He's right. I push myself like a demon for two weeks, training every spare second I have, practising moves until they're perfect. He walks into our training session smiling, handing me a form. "Call up papers" he says. "Read them through, sign them, give them back to me." I don't bother reading them, just sign them quickly and hand them back. This has become my life now. No Jon. I haven't heard from him in weeks. I guess he's happy with Renee. Bill puts a DVD on and makes me sit and watch. "This is NXT" he says. "I've assigned someone to watch out for you while you're down there. He should be arriving here soon to go through things with you, explain about tapings and stuff." I nod, focusing on the DVD. "Lora" Bill says apologetically. "I hate to do this to you, but do you know what's up with Jon? People have been asking about him, saying he looks dirty and that he doesn't care about his appearance. He's losing muscle mass, and he's losing it quickly." I look at him and he hands me a recent picture of Jon in the ring. "His arms" I whisper. "Where have his arms gone?" "I knew you'd notice" Bill says. "He's not training, not like he used to with you." I nod, handing him the picture back. "Guess you'd better ask the future Mrs Ambrose about that one" I say. "I've got training to do."
"Lora!" Bill yells a bout an hour later. I grab my towel and get out of the ring, heading to him. "This is Corey" he says. "And Finn. They're gonna look after you now, at NXT. My work here is done. You did good kiddo." I can't help the tears. "Thank you Bill" I say, hugging him tightly. "Thank you for everything." "Just doing my job" he says, patting my back. "Now you go show them at NXT what you can do. Just make sure you come see me once in a while." I smile. "Count on it" I say, watching as he walks away. Corey smiles and shakes my hand. "Corey Graves" he says. "Heard a lot about you Mrs Ambrose." "It's Mrs Good" I say. "But not for much longer. Are we going now?" Corey looks at Finn quickly. He nods so Corey smiles. "Sure" he says. "Let's go show you how the pro's do things." I smile and follow them out of the performance centre.
"Wow" I whisper as we pull up at Full Sail. Finn smiles. "That's the general reaction" he says, the first time I've heard him speak. "Irish?" I ask. He nods, holding his hands up. "Guilty as charged" he says. I smile, knowing we're gonna get on great. They lead me into the arena and I groan. "Lora!" Hunter says smiling. "Good to see you! Earlier than we thought though, Bill must have worked you hard." Finn shakes his head. "We've just watched her" he says. "She's more than ready Hunter." "When I want your opinion I'll ask for it" Hunter says, not even looking at him. I frown but Finn just shrugs. I look up the entrance ramp as Charlotte walks down. "Lora" she squeals, running and hugging me. I hug her back. "Wow!" she says. "Wasn't expecting to see you here so soon! Not that I'm complaining!" I smile. Hunter frowns. "You two know each other?" he asks. Charlotte nods. "Worked with her a few times at the performance centre" she says. "We had some good matches." "Prove it" Hunter says, looking at the ring. Charlotte looks at me and we both nod. I strip down to my workout kit and Corey grins. "Come prepared Lor" he says laughing. "Always" I say, winking at him before getting in the ring.
Hunter calls time on our impromptu match ten minutes later. "Wow" he says simply. Charlotte grins as we get out off the ring. "I want her" she says simply. "Put her in a programme with me. We're both gonna be main roster ready before you know it." Hunter nods thoughtfully. "Sure" he says finally. "I'll get the writers on it. But until it's done, Lora, you're with Balor. Valet." Finn frowns but shrugs. "Better go get you some ring gear sorted" he says, grabbing my hand and leading me backstage. "You're not happy about this are you?" I ask quietly as he leads me down corridors. He shrugs. "Makes no odds to me" he says. "I've never needed a valet before, I don't see why I need one now. But hey, it's what the boss wants." I nod and smile as he points me in the direction of the seamstress. I'm about to head into the room when I hear it. I freeze and Finn groans. "Come on" he says, holding my hand tightly and leading me in the direction of the noise. "I can't believe they brought you up the week she's on commentary instead of Corey." I frown. "You knew?" I ask quietly. "Lora" he says, looking me in the eye. "Everyone knows. Relax. Nobody is ok with it, not by a long shot. Shit, come here." He pulls me against him and kisses my head softly as I deal with my tears. "Finn! Hi!" Renee says excitedly. He shakes his head. "Not now Renee" he says, not even turning around. She ignores him and walks around to the front of him, her mouth forming a perfect O of shock as she realises who he's hugging. "Well well" she says slyly. "If it isn't Mrs Good." "You're right" I say, kissing Finn's cheek before looking back at her. "It isn't. I'll see you in a bit Finn." He nods, kissing my head again before letting me go in to see about getting ring gear sorted.