Kenny realized halfway through their flight that Scout was full of easy charm and sometimes mysterious half-smiles that made you wonder what she was thinking. If anyone approached her she made time to talk to them, ask their names.

She confided in him that she was never going to assume that her fame was forever. That she knew it could go as easily as it came and that she was going to do her best to show gratitude.

Scout was earnest, and in a profession full of big personalities and egos…it was disarming.

Kenny thought they could create something special and fun. It was all a big gamble, it had all happened in less than twenty four hours. But she was there, she had run away and joined the circus.

Once they landed in Chicago, they shared a cab to the hotel where talent was staying. After they checked in, he turned to Scout and asked, "How about we get settled, then maybe some room service and talk about what we should do for the taping tomorrow?"

A slow smile appeared on her lips, "Alright. See you at mine in about an hour?"

With a nod and a "see you then," he retreated to his room which was on the same floor as Matt, Nick and the rest of his close friends. As he was unlocking his hotel room door, Matt popped his head out of the door across the hall, "Holy shit man, you're just now getting here?"

Kenny nodded, "Yeah. Flew in with Scout. She decided to join us."

His friend smiled and shook his head, "This is a pretty wild idea. But you all are all over the Internet. Twitter, vlogs, blogs, Bleacher Report, Cageside…even Sports Illustrated."

Kenny walked in to his room and dropped his bag as Matt followed him in, "It was just a feeling. She has fun energy."

Matt laughed, "She's also hella famous. I had no idea just how famous until you all broke the Internet and Dana had to fill me in. It will definitely get a new crowd watching."

Kenny liked that idea more than anything; the idea that Scout being from a different industry could lead more people to the fun of professional wrestling…more women, more girls…more book readers.

Matt watched as Kenny collapsed on the small couch in the sitting area of his room, "Wanna grab some dinner? Nick and Adam and I were just getting ready to head out?"

He shook his head, "Scout and I are going to get room service and talk about the taping tomorrow. Hammer out a trajectory."

"Seems like you all are already on one. I'm surprised you're going with straight up romance."

Kenny smiled a little, catching the double

meaning, "I think we both want it to be more than just that. Maybe some 'will they won't they,' but we're not diving directly into that at all. And whatever this is in real life, it's just a friendship, but there is something there that matches my energy."

After Matt said his goodbyes, Kenny took a hot shower and went on Twitter to see that he and Scout were both still trending. Someone had taken a picture of them at the airport and Us Weekly had an online article about them and a quick rundown of their rumored love affair that a "source" confirmed had been going on for months.

It was odd seeing pictures of himself in the ring next to photos of Scout at the Oscars. They couldn't be more mismatched if they tried.

But Scout was right, it is fun messing with the press and there was no doubt that she was going to get a good laugh out of this.

He took the elevator to her floor, walked to Scout's hotel room and knocked firmly. She answered, her long hair damp from the shower, her gray-green eyes wide and a mischievous smile on her lips, "Oh, I see you've come to continue our tawdry affair."

Kenny laughed as she waved him in and closed the door behind him, "I was just getting ready to show you that article."

Scout sighed and turned off the tv in the sitting area, "Jem sent it to me. It's not shocking. The sex life the press sets up for me is far more interesting than the one I have. I guess the big thing is if you're okay with it? Slumming it with some out of shape nerd like me?"

He sat down on the couch beside her, "I think we should run with it. It's just for the show, might as well mess with their heads."

While Scout wasn't an athlete, there was a lot of things he liked about her. The words in her vocabulary that only a bookworm would use, the gentle lilt of her Virginian accent and her truly wicked sense of humor. She was easy to be around and would be fun to work with.

Scout smiled and picked up the mug of tea that sat next to her open laptop on the coffee table, "I did some more research online. I think we should avoid anything that resembles me turning into your Harley Quinn. It's tired."

He couldn't agree more.

"My storyline has me on the opposite side of all my friends right now. I've lost the title, my friends and I'm alone. I think it could be interesting to have you stop Hangman from beating the shit out of me tomorrow and making our escape. Then we just cause chaos together and have a lot of fun. I have an idea for your look and your name."

Scout smiled that half-smile, "Oh really? Tell me!"

He took out his phone and brought up a picture he found of Debbie Harry from Blondie from the late seventies. Her hair was platinum on top and black beneath and cut into a long, messy Bob.

"I think this would be great. Hair and makeup like this, same attitude. I've been known to wear suits when I don't have a match…we could make you similar ones but cut differently and get some mirrored aviators…"

Scout smiled and nodded, "And the name?"

Kenny continued, "Well, my name is actually Tyson Smith. Your last name is Coopersmith. I thought we could go with something like 'Ms. Smith.'"


The next day, Scout met with Brandi and watched some of the walk throughs and training for matches. They talked about the script, the ideas they had for the pilot and the subsequent episodes. Over a late lunch with Kraft services, Brandi mentioned following all the stories that had caught on like wildfire over the past few days.

"I can't believe how much press you all have generated. It's unreal."

Scout ate a bite of pineapple and shrugged, "It kind of follows me around, but I guess it helps that Kenny is some sort of Wrestling god worldwide. It's the perfect storm of unlikely."

"Are you nervous about climbing into the ring tonight?"

She was, actually. But she was excited, too. After lunch she was going to report to makeup and figure out what she was going to wear for her debut. From there she was officially signing her contract and then taking some photos to use on air and in promotional materials.

Brandi had a huge basket of AEW swag put in her room before she checked in. A hoodie, a toboggan, t-shirts, water bottles…the whole nine yards. She brought one of the t-shirts with her to see if wardrobe could help her gussy it up for tonight.

After a long pause, Scout answered Brandi, "I'm a little nervous. But for some reason I trust Kenny. I've only known him 36 hours, so I can be wrong. Mostly I'm really excited about this new adventure."

After lunch, Brandi walked her back to hair and makeup set her hair in long, loose curls and painted her nails black. Her make up was a standard smokey eye, lots of eyeliner, some false eyelashes and a plush plum lip gloss.

Wardrobe helped her cut the neck out of the t-shirt and mimic the outfit she wore to the show in Norfolk. It hung off her shoulder and showed her black bra strap but she didn't care. She paired it with her jeans that were ripped at the knees and her trusty pair of black high topped Chuck Taylors. The final touches were her hopped earrings and one of the AEW wristbands that was in her gift basket.

It occurred to her that she looked like 2003 Avril Lavigne, but it would have to do in a pinch. Kenny said she could always go shopping once they get Ms. Smith fleshed out.

For now she was just Scout.

Tony Khan appeared while she was in the chair and was carrying a leather folio that contained her contract. Don had been surprised by the offer, he said it was generous for six weeks of work. Mr. Khan handed her a fountain pen and Scout looked over the contract one more time, signing her name carefully on the last page.

"Congratulations, you're officially All Elite."

He reached out his hand to her and she shook it with a smile, not quite believing where life had taken her now.

Mr. Khan lead her to a room down the hall where lights were set up around a white backdrop. The photographer shook her hand and mentioned he couldn't believe he was taking her pictures today.

The photographer posed her with her hands on her hips, straightforward, winking, laughing, even one where he asked her to growl. Then he turned her to the side and arranged her hair so it laid over her shoulder just so.

After a few more flashes the photographer stopped to scroll through the photos he had taken and to change what lens he was using. While she waited she heard a familiar voice from the other side of the door and when it opened Kenny appeared with a smile. He was in his ring gear, but with a t-shirt.

Scout brightened when she saw him, "Hey! What are you doing here?"

He pointed at Tony Khan and smiled, "TK wanted me to come get photos with you, you know for tv and promotional stuff."

Kenny took off his shirt and Scout felt herself recall the memory of her brother mentioning his abs. They were there and all accounted for…all eight of them.

He reached out his hand and she took it without hesitation. Kenny lead her to her to the 'x' marked with tape on the ground where she had been standing moments earlier. The photographer had Kenny pull her to him, his hands on her lower back. He then placed Scout's right hand on Kenny's shoulder.

They took photos facing each other, back to back, some standing side by side while Kenny had one arm around her shoulders. They took serious photos, fierce photos and even a few silly ones.

When the photographer said he had enough photos, Kenny put his shirt back on and after thanking the crew, took Scout by the hand and lead her through the door and into one of the many hallways of the venue.

"How are you doing? Nervous?"

Scout shook her head, "I'm ok. A little nervous. I'm a fish out of water."

"Well, you look amazing. They're going to love you."

She looked up at him and met his blue eyes with hers, "Thanks. They are putting me on commentary for the match. Asking me about the project with Brandi and what exactly happened with us in Norfolk…"

Kenny just smiled, "Just tell the story. Be Scout. We're going to have a blast. See you out there."


Rampage didn't always tape live, but that night it was. Kenny was pretty excited by the feeling of having a trick up his sleeve. The picture of himself and Scout at the airport had made the rounds on Wrestling sites, so people had an idea that she was going to appear.

They were going to give them something to talk about.

As he stood behind the curtain ready to make her entrance, he heard the crowd pop over Scout being introduced at the commentary booth with Excalibur, Taz and Ricky Sparks.

It seemed natural to put her there, she was a great interview. He had watched quite a few over the past few days and she was consistently charming. Kenny's personal favorite had been her appearance on The Daily Show, where she had a really highbrow conversation with Trevor Noah about her experiences with unemployment and being a creative person in the workforce. It was full of brains, warmth and mirth.

When he got his cue, Kenny walked out to his music and made sure to acknowledge Scout's presence at the table with a wink and a smile.

He couldn't wait to hear what they were saying on replay. In the meantime, he trash talked his way to the ring, waiting for Hangman to appear.

Their storyline had been building for two years, culminating in Hangman taking the title off of Kenny, which he had been in possession of for almost a year. At the moment, Kenny the character had been dealing with the reverberations of the loss and the loss of his allies.

Scout was a big gamble. In many ways.

But he had faith in their chemistry.

The match with Hangman was hard fought, until members of the Dark Order appeared at ring side to help Hangman beat him down.

Scout was to get visibly upset with the lopsided nature of the fight, throw off the commentary headset and run to the ring. Right when Evil Uno approached him with a steel chair, he heard Scout's dissenting cry of "Don't!"

Kenny laid on the mat after taking many shots to the head and abdomen and in his periphery, he saw her blonde hair whipping behind her and she climbed quickly through the ropes and into the ring, putting herself between Kenny and four other men.

The crowd went crazy when she put her hands up asking them to stop, Evil Uno's chair was just inches from hitting her. The crowd gasped at how close the chair had come, her hair moving with the force. Kenny had assured Evil Uno before the match that under no uncertain terms if he accidentally hit her that Kenny would have his hide.

Hangman took Scout by the elbow, trying to lead her out of the ring, "Come on, what are you doing? You shouldn't be in the ring!"

Scout retreated from his touch and backed up to where Kenny was recovering. He saw his opportunity, and rolled out of the ring, sweaty and bloody.

Hangman pointed to Kenny, "All of this? For him? He's leaving you here. Only cares about himself."

Scout turned around to look and his back was turned. Her face fell, and it was shown on the screens all over the arena. Kenny looked up and his features softened, then he turned around slowly to meet her gaze.

Those gray-green eyes were wide, worried and glassy with tears.

Fuck. She was good at this.

Kenny reached out a hand to her, palm upward and beckoning. The crowd gasped again and Scout went pink across her cheeks.

He knew that was authentic. It had given her away many times in the past few days.

Hangman and The Dark Order tried to lead her away, he could hear them telling her again that Kenny wasn't worth it, he only cared about himself.

Kenny reached his hand out further, a small smile on his lips, "Come with me. Come on."

Scout broke away and slid quickly under the ropes, taking Kenny's hand. The crowd cheered as they stood face to face before she put her arms around his midsection, helping him slowly up the ramp. When they reached the stage, they turned to look back at the ring, Kenny's arm around Scout's shoulder and blood had gotten on her cheek and neck.

With a triumphant smile, Kenny stood with Scout on the stage and that was the image that spread like wildfire across all outlets on the Internet.