AN: This chapter is just Erika's article. Chapter 11 is very close behind. Also, to anyone who might be reading my story "Heartbreaker"- ff is being a dick and will not let me upload my newest chapter. I'll keep trying though.

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"Growing Pains" by Erika Angle.

If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be? That was one of many questions I've asked myself and others over the last two weeks as part of my first assignment for the Gazette. I was all set to travel with World Wrestling Entertainment's Smackdown brand for two weeks, absorbing everything I could for an article to help promote an upcoming show at the Mellon Arena. So I hopped on the plane and flew to Minneapolis, only to find that the person I would be traveling with was none other than the one person I hoped to aviod: Brock Lesnar. Now, I know what you're thinking. Why would she want to avoid Brock Lesnar? Two weeks ago I would have simply told you that he is an arrogant jackass. But now, as I sit next to him on a flight back to Minnesota, my perspective has done a complete one-eighty. So, in my first- and only- piece for the Gazette, I'm going to tell you why. In hopes of not only clearing my mind, but my heart as well.

I remember the first time I met Brock. We were both in a communications class at the University of Minnesota, and we ended up sitting next to each other. In one of those cheesy get to know each other icebreakers, Brock and I found out we had at least one thing in common- wrestling. He was a wrestler, and I loved it thanks to my older brothers. I remember going back to my room right after class and gushing to my best friend Nicole about Brock- I thought he was so cute, so funny, and most of all, he was quite charming. I was able to meet up with him later at a party- where Nicole was on his arm. Little did I know, he was the same guy she was mooning over that morning. From then on, Brock and I had a very...intense relationship. Basically, all we did was argue. Then something happened that changed our lives forever. Nicole found out the November before graduation that she was pregnant. Brock proposed, and everything was going great for the two of them. Meanwhile, I had been dating Brock's best friend, though I had a feeling that we weren't going to last much longer. Due to the fact that there is a trial coming up soon in this case, I can't give many details, but I can say that Nicole and I were attacked by my boyfriend, and she died because of it. Luckily, her baby was ok, and today Mya is a healthy three year old. But right after it happened, I could do nothing but blame myself, and I did the only thing I thought I could- I ran. I left Minneapolis within hours after Nic's funeral, and remained home in a depression for more than a year after. Thanks to a pep talk from my brother Kurt, and a confession of everything that happened, I was able to move on a bit. I finished my degree here in Pittsburgh, and landed my job with the Gazette, which brings me right back to where this article started. When I saw Brock for the first time at the airport, I was livid. Not for the reason that most thought, but because I would have to put my facade back into place. It didn't happen though. I took one look at my god-daughter, and all thoughts of being childish flew out the window. Sure, I had seen her passingly when I would visit Kurt on the road, but this was so different. She looked so much like Nic, it was almost as if she was saying "Don't be stupid, Rika. This is your second chance." There were a few spats, but for the most part Brock and I co-existed almost normally. I made a trip to Nicole's parents, who gave me her journal, sure that I should read it. I was appalled at first. How could I invade my best friend's private thoughts? But I am so glad now that I did. Nicole knew how I felt about Brock, and she knew from the beginning. While it hurt that she never told me, I understand now why she felt that she couldn't. Because she believed that she was his second choice. I hope now that she knows she wasn't, but I'm going to have to wait a long time to find out the answer to that one.

So if I could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be? I like to say that it would have been to be smart, and not get us into the situation that led to Nicole's death, but that wouldn't be an honest answer. Honestly, I would have been selfish. I would have made the decision to go after Brock, to follow my heart, because after spending two weeks acting like a family, I've found that nothing has changed. I am in love with Brock Lesnar, and I need him to complete my life. I put this article away for awhile, but now that I'm looking back at what I've typed, and I have to wonder. Even if I had went after Brock, would we have gotten together? I'm starting to think not. It's said that things happen for a reason, and there was obviously a method to all of this. But maybe instead of trying to figure it out, I should just thank my lucky stars (and some people high above) that I didn't realize it too late. So now I sit back and wait, and take the risk of humiliating myself (and sounding incredibly cheesy) by asking the next question, but I'm doing it anyways, because I know I have to. Brock, will you help me take that second chance?

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AN: I tried not to make that too cheesefilled, but I'm not sure I succeeded. The question now is, will Brock pull his head out of his ass?

~Lisa