Chapter 50
One month later…
NXT Takeover was approaching in New Orleans which was the same weekend as WrestleMania.
The streets of the Big Easy were lined up for a weeklong celebration of the "Super Bowl of Wrestling" as careers were about to made.
Drew and Michelle were in the car as the driver was taking them to Michelle's Aunt Selena's house after picking them up at the airport.
When Selena heard of NXT coming to New Orleans, she offered Michelle the run of the house while she stayed at a hotel. Michelle declined at first, but Selena insisted and Michelle also invited Katrina, Mike Rome, her best friend Autumn and Chad Gable to stay with them.
Drew and Michelle were looking at the sights of New Orleans as cameras were filming; yes, Michelle accepted the offer to join the cast of Total Divas as the second NXT superstar to be cast on the show.
"Wow, New Orleans still looks beautiful," Michelle avowed. "I can't wait to hit the streets and get my hands on some Cajun food. I also can't wait to cook some shrimp étouffée."
"Maybe we can still see some sights and maybe where I used to live when I was in Louisiana," Drew suggested.
Several minutes, the car arrived at Aunt Selena's house and Drew & Michelle got out of the car as the driver retrieve their luggage. The two thanked the driver as they walked up the steps and Michelle retrieved a key from the under a flower pot that her aunt had hidden for Michelle.
Michelle unlocked the door and Drew was in awe at the interior of the house. (If you have watched the Real World New Orleans, you'll know)
"Wow, your aunt has great taste," Drew complimented.
"I know," Michelle agreed.
The interior had the feeling of New Orleans that very modern and art was everywhere as the colors was bursting. The house also had an office and a billiard room and it also had four bedrooms.
As Michelle took Drew on a tour of the house, she led him upstairs towards Aunt Selena's room.
"This is my Aunt Selena's room that she was gracious enough to let us sleep in," Michelle said as she giggled.
Selena's room had shades of purple with a warm feeling and even had a exquisite décor that fit her sassy style.
"Your aunt must really have great taste for interior decorating," Drew again complimented.
"Well, that is what made her career defining because of it," Michelle acknowledged.
"Well, it looks like we'll have some good times here."
"I'm pretty sure my aunt will be curious about that."
"We'll just have to keep it down with the others in our presence."
"Speaking of…" Then Michelle pulled out her cell phone out of her jeans pocket. "Chad and Autumn are on their way and Mike & Katrina just left the airport."
"Nice."
"So, we have a little time to ourselves before they get here."
After Drew and Michelle settled in and got some "quality time" to themselves, the doorbell rang and Drew & Michelle went downstairs to the foyer as Michelle opened the door to see Autumn, Katrina, Mike and Chad on the other side of the door.
"Hey!" Michelle and Autumn greeted one another.
"You made it," Michelle said as she and Autumn hugged each other. "Did you have trouble getting here?"
"No, it wasn't hard to find the house," Autumn replied.
"Hey, Chad!"
"Hey, soon-to-be NXT Women's Champion," Chad said as he hugged Michelle.
"Which I will gladly announce when that happens," Mike said.
"I'll be looking forward to hearing that," Michelle said as she hugged Mike.
"Thanks for inviting us to our aunt's house," Katrina thanked Michelle. "It looks really nice."
"Wait until you see the whole house."
"How about you give us the grand tour?" Chad suggested.
"Gladly."
After the tour of the house and everyone got settled, the girls were in the backyard.
"I can't believe I have never visited your aunt Selena's house," Autumn said.
"Well, now you have," Michelle responded. "I mean, she has lived in New Orleans by the time I turned 16 so the summers here were very eventful, as you can tell."
"I love how she decorated her house," Katrina complimented. "It's just lovely and how reflects New Orleans."
"Well, being an interior decorator has paid off so that's where the big bucks come in."
"So are you looking forward to your big match tomorrow?" Autumn asked.
"Yes I am. I can't believe that my first championship match is happening WrestleMania weekend. It's huge; I mean, I never thought that a moment like this would happen on such an eventual weekend."
"Hey, trust me; I've been there last year. I mean, I've never competed for the NXT Women's Championship; so for you, it's worth the wait."
"Speaking of, want to see the wrestling gear Natasha made for me?"
"Yeah," Katrina said.
Then the girls went back inside the house as Autumn and Katrina followed Michelle upstairs to Aunt Selena's room.
Michelle went inside her suitcase and pulled out a brown leather halter top and brown miniskirt with chains wrapped around it.
"Wow, this outfit is bad ass," Katrina said.
"This is something I made to dedicate to Drew because I remember him wearing the kilt at NXT Takeover: Houston when he lost the NXT Championship," Michelle said. "I realized maybe I should wear something in his honor for my NXT Women's championship match."
"Drew is going to love this," Autumn agreed. "By the way, has he seen this?"
"Nope, I want to surprise him."
"I'm sure he's going to love it."
"Yeah; well guys, I think we should start hitting the streets and we come back here and you guys can try my shrimp étouffée."
"Yes, let's hit Bourbon Street!" Katrina beamed.
The gang were walking down Bourbon Street to check out the shops and live music having a good time and even the girls did a little shopping to buy some souvenirs. As the gang continued to walk down Bourbon Street, they noticed a crowd and then saw notice that Natalya, Paige, Lana, Nia Jax, Naomi and Sonya Deville was there.
"What is going over there?" Michelle wondered.
"Wait, is that Nattie and Lana?" Autumn noticed.
"What are they up to?" Katrina questioned.
"Looks like they are drawing a crowd there," Drew answered.
Then Natalya noticed the gang as she waved at them before walking over.
"Hello, guys!" Natalya greeted.
"Hi!" Autumn drawled. "How are you?"
"We are actually passing out flyers for Birdiebee," Natalya exclaimed.
"Really?"
"Yep, and we're telling everyone that if they buy some Birdiebee apparel, they'll get a chance to meet the Bella Twins and Daniel Bryan.
"Uh, okay, I didn't hear about this but this should be interesting."
"Certainly. Michelle, Drew, fancy seeing you two here."
"Glad to see you too," Drew said.
"And Michelle, I definitely want to wish you good luck in your NXT Women's Championship tomorrow."
"Thank you," Michelle said. "I appreciate it."
"Maybe I can put in a good word for you for the Bella Twins to have you model for their clothing line."
"Um…sure. I'm okay with that."
"Great! Well, I gotta get back; you guys have a good night."
"You too," Drew said.
Then Natalya walked away as everyone was snickering.
"That was a little bit awkward," Chad theorized.
"Yeah, because something is telling me that the Bella Twins didn't know about this," Autumn objected.
"I hope there won't be any repercussions afterwards," Michelle stated. "Come on, we should go back to my aunt's house."
About several minutes later, the friends returned to Aunt Selena's house as Michelle was cooking shrimp étouffée for dinner. Autumn and Katrina helped out as the guys were in the living room cracking jokes
Even Drew tried to get a taste but Michelle let him have it knowing that he has a big appetite for food and couldn't wait.
"Okay, everyone, dinner's ready!" Michelle announced.
Everyone gathered in the dining room as Michelle brought the pot to the table and started serving themselves.
Michelle was about to fix her a bowl when she received a voicemail message from her cell phone. It was her dad. Michelle had wondered when her dad was arriving in New Orleans and had been waiting for his call.
Michelle quickly walked out of the dining room into the hallway as she listened to the voicemail.
"Hi Michelle, this is dad. Listen, I hate to bring you bad news but I won't be able to make it to New Orleans to see your championship match. A big project has suddenly come about and I have to stay to take part of it. I'm really sorry and I promise I'll make it up to you by seeing you when I can. Good luck in your match tomorrow. Goodbye."
Michelle sighed as she leaned against the wall and tried to not make a big scene with everyone else in the dining room. She walked out of the house into the backyard as she sat on the steps.
Michelle wrapped her arms around her knees as she put her head down in disappointment with dad bailing on her once again. She was caught up in the moment hat she didn't hear Drew coming outside and placed his hand on Michelle.
"Are you okay?" Drew asked.
"No," Michelle said as she sighed and shook her head.
"What happened?"
"My dad bailed on me…again."
"I'm sorry."
Drew sat next to Michelle as he wrapped his arm around her to comfort her.
"I can't believe this," Michelle huffed. "This is the biggest match of my career and my dad decided to bail on me for a big project. He always does this; whenever I have a championship match, he says he'll be there but the next day, he bails on me. I have given him chances and when he comes to see me after, I let it go and hopes he'll make it to my championship match and what does he do? He bails on me again."
"I wish there was something I can do to help through this," Drew consoled Michelle.
"No, there really is nothing you can do. I have been so angry and so pissed ever since my parents divorced and I've been telling you that my dad hardly comes to see me because he's so busy with his job. He can't find time to see me or my brothers; only once in a while, he'll spend the holidays with us. I mean, I just can't…..I can't deal with this."
Then Michelle started to cry as Drew embraced her and Michelle put her head on Drew's shoulder.
"I know it sucks for your dad to not see you in your big matches," Drew assured. "Have you ever told him how you felt?"
"No, because I don't wanna make a big scene and cause more dissension within my family," Michelle replied.
"You should tell him how you feel and I don't wanna choose sides but if this is going on for too long and this is bottled up inside you, it might not be healthy for you. You should really talk to your dad and see what's going on."
"Yeah, you're right. But I don't want this to cloud my judgement day with my championship match happening tomorrow. I'll talk to him when I can. Thank you for listening to me and for being here for me."
"Hey, you have my back and I have yours. Now how about we go inside and eat that special dinner you cooked for all of us."
"Of course."
Then Drew took Michelle's hand as the two walked inside the house.