CHAPTER 7:
Over the next few days, the wrestlers trained day in and day out as they had several matches all across the country. One afternoon on February 15th, AJ was called back into Stephanie's office. "Good afternoon Stephanie" said AJ as she sat down in a chair. "Good afternoon to you too April" said Stephanie with a wide smile. "So, how's everything going?" asked AJ. "Pretty good" said Stephanie. "And as a matter of fact I have some pretty good news for you". AJ shifted her position in her chair. "What kind of good news?" AJ asked. "I have found you your love interest" said Stephanie.
AJ's heart began to pound. "Um…my love interest?" she asked. "Yes darling, remember our conversation we had a few months ago, back in November?" said Stephanie. "Yes" said AJ. "Well you're going to be pursuing….Seth Rollins" said Stephanie. AJ's eyes widened more than she could have ever possibly thought could happen.
"Um April are you ok?" asked Stephanie. "Yes" said AJ. "I'm more than ok". "Alright then great!" said Stephanie cheerfully. "You'll both be meeting with Jane and Mark in a few days to be further discussing this. Your first episode together is schedule for March 3rd". "Live?" asked AJ. "Well of course April" said Stephanie as she stood up to insert a binder on her shelf.
AJ remained quiet for a few moments before finally speaking up. "So is that it?" asked AJ. "Why of course April" said Stephanie as she sat back down. "I have a meeting with Seth later on this afternoon". AJ nodded and thanked Stephanie for her time as she exited the room. "I have to be with Seth?" she thought to herself as she continued her walking. She sighed as she entered into training room where she saw Aksana, and her own tag partner Tamina Snuka talking to Roman and Dean Ambrose.
"Hey there stud" said Tamina as she gave a soft punch on AJ's shoulder. "Are you ready for tonight's match?" "Sure thing" said AJ as she stepped up onto treadmill. "Oh what you don't remember me?" asked Roman. "Easy there Joe" said Dean. "You wouldn't wanna get up your temper before tonight's match". "Joe, who is Joe?" asked AJ as she turned around and stepped down. "That's me" said Roman. "But I thought your name was Leati" said AJ. "Well of course it is" said Roman. "But a lot of the guys around here call me Joe" said Roman. "It's from my middle name Joseph, it's a lot easier to pronounce".
AJ stood quietly as she looked confused. "So where's you're third member?" she asked in order to change to subject. "Oh our buddy Seth?" asked Dean. "He's on his way to a meeting with Stephanie. I hope he ain't getting written up for what he said last week on RAW". AJ became instantly nervous. "Hey there girl are you ok?" asked Aksana. "Uh…yeah" said AJ. "Are you sure, because you're sweating a bit" said Tamina. "It's nothing. It's just a bit hot in here that's all". "But it's like 68 degrees in here" said Roman.
AJ began to sweat a bit more. "It's nothing" said AJ. "It's just that I realized that I'm a bit behind schedule and I wanted to come in here as quickly as possible in order to catch up". "It's 1 in the afternoon" said Dean. "We don't start filming for another 7 hours". "Always the intensive one aren't we Dean?" said AJ sarcastically as she turned around. "Now if you guys must excuse me. I have training to be getting back to". "Well don't mind us" said Roman as he put his hands in the air and walked away with Dean and Aksana leaving only AJ with Tamina.
"Ok girl, spill" she said. "Spill what?" asked AJ. "Oh come on girl, don't play dumb" said Tamina. "I know when something's bothering you so come on April, spill". AJ stopped and turned around to face Tamina. "Look nothing is bothering me" she said. "April!" said Tamina. AJ paused. "Ok, ok I'll tell you" said AJ. "I had a meeting with Stephanie earlier and I'm getting paired with Seth as a love interest next month". "Ok, so what's so bad with that?" asked Tamina. "Unless you guys aren't getting along, then it shouldn't be a problem".
She was right. In this company, you had to be open to anything. "Its not that I have a problem with Seth" said AJ. "So then what's your issue?" asked Tamina. However before AJ could answer, in walked in Nikki, Brie and Ariane. "Hey guys" said Ariane as she waved over. Nikki was clutching two bottles of water as she rolled her eyes at AJ and Brie just gave a sweet smile. "Look I can't tell you now" said AJ. "Not when she's here". "You know you should be telling Stephanie that you have quite the problem with Nicole" said Tamina. "Nah, it's ok" said AJ. "I've handled quite worse when I was in high school". "Just tell me before we go on tonight" said Tamina. "I promise" said AJ. "Think you'll be ok in here alone with her?" asked Tamina. "Yes" said AJ. "Brie and Ariane don't have any problems with me". Tamina nodded as she walked away.
"How are you doing?" asked Brie. "I'm great" said AJ. "And you?" "I'm pretty well" said Brie as she prepared her weights. "Spot me" said Nikki as she walked on over to her sister. "Today I wanna see if I could bench press 110". "Isn't that a lot?" asked Ariane. "No" said Nikki. "I've been trying to set a personal record for myself over the last couple of months". "Nicole, I thought you told me that you'd never go over 60" said Brie. "Brie, I can handle it" said Nikki. With that, Ariane and Brie reluctantly walked over to assist Nikki, whom after just 4 reps became increasingly tired. After her 6th one, she finally stopped and looked exhausted when Roman walked over. "Hey Joe" said Ariane. "Hey" said Roman rather quickly. "Nicole, I don't think you should ever lift that amount again" he said. "It isn't such a good idea for you, unless you're really that hard core".
Nikki sat up. "It's ok Joe" said she. "I've been working my way up for the past 8 months". "I know but anyone could easily see you struggling after your first lift" said Roman. "I wouldn't want John or anyone else for that matter to see you get hurt like that". He walked away and nodded to AJ. Nikki gave an annoyed sigh. "Nicole he was just giving you some advice that's all" said AJ. Nikki instantly got up and walked on over to AJ.
"Look AJ, if I wanted your input I would have asked for it" she said as she turned around. AJ shook her head as she continued her last sets on the treadmill. "That girl is really something else" she thought to herself. "She really is".