Disclaimer: I do not own the characters affiliated with WWE, I do own Nicole Michael's however. This story is completely AU! This is my first fic so be gentle, reviews are welcomed!
"Jess, why won't you talk to me?" Nicole watched her best friend sob heavily on her bed. She stroked her hair. "Please tell me what's going on."
"You want to know what's wrong?" Jess snapped angrily sitting up. "You want to know what's wrong?" she was getting angrier and angrier. "Your father lent my father money so he could buy my prom dress, but my dad couldn't get the money to pay him back. So your father had one of his cronies come and give him a reminder of what happens to people who betrays the trust of the Michaels."
"What did he do?"
"He bashed the crap out of my father, and he threatened to have Sam and I taken away!"
"He wouldn't do that, that's not my father. My father's just a lawyer."
"Bullshit! Bullshit! You're father's a godfather!"
"What? Like a mobster?"
"YES! He had Phil's mother raped last month because she was late paying him back!"
Nicole felt her heart tighten. That man wasn't her father. There was a lot that didn't add up in their household, like the strange men coming in and out of the house at all hours of the night, but her father couldn't possibly do that.
"Don't lie."
"Open your fucking eyes, Nicole! Your dad is a monster!"
Nicole cried out, clutching her chest as she flung from her sleep. She wiped the sweat from her brow and the tears that were streaming down her face.
"Are you ok, sweetie?"
Nicole looked up to see her housemate Torrie sitting on the edge of the bed. Nicole shook her head and broke down. Torrie took her into a hug and held her until the tears stopped.
"Come on," Torrie said taking her hand and led her downstairs. Nicole sat on the couch cross-legged while Torrie made some coffee.
Nicole's head throbbed as she glanced around the room, until her eyes fell on to a photo on the fire place. It was of her and her father in Fiji after her high school graduation. They'd gone on a holiday with Maria, who'd taken the photo. They seemed so happy. They were sitting on the beach with their arms around each other, showing healthy glowing skin. Little did they know at the time two weeks later something would happen that would drive Nicole away.
"Here," Torrie said handing her a cup of coffee. "You want to talk about it?"
"I was having that nightmare again," Nicole said nursing her cup of coffee. "Well, it can't be a nightmare because it really happened."
"The one about Jess?"
"I can't get it out of my head. It was so long ago. I was seventeen when I found out and I didn't leave until a year later. I feel so guilty."
"Why? You weren't to know."
"Are you sure about that? The signs were there: the strange men who were always at our house, the secrets and the lame excuses for not being there. And when Jess told me about her dad I ignored her; now he's dead. My dad killed him."
Nicole woke the next morning to find she'd fallen asleep on the couch; Torrie was right next to her. She got up, showered and dressed. Today, like yesterday and the day before, she would be job hunting, and would probably be sent away.
Newport was a typical small town, everyone had a little dirty laundry and everyone knew about it. So everyone knew what had happened in the Michaels home when Nicole left, of course no one knew the whole story. Nicole's return made her an outcast, and no one wanted her working for them, but she refused to leave. Newport was her home.
She checked her messages on her mobile as she walked down her street. Just one from her dad.
Hey Nicole, it's your dad. I'm worried about you, you seemed upset yesterday, and I didn't want to press the matter at the time. I miss you. Call me.
Nicole smiled sadly as she put her phone in her bag. Her résumé was ready, not that it would matter. She suddenly remembered her sister saying there was a new CD store. She pulled out her phone and dialled her sister's number.
"Hello?" came a groggy voice.
"Hey sweetie, it's Nicole. What street is that new CD store on?"
"Thames St., next to John's antique store. Did you get dad's message?"
"Yeah I did."
"Come to dinner."
"I don't know Maria. Grandma…"
"Fuck what she thinks." Nicole rarely heard her sister swear, unless it involved their grandma. "Be here at seven, or I'll drag you hear myself."
"Seven. I'll see you later. Love you."
"Love you, good luck getting that job."
Nicole hung up and threw her phone into her bag. She made her way to Thames Street. The air was warm and relaxing. Her body felt tired from her late night. The pending dinner that would be full of dramas didn't help.
Thames Street was busy, being summer it was full of tourists who'd come to visit the infamous mansions, including The Marble House, which she called home. She found the CD store, which had been a bookstore before.
She opened the door, noting the sign in the window about hiring and entered the empty shop. "Hello?" she called out walking towards the back of the shop. "Is anyone here?"
There was something friendly about the shop. The warm yellow paint on the walls was contrasted by the deep blood red feature wall against the back of the shop. The posters of bands that adorned the walls reminded her of her room when she was a teenager.
"Nirvana? What kind of music is that? I demand you take that down at once!" Her grandmother demanded. "You are a young lady; you should be more concerned about your appearance to this established community."
"I don't care what they think," Nicole said. "They shouldn't judge me because of the music I listen to."
"Young lady, take those damn posters down now!"
"NO!"
"If you do not take them down this instance I shall do it myself, and you will be sent to boarding school."
"You've been using that threat for years grandma, you don't have the guts."
Nicole smirked at the memory; she was fourteen at the time and somehow not much had changed. The posters didn't stay up for long; her grandma had the maid take them down while she was at school.
"Can I help you?"
Nicole spun around to meet the dark eyes of a tall, dark curly haired man.
"Hi, my name's Nicole, I'm here about the job that's available."
"Right well I'm Matt," he said looking over her.
She could tell he was thinking it over by the way she was dressed. She hated the way she dressed; her grandmother had a personal shopper pick her clothes for her, it was so impersonal. Her wardrobe was filled to the brim with Chanel, Gucci, Prada and Burberry. She loved the clothes she had, but it wasn't her; she was more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt. Nicole felt overdressed in her black Chanel dress pants and sheer military Burberry top, teamed with her favourite Gucci pumps and quilted Burberry tote bag.
He was judging her, and it made her uncomfortable. He thinks I'm some spoilt rich brat, I'm screwed.
"Do you live locally?" he asked as she handed him her résumé.
"Yes, ten minutes walk."
"Do you live in the mansions?"
"No, I live with my friend, my father lives in the Marble House."
"You studied in Paris; you have two degrees, why would you need to work in a CD store?"
"I came back from Paris for family matters, and I can't really get a job with my degrees. I've been looking around town for a job, but there's nothing really available at the moment. And I love music so I figure why not work in a CD store?"
"Your credentials are good. You seem nice enough. I haven't really had any other people come in for the job, and I guess you'll be available all the time because you're not in school. I don't know; you seem to be doing well enough without the money, someone might need the job more than you."
"Please sir," she said, "I'm going to be honest with you. I'm not this spoilt little rich girl you think I am. I went to Paris to get away from my father, and I came back to try and fix the mess I'd left, but my family barely speak to me. The only time I get invited to things is so my grandmother can pretend that the family is fine. I need this job to prove to them I'm not a drop-kick who goes out of her way to ruin their lives."
He looked over the young woman sadly. "Okay, but only on a trial."
"Thank you so much, you're not going to regret this."
"You can start today. My brother will be here any minute, and I suppose you know how to use a register." She nodded. "If you'll follow me I'll show you were you can keep your bag."
She followed him into the office where she put her bag underneath the desk. They heard the door open.
"Matt, I'm here!"
Nicole followed Matt out of the office to see a tall man searching through a pile of papers on the counter. His long hair looked to be dyed red with purple streaks. His face was scrunched in a concentrated manner and his green eyes sparkled playfully. His wife-beater showed a lean, sculpted body, painted with tattoos on his right arm leading up to his neck. Nicole could feel her mouth dry. He was beautiful.
"Jeff," Matt said trying to grab the man's attention. He turned around with a big cheeky grin on his face. "This is Nicole; she's on a trial here."
"Nice to meet you Nicole," Jeff said shaking her hard. "I hope you like working here."
"Thankyou," she said feeling her face grow warm.
"I need to go to the bank," Matt said grabbing a folder from on top of the counter. "Nicole, why don't you start by stacking those CDs. Can I talk to you Jeff before I go?"
Nicole watched the two leave the store. She took a deep breath and took in her surroundings. She took a pile of the CDs and made her way over to the shelves. She started putting the CDs away when Jeff came back into the store. He smiled at her and went back to the counter.
"Come over here Nicole," he called out as we went over to the couches that were by the CD players. She walked over to the couches, leaving the CDs on the counter and sat next to him on the couches. "So, now that the big brother is away for a while, tell me about yourself."
"I grew up here with my older sister Maria; she's in fashion design school. My mother left when I was a baby, so my father and grandmother brought me up. I left home when I was eighteen after I graduated, and I went and studied in Paris for a year, and travelled around Europe for another year. I came back here to try and fix the relationship with my father. Now I'm living with my best friend from high school. What about you?"
"My brother and I are from North Carolina. We moved up here when we inherited this shop from our uncle. Never went to college, although Matt did study for a while. I don't know what I want to do, I'm happy just cruising in this place. I'm going to start my own band up here."
"That'll be great," Nicole said. "The Sun Bar on the strip is really good, and they're always looking for bands to play."
"Oh ok, thanks for the heads up," he said grinning. "Would you recommend a guy like me drink there?"
"Yeah, I'd recommend it to anyone."
"I get the feeling people aren't too friendly are they?"
"They're snobs. You put a foot wrong in this town and they're not so forgiving. I should know."
"Well, I'm sure I'll be in the same boat as you any day this week," he said smiling weakly. "Never been very good at keeping myself out of trouble."
Nicole looked at her hands sadly. "Story of my life," she said quietly. "I'm sorry, I should get back to work; don't want to be fired on my first day of my trial period, that would be pathetic."
She felt so vulnerable. She'd never told a single soul, not Maria, Torrie or her father what she'd really been thinking and feeling. She'd just met him and she was already spilling her heart. What am I thinking? Stop it you moron!
She got up to move back to the counter but was stopped by Jeff gently placing his hand on her arm. "I don't know you and you don't know me, but I figure you're going to be working here, trial or no trial, I'm a good listener. A happy worker makes a happy customer."
Nicole laughed. "You're very kind."
"It's my southern charm."
Nicole grinned. No boy in Newport was like Jeff Hardy. His eyes showed the soul of a cheeky man who had a devilish side to him. He looked wild with his brightly coloured hair and dark tattoos.
What are you doing girl?! You just met him, and already you're drooling all over him?
"Well, maybe your southern charm can teach the boys in these parts a thing or two."
His eyes twinkled as he grinned at her before walking to the office. "I'll be in here if you need help with anything," he said turning around to her before going into the office and closing the door. He leant against the door and let out a sigh. What are you doing boy? She's WAY out of your league. You don't know her. All that talk about her family could be bullshit. Matt said to watch her, what girl wearing Burberry and Chanel could possibly have a hard live in Newport?
He hit the back of his head against the door. Her scent was intoxicating, she smelt so sweet. He was sure it was a mixture of lychee, peach and mandarin. It was relaxing and enticing. Her skin felt so soft under his touch, and he thought he smelt the aroma of coconut. He headed over to the desk and buried himself in the pile of paperwork he'd left last week.