Chapter Thirty-Three - House Party

"B stop stressing, everything will be fine." Scott opened the ice bag and poured it into the large ice box filled with beer and pre-mixed drinks,

"I'm sorry I can't help it." I continued to play with the hem of my Etro flora print t-shirt dress as I paced from the outside deck to the kitchen, "Do I look okay?" I asked,

"If you didn't I would have told you by now." Scott opened the bifold doors so there was nothing between the kitchen/lounge to the large open decking that overlooked the beautiful Tokyo skyline. "Can you turn on the music please?" I adjusted my black ankle boots and turned on the iPod, Angus and Julia stone filled the apartment and the speakers outside.

"Nice choice."

"I have a way with choosing the right music." Scott took food filed plates to the outside seating, "Did you see Phil at the dojo?"

"Yep. You knew he was going to be there didn't you?"

"Yeah I did sorry. You were going to have to see him eventually."

"Hello?" Lay opened the door to the apartment interrupting our conversation, "B!" she squealed running as fast as she could in pinpoint heels, "How are you? How's Toyko? Are you excited to be wrestling again?"

"Good, fantastic and yes." We linked arms as we headed out to the balcony, "How's the Diva's division?"

"Gemma has cemented herself firmly at the top of it. We miss you though." I opened two beers and handed one to her,

"My place is here for the moment." I gestured to the beautiful Tokyo skyline, "I'm having the time of my life plus I'm actually wrestling."

"Touché." I glanced behind me to see Phil and the rest of the roster enter. I finished the rest of my beer and headed in, "I've got your back don't worry B."

"Thanks." I put on a smile and greeted the guests, preparing myself for the rest of the night.

I sent Harry on a fool's errand, he was following me around like a lost puppy all night and I needed a break. I leaned against the railing and closed my eyes, I let the cool Tokyo air hit my face, I took a swig of beer and turned to watch the guests become rowdy as the drinks began flowing.

"Thank you class that is all for today. You are dismissed." We lined up and bowed to Yamamoto as we did after every class, as soon as we finished I power walked to get my gym bag, I needed to get out of here. I quickly unlaced my boots and replaced, I peaked up at Phil talking to Harry, I hoped he would distract him long enough for me to make my escape, I pulled on track pants, a black hoodie and black Vans before heading out the door, I glanced back to see Phil patting Harry on the shoulder and we locked eyes, "Bethany!" he called out, I ignored him I could hear his foot steps coming closer but I made it out the door and blended into the busy crowd on the street.

"Bethany, how are you going?" Cena handed me a cold beer, pulling me out of my day dream,

"Pretty good thanks John, are you enjoying the party?"

"It's great, the apartment is beautiful and this view… wow. Thank you for allowing us here."

"You're so polite but it's Scott you should be thanking not me. I didn't lift a finger… well I did turn on the iPod." John had an infectious laugh and smile; I was genuinely smiling which was a rare occasion lately,

"You should be back in WWE." John took a long sip of beer and looked out to the skyline, he was honest and a straight shooter, which is something I admired about him, he wasn't afraid to speak his mind.

"I'm enjoying my time here."

"How many times have you said that tonight?"

"About 30, I can't help that it's my automatic answer."

"Vince wants you back,"

I was silent; I had ignored two phone calls from him today and three last week. "You don't see this sort of behaviour from Vince very often."

"Does he suspend people that don't get involved in fist fights?" I asked rhetorically,

John sighed, "Your stubborn. It's killing him your ignoring him, people don't say no to him."

"It's one of my many fabulous traits."

"Is sarcasm one of them too?"

I smiled and looked down to my beer, "So you think I should go back?"

"We wouldn't be having this conversation If I didn't," I sighed deeply and held leaned back,

"You're very hard to say know to, you know that right?"

"It's a curse Bethany. Seriously think about it," John squeezed my shoulder supportively, "Hey Phil what are you doing by yourself over there, come here."

Phil put his hands in his pocket and walked over,

"John do you mind if I have a chat to Bethany."

"Um yeah sure thing, I'll catch you later B?" John kissed me on the cheek and walked back into the apartment, once he was safely from hearing distance Phil turned to me,

"Hey I haven't seen you all night, are you avoiding me?" Phil joked; he had his back against the railing and put his hands in his pockets,

"There are a lot of people I haven't seen in a while and I was with you today."

"You barely talked to me and as soon as we finished you bolted out of there. By the way you were acting I thought I might have smelt of garbage."

"I just had a lot of things to do today."

"Sure." He rolled his eyes, "Scott said you've been having stress attacks, are you alright?"

"Yep nothing medication and therapy can't handle." We fell into silence neither one of us knowing what to say next,

"Talking on a balcony at a party never works out well for us." Phil tried to break the silence.

"Listen Phil I'm sorry for the way things ended between us. I need time to get my head around everything, we've gone our separate ways. I'm living here in Japan and you're dating someone else."

"I do owe you an explanation. Her name is Anna and she manages a small punk/rock label in New York and I really like her."

"You don't owe me anything."

"Look Bethany…" I haven't been so happy to see Harry in my life,

"Sorry am I interrupting something?" Harry handed me a beer and looked at us cautiously,

"No not at all. Phil was just heading inside to talk to Scott about the music. If it's not obscure punk music he isn't happy." Harry smiled,

"Yeah it's starting to get a bit stale around here." Phil left to go back inside shoving his hands back into his pockets and glaring over his shoulder,

"I had no idea where you went," Harry lead me over to the outdoor lounge where Scott had lit a fire in the fire pit, "I was actually wanting to ask you something." I finished my beer quickly,

"Don't worry I know exactly what your about to say." I kissed him softly on the lips; maybe to forget Phil I need someone to distract me.