Just a quick chapter, hope you guys are still reading and enjoying!
Sunlight peeks through the curtain the next morning slamming into the wall then dripping onto the bed. A messy tangle of bodies and bedsheets barely even stirs when the alarm goes off. Ravyn slaps at her phone, begging for it to just be quiet. AJ reaches out and pulls her close to his body.
"Good morning," he mumbles into her hair.
She buries her face into his chest and sighs, "Can't we just stay here all day?"
"Only if you want to miss your title shot," he chuckles. "But if I stay here I don't have to drop the title tonight. Maybe you're right, we should stay here."
"Ugh fine," she groans. "I need to get to the gym to chase this hangover off anyways."
"I'll catch you at the arena later then," he rubs her shoulder absentmindedly. "I'm doing Up Up Down Down later... You should come with me."
She raises her head to meet his gaze, "Really? What are you guys playing?"
AJ grins mischievously, "Mario Kart."
"Double Dash?" She asks excitedly.
"I think so," AJ laughs. "It's Woods' favorite."
"Mine too," she confirms. "I'll be there."
"We should start traveling together," he sort of blurts out.
She looks at him quizzically, "Well, I'll be looking for new riding partners after I turn heel next week. I probably won't be able to ride with Tyler and Dango anymore."
"Well, I'd like it if you'd ride with me," AJ admits. "As long as you don't mind that is."
She snickers, "That sounds awful. I want no part of it."
He pretends to be shocked and offended by her comment. She sticks her tongue out at him before rolling out of bed. She brushes her teeth and changes into gym clothes before kissing AJ goodbye. Grabbing her gear bag on the way out of the room she heads off to get in a quick workout before the pay per view.
"Did they decide who's going over in your match tonight?" Dango asks as he heads into the arena with Ravyn and Tyler later that night.
Production crews rush around them like mad setting up for the show. "Not yet," Ravyn tells him. "They've got some ideas, but nothing concrete yet." They wander past catering where she catches a glimpse of Corey chatting with Neville. "You guys are still coming to the ring with me tonight right?"
"Of course," Tyler confirms. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
They boys leave her at the women's locker room where she heads in to get cleaned up from the gym. The first part of her day is a flurry of activity. She meets with Naomi and the writers to finalize any plans for their match. Then she spends a few minutes rolling around in the ring with Sasha and Bayley. As she's coming back from the ring a hand snakes around her waist.
"Hey babe," AJ greets her with a kiss. She looks around nervously. Still not quite sure how to process the public affection. He snickers at her unease, "It's ok. I'm heading over to meet up with Woods if you still want to come."
"I do!" She finally starts to relax a bit. "Let me grab a towel and some water and I'll be ready to destroy you guys."
A few minutes later she lets herself into the locker room where Xavier Woods has set up a Nintendo Game Cube and flatscreen TV. He and AJ are seated in front of the TV on some folding chairs. The small GoPro camera facing them from above the TV to film their reactions.
"Hey girl!" Woods calls to her. "Come to watch us play?"
She smiles innocently, "No, I came to beat the two of you."
Woods looks from her to the camera and back again, "Oh snap! Shots fired!"
Woods chats to the camera, doing a quick introduction for this episode of Superstar Savepoint. AJ stands up and offers her his chair like a gentleman grabbing another from a stack near the wall.
Ravyn this is your first time on Up Up Down Down officially," Woods says to the camera. "Are you familiar with the game we're playing?"
She nods, "I've played it a couple of times, sure."
AJ smirks, knowing that she's just toying with Woods. They choose their racers and select their bundle of tracks. The first race begins and the three of them slam on their accelerators. AJ manages to barely squeak out a victory over Woods who comes in a close second. They pause before they start their second of four races and that's when the trash talking begins.
"I thought you said this was your favorite Mario Kart," AJ laughs.
"It is," Woods and Ravyn answer at the same time.
"Then how come neither one of you are beating me?" He antagonizes.
Ravyn huffs, "If you want me to destroy you I will. I've just been going easy on you."
"Whoa whoa whoa," Woods looks at her as the next race begins. "Who exactly do you think you're going to destroy?"
"Both of you with that attitude," she snorts.
"Bring it on babe," AJ says mashing the A button.
Their karts whip around the pixelated race track. Woods and AJ battle back and forth for first place with Ravyn holding her own in a close third. As they round the last turn before the finish line Ravyn unleashes special moves from each of her drivers, knocking the guys out and zipping past them to win the race.
She smiles smugly, but says nothing.
"That was dumb luck," Woods reasons.
"Right," she rolls her eyes.
AJ taps a button, starting the third race, "Won't go so easy on ya this time."
"You won't have to go easy on me," she assures him. "I just needed a warmup race."
Once again the race starts up bringing the three of them to silence. The occasional angry cuss word escapes them when they get pelted by an item that causes them to drop in placings. Ravyn manages to fly by the boys again at the last moment, winning the third race. Woods grumbles about being beaten again.
"Nothing like Mario Kart to really test the strength of a relationship," AJ sighs.
"What!?" Woods looks at him in shock. "Did we just get an Up Up Down Down exclusive!?"
AJ smirks, "Maybe you did."
"Whoa. Whoa!" Woods exclaims hoping to get someone to offer up more information.
Ravyn blushes and cuts off his momentum, "Last race!"
The screen starts to count down and the three of them scramble for positions. AJ has the lead for the first lap, but Ravyn and Woods are hot on his heels. The second lap has all three of them leading small portions while the others assault them with red shells and other items. Near the end of the last lap Ravyn unleashes her triple red shells followed by the abuse of a golden mushroom. She throws her arms into the air, victorious.
"How did you beat me at my best, most favorite game?" Woods stares at the screen in complete shock.
"It's easy," she shrugs nonchalantly. "Paratroopa and either Toad or Toadette. They've got the best combination of special items. Triple red shells and a golden mushroom. Boom."
"But they aren't even that fast," he huffs.
She laughs, "Dont need to be the fastest when you've got homing missiles and speed boosters. You just have to drive smart and put yourself in the right position."
AJ puts his arm around her shoulders and pulls her close to him, kissing her temple, "I'm not even mad that I lost. That look on Woods' face is priceless."
The mouth agape look of astonishment on his face as he looks back and forth from the TV screen to Ravyn, "We should use this to our advantage."
"I usually save this sort of bet for the really important stuff," she admits.
Woods nods, "Good point. I'll keep this is mind."
Woods closes out the episode by giving everyone's Twitter and Instagram handles before reminding viewers to keep it tight. The three of them chat for a few minutes before breaking away to get ready for that nights show to begin. Ravyn meets JJ near Gorilla as the Pre-show begins. JJ's match with Maryse has been bumped to the first match of the actual show.