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Chapter 11: And So It Begins

It was now Monday once again, and Nicole along with all the other WWE stars were in Pittsburgh for RAW. The weekend house shows had gone smoothly, as had her date with Randy. It wasn't as fancy as the first one had been; they went to a nearby deli after the show and ended up staying practically all night, but it still was perfect.

The only thing that had Nicole worried was that she hadn't made her debut yet. She really wanted to get out there and show the fans, and everyone else who doubted her for that matter, what she could do.

Nicole was pondering this very thought, when she was broken out of her reverie by Stacy's voice, " Nicole, HELLO… can you get the door" she said as she waved her hands in front of Nikki, trying to gain her attention.

"Oh ya, sorry" I said sheepishly. I walked over and opened the door to reveal a worried looking stagehand.

"Ms. Austin, Mr. Bischoff would like to see you in his office. You can follow me."

Nicole nodded, looked back at Stacy and gave her a look that screamed "Save Me!!" before following the stagehand that had already begun to walk toward their destination.

Nicole knocked on the door, and heard a muffled "Come in" before entering Bischoff's office. Upon seeing her enter the room, he motioned for her to take the seat across from him and pulled out a think manila folder from his desk.

"Now Nicole, I'm sure you're wondering why I called you in here again, " he began "there have been a few changes to the script, so I thought I should let you know first hand."

Nicole nodded and he continued, "As we discussed we'll start by you become the manager of one of our top Superstars on the show, and then you'll work your way up from there." Nicole opened her mouth to speak but he didn't let her begin, "Now I know what your going to say, and don't worry I'll talk to your father about this. I'm sure he won't be all too pleased that you'll have to be spending time with one of the male superstars, but he is going to have to deal with it."

"So who am I managing?"

" I see you haven't gone through the script since the last time I saw you. That hasn't changed its still John Cena."

Nicole stared at Bischoff with her mouth open as if he had grown an extra head, "Did you just say John Cena? Because I'm sure I must have heard wrong."

"No Nicole you heard right, John Cena. And I don't care what kind of personal problems you have with the man, you're going to have to push your personal feeling aside and work with him."

Nicole again began to protest but it was no use, "Nicole I don't give a damn, you're his manager and its final. And if this doesn't come off perfectly on TV, then maybe I'll have to rethink about you working here. So why don't you go and tell Cena the news and get out!" At this point, Bischoff handed Nicole the new script and motioned for her to leave.

Nicole stood and stormed out of the office. Nicole couldn't believe her luck; of all people she had to get stuck with Cena. She wondered if he knew already, but then decided against it because she was sure he would have told her already. .

She was walking down a small deserted hallway, when she heard someone whisper her name. She looked around and saw no one. She shrugged and continued walking

"Nicole."

She turned back around and saw Randy Orton, well his head that is, hiding behind a closet door. She looked around, making sure no one was watching before slipping into the same room.

As soon as the door was closed, Randy pulled her to him and kissed her. She got the same tingling sensationshe always receivedas she let his tongue explore her mouth.

"Well hello to you too" I smiled.

"I just wanted to give you a nice welcoming hello" Randy smirked.

"Well you succeeded... and you really cheered me up" Randy looked puzzled, "So you haven't heard , well let me be the first to tell you, you just made out with John Cena's new manager."

"What? Whose idea was this?"

"Well I'm not sure, but I'm guessing the writers. Bischoff just told me, and I'm upset too Randy but there's nothing we can do about it."

"The writers. To hell with the writers, I bet you Cena went and asked for this, just wait till I get my hands on that punk." By now Randy was pacing the small room and was infuriated.

"I don't think John knows about it. Calm down Randy. I'm just gonna have to work with him that's it, okay. It's not like I have to sleep with the guy"

Randy looked at me with an 'its not funny ' look. "C'mon, you know you're the only pants I wanna get into" she teased.

She bit her lip, as Randy's eyes locked with hers. He pulled her close to him again and began to kiss her more passionately this time than any other.

"We should get going," Randy whispered when they had pulled apart "don't want people to get too suspicious."

"Ya, you're right." Nicole opened the door and poked her head out making sure the coast was clear, she stepped out and just as she closed the door behind her, she heard a familiar voice.

"Nicole, what are doing in the janitors closet?" giggled Trish.

Nicole spun around to face her, and thinking quickly, "I dropped some coffee in Bischoff's office" she spoke loudly enough so that Randy would be able to hear her, and get the hint.

Trish looked at her puzzled, " And he got mad, and told me to clean it up, so I was just putting the mop back in its place" she finished.

Trish scrunched up her nose, "What an asshole, he could have gotten the actual janitor to do it for him. Can he do that though, make you clean up for him?"

"I don't know, but he did it anyway. Come on I'm hungry lets grab something to eat." Nicole linked arms with Trish and led her toward catering.

"So what's the plan for tonight?" Trish asked

"You haven't heard either, I'm going to be making my debut as Cena's manager tonight."

"That's great… Or not so great," She said after seeing the look on Nikki's face "oh come on, Cena's a good guy Nikki."

"Ya maybe to you, but to me he's just a jerk. I really don't want to work with him, but I have no other choice."

"I don't get why you don't like him so much. What the hell happened?"

"Trish, he's just one of those guys who thinks he knows everything, when really he knows shit."

"Really? Or could it possibly be, I'm just taking a guess here, that it's because he hates Randy so much, and you seem to be quite taken with the self proclaimed Legend Killer"

"Randy and I are just friends, I've told you that a million times…"

"And you can tell me a million more, but that doesn't mean I'm going to believe it. If you like him Nikki you can tell me. I won't kill you, Chris on the other hand might, but I won't."

"I don't like him that way Trish" I lied " we're just friends, that's it, that's all. Now can we please just drop it?"

Trish rolled her eyes. She knew Nicole was lying to her, she just didn't know why. She had known there was something going on with them ever since she had seen the sparks fly between them at the pre- RAW meeting last week, and shewas surethey had been sneaking around to see each other. But she wasn't about to call Nicole on it, she wanted her to tell her when she was good and ready, Trish just hoped that it would be soon.

"So have you gone to see Cena?"

"No, and I really don't want to."

"You really should you know, to get it over with and all."

"You're right… god I hate it when you're right. Well I guess I'll go find him now, do ya think you know where he might be?"

"I saw him heading toward the gym a little while ago. I'd check in there."

Nicole thanked Trish and then went off in search of John Cena.

Nicole walked into the gym surprised to find that John was the only one occupying the room. He hadn't heard her walk in, and as he sat with his back turned to her, Nicole watched as the muscles in his back tensed and released as hw worked out. She watched for a few moments until she cleared her voice to gain his attention. John looked back at her with cold blue eyes, and turned away not saying a word.

Nicole sighed in defeat and walked over and stood in front of John. He, in turn, looked up at her once more, but still didn't say anything. She tapped her foot on the floor, again trying to get his attention.

John kept on ignoring her, but Nicole could see that she was beginning to get to him. Every time she'd tap her foot, he seemed to lift his weights faster and faster. After realizing that she wasn't going to leave anytime soon, he finally spoke.

"What? So now you want to talk to me, when Randy isn't around." He placed his dumbbell back on its rack and walked over to where his towel and water lay.

"Well, I guess we are going to have to talk eventually, seeing as I am your manager."

"Say what? I don't need a manager; especially if it's you" John had long decided that if she was going to act like a bitch toward him, then he had no problem reciprocating the feelings, no matter how bad it made him feel.

"Apparently, you do need a manger. In fact, I'm surprised no one told you sooner."

"Who in the hell made this decision? They should have at least consulted me and asked if I wanted a damn manager in the first place…" He looked to Nicole for an answer and when she didn't answer sighed and sat down on the bench. "I'm guessing we have no choice but to make this work."

Nicole nodded, "Ya, Bischoff really doesn't seem to care what we think of the storyline we're put in. Besides, they have a whole months worth of script written out"

John was quiet for a few moments before he spoke again, "We're two responsible adults. I'm sure we can put our differences aside and work together. As long as we don't piss each other off, I think we'll be okay."

"You're right, we'll be okay as long as we stick by that rule, but it sure as hell isn't going to be easy." Nicole smiled at John, who returned the favor forgetting all about his earlier promise of being cold toward her.

Nicole sat down next to John and they began to converse about their storyline. They outlined the plan for the night, as far as RAW went, and soon bid each other goodbye.

"Nicole Haze Austin, stop right there," came an all too familiar voice as Nicole walked down the hallway.

"This day just keeps getting better and better" Nicole muttered under her breath. She had managed to avoid her father all day, but she knew she wouldn't be able to do so forever. She cursed herself before turning around and putting on a sugarcoated smile, "Whatever is the matter daddy?"

"You damn well know what the matter is. I just had a very interesting chat with Bischoff, and he just informed me that you would be working with John Cena. What the hell is this all about Nicole?"

Nicole glared at her father, "What the hell do you think this is about dammit. I'm finally getting my start here, so don't you dare try and ruin it for me okay. I don't want to work with Cena, but if that's the only way I can get started, then I'm gonna sure as hell take it."

It was now turn for Steve to glare at his daughter, "Who says I'm going to let you take it. This can only mean trouble for you Nicole, you working so close with Cena. I don't think you will be able to keep a strictly professional relationship with him, so I suggest you back out of this now before its too late."

Nicole laughed, " You think you're so right all the time, it's amazing your ego hasn't taken over. Oh wait it has, hasn't it? I haven't gone out of line yet, and I don't plan on it anytime soon. As a matter of fact, I bet you that I can not only work with Cena and pull this off, but that our relationship will remain strictly platonic."

"You're on, but when I win, and I'm sure I will, you have to be the nice little girl that I have always wanted you to be and go back home to Texas." With that Steve left a verydetermined Nicole, for she knew she had this one in the bag. Steve didn't know about her relationship with Randy, so she had quite an advantage over him.

John's match was last that night, so Nicole had plenty of time to get herself ready and then relax and watch the show. She had a tough time deciding what to wear, but finally decided on a pair of dark blue, low-rise jeans and a black wife beater. She watched Randy's match against Jay intently and couldn't stop smiling after he won. Of course she knew he would win, but she liked to see the smile on his face.

That night, Cena's match was against Doug Basham. Only Shaniqua was to be at ringside, since Danny had been barred, and Nicole was supposed to run in and help John win. When his match was to start, Nicole zipped up her black stiletto boots, went to gorilla position and began to watch the match on one of the monitors.

When John began to get the advantage, she knew her cue would be coming soon. John hit the "throwback", and went for the cover when Shaniqua jumped up on the apron distracting the ref.

Nicole knew this was her cue, she ran down the ramp taking in the deafening cheers of the crowd. Even though they didn't know her, they seemed to know she was there to help out John. She reached the ring and grabbed Shaniqua by the ankles, pulling her off the apron and causing her head to bounce off it from the impact.

Shaniqua looked at Nicole like she was going to kill her, and slapped her across the face. She grabbed Nicole's arm and was going to whip her into one of the ring posts, when Nicole reversed it, and ended up sending Shaniqua shoulder first into the post

All the while both John and the referee had watched the whole ordeal. John, now noticing that the ref was still distracted picked up his padlock chain, wrapped it around his fist, and punched the now standing Basham. John went for the pin, and Nicole directed the ref's attention back to them, who counted the 1-2-3

The ref raised John's arm in victory and he celebrated. Nicole watched from ringside, until he beckoned for her to join him in the ring. She climbed into the ring and she and John stood staring at each other for a few moments tantalizing the crowd. They still didn't know who she was, and it seemed they were very interested to know.

Then, on cue, they both smiled at each other and Nicole hugged John just like she was supposed to. The crowd erupted with cheers; they were eating up every bit of it. Nicole now leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. She then slowly sauntered back out of the ring, and up the ramp keeping her eyes on John the whole time.

When she was finally backstage, she was ambushed by Trish, Stacy, and Victoria, all congratulating her. She was still dazed from the reaction she got from the crowd, that she didn't notice a certain Randy Orton standing right before her.

"Nice work out there" he commented in a very professional tone.

"Thanks. You weren't too bad out there yourself tonight."

He nodded, it was taking everything in him not to pull her close and kiss her. "I should go, they're waiting for me in the limo…I'll see you later," he winked and left.

Nicole turned around to find Bischoff staring at her. His face slowly broke into a smile, "Good work Austin, I knew you would make us proud." He left before Nicole could say anything.

She thenspotted John, who was on his way to his locker room, and hurried to catch up to him. She reached him just as he was at his door, and slipped past him to block his way.

"Hey…" she said as she leaned her back against the door.

"Hey, didn't think you'd still be here."

"Well I was sorta waiting for you."

"And why would that be?"

"I just wanted to say that you were great tonight, and …and thank you for agreeing to this, it really means a lot to me. You see, my whole future sorta depended on tonight and Bischoff totally loved what we did, so I'm in the clear now. I owe you big time Cena."

"You're welcome then."

They stood in silence for a few moments, until John leaned in. Nicole panicked thinking he was going to kiss her, and froze. Instead, he simply turned the handle to his door, which Nicole was pressed up against.

He pressed the door open lightly, expecting Nicole to move aside, but instead she stumbled inside. John laughed as he walked in and opened a bottle of water pouring it over himself.

Nicole watched as rivulets of water trailed down his chest and stopped at the waist of his pants.She stood staring at him a few moments,"Well…I should go. I'll see you tomorrow"

"Aight. C'ya tomorrow."

Nicole slowly walked out of the room, and closed the door behind her. As she walked down the corridor, she took one last glance back, before smiling to herself and walking to the Divas locker room.

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