A week after tour*

Tyler has been a busy man, from finishing up his first tour to doing a couple rounds with media from everything at radio stations to random interviews from social media outlets.

He would be in charge of explaining everyone that isn't in the wrestling scene and hype up the upcoming events.

Front trying to sell tickets for Full Sail, to talking about the WWE Network for everyone to watch on Wednesday nights.

But most of the times he would have a sit down with someone, they would bring up his personal life and relationship with Scarlett.

Being the private guy, he would always say something to change the subject.

This whole week hasn't been fun with Tyler and Scarlett.

After that huge blow out with Toni's picture, Scarlett hasn't talked to him since.

And that worried him since that could be the end of the relationship that he was trying to keep together, or she could be sitting on it with a viscous attitude.

Knowing Scarlett, Tyler has seen her get jealous before and accused him of cheating.

Never again does he want that to happen.

Wednesday morning*

Tyler had a busy schedule today since he was meeting up with other NXT superstars before the tapings for the Performance Center combine.

Alarm*

Opening his eye, today was the day to show everyone what Japan has showed him.

Rolling over and turning it off, and not being the morning person Tyler is; surprisingly he was wide awake today.

He got up and took a early shower, since today was a busy day then he had the idea of leaving early to get to the Performance Center and start up before everyone arrives.

Had a nice little breakfast and coffee to keep him awake, locked up the apartment and headed down on the road.

After the whole NXT tour, Tyler got a nice check from it and was saving up to buy his Jeep.

Toni kept poking fun at him since she got her's first.

Their friendship was always that way.

At the Performance Center*

Tyler walked into the giant building to see all of the trainers standing around, suprised to see him walk in.

He was currently the only one going after today's workout there.

So he walked into the locker room and got changed for the big day.

Hopefully today at Full Sail he wouldn't be in a match. Because after this combine, he will be exhausted.

An hour later*

The combine was going on and it was NXT newest sensation tag team, The Street Profits and Tyler topping the boards.

Each were having friendly competition to see who could finish the best.

But after the battle ropes, Tyler was bested and finished second to Montez Ford.

He was exhausted after it, and that worried him enough about tonights show.

Since they were one week out until the next Takeover, tonight would only be a single recording; to build up more hype for the matches and add some extra stuff for each one.

With Toni*

She and Rhea were finished with the womens side of the combine and were in the dressing room, having small talk.

Toni: That was awful.

Rhea: Yeah? But we were top five.

Toni: Tonight's going to suck.

Rhea: But, were in matches.

That then killed Toni's mood since she was too sore to do anything.

But it was her job, so it needed to be done.

They both continued to talk while they got ready to head to Full Sail. It was all good until Rhea brought up a touchy subject.

Rhea: So, have you asked Ty out yet?

Toni: Demi, I can't.

Rhea: Why not? His relationship is already on the rocks.

Toni: That won't make it any better.

She didn't want to talk about it anymore and it frustrated her best friend since she can see that Toni is having doubts about her crush, that she can't believe that it'll work.

Rhea respected her and dropped the subject.

Later on that night*

Everyone moved from the Performance Center to Full Sail to set up the ring and ramp.

Usually everyone that's on the card would set up for the shows, but WWE has hired a ring setup crew so the talent can focus on their matches.

That worked out well for Tyler since he was used to being in Progress and setting everything up.

So he was backstage going over everything with the creative team, and the good thing about being in NXT was Tyler and all the talent had alot of control of what goes down.

He had a thought and had it approved by backstage relations.

That hyped him up as a huge storyline is about to build.

Now on Toni's side, she was battling Io
Shirai in the Semifinals of the Mae Young Classic.

It was a huge match, as she can continue her legacy into the finals at Takeover Toronto, or go home empty handed.

She was focused as she has been preparing for this Japanese style of wrestling her whole life.

One year, Toni and Bea went to Japan to train with the women at Stardom and she learned a whole lot in those six weeks.

But tonight was testing those skills.

NXT*

Tyler was sitting in gorilla as Aleister Black, in the ring was shooting a promo on a real opponent.

He needed someone to test his championship abilities at the next Takeover.

Not knowing who it would be, he wasn't surprised when Adam Cole and all of Undisputed Era walked out as insurance policies.

Adam: Listen up Aleister! I get an automatic rematch and I want it right here, right now!

Aleister: laughs*

Everyone wasn't too concerned about Adam as he can't show that he's champion worthy, atleast not yet.

They were going back and forth until general manager William Regal walked out and made the match.

That was until a stipulation was put on as he banned Undisputed Era from ring side.

He never said anything about Tyler not being in Aleister's corner.

So as Adam walked down to the ring and stood face with the NXT Champion, the lights blacked out and when they came back on, there was standing Tyler in place of Aleister.

The champion had dissapeared while Adam was shocked to see him standing.

Tyler held Adam's face and hit a nasty forearm and threw him to the ropes. When the leader of Undisputed came back, he hit his finishing move.

Mauro: And Tyler Black with the running knee, "Blackout"!!

He stood over Adam as he looked up at the three other members at the stage.

They weren't moving until Tyler left the ring and walked backstage.

Backstage*

He was all showered up and packed, but he was told to stay back as someone wanted to see him.

Not knowing who it was, he respected the backstage crew and waited.

Before he continued to watch the rest of the show backstage, he was pulled aside by Rhea Ripley and The War Raiders.

Tyler: What's up?

Rowe: So, since you're new here in NXT, I thought we'd come and tell you what's going down.

Rhea: Its badass.

Hanson: It really is.

Tyler: Alright?

He was waiting for them to say what it was, but that's when Rowe brought up a "Download Festival" shirt.

Tyler: I'm going to the Download Festival?

Rowe: Yes sir, only a handful of superstars are going this year.

Tyler: Oh hell yeah.

He was pumped now, and now he finally gets to go to it as a performer.

Mae Young Classic*

Toni wasn't aloud to watch the other Semifinal match, so she has no idea what the outcome was for it or who even won.

But that didn't matter since she was pumping herself up as he theme hit.

The hard hitting aussie walked out with a top hat and her signature jcaket.

Everyone in the crowd was hyping the two performers.

They were announced and the match started out slow with back and forth lockups.

End of the match*

It was a quick back and forth twenty minute match after the three minute marker.

They were countering almost everything until Io climbed to the top rope as Toni was spread out on the ring.

She was going her a moonsault until Toni rolled out of the way.

As Io laid on the mat in pain, Toni capitalized and picked her up and hit "Storm Zero".

It was all over as she countered and got the three count.

Toni was shocked that she made it to the finals, but that didn't matter as she embraced Io for a hard fought fight.

They hugged it out until a familiar theme hit.

As Cathy was doing to interview Toni, she backed out as Toni watched her opponent for the Finals.

Rhea walked down and stood outside of the ring, just taunting Toni until the cameras cut.

As the show ended, Toni waited for Rhea to go backstage and followed.

The matches were set in stone and the hype was building for this upcoming pay per view.

An hour later*

Tyler had congratulated his best friend and went back home.

Whoever wanted to talk to him wasn't in a hurry since he waited until the show was over, so he gave up and went home.

20 minutes later*

Tyler walked into his apartment to see Bea Priestley standing there.

He was confused for a second but didn't care since one of his best friends were in town.

So he walked over and hugged her since it's been a couple months.

After a couple minutes of him changing, they sat in his living room talking about everything.

Tyler and Toni being successful in NXT already, the life outside of Japan, him being sick, and his failing relationship.

That got Tyler and he got a little upset about it.

Tyler: Why are we talking about this?

Bea: So you never got my message?

Tyler: What message?

She sighed and pulled out her phone, scrolled through and found a long text that read.

Bea: Ty, we need to talk ASAP!

Bea: Hello?

Bea: Ok, fine. So I overheard that Scarlett found out about you and Toni getting close. She's pissed and is trying to find a way to come down and talk to you.

He read it and looked up at her as it was the same old stuff.

Tyler: That's it?

Bea: That's it? This is bad.

Tyler: This is the same shit all over again.

Bea: Well I actually ran into her at a house show and she's planning to come down and straighten things out.

Tyler: ...

He didn't even care, it wouldn't change anything in the relationship. But that's when she said the next words that changed things.

Bea: You know she's going to go after Toni?

Tyler: Scarlett? Going after someone? Yeah right.

Bea: She looked pissed when we talked, I wouldn't sleep on her actually doing something Ty.

Tyler: She won't, she'll come over and try to hash things up. But I'm done.

He had to get it all out, and that's when Bea figured out that he wanted it all to stop.

Tyler: If we do talk, face to face then I'm ending it Bea. I can't take it anymore, I need someone in my life that actually cares about me.

Bea: Like Toni..

She just randomly said it, not knowing she spilled Toni's secret.

Tyler: Toni?

Bea: What?

Tyler: You said Toni after I said all that.

Bea: Did I?

Tyler: Yeah you did.

He then got invested on what was going down.

Tyler: sits next to her* Toni? Our Toni?

Bea: Ok, I promised I wouldn't say anything but she told me back at your last Progress show that she had a thing for you.

Tyler: Really?

Bea: Yeah, but that's it.

Tyler: Huh, wished I would've known.

Bea: Wait..

Tyler: ...

Bea: Why?

Tyler: I would've broke things off with Scarlett knowing if it would end like this? And probably asked Toni out.

Bea: You like Toni too?

Tyler: Shes a nice girl, plus we connect so well.

Bea: Wow.

She was shocked about what she just heard, and keeping that inside with the real secret that Toni told her.

Bea didn't want to tell Tyler that Toni was developing feelings for him since that could end badly.

But she needed to tell Toni as soon as possible.

To be continued..

END OF CHAPTER 9