**BACKSTAGE**
The rest of the Nexus stormed back from the ring. "Oh my god!" I shouted, wiping my mouth on my hand again "Are you fucking kidding me?! What the fuck was that?!" Wade came up and stood in front of me before I could flip anything over.
"I was about to ask you the same thing Miss Johanson!" he said, glaring down at me. "What on Earth was that kiss between you and Ambrose?"
My jaw dropped. "Are you serious?" I spat at him "Do you really think that I would go and purposely kiss that scumbag? Wade, rule number one is we stay true to the Nexus! The men of the Shield are our biggest enemies! They are the LAST people who I would be close with! I'm only friends with very few 'outsiders', as you call them. I'm a bit offended that you would even accuse me of that!"
Wade looked at me for a minute before his expression changed a bit. "You're right. We should all know that you would be the last person to have contact with them. I'm sorry about that Jen."
I sighed. "It's fine. You got a bit ahead of the moment. Now if you excuse me, I need to go beat the fuck out of somebody." I said, flipping my hair before storming down the hall. I checked behind me and saw the guys watching after me before I stormed down another hallway.
"Jenny!" a voice called after me. I turned to see AJ running up behind me, Diva's title over her shoulder "Hey! I saw what went on out there! Where ya off to?"
"Off to find Ambrose," I growled, looking down another corridor. "I'm gonna beat his stupid ass for doing that to me in front of millions of people!"
She stopped and pulled her phone out of her pocket. She glanced at it before looking at me. "I've gotta go help Ziggy with something babe, but hopefully you destroy that piece of crap!" she said evilly before skipping the other way down the hall.
I heard voices coming from an unmarked door in a back hall. "... She's great at kissing!" a voice said "And the look of surprise on her face was priceless!"
"I hope you know that now, the Nexus will be after us even more because of your stunt in the ring!" another male's voice replied. It sounded like somebody slapped someone else.
"Whatever!" said the first voice "It was so worth it!" The door opened and I hid myself in a corner. Seth and Roman stepped out, each holding icepacks.
"Hurry up!" Roman called into the room "We'll be waiting in the parking lot!" Seth pulled the door shut behind him and the two walked away, leaving me unnoticed. As soon as they left the hallway, I slipped from my corner and knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Dean called. That man's got to learn not to be as trusting. I quietly walked in and shut the door softly behind me. I leaned in the doorframe, waiting for him to turn and see who it was. He took off his signature black shirt before turning around. He smirked.
"Ah, the little Nexus princess," he said walking over to me "What can I do for ya, sweetheart?"
"You could answer why you decided to go and kiss me on live television!" I spat at him. He chuckled and sat down in a chair, motioning for me to do the same. I sat down, wanting to punch him in the face again.
"Well Jen, you know that I and the guys aren't on the best of terms with your team." He waited for me to nod before continuing "Well, during our little promo we shot this morning, you decided to go and give me a bit of a bloody nose. I decided I wanted to get even and get into the minds of the Nexus. See, that kiss was quite a good one, and it sure as hell messed with you and the rest of the remaining members of your crew. The fact that Tarver was found with drugs in his system made it even better. You're whole team was mad and then I decided to go and kiss you! We're trying to throw you guys off of your game, if you get what I'm saying."
I sat there for a second before giving him a smirk. "You're clever," I said as we both stood up. I slapped him across the face and headed towards the door. "But you're still an asshole!" I called angrily over my shoulder.
I walked down the hall, thinking about what Dean said. He's devious, and I like that, just not when it's being used against me. I strolled down some other random hallway, and ran into Dolph and AJ. "Hey guys!" I said as cheerily as I could after being alone in a room with any member of the Shield.
"Hey JJ!" Dolph greeted, giving me a hug "Did ya kick his ass?" he asked, referring to the man I was trapped with moments ago.
I shook my head. "No, but he DID explain his reasoning for it. It was twisted and devious!"
"Like something that you would do?" AJ asked me with a joking smirk. I nodded, laughing along with her and Ziggler.
"Anyways, I've gotta go and find the rest of the team before they set out on a mad hunt and destroy everyone else!" I said as I walked off.
As if on cue, my cell phone rang. "Hello?"
"JJ!" Justin said happily "Where'd you go off to?"
I looked around. "Uhh... I honestly have no idea where I currently am. I'm still inside of the arena, but I don't know where. I'm near 138B?"
I could tell that he was nodding from the other side. "Don't worry, we'll find you!" he said in a super hero-like tone "The guys and I split up a bit ago to look for you. AJ said she knew where you went but she wouldn't tell us." I owe that girl big time.
"It's fine Justin, really." I insisted "I think I know where I am now. Just tell the guys to meet me in catering."
"Alrighty then JJ, I'll see you there!" The phone clicked off.
I knew that the guys would find themselves in some sort of trouble if they were alone. I had to lie to Justin. He's honestly super sweet and I love that about him. The Nexus is protective over each other, but the guys were all- except for David- super protective over me. Wade insists that one day I'll be grabbed by some random guy off the street and either raped, kidnapped, or killed. I'm a big girl, I'm part of the NEXUS for god's sake! I can handle myself in any situation!
"Need a map, sweetheart?" a rough asked from behind me. I jumped and whipped around to see Dean behind me with a smirk on his face and shirt back on his body. I blushed and turned around, trying to keep walking. "Hey, come on!" he called after me, jogging to keep up "At least let me help you! Neither of our teams have to know what's going on!" I stopped and turned to him. I sighed.
"Fine." I said, finally giving in.
He smiled "Good! I've been back here qite a bit before and know every passage and hall in this building!" He lead me down another few hallways and soon enough catering was in sight.
"Hey, Ambrose?" I asked, stopping in my tracks. "Why the hell are you being so nice all of a sudden?"
He chuckled. "Because, your guys are gonna think that I decided to abduct you after your little attack tonight as a way to get even. Later boy toy!" he called, running the other way down the hall. He turned back and I flipped him off. I knew that him being nice was all to good to be real. I shook my head and started down to catering.
"Jen!" a voice called from down yet another hall. Too many damn hallways back here!
Heath and Justin were running down the hall in my direction, smiles across their faces. I smiled back as they came to a bit of a late halt, knocking the three of us to the ground. "We've got her by catering," Heath said into what looked like a walkie-talkie.
"Really? Perfect!" came Wade's voice through the static. "All Nexus to meet in catering in five!"
I stared at the guys, wide eyes and jaw dropped. "You set out this whole search party in order to find me?"
Justin nodded as he helped me up from the ground. "When you were gone for more than ten minutes, we got a bit worried. Skip had these in his bag in case there was ever an emergency. Wade would have killed all of us if something had happened to you!" I smiled bigger as the rest of the team came over from god-knows-where. It reminded me of a Shield attack. Speaking of the Shield...
"Boys! I've got some news for you all from my journey backstage," I said with a smirk as I sat down at one of the larger tables in catering. The guys sat down with me and I pulled them in for a huddle, again. "So, for my little 'journey', I decided to pay a visit to Mr. Dean Ambrose of the Shield." The guys looked at me wide-eyed.
"Jen!" Wade said with a bit of shock in his voice "You should have taken one of us with you! God knows what they might have done!" I rolled my eyes.
"Honestly, it wasn't a big deal. I cornered the moron and demanded to know about the kiss. He said that he wanted to get even for the bloody nose I gave him this morning and 'get into the minds of the Nexus'. He stated that he wanted to throw us off of our game and with finding Tarver with drugs in his system and then going to kiss me; he said it was the perfect storm. The Shield wants us to be screwed up so much that they can do something or another."
I looked around at the table. Wade looked like he was deep in thought, Justin and Heath were whispering to each other, and the other guys were staring at me, wide-eyed with rapt attention. Wade's look suddenly changed from thinking to generally pleased. "I've got an idea, but I've got to save it for later, in case anything goes wrong." I nodded.
"Wait just a second Wade," David said suddenly "Why can't you tell us your idea? Or do you not really have one?"
Wade shot daggers at David. "Do I have to tell you every fucking thought that goes through my mind, David? Are you the Nexus leader?" David didn't say anything. "That's what I thought. Now team, the shows just ended. I suggest we all go back to the hotel and rest up." That was agreed to with some nods and a yawn from me.
We made our ways back to the locker room, chattering away. I was with the other three again and wasn't talking much. Grabbing our bags and walking through the parking garage and I heard a few voices that caught my attention. I pulled out my phone and shot a text to AJ asking if I could catch a ride to the hotel with her because Dolph and Big E were heading out to the bar with some of the other guys. She responded with a quick "Of course!" and told me to meet her by the Diva's locker room.
"Hey, uhh, guys?" I said stopping in my tracks. "AJ just texted me and asked if I wanted to ride back with her. I'll catch up with ya guys a bit later."
"Alright JJ, be careful," Wade said with a half smile "Don't go on any more little 'journeys', got it?"
I stood at attention. "Yes sir!" I said with a mock salute. He rolled his eyes with a soft chuckle as him and the rest of the team continued out of the garage and out to the streets of New York. I listened closely, the voices had stopped as I was talking to the rest of the team, but now had started up again. A breeze had blown through the garage now and even if it's the middle of spring, it gets chilly at nights. I stopped at a car near where the three men were talking and squatted down to get out my sweatshirt.
"So she actually came into the locker room?" I heard Roman ask. I could hear the sick smirk in his voice. Dean better not be telling any damn lies about me!
"You two get anything... Done?" Seth said with a tease in his voice. I silently gagged at knowing the thoughts that were going through that man's head. I could hear Roman and Seth burst out laughing.
"Shut up!" Dean snapped. "She came in asking why I kissed her out in the ring..." He trailed off.
"What did you tell her?" Seth asked with all signs of joking gone from his voice. I could hear Dean take a deep breath.
"I told her PART of the reason," he said slowly. "I told her how we're trying to mess up the Nexus, but not why."
"I saw her hiding in the corner," Roman said "I just didn't-" I zipped my sweatshirt up and heard the guys stop.
Oh. Shit. This is a fight or flight situation but as of the moment, I felt as if my entire body was made of cement. I heard nothing for a second, until Dean spoke up. "You know what guys? I think I left something back in the locker room. You guys head out; I'll meet up with you at the hotel." and then two pairs of footsteps leaving the garage. I knew that he knew I was there. His footsteps slowly came around from the cars, and I was still grounded. Footsteps growing closer, I decided that I had to move mine. I sprung up from my spot and ran to the back of a little black Ford Focus. I pulled up my hood and hitched my bag up higher on my shoulder, hoping that he wouldn't see me. Although, having a giant yellow square with a black 'N' on your back isn't much of a factor to your side.
I decided to attempt to slip away next time I got closer to the doors. I slowly and silently crawled towards the doors when a pair of muscled arms snaked their ways around my waist. I let out a surprised little yelp. "Where do you think you're going, kid?" Dean asked quickly.
"Get your damn arms off of me, Ambrose!" I shouted at him, moving madly as an attempt to free myself. He laughed quietly and sat me down on the hood of the car, placing his hands on the hood on either side of me.
"You should know this sweetheart," he said in little more than a whisper "We're not the bad guys. You deserve some men who can actually hold their own in a fight." I just noticed that he didn't have a shirt on and there were what seemed to be open wounds on his chest that weren't there earlier.
"What do you mean you guys aren't the bad guys? And what the hell happened to you?" I asked, motioning to his bare upper body.
He laughed again. "Oh what, these little things?" I nodded. "Well, I can kill two birds with one stone right here. See, we were fighting injustice in the parking lot. That's how we're not exactly the bad guys here. We were fighting the men who were spreading their injustice through this place like a plague. And in case you're wondering, it was Rhodes and Sandow." He growled at the end. I averted my gaze from him and his toned body and tried to focus on being mad at him, especially because he attacked Cody, one of my few close friends.
"See princess?" he asked, tilting my head up to look at him "Your group on the other hand attacks people for the hell of it. Am I right?" I straightened up and slapped him, this time full-force.
"We have reasons for our attacks too," I spat as I made my way off of the hood of the car "And we don't need to tell little rats like yourself. Later shitbag." I said before heading into the arena to find AJ who'd probably be mad and curious as to why I'm so late.
So there's more of a reason to why Dean decided that he could go and kiss me tonight? I couldn't think of anything except for... No. That can't be it! I shook my head at the thought and saw AJ coming up the hall.
"Jenny!" she said as she ran up and gave me a hug "I got worried! I waited for like, ten minutes! Let's go to my rental and then you can explain to me just why you were so damn late!" I nodded and we went chatting away, back to the parking garage. My eyes widened seeing that her rental was the black ford focus that I was sitting on just moments before. And Dean was nowhere in sight.
"Okay," she said as she stuck the key in the ignition "Spill it. I know that there was some reason that you were this late."
I took a deep breath. "Okay. So I was in the garage with the guys when I heard the three of the Shield talking. I told my team that I was catching a ride with you. I stopped to get out my sweatshirt and I was kinda listening in to their conversation. Ambrose then told the guys that he only told me 'part of the reason' of why he kissed me. Then he told them that he had to get something from the arena and then he knew that I was there. He kinda picked me up and sat me on the roof of a car, THIS car to be exact. He told me that him and the rest of the Shield weren't the bad guys? Then he said that the Nexus beats people for the hell of it. I then slapped him and stormed back into the arena where I then saw you."
She was quiet for a minute. "It didn't look like Dean had a shirt on when I saw him... Did he?" she asked.
I sighed quietly. "No. No, he didn't."
She burst out laughing. "I think somebody likes you!" she said in a sing-songy voice, a smirk growing on her face.
"What on EARTH makes you think that?" I asked, wide-eyed.
She laughed again in that crazy way she does. "BECAUSE, when he fought in the lot with Cody and Damien, he had every piece of clothing on and didn't get a scratch on him! Honey, I can tell these things with guys. How do you think I knew with the others? Anyways, we're here. Just think about what I said. I know that it'll make sense sooner or later!"
Ugh. She's normally right about these things! I just can't picture a member of the Shield liking ME, a girl from the Nexus! Our groups hate each other! I don't understand it! If anything, this reminds me of Romeo and Juliet. The two families didn't like- no, despised- each other while Romeo and Juliet were star-crossed lovers. The only problem with our little play? I don't like Dean. For now, I've gotta make sure that Cody's alright. Those Shield attacks are brutal.
Woah there Ambrose, what do you think you're doing with my OC? Nobody messes with Jen Johanson like that and gets away with it! But now AJ's a contributing factor in this story. What do you think of what she told Jen on their way back to the hotel? Do you think she's right, or she could be confused and it could lead to disaster?
I wanted to say thanks to everyone who has been reading this! It means a ton to me!
Xoxo,
Taylor