"LADIES and gentlemen... Welcome to NXT!" Mike Rowe announced aloud and, immediately, everyone began to chant: NXT! NXT! NXT! "You are all in for a show tonight!"

I turned away from the TV just when I heard Johnny and Candice coming my way. They were talking about something and, then, when I looked over my shoulder at them, they paused what they were talking about and froze in place.

They just stared back at me, wondering rather or not to talk to me or not. Hell, they were probably wondering if it was best or not for their health. I didn't know what to say — and I didn't didn't want to keep staring — so, I just huffed and looked back at the TV, gulping.

I heard footsteps behind me, wondering rather or not they kept on walking or not. Then, I felt a presence directly behind my stance and I shook my head before they could speak. "Are you better now?" It was Johnny, who was trying his best to cool me down. "You were pretty pissed off the other day."

"I was," I confessed, crossing my arms over my chest. "You two kept a pretty big secret from me, even if I have had a suspicion about it for a while now."

"You know why we did that, right?" Johnny whispered in my ear. "Because, Candice and I both knew that you would react like that and go on a rampage. We didn't want to ruin anything."

"Well, you two already have," I hissed and swiftly turned my head over my shoulder to look at him. After looking him up and down, I turned back around and focused on the TV. "I don't know if I can ever look at Trevor the same after this. I mean... I have had to completely lie straight to Bianca's face about this. How can I look my best friend in the face and say: Oh, by the way, he doesn't actually love you. He's only with you because he can't be with me. She would never forgive me or him."

"That's why you couldn't tell her," he added, like he knew what it was all about. "C'mon, Nik. You can't be mad at Candice and myself forever. Hell, we only did it for you. We know you, Nik, and we know that you have a good and forgiving heart. So, just... Show us some mercy here."

"I don't show mercy upon the weak, Johnny," I murmured out and, then, turned to look at him and his mouth was ajar. "You should know that since you know me so well."

With that said, I turned back to the TV, but wasn't obviously watching it. Just trying not to keep eye contact with him. From the corner of my eye, I seen him shake his head and, then, heard him sigh. "You'll come around, Nik, and, when you do, you will see it our way."

Then, he took off and, when he did, I looked and saw that he had reunited with Candice while they held hands, talked, and continued to walk together. I'm sure that she's saying something like: What did she say, Johnny? Has she forgiven us yet? I know them as much as they know me.

Finally, I turned back to the TV and actually began to watch what was happening. It was a six-man tag-team match between The Undisputed Era and British Strong Style.

The Undisputed Era was of Adam Cole (the leader), Kyle O'Reily, and Roderick Strong while their other teammate, Bobby Fish, was currently out on injury. British Strong Style was of Pete (of course), Tyler Bate, and Trent Seven. I always loved watching them wrestle together, but as of right now, Pete was in the ring with Roderick.

I felt a presence come up beside me on my left side and, without even looking, I rolled my eyes and huffed out: "Fuck off, Johnny."

"That's not a very nice thing to say," the voice countered and it definitely was not Johnny. I looked over and, to my surprise, it was Tommaso. He was standing there with his arms crossed against his chest like myself. "What did Johnny do?"

Turning forward again, I shook my head and muttered: "Nothing."

"He must have done something to make you so upset," he said and, then, looked over at me and trying to find an answer, like it was written on my face or something. "Let me guess... You're mad at Candice, too? She and Johnny are more like partners-in-crime than they are married to one another."

"It's whatever," I spat out, truly not wanting to spill the beans of what happened to him. "I just need more time to cool off."

"Apparently," he commented and shook his head, taking a deep breath afterwards.

After a moment, I suddenly remembered something and that's when I turned to glare at Tommaso with my eyebrows together. "Wait a minute," I said and he looked down at me. "Why are you talking to me? I thought that you mad at me or whatever."

"Figured that I would let it go," he shrugged and shook his head. "Y'know, since you're already clearly upset."

"Why?" I asked, letting my arms hit my sides with a snap. "I mean, were you expecting me to pour my heart out to you or something? Just like that?"

He shrugged and, then, let the idea roll around in his bald head for another minute. "Maybe."

I leaned in and whispered: "Then, you must be full of shit."

"Whoa," he suddenly exclaimed, which made everyone look right at me and him in question. Why did he have to be so loud for? To my face and more quieter, he said: "You're on a roll today, huh? Being all pissy in your pants towards everyone. On your period?"

"Fuck off already, Tommaso," I whispered-yelled right back into his face. "Isn't that what you always say to me? I'm not in the mood for your attitude tonight."

"Then, when are you in the mood, Nicole?" He just did not know when to stop, did he? "Like, really... Because, I'm a fucking idiot for even sticking around."

"What—?"

"Gosh, Nicole, can't you see what this is?" He was going on this silent, yet deadly, rampage that I didn't understand. Then, I looked into his eyes and saw — and felt — all that he did. There was hurt, confusion, and anger. "Damn, I guess you're more of an idiot than I am. I mean, you can't even acknowledge the fact that you're one of the only people that I talk to anymore, even if I insult you and go. That's more than a lot of people can say, even Johnny and Candice, for that matter. So, fuck me for ever giving a damn."

With that said, he quickly turned his back on me and fled away from the scene, like it was a hit-and-run. To be honest, it felt like that. I heard his words and they immediately put me in my place.

I couldn't even function until I heard something else, looking up to see Pete and his friends, being Tyler and Trent, come through the curtain and celebrating. I glanced up to the TV to see if there were any highlights to catch me up to speed, but they had already disappeared.

I shook my head and took a deep breath before Pete approached me after saying goodbye to his friends. "Hey, baby," he said and quickly bent his head down, pressing his lips on my forehead. He threw his towel over his shoulder and ran his hands through his hair. "Did you just see what happened out there? It was epic."

"Oh," I breathed out when I couldn't find the words to say anything else. I quickly shook my head of all the bad thoughts running through it, such as what Tommaso just said to me. "Must of been great."

"Beyond," he replied and cracked a smile before placing his arm over my shoulders. We were now walking together and he kept glancing down to me. "Hey, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Something like that," I mumbled out and closed my eyes when I said it. Then, I shook my head again and officially cleared all the bad thoughts. "It's whatever. I'm fine."

"Is it about that fight you had with Johnny and Candice the other day?" he asked, dimming his eyes. He knew about our fight, but not what it was about, of course. That was to save Trevor more than myself. "Awe, c'mon, baby. You got to let it go. I mean, for whatever they did, you gotta let it go. They're your best friends. You can't go much longer without speaking to them again — especially Candice. She's all you have than Bianca."

"Yeah, I know," I confessed and hated to admit that he was right — but he was, though. "I'll talk to them and make things right."

"That's good," he said and, then, we suddenly stopped. He jumped in front of me and, again, he kissed my forehead. "Now, I love you, but I have to go shower and change. The guys and I were thinking about heading out early to go out for drinks."

Pete was there for me, giving me advice and such, but it never felt like it — especially when I have to fall asleep alone as usual, just like when he isn't here in the U.S. Yet, when it comes down to it, he acted — as if — he loved his friends more than me. I could see how and why, but I didn't at the same time. For once, I wanted him to fall asleep next to me again.

"Have fun," I decided to say, against my will, for the most part. "I love you more."

"Not possible," he winked before he disappeared in the doorway of the locker room.

I just stood there for another minute, not doing anything. Hell, I couldn't even think. If I did, I would be thinking of Tommaso and what he said. He cared? That's what he practically said. What he said was: So, fuck me for ever giving a damn.

I knew what I had to do now. I needed to make things right with Candice and Johnny. Then, after them, I would work on Tommaso again.

• IK this was short and sweet, but it wasn't my intention to do so. I felt like there was already so much here that was said that, for the next chapter, it needed to be by itself. Y'know? 😘 Also, guys... WTF IS GOING ON W/ TOMMASO??? 🤭 Nevertheless, I love you all and I will try to update again tonight!! Be on the look-out 👀 All the love .xx •