Forever & Always

1. Blast From The Past

Isla POV

When I was told our school was getting a special guest the last name I expected to see what his. Of course when I read that they were coming to do a special talk for the wrestling team in should have put two and two together I mean it made total sense, he's the home town boy.

Joe Anoa'i, my childhood best friend, the only person I had ever been able to count on to be there for me, until he left to pursue his dreams, I was proud of him, I am proud of him and everything he has achieved but I've also missed him more than I care to admit.

A part of me was excited to seem him, the other part was nervous. Would it be the same? Would he remember me? Has he even thought about me at all?

"Earth to Isla" Susie says waving a hand in front of my face "you've been staring at that notice for ages, are you alright?"

"It's......it's him......he's coming back......it's been so long" I babble

"Who? Sweetie you aren't making any sense" she says looking confused

"Joe" I say pointing at the notice "my old best friend"

"Wait a second that's your Joe?" She asks "at what point were you going to tell me that your Joe was Roman freaking Reigns!" She gasps

"I didn't think it mattered" I shrug "we haven't spoken for years, he's not my Joe anymore"

"I don't understand you two" she says shaking her head "he leaves to live his dreams and you just stop talking to each other, why didn't you keep in touch?"

"He got busy and I had stuff going on" I say "I needed him but I knew if I told him that he would have dropped everything to be there for me and I didn't want that, I didn't want to get in the way of his dream, I didn't want to hold him back"

"You miss him don't you?" She asks and I nod

"Very much" I sigh "once upon a time he was everything to me"

"I think he still is" she smiles "are you sure you too were just friends?"

"Yeah we were, he had a girlfriend when he left" I say "last I heard they got married"

"That right there" she says "that look on your face is the look of someone wishing it was them"

"Oh don't be ridiculous" I laugh "I don't feel anything like that for Joe"

"Yeah sure you don't" she smirks

Joe POV

As we get closer to my old school, our old school there is only one thing on my mind, Isla.
I never wanted to leave her here, I wanted to take her with me but my girlfriend at the time was dead set against it.

She didn't like Isla she was convinced that she wanted more than just friendship with me and so she made sure to keep her at a distance.
At first we had kept in touch until my ex deleted her number out of my phone, I hadn't written it down anywhere and I was devastated when I couldn't talk to her anymore.

Needless to say that relationship didn't last long after that. I was nervous about seeing her again, I wouldn't blame her if she hated me, if she felt like I had abandoned her. I knew all to well how much she needed me and it had never been my intention to leave her alone.

As we pull up outside the familiar building I find myself taking a deep breath. I get our of the car and follow the wwe people into the gym where the wrestling team are gathered.

I take my spot infront of them all and my eyes scan around the room, she isn't here, I should have known she wouldn't be she's not a gym teacher, she teaches English.

"It's been along time since I've stood in this gym, back then I was just like you" I begin "I was lucky enough to get the chance to chase my dream but it came with it's sacrifices, one piece of advice I can give you is no matter how much you want your dream, be sure the sacrifice is worth it, because you can't enjoy it when you have regrets"

"Mr Reigns has kindly agreed to show you guys a few things, give you a few pointers and three of you will be chosen for a special training program with wwe" the teacher says "take this time to glean the knowledge and skills of a professional, learn all you can from him, and there will be time afterwards for photos and autographs"

As he continues talking I look up and see an all too familiar face looking at me through the door, I offer her a friendly smile and instead of smiling back she leaves. My heart sinks a little and I want to go after her but I know I'm not done here, but I have a feeling I know where she is going.

The one place she always goes when she needs to get away from whatever is making her uncomfortable, our place, our tree house. That's if it's still standing.

Although I was here for work I wasn't leaving without making amends with her, I want my best friend back in my life and I will do whatever I have to do to make that happen.

She's always been everything to me and that has never changed.