TJ Wilson and Seth Rollins were waiting for Tessa out in the arena, she had learned. Apparently it was quite commonplace for people to sit out there and talk, away from the hustle and bustle backstage.

On her way to find them, she resolved herself to two things: Firstly, she was going to do her best to avoid a confrontation that would land her in hot water with Lucy Thorne. And secondly, while trying her best with the first objective, she was not going to take any shit from Seth. She had to lose the match because that was the outcome Lucy h7ad decided on. What she didn't have to do was let Seth bury her in the process, which she imagined would be his new plan now that he hadn't been able to weasel his way out of wrestling her.

The two men were sitting at the end of a row in the 100 level seats, pretty much opposite the hard camera. The seat at the end of the row had been left free for her. The guys were busy in conversation, so they didn't notice her until she was almost standing next to them. "Hi," she said, putting some warmth in her voice for TJ's benefit.

"Oh, hi, Tessa," TJ said, turning to look at her.

"Hi," Seth said, showing little enthusiasm, especially considering that it was the first time they were meeting. He wasn't going to bother with a handshake or anything either, Tessa realised. It was fine with her if he wanted to be that way. She had nothing to shake hands with him on anyway.

"Have a seat," TJ said.

"Thanks," she replied, sitting down. "We've got a match to put together," she said, making it clear that she wanted to get straight down to business.

"We have," TJ said. "As you both know, Seth is going over. Personally, even in defeat, I think we should continue where we left off with Miz last week, building Tessa up as a credible threat in the men's division."

"I don't agree," Seth said frankly. "To me it's stupid to have a woman fighting men. If I'm going over, we should get it done quickly and move past this charade."

"Are you fucking serious right now?" Tessa demanded, her blood boiling. How he had the nerve to sit a couple of feet away from her and be so overtly sexist and disrespectful was beyond belief.

"Yeah, I am serious," Seth fired back, looking her right in the eye. "I think this whole thing is a joke. Just because you beat some women up in UFC, people are supposed to buy you showing in WWE and outwrestling men? Get out of here."

"Guys, guys, guys," TJ said, looking at them each in turn as he tried to play peacemaker. "Regardless of what you think about it, Seth, this is what Ms Thorne wants. You will be in the ring with Tessa tonight, and you will put on a good back and forth contest. It will not be a squash."

"Fine" Seth said reluctantly. "I had to make the point face to face that I don't want to make myself look stupid by trying to make her look legit."

"Actually, you didn't say it face to face at all," Tessa snapped. "I know you went crying to Thorne like a little bitch, wanting her to change the match."

"What did you just call me?" Seth demanded angrily.

"Enough!" TJ shouted, now losing his own cool. "Any more of this bullshit from either of you, we'll take this conversation to Ms Thorne's office and see what she makes of how you're acting. Seth, keep your sexist comments to yourself, and Tessa, pull your head in. Understood? We're supposed to be professionals doing a job here."

"Look, I'll work with the guy because, like you said, it's my job. Just don't expect to sit here chatting to him," Tessa said, refusing to even look at Seth. "Let's agree a finish, and he can call the rest out there."

With TJ doing most of the talking, a finish was laid out that both of them could agree to. Tessa was happy that it didn't make her look like garbage. Other than that, she didn't really give a fuck. All she wanted to do was get through the match with Seth and move on to whatever was going to be next for her.

"Okay, so we're agreed? And we're not going to have any problems?" TJ asked, wrapping up the conversation.

"No problems. I'll catch you later, man," Seth said. Without acknowledging Tessa at all, he got up and walked down the row of seats, getting out of there as quickly as he could.

"You okay? He's being a bit of an unnecessary ass," TJ said to Tessa.

"He's being a cunt," Tessa corrected him matter of fact. "But yes, I'm okay. I'll do my job out there tonight, don't worry about that."

"You know where I am if you need anything. You're only just starting out with us, so I know this isn't something you'd want to have to deal with right now."

"I'm fine, TJ," Tessa insisted. "Thank you for working out the finish for me. I'll catch up to you later."

"Sure," he said, giving her a smile as she got up.

The truth was Tessa wasn't fine at all. In fact, she was seething. If anyone had spoken to or about her the way Seth had in pretty much any other walk of life, he would have found his teeth down the back of his throat. But she couldn't give him the beating he deserved because that would be the end of her WWE career on the spot.

Knowing that she needed to calm down, she decided to go to catering and get a cup of coffee. It was a better idea than going back to the locker room, where she would end up venting and properly coming across like a madwoman to all of her colleagues.

Without speaking to anyone, she made her way to catering, fixed a coffee and sat down at an empty table. Despite the passage of time, her anger was not subsiding. She could picture Seth Rollins' stupid face and hear his annoying voice.

"To me it's stupid to have a woman fighting men."

"Be glad I'm not actually fighting you, you piece of shit," Tessa snarled under her breath. She sat there stewing, working on her coffee in the vague hope that it might help her to comprehend what a monumental asshole Rollins was.

"That's not a happy face. I like seeing happy faces."

Tessa looked up, seeing Nikki Bella standing there with a cup of coffee in her hand and a smile on her face. The smile was a real sight for sore eyes, and Tessa appreciated it. "It's a pissed off face," she said, not directing any anger at Nikki.

"I can see that," Nikki grimaced. "What's wrong? Do you want to talk about it?"

No, was almost the response Tessa almost instinctively gave. But part of her, the part that was mind-blown by Nikki's beauty, wanted an opportunity to talk to her. "I could vent at you?"

"Okay, let's do it," Nikki said without hesitation, sitting down opposite Tessa. There was genuine positivity in her voice. "I'm a good venter, and I'd like to think I'm good at being vented at. So, what's on your mind?"

"Seth fucking Rollins," Tessa growled, unable to keep the profanity out of it.

"Ouch. What did he do?" Nikki asked.

"You know I'm wrestling him tonight, right?"

Nikki nodded.

"Well, I found out he went to Thorne to try and get the match changed. He told her he didn't want to work with me. She told him she wasn't changing the match, and that he should get on with his job. So, when I went to work out the match with him and TJ, I wasn't exactly pleased, as you can imagine. That's when it got worse. That weasly little prick had the nerve to sit right there in front of me and say that he thinks women wrestling men is stupid and not legit. He said he would work with me tonight because he had to, but he didn't want to do anything to help me get over."

"Selfish. Nasty. Sexist," Nikki said, thinking about each point as she said them. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that. There's no place for that kind of attitude."

"There shouldn't be," Tessa said. She took a moment to drink some of her coffee. "I'm so angry with him, Nikki. And another thing, what if he tries to make me look stupid in the ring tonight? Or what if he tries to take advantage and hurt me in some way?"

"That last won't happen," Nikki said, shaking her head.

"You sound pretty sure about that," Tessa noted, interested as to what her new acquaintance was going to say next.

"Trust me. I've worked with a few people over the years who I didn't get along with at all in the locker room. You put that aside when you're out there in the ring. There is no place for anyone in wrestling who would intentionally endanger an opponent. Doing so would be the fastest way for someone to end their own career. No one would work with them again."

"That makes sense," Tessa said, feeling a bit better about that side of things. "I'm sure there is the occasional cheap shot that people put in though?"

"Oh, yeah, that happens," Nikki said. "I'm sure you can give as good as you get if he tries that, not that I think he will."

"Part of me hopes he does so that I can give him one back. That would show him women can fight pretty well."

Nikki smiled in appreciation of what she took as a humorous comment. "Seriously though, this is a lot to have on your mind on the night of your first pay-per-view match. Clementine invited me out for a few drinks tonight to celebrate my return, and she also just invited Sonya and Mandy, since they're wrestling tonight. Would you like to come along with us all? I'm sure a drink will be just the thing you need by the end of tonight. Assuming you drink, that is."

"I do drink," Tessa said, smiling. She noticed that she was doing it, and it made her grateful for Nikki coming to speak to her. A night out sounded great, too, especially with Sonya and Mandy joining them. "I'll be glad to come out with you. First round on me."

"Even better," Nikki said, flashing a radiant smile that made Tessa feel weak. "Listen, I've got to go and see Steph. But good luck tonight. I'm sure you'll have a great match."

"Thanks. And thanks for coming over to pick me up, too. I needed it."

"You're welcome any time," Nikki said as she got up from the table.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who left a review on the previous chapter!

After the less than ideal preparation, how do you think Tessa's match with Seth will go?

And how will she enjoy her night out with the group, including Nikki?