Emma walks down the hall of dressing rooms, clipboard in hand and checking off athletes as she takes count of who is and isn't here. She's humming to music that's playing in the single earphone she has in when she bumps into something, dropping her clipboard.
"Shit." She says and kneels down to pick it up.
It's only when she sees black boots facing her that she looks up and realizes she walked right into a fully geared-up Rhea Ripley. Emma grabs her clipboard and slowly stands, gulping at the look she's getting.
"I'm sorry. That was totally my fault." She says softly.
Rhea licks her teeth and Emma watches as her eyes trail down her body. It makes her slightly uncomfortable as she fidgets with her pen.
"Can I..um..get you anything?" She asks.
Instead of replying, Rhea looks over Emma's shoulder and brushes past her. Her shoulder makes contact with Emma's as she does, shoving her to the side.
She sighs and looks at her clipboard, marking a big check next to Rhea's name. She continues down the hall, checking off names before she turns and goes back to the large viewing room. It's there for everyone who isn't currently set to be out there and/or on break to use to relax, chat and watch whatever is happening live.
Emma looks around the room and checks for anyone she couldn't find in dressing rooms. Once everyone is checked off, she turns on her heel and almost runs into Rhea again.
"Shit! You know you're very quiet for wearing boots." She tries to joke.
Rhea rolls her eyes and shoves past her again, knocking her to the side. She frowns and rubs her shoulder as Damian Priest walks over to her.
"Don't take it personally. She gets deep in character." He pats her back and smiles before walking towards Rhea.
Emma watches as a smile crosses her face at seeing Damian, and she immediately envelopes him in a hug.
"In character my ass." Emma mumbles before checking the time.
She's done all her work, aside from checking on anyone coming back from the ring, so she sits on the couch and watches the event on the tv.
The couch dips next to her and she looks over to see Rhea watching the tv as well.
"Hey. I'm sorry about bumping into you. No hard feelings?" She asks.
Rhea eyes her out of the corner of her eye without turning her head then looks at the tv again. Emma rolls her eyes and stands, going to check on Seth Rollins after a brutal attack by Finn Balor.
*later that night*
It's late, the event is over and the last athlete to check on just left. Emma grabs her wallet and backpack from an employee locker, closing it back up before going out to her car. Thankfully this event was in her hometown in Florida so she didn't have to Uber her way around.
Her stomach growls and she decides to stop in at her favorite sushi place for dinner. She yawns as she pulls into the parking lot and parks close to the door. She walks inside and looks around before going up to the counter to order.
She stands in line and looks up at the menu even though she's going to order the same thing she always orders when coming here.
"Nope that's all." She hears a familiar voice.
Only the voice seems softer, happier even. She looks back down at the person next to her. It's Rhea Ripley. Only her face is wiped clean of makeup. Her hair is freshly washed and still damp. She's wearing a Judgment Day t-shirt, short skin-tight black shorts and white converse.
"Are you alright?" Rhea says.
"Hm?" Emma asks, realizing she was checking Rhea out in a completely obvious way.
"Yeah sorry." She says softly, expecting to be yelled at.
Instead, Rhea smiles at her. Wait...she smiled? Emma frowns and tilts her head slightly.
"What?" Rhea asks, chuckling.
"Nothing I..you're just..you're beautiful." Emma stumbles on her words.
The compliment came out before she could say what else she was really thinking. That Rhea is being weird. Backstage she rarely speaks to Emma, besides the occasional nod or 'yes' or 'no' she says in answer to her questions when she's checking on her.
What happens next makes Emma even more confused. A slight blush appears on Rhea's cheeks as she chuckles again, pushing some hair behind her right ear. Emma bites her lip, the act sending chills down her spine. There's something about her in this state that's got her feeling an array of emotions.
"Listen. I'm here with the boys. Why don't you come sit with us when you get yours?" Rhea offers.
Emma looks over to where she's pointing and nods slightly.
"Only if I won't be intruding." She says before looking back at Rhea.
When she does, she sees a different look in her eyes. It was gone almost as soon as Emma saw it, but it was there. The look of hatred. The look of disgust. The look of the Rhea Ripley she always knew. But that look is gone again, and soft, happy eyes are staring back at her.
"Not at all! I'll see you over there." Rhea smiles as she grabs two trays of sushi and walks over to the boys.
Stunned and unsure of how to react, Emma awkwardly orders her food. She waits and peeks over at the table, seeing Rhea laughing with Damian sitting across from her, Finn to his right and Dom to Rhea's left.
She mentally scratches her head and replays what just happened. How Rhea seemed genuinely kind, sweet even. How she blushed, giggled and reacted to being called beautiful. The fact that she seemed completely opposite to the way she is at the shows. Only, she caught a glimpse of that Rhea in her eyes for a split second. Or, she thought she did. No, she's sure she did.
Emma takes a deep breath as she's handed her food. She turns with the tray in hand and awkwardly makes her way to Rhea's table like a new student finding the popular friend group in the middle of the school year in high school.
YOU ARE READING
Split
FanfictionEmma has been working backstage with the WWE for about a week now. She assists Triple H with ensuring the athletes are out on time, okay when they come back and even checks in on them from time to time. She's good at what she does. Never gets in th...
