"HOW is it so far?" Paul Levesque, otherwise famously known as Triple H, asked and took a seat across from me at the table. "I mean, with everything?"

"So far, so good," I smiled and slowly nodded. "I love being more around my fiancé, most of all, though — I have to admit."

"Pete is one lucky man," Hunter acknowledged with another grin. He opened the file opened and began to scan over the sheets of papers that laid before him. "So, next week, we are planning on adding you to the mix. Takeover will happen and your first rivalry will be against current NXT Champion, Tommaso Ciampa—"

"Wait, what?" I suddenly squeaked out, cutting him off before he could finish what he was saying. "I'm sorry, but... I will be facing off against Tommaso?"

"Well, in a sense," he countered with a slight shrug. "Tommaso will come out first on Wednesday night and brag about him defending his title over Johnny Gargano. Then, William Regal will come out and tell Tommaso that he cheated to win and, so, he will make a rematch happen between Tommaso and Johnny again. Johnny will come out and face off against Tommaso for a moment. Then, Ricochet will come out and want to be involved. As well as Velveteen Dream and EC3. Alas, you will and here's your information about that. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to call and ask me."

"Alright. Thank you," I said and took the stack of paper from him. I scanned the first sheet. "So, after I come out... What happens?"

"Of course, people like Tommaso, Dream, and EC3 will comment on the fact that you're a woman and you deserve to be in the Women's Division than the Superstars," he began explaining to me. "However, both Johnny and Ricochet will come to your defense. A big brawl will happen between all six of you, setting up a 3-on-3 match later on that evening in the main event."

"That's awesome," I commented, almost out of breath from that little of information given to me. "I am truly grateful, Hunter."

"Of course," he smiled and motioned towards the sheets of paper that he just handed me. "And, so, you will find all that and much more right there in what I have given you. Learn everything and you should be good to go by next Wednesday."

"Thank you. Um, again," I dryly chuckled and flashed an embarrassed grin his way. "But, is there anything that I need to do before then? Like, outside of the ring?"

"Uh, yes, actually," he began to say and close up his file. "Get to know everyone that you're gonna work closely with. It helps, trust me. The more you know them personally, the more that you will know of them professional. Not everyone is going to be your friend in this business, Nik. You have to choose your friends wisely, y'know? If they can't accept that you're apart of them, then it's whatever. Their opinions about you isn't going to change my mind about you. I know that you're already good friends with both Johnny and Ricochet, but what about Tommaso, Dream, and EC3? Get to know them and they will know you."

I couldn't believe his speech, but I appreciated it, though. It was nice to hear that reassurance. One last time, I thanked him and excused myself, and he let me go free for the rest of the day.

I was headed down one of the many hallways at the Performance Center, looking down at the stack of paper than paying attention of the sight in front of me. I usually can hear when somebody is coming, so I'll occasionally glance up and play it off like I wasn't about to run right into them.

Finally, I made it to where all the rings were set-up at and most of the rings were being used by a lot of the wrestlers today. I was impressed, to say the least. As I made my way around to the first ring, I smiled as I noticed that Johnny and Candice were running off the ropes with each other and trying to see who was the fastest. They had to always have some kind of composition going on with them two.

Then, looking to the left of their ring, I noticed Ricochet — Trev — was rolling around in the ring with Patrick, otherwise known as Velveteen Dream. Those two were a lot alike in the ring, being risk-takers and high-flyers.

"You gonna try and take me down?" Trev was taunting Patrick by the time that I strolled up. He had Patrick in a headlock and, of course, the two were playing around more than they were training with each other. "Uh-uh. Nope. Not gonna happen, boy."

"Do you need any help, Dream? I could be of assistance," I called out to Patrick, hoping that my first encounter with him was peaceful and kind. I watched them from between the ropes from being on the outside and they both looked up at me.

"Oh. Hey, Nik," Trev decided to say and practically tossed Patrick off of him. He slid across the ring until he had his legs out and under the last rope and used the second to hang his arms off. "What you up to today?"

"Oh, nothing much," I sighed and brushed some stray hair off my shoulders. "I just came to have a meeting with Hunter."

"How did that go?" he pressed for more, which I didn't mind at all.

"Pretty good," I smiled, not wanting to hint away too much. "All I can tell you is that we'll be working together in the ring, which I'm really excited for."

Trev titled his head and shyly smiled. "Yeah, me, too," he confessed and bit down on his bottom lip after he had licked it. "So, um, Nik. I-If you're not busy tonight, maybe you and I could—"

"Hey, guys," a sudden incoming voice said and I looked to my right, recognizing the voice to belong to EC3. His real name was Michael, though. He stood next to me and, finally noticing me after a moment, began to eye me. Not going to lie, but it seemed like he was undressing me with his eyes. "Damn. Who's the babe?"

I was immediately offended. Like, how dare he say that?! I gasped and threw my arms under my chest. "Um, I'm Nicole Swan, otherwise known as Victoria Valentine in the ring. And you might be...?" I tried to play it off like I didn't know who he was, but I did, though.

He stuck out his right hand, that was attached to his big ass muscular arm, and I noticed how he cocked his eyebrows. "Ethan Carter, the Third. Around here, I'm just EC3. To close friends and family, I'm just Michael," he introduced and, for whatever reason, I accepted his quick handshake. Suddenly, he lifted my hand up to his lips and pressed them on my hand. "What can I call you, beautiful?"

"Engaged," I countered and he quickly glanced down to see the ring on my hand. What he did next made me laugh when he practically threw my hand away like it was trash.

"Never mind," he coughed out and looked away for a moment. "I don't play that game. Not anymore, at least."

Trev was laughing just like I was as I shook my head. "Other than that, you can just call me Nik, like everybody else does," I concluded to him.

"Victoria Valentine," a voice said from above and I noticed Patrick now hanging off the top rope, looking down at me. "One of the biggest and baddest women to lace a pair of boots. Pleasure. It's all mine."

He had extended his hand down to me and I quickly accepted, giving his hand a small shake and squeeze. "Thank you. You're very talented, yourself, to be so young. I guess that we both are, huh?"

"Exactly," he winked and, before I knew it, he had flew over the ropes and landed right next to me on his own two feet. "Well, I would love to stay and chat, but I have to get going. I'll catch you guys later."

"Later, dude," Trev called out to him and, in return, Patrick strutted away and held up the peace sign.

"Well," EC3 shrugged, "I would love to stay and chat, but I only came over to hit on her and, well, since she's engaged, I'm gonna go now. Bye."

Trev and I continued to laugh at the embarrassed man as he walked away in a path of shame. Turning back to Trev, I suddenly remembered what he was trying to ask me before EC3 had walked up and, so, I asked: "So, Trev, what were you gonna ask me earlier?"

"Oh, it's just—"

Again, just like before when Trev was going to ask me what he needed to ask me, he was cut off rudely once more. This time, it was Bianca that had walked up and hugged me from the side, not realizing that Trev was trying to talk to me beforehand.

After I had calmed down Bianca long enough, I turned back to Trev and asked: "Seriously, this time, no more interruptions. What's up, Trev?"

Instead of asking me, he just shook his head, bit down on his bottom lip, and jumped up to his feet. "Nothing, Nik," he countered and it kind of hurt my feelings, to be honest. "I... I gotta go, anyways. See yah."

With his head and voice down, he went to the other side of the ring and got out over there, completing ignoring both myself and Bianca on his way out. As soon as he was away, Bianca pointed towards him and whispered to me: "What was that all about?"

I shrugged and sighed out: "I have no idea."

"Anyways," she shook her head and squeezed my arm, "I love being here in NXT and, even though I love you and you're my best friend, I really love being around Trev all the time, too. It's just like the old times, y'know?"

"Only, back then, he didn't know that you were in love with him like he does now," I countered and rolled my eyes. "Unfortunately, he's not in love with you, though, B. I'm sorry."

"Oh, he will be, though," she growled back and spun around to watch him from the distance with her hands on her hips. Trev had stopped to talk to Johnny and Candice on the way out. "Just watch. With due time, Trevor will be all mine."

"For your sake, B, I hope so," I told her and she nodded, happy with my response. "Anyways, I'm gonna get going, too. I need to go speak with Johnny and Candice before I leave."

"Alright," she suddenly said and got out of her trance. "See you back at the apartment later."

"Okay. I'll see you then," I said to her before we both parted ways. I head over towards Johnny and Candice, sending a smile their way. "Hey, guys. I just got back from talking to Trip about the storyline."

"We're all in this together," smiled Johnny and nudged my arm. Candice winked at me, too. "I already spoke to Triple H and I told him that I wanted you involved."

"Really?" I squeaked out and Johnny nodded. "Thanks, Johnny. Seriously."

"Speaking of which... You need to talk to Tommaso beforehand, y'know," Johnny advised, just like Hunter had said before. "Get to know him before everything."

"I rather not," I coughed out, looking away. "But, thanks, though."

"Yeah, bad idea," wanted Candice, shaking her head. "He ain't gonna talk to her and you know it, babe."

"Yeah," he shrugged and sighed. "Anyways, what you and Pete up to tonight?"

I sighed and closed my eyes. "Unfortunately, he has to go back to the U.K.," I whined, which melted my heart. "In about an hour or so, he has to board his plane with his boyfriend, Tyler."

Both Johnny and Candice began laughing about my joke, but Pete would get offended if he heard me say that. Nevertheless, Johnny then says: "Hey, Nik, you should join the us and the rest of the NXT crew tonight here at the Performance Center. We're having a party because Takeover is sold-out this weekend."

"I-I don't know..."

"Nik," came Johnny's arguing tone and gave me a hard stare. "You're going. End of story."

"I'm not—!"

"You are," Candice argued with a flare and growl to her tone. "Pete would want you to come out and go. Just come on."

"Maybe," I whispered, even though I didn't want to go at all. What they didn't know was that Pete wouldn't want me to go...

• It's a chapter 🤷🏻‍♀️ Next one will be — dare I say — ⚡️ ELECTRIFYING ⚡️ Hope you enjoy it!! 😘 All the love .xx •