"Hey, Woods told me that a local shelter here lets you take dogs out for walks while you play Pokemon Go, want to come?" Tyler asks while they're collecting their luggage at Albany International Airport in Upstate New York.
There had been just the tiniest bit of awkwardness between them since last nights drunken Disney make out session. Relieved to see that things seem to be mostly normal between them Ravyn agrees, "That actually sounds kind of fun."
"Cool," Tyler smiles. "We've got a couple of hours before Dango's plane comes in. So we can go do that and grab some food before he lands."
"Deal," Ravyn nods.
They pick up their rental car and drive to the address that Xavier Woods had given them. Upon their arrival they're greeted by friendly staff that seem thrilled to get their dogs some more outside time. They each set out with a dog and full phone batteries. The shelter is located alongside the Hudson River with miles of paved walking paths in both directions. There are Pokestops and gyms lining the river walk, but what starts out as an adventure to play Pokemon Go turns into them having more fun playing with the dogs. The pups start to pant tiredly so Ravyn and Tyler bring them to a bench to take a break.
"Poor guys probably don't get to go on long walks like this too often," Ravyn empathizes.
"Nah," Tyler concurs. "But that's why we're here now."
"This was a good idea!" Ravyn tells him. They sit quietly quietly just petting the dogs and enjoying the unseasonably warm sunshine. "Hey, I'm really sorry about last night," Ravyn blurts out. "I shouldn't have done that."
"No big deal," Tyler shrugs. "It was nice. I mean don't get me wrong. You're super hot, but you're also one of my best friends. And I don't want to lose that. I want to be able to come out here and rescue dogs and hang out without things having to be more than that."
"No, you're completely right," she nods. "I don't know what I would do without you as a friend."
Tyler puts his arm around her shoulders gently, "I'll be here for you any time. Especially if you want to play video games or walk dogs... Or if you need help getting naked again."
She slaps him playfully and calls him an ass. Even as they sit enjoying each other's company she's a bit bummed. Nothing hurts quite like rejection, even when it's coming from someone you know you shouldn't be dating. When they get up to walk the dogs back to the shelter Ravyn texts JJ, desperately needing some quality girl time with her BFF.
The next morning Ravyn and JJ are up early in the hotel lobby. Both girls are bundled in oversized hoodies and hats as disguises. They giggle to themselves as they sneak out to JJ's rental car. The girls make their way from the hotel to the Boston Aquarium. They had driven through to Boston after last nights house show. They get tickets and start enjoying all of the different exhibits. While they're gazing at a tank of leafy sea dragons JJ notices that Ravyn has been even quieter than usual.
"Everything ok friend?" JJ asks carefully.
Ravyn chooses her words carefully, not wanting to make her friend feel bad. "This is going to sound awful," she starts. "But I think I'm jealous."
"Of who?" JJ asks confused.
Ravyn swallows hard, holding back embarrassment, "You."
JJ is taken aback by that word. "Seriously?" She thinks she's being ribbed. "Why?"
"Honestly," Ravyn pauses as she tries to break through a mental wall of nerves. "You and Dolph. You two are so perfect together. To see you guys together.." She stops. "It just reminds me that I can't keep a relationship to save my life."
Crestfallen, JJ grows concerned for her friend, "What do you mean?"
"You've got the great loving relationship with a sweet dude who seems to really care about you. And everyone assumes I'm a huge slut... When in reality I haven't even had a boyfriend since Corey and I were dating back in NXT. And we all remember what a disaster that was," she huffs. "And on top of that. I can't even hook up with anyone properly!" She stares at her friend frustratedly. JJ just eyes her quizzically. "I tried to kiss Tyler the other night in Disney. But he's too good of a friend to let anything happen."
"Huh..." JJ is at a loss for words. "And here I thought you two had been hooking up all along."
Ravyn grumbles, "Nope. Not for a lack of trying. I can't get any action to save my life."
"How is that even possible?" JJ just stares. "You two are together literally all the time. It's your job to make out with him on TV. How are you guys not sleeping together?"
"Fuck if I know!" Ravyn says louder than she intended. A handful of other Aquarium guests stare at her outburst. "All I know is that I'm full of all sorts of feeling that I'm not accustomed to. And I don't really like it."
JJ pulls Ravyn in for a tight hug, "Aww friend."
"Stop," Ravyn says dryly, but JJ continues to hug her in front of everyone. "Oh my god you're awful."
JJ finally lets her go and just smiles a huge obnoxious grin, "Come on. Let's go to the arena so we can eat lunch before the show."
A few hours later the girls are parked at a table in catering continuing their talk from the aquarium. Tyler sits down with them in the middle of their conversation.
"Hey, what are you two talking about?" He asks when he notices their half serious expressions.
"Oh," JJ smirks. "Ravyn has decided all of a sudden that she has feelings. And she doesn't know how to handle them."
Tyler joins in, "You mean our Princess' icy black heart is melting? Is she going to be okay?!"
"I hate you," Ravyn jokes.
JJ giggles, "I know."
"Like a lot," Ravyn huffs as she loads up a fork full of mashed potatoes.
JJ sticks her tongue out at her best friend mockingly. Ravyn quickly flings the spoonful of delicious taters at her. But JJ is too fast for her and ducks the glob of starchy goodness. Ravyn watches in horror as the buttery blob sails past JJ and splatters onto the front of AJ's clean blue dress shirt.
The look on his face is one of utter displeasure. "Are you freakin kidding me? He looks at them in astonishment. "Are you guys freakin twelve!? You're nothing but a bunch of freakin hooligans!" He glares daggers at them before storming out of catering.
The three of them exchange a shocked look before JJ quips, "I'm starting to understand why he hates you." Ravyn blushes like crazy at her friend's unknowing comment.
The house show loop comes to an end the following night in Hartford. Monday morning Ravyn, Tyler and Dango pull into Bradley International Airport. They drop their rental car off and head to the gate for their flight to Calgary for tomorrow's Smackdown Live. Ravyn plops onto one of the hard plastic seats near the wall so she can charge her 3DS before they leave. They double check their tickets when they begin boarding to find that Ravyn is seated between the boys on the first leg of their trip. Once the plane is in the air Ravyn forgets about her video game and ends up sleeping on Dango's shoulder the entire flight, only waking up as they touch down in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
"Good morning Princess," Dango kisses her forehead.
She groans and stretches like a cat. Tyler snickers while she yawns audibly. Soon enough they're off of their first plane and enduring a long layover. They grab lunch and a few drinks at the Sky Club lounge. After what seems like an eternity they finally board their international flight to Calgary. They settle into their seats and the attendant comes around to check that their electronics are off and the seat belts are fastened.
"I'll need you to buckle your safety belt miss," she says as Ravyn struggles to get the buckles snapped.
"I think it's broken," Ravyn tells her.
The attendant excuses herself to resolve the issue while Ravyn keeps trying to get it buckled. She returns a few minutes later, "I'm sorry miss. It appears that the seatbelt on that seat is, in fact, broken. I'm going to have to move you to a different seat. If you could just come wit me?"
Ravyn squeezes out from in between Tyler and Dango she gives them a pouty look and grabs her carry on to follow the flight attendant. She's skeptical as she's lead through the curtain to First Class. The woman gestures to an open aisle seat.
"This is the last open seat on the flight," the woman explains. "Please, take the upgrade on us."
Ravyn swallows hard as she notices AJ Styles is the occupant of the neighboring seat. She thanks the woman and sinks into her chair while tucking her bag under the seat in front of her. The plane begins to taxi to the runway and soon they're taking off. AJ pops in his ear buds immediately and avoids any interaction with her. Ravyn, knowing that no rest will be had on this leg of the trip, pulls out her 3DS and powers it on. The familiar Tetris DS splash screen greets her. She thumbs through the menus and chooses her game style. She hits start and quickly begins cleaning line after line in the classic puzzle game. As much as he is trying to ignore her she can feel AJ's eyes locked onto her game. She keeps up handily as the speed increases, finally losing at around 270 lines cleared. AJ rummages through his bag and pulls out a 3DS of his own. He just points to the 2 player option, letting her know that he would like to join her game. She taps the icon and a few moments later they're playing against each other. Within the first hour AJ ditches his headphones, even though they aren't talking. Unable to resist the opportunity to share some useless trivia Ravyn breaks the silence.
"Do you know the fan theory behind Tetris?" She asks meekly.
He shakes his head, "I don't. What is it?"
She smiles excitedly, "It was created by a Russian office worker names Alexey Pajitnov. The theory is that the game is supposed to show you only your mistakes and never your successes." AJ gives her a look that tells her to go on. "If you think about it, as you're clearing lines they disappear. Your accomplishment goes away. However, any time you put a block in the wrong spot it stays there and remains a nuisance until you can make it go away as well. Sometimes that misplaced block, the mistake, will end up being the thing that causes you to lose. The theory says that Tetris is just a metaphor for life itself."
"That's interesting," AJ nods.
AJ barely cracks a smile and the two of them go back to playing in silence until they land in Calgary.