I noticed that this story has reached over 1,000 views! Thank you for that! Hopefully you're all still enjoying the story.
Ravyn rushes through the backstage area trying desperately to find Mark Carrano. She finally spies him near the security checkpoint at the back entrance to the building. She skids to a stop in front of him, still out of breath from her quickie with AJ.
"There you are!" He gives her that creepy smile. "You ready?"
"Uhh..." She pauses, confused. "Yes?"
"Great, the camera crew just went over to the motel to set up. Tyler and Fandango are waiting on you with Charly in the parking garage," he points her in the direction of the door almost pushing her outside.
Utterly baffled she steps out into the underground parking garage. Charly Caruso stands outside of a black SUV bundled in a warm winter coat. She opens the back door for Ravyn to get in. Still unsure of the entire situation Ravyn slides into the back seat next to Tyler. She catches the eye of Dango as he looks at himself in the passenger side visor mirror.
"You really went all in for this shoot huh?" He keeps an eye on her in the reflective glass.
She looks around the vehicle nervously, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Your hair and makeup," he turns around in the passenger seat to face her. Her blank look implores him to continue. "We're supposed to be filming a sexy scene for Smackdown tonight."
She shifts uncomfortably in the back seat. "Uhh... yeah. How does it look?"
"That is some really impressive sex hair," Tyler confirms.
She picks up on an inflection in his voice, but smiles anyways. She catches a glimpse of herself in Dango's visor mirror and sees just how haggard she looks. Her hair is a complete mess and her makeup is smeared around her eyes. As the car pulls into the motel parking lot she's suddenly unable to look away from an invisible wrinkle on her skirt. Dango opens the door for her when they come to a stop. Charly leads them into a secluded motel room where a film crew awaits. The writer gives them a quick rundown of the scene before complimenting her hair and makeup. Ravyn blushes and moments later finds herself in bed with Tyler, wearing significantly less clothing.
The crew films Ravyn and Tyler making out in the bed while Dango emerges from the steamy hotel bathroom wearing nothing but a towel. He smirks as he watches them grope and kiss each other. He strides across the floor pausing at the side of the bed.
"Fighting British crimes of fashion," he strokes his chin. "Should always end in crimes of passion." A devilish grin creeps onto his face as he slips into the bed on Ravyn's other side. She kisses Dango then turns her head back to kiss Tyler again just as someone yells "cut".
Back at the arena a few hours later as the show begins Ravyn sits watching on the monitor backstage. She jumps as the pyro explodes in the O2. JJ's music hits drawing Ravyn's attention back to the screen. Moments later Dolph flops down into the chair next to her.
"You're not going out there with her?" Ravyn asks him.
He shakes his head, "Nah, she's got this. I've got a match later I'm supposed to be preparing for."
She snorts, "And this is how you're choosing to prepare?"
"I need a favor," he's suddenly serious.
"Go on," she turns to give him her full attention.
He grins deviously, "Christmas is five days away. We'll be back in London. We've got the day off... I'd like to take her somewhere to celebrate. Any ideas?"
"Let me think about it," Ravyn smiles. "But don't be upset if she doesn't want to do anything strenuous. I know her hip has been bothering her."
"I know," his face falls. "But she's too stubborn to take any time off."
"That's a nice word for it," Ravyn smirks. "I'll get some ideas together for you. Give me a day or so."
"Thanks," Dolph smiles as he gets up to meet JJ at gorilla.
Ravyn continues watching the show. Tyler and Dango join her when they hit the halfway mark. They sit down just in time to watch their vignette. Ravyn shifts in her chair awkwardly when AJ sits down behind them as their segment airs.
"Man, we've got to get some new shtick," Dango says, much to Ravyn's relief.
Tyler nods, "I think this is verging on too far."
"Even for me," Dango confirms.
"Maybe we can try something new," Ravyn adds hopefully. "Like Law and Order or something."
"We can bring it to creative next week," Tyler suggests.
The tour continues through Wales and back into England . The entire roster travels together hitting various tourist destinations on the way. The highlight of the tour ends up being a visit to Stamford Bridge, the home of London's Chelsea Football Club. They even get jerseys customized with their names on the back. The tours final show takes place on Christmas Eve, then the buses take them back to London to enjoy a day off before flying home on the 26th.
After a late night arrival in London the night before, Christmas morning comes too early for Ravyn. She rolls over and puts her head on AJ's chest just listening to him breathe. Sleepily he wraps an arm around her shoulder. A knock at the door makes both of them jump. They exchange a brief look of terror in the dimly lit room.
"Who the hell is knocking on your door this early?" He whispers harshly.
"Fuck if I know," she says in a hushed voice as she rushes to the door to check the peephole. "Shit, it's JJ. I forgot about Christmas morning breakfast." Ravyn's mind races as she tries to figure out what to do. For the last nine years she and JJ have had breakfast together every Christmas. Sometimes they would cook and stay in. Other times they'd go out for a meal. She looks back to AJ who is pulling on his basketball shorts and tank top. "If you don't want us to be found out you'd better hide."
He gives her a quick kiss before grabbing his shoes and stepping into the closet and closing the door behind himself. Ravyn waits until he's stowed away before she opens the door for her best friend.
"Morning friend!" JJ smiles excitedly. "Happy Christmas!"
"Happy Christmas," Ravyn hugs the redhead. "Sorry I overslept. Give me a few minutes and we can get out of here."
"No worries," JJ lets herself into the room carrying a medium sized box. She plops onto the couch while Ravyn rushes to get dressed. "What do we want to eat?"
Ravyn pops her head around the corner to look at JJ as she brushes her hair. "I need something with potatoes," she smirks.
"I swear, you are actually addicted to hash browns," JJ giggles.
"There's worse things to be addicted to," she reasons. As she pulls her NXT track jacket on she notices AJ's phone on the nightstand. "Alright, let's go eat!" Ravyn grabs a box wrapped in shiny silver paper and hurries JJ out the door.
The girls carry their wrapped packages down through the lobby and across the street to a cute cafe. They're seated almost immediately since the restaurant is quiet at this hour. The waitress brings them some water and takes their orders.
"Can you believe this is our tenth Christmas together?" JJ wonders aloud.
Ravyn shakes her head, "Can you believe we're spending out tenth Christmas together in London?"
"Man, we have come a long way since then," JJ reminisces.
"Do you remember our first Christmas together?" Ravyn asks.
JJ laughs, "Of course I do! How could I forget?"
"We had the best gifts for each other," Ravyn snorts.
"How did we both buy each other things from the same gas station?" JJ asks.
"Because it was the only place in a twenty mile radius to buy anything!" Ravyn howls with laughter.
JJ sips her water, "I still have the picture frame you got me. It's got our Storm Wrestling Academy graduation picture in it. Surrounded by those little maple leaves."
Ravyn grins, "And you got me that amazing travel mug that only died like a year ago. It kept my ramen hot for hours at the school."
"Speaking of keeping things warm," JJ reaches down and lifts up her package wrapped in black paper with glimmering silver snowflakes. "I think you may like this even more than you loved that mug."
"I don't know. That mug was a staple in my life for 8 years. Even if all the paint came off of it in the first 2 months," Ravyn laughs" she pics up her own nicely wrapped box and hands it over to JJ.
"It's your turn first this year," JJ beams handing her own parcel over.
She watches intently as Ravyn carefully slips a finger under the taped flap on the edge of the box. She slowly pops the tape and unwraps the package neatly, revealing a brown Dr. Marten shoe box. Ravyn's eyes light up with excitement as she tears the rest of the paper away. Giddy, she looks at JJ who nods, encouraging her to open the box up. Dark grey leather is the first thing she notices about the knee high boots. Her fingers trace the lines of the stitching.
"J, these are beautiful,"Ravyn exclaims.
"Dolph and I took a special trip to Camden Town to pick them out," JJ says triumphantly. "You can even fold down the sides. The Union Jack on the inside was the selling point for me."
Ravyn's fingers flip the soft leather over to see the blue, red and white flag emblazoned on the inside of the boots. Before she gets completely sucked in by JJ's thoughtful gift she hands her friend an identically sized box. The metallic silver paper shimmers in the light from the large windows. JJ wastes no time ripping the wrapping paper off, revealing an identical brown Dr. Marten box.
"I promise," Ravyn smirks. "I didn't get you the same thing. Open it up!"
JJ carefully raises the top of the boot box. She gently picks up a black shadow box. Inside the glass is a torn up Smackdown Live t-shirt, a two inch square piece of grey ring canvas and a photo of the Survivor Series Smackdown woman's team.
"I thought someone threw that shirt out!" JJ exclaims.
"Nah, I swiped it when you went to take a shower," Ravyn grins. "I know you like keepsakes from your big matches. And survivor Series was probably your biggest match yet!"
"This is amazing," JJ stares in awe at the box.
Their food arrives quickly and soon they're chatting between bites.
"You and Dolph doing anything for Christmas?" Ravyn asks innocently.
JJ swallows her mouthful of food, "No idea. My hip is killing me. And I'm dreading these 12 hours of flying we have tomorrow."
"Stay in and have a nice dinner then," Ravyn giggles, enjoying the chance to make JJ blush. "Maybe get some room service, fool around."