September 24th 2006, ECW/SmackDown Tapings...
"You scared the absolute fuck out of me tonight, you crazy bastard!"
Bob 'Hardcore' Holly's head snapped up when he heard that and his blue green eyes locked with the hazel brown ones that belonged to the newest member of the WWE rosters.
All of 5'1", long light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, him knowing that the hair would be a few shades darker in a few years... and from his guess, Amanda weighed somewhere between 103 to 106 pounds. She was in her fuchsia leopard print ring outfit and in Bob's opinion, she had too much makeup on.
The Alabama native pulled himself up to where he was standing, the 24 stitches tugging into his back… here was a girl nearing adulthood yet she already had the foul mouthed attitude of a college student in a weird combination with the wiseness of an Attitude Era veteran.
Was it really just four years ago that he was being carted out on a stretcher and asked the paramedics to stop when he saw a frightened Amanda, reach over and lightly pinched her young face, telling her that he'd be okay and she shouldn't worry?
That young girl had seemingly disappeared overnight… and the blonde knew it the second he had woken up early last week and found her incredibly sore in a way he felt that she was too inexperienced to face yet.
"I should take you over my knee and give you a spanking for your language… but you have every right to be scared after what happened." Hardcore says, the two of them hugging for a few seconds and he saw the purple lipstick on her mouth.
"I'm not used to being scared, Bob… you know that." Amanda says.
"I know, kiddo… and you're washing that stuff off your face before you leave the building tonight!" Hardcore says, laughing a bit when Amanda playfully shoved him before heading down the hallway.
He couldn't help but smile though, feeling proud that she was already career focused… but a part of him felt a bit sad.
"They always grow up… before I know it, she'll have a family of her own." Hardcore says after walking back into his locker room and closing the door.
Amanda stopped and took a deep breath, readjusting her low cut leopard print ring top before looking in the nearby… she was starting to see it from Bob's perspective, the makeup did age her significantly.
'Why do I feel the need to try to look older?' Amanda thought, tempted to go back to her locker room and scrub her makeup off… but she wouldn't have enough time, her match was up next.
"Hey." Amanda heard, looked and saw Tommy Dreamer walk over to her, Tommy a bit startled at how she looked… but he patted her on her back anyway and smiled. "Good luck out there, kiddo. Make us old folks proud." Tommy says, the two hugging for a few minutes before he left.
A new generation in a decades old business was rising… and she was one of the first ones in that new generation…
Her back taped up under her Balor Club tank top, Amanda made sure that everything was set out tonight for Seth's match against Kane when her tablet chimed and she picked it up, answering the video call.
"Still early enough over there, kiddo?" Tommy greeted, Amanda smiling… but Tommy's smile dropped off of his face when the ECW original saw her slightly swollen face. "Oh, damn… Seth?" He asks, Amanda nodding as she quickly pursed her matte blue lips together.
"And now I have to keep order in his match tonight…" Amanda says, trailing off slightly and Tommy knew why.
"Anything that happens that's out of your control, try not to beat yourself up for it, okay? Everything happens for a reason, Mandy." Tommy says, Amanda jumping slightly as she heard a knock at the door… only to turn when it opened and see Finn.
"Don't scream… I'm not in my Demon King persona yet, there was just… well, let's call it a minor mishap." Finn says, Amanda nearly laughing when she saw the paint splattered onto his arms before she turned back to Tommy.
"I better help him scrub that off. Call you later?" Amanda says.
"Stay safe, you two." Tommy says, the video call ending and Amanda setting the tablet down and guiding Finn towards the bench, Finn sitting down as Amanda disappeared, returning with soap and paper towels.
"Minor mishap?" Amanda asks as she carefully scrubbed the paint off of Finn's arms.
"Okay so Sasha and Becca... they might've drank one too many red bull energy drinks, found the paint and started throwing it at random people. And when I tried to settle the two down..." Finn says.
"You got caught in the crossfire. It happened to me once when I was helping Jeff with his bodypaint before a show only that was Hornswoggle and Rey Mysterio after one too many Monster energy drinks." Amanda says.
"From what you've said before, Shawn and Hunter are worse." Finn says, memories of the Spirit Squad being covered in green paint creeping into Amanda's mind and her laughing as she finished scrubbing the paint off and stood up so Finn could change his clothes, Amanda turning around with her eyes closed… but sneaking a small peek at him over her left shoulder.
There were times that she couldn't help but look at him… and then lightly twirl a strand of her hair after turning around quickly when he caught her watching.
"Naughty little lass." Finn says in a slightly teasing tone after he finished getting dressed and turned around, snaking his right arm around Amanda's shoulders and the left around her waist, letting his hand rest on her right hip before his fingers trailed up her side in a tickling manner and evoking a soft laugh from her.
Stepping back from the cracked open door and stopping the recording, Alexa saved the video and smirked evilly before heading to Seth's locker room.
She had overheard him saying earlier during a conversation with Roman that he needed more proof… and now she had it.