I was just fastening my the purple laces of my black high tops when Colby knocked on the buses door. Grabbing up my bag and checking myself one last time in the full length mirror I smiled, my legs were out with my black denim shorts and my mid drift was hidden beneath the tassels of my black and white American flag t-shirt. Opening the buses doors I found Colby in his usual baseball cap, a white shirt, black jeans and some sneakers, why change what works?

"You ready to go Tay?" He asked smiling up at me brightly.

"Yeah, see you later Saraya!" I called out to her as she was still in the shower.

Heading off into town we were in a companionable silence before I asked him where we were headed and what he had planned.

"I was thinking, there's nowhere around here to do paint balling, but they do have a laser quest." He smiled. It had been one of the things we use to do together, paint balling was something we both really enjoyed and we spent loads time in the arcade or laser quest. It was something fun and active to do and we both enjoyed a spot of shopping together.

"That sounds great, its been ages since I've done that." I smiled brightly, thankful I hadn't warn a dress or heels.

"Good then, maybe a small bite to eat, I know you have a ...date with Joe." He seemed to struggle a little with saying date, but at least he seemed to be dealing with it. "And if you haven't got an outfit, we can always go shopping."

"Great, but we don't have to,"

"No-its fine, besides you were never really good at picking out a nice dress." He smirked shoving me playfully.

The kids hanging out at the laser quest, were more than a little surprised and crazily excited to find that two WWE Superstars were going to be playing laser quest with them. Playing one game just the two of us against six, twelve year olds and then a second game we went against each other with three kids on either side. It was the most fun I had in a long time, this felt like when we were just friends and I wished more than anything we could keep this. That if whatever me and Joe had going on, if it got serious I wanted to keep my friendship with Colby.

"I won, still not as good as me Colby." I grinned as we got a copy of the scores to take away.

"No I let you win." He nudged me as we walked through the mall. "Come lets get a bite to eat." He smiled as we headed into a small sandwich bar.

"Taylor, did you ever think about us after we split up?" Colby asked quietly as he finished eating his sandwich. "I don't mean to cause trouble, I just wondered- I know I did, but at the same time I wondered if we were just better off as friends." I felt awkward by the question, I still cared about him, but I was moving on hopefully with Joe.

"Honestly...yeah I did. I missed you a lot to begin with. I mean we had been friends for so long, practically inseparable and then we became more. I know we agreed it was better to call time on us, but I kept thinking if I just performed better, just showed my skills to the right people that I could be up in NXT with you and we could get back together." I sighed. "But now I'm here, I don't know if I want to risk our friendship." He leaned over taking my hand.

"Don't worry Tay, you'll always have me. You know you cant get rid of me that easily. You and Joe, you either work or you don't, but I'll be here for you, okay?" I smiled brightly squeezing his hand back.

"You are too good to me." I smiled standing. "So are we going shopping?"

"Of course, I might as well make sure you wow him." He stood throwing his arm over my shoulder as we walked out and headed to the stores.

When Joe came to call, I felt like my heart was going to explode with how nervous I was. Opening the doors I stepped down to a wide eyed Joe. His eyes trailed up from my red pointed heels, over my tanned bare legs to the strapless chiffon red dress, before finally coming to land on my face a little slack jawed. He himself wore a simple but well cut black suit and shirt with a red tie, he looked amazing.

"I know I said this last night, but you look amazing." He looked me over again. "I take that back, you look beautiful." He smiled offering me his hand as I stepped down from the bus.

"Thank you." My cheeks flushed with a heat at his compliment. "You look very handsome." I smiled up at him as I took his arm.

Some how he had managed to score a reservation in a high end restaurant, everything was expensive, but Joe didn't seem to mind. As it had been last week, we talked easily about this and that, he asked me about my dad and when he would start making a regular appearance and if he actually would start appearing more on the live shows. He asked about my storyline and whether at some point I would work with my dad, though I gave nothing away, keeping up the premise that I would at some point head towards the Divas championship. We didn't leave until the waiters started to fuss around us, clearly wanting us to leave.

"I've got the tab."

"No, come on we can share the bill." But Joe shook his head taking the bill from the waiter and dealing with it.

"I said I would take you out, that includes me paying for the meal. Its the least I could do to have your attention for the night." I blushed again, something he seemed very good at making me do. Catching a cab back to the tour buses, Joe walked me to mine and Saraya's bus.

"Thanks for tonight Joe. I really enjoyed it."

"I'm glad, maybe we can do it again soon." He smiled as I leaned up pressing my lips to his cheeks as he snaked an arm around my waist, holding me to him loosely.

"Definitely. Night Joe." I smiled as I slowly pulled away, my hand trailing down his arm all the way to his finger tips before I stepped on to the bus, finding Saraya had fallen asleep trying to wait up for me.