Eternity (AEW)

The First Date

"A bowling alley?" Nova asked, puzzled look on her face. "I figured you could take a break from all the bars, clubs, and painful shoes," Ricky teased, receiving a playful scowl from Nova. When the car came to a stop she pulled out her phone to turn it on silent and set it in her purse. She turned to open the car door instead seeing Ricky was already there with the door open. He held out his hand to help her out of the car, Nova took it, slightly startled, "What a gentleman."

They began to  make their way inside, and Nova couldn't help but admire how it was much more colorful than the typical bowling alleys she's been to before. "I love the artwork on the walls," Nova mentioned, looking around at the graffiti canvases hanging from the walls. "I actually know one of the dudes who did some of these," Ricky commented, making his way over to get bowling shoes, Nova following close behind. "You think he could design some merch for me?" Nova giggled.

"Probably."

"Wait really? I was just joking! Does he have Insta? Can I follow him? These are questions I must have answered!" Ricky chuckled, pretending to zip his mouth shut and lock it over his mask. Nova rolled her eyes and smirked, feeling like this date was going well already. She was almost so lost in her thoughts that she almost didn't notice Ricky in front of her.

"What size are you?"

Nova snapped out of it and looked over to the scrawny teenager over the counter, "OH, uh, seven and a half." They grabbed their shoes and made their way to an empty lane. Ricky and Nova walked up to a ball rack examining the choices; "I'm surprised you didn't choose the orange one," Nova teased, looking down at Ricky's pink ball, which happened to be the color of Nova's gear. "No, but you had no problem choosing it," Ricky winked at her, causing her to adjust her mask so he couldn't see her blush..

"You wanna make a bet?"

Nova snapped her head back right before she rolled her ball, "A bet?"

"If you win, I'll leave you alone about Team Taz," Nova nodded, "But if I win, I get to take you on another date." Nova tilted her head to the side as Ricky smirked behind the mask. She then turned around, rolling the ball and getting a strike. "Then let's bowl, Starks," Nova winked, letting Ricky know he had some tough competition.

Bowling Skip

The two took a break, grabbing some sodas from the vending machine and finding a table. "So I gotta ask, what started all this? It had to be something Sawyer caused," Nova asked, opening her can of Sprite. "Well, one of the weeks you guys were there, I was catching up with Sawyer but you," Ricky pointed at her, "caught my eye."

"Caught your eye? Was it the pink faux fur coat?" Nova giggled, taking another sip. Ricky shook his head, "I think it was the smile even when the camera wasn't on you." Ricky sipped his soda, keeping eye contact with Nova. Nova almost got lost in her them, before she coughed and stood up, grabbing her ball for the last round.

The two looked up at the scoreboard , Nova only needed one strike to win the whole game, "Alright Starks, if I get this strike, I am victorious," Nova smiled, walking up. Ricky plastered on a smile, already regretting this bet. Nova had gotten many strikes this whole game, she was fully confident that she could get another one and win this. But right as she was about to roll the ball down the center, she turned to the side, making the ball only hit one of the pins.

She turned around and shrugged, "Oops."She rolled again, this time missing completely. Ricky tried to hold back his grin while grabbing his next ball. He rolled it, and much like Nova the whole game, had gotten a strike.

Nova walked up behind him, holding out her hand, "Congratulations Mr. Starks."

He shook her hand and held it, for a long time, neither of them let go until they went to return their bowling shoes. They walked out the building, Ricky walking ahead to open the car door back up for Nova. She climbed in, not hiding her smile this time. He walked around to the drivers side, climbing in but not yet starting the car. He reached around to the passengers back seat, grabbing a bouquet of flowers, "I wanted to give you this at the start of our date, but I didn't want it to get squished by a bowling ball."

Nova took the flowers carefully, "Ricky," she paused to admire them, "Thank you. They're gorgeous." "Just like you," Ricky smirked, turning on the car and driving Nova back to her hotel.

Ricky for the final time that night , opened Nova's door for her. They made their way in the nearest elevator and he pushed the buttons to her hotel room.

They reached the front of Nova's room that she shared with her friends, with a bit of saddeness - they did not want to say goodbye. "Well, I guess I'll see you at Dynamite," Ricky said, turning away. He was pulled back, and immediately into a hug.

"Thank you for this." Nova mumbled against his chest before looking up at him. Ricky smiled, "Just wait until our next date. It'll be 10 timesbl better." Nova tried to find the right words, but just let her body move her lips onto Ricky's, giving him a quick kiss before moving away.

"Goodnight, Starks." Nova said, walking into her room and shutting the door.

Ricky stared at the door for what felt like forever, he was about to leave when he heard a shout from the inside.

"DID YOU JUST KISS HIM?!" Ricky chuckled, recognizing Sawyer's yell from anywhere. He finally turned away and heard Nova yell back, "SHUT UP HE COULD STILL BE LISTENING!!" Even after one date Ricky knew, Nova could possibly be the one.

He just hoped she felt the same.