A/N: Wow! What an explosive response to the last chapter. I thank everyone who took the time to read, review, favorite, and follow. All of those things solidify the fact that this is actually halfway decent. That being said, I know it's hard to open up to the idea of Punklee divorcing, and I absolutely adore both of them so it's tough to write. But, I guess, in a weird and twisted way this shipping isn't so nuts after all. Anywho, thanks again for checking this story out. There's plenty of fun to come.
Seth strolled alongside Kevin Owens, pretending to listen as he talked about the plans for his son's upcoming birthday.
It's not that he didn't care, because he did. Kevin was a great family man, a great entertainer, and shit, a great person in general. Seth, on the other hand, was so busy in his own mind lately that he found himself exploring his thoughts more than what was going on in real life.
It had been three weeks since he'd opted out of a relationship or anything else as far as Zahra was concerned. It just sucked. He constantly defended her to anyone and everyone, even his own family. But yet again, he was wrong about her pretty face and even prettier body. She turned out to be exactly the kind of person that everyone said she was.
Her text messages were now scarce, and he reckoned she'd been either slutting around like she had been doing prior to getting involved with him or fled back to the douchey ex-boyfriend back in her hometown. He had yet to text her, even though nights like tonight, he just really wanted to crawl into bed with the likes of another warm body, breathe the scent of lavender, and fall asleep with his arms around someone who actually gave a shit about him.
Seth just needed to continually remind himself that Zahra was going to ruin him, and that just couldn't happen. He couldn't be the guy that falls to the wayside, another champion that simply didn't pan out.
"Hell-o? Earth to Seth?" Kevin was calling for his attention again, a knowing glare on his face. "Did you just tune me out, bro?"
Seth shook his head, as if he'd forgotten where he was and what he was doing.
"You know, I did. I just envy that you've got the family thing figured out, being as young as you are."
Kevin guffawed, clicking his tongue. "Rollins, you've got no worries. I suggest you quit dating skanks, for one. Shit takes time, dude. You've got to fall in love with the right person."
Seth shrugged his friend off, not wanting to listen to his Dr. Phil expert analysis.
"You're not thinking about picking up your phone and calling the trashbag that almost ruined your career, are you?" Kevin pawed at the phone Seth had just drawn from his pocket, as if preparing to snatch it away.
"Which one?" Seth snorted. "I'm the most unlucky son of a bitch I know in that department."
"Take the pity party somewhere else, Rollins," Kevin shoved his friend. John Cena passed by the two men, and waved at them. Kevin, being a decent guy, waved him back. Seth let his stone expression do the talking for him. Even though he knew Cena wasn't to blame for the US championship loss, how could he not be pissed off? Someone like Cena didn't need a title. Seth needed that win more; he needed to prove himself and defeat both Sting and John in the same night.
Thanks again, Z, he cursed the woman who was a million miles away.
Finally finding the room set aside for catering, the men sat down next to Dolph Ziggler and current fling, Summer Rae. And if he wasn't actually dating Summer, Seth thought, he sure made it look like he was.
"I'm gonna grab some veggies. Do you want anything, man?" Kevin asked and Seth shook his head.
"Oh, hey, Owens, do you mind grabbing me a spoon?" Dolph called after the bigger man, holding a yogurt container in the air. Kevin, being way too nice, gave him the thumbs up. If it were Seth, he'd give him a double middle-finger just because Dolph was annoying.
"I am so excited to see some of he ladies I worked with in NXT achieve great things," Summer commented in her nasally voice. She was watching as Sasha Banks gave a promo, her eyes glued to the tiny flat screen television held to the wall. Sasha spoke about how even though she wasn't the number one contender right now for the diva's belt, that she was still very much here and in the picture. It was just a matter of time.
Seth had to admit, she was fierce. He adored her gimmick, her "I don't give a shit" attitude, and the style she used against her opponents. It was kind of nice to see talent in that division again. Of course, he'd never say any of that out loud.
Yeah, they're proud of you, too, sweetcheeks, Seth thought bitterly. He thought about saying it out loud, then thought better of it. He was already a pariah in the locker room, so maybe picking fights with Ziggler's woman wasn't the route he should choose.
He watched as Brie, Nikki, and Alicia Fox pranced down to the ring, all sporting similar red gear. The pop they got from the crowd was quite notable, but not as notable as Paige's when she screamed her banshee scream on the ring apron before hopping in.
Seth fiddled with his phone, paying absolutely no attention anymore. He had seen this match a hundred times over; it was safe to say that Paige would win by disqualification after Team Bella started beating the shit out of her. It was a tired, dried-up storyline that for whatever reason, the creative team kept going back to. The most interesting shake-up they'd added in was the very quick disband of Team PCB, proving once again that Paige was a lone wolf and needed no friends.
Seth logged on to his Twitter account, not really bothering to read anything. He followed a lot of bands, and he wondered if any of them were in the area. Even though Kevin wasn't a beer fan, at least he'd probably come along for cheap entertainment.
"See, now that's a good way to keep Paige hated," Summer piped up again, and Seth looked up at the screen as Becky Lynch and Charlotte stood outside, watching on as Brie held Paige's wrists in the ring corner while Fox directed the official's attention her way. Paige's fellow "teammates" watched on and shook their heads, watching Paige get annihilated and eventually, turning on their heels to walk back up the ramp.
"Dude," Kevin sat back down, a plastic spoon in one hand and an assortment of broccoli and carrots in the other. He tossed the spoon across the table to Dolph, who thanked him, then turned his attention back to his food.
"Dude?" Seth said back, poking fun at his buddy. He looked up to see his face pale as Sheamus'.
"Dude, you look like you just saw a ghost," Seth's eyebrows furrowed.
"I think I did," Kevin admitted. "Over by the curtain-"
"Oh my God! Someone needs to help her!" Kevin was interrupted by the announce team, and everyone's heads snapped up as Brie and Nikki set Paige up for a Rack-Attack on to a steel chair, something that generally, women didn't get to do.
The camera closed up on Paige, who was yelling for her friends' help, waiting for Charlotte or Becky to help her out. Foxy watched on, blowing kisses and waving as Nikki hoisted Paige up with a little help from her twin, ignoring the ref's pleas...
"Let's light it up, light it up light it up light it tonight..."
The familiar tune played, and the entire roster stood up from where they were sitting. The arena went wild as the dark-haired, petite little diva skipped down the ramp, wearing her jean shorts and a long-sleeved cropped t-shirt. She smiled as she skipped around the ring. Smiled as Brie covered her mouth in pure shock. Smiled even wider as Paige managed to wiggle free of Nikki's finishing move, taking a fistful of hair and tossing her backwards on to the chairthe twins had set up just moments before.
"I did see a ghost," Kevin murmured, the first person to talk as Paige began to beat the snot out of both Brie and Alicia Fox. AJ didn't even get into the ring yet, and the crowd reaction was unbelievable.
Seth couldn't help but wonder how Punk felt about his wife's return. After all, she had made it clear that she would respect his wishes and retire on top. Maybe she realized she hadn't actually retired on top like she deserved to do? Seth tuned out everyone's chatter, stalking Leighla on Instagram like he sometimes did when he got bored.
He was happy for AJ, and for her return, but he had more important things to concern himself with.
AJ and Paige giggled as they hugged after their epic destruction of Team Bella. Paige raised AJ's hand in the air, and the roars just didn't silence.
Team Bella backed up the ramp, all three of them with shocked, bitchy stares. Nobody saw this coming. And even though surely there was a rumor of AJ back in the NXT territory, perhaps many either brushed it off as such or just believed that the original anti-diva was simply only there to help train the upcoming talents.
When Paige and AJ finally found their way backstage, there was complete silence, but a lot of wanderers. Everyone was interested, but nobody wanted to congratulate...it was too dangerous. And, for a moment, AJ couldn't help but be annoyed. The divas revolution? Technically, she was the pilgrim in that voyage, handing off the torch to Paige. Yet, so many people still had a grudge, and looking at the backstage area, it was quite clear.
Finally, Brie Bella stepped up to the plate. AJ knew she'd grown a hefty pair since she'd left, quite often publicly displaying her dislike for Eva Marie. Clearing her throat loudly, a few people turned to see what drama might ensue.
"Yes, darling?" AJ taunted, finally feeling alive, brave, and truth be told...fearless.
"Just making sure it truly was the ghost of bitchness past," Nikki came to the aid of her sister, and AJ rolled her eyes.
"Are we really going to do this now?" Paige wondered out loud, but nobody acknowledged her.
"Exactly what in the hell do you think you're doing here? Because really, I think it's pretty clear. This division has survived, and flourished, without you in it," Brie kept up, not missing a beat. The crowd of onlookers doubled in size in a mere twenty seconds.
"There wouldn't be a division if it wasn't for me. It would be the Bella Show, with a few fellow castmates from a reality show," AJ pointed out, beginning to push her way through some people to get out of there.
Nikki, of course, took note of that action.
"Aw, what's the matter, champ? Can't stand having a crowd in your face?"
"She must not have realized that that's what this business is all about," Brie murmured.
"Following in the footsteps of her lovely, delightful husband, yet again. The going gets tough, there's new talent, and I'm being overshadowed. So let's run away," Nikki continued, and AJ turned to face her, now very annoyed that these two wenches would even mention her relationship. Wasn't it obvious that she didn't have a relationship?
"Look, I don't mean any trouble. I want what's best for business, just like everyone here. And I want what's best for our fans, because without them, we'd all still be wrestling in OVW and FCW. I don't care that you don't like me. I don't care that you have a big, special television show. Let me do what I love in peace, and please, don't pretend you know a damn thing about what I think or feel," AJ remained calm through her speech, and a lot of the male roster members who were in the general area nodded with approval.
Nikki made a disgusted sound, flipping her flouncy hair. "I just want you to know, this little transition back isn't going to be easy for you. Because there's so many of us who are clawing to get to the top, and I'll be damned, as the top diva, to just allow you to step over all of the women who have given all they've got to get here."
"How noble of you. I wonder if Eva Marie would vouch for that?" AJ wondered, finally leaving the scene.
Nikki and Brie stood there, fuming. Paige followed her friend, opting not to get involved. Everyone else began buzzing, tweeting, and even a few people legitimately clapped for AJ's verbal ass-whooping.
Punk aside, AJ took comfort in knowing that she was still able to deliver truthful, effective pipe bombs.