A new girl in town

Chapter 3

J.J./Kayla

"Are you the new digital producer?" J.J. asked.

"Don't tell me you're the liaison to the photographers." Kayla said at the same time.

"Yeah I'm sorry to say I am." J.J. said smiling. "Let's start this over again."

"Hello I'm J.J." she said with a smile. "We're going to be working together it's nice to meet you."

"I'm Kayla," she replied, completely unsure of what else she should say.

"This is a collection of pictures for you. Do you want to go through them together to see if there are any you can use or do you want to look at them yourself and get back to me if there is something you need?" J.J. asked handing her the flash drive.

"As much as I'd like to do the latter, you've worked here longer than I have and know the 'lay of the land' better than I do," Kayla admitted grudgingly.

"I know next to nothing about these people. You could be helpful there," she continued.

"Ok," J.J. said. "We'll take a look together but I have three more meetings later."

"Plus I have to work the show itself." J.J. added.

"That's fine," Kayla said. "We'll fit it in somewhere."

"Just you wait they'll have you in meeting after meeting to pretty soon." J.J. laughed.

"I guess that's why they're paying me the big bucks," Kayla quipped.

"You're already going to the staff meeting." J.J. asked more than told. "Everyone has to show up to that one."

"I'm just a slave to the system," she said.

"Do as we say, not as we do," she finished, using air quotes to emphasize her point.

"Ok let's see what we can get done in the next hour before the staff meeting." J.J. said.

Kayla nodded in agreement and they got to work.

"Ok." J.J. started as the first pictures came up. "These are of my husband Kane."

Kayla's eyes flickered in interest. She tried to suppress the change in expression but J.J. was too quick for her.

Oh that caught her attention. J.J. thought seeing the brief look on Kayla's face before she quickly changed it.

A million questions raced in to the forefront of Kayla's mind but she quickly stifled the impulse to ask any of them.

"If you start rambling like an idiot, I'm going to fucking cut you," she thought to herself, but her curiosity had been peaked.

Before Kayla could stop herself, her mouth had opened.

"The mask," she began.

"I assume it's hiding some sort of. . . issue," she said.

"Yes." J.J. said after a moment. "He was burned as a child and is very sensitive about it."

Kayla nodded. Her eyes grew distant for a moment.

"All the therapy in the world can't change people's reactions," she admitted finally.

"No they it can't." J.J. agreed.

"But I've found that some people don't see his mask they treat him normally. Though that was tough when I first met him because he couldn't talk." J.J. added.

Kayla couldn't disguise her look of amazement.

"But you found other ways to communicate, I'm sure," she said.

"Texting - computers - tech has come a long way."

"No it was more body language and notes to be honest. He didn't sign so that was out. He didn't even talk to me using his amplifier at first." J.J. said. "But he was always so easy to read it didn't matter." J.J. added.

"Wow," Kayla said.

"Sounds like it was tough, to say the least. He didn't sign? That's one of the first things they try to teach you if you've suffered a speech impairment," she finished in confusion.

"Yeah well that's a long story but it's not mine to tell." J.J. said. "I remember the first time we actually talked. Or at least I did. We were in the gym and he was staring at me. I yelled at him and demanded he say something. When he didn't I stormed out of the gym and to my room. Only then did I remember he was mute."

Kayla smiled slightly.

"That's a hell of a story," she said.

"He could've killed you and eaten you for breakfast."

"Yes he could have. But instead he brought me my mp3 player and the towel I had forgotten in the gym." J.J. said laughing a bit. "We kept bumping into each other literally. I kept putting my foot in my mouth every time."

Kayla shook her head.

"Kinda hard not to when you're dealing with someone who can't talk back," she said with a shrug.

"Yeah I guess. He intrigued the hell out of me. I wanted to get to know him but he wanted no part of it." J.J. said with a sigh.

"Yeah, I can see why he would," Kayla murmured to herself, failing to recall that J.J. was still in the room as well.

Then her head snapped up and her eyes widened.

"Fuck, I shouldn't have just said that," she said, looking as if she'd been slapped in the face.

"No it's fine he had every reason to pull back. He'd been screwed by people he thought were friends plenty of times plus the way people always reacted to him. I understood but I was determined to get under that shell and see him." J.J. said with a smile. "I'm glad I did he's a great guy."

Kayla's expression relaxed slightly at J.J.'s words but she still appeared guarded, as if she'd said too much.

"Sorry, we should get back to business," she said quickly, as her eyes returned to the monitor.

"Yeah we have a lot to do and not much time to get it done." J.J. said looking back toward the monitor herself.

"That's Hunter and DX." J.J. said as the next picture came up. "He's the leader of the faction of DX. That group includes Chyna, Road dog Jessie James and Billy Gunn. Billy and Jessie are a tag team. Chyna is bigger than some of the men on the roster and has in the past held the Intercontinental title which is a men's title, and X-Pac."

"That group can be a real pain in the ass." J.J. added. "Especially when they are together."

Kayla looked at the photos. They looked like a formidable group. The woman in particular stood out; she could have probably taken down the top dog in her regiment without breaking a nail.

"She could probably take down the top man in the regiment." Kayla said absently.

That's definitely someone to watch out for. She thought, making a mental note.

"You've used negative space really well in these shots," she told J.J.

"Thanks," J.J. said.

"Regiment? Were you in the military?" J.J. asked after a second.

"Yeah," Kayla replied.

"I ended up becoming captain in the USMC," she stated.

"A captain? That's impressive." J.J. said.

Wow that's one hell of a rank for a woman in the marines she should be very proud of it. J.J. thought.

She's a marine no wonder she's got an attitude. J.J. thought trying not to laugh.

"Believe me, promoting me was the last thing they wanted to do," Kayla said, replying to J.J.'s unspoken thought.

"But I damn well earned it and they can't take it away now."

Wow she's a little touchy on that subject. I wonder if that's how she got burned. But I'd better not ask, not yet. She'll eventually tell me more. J.J. thought.

"Ok we've got about another half hour then the meeting." J.J. said looking back toward the monitor.

"What the fuck is that?" Kayla asked, moving away from the monitor in disgust.

Worms coming out of a guy's mouth was not her idea of a good time.

"That's the boogey man." J.J. said. "He's a definite weirdo. I don't know him personally and I really don't want to. Just taking his picture weirded me out and I was nowhere close to the guy."

"He even frightens children at ringside before entering the ring. I don't know how much of that is real and what part is just for the cameras. But either way he's strange." J.J. added.

"And yes those are real worms in his mouth." J.J. said sounding disgusted.

"Worms" My life is officially a horror movie," she concluded.

"Jesus fucking Christ," Kayla groaned, quickly scrolling away from those photos.

"That's Jericho or Y2J as he likes to be referred to." He's a character. "Not much of a wrestler but a character."

"He came in last year with a big countdown to his appearance. He's a bit arrogant but harmless for the most part." J.J. said.

"I'd pay 500 dollars to punch him in the face," Kayla quipped snarkily.

"I wouldn't waste the money." J.J. said laughing. "He's just not worth it."

"Besides you could probably do it for free and get the whole locker room to cheer you for it." J.J. added.

"Yeah, that's a thought," Kayla said with a chuckle.

"Besides, my partners would kill me if I wasted money on him."

"Partners you mean there is more than you doing this job?" J.J. asked confused.

"Hmmm?" Kayla asked.

"Oh, no. I mean my partners back home. It's kind of a. . . complex and unusual relationship situation," Kayla said.

"I'll walk you to the meeting." J.J. said pointing to the clock and getting up.

"Time to become a slave," Kayla quipped as both women left the room.

J.J. laughed.

J.J./Taker/Kane/Kayla

"By the way have you actually met Vince or were you hired by HR." J.J. asked.

"I was a personal hire of he and Lynda's," Kayla replied.

"Oh so you know what an ass he can be. It's good you're prepared. Because he is not nice to his employees." J.J. said.

"He loves to rant and rave about everything he perceives as wrong or done wrong." J.J. added.

"So I've heard," Kayla said.

"I've generally learned to keep myself away from the brass by doing the job I'm given as best as I can," she finished.

"That won't help. He loves to find fault even where there isn't any." J.J. laughed. "But don't take it to heart that's just Vince being Vince."

"None of us really take his blustering seriously even if he does." J.J. added still laughing.

Kayla shrugged.

"I'll keep that in mind," she said.

J.J. opened the door and Kayla stepped through. As she did J.J. stepped to the side taking her usual spot beside Kane who was already there.

"What were you doing with her?" Kane asked in a soft whisper.

"She's the digital producer." J.J. replied just as softly.

J.J. adjusted her sunglasses and leaned back against the wall.

"She's not a wrestler?" Kane asked still whispering.

"No" J.J. replied. "We'll talk later."

Kayla looked at Kane and J.J. out of the corner of her eye as she took a seat in the middle of a row.

"Weird choice for a meeting position," she thought.

Looking over J.J. saw that Kayla had taken a position in the middle of the group of wrestlers.

Boy is she in for a treat. J.J. thought.

"Oh great another scarred freak." Hunter said pointing her out to the rest of the group.

Chyna looked briefly then turned away. Jessie and Billy started making comments about Kane at least hiding it behind a mask so other people wouldn't have to see it but X-Pac didn't even look.

Kayla tried to assume a relaxed posture as whispers immediately began breaking out all around her but she wasn't entirely sure she was successful.

Guess I know who the 'flavor of the month' is, she thought pessimistically.

Hunter's comment made her roll her eyes.

"I'm pretty sure there's a roided up freak in the room and I'm definitely not it," she said in satisfaction as she met Hunter's contempt filled gaze.

That's right, stare me down big man. I always win, Kayla thought to herself as their eyes continued to lock.

Oh there is trouble brewing there. J.J. thought seeing the exchange between Hunter and Kayla. I'd better be ready to step in on her side if things go sideways.

Kane looked over at when he heard Hunter's comment.

That self-righteous asshole, it's one thing to go after a wrestler but to go for someone who isn't even a ring personality is just wrong. Kane thought ready for a fight.

Hunter doesn't know who he's messing with as a Marine she's had hand to hand combat training she could probably take him down in a minute flat. J.J. thought with a smile. That I'd pay to see, Hunter would never live that down.

"What I'd give to have a gun," Kayla thought.

"One boom and he'd be out for more than a three count," she said to herself with a smirk.

If looks could kill Hunter would be dead already. Take thought watching the exchange between the two of them.

"But violence plus violence doesn't equal anything good," Kayla reminded herself as she tore herself reluctantly away from a scene in which Hunter was at her mercy.

She looks like she's just decided not to kill him after all. J.J. thought shaking her head.

"I'll just limit his little group's screen time," Kayla thought as a plan began to form.

"Not for the live shows - I know I can't affect that - but videos, videogames and anything digital? Damn right that's my jurisdiction. But I'll have to do this slowly. Very, very slowly," she thought.

Oh no. I don't like that look at all she's thinking about ways to get back at Hunter. If she's anything like me it won't be good.

I'll have to keep an eye on her make sure she doesn't end up doing something she'll regret. J.J. thought.

"You wanna play?" Kayla whispered. "You have no fucking idea who you've decided to fuck with."

Hunter looked at her in disbelief.

Did she just threaten me? He wondered sure he'd heard her wrong. She's the one who has no idea who she's messing with.