Hello all! Once again thank you so much for your reviews and comments! They make writing this so much more fun!
Quick question, would anyone be interested in reading JJ's story?
The show goes live as the three girls on the evenings show hit hair and makeup. Carmella and JJ talk about their match in the finals of the tournament and laugh about how JJ's main roster debut match was also against Carmella. Ravyn adds tidbits of knowledge or advice where needed on their upcoming match. She catches a glimpse of AJ watching over her from the hallway, making her smile.
Not long after Carmella's music hits the sound system the crowd groans, but buzzes excitedly for the next competitor. Ravyn watches the monitor in the back with Dolph and AJ as JJ makes her entrance. The fan favorite gets a super loud reaction from the Atlanta crowd. The bell rings and the match begins. JJ and Carmella battle back and forth all over the ring. Ravyn's eyes are glued to the monitor as the two women in the ring go into their finishing sequence. Ravyn plants a light kiss on AJ's lips and steps into gorilla. She's escorted by security to a doorway on the arena floor.
The bell rings and JJ's music plays throughout the arena. Ravyn makes her way through the doorway. She's immediately immersed in the excitement of the crowd. Stealthily she rushes across the floor. Up and over she hops the barricade surrounding the ring. Silence from the crowd, then screams for JJ to turn around ring out. But the redhead is lost deep in her victory celebration, she doesn't even notice Ravyn sneaking in behind her. The champion slides into the ring, stalking JJ. She slams her forearms into JJ's back, sending her friend crashing to her knees. Ravyn doesn't let her friend stay down for long, but ever the fighter, JJ attempts to return the attack. Ravyn kicks her in the gut, doubling her over in the ring. She drops the title belt onto the mat as she grabs both of JJ's arms behind her back. They drop to the ground as Ravyn delivers her devastating double arm DDT finisher onto the belt.
The champion stands back up, smiling wickedly at the camera. She toes JJ's side flipping the redhead face up. She has to hide her shock with a snarl as she sees a trickle of blood streaming down JJ's forehead. Not willing to let a golden opportunity go to waste Ravyn picks up JJ's head by a fist full of hair. She lets the camera get a good look at the underdogs bloodied expression. After the tiniest moment of hesitation she swipes her right hand across the oozing red mess. She smears the blood of her enemy across her own pale face. She can see the camera boom zoom in for a close up so she picks up the belt and holds it up next to her head. A truly evil look on her face as the show cuts to commercial.
Ravyn slips up the ramp and through the curtain to await her friend, who's being helped to the back by a couple of referees. Once JJ is back through the curtain holding a towel to her face Ravyn rushes to her before Dolph even can. She pulls her bestie into a tight hug, then pushes away to examine her forehead.
"J, I'm so sorry," Ravyn apologizes sincerely. "I didn't mean to bust you open. I swear."
JJ almost laughs, "It's okay. I'm fine." She turns to the guys. "Did it look good at least?"
"It looked great," Dolph nods with a chuckle. "But I wonder how much they showed after Crazy over here wiped your blood all over her face."
"They'll use it," AJ states. "Mania is five days away. And that's guaranteed eyes on the product."
Ravyn swallows hard worried about her split second decision, "I don't even know what came over me. It just sort of happened."
They're interrupted by Road Dogg popping back from gorilla to check on them, "J, you okay?"
JJ nods with a smile, "Yep, all good."
"Go get checked by Doc," he insists. "And Ravyn, for the love of God, please go wash your face."
"Shit, I forgot that was still there," Ravyn laughs.
JJ and Dolph head off to get her checked out by Doc while Ravyn and AJ go get cleaned up. Excited to spend another night at AJ's before heading out to their final show before Wrestlemania.
One short night at AJ's so he can grab a suit for Hall of Fame and they're on their way to Savannah for a house show. As soon as they're done with the last show before Wrestlemania they jump in the car for the four hour drive to Orlando. Exhausted, they push through the drive, arriving at Ravyn's apartment just after two in the morning.
"I feel like I haven't been here in months," Ravyn says as they come through the front door. She drops her keys onto the stand just inside the door. "I don't even know why I'm still paying for this place. I'm never home."
"So why don't you move in with me?" AJ asks without missing a beat. Taken aback slightly Ravyn is silent. "I mean, you don't have to..." He adds quickly.
"No, no," she comes to her senses. "That actually sounds amazing. I'd just never even considered it before."
"Well it's not like you're anchored here to Orlando and NXT anymore," AJ reasons. "Let's get some sleep and we can talk about it later."
The girls meet up at the Performance Center the next afternoon to work out some ideas for their ladder match at Wrestlemania. Exhausted from their intense workout they take a break, sitting on the apron of one of the rings to catch their breath.
"I can't believe Mania is three days away," Ravyn takes a long swig from her water bottle.
"I'm not gonna lie.. I'm freaking out," JJ admits.
Ravyn chuckles, "Yeah, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just a little nervous."
"I never imagined that we would be in this caliber match at Mania together. Let alone our FIRST one," JJ beams. "Talk about dreams coming true."
"We're super lucky. We've come a long way and the company must trust us a lot to let us have a ladder match," Ravyn can barely hide her excitement.
JJ grins madly like a Cheshire Cat, "I just hope we can pull it off."
"I'm sure we will be fine," Ravyn pauses awkwardly, struggling to find the right way to ask her next question. "... Hey J... How would you feel if I left Florida?"
With a sly grin JJ answers her, "I'll only allow it if this conversation is going where I think it is."
Ravyn blushes, "AJ sort of asked me to move in with him last night when I was complaining about never being home."
"It's a huge step for both of you after all the crap that's happened to you over the last few months," JJ encourages her best friend. "If you feel it's the right thing to do then you should go for it."
"I'm not sure it's the right move. But I think it's worth the risk," Ravyn admits. "I just didn't want to leave you alone without any warning."
"It's like you said. We are never here. Don't worry about me. I have Dolph, and I'm hoping it stays that way," JJ smiles. "Besides being on the road we see each other more than we do on off days anyways."
"Thanks friend, I think that was the push I needed," Ravyn takes another sip of water. "Let's run through that spot once more and call it a day."
The girls step back through the ropes and spend the next hour working through the mechanics of their ladder match.
The next morning the entire WWE and NXT roster meet early at the Orange County Convention Center for the second day of Wrestlemania Access. Everyone splits up for different press events. The fans buzz with excitement as they get into lines to meet their favorite superstars. Ravyn and JJ have a three hour long signing event at noon together. The girls get there to see an ocean of fans chanting their names. The crowd buzzes in anticipation as the girls arrive They sit at opposite ends of a very long table. Fans will come through to meet JJ first and then move down the table to meet the champion. Screams and cheers for the two rivals are deafening as the girls take their seats. Security lets the fans start filing in once the girls are settled.
For the most part the fans are great. The girls sign 8x10s and take pictures with everyone. Some even bring them gifts. One little girl gives each of them one half of a best friends heart necklace, telling them that they should stop fighting and be friends again. Ravyn tries her hardest not to be mean to the child and still remain in character.
As the fans continue to trickle through a few creepers manage to make it to the table. Some even hinting at the leaked pictures. Though the vast majority of their fan interactions are nothing but wonderful. The sight of a WWE camera crew coming into view with Renee lets the girls know their signing is almost over. The last few fans come through for their photos and Ravyn steps behind a curtain. Renee sets up for a quick interview with JJ. The camera starts to roll and JJ answers a question about their upcoming Wrestlemania match.
Ravyn waits to hear JJ's answer before rushing back through the curtain and attacking her best friend. She beats the redhead to the ground, kicking her relentlessly. Ravyn grabs her fiery red locks and yanks JJ back to her feet. Ravyn looks out at the sea of onlookers begging her not to hurt the challenger and just smiles. She sets JJ up for a power bomb. The champ picks up her friend and slams her through the table they had just been signing at. She laughs as the crowd gasps in astonishment before booing her madly. Ravyn holds the title belt high above her head, reveling in the reaction of the Access fans. One more look down at her opponent and she leaves the signing area.