Wow... I'm so sorry- lol. This chapter has been a LONG time coming.

Thank you for your patience. H.S. graduation and my new job hit me in the face, but I'm back... hopefully. So, please, enjoy Chapter 6.

-Traveler

The moment was so unreal to me. It still was when I entered the back and received the applause from everyone, and I was smiling like a big idiot.

Hunter was the first one to step up and hug me and my sweaty self, patting my back and congratulating me.

When we separated, I look straight at him, "I told you the ending would be fine!"

He laughs and pats my cheek, "I believed in you, I promise you."

Then, I shake hands with Shawn and Matt, who give me my props, then I hug the rest of the roster- Austin, Britt, Johnny, Tommaso, Tom, then I shake hands with Michael and Patrick and everyone else, then I see Cheree blazing over to me with this big ass smile on her face that I couldn't help but smile back at.

She hugs me and I hug her back, and it doesn't last more than two seconds before she's sticking her tongue down my throat and kissing the fuck out of me.

I hear a wolf whistle behind me, and I see Trevor walking in, winking at me, as I wink back, and he starts giving everyone I went over handshakes and hugs.

I look back at Cheree and she runs her hand through my hair, "Proud of you tonight. That match was great to watch."

"Well, thanks," I say, smiling, kissing her nose, and feeling Trevor's hand on my shoulder.

I let go of Cheree and give Trevor a big ass hug that follows with more applause, and we just stand there in silence, giving each other compliments, before I finally take a closer look at the belt that I was holding with my hand.

The gold plate with the red leather strap was a beautiful contrast to look at, the plate was gleaming against the backstage light and I wasn't able to stop looking at it.

Trevor wraps an arm around my neck, "It's a good looking belt isn't it?"

"Yeah. It's much better close up."

Cheree wraps her arms around mine, and runs her other hand over the leather, "I like it."

"More than me?"

She sticks a tongue at me, "No. I like you much more."

"Aww babe…"

"Alright you two lovebirds," Austin says, barging in with Britt, "let's go. We have to eat dinner. Let's eat together."

Trevor pats my back, "That sounds fine with me. Let's go."

He walks away with Austin and Britt, and I throw my belt over my shoulder like a champion, and Cheree smiles as we lace our fingers together, walking right behind the others.

When I got back to the Performance Center the next day, it was the first time I didn't know what I was doing next.

Hunter had said I was winning the title, but he didn't exactly tell me what was happening after that.

Maybe Trevor gets his rematch, but I don't think anyone ever got a rematch for the title down here as much as they do in the main roster. So, at this point, I don't know what's happening.

I got here with Cheree, and she went her own separate way for her rivalry with Shayna, as I was just lollygagging around the gym, thinking about my future prospects.

About an hour into my workout, while I was on the dumbbells, I saw Hunter leaving his office and heading straight towards me. I place my 30 pounder down as he approached, "Hey kid."

"Hey boss. Haven't seen you all day today."

"Yeah, there's a reason for that… listen, I need your opinion on something."

"Okay. What is it?"

He sighs, "What did you think about your match with Trevor last night?"

I shrug, "I thought it turned out great, given the circumstance."

Hunter nods, "I thought that would be your answer. Listen, I don't think Trevor needs a rematch anytime soon."

"Why?"

"Vince wants him on the main roster."

"Oh," I say, rubbing my forehead, completely surprised. I love Vince and what he's done for me, but I know the reputation about NXT call ups. It never turns out well- AOP, the Revival, No Way Jose- I could keep going with the list. I was nervous for him.

"Yeah. So, I'm trying to figure out who to put you with."

"Do you have any ideas yet?"

"I have some guys. I was thinking about putting either Austin or Patrick with you, possibly Tommaso."

Tommaso surprised me, "Why the NXT champ? Shouldn't he not be facing Tom right now?"

"He is, but they'll have their last match on NXT TV. Meanwhile, on the next taping, he will confront you."

"That's an idea or are we actually going with this?"

"If this was already set into stone, I wouldn't be here telling you all of these possibilities."

I run a hand through my hair, "Okay, well, all of those sound great, I just don't think that Tommaso is right for me. I just got here, and other people need the spotlight on that."

Hunter nods, smiling, "All right. That's out. So, Austin or Patrick?"

"Probably Patrick. He hasn't really be given that push yet."

Hunter grabs my neck and squeezes it, "You're a good kid Isaac. I'll do that for you. Once I have everything set, I'll call you down. I just need to tell Pat first."

"Yes sir, thank you."

He walks away and I now have a sense of accomplishment within me, knowing I will soon be in the ring with the Velveteen Dream.

The day went by pretty quickly after that because I was just mindlessly doing my thing, even if it felt weird I wasn't in the ring like I had been the past 3 weeks.

I was so tired from everything when I walked onto the other side of the gym to check on Cheree, and I could she was in the ring with Shayna, sparring like I would always do with Trevor.

I just stood by the side of the ring, with my arms crossed, just watching. I wanted to just see what they were doing without interrupting but I also just wanted to look at Cheree without getting caught. It's not like she would want to be mad at me for it, because she loves when I just stare.

Both women just went nonstop for a few more minutes, trying to get sequences down and rehearsing to where they won't be sloppy. I see Cheree get Shayna into a hold to where she hits her finisher, and she hooks the leg, but instead of one of them counting, I just yell, "1..2..3!"

They both look at me, as I continue to yell, "Mamma mia! Dakota Kai has just beaten the champion! Oh my god!"

Both girls just start cracking up, even Shayna, who is still laying on her back just dying, and I smile, climbing the apron, "Looks like I can make a good Mauro."

"That you can," Shayna says, still chuckling and standing up as Cheree walks over and plants a kiss on my cheek, "How are you?"

"Good. I just had a talk with Hunter about my next rivalry."

"Who's it going to be?"

"Good ole' Pat."

"Wow," she says, patting my shoulder, smiling, "good for you, and him. I think it's his due time."

I nod, "Definitely."

Shayna comes over and I fist bump her, and she nods at me, "So, Pat is next?"

"Yeah, I don't think Hunter has told him yet. Otherwise, he would've come to me."

She shrugs, "I guess you'll have to wait."

I nod, and Cheree grabs my hand, "Come into the ring with me."

"What?" I say, but she's already dragging me through the ropes and towards the middle.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to do the Kai-ropractor on you," she answers, grabbing my shoulders.

"Okay… well, at least let me prepare real quick."

Cheree gives me one of her melting smiles to try and get me to not prepare myself, but it doesn't work as I smile back at her, "Not going to work sweetheart."

She sticks a tongue out at me, and she grabs my shoulders again, "Ready?"

"Go ahead babe."

She lets go of my shoulders, running towards the ropes as I duck, and she comes back, jumps, planting her knees on my neck, flipping me and hitting the move, and it actually hurt a bit, as I start selling it like a mad man, flopping like a fish on the canvas, grunting in fake pain, and I can just see Cheree on all fours, laughing her ass off, nearly crying.

I stop, laughing myself, crawling over to her and wrapping myself around her, "I guess you liked that."

She nods in my chest, still chuckling.

Her move got me thinking, "Before you got here, you used to be intergender matches right?"

"Yeah, the hardcore ones… where I used to get powerbomb through tables and things like that. It wasn't my cup of tea once I reached the year mark."

"I'd assume so. That shit hurts."

"It was taking a toll on me already and I didn't want to go through it," she says, disconnecting from me, but still sitting Indian style across from me, "so I just told them I couldn't do it, and I quit."

"Where were you?"

"I started in CZW, figured it was too hardcore, so I dipped and went to Ring of Honor…"

"Where you stayed till you signed here."

She nods, "Yep."

I rub my hand on her thigh, "Well, I can be one to say that it was the best decision you've made."

Cheree smiles, "I think so too. Hunter and the staff have treated me well the past 2 years, all the way back to the Mae Young Classic."

"Have you expressed it to him yet?"

"Not really. You know how closed I can be."

"You don't need to be though… you know you can go to Hunter whenever you want right?"

"I know."

I move to where I'm next to her, thighs touching, "I talk to him everyday, it helps, trust me. If anyone knows the pressures of wrestling life, it's him."

"I'll try that," she says, leaning to plant a kiss on the corner of my mouth, and sliding towards the ropes, "make sure to find Pat when you've got the chance."

"Yes ma'am," I answer as she walks away, giving me that charming smile she has and walking away, as I follow suit with rolling out of the ring and walking the opposite way towards the workout room.

Pat wasn't hard to find as he was on the treadmill as he always was on Thursdays, and when I got to him, I tapped his shoulder and he turns, "Oh hey Isaac."

He pauses the treadmill and jumps on the side, wiping his forehead, offering a hand, "So, I've heard from Hunter that I'm next in line for you."

"You heard correctly."

He slightly smiles, "Thanks for that by the way. I know you had plenty of other people who were deserving of the chance."

"Pat, you've been here longer, so therefore you need the chance much more."

"I did have a title match with Tommaso."

"Are you really trying to get out of this?"

Patrick shrugs, "No, but I sometimes don't get your decision."

"What, would you have rather me pick fucking Lars? Do you know how sloppy that would be?"

He's silent for a second, then snickers, "Yeah, I suppose you are right."

"You're stuck with me… sorry."

He smacks my shoulder, "I guess so. By the way, after Hunter talked to me, he said he needed both of us once we met up."

"Sure thing," I say, "but don't you need to finish your workout?"

"Not really. I was on the treadmill long enough. I'll turn it off and I'll meet you there."

I nod, walking towards Hunter's office that was close to where we were, and he was sitting at his desk, scribbling on something that was probably paperwork, so I knock on his door, "Hunter."

Without looking up, he says, "Hey Isaac. Talk to Dream yet?"

"I did. He's on his way over right now."

On cue, Pat comes by my side and Hunter acknowledges him, then points to his seats, "Sit. We'll talk about the rivalry and how it'll go."

We sit, and Hunter shows us his piece of paper that he was writing on, and it's got ideas just streaming down the page, and I was surprised with how many he came up with.

He looks over the top of the page, smirking, "Let's get started."

To say I was excited with my storyline with Pat is a complete understatement. I think it might blow my storyline with Trevor away.

I got back with Cheree, and we ate lunch in the dining hall by ourselves, holding each other's hands, and I brought up the storyline I was to have with Pat.

She nods, impressed, eating her potato salad, "Again, Hunter pulls a rabbit out of his ass. I don't know how he does it."

I snort, "Yeah, that's one way of putting it."

"By the way, I talked to Trevor earlier, and he and Kacy invited us to a double date of sorts."

"Oh yeah? That sounds cool… depends where we are eating though."

"Who says we were eating?"

"What do you mean?"

"We aren't going out to eat.. but we are going somewhere…"

I just look at her.

"Oh my god Isaac, what is the only big place around here that everyone goes to?"

"I can name a restaurant that people go to…"

"Candice and Johnny go there all the time."

It took me a while, but I leaned back as soon as I found out, "Oh."

"Universal Studios you dumbo," she says, this time with a smile on her face.

"I knew that."

"No you didn't."

"I mean, it was on my mind…"

"But it wasn't your first option. Or your second, or third…"

I wave my hand at her, "Yeah, okay, I get it."

She pats the top of my hand, "Don't worry love, I'm messing with you."

I smile, but continue on, "When are they planning on going?"

"After the next Takeover. They did it so you or Trevor didn't have the worry while preparing your matches."

"Good. Seems like a good vacation for the both of us."

"Our first ever vacation for us."

I look at her, "Why do you say it like that?"

Cheree just wiggles her eyebrows at me.

I snicker, "You, ma'am, are unbearable."

I see Trevor and Kacy walking over, with Kacy sitting next to Cheree, hugging her and kissing her cheek and Trevor giving me a pat on the shoulder and sitting next to me.

"So," Trevor says, looking at Cheree, "did you tell Isaac about the trip?"

"I did."

Kacy looks at me, "And?"

I shrug, nodding, "It's a good idea. Something to get our minds off of wrestling and shit."

"No, you mean for YOU to get off of… because let's face it Isaac, that's you ever think about."

"Fair enough."

Trevor smacks my chest, "So, I heard about Pat."

"Everyone has. What do you think about it?"

"I think it'll potentially be rivalry of the year."

I look at him, genuinely surprised, "Like he had with Tom?"

"Absolutely. Pat is good at what he does. He'll bring the best out of you. I speak from experience."

"How was it working with him by the way?"

Trevor shrugs, "There is not much to say. All I can tell you that once you get into the ring with him, do not mess anything up. He is a perfectionist. He likes shit done. So, as long as you work with him, which I know you will, you'll be fine."

"He's a nice kid though," Cheree adds, "no question about that."

We finished lunch relatively quick, and Trevor and Kacy left with a few hugs and Cheree went to her training session again, leaving me to meet up with Patrick on the other side.

He stands next to the ring, and he gives me a slight acknowledgement nod,"Ready to get to work?"

"Absolutely."

He grins, "Let's get to it then."

Working with Patrick was something else. Trevor wasn't kidding when he said that he's a perfectionist. Everything has to be done the right way, and if my move wasn't as fluid as he would've preferred, we have to do it again.

It was frustrating, yes, but it was hard work in a good way because it seemed like it would take the entire 3 week period.

We were about to begin our rivalry at our next live NXT taping as the Full Sail crowd has already been filed in and Pat and I were going over the lines.

"You say that right there when you come out," I say.

"Correct. It starts from there."

"This is my longest promo to date."

"Is that going to be a problem?"

I looked up to him after hearing his tone, "Not at all, promos have never been a problem for me."

He sets the promo papers down, "Then this should be a piece of cake."

I hear the sound of Hunter coming through the speakers, so I readjust my belt, "Showtime."

We patiently wait for Hunter to finish and the theme to go through, and I'm given the go by one of the producers towards the curtain and wait for my cue.

I hear the crowd get loud, and then, my theme blares on, followed by more cheers.

I walk out onto the Full Sail stage and I am met by the warm welcome of the fans with the North American title around my waist, and Mike Rowe welcomes me with, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your NEW NXT North American champion, Isaac "Ruin" Ruiz!"

I high five the outreaching hands of the Full Sail crowd on my way to the ring, and judging from the reception I'm receiving, I think they are starting to get used to me.

I walk up the steel steps, grabbing the microphone placed next to it, and enter the ring, looking around at the already pumped up crowd until my theme cuts off.

I stand in the middle, waiting for them to calm down so I can speak my mind, but I start to hear them chant my name.

"Ruiz! Ruiz! Ruiz!"

I smile, but hold it in, holding a hand out to them, "I only had gotten here just a month ago. Look at me, I am now your North American champion!"

They applaud, and I nod along with them, "Now that I am, I some serious searching to do. I need a contender."

The crowd explodes with names, but I ignore them, "Normally, I would go on this long spiel about how I am a fighting champion and how I accept all comers, but I would rather say this," I look at the hard camera, "anyone who has the balls to come face me, I dare you."

The crowd oohs as I continue, "This is officially an open challenge from me to anyone in the back. General manager William Regal and I have come to a consensus that whoever comes out will face me at NXT Takeover: Phoenix."

I place my mic near my side, waiting for anyone to step up to me, then I hear along with the NXT faithful, "The Velveteen Dream… hit it!"

I stand in the middle of the ring in the midst of the crowd going bananas for Patrick as he steps onto the stage, being his usual douchey self in the way he walks.

I sigh outward as the "Velveteen!" chants roll in, completely destroying my previous chants, and Patrick smiles in awe of it, "Ah, I see that Mr. Ruiz is in need of a challenger."

I nod as the crowd agrees, and Pat continues, "Well, you have found one in the Dream himself.."

"Let me tell you something Isaac, since you've been here for only a few weeks. While you've been doing your thing for other indy promotions, I've been here… from the very beginning. I learned from here, I become a star here… and it makes me very offended to know that you just waltz right in here, get an immediate title shot and win, while I sit in the back and do nothing."

I walk forward, leaning my forearms on the ropes as he finishes, "Not only that, you beat Ricochet, someone I've been keeping my eye on for a very long time, and I demand my match that I've been promised!"

I nod, laughing into my mic, "Dream, you think it's that easy? Come on kid, I earned my title opportunity from years of hard work for people who never gave it to me," I point at him, "you however, have been doing nothing but losing."

The crowd laughs to the burn as I continue, "You've faced all the top guys here- Aleister Black, Tommaso Ciampa, hell, even the man I beat for this title, and you were beat every time. How does any of that include you earning a shot at me?"

I wait for Patrick's rebuttal, but for once he is speechless, so I pounced on him, "You see, you don't! Hiding behind that whole masquerade, is a coward. A coward who thinks he deserves the entire world, but yet, doesn't realize that he's only but just a B+ player."

"I am not a B+ player," Patrick interjects, "I'm an A+ player. You know why? I'll tell you, it's because I'm not like the others in the back, where they wait for their opportunities instead of earning them. Now, I have earned my shot! I might have lost in the past, yes, but I can tell you without a certainty that these past few weeks, I've done enough."

Patrick was resting his case slowly, which had catered towards the audience, who were looking for an answer for me, but before I could say anything, we heard throughout the arena, "Shock the System!"

The crowd pops as always for Adam Cole, who walks out, looking pissed off, giving Velveteen Dream a cold, hard stare.

I look on in wonder as Cole begins to yell at Dream, "Who do you think you are?!"

Dream begins to answer, but Cole interrupts him, even more pissed off, "You weren't supposed to answer you idiot! You shouldn't be up here, because you don't deserve it! I do!""

The crowd cheers, and I laugh, rubbing my face as Cole begins his rant, "Now, I don't know what the hell is going on here, but as far as I can recall, the Undisputed Era have been running roughshod all over NXT because of yours truly. So, in that case, I should be first in line, not anyone else."

Since Austin is so goddamn over with the crowd, they agree, and I nod, but Patrick had something to say, "I'm sorry Mr. Cole, who invited you up here? No one. I'm the spotlight, not you."

Cole and Dream get into a shouting match, and I just stand in the ring, worthless with my belt over my shoulder, but a heartbeat pounds through the speakers and the crowd only gets louder for their NXT Champion, who slowly walks onto the stage with his champion clutched closely to his chest, looking like a feral dog protecting its food.

Ciampa smiles as he puts the mic up to his face, "I'm sorry to interrupt," he starts off, "but I'm in a bit of a predicament. I have no one to defend against. Goldie and I are bored. The only thing to do is to fight the NXT North American Champion."

I nod, "Okay, I'm interested. Go on."

Ciampa was interrupted by Dream, "Wait, why are you here? You don't need to be here! You don't belong here!"

"On the contrary Dream. In fact, my title says I tower over you in superiority, as I had just beaten your ass not too long ago."

The crowd oofs at his remark, then he comes back at me, "What I was saying Isaac, was that at the next NXT Takeover, I'll face you… title for title."

"Oh boy! I like that!" Percy Watson exclaims as the NXT Champion, Tommaso Ciampa just dropped a bombshell on Isaac "Ruin" Ruiz, who stares at him with nothing but intrigue.

"The odds have just been stacked gentlemen," Mauro Renallo says, as Ruiz points at Ciampa, "I like that idea."

Ciampa smiles, but Adam Cole at this point is furious, "What the… no, no no no! This is not happening!"

The crowd boos, and Cole shakes his head, "Tommaso does not need this opportunity, I do! I demand my match at Takeover: Phoenix!"

"Have you forgotten me!? I am also deserving!" Velveteen Dream adds.

Then at this point, "Rebel Heart" starts playing and the crowd at this point is loud and Ruiz is in the ring, throwing his arms in the air as Johnny Gargano joins the other men, giving them a quick stare and a smirk.

"It seems like Ruiz has a lot of competition biting at his heels gentlemen, because here is Johnny Gargano!" Nigel McGuiness says.

"I bet Ruiz wasn't expecting this when he came out here!" Mauro chuckles.

Gargano points at all three men, "Excuse me, but haven't all of you earned a title shot? I mean, Tommaso is the champion, and you two had the ladder match…"

"A match that I won!" Cole adds.

"Yeah, and a title you eventually lost!" Gargano rebuttals.

Cole just stares at him like he could beat his ass, and Ciampa stares at Gargano like a proud father.

"When it comes to that NXT North American Title," Gargano points at Ruiz, "I haven't earned an opportunity yet."

At this point, Ruiz looks flustered, not sure about his options, and he finally speaks, "Look, you've all made great points…"

"Wait, hold on."

William Regal's face popped on the main titantron, and the crowd gets excited.

"Look who it is, it's the NXT GM!" Mauro says.

"I don't know why he decided to show up right now out of all times." Nigel adds.

"It's maybe because he has an answer to the dilemma of Ruiz's next opponent." Percy explains.

"It seems to me that Mr. Ruiz is in no need of competition," Regal says, "however, I think I have an idea on how to solve this. Dream, Cole, Ciampa, Gargano.. you four men will have an opportunity to face Mr. Ruiz, but first you must face each other. You will be placed in a fatal four way match, and the winner will face Isaac "Ruin" Ruiz at NXT Takeover Phoenix."

The crowd cheers for the bombshell announcement, "Look at that, the problem has been solved and the stakes have been raised!" Mauro yells.

"Tonight's main event is going to be astronomical, and what a great decision by the general manager!" Percy says.

"Great? It's blasphemy Percy!" Nigel responds, "The champion for sure needed the opportunity."

"Ciampa? Are you kidding?!" Percy exasperates.

"Anyways," Mauro interrupts, "a big, big opportunity for either one of these men is coming up later tonight!"

On the stage, Cole, Dream and Gargano look pissed, Ciampa looks calm, and Ruiz looks at all of his competition with a faint smile on his face.

"Did I say that I really like this angle?"

Cheree smiles, shaking her head and rubbing her hand on my thigh, "Yes, you did. Multiple times."

I look at her, "Is that bad?"

"No, not at all. Actually, I like seeing you this way. It's kind of cute."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"No," Cheree says, but her smile just gets bigger as she says it.

I laugh, "Wow. You are lucky I love you."

She kisses my neck, "Aww, I love you toooo…."

"Look babe, it's about to start." I interrupt, pointing at the backstage television.

Cheree just looks at me, knowing I got lucky, before looking at the TV, "So, do you know how it's going to go?"

"Nope, I just know Pat is going to win."

We just caught the end of Austin's entrance, who is the last one to get in, before the match is started, and all hell breaks loose.

Tommaso rolls out of the ring, and allows Austin, Johnny and Pat to beat the hell out of each other.

Cheree laughs, "Oh my god, Tommaso is so good."

"He's the best," I agree, as Johnny and Austin land double superkicks onto Pat, who falls and rolls out, leaving the other two to fight.

Austin and Johnny go back and forth, exchanging punches and signature moves, before Tommaso takes his opportunity and jumps both, getting his momentum going.

The crowd seems to be into it, as all four of the competitors names are being chanted, becoming a jumbled mess, but still a masterpiece.

Tommaso and Johnny begin to work together, getting Austin onto the top turnbuckle and getting up there with him, looking for a double superplex.

Out of nowhere, Patrick gets back into the fight and walks up to the human contraption, hooking his arms into both men's legs and landing a Powerbomb Tower of Doom, which gets the crowd hyped.

Austin and Johnny roll out, leaving a dazed Tommaso on the mat and an ever opportunistic Patrick, who capitalizes and picks him up and carries him onto his shoulder, landing Dream Valley Driver.

"I think this is the finish," I say, as Pat climbs to the top and lands the Purple Rainmaker straight onto Tommaso's chest, and goes into the cover for the pin, and the crowd pops as he just pinned the champ.

'There we go," Cheree says, looking at me, "happy?"

I look at her and smile, "I've never been happier."

Dream On.

There you guys... another chapter. Phew, I've missed this. The next chapter will be up soon- I hope.

-Traveler