a/n hey, so I had some laptop troubles! I am so fucking sorry for making you guys wait! And this chapter is pretty pathetic, I'll admit. Next chapter all the good stuff happens! I promise! Neurotic-Idealist, Julzi, Showni13, LaReinaMia, tvrox12 and wades wife are pretty fucking awesome for reviewing, you should be that awesome, too!

-July 6, 2010; NXT-

"Okay, guys... Listen up, please." I spoke loudly to get the attention of the NXT Season 2 Rookies, all of whom were being very loud in catering. "Seriously, guys!"

Joe heard me speak and eventually got all of the other guys to listen to me as well. I looked at them with a sad smile and reminded them that Titus had been eliminated last week but they were all one step closer to winning. Kaval had been lucky enough to be voted the number one rookie, not that that really surprised anyone at all. He was just so much better in the ring and he had exposure because of his time on the independent circuit and in TNA.

"There's a 'Talk the talk' challenge... But I can't tell you anymore than that, Matt's going to explain it when you get out in the ring and you're going to have to cut that promo off the top of your head." I smiled at them as they looked at me with dead expressions, "Some of you are going to do better than others and that might just be because the topic you're given isn't terrible, some of them are really bad. As for matches: McGillicutty verses Watson, Miz-" I couldn't stop the smile that made its way onto my face as I mentioned his name, "- verses Kaval and then the tag match, Rhodes with Harris verses Henry with Cannon. All your pros will be at ringside, or your rookie in Mike's case... So, have fun with it. You should all know what's going on anyway. Now leave me alone, I have more important shit to do." I shooed them all away with a laugh, happy that they took it as a joke.

"How was Independence Day for the un-American?" Alex appeared by my side.

"It was nice, thank you for asking." I remembered the day, "We spent most of the day à la fête."

"Yeah, I heard." He nodded knowingly, "Mike says that you don't think his mum likes you."

"I should be happy that he's talking to his rookie, but not about me." I sighed, "And I didn't say she didn't like me, she just doesn't like me as his girlfriend. She likes Maryse more."

"Why would she like Maryse more?" he asked seriously, "Maryse has got nothing on you."

"Thank you," I looked at the door as it opened and Mike walked in, ending the awkwardness I had unintentionally created when I spoke. "How was your day? Did you spend it with your family?"

"Yeah. I went home to Fairfax and we had a barbeque and there were fireworks and other stuff."

"I've never been to Fairfax." I thought about it for a second, "I actually think I've only been to Virginia once." A small smile made its way onto Alex's face but I pretended that I didn't see it. "Are you guys ready to go out there? Kaval's pretty good, Mike... Sure you can handle it?" He raised an eyebrow at me and walked towards me. I jumped up and down on the spot as he began to tickle my side. "I take it back!" I shouted eventually and he stopped, pulling me into a hug.

-July 8, 2010-

"Theodore!" I screamed in delight as I saw my childhood best friend walking down to the ring. A few of us had gathered down around the set up ring watching the rookies get some more training in. I hugged my friend tightly as he reached my side. I had barely seen him because of our different travelling schedules.

"How's my best friend?"

"Bien, Theodore. Très bien." I smiled widely, "Et toi?"

"Yeah, good." He replied hesitantly like he always did when I spoke to him in French – he was always wary of insults. "What are these guys doing?"

"Proving their worth." I smiled again as my eyes travelled to the ring and the men in it. I cringed and felt all the pain Lucky would have as Mark Henry hit him with the 'World's Strongest Slam'.

"And getting beaten up." Ted added.

"I think Lucky's had enough!" I called out to everyone in the ring, "Brandon, can I see some, anything." I said just to get Lucky out of the ring.

"Aren't you the professional?" I elbowed Ted in the side, "You've grown up."

"About time, too." Mike joined us and out his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his side.

"She's taken her time." Ted agreed and I rolled my eyes. I left soon after to speak to Michelle and Layla.

Watching the men train in the ring made my heart ache because that was not me anymore I hesitantly walked up the steel steps and between the ropes into the ring I looked at Joe Hennig with a small, hopeful smile and soon found myself running drills with the third generation superstar.

I ran from one side of the ring to the other, stepping over Joe's flat body and preparing to the same thing again when Ted called my name. I ignored him and ducked so Joke could leap frog over me. I hit the ropes and felt a hand grasp my ankle causing me to call forward. There wasn't enough time to brace myself properly and my face broke the fall. Everyone stopped moving and I was pulled from the room.

"What the fuck ted?" I screeched as I used my hand to wipe delicately at my bleeding nose, "Thank you for breaking my newly reconstructed nose!"

"You should have put your arms out." he said though gritted teeth.

"That's a bit hard when you aren't expecting to have your feet ripped out from under you!"

"You shouldn't have even been in there!" she shouted as I turned to walk up the ramp. "You aren't a wrestler anymore!"

"You can take the girl out of the ring." I regretted raising my voice against when it moved my nose. But you can't take the ring out of the girl.