Sami's POV
"Sami, you need to have some confidence in yourself." Liz said. "How long do you have before you have to do your backstage interview and then your match?"
"Six, maybe seven minutes?" I said
"Good, walk with me, talk with me." I followed Liz further down the hall, away from Adrian. We stopped just outside the cafeteria area.
"So, what's this all about?" I asked
"This is about you finally getting over Merissa and moving on."
"I'm already over Merissa…it's been long enough."
"Oh, you think so? Tell me, Sami, when was the last time you went on a date? Or better yet, when was the last time you actually liked another girl?"
I frowned. Damn Liz. "It's been a little while."
"A little while? Sami, this is me you're talking to. You may be able to fool everyone else but you can't fool me. Look, I know what Adrian and Merissa did to you was fucking horrible but you have to put that behind you once and for all. Adrian's moved on, and wherever Merissa is, she has moved on. You're the only one stuck. You say you are over it but if you are still afraid to put yourself out there for someone, you are still stuck."
"This…this advice is coming from someone that refuses to have a relationship? Funny." I said coldly. I saw that Liz was frowning at me. "I'm sorry…I know that was mean but come on, Liz! You giving me relationship advice is kinda funny."
"Look, Sami. Maybe I need to take some of my own advice sometimes, but that doesn't mean that the advice that I am giving you isn't good advice. You are my best guy friend here and I am so sick and tired of seeing you so sad and alone. You are too nice of a guy to not have someone that would appreciate you."
"You're mistaken, I did attempt to put myself out there…Adrian ruined that for me."
Liz sighed heavily "Sami! Forget Adrian Neville! We are talking about you!"
"Liz, I can't! I swear it's like Adrian has a sensor in his brain. As soon as there is a gorgeous woman around, he has to attack! Even though I was clearly talking to her! How in the hell am I supposed to compete with Adrian? Hell, she's already going out for drinks with him!"
Liz chewed on her bottom lip, she was deep in thought. "Well, it's funny that she automatically agreed to go have drinks with him…considering we rode together. And she won't ride with Adrian. So if she wants to go, she's gonna have to come with me and if I am going, so are you."
I laughed and gave Liz a hug "You are a genius!"
"Not really, but thanks. All I want is for the two closest people in my life to be happy and I feel that you two would be happy together. I give you my word, I will do my best to give you advice and things about Leyna to help you out but Sami, I can't do everything. If you really like Leyna and you feel like you two would be good together, you are gonna have to be brave and put some work into it. And yes, that means outshining Adrian."
I sighed heavily. "You really think that Leyna would be interested in me?"
"I know my sister. I watched how she interacted with you when you were talking briefly. She was interested and if Adrian hadn't butted in, you both would probably still be talking. I would say there is a spark there, Sami. You just need to fuel to make it ignite."
"And you will help me?"
"Yes. Look, I will give you a quick tip. At some point, I am going to attempt to distract Adrian and get him away from Leyna for a few minutes. When I do that, I want you to buy her a drink. She loves Corona, with two limes. Buy her that and then just talk to her…not about her looks but get to know her. Ask her about her interests outside of wrestling; that will win you some points. Yes, she enjoys hearing about how she looks, what woman doesn't but knowing that a guy is interested in her interests as well, that makes her happy. Been one of the biggest mistakes past boyfriends have made…focusing on her body and looks first, and then her interests."
"Got it! Thank you so much, Liz!"
"You're welcome…now get ready for your backstage segment. Try not to throw too many daggers at Adrian during it okay?"
"I make no promises." I laughed as I headed to the backstage segment area. I stopped and turned back around "You and Leyna are going to be watching, right?"
"Yes we will. Make her notice you."
Leyna's POV
"There you are! Took you long enough in the bathroom!" Liz teased me.
"Sorry, I was trying to tame my hair…damn humidity is making it go all puffy." I tried to smooth my hair down again. "How does it look?"
"Awful."
"Thanks." I stuck my tongue out at Liz. "So, are we gonna head out to the arena to watch this show? I can't wait."
"Yup, we have amazing front row seats too. You are going to love the energy. The crowd is always great."
"I just can't wait until I am in the ring performing in front of them!"
"In due time, Leyna, like a couple more weeks, right?"
"Yeah, everything should be in order by then and I will be free to do whatever I need to do."
"I'm just so glad that didn't derail you and your dreams."
"Well, it did for a little while but I have to remember that he wouldn't have wanted me to sulk and be sad. Just wish he could have seen me be successful." I paused as I felt hot tears start to fill my eyes.
"Leyna, he did see you successful. He saw you walk across the stage with two bachelor's degree and graduate with high honors. Tell me that's not seeing you successful." Liz gave me a tight hug. "And besides, you know that he is still watching you. And he can't wait to see you be a success here."
"Lizzie, you always know the right things to say."
"No, I just tell you the truth. Now let's get to our seats, the show is about to start."
Liz wasn't kidding! The energy inside Full Sail Arena was amazing! The crowd was pumped for every match. The women's match was phenomenal and just made me want to sign the paperwork right now and get in the ring and be a part of the action. It was now time for the main event. A #1 contender's match for the NXT championship featuring the two guys that I had just talked to backstage earlier: Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn. Adrian came out to the ring first. The crowd cheered for him. I watched him slide into the ring and gesture to the crowd. When he faced the side that Liz and I were sitting on. I noticed him smile directly at me.
"Liz! Adrian smiled at me!" I gushed.
"Yeah, that he did." Liz said flatly.
I eyed my friend and wanted to say something but before I got the chance, Sami's music hit and he soon arrived on the entrance ramp. The crowd came alive for him! Cheering loudly and chanting his name. He climbed the ring and had so much energy. I couldn't help myself and I started to clap and cheer. Sami turned to face the side where Liz and I were and saw me clapping and cheering for him. Sami smiled and pointed at me. I also noticed Adrian glare at Sami for a split second when he acknowledged me.
"Liz! Are you seeing this? Sami smiled at me too!" I gushed again
"Yeah, I saw him. He seemed very happy."
"He seems like a nice guy."
"He really is, Leyna."
"Tell me about him,"
"Why don't you ask him yourself later after the show?"
"I can't…I'm going for drinks with Adrian."
"Oh, you think so? Who did you ride here with?"
"Oh shit! I rode with you!"
"Yup. So what if I don't want to go out for drinks? Then what?"
"Liz!" I pouted.
"Oh stop! I'm going with you, only because Sami is going to come along. So that way, you can find out about Sami for yourself."
"Yeah, Sami." I said as I started to lose myself in the match. The men were so great together. Similar styles and great in-ring skills. It seemed as if they had either wrestled before or they knew each other. They were now in the nearest corner to where Liz and I were sitting, giving each other backhand chops across the chest, each one slightly harder and louder than the first. Sami would clap Adrian and paused to look in my direction and right after, Adrian would slap Sami and then look in my direction. It almost felt as if they were trying to outdo one another in order to impress me. Sami had done an over the top rope flip earlier that I found impressive and now Adrian had did one of his own. They were leaving it all out in the ring. It kind of made me wonder if they was just for the #1 contendorship or if there was something more to this match. At that moment, Adrian had Sami in the corner and was about to go for a handspring elbow but Sami was able to counter into an amazing power bomb move. I instantly knew that I wanted to learn how to do this move when I got to NXT. I knew Adrian was done and Sami had this match won but somehow Adrian was able to kick out! I was really impressed by both guys and didn't know who I wanted to win. The crowd started to chant "This Is Awesome!" and I had to agree. Adrian had climbed to the top rope and seemed like he was going for something but Sami tried to derail that. He punched twice but Adrian was able to get a head-butt in and knocked Sami back down to the mat. Adrian centered himself and focused then stood on the top rope. I watched in awe as Adrian hit a gorgeous spinning corkscrew moonsault and landed right onto Sami. 1. 2. 3. The match was over. Adrian had done it. He won the match and was now the #1 contender for the NXT title. I was happy for Adrian but at the same time sad for Sami. I watched as Adrian held his hand out for Sami to shake. Sami eyed him, kicked his hand away with his foot but then gave Sami a hug instead. I smiled and was glad that there was no bad blood after the match.
"That was a damn good match!" I said to Liz.
"Yeah, hoped the outcome would have been different."
"You wanted Sami to win?" I asked
"Yes, I did. Feel like Sami deserved it."
"Yeah, I guess. So what do we do now?" I asked as I watched the crowd start to file out of the arena.
"Well, we hang out backstage in the cafeteria until Sami and Adrian are ready to leave, then we figure out where we are going to meet up at and take it from there."
"Sounds like a plan." I watched as Sami and Adrian climbed out of the ring and started to head up the ramp. They both took different moments and gave me a smile and a slight wave. Adrian made it behind the curtain first, leaving Sami behind. He gazed at me a little longer and then continued on up the ramp and backstage.