"Come on, girl. You ain't no fun!" R-Truth, Becky's DJ and oldest friend said as he pulled at the woman's arm, trying to get her to dance with him.
"Not tonight, Truth". Becky sipped on her cranberry juice.
Peyton and Billie were on the dance floor, practically dry-humping each other. Miz was on the phone with his either his wife or his mistress, Becky wasn't sure which one. She watched as Truth joined the girls. The last two months dragged on for so long that Becky almost quit halfway through. She couldn't wait for her vacation to begin, but now that she had nothing to do the days seemed to drag on as well.
Getting out of bed was a struggle for her. Falling asleep was a struggle for her. Trying to make up the hours of the day with nonsensical pastimes like playing video games or working out was a struggle for her. She had already considered getting back on the booze, but then thought better of it.
"We're all here 'cos you wanted to go out and have a good time, Becks. Now you're being a party-pooper". Miz spoke as he drank from the whiskey in his glass. Seemed like his phone call had ended abruptly. So his wife then, Becky thought.
"I didn't think it through apparently". Becky looked across the club. They were seated in the VIP section, which gave her a good view of the club and all the patrons in it.
"Scanning for a hot piece of ass? Been a while since you've gotten into some panties". Miz winked at the orange haired woman.
"You're fucking disgusting, man". Becky shot Miz a vicious look. She took another sip of the red juice and stared out in front of her.
"Damn, you got boring. Is this 'cos of Naomi?"
Becky rolled her eyes at the mention of YouTube's newest rap sensation.
Everyone was buzzing about her and Becky was tired of reading about her, hearing about her. She just wanted to be away from music and all the craziness that came with the job.
"Naomi? She's an up-and-comer and if I freaked out over EVERY single new female rapper coming up, I'd be in an asylum right now".
"Alright, but if it's not her, why have you been such a dud the last few weeks?"
Becky thought for a few seconds. If she was being honest with herself she'd admit to what was really bothering her, but she was almost never honest with herself.
"I'm just tired, that's all. I'll feel better in a few days". She had to believe that she'll feel better. Maybe if she believed hard enough she might actually begin to see the good in life again. Maybe she'd have the energy to find Charlotte Flair then.
Charlotte.
Becky had thought about her ever since they met and spent an hour under the stars together. She hoped that she'd run into the woman again, something serendipitous before she had to actively search for her. But she's been back in Miami for three days and nothing.
Charlotte, Natalya and Sasha entered the club and looked for a table, Charlotte using her height advantage to find an empty spot rather quickly.
"Over there", she said and pointed to the table in the corner.
"Damn, it pays to have a giraffe bestie", Natalya joked.
The three women got seated and Natalya, resident club-hopper, offered to buy drinks by the bar. Sasha went with her, leaving Charlotte on her own. She looked around, saw some people dancing and drinking. She couldn't help but feel really out of place. Her friends had made her go with them and she said yes just to appease them.
"We got you a martini. Classy, just like you". Sasha placed the drink in front of the her.
"You're the sweetest", Charlotte said and brought the glass to her lips. Sasha and Natalya settled into their chairs and got to drinking their cocktails too.
"So Char, see anyone you like? We know you have very high standards". Sasha cocked an eyebrow at her tall friend.
Natalya was first to speak though. "Oh no, our girl Charlotte only dates rap stars!"
Sasha almost choked on her drink. She joined Natalya in giggling at the expense of their friend. Charlotte rolled her eyes. She wished she could un-tell Natalya and Sasha about her night with Becky Lynch. They had been teasing her about it for the last couple of months. They would play Becky's songs on repeat whenever they were in the car. They would randomly text her pictures of Becky with kissy-face emojies attached to it. Charlotte herself tried hard not to really think about Becky, but she would sometimes catch herself thinking about the woman at the most random of times. The worst thing was that she could no longer listen to Becky's songs without blushing or remembering that she smelled like oranges and that she had little pieces of green sprinkled in her brown eyes.
"You should really have taken her number – would be nice to have a freakin' millionaire part of the squad", Sasha noted.
Charlotte rolled her eyes at them, but before she could say anything in response her attention was set on the VIP section of the club. She could recognize that hair anywhere and any place.
"Earth to Charlotte! What's up with you?". Natalya asked and turned around in her seat to see what fascinated her friend so much. "Oh my God..." was all she could muster when she saw Becky Lynch.
Sasha was last to look, but she spotted the orange hair, too.
"Charlotte, this is such a freaking sign! You should definitely go talk to her!", Natalya encouraged with giddy excitement.
Charlotte took a huge gulp of her drink and then shook her head in the negative. "She probably doesn't even remember me. And anyway, she's... not even my type".
Sasha gave a sympathetic smile. "Oh, honey – are you BACK in the closet?"
"Don't be ridiculous. She's a player and I'm done with people like that. I think I've had enough heartbreak for a lifetime".
Sasha nodded. "Yes girl, no more sleazebags".
"So you DON'T wanna see her again?" Natalya asked.
"We have nothing to say to each other", Charlotte noted and took another sip of her martini.
"Well, you better think of something..."
Before Charlotte could ask what her purple-haired friend of five years was talking about, she felt a hand gently settling on her shoulder. She instantly recognized the touch.
"Hey doctor..."
Becky took the only other open chair at the table and set it down next to Charlotte. Sitting down with her arms resting on the back of the chair, she leaned in closer to the blonde woman. "Hi", she said again. This time she spoke with less of a cocky tone and more with an earnest, genuine one.
"Becky... hi". Charlotte tried her best not to look directly at the woman, but when she looked up she caught Becky's gaze.
"Our stars align again it seems". Becky gave a hopeful smile. Then she turned her attention to the other two women at the table.
"I have no manners, I apologize". She held out her hand towards Sasha. "Becky Lynch and you?".
The light in complexion woman with the deep violet hair gave Becky an indifferent look with one eyebrow raised. She took her hand and said "Sasha Banks. I'm a friend of Charlotte's".
Natalya was much friendlier. She gave Becky a hearty handshake. "Natalya Hart, or just Nat. I'm also a friend of Charlotte's".
Becky smiled at the woman with the cute dimples, but then she turned her focus to Charlotte.
"You're quiet tonight... Are you alright?".
Before Charlotte could answer, Natalya spoke.
"Sasha why don't we go dance? You love this song". She got up and tugged at Sasha. The woman kept her focus on Charlotte and Becky.
"You good here, Char?", she asked and shot Becky a dirty look.
"I'm good, Sash – go ahead".
The woman nodded and followed Natalya to the dance floor.
Becky bit at her lower lip. "I don't think she likes me". It came out more blunt than Charlotte was prepared for.
"She's just... protective".
"Are you two..."
Charlotte shook her head. "Sasha just doesn't take kindly to strangers, that's all".
Becky nodded slowly. She reached out to grab hold of Charlotte's hand. The blonde decided not to pull away.
"I've been thinking about you a whole lot. More than I'd like to admit actually".
Charlotte rolled her eyes and used her free hand to pick up her martini and take a sip.
"I bet you have... What with all the travelling and the shows and the fans..."
"I'm serious, Charlotte. I kept thinking back to that night with the pizza and... I mean, it was fun. I had fun". Becky looked around, as if to see if anyone was looking at them, recording them or anything like that.
"It was fun, sure. But that's all it was. And it was two months ago anyway".
Becky removed her hand from Charlotte's. The blonde winced at the sudden pang in her chest.
"I guess it meant a lot more to me than it did to you". Becky smiled but the bitterness was so evident in her voice. She tried to get up from the chair, only for Charlotte's hold on her leather jacket's sleeve to pull her back down.
"You don't have to be so dramatic about it", Charlotte said in a volume just above a whisper. She let go of Becky's jacket and awkwardly tapped her fingers on the tabletop.
"I just... I'm not sure how to act when I'm around you". Becky looked into Charlotte's eyes as she spoke.
"You could just be yourself. If that's not too big an ask."
Becky nodded and offered half a smile.
"Can I get you a drink?" Charlotte asked and pointed to the bar.
"I'm going to have to politely decline".
"Oh wow, I thought I was being nice".
"It's not that, I just..." Becky stopped speaking and jerked up in her chair."I love this song! Come on, we have to dance". Becky pulled at Charlotte.
"I don't dance!", Charlotte said over the loud music.
"But this song is so good, come on".
"It's a personal rule – I never dance".
"That was before you met me. Now come on!"
Charlotte reluctantly got up from her seat and followed Becky to the dance floor.
-These days I don't know how to talk to you
I don't know how to be there when you need me
It feels like the only time you see me,
Is when you turn your head to the side and look at me differently-
"For someone who doesn't dance, you sure have some good moves", Becky kept her hands around Charlotte's neck and the blonde had her hands on the other woman's hips.
"You're a good partner, I guess".
Becky's blush might have been visible had it not been for the red and blue neons of the strobe lights. The song switched from Too Good to Poetic Justice. Becky could feel Charlotte tense up under her touch.
"We can go back and..." Becky started, but Charlotte slowly shaking her head 'no' stops her from saying anything else.
"I love this song", Charlotte whispered down at Becky. The Irish woman pulled Charlotte closer to her and the space between them completely disappeared.
Becky looked up at Charlotte – at her perfect eyes and her perfect mouth.
"You're staring at me, that makes me extremely self-conscious".
Becky's tongue subtly slides over her lower lip. "You have a mole – it's cute".
Charlotte shoves at Becky without any real malice.
"You're not allowed to compliment me anymore – your compliments are borderline insulting".
Becky gave a pout. "But you DO have a mole and it IS cute. Can I touch it?"
"NO! Weirdo". Charlotte pulled at a strand of Becky's hair, twirling it around her finger.
Becky would have retorted, had it not been for Miz practically pulling her away from Charlotte.
"Sorry to ruin the dance party, but we've got a bit of a problem Becks".
Becky pinched the bridge of her nose. Inside she was seething with anger, but she needed to play it cool for Charlotte's sake. What Charlotte thought of her was important.
"What's the matter?", she asked icily.
"Steph, you know – from the label- she just said Apollo Crews pulled out of the RapMania music festival line-up. He's been arrested. The organizers need the label to replace him and... You're the perfect act".
Becky kissed her teeth. She had said no to RapMania three months ago, knowing it would've interfered with her break.
"Can't they get someone else? I'm on a break".
"Hey, you said it yourself : you take a break and they take your spot. Naomi is doing the kick-off show apparently. If you take Apollo's place you'll be part of the main line-up".
Becky mulled it over. She wanted to one up this Naomi girl, but she had just gotten back from touring. More importantly, she had just gotten back in touch with Charlotte. Strangely enough, Charlotte was the first to speak.
"Just do it. Show Naomi she's just another wannabe and you're the real fuckin' deal".
Becky looked at Charlotte with a raised eyebrow and a bemused smile on her face.
"I'll give you my number if you do it", Charlotte offered.
Becky looked at Miz and said "Tell those sons of bitches Straight Fire will be there".
"Fuck yes!". Miz grabbed Becky by the face and planted a kiss on her forehead. "I'll get us on the earliest flight to San Diego", he said as he took out his phone and disappeared into the crowd of people.
Becky took out her phone and handed it to Charlotte. The blonde rolled her eyes, but entered her number anyway.
"I'll probably regret this".
"Probably".
Charlotte had to prematurely say goodbye to Becky again. The Irish woman and her entourage left shortly after Miz made the call that Becky Lynch would be performing at RapMania. Becky went in for a hug which Charlotte duly accepted. It was quick – too quick for Charlotte to take in Becky's scent and too quick for Becky to let her hands linger on Charlotte's back.
Charlotte crawled into bed, her skin still cool from the shower she took upon returning from the club. She readjusted her pillows a few times before actually settling into bed. She was just about to close her eyes and attempt to sleep when her phone vibrated on the nightstand. She reached over and smiled when she read the text.
'Are you still awake? If you aren't then sweet dreams. If you're still awake – go to bed! Save my number, okay? xx Becky'