Chapter 9 - Good But Interesting

Sweat was running out of every pore on his body. He had been pushing himself in the gym all morning. The green streak of jealousy was currently fueling his fire. The night before he watched as his girlfriend of 6 months was swept up into his best friend and stable mates arms as if they were long lost lovers. She looked as if she was holding onto him like he was her life line. It had taken in 3 months to get that kind of affection out of her that she had shared with his stable mate.

Colby had never been jealous before in his entire life and now the green eyed monster was showing it's true colors.

So they dated for a few weeks back when they went to Georgia Tech it had been a few years and neither one kept in touch with the other. If it had been really serious and Alison had loved Joe enough she would've stayed with him...

Wouldn't she have?

Colby shook his head as he continued to do squats in the mirror with 250 lbs wracked across his shoulders. He breathed out his mouth and a trickle of sweat jumped off his nose onto his t-shirt covered torso. He could even feel sweat rolling down his back and catching in his waist band before sliding down the crack of his ass; it wasn't the most pleasant of feelings, but he needed the distraction right now.

Colby could've cared less that they had a mini thing together years prior to them meeting and starting to date, but the fact that after they made love the night before; once he'd fallen asleep Alison got up and dressed and joined Joe and Jon in the living room area of the suit they shared. He had woken up about the same time Jon decided to retire to bed and it left Joe and Alison alone to talk freely about what they'd been doing with their lives since college.

He would've sat and listened to them talking all night but he had been completely worn out and only heard about 20 minutes of their conversation once Jon left the room; before he passed out again. He berated himself mentally in the morning as he watched her sleep in bed next to him. He already knew he had nothing to worry about Alison was already his, but somewhere in the back of his mind he knew at one point she had been Joe's too.

Colby groaned as he squatted again. He looked across the gym and could see Joe getting ready to start on the treadmill. He was almost curious enough to ask him what happened between him and Alison when they were in college and why they never sought each other out, but he would just leave it.

Why ask about the past when it didn't even concern him?

Stormy grey eyes concentrated on the burning in his thighs and calves as he jogged on the treadmill at a nice steady pace. His cotton muscle shirt was sticking to his torso as were his jersey shorts and the spandex pants he had on under them to help him sweat it out.

Joe couldn't believe after all the years he finally got to lay his eyes on Alison again. It had been nine years.

NINE YEARS!

She was just as beautiful if not even more beautiful than the last time he'd seen her. He hated to admit that she was constantly on his mind through the years. He'd never forgot anything they did or shared together. He waited and waited for her phone call. He just wanted one call...

Who the fuck was he kidding?

He had wanted her in his life forever; nine years is a long time to go without the person you've been in love with, but sometimes it was worth the wait. It didn't take a genius to see the way Colby was jealous of their old relationship.

Again...who was he kidding?

Colby had the green eyed monster jerking on the bun on the back of his head the night before. Joe could FEEL his jealous brown orbs zeroing in on him as he lifted Alison off the ground and spun her in a circle before their arms tightened around one another. Joe would admit to no one...well maybe Jon that it felt fucking wonderful to have Alison in his arms again.

Joe wouldn't fight or challenge Colby for Alison, with as jealous as Colbs was he would screw it up all on his own. Joe would mind his own business and break things off with Lacey like he wanted too. He'd kept her around for a few months but he wasn't in love with her. He truly hadn't loved anyone since Alison. He didn't relish breaking up with Lacey because he knew she would be hurt; he'd tried it once before and when she turned on the waterworks he felt like a dick...now he was about to do the same thing and feel like an even bigger dick.

DAMN!

Her mind was going a thousand miles a minute. She couldn't believe...she could NOT believe after all these years she'd ran into Joe Anoa'i. He'd slimmed down from 320 football pounds to 265 wrestling pounds. His once shoulder length hair was now down the middle of his back. She could feel the urge to wrap her hands in his raven tresses burning in the pit of her stomach.

Alison shook her head as she stood in the airport; waiting for her friends plane to come in.

Alison's partner in crime; Aria had been in Hawaii for the last month on a much needed vacation. Alison couldn't wait to see her best friend again. Ever since they'd met nine years ago they were completely inseparable. They went everywhere and did everything together. They both ended up graduating from the same college. Then straight out of college they both got jobs for one of the biggest sports media franchises in the world.

They both worked for Sports Illustrated; Alison was a writer and Aria was a photographer. Naturally they both started out as interns. There was no way they were going to get top positions in the company when they were both FRESH from college and completely green. They interned for a couple of years and slowly worked their way up the ranks in the last nine years. Yes, it took a while but was completely worth it in the end.

"Hey Bitch! I'm not standing here for my health."

Alison was pulled from her thoughts as her head snapped around and couldn't keep the smile from her face as she watched Aria dragging all of her luggage behind her. "ARIA!" Alison squealed as she jogged over and her body crashed into Aria's as the two hugged each other as tightly as possible.

Aria pulled back as she looked her best friend up and down. "Okay what happened? That ominous text of 'We need to talk.' was not proceeded with anything else; so what gives?"

Alison chuckled as she grabbed a couple of Aria's bags. "You could always read me; here or not." She shook her head. "We were thousands of miles apart plus a very large body of water and you still know something isn't right."

"No one knows you better than I do and don't forget that," Aria stated honestly as she followed Alison out of the airport to a big black Ford Expedition. "So...how are things with you and the skunk head?" Aria had fondly nicknamed Colby skunk head because of the way he'd dyed his hair.

Alison made a face as she popped the back hatch on the rented SUV. "Well..."

Aria chuckled two suitcases in the back and stopped as she whirled around. "Well what? What aren't you telling me?" She questioned curiously.

Alison sighed heavily as she pushed Aria's other suitcase and backpack into the SUV before closing the hatch. "Get in we've got some serious talking to do before we get to the arena."

Aria sat in the passenger seat of the big SUV as the scenery and traffic passed her by. All she could do was look out the windshield and breath.

Alison smirked at her suddenly silent best friend. "Are you going to make it over there?" She questioned cautiously as she stopped at a red light. "It's no big deal Aria. I'm with Colby now; besides Joe never kept in touch. If he really wanted to be with me he would've at least called...or text. I got nothing from him in the last nine years; so clearly I'm meant to be with Colby."

Aria finally blinked as she snorted before giving Alison a look. "You are not meant to be with that skunk head. He just weaseled his way into your life because he talked a good game. You were meant to be with Joe. And he kept in touch with you about as well as you did with him. You never called or text him either it was a two way street and both of you took different detours."

It was no secret Aria tolerated Colby Lopez, but only because Alison hadn't looked truly happy since the day they drove away from Joseph Anoa'i nine years ago. Aria was still completely dumbfounded. What were the chances that Alison would ever run into Joe while she was just visiting her boyfriend?

Ugh that left a bad taste in her mouth.

Aria knew Alison had her own reasons for not keeping in touch with Joe, but she never divulged them; knowing Alison they were girly reasons or they were reasons that benefitted Joe because Alison was always the one who put everyone and their happiness in front of her own.

Aria suddenly had a new mission.

Operation: Joe & Alison.

Aria watched as Alison pulled the SUV into the back parking lot of the arena. "So when do we get to see the guys?"

Alison put the SUV in park and killed the engine. "It's going to be a while. They are at the gym right now and then they have a meeting before they start taping Smackdown. Lord this is a lot of schedules to keep straight for them. I should've taken Joe's advice YEARS ago and started watching when I could. Maybe I could've learned a few pointers beforehand about the company."

Aria snickered. "And you could've seen just exactly what your current boyfriend does for a living and the fact that he is in a group with your ex-boyfriend."

Alison shook her head. "It's called a stable. They are stable mates." Alison corrected.

"I don't care if they are in a circle jerk together. You don't know much about a guy who your sexing it up with." Aria pointed out in a snarky tone. "When is our interview again?"

The girls walked into the arena and went to a room marked with their names. "In about ten minutes." Alison stated as she rolled her eyes. "So get your travel clothes off and business clothes on. You smell like coconuts, sand and ocean - ugh you smell like your vacation; did you ever stay in the hotel while on vacation?"

Aria scoffed. "Hotels are rubbish in Hawaii. They serve no purpose if you are really there on a work free, carefree, don't give a shit vacation. Once you are there you want to spend the entire time sitting on the beach or swimming in the water; hell I even spent a little time scoping hot cabana boys who enjoying putting suntan lotion on me. That's what a real vacation is all about Ali and if you took one every few years you'd understand them."

Alison rolled her eyes once more as she watched Aria shimmy out of her travel clothes and into a nice business pant suit before she pulled her hair up into a bun and sprayed her expensive perfume on to mask the 'vacation' smell. Alison was already dressed for their meeting. She turned and looked herself over in the full length mirror in the room they had been provided.

"So tell the truth...any old feelings for Joe?" Aria asked curiously as she continued to mess with her hair and outfit making sure she looked perfect for the meeting.

Alison shrugged. "I don't feel anything for him."

Liar.

"Nothing at all?" Aria's eyebrows rose.

"Nope."

Liar.

Aria and Alison's eyes locked in the same mirror. "So the man you fell in love with within a matter of weeks nine years ago; you feel nothing for now?" Aria asked once more.

"It's been nine years Aria. I had to let him go...so I did." Alison stated.

How can you tell someone is a compulsive liar if their pants aren't on fire?

Alison shrugged her shoulders. "Besides I'm really digging Colby. I might not love him yet, but there is definitely something there. Besides Colby deserves a chance just as much as Joe had one. I realize I didn't keep in contact with Joe but like you said it's a two way street. I thought I'd hear something from Joe after he graduated, but nothing happened and that in itself was disheartening."

Alison swallowed hard as she turned away from the mirror. Little did anyone know but Joe had tried calling and texting her after he graduated; hell he'd tried several times before and after graduation.

Aria already knew Alison was lying; she didn't really need any confirmation what so ever. It was written all over her face about how she truly felt for Joe. Colby didn't stand a chance in hell. It was really slated in the heavens for Joe and Alison to be together. Alison was clearly hurt a little that Joe hadn't kept in contact with her; maybe Alison had secretly hoped he would go in search of her across the country or something.

Alison cleared her throat. "You ready?"

Aria nodded as she exhaled through her nose. "Sure."

Both women grabbed their leather bound portfolio's as they left the room and headed down the hallway. Aria's head was definitely in the meeting they were about to have.

Alison not so much.

The girls were stopped when Alison's cell phone chimed signaling she received a text. She pulled her phone out and thumbed to her texts as she opened it.

We are just finishing up at the gym babydoll. We are going to shower and get cleaned up and will meet you at the arena. Just ask someone where the Shield's locker room is they will tell you. Can't wait to see you.

Aria could tell by the syrupy sweet smile plastered on Alison's face it was from Seth. "Oh you guys are going to make me puke unicorns and rainbows. Don't tell me it's skunk head."

Alison fixed Aria with a look. "Don't rain on my parade. I'm thoroughly enjoying getting to know everything about Colby Lopez. He's such a nice sweet guy and every time I talk about him you have to make all your side comments. Colby is a really great guy and anyone would be happy to have him as a boyfriend. Out of everyone in the world he chose me. I'm nobody special; I'm just me."

Aria rolled her eyes once again for the millionth time that day. "Fine fine I get it he butters your bread. Can we just get on with the meeting?" She asked; the subject of Colby Lopez had officially annoyed her and run its course within the span of an hour.

Alison sighed softly before she nodded and looked at the door they had stopped in front of as she lifted her hand and knocked on the door marked 'Stephanie McMahon'.

"Come in." A muffled female voice said from behind the door.

Alison turned the handle and slowly pushed the door open as she and Aria entered the office and closed the door behind them.

This was going to be an interesting meeting; good but interesting.