The Scheme

"Alex you know that you don't need to look perfect?"
"I know but I'm getting my picture taken today and my hair just isn't cooperating with me."
"You look beautiful and I don't want you to over do it."
"So you think I look beautiful," she asked knowing what he would say but just wanting to hear it again.
"You look gorgeous to me and I'm sure everybody would agree with me."
"Do you think this outfit is too much?"
"If Vince said it was okay then it's great. Now come on, don't be all girly."
"Sorry if I'm a bit nervous but I want to make a good first impression. I don't want to be you and be remembered for the ugly baby-blue tights you were that were too small."
"You helped pick those out and that was week 2."
"You asked for the color choice and I was wearing my tar heels jersey, that's it. But can we please focus on me freaking out right now."

"Shortie," he said putting his hands on her shoulders. "You'll be fine because you're beautiful and talented. Anybody can see that, me included. My friends have accepted you and my boss and I'm sure my fans will see that too. You have nothing to worry about Alex." He kissed her on the lips and Alex felt as though she would pass out. It wasn't just a spur of the moment kiss but she felt like it meant something. But she didn't want to think too much into it.

After standing still for a moment, she realized that John was standing in front of her. Did he want to kiss her again or was he waiting for a reaction? She smiled at him and said "Thanks John, I think I'll be okay."
"Good, now can we go? It wouldn't be good to be late on your first day."

John grabbed both of their bags as Alex followed him out of their room. Did he kiss her just to get her out of the room? She shook out all of the bad thoughts in her head when they pulled into the parking lot. Alex nodded as she noticed the photographers.

"I'll open your door, just wait."
He got out of the car and got the bags out of the trunk before opening the door for Alex. He held out his hand and she grabbed it. He helped her out of the car and they held hands with Alex leaning her head on his shoulder. Once they got inside they didn't stop holding hands until they got to the locker room. John put down their bags.

"See that wasn't so bad."
"No, not really. I was scared but I'll get used to it I guess."
"Well now that that's over with we should go and see Vince to see what the plans are for the day."
"Oh okay."
"It's kind of a customary thing to see him when we show up. He likes to know when his superstars show up."
"Okay." Alexis and John went to see Vince.

"So is this okay," she asked him once they were in his office.

"That's perfect and so far you two are doing great. Did you have a chance to look over the contract?"
"Yeah I did but there was nothing about me being Johnny's assistant."
"It's because you are more of an on-screen addition then behind the scenes. We want to focus on the on-air things rather then worrying about all of the things that John needs to do. Is that okay with you?"
"Yeah it's fine with me."
"And with you being out by the ring every night you need to learn some wrestling moves."
"Well I know some of the basic but not enough to wrestle in a match."
"Okay we will get you a trainer so that you will be able to wrestle in a match eventually. Since John is in a feud with Nitro it would be good for you and Melina to also have a feud."
"I guess that would be okay. I mean as long as I don't wrestle every week. I don't think that my body could handle it."
"So you want to be known as a sex symbol?"
"No but I want to be known as John's assistant but whatever you need me to do, I can do."

"Vince," John stated. "If Alex needs a trainer I could train her before shows and during our off-time."

"Would you mind?"
"Not at all, I love spending time with her."
"Then it's decided. John will train you in the spare time that you both have. Your schedule will be delivered to your locker room before the show starts. And John, yours will be there too."
"Okay Vince," John said.

"Thanks," they both said in unison. They said goodbye to Vince and went to their locker room.

"Johnny."
"Yeah."
"Why haven't we had breakfast with everybody?"
Because we only do it the first day back to make sure that we see each other."
"Oh. How does Torrie fit in with everybody? I mean, Ashley and Matt are dating, Jeff's his brother, Shawn is like a mentor but Torrie doesn't seem like she fits in."
"Well a while back she and I had this thing going on and she started to join us. But when I broke it off, she kept coming and I didn't have the heart to tell her to go away."
"Do you think that she still has feelings for you?"
"I don't know she might."
"Do you have feelings for her?"
"I honestly never had feelings for her. I think that I was lonely and she was just there."
"Why would you settle for that instead of looking for something with more substance?"
There was a knock on the door and Alex got up and answered it. It was Jeff.

"Do you want to take our walk now?"
"In a few minutes okay?" Jeff looked a little disappointed. "I'll come to your locker room and get you okay?"
"Yeah." Jeff walked down the hall a bit before Alexis closed the door.
"Jeff bro, what's wrong?"
"Nothing man, I just want to get to know her before John sweeps her up."
"Oh Alex, that's what I thought."
"Well we are going to the beach this week and everyday we have our walks. She seems like she might be into me but when I see her with John it scares me."
"Jeff they've been friends for 28 or 29 years and if he hasn't said anything yet then what makes you think he will now?"
"I honestly don't know but I don't want to lose her."

"So what are you going to do during my photo shoot?"
"I'm gonna go to the beach."
"I though you didn't want to go alone."
"I'm not going alone, I'm going with Jeff."
"You seem to be getting close to him?"
"I kind of am. He's a really cool person."
"He is."
"Well I have to go for a little bit but I'll be back alright?"
"Yeah where are you going?"
"For a walk with Jeff."
"Oh okay, just find me when you get back."
"I will." She buttoned up her jacket and walked out of the room without giving John a hug or anything. She regretted it halfway down the hall but could do nothing about it. She stopped to see Ashley before seeing Jeff.

"Can I ask you something," she asked quickly without saying hello.

"Sure," Ashley answered confused.

"Did you know about Torrie and John having a history?"
"Yeah, why, you didn't?"
"No, well not until he told me a few minutes ago."
"Are you okay with that?"
"Not really because it pisses me off that he didn't tell me in the first place and I don't know why he all of a sudden told me about it."
"Maybe he felt bad about not telling you and he figured that he would tell you the truth before somebody else told you."
"Yeah that could be it but I'm still mad at him."
"You have a right to be."
"Alright, I just needed to tell somebody that but I'm on my way to see Jeff."
"You two hang out a lot."
"Yeah kind of."
"Do you like him?"
"Maybe I'll pull a John."
Alexis smiled at Ashley as they said goodbye and Alex left to get Jeff at his locker room. He opened the door immediately after she knocked.

"Hey."
"Hey."
They both smiled stupidly at each other before he walked out to meet her and they walked outside.

"Where to today," Jeff asked.

"A playground."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious, I love playgrounds."

They asked some townies where the nearest play-ground was and they found it 20 minutes later. Alex was so excited as she saw the slides, monkey-bars, swings, see-saws and merry-go rounds. Her and Jeff both headed straight for the slides for some fun before sitting on the swings.

"I forgot how much fun play-grounds could be."

"I hate to say I told you so but I have always been a fun person who enjoys kid stuff and it's too cold at home to do this."
"Do you miss being home?"
"Not really. I have always hated to be home because my parents got divorced and they still live together."
"That's kind of weird."
"I know but I've lived in that house for 10 years. I moved out through college and a little after but then I moved back in. But my mom told me that we finally sold it so I'm going to be a little sad that I don't have that place to go back to. My dad is moving here, to Florida, and my mom is moving to North Carolina so I'm going to be in Mass all by myself."
"You'll have Johnny."

"I know but it's not the same. Anytime you feel homesick you can go to your parents' house and see them."
"Well with my dad I can."
"And your mom?"
"She passed away when I was 9."
"Oh Jeff, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…"
"It's alright hun, you didn't know. People do it all the time."
"Do you miss her?"
"Yeah, not as much as I did growing up but I still miss her. I wish that she could see everything that I've done. It's just been…" he hesitated and tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Alexis stopped her swing and sat on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his waist. He put his head on her shoulder and she could feel his tears through her jacket. She rubbed his back as the swing slowly came to a stop. Jeff looked up into Alexis' smiling eyes. "It's just been so hard," he managed to say. She looked into his eyes and before she knew it they were in the midst of a kiss. They both pulled away from each other.

"Was that a sympathy kiss," Jeff asked quietly.

"I'm not sure," Alexis said with a smile. "I really don't know Jeff." She got up off his lap. "We should go back."

"Yeah we should."
They walked away awkwardly next to each other back to the arena.

"Thanks Alex."
"For what? I made you cry."
"But you made me happier."
"Well that's probably a good thing then."
"Yeah it is. I just hope that it didn't ruin anything that is going on with you and Johnny."
"I don't even know what's going on with me and Johnny. I feel like we're so close from being together but so far away."
"I understand exactly what you are talking about."
"It just sucks because I've wanted to be with him for so long but I just, he frustrates me so much because he's so hot and cold."
"I know Alex but until he realizes what he is missing then he won't really appreciate it."
"What are talking about?"
"A little scheme maybe."
"Okay tell me more."
"Well has John ever seen you with somebody else?"
"No, I've never shown off my boyfriends to him and my only really serious one was in college when I was hundreds of miles away from him, why?"
"I don't know, maybe I have an idea of a way to make him fall in love with you."
"Rainbow boy say what?"
"Alex, I love the relationship that you and John have but until he realizes what he is missing he's not going to tell you how he feels."
"So you want me to make him jealous by dating you?"
"Yeah."
"How do I know this isn't a scheme just to be with me?"
"It's up to you."
"Can we wait a little while to see if anything happen? Maybe we could talk about each other around him so he feels me slipping away and that will be good enough."
"We could do that."
"Good, thanks."
"You're welcome."
Jeff kissed her on the top of the head outside of the arena before they went their separate ways. Alexis figured that trying to make Johnny jealous was probably the best situation to get him in the end.