Sorry for for the long delay! Hit a bit of writers block, but I think I'm getting over it. As always, thank you for you follows and comments! Hopefully it won't take so long for the next chapter to appear :)
"He fucking did it again," Ravyn fumes four days later at a house show in Mobile, Alabama. "I can't believe he sent another fucking lyric."
Tyler scrolls through his phone to read the tweet in question, "Yeah, and this one isn't exactly PG either." He snickers, "Not that anything we've done in the last few months on TV has been PG."
She shoots him a glare as she reads the tweet for what seems like the thousandth time. "The backseat at the drive-in is so lonely without you." Another line from the same song as the first two tweets. Tyler stands up from his seat at catering before turning back towards the locker room.
"Come on vampire," he calls over his shoulder. "If we want to get to Lafayette before sunrise we've got hustle." She shakes her head at his silly joke and follows him to their bags in the locker rooms.
She texts JJ to let her know that they're driving through and she'll see her at Sunday's show. The almost four hour drive seems to fly by as she, Tyler and Dango power through the gulf coast. When they arrive at their hotel Ravyn does her usual routine of hanging back to leave a key for AJ. As she turns away from the desk she sees Tyler leaning against the wall a few feet away. His smirk tells her that he overheard some of her check in.
"So, this mystery boyfriend must be one of us if you're leaving him a key. At 2 AM at a random hotel in Louisiana," Tyler deduces.
She blushes, "You're on to me Sherlock."
He walks with her to the elevator. He pokes the button for the lift before questioning her further, "Are you going to tell me who it is? Or do I have to do some undercover work?"
She laughs, knowing he would never believe her, "AJ Styles."
Tyler snorts, "He's not even your type. Try again."
"Tyler," she looks at him seriously. "You're one of my best friends. JJ already knows and you can feel free to confirm with her. Just keep it quiet. I've got enough going on that I don't think going public with that is a good idea yet."
His face is clouded in what must be tons of thoughts spinning around in his head. As the door pops open on the elevator he just nods his head and says, "Cool."
"Really? That's it?" She can barely believe his nonchalant reaction. "Cool?"
"Listen," he stops and faces her. "I don't care who you're sleeping with. I just want you to be happy... But if he hurts you even half as bad as Corey did. I'll kill him."
She steps into his open arms and rests her head on his shoulder. "Thanks Ty," a sigh of relief escapes her at the thought of knowing how supportive her friends are of everything she does.
He walks her to her door and says goodnight before heading down the hallway to his own room. She lets herself in, dropping her coat and bag beside the dresser. She fishes a pair of shorts and a tank top out of her bag and gets changed. AJ arrives a few minutes later, a peculiar look on his face when he comes in from the hallway.
He sets his bag next to hers then comes right out and asks, "Is there something going on with you and Corey Graves?"
"No," she barely manages to sputter.
He looks at her quizzically, "Then why is he tweeting about you and the backseat of his car?"
She sighs, readying herself for potential disaster. "They're song lyrics," she explains. "He and I used to date. We were together for over a year."
"And he's still not over you? Or..." He runs his hand through his hair as he trails off.
"It was a really bad relationship," she tries to leave their conversation at that.
"So why is he bothering you now?" AJ wonders.
She swallows hard as she tries to fight the emotions tearing her apart, "Because he's a fucking psycho?" AJ doesn't say anything, but the look he gives her silently asks her to go on. She wrings the hem of her shirt in her hands as he watches her nervous reaction. "He's not a good dude. He almost ruined my friendship with JJ. After months of abuse.. Mental and physical, he cheated on me. He probably cheated on me countless times. But I was too stupid to realize what a terrible situation I was in."
"He hit you?" AJ's voice softens as he sinks down next to her on the bed.
She nods, "It only got physical one time. When I first found out he was cheating. That ended with him throwing me into a wall.
"Why didn't you have him arrested?" AJ's face fills with confusion.
"I was scared. I loved him," she tries to reason. "I was afraid of losing my job. There was no tolerance for drama in NXT." She looks down at the floor, trying to find a way to justify her mistake. "Once we broke up I almost never saw him. That relationship was the longest year of my life. And I'd understand if you didn't want to be involved with someone with such a shitty past," she adds sadly.
He laughs, not the reaction she had expected. "Do you really think my opinion of you is going to change because of who you used to date?" A look of amusement on his face.
She's almost annoyed by his positivity, "I was trying to give you an easy out. Corey is going to bring nothing but drama to my life. Like its his fucking job."
"Well, ignore him. Don't let him get under your skin," AJ advises pulling her closer to him. "You're mine now, so don't worry about him anymore."
Her lips meet his, gently at first, but passion quickly overtakes them. He's got her shirt off in just a few shorts breaths. Her nails drag lightly across the waist of his jeans before she unbuckles his belt, letting them fall to the floor. His fingers trace the bare flesh of her collarbone before gripping a fistful of her hair. A sharp squeak of pleasure escapes her as he nips at her neck where his fingers had just been. His free hand works her pants off and tosses them aside. She lays back on the bed pulling him on top of her. Their lips crash together again. She grabs his lower lip between her teeth gently willing him to be rougher with her.
A deep moan escapes him as he pins both of her arms above her head. His mouth trails up and down her torso kissing and gently biting. He smirks as he watches her body writhe under his touch, silently begging him for more. He teases her body with his own, letting parts of his flesh only touch her for seconds. Her back arches, trying to make contact with him in any way she can. He chuckles at her feeble attempts, enjoying the control he has over her. Finally she can take no more and breathily utters a plea for him to stop teasing her. The moment the words leave her lips he ends the torture. Their mouths crash together as he takes charge, allowing her the pleasures she so desired. Her body bucks to meet his, hands traveling up his muscular back. As the moment intensifies her nails dig into his warm flesh. Before she can break skin he pins her arms above her head again. He stifles her intensifying moans by capturing her mouth with his as they near their climax together.
Tuesday in New Orleans starts with Ravyn taking a stroll around the occult and voodoo shops near Bourbon Street. When she's finished browsing the macabre she heads to the arena. The boys were kind enough to bring her gear bag with them in the rental. She tips her Uber driver and heads through the security entrance at the back of the building. She pokes her head into production to check the cards. She's delighted to see her name alongside Breezango opposite Dolph, JJ and Zack. She seeks out JJ and the two of them squeal in delight at the thought of getting to work together on the main roster. Even if neither one of them are actually cleared to wrestle.
"This is going to be so much fun!" JJ beams.
"I can't wait," Ravyn nods excitedly. "If only we were allowed to take bumps, we could actually be in the match."
"Sorry friend," JJ assures her. "Don't you meet with Doc soon?"
"Yeah, I'm supposed to see him today. Then we'll see what he thinks about a return date," she rotates her shoulder as if to show that she's feeling better. "It feels good. Bumping and training hasn't made it sore or anything. I'm hoping to be back by the Rumble."
"Or at least cleared so you can return the Tuesday after," JJ suggests with a grin.
Their conversation is interrupted by Mark Carrano. "Just the ladies I was looking for," he smiles.
"Hey Mark what's up?" JJ asks the head of talent relations.
"Well, we just got the go ahead to release the second season of Breaking Ground," he begins. "We're planning on a Network date of the 27th."
Ravyn does some quick mental math, "Two days before the Rumble."
He nods, "Correct. Any word on you being cleared?"
"Not yet," Ravyn pauses. "Going to see Doc after this."
"Good," Carrano glances at his clipboard. "Let's the three of us get together next week and go over some ideas for the future." He doesn't even give them a chance to answer before heading down the hallway.
"Let's hope creative has something for us once we're cleared," Ravyn says hopefully.
"Are you coming out with us tonight?" JJ changes the subject completely.
"I'll check to see what AJ is doing," she smirks. "But probably. I don't like to miss a night out in New Orleans."
Ravyn notices Dango around a corner and tells her friend that she'll meet her at the hotel after the show before running to catch up with him.