edge, Zack traded light conversation with Roman, Seth, and Toni. Bayley had strongly considered the idea of taking her first Backlund Bound (the traditional dive off the cliff) but knew doing so wouldn't be in favor of her unborn children's health, so she decided sticking close to dry land and away from large heights was best.
Given what occurred the last time she was twenty feet above the water on a rocky cliffside, Becky was wary of her girlfriend. The year prior, Sasha shoved Becky into the water after she'd foolishly let her guard down. Becky wasn't sure if Sonya would do the same, but she kept her girlfriend in her view at all times just in case. Lynch's focus also rested on a certain blonde woman floating on an inner tube towards the center of the lake... to be fair, Becky wasn't focused on Charlotte's hair, but something else on Charlotte's anatomy; Two "somethings," if she was being honest.
"So why are some people saying this party was in August last year?" Sonya asked the small group of women she stood amongst. The others consisted of her girlfriend, Bayley, Tessa, and Toni occasionally turning away from the boys to listen in.
Bayley spoke up. "John Larengitus threatened to shut it down because of some noise complaints two years ago. So, instead of holding it on Labor Day and getting everyone in trouble, all the fraternities agreed to have it a month early and still consider it the 'Labor Day' party."
Sonya chuckled. "John what? Is that his real name?"
Bayley grinned. "No. It's John Laurinaitis; He's head of Student Affairs. Stephanie McMahon is the boss, and then there's a bunch of branches under her."
"So why aren't we being busted right now?" Asked Toni, tuning in away from the boys.
"Because Mr. Laurinaitis isn't that smart and thought we were having the party in August again," Bayley giggled.
Sonya turned to comment something to Becky but paused once she noticed her girlfriend looking off into the distance.
"Babe?" Sonya nudged Becky with her elbow. "Whatcha lookin' at?"
Becky snapped out of her trance. "What, lass?"
Sonya scoffed. "Were you looking at another girl?"
Becky shook her head. "N-no, of course not! It was just, erm, Toni."
Toni snickered. "Cheers, mate."
Sonya gave the New Zealander a once over. "Ok, fair enough," she told her girlfriend. "I suppose you get a pass. I was looking at 'Mommy Boobs' Bayley once or twice too."
"Ohmygosh, can you tell?" Bayley asked excitedly, looking at her chest. "My baby doctor says they're filling with milk. I think I've gone up two cup sizes."
"I am not complaining," Zack muttered with a grin.
Bayley flashed her husband a sultry smirk and lifted her sunglasses to flutter a wink.
"How far along is she now?" Dean asked Zack.
"Uh, almost thirty weeks? I think," Zack figured, trying to count back the days since Cabo. "Dr. Sinclair says everything is going perfect with the kids. Everything should be good by December."
"Are you guys still... ya know, 'riding the pony'?"
Zack shook his head. "No. I'm convinced I'll accidentally hurt one of the kids or Bayley."
"Yeah, but they're guarded by, like, a wall of muscles and placebo."
"Placenta." Roman corrected.
"What did I say?"
"Placebo."
"Oh."
Zack shrugged. "Yeah, but still. It's weird. Bay's fine with it, and I've been fine not having sex since April."
Dean inhaled so quickly that he almost choked on his beer. Zack switched his gaze to Roman and Seth, who were exchanging a look and laughing at Dean's expense.
Dean slapped a hand over Zack's shoulder. "Change that or you're out of BPO."
"Oh, fuck you," Zack chortled. "You have no jurisdiction over that."
"As twenty-eighteen BPO recruiter, you better or you're out," Dean lightly slapped Zack's back. "I mean it. Don't make me do this, man."
Seth's active effort in not staring at Toni's mesmerizing body started to falter when she adjusted her shorts so they didn't stick directly to her skin. It was a shame she wasn't in a traditional bikini bottom, but Seth knew better than to think of a teammate that way. Seth's focus cut away from Toni's ass when she looked in his direction and cocked her eyebrow. Seth grinned sheepishly, but his stomach dropped when he realized Taya Conti was heading in his direction.
"You alright, mate?" Toni asked.
Seth handed Toni his beer. "I gotta go." With that, Seth took a running start and jumped from the cliff into the crystal-clear water below.
Dean, Roman, Zack, and Toni looked over the ledge. Seth resurfaced and started swimming back for the beach.
"You know, I've seen a lot of crazy shit in my life," Dean began as he watched his friend. "But I have never seen someone jump off a cliff to get away from a girl before. It's amazing."
Zack suddenly yelled out and fell off the side of the rock formation. Bayley, with a flurry of excited giggling, quickly backed away from the ledge.
Dean and Roman spun on their heels. Alexa and Tessa were slowly approaching them like a lion stalking a gazelle.
"Well, Ro, this is it," Dean said in a way like he was giving a eulogy. "I always knew a hot chick would eventually kill me, but never like this."
Alexa's cheeks lifted with a sassy smile. "Hiya. The water looks nice, right? Maybe you should check it out for me."
"Ok." In a flash, Dean grabbed Alexa by the arm and pulled her over the edge with him.
Alexa screamed at the top of her lungs, a mixture of fear and adrenaline scrapping her throat raw as she plummeted below the icy water. Alexa was a decent swimmer, but her petite size was always going to factor into her ability to retain water. Thankfully, the same hands that pulled her off the cliff helped her to the surface.
"What happened?" Dean asked rhetorically with a shit-eating grin. "I think you slipped. You're so lucky I saved your life."
"I hate you!" Alexa giggled, clinging to Dean for dear life.
"But you're so wet for me right now!" Dean quipped.
Alexa rolled her eyes but draped her arms around her fiance's neck. The young couple shared a kiss, holding each other close while Dean kicked his feet to keep them above water. Suddenly, a loud splat landed beside them, drenching both Alexa and Dean once again.
"Oy, this isn't where I parked me car," Becky said once resurfacing.
"Eat a dick, Lynch!" Dean called after Becky when she started swimming towards where Sonya landed.
"No, sir!" Becky called back.
Alexa giggled. "I love you so much." She told her fiance, staring into his dark eyes with loving admiration.
Dean grinned. "One year ago, today, this little perfect blonde girl came to my apartment and begged me to bang her. I turned her away and never saw her again though."
"Oh, did you?" Alexa snickered. "She didn't turn your life completely upside down?"
"She turned it right side up, actually," Dean said.
Alexa pecked her man on the lips. "Get us to shore. I wanna figure out how everyone's getting to BPO so we can figure out carpooling and stuff."
"Okie dokie," Dean placed Alexa on his back like Luke Skywalker carrying Yoda. "Hang on, spider monkey. We'll be on dry land soon."
Alexa giggled gleefully and pecked her fiance on the cheek.
Beta Pi Omega's SU headquarters thumped with the heavy bass of a modern pop song about dancing, partying, drinking, and having a good time. The halls of the massive house overflowed with people and spilled onto the front lawn and into the backyard, most of them mimicking the actions the song described. The night had hardly just begun and it didn't seem like the Labor Day festivities were about to slow down any time soon either.
In the backyard of BPO, the house was holding a multi-fraternity beer pong tournament for everyone and anyone. Dean and Zack, both already making tremendous strides in both having their fair share of alcohol as well as the tournament, were mere moments away from defeating Akira and Apollo from Sigma Nu.
"I'm sorry I have to do this to you," Dean said, dropping his ball in a cup of water before taking his shot.
"Take the shot, bitch," Apollo fired back.
Dean shrugged. "BPO sends its regards." He tossed his ping-pong ball through the air; It landed perfectly in the last remaining red solo cup on the other side.
The small crowd watching the game let out a loud cheer. Dean pulled Zack into a hug as they chugged the rest of their beers. Apollo shook his head and angrily sipped his drink, but Akira had already disappeared into the house again by the time Crews was looking for him.
Mr. Bootiesworth, who was keeping track of the tournament on a giant dry-erase board, moved Zack and Dean's names to the next section of the bracket. A freshman guy and girl were up next against two of DXA's hotter members, Mandy Rose and Charly Caruso. Mandy was still in her bikini top from earlier with tattered jean shorts that hardly passed for clothing. Charly wore a DXA crop top that barely covered her chest. The freshman guy's jaw dropped, which prompted the girl to smack him.
Dean found his fiance waiting for him on the back patio; Bayley threw herself at her husband, wrapping Zack in a bone-crushing embrace.
"You're getting better," Alexa told Dean after a peck on his cheek.
"I think I'm losing my edge," Dean said. "I got a shot off the china cabinet last year. I couldn't even call 'elbows' half the time. Maybe I should stop drinking..."
Alexa's eyes went wide. "Dean Cornelious Ambrose not drinking at a BPO party? I think I've seen everything now."
Dean swiped a beer from the ice trough. "I'm kidding. If I ever go sober, assume the apocalypse is near."
Alexa grinned. "I'll keep that in mind, babe."
Seth Rollins' attempts at having a normal day had been going relatively well. That was until he caught sight of his ex-girlfriend enjoying herself while on the arm of her other not-so-ex-boyfriend. Zelina had apparently still chosen to attend SU even with Seth also going to school there. The idea that Andrade also was accepted just made Seth cringe. The fact that Seth had seen more of Zelina in the last few days than he'd like almost ruined his entire Sophmore year. Luckily, Toni, Dean, and various others of his teammates and BPO brothers kept him distracted with beer.
Seth threw back a shot of something strong and fiery in taste. He groaned, feeling the burning rush through his throat. Seth extinguished the flame with a quick sip of domestic beer. Beside him, Toni bit into a lime before chugging a can of beer.
"Good times," Seth hissed, shaking off his latest shot.
"Oh yeah?" Toni chortled, nudging Seth with her elbow. "You look like you just might die, mate. You want me to put yers in a sippy cup?"
"Yikes," Xavier Woods, who was passing by, stopped for a minute to give his two cents before moving on.
Seth chuckled. "Whatever. You're just mad because I'm better than you at something for once."
"Is that right?" Toni shot back.
Seth nodded. "Yeah, that's right. You hardly beat me at practice, and I destroy you at drinking."
"Hardly?" Toni jokingly repeated with a smile.
Seth's eye caught a trio of people walking into the kitchen. Zelina, followed by the third guy Seth didn't know, had her fingers entangled with Andrade's. Though he was the first to do wrong in the relationship, Seth still couldn't stand the fact that his ex went back so quickly to the boy she'd been seeing before him. Seth hadn't seen Taya at the house yet, which he was somewhat thankful for, but seeing Zelina was bugging him.
Seth looked back at Toni. "Wanna head to Sigma Nu? They have video game tournaments and shit over there when they throw parties."
Toni shrugged. "Sounds fun. Lead the way."
Seth slipped his hand over the small of Toni's back. It was instinctive to Seth, but the gesture hadn't gone unnoticed by Toni or Zelina or half of the SU Football team who just watched two of their teammates leave the party together.
