"Sometimes you meet a person and
you just click-- you're comfortable with them,
like you've known them your whole life and
you don't have to pretend to be anyone or anything.
Alexandra Ardonetto

△△△

"We need, Shinsuke. This is pointless cause we both suck" I screamed out while he chuckled as the water flowed beneath us.

Yes we were currently in the ocean attempting to surf or rather holding on for dear life would be more accurate as neither of us had bothered conquering any waves.

"I think Shinsuke is pretty much done with us, we weren't taking his lessons too seriously the last time." He smiled, briefly flipping his hair as he sat up on his board.

"Speak for yourself. I learnt quite a thing or two."

"Yet you can't teach me a thing or two" He smirked and I shrugged.

"I'm not really a good teacher, but I tend to be a very good student. Just ask John" I rolled my eyes but bit my tongue, I knew John was my boyfriend and it shouldn't have been weird for him to be brought up but I was still conflicted about the kiss and even though we chose to put it behind us for me it still lingered.

"Well I don't need to, he tends to speak about you a lot. How proud he is of how you continue to grow.." He spoke as he glanced in the distance, he always had a way of not making things awkward even when it probably should have been. If John wasn't available he wouldn't be mean he'd try and cheer me up or playfully say things regarding him. It wasn't that I wanted him to bad mouth John cause he was a saint but perhaps some hostility would give me some hope that he felt something when we kissed.

"I am that way because I want to improve myself to keep up with him in a way. He is becoming this big star out of our world and I want that too, mostly because I'm afraid that he'll see the flashing lights and I'll be left in the dark" I admitted, running my fingers through the clear blue water.

"You shine way too brightly to be left in the dark." He stated and I glanced at him not believing his words which he noticed.

"I'm serious, darling."

"Okay, darling" I smiled shaking my head and leaning back slightly, allowing myself to get a natural tan.

He chuckled, "You always stand out is what I'm saying, why do you think you have become my buddy ever since you returned. I get along with most people to make work easier but I never really make the effort."

"And with me you do?" I questioned, already knowing the answer but after his dismissal, hearing it from him would help me feel a bit better about how I wasn't sure I felt about him.

"You know I do. Or else we wouldn't be out here, being poor excuses of surfers knowing there ain't any waves out here for us to catch today" he smiled.

When I had opened my apartment door to a grinning Allen Jones it was safe to say I had been surprised. Not that he knew where I lived since he had been along when John had dropped me home before they went training over the months but since Smackdown had been in San Diego the previous night I assumed everyone else had flown out for live events while I wasn't scheduled.

And once he showed me the surfboards I couldn't help but laugh and follow him down to the beach considering he refused to step inside unless I stepped out, so yeah here we were. A little more than a hour later.

"To be honest I didn't think I'd find you home right about now." He spoke again before I could respond to his words before or maybe I had taken too long.

"Showing up with two surfboards was you thinking I wouldn't be home?" I smiled as we both laid on our boards having floated near shore.

"I mean your sister being pregnant and all I assumed you'd be over there in your downtime." He explained as his blue eyes became clearer with his board drifting closer to mine.

"Oh, well I try to be. Its quite chaotic when Bryan and I tend to fly in together so I decided to give them a couple days on their own before I enter their space. I love being a third wheel but just because I hate being alone shouldn't mean they can't have their time. Especially with baby on board, soon they'll be living a new life you know?" I stared over at him hoping I didn't sound sad in what I said when I was simply being honest in that I was lonely at times but knew I needed to not be too needy simply because John wasn't around all the time.

"Yeah you have a good point there, but I'm sure she wants her time with you too before it all changes." He sat up once more with a frown seeming to think deeper.

"I'm beginning to question if Brie didn't send you over here to keep me company" I sighed as I stepped off and lift the board into my hands.

"Nicole." He began and I shook my head as I turned to face him.

"Allen, I don't need you being forced to stick around an extra day because I'm lonely. Because I'm not, I'm perfectly fine on my own." That was a total lie but I didn't want him to feel pressured to spend more time with me on his off day.

"I'm not."

"Let's be realistic, we have only hung out maybe once outside of work where John wasn't involved." I shrugged and watched as he moved towards me, vacating the water.

"I don't listen to what people tell me. I sure don't speak to your sister, not even sure if I have spoken to her past Wrestlemania when you introduced me to her. Just because you're twins doesn't mean I care to make an effort in being close with both of you in no offense to your sister." He sighed, running a hand through his wet hair and I moved closer towards him not feeling like shouting even though the beach was always relatively empty.

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I figured since I had failed to realize it was your birthday I'd give you a good day. Which hasn't been that great since I am not that good on a surfboard, its just that like you said we have only hung out once without John and that was us surfing and you were happy then. All I know is our coffees and dinners, time at work. I'm not quite sure what you would enjoy that doesn't entail me acting like John Cena." He chuckled slightly.

I stared at him slightly taken a back by his words and felt my heart melt due to them before glancing away and leaning my head on my board.

"Why would I want you to act like John if you're phenomenal already?" I smiled and sighed. "I'm sorry I'm just used to my family being overbearing and reaching out. So you really just pitched up because you felt guilty?"

"Pretty much." He shrugged.

"Well its clear to see that Shinsuke is needed for any further surfing attempts so how about we get changed and open a bottle of wine. Or beer?"

"Who says I can't enjoy a fine wine?" He arched his eyebrow.

"Whatever you want, Allen."

●●●

"Its just insane to me, we go to all these different places but you literally stayed in a different continent for so long. How do you still have your accent?" I eyed him sceptically knowing he had called Japan home for so long and had been listening to him share various stories over the last hour or so. I would be lying if I said I hadn't enjoyed his hands moving around, and various facial expressions as he conveyed them.

"Well I knew I'd be meeting the fearless latina and that she'd just love my accent." He stated dramatically as he filled up our glasses and handed me one.

"Aaah its alright" I smiled before eyeing him slightly biting my lip before questioning him. "So did you go flashing anything in Japan?"

"Now I was waiting for that" he cringed.

"I'm sorry I couldn't keep it in any longer" I giggled referring to his wardrobe malfunction at TLC , I had unfortunately been on the road by the time the main event had begun but hadn't failed to hear about it.

"Its alright, had to deal with the entire locker room. " He shook his head.

"And all your fan girls? Imagine you fell into the crowd, they would have ripped away" I narrowed my eyes playfully.

"Aaah I'm sure you would have feasted on that" He narrowed his eyes with a smug look.

"Well I'd try but they'd probably censor it." I shook my head disapprovingly before laughter filled the room again.

I had felt awkward ever since he dismissed our kiss as a mistake but tried to act like I wasn't affected. I guess I did a pretty good job so much so that I allowed myself to sink into our behaviour before. I'd always seen it just as Allen being Allen not necessarily being flirty but being good to talk to. I remember seeing it as him being that way with everyone but now I hated the thought of him casually flirting with everyone else.

"Come on, the sun should be setting, I love watching it at this house" We stood up and set our glasses down and as we entered the balcony I saw the orange glow.

"Its so beautiful" I whispered as we sat down and stared ahead. My eyes briefly found Allen's but saw his jaw clenching. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head with a small smile before lazily looking at me. I told myself not to stare into his blue orbs when we were seated a foot apart but I did while he seemed like his head was far away.

"You're being awfully quiet" I leaned forward and snapped my fingers which led to him chuckling. "Tell me"

He shook his head, "I just. Let's just say I find other things more beautiful than the sunset right now."

"You do?" I smiled but soon realized this wasn't part of the humorous flirtation, he was serious.

"I should..." He began but my hand held his shoulder before he could move.

I avoided his eyes but knew I would be repeating a mistake as I stared at his lips and found myself leaning in. I felt his eyes on me but he wasn't stopping me even though deep down I wanted him to because I knew I wouldn't be doing so myself.

"Nicole?" I heard John's voice and quickly dropped my hand and stood up and entered the apartment. "Hey love"

"Hey" he smiled and then frowned slightly. "Did I forget I was meeting you?"

I remembered Allen who had just entered behind me, "He thought I was working the live event so offered to drive me. But I'm not, as usual"

I shrugged not sure why I had felt compelled to tell John alittle white lie, I was sure he wouldn't have minded that Allen and I had simply hung out, that he had pitched up like a good friend. Maybe because I didn't see the innocence in his actions considering the line we had crossed, the line my feelings were slowly tumbling over the more Allen did things. So I lied and wasn't sure how Allen would feel about it but he had remained silent beside me.

"Oh that's too bad. But we can head out for dinner, kiddo." He kissed my forehead and I nodded before focusing on Allen. "I'll go get ready then. See you next week, AJ"

"Next week" he nodded with a tight smile before turning towards John and the hug I was expecting was not there, again.

I turned on my heel to the room knowing I was a few seconds away of having everything take a 360. If John hadn't said my name I wasn't sure what he would have seen, I was being careless and I had John. There was no room for any thought of anything more with Allen...