Jaelyn

I made it back to the Performance Center. I showered, went home to change. I'm wearing something simple.

NXT In Your House is still going on. Bryson's gonna continue babysitting the twins with Bridgette while I go on a second date with Daniel.

I am watching the show on the monitors. I see Miley's at ringside for the main event. She's not supposed to be anywhere near the ring but she doesn't care.

She just wants to see Kyle break Adam. Kyle has Adam in the heel hook lock. Miley's yelling tap to Adam.

"Tap out, Adam!" Miley yelled. Kross gets back in the ring, putting Kyle in the sleeper. "Oh damn it," I whispered.

Miley covers her mouth. The ref checks on Kyle's arm. His arms drop as Miley tries to get in the ring to save him.

"Ring the bell," the ref said. The bell rings as Kross retains his championship. Miley gets in the ring, pulling Kyle out.

They showed the last moments into the match where Kross retained. They show Scarlett and Kross, standing in the ring.

They show Johnny, Pete, Adam and Kyle and Miley. Miley's holding Kyle in her arms, giving Kross and Scarlett cold stares.

I see Mr. Regal leave the building as McKenzie Mitchell follows him for an interview about how crazy tonight was with everyone fighting.

And it's not good. "I never seen so much bedlam, it's complete madness. I think it's time for a change," Mr. Regal said.

I see a tear on his face. "What's going on with Mr. Regal?" Daniel asked. I gasped softly, smiling as Daniel scared me.

"You scared me," I said, chuckling. "I'm sorry. What's going on? I never saw Mr. Regal getting upset, even out of character," he said.

"Did you see all the chaos that's going on in between matches? Like Kyle being interviewed with Miley, then Johnny Failure and his so called "family" getting jealous because Kyle and Miley are the real true power couple and starting fights with them, Kross and Dunne getting into it, then Raquel and Dakota with Shotzi and Ember trash talking, etc etc," I said.

"I noticed. Everyone with their egos think they run NXT of which they do not run NXT," he said. I nodded.

"Yeah, it's crazy," I said. "So, you ready to go?" he asked. "Only if you are," I said, smiling. "Well, I'm just about. I need to get out of this. I will be really quick," he said.

"Okay. Take your time," I said, smiling. "Thank you. See you in a few," he said, kissing my cheek. My eyes opened wide when he kissed me on the cheek.

Daniel walks away. I touched my cheek. "Oooh, someone kissed you on the cheek," Cassidy said in a song voice.

I smiled softly. "Shut up, Cass. You're making me more nervous," I said. "Jaelyn, you got this. You went on a date with Marcel," she said.

"I know. Thanks to Marcel, he helped me build a new confidence in me. Daniel will have to thank Marcel afterwards," I said.

"And don't forget about me. I'm the one that set you and Daniel up," she said. "I won't forget to mention you," I said, smiling.

"Good," she said. I nodded, smiling. "Hey, schon. You look lovely. Good luck on your date with Daniel," Marcel said.

"Thank you, Marcel," I said, smiling. "You're welcome. Daniel's very luck," he said, winking at me.

Marcel walks away. "I think Marcel's in love with you," she said. "Cass! Marcel and I are just friends," I said, through my teeth.

"Come on, Jaelyn. You still like Marcel and I know you like Daniel too," she said. "I can't like both. It's not right," I said.

"Whoa, Jaelyn, look," Cassidy said. I look over, seeing Daniel. He's in black jeans, black shirt with two buttons undone with a jacket.

"Oh my...," I whispered, stroking my head. "He's way hotter," Cassidy said. "I'm telling Drew that," I said, jokingly.

"Jaelyn!" Cassidy said, chuckling. Daniel walks over. "So, you ready to go?" Daniel asked. "Let's go," I said, smiling.

I looked at Cassidy, giving her the look. "Good luck, Jaelyn," Cassidy said. Daniel and I leave the Performance Center.

"So, you arrived in NXT in that?" I asked. "Yes, I did," I said. "Looks nice," I said, smiling. "Thank you," he said, smiling.

"You're welcome. Since it's our second date, please nothing too fancy," I said. "Don't worry. It's gonna be simple," he said.

"Good," I said. "You are totally different from your sisters," he said. "Yeah, I like the simple things, but I do sometimes like going to fancy places only for special occasions," I said.

"That's good. That's what I'm basically doing. Spending my money on my kids, new home, and a fresh start," he said.

We got to his truck. He opens the door for me. "Oh thank you," I said. "You're welcome," he said, shutting my door.

I set myself up, buckling up. Daniel gets in, throwing his stuff in the back. He shuts his door. "Nice truck," I said.

"Thank you," he said. "You're welcome," I said. "At least the Florida weather is nicer at night than during the day. Because I can roll my windows down," he said.

"That's good. You should go to San Diego, California. It's very hot over there," I said. "I know. I lived in California for about six months," he said.

"Oh, I didn't know that," I said. "After I got injured and recovered from my injury, I took time away from the ring, be a stay-at-home dad and I had that fear that I was never getting back into the ring and surviving a suicide attempt. Jon, Jonathan Good, he messaged me and suggested that I get back into the ring. So I did, I flew out to Los Angeles to retrain at the training camp there and it made me realize why I became a wrestler in the first place, it was my longtime dream to be a wrestler and hopefully going to WWE. I had to repay my dues, go to Japan, England, Mexico and even Germany to reinvent myself and prove myself," he said.

"And look where you are now. You are in WWE, well, NXT. You are here because of your talents, your athleticism, and everything you bring to the table. You are living your dream and I can't wait for you to shine," I said, smiling.

"Thank you, I really love hearing that," he said. "You're welcome. You deserve to be in WWE," I said, smiling.

---

We got to the Eagle Nest Park. We are sitting on the truck bed with a blanket. We both are eating Caesar Salad with chicken minus Caesar dressing for me.

Daniel also got us alcohol-free wine from Walmart because we can't drink and drive. "How's your salad?" Daniel asked.

"It's good. Good thing they didn't put the dressing on the salad," I said. "Yeah, I made sure there's no dressing," he said.

"Thank you. What do you think of the salad?" I asked. "It's good but I'm more of a meat guy. I like eating steak," he said.

"It's all good. I love steak too," I said. "Good. What's your cheat date?" he asked. "Like eating a guilty pleasure?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. "I do. I love eating mac and cheese but I take lactase pills to prevent my body from getting sick or messing up my bowels," I said.

"Well, that's good that you got those, just in case," he said. "Yeah, it helps," I said. "Do any of your kids have lactose as well?" he asked.

"Bridgette is lactose and has a gluten allergy," I said. "Bridgette can't have bread?" he asked. "Yes, she can't have flour but she can eat corn tortillas," I said.

"That's good," he said. "What about your kids? Do they have any allergies?" I asked. "No, my kids are healthy, but my daughter Davena has an environmental allergy. Like when the weather changes constantly, she gets sick very easily," he said.

"Midwest weather?" I asked. "Yes, I love the weather changing all the time," he said. "I live in New York, I miss the weather changing sometimes," I said.

"Did you like living in New York?" he asked. "Sometimes but I don't miss it because there are too many bad memories in the city," I said.

"Is that where Fergal cheated on you?" he asked. "Yes, and it's where my sister, Nicole caught Fergal with Cathy," I said.

"Oh wow," he said. "Yeah. If I was able to, I'd move up to Napa Valley," I said. "Why Napa Valley?" he asked.

"Well, the weather sometimes changes there as well. It's also where wine is made," I said. "Ohh, wine country," he said.

"Yeah, as my sisters Brie and Nicole call Napa Valley," I said. "I'd like to retire from there once I am done with wrestling," he said.

"Really?" I asked. "Yeah, or when Davena turns 18," he said. I nodded. "Does your kids play sports?" I asked.

"Erik plays football and basketball. Davena plays volleyball. Erik's a star athlete in Football and Basketball, he told me that recruiters are wanting him to play at Universities and State Colleges," he said.

"Well, that's good," I said. Daniel nodded. "My son's slowly becoming a man, which is weird to me," he said.

"To you, he's still a little boy?" I asked. "Yes, his mother says that no matter how old he gets, he will always be a baby to her," he said.

"I say that about Bridgette. She's a preteen and she's getting older, she's going through her... Sorry for mentioning it but she's having her monthly cycle," I said.

"My daughter's going through it as well. I understand but I'm not grossed out about it," he said. I nodded, shivering. "You, okay?" he asked. "Yeah, just chilly," I said. "Here," he paused, taking his jacket off and putting it on my shoulders.

"There you go," he said. "Thank you," I said. "You're welcome. Mind if I take this off your face?" he asked."Sure but be careful," I said. He grabs my protective mask, taking it off. "There we go. I like you without the mask," he said.

"Thanks. I had reconstructive surgery on my nose and eye," I said. "You still look good despite having a few scars," he said.

I nodded, smiling. "Thank you," I said, smiling. "You're welcome," he said. I nodded, laying down on the bed of his truck..

I looked up at the stars. Daniel laid down with me. "Beside your nose, do you have any other scars?" he asked.

I lifted my left knee, showing him my scar from my ACL surgery. "What happened?" he asked. "I tore my left ACL back in 2015," I said.

"Ouch," he said. "Yeah, but I rehabbed and got better," I said. "That's good. Anymore?" he asked.

I lowered the top part of my skort, showing my appendix scar. "You got your appendix removed?" he asked.

"Yeah, it almost burst," I said. "Oh yikes. Good thing you got it removed," he said. I nodded, fixing the top of the skirt.

"Same here. What about you? Do you have scars besides the burn marks on your chest?" I asked.

"On my shoulder, where I tore my right labrum and pec, but it's covered up with his Phoenix tattoo I have here," he said.

"I can't see it, your tattoo artist covered it perfectly," I said. He nodded. "Thank you. It's my favorite tattoo. I have another Phoenix tattoo on my left neck," he said.

"You are definitely a Phoenix," I said. "Yes, I am. So are you," he said, smiling. "Yes, I am," I said, smiling.

Daniel smiled softly, lifting up his sleeves. I see more burn marks. "More burns?" I asked. He nodded.

"Can I touch them?" I asked. "Gently. Every time someone else touches them, I breath heavily without being triggered," he said.

"I know. You did that when I touched the burn marks on your chest. You were trying not to get triggered," I said.

Daniel nodded. "My ex-wife was scared to touch my burn marks. Good thing I lost my virginity by choice several years after being raped as a little boy by my mother's friend," he said.

"How old?" I asked. "Thirteenand she was fourteen," he said. "Oh, did it help you overcome your fears of trusting girls?" I asked.

Daniel nodded. "Yeah, but she was a friend. No feelings," he said. "That's good," I said. Daniel nodded.

"Do you want to walk around? I'm tired of sitting down," he said. "Let's go. Good thing I wore my Hey Dudes," I said.

He looks at my shoes. "My kids wear those. Davena has three pairs," he said. "So does Bridgette but she loves converse the most," I said.

"I think our kids would get along great," he said. "I agree," I said. We got off his truck and started walking.

+