Friday 17th February
''We're going to be shutting down FCW in a couple of months.''
Alexa's eyes widened and her face took on a look of disbelief as she stared at the couple sitting across from her. ''Are you shitting me?''
Stephanie just shook her head with an amused smile as a light snort escaped her husband. ''I'm not shitting you. We're going to be completely re-branding it as NXT wrestling, and moving all the weekly tapings over to Full Sail University.''
''We're also setting up a centre over in Orlando for everyone to train.'' Stephanie told her. ''26,000 square feet... its own sports medical facility, seven training rings, strength and conditioning programs, edit and production rooms for people to practice promos and commentary... it's going to be huge.''
Alexa smiled, the other woman's excitement was infectious. ''That actually sounds pretty amazing... when's all this starting?''
''Well, the performance centre will be finished by July, hopefully. And we'll be moving over to Full Sail in August sometime.''
She listened intently as they went into more detail about the plans for the developmental system, sparing a glancing down at the papers in her lap. They had originally ventured down to FCW for a meeting with her; bringing with them a date for her return and some scripts for her to go through.
March 19th.
The date that had been nearly four years in the making. They were easing her in gently by having her get involved with the Punk/Jericho feud, then after Wrestlemania she would be thrown into a storyline with Beth Phoenix.
''It's normal to be nervous.''
Her eyes flicked up to Stephanie's, who was looking at her sympathetically; she quickly squared her shoulders. ''I'm not nervous.''
''You're going to be fine.''
''What the fuck are you doing?''
Alexa glanced over the top of Colby's head, her eyes meeting Jon's as he sauntered through the doorway of her living room. ''Please, come in.'' She muttered sarcastically.
''You're the one who left the door wide open.''
Colby shot her a sheepish look. ''No, actually, that was me.''
''Seriously, what are you doing?'' Jon asked, reaching out to flick the other mans hair.
The Iowan knocked his hand away. ''Don't touch it.''
Alexa grabbed hold of Colby's head to keep it still as she scowled at Jon. ''Knock it off, can't you see I'm trying to do something?''
Jon held up his hands defensively as he took a step back. ''Do you even know what you're doing?''
''Of course I do.'' She replied. ''I dyed Chris' hair pink once as a prank.''
Colby's eyes widened and he spun around to glare at her. ''You said you'd done this before!"
''Technically, I have.''
''Oh my God.'' He groaned, closing his eyes as Jon laughed. ''All my hair's going to fall out...''
Alexa rolled her eyes and slapped the back of his head with the brush. ''Calm down, princess, it's going to look fine.''
''Hey, Colby? Why didn't you get your girlfriend to do it? You know, an actual professional?''
''She's down in Texas visiting family.''
''And you couldn't wait until she come back?''
''Fuck you, Jon.''
She smothered a laugh as they pair started bickering, only just realizing how much she was going to miss this when she headed back on the road. The front door slammed closed just before Saraya walked inside, glancing around her in surprise. ''What's going on?''
''I'm helping him dye his hair, he wanted a new look.''
''Ah.'' The woman nodded, smirking over at them. ''Uh, will you be giving him a manicure too?''
Jon snorted and high-fived her as she dropped into the seat beside him, Alexa rolling her eyes at them as she carried on her handiwork. ''Well, at least he's making an effort and trying to change his look.''
"I have changed my look, I'll have you know."
''How?''
''I've let my chest hair grow out...'' He trailed off, meeting her eye with a smug look.
Saraya and Colby each made a face of disgust as Alexa bit her lip, remembering their conversation from a few weeks ago and feeling a blush work its way up her cheeks. She tore her gaze away from him and stepped away from the man in the chair, placing the bleach and brush on the table next to her.
''All done, Colb. We just have to leave it on for fifteen minutes before we wash it out.'' She quickly put her hands on his shoulders as he started to rise from the chair, forcing him back down. ''If you get bleach on my carpet, I will kill you.''
Thursday 8th March
Despite Stephanie's request that she keep her departure quiet, Alexa knew she couldn't just up and leave without telling her friends. She had told Shaul almost as soon as she got home from her meeting with Stephanie, the younger woman was beyond excited for her friend. Saraya had also known for a while, since she would be living in Alexa's house she kind of needed to be aware what was going on.
Shortly after arriving at the arena that morning she accosted Darren, Colby, Jon, Joe, Matt and Ettore; dragging them into an empty office so nobody else could overhear them.
''What's this all about, Lex?''
Alexa bit the inside of her lip, trying to figure out the best way to go about filling her friends in on the news. "Well, I've been trying to decide if I should tell you guys or not... I was told to keep it quiet but I couldn't leave without saying goodbye...''
''You're leaving?!''
''I don't know why you shouted that, do you have to be so dramatic?'' She cocked an eyebrow at Colby.
Darren stepped forward and immediately enveloped her in a tight hug, whispering in her ear. ''Knew you could do it, petal.''
She grinned and tightened her arms around the older man. ''Thank you.'' He planted a quick kiss on her temple before releasing her and she turned to the others. ''You think you guys can behave without me?''
Matt's lips quirked into a smirk. ''Please, you're the one whose a bad influence on us.''
''Yeah, you're totally the ringleader.'' Ettore agreed, his face breaking out into a smile. ''We're really happy for you, right guys?''
''Of course!" Colby agreed, moving forward to sweep her up in his arms. ''This is awesome... Group hug!''
They all crowded around her, embracing her tightly for several moments before breaking apart, Joe keeping an arm wrapped around her shoulder as he asked. ''So, how soon are we talking?''
''I fly out to Philly on the 17th...''
Colby let out a long whistle. ''Shit, pretty soon then, huh?''
''Yeah, tell me about it.'' She laughed nervously. ''I've known I was going back for a while but only got the date last week. It's all a bit surreal.''
Joe ruffled her hair affectionately. ''You'll be fine, babygirl.''
''Any idea what you'll be doing when you go back?'' Colby quizzed her.
''Yeah, it is rather strange they've decided to have you come back right before Wrestlemania. Surely, it would've made more sense for you to appear at the Raw after, that's always the best time to do surprise returns.'' Darren mused.
''Unless, you're going to be having a match at Wrestlemania...'' Joe looked down at her with a questioning look.
She shook her head, laughing. ''I haven't got a match... look, I've already told you too much, Stephanie didn't want me to say anything to anyone. You need to keep it on the down low, got it?''
After everyone promised to keep it a secret, the group soon dispersed; heading off to continue doing whatever Alexa had dragged them away from. She turned around to follow them out, jumping slightly when she found Jon lurking in front of the door.
''Oh, I thought you left with the others.''
''Nope.'' He smirked, taking a few steps forward to stand in front of her. ''So, you're really going back, huh?''
''Is it weird that I kind of don't want to?''
''Yes.'' He shot back instantly, making her chuckle. ''You'll be fine once you get back out there, stop over-thinking it.''
She chewed her lip absently before looking up at him. ''I... uh, I never thanked you, not really.''
''For what?''
''Helping me.'' She gave him a tender smile. ''Being a good friend and kicking my ass when I needed it. If it wasn't for you, I don't think I would've had the balls to get back up there.''
''Lex, you've got bigger balls than most of the men I know. You would've done it eventually, I just...'' He shrugged. ''Gave you a little shove, that's all.''
''But still, thank you.''