"Are you sure you want to go out tonight?" Ravyn asks with a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "What if someone sees us?"
"It's Christmas night. People are spending time with their families," AJ pulls her close to him and kisses her neck. "Anyways, it's dark. And I have something nice planned."
The sincerity in his voice wrapped in that southern accent make her smile, "Okay, let's go then."
"Besides, I'll wear a disguise," AJ pulls a baseball cap with his logo embroidered on it onto his head.
"Hat, babe," she giggles. "That's just a hat."
AJ flashes her his handsomest grin, "Yeah, but it's a really nice hat."
She rolls her eyes and follows him out of the hotel room with a smile. They step into the elevator undetected by their coworkers. Somehow they make it through the lobby and out onto the street with no one noticing them. AJ hails a cab, whispers to the driver and soon they're on their way. Their cab winds through the streets of London. Crossing over Tower Bridge and passing Waterloo Station. They pull up to the base of the London Eye, the world tallest observation wheel, and AJ tips the driver. He leads her up past the small line of people waiting to board. The attendant checks their reservation and ushers them to a private waiting room. Sensing this is a bit unusual Ravyn keeps her mouth shut and observes. A few minutes later another uniformed attendant leads them to the boarding platform.
"Enjoy your evening Mr. Styles," the man says as he opens the door to the pod for them.
They step inside of the clear glass capsule. A bottle of champagne and chocolate truffles sit on the wooden bench in the center of the unit. The attendant closes the door and their rotation of the London Eye begins.
"I can't believe you did this," Ravyn almost glows with excitement.
She walks to the glass wall and looks out over the river Thames. AJ stands behind her wrapping his arms around her waist. The city lights up the dark sky as they slowly ascend through the London skyline. He steps away to pour them each a glass of champagne. They spend the next thirty minutes quietly enjoying each other's company while taking in breathtaking views of London in their own private pod. As they return to the ground AJ paces his hand along the small of her back guiding Ravyn out of the capsule. They step onto solid ground and start to make their way out towards the street.
Ravyn decides to be bold and reach for AJ's hand. He smiles a bit and squeezes her hand in return. When they reach the street Ravyn tenses up. Across the entrance of the line she spots JJ standing with Dolph. Time seems to slow to a crawl as Ravyn's eyes meet JJ's, resulting in the longest most awkward stare of their lives. She can tell immediately that JJ's upset. Her friend spins on her heel away from them and faces Dolph.
"Shit," Ravyn curses almost under her breath.
"What's wrong," concern sneaking into AJ's voice.
She reveals, "JJ definitely just saw us."
"You sure?" He asks, hoping she's wrong.
"Very," she assures him. "And she's pissed. Fuck."
He adjusts the baseball cap on his head, "So what do we do now?"
"Nothing," she murmurs. "I'll text her in the morning. Let's just try to enjoy the rest of the night."
The next morning Ravyn sits on the edge of AJ's hotel bed looking dejectedly at her phone. She had sent JJ a bunch of messages with no response from her best friend. Even an offer of brunch goes completely ignored.
"Give her some space," AJ suggests. "She'll probably be mad at you for a few days. But she'll come around."
"This sucks," Ravyn huffs. "She's never been this mad before."
"You've never giver her a reason to be this mad before," he assumes logically. "Come on. We've got to go catch the bus to the airport. Go get your bags."
"I'll see you in Orlando?" She stands up from the bed and slinks her arms around him.
"You will," he confirms. "And we've got an off day after Smackdown if you still want me to stay over."
That offer makes her smile, "I'd like that."
She stands on her toes to kiss him once more before flying back to the U.S. She sneaks from his room back to her own to retrieve her bags, then texts Tyler. She meets up with the boys in the lobby to board the bus. JJ is nowhere to be found so she climbs the steps into the tour bus and flops into the seat next to Tyler. He sees her looking crestfallen but doesn't pry. Minutes later they're on their way to the airport. The driver steers the large bus expertly through the small streets and the city's heavy traffic. It isn't until they're waiting to board at the gate that Tyler finally breaks the weird silence.
"Is everything ok?" He coaxes.
"Yeah," she whispers hoarsely. "J is mad at me because I'm a shitty friend."
He shoots her a quizzical look, "I highly doubt that you're a shitty friend."
"Well, I sure feel like one," she pouts.
"What happened?" He asks innocently.
"Long story," she begins. "I've been seeing someone. And I wouldn't tell her who it was. She has since found out by accident."
He shifts in the hard plastic airport chair to look at her, "Is that why you've been M-I-A so often?"
"Uhh," she struggles to come up with a response.
"You almost never come out with us anymore," Tyler sounds slightly hurt. "But everyone is entitled to their privacy. Even best friends."
Tyler's reassurance makes her feel only slightly better. Before long she's wedged between Tyler and Dango as the plane taxis down the runway. Once they're in the air she opens up her 3DS and starts a game with AJ' who's sitting in first class. After many hours of flying and a layover at JFK and they're finally on their way to Orlando. When the touch down Dango helps Ravyn secure the luggage while Tyler retrieves the car from long term parking.
As she drags her bag from the car and to her apartment she attempts to call JJ again. But when she gets no answer she hangs up instead of leaving another message. She settles down for the night and decides that she will apologize in person at Smackdown Live the next day instead of interrupting JJ and Dolph's evening.
Ravyn arrives to the arena with Tyler and Dango early the following afternoon for a women's division photo shoot. She hits hair and makeup before meeting up with the photographer to get a wardrobe assignment. The other Smackdown women are rotating in and out of the backdrop set up for them. The Valentines Day theme has each of them in super sexy red, pink or black dresses. Ravyn smiles at JJ who's clearly uncomfortable in the form fitting bright pink dress she'd been given to wear. JJ just turns away from her and sparks up a conversation with Becky.
When the shoot ends Ravyn hits the ring with Carmella before going to get changed into her Fashion Police gear. She fiddles with the fluffy leg tassels until she's completely satisfied by their volume. She receives a text from Dango letting her know that everyone is in catering going over their match for the evening and she heads there to meet them. She listens intently while American Alpha and Breezango discuss their quick segment for the evening. On the way back to the locker room she texts AJ to confirm that he's coming back to her place after the show. She smiles when he replies that he wouldn't miss it for the world.
The show begins an hour later. The Fashion Police wait in gorilla for the opening match participants to return from ringside. As soon as the program returns from commercial break Breezango's music plays. Ravyn struts out to the top of the ramp and pauses with Tyler's selfie stick. Dango leans in to check his hair on the phone screen, kisses her cheek then does and impressive high kick before starting them down to ringside. Tyler stands to her left with his right arm around her waist. She turns and plants her lips on his causing him to smirk cockily and tip his reflective glasses on his way down to ticket everyone in the front row. She saunters down to ringside behind them.
For the first time in months she rolls into the ring on live TV. Dango and Tyler wrap themselves around her seductively and pose for the cameras. American Alphas music elicits cheers from the Orlando crowd as the new champions make their way to the ring. The match itself barely gets started before it's over. Dango gets knocked to the outside, Tyler takes a double team maneuver and the match is over in less than five minutes. Ravyn helps her boys retreat up the ramp and back into gorilla where they discover an almost frantic looking JJ waiting for them.