Welcome...to WWE High School!

Chapter Seven: John

I walked down the hallway with Nikki, the Tuesday before my big tournament game. We also had a football game tonight, the last one of the season, and I was determined not to let anything distract me tonight. Not even Nikki. 

After our coffee shop date (yes, I finally admitted to myself that it was a date) Brie came to pick her up, and we arranged that I would drive her home instead, once I got my car back. Nikki still didn't have her drivers license, but she said that her retesting was soon and she would finally pass it. 

When the bus reached my stop and I made it back to my house, I saw that I had two messages. One was from the car shop, saying that my car was fixed and I could pick it up. The other was from "Fearlessnikki02". We had texted almost every day since then.

And now, here we are. Two days before school ends, four days from my championship match, and the day of my last football game/Nikki's last day of cheerleading.

I was still having a hard time believing I had a girlfriend as wonderful as Nikki. She told the best jokes. Even though I had dated AJ before, I still felt awkward and hoped I wouldn't say anything wrong in this relationship. Nikki knew that, but she saw past that. We both knew each other had flaws but we loved each other anyway.

Look at you, Cena. You're getting all mushy again. How can you be the strong football captain if you keep going this way?

The football half kept asking my other half these questions. I was still a little bit at war with myself, partly because of the stress of the upcoming game. I did NOT want to be distracted again, even if Nikki told me it wasn't all my fault.

Right as we turned a corner, I saw my ex-girlfriend AJ. We mostly kept to ourselves since our breakup, but right now she was giving me a really odd look.

No, wait. She wasn't giving me that look. 

She was giving it to Nikki.

I looked over at her to see what she was doing, but she was staring ahead, ignoring AJ.

Looking back at AJ, I said to Nikki, "You can keep heading forward. I'll meet you in the classroom, okay?" She nodded and gave me a quick hug. For a fleeting moment I wished that it had been a kiss instead, but my football half rejected that idea.

What are you rejecting it for? my other half said. You reject everything!

I really needed to sort out my feelings. Were we too early in our relationship for that kind of affection? We've been dating for nearly for nearly two weeks. 

I could figure that out later. At the moment, though, I remembered that I came over here to talk to AJ.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Nothing, really. How are you and Nikki doing?" 

I knew that AJ was not fond of Nikki. But why was the way AJ saw her different than the way I saw her?

"We're doing fine, I guess." I paused. I knew something was up with her. "You're not really friends with Nikki, are you?"

AJ dropped her head. "No, I'm not. I just...Look. She's been a jerk to me. She interrupts our lunch to try and taunt Paige and I. I don't know what you see in her, or why she's so different with you, but...hopefully she stays that way. I don't want you finding her bad side, if you're happy with her. See ya," she finished, and then she skipped away.

I didn't know what to think after that conversation, so I headed to English, our first class. Nikki was waiting outside the door.

She smiled. "Good, you're here. You were almost late, but Mr. Heyman hasn't reached the classroom yet, so he can't call you tardy! Ha! Come on, let's find our seats."

We slipped into the class and sat down in our seats. As I was pulling out my books, someone behind me repeatedly poked me with their pencil. It was Dean.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"What did you get for question seven?" Dean said.

"I shouldn't be giving you the answer."

"Come on! Don't be a goody two-shoes. What did you get?"

"Fine. 'She has'," I quoted.

"What? I got 362."

"Dean, this is English class!"

I heard someone trying to muffle giggles, and I saw it was Nikki. I felt the butterflies flutter around in my stomach again, and I grinned at her. 

"Now, Mr. Cena. If you're done making googly eyes at Miss Bella, then we shall begin class." Paul Heyman had walked into the classroom right when I looked at Nikki.

Looks like I'm off to a great start on the day.

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"Spectacular game tonight, guys. You really killed them!" Coach Austin was proud of our game, which was good considering last time was a disappointment. Sure, all of us had the tournament on our minds but maybe my talks helped them to focus.

It didn't help me much, though. I tried, I really tried but Nikki kept entering my thoughts. Her brown eyes, that enchanting smile...

Dang! There I go again! Nikki's been on my mind lately more than I'd like to admit. I managed to pull myself together during the game, but my heart wasn't really in it. It didn't help that I invited her out to dinner afterwards, so that was on my mind too. 

I left the locker room as quickly as I could, and waited by the bleachers for Nikki. As soon as I saw her appear on my line of vision, I brightened, and when she reached me we headed for the parking lot, where I would drive us to the diner.

"Sky looks nice tonight," Nikki commented as I drove.

"So do you," I murmured. What the heck? Did I actually just say that?

"Thanks," she replied, blushing.

When we reached the diner, the waitress gave us our booth and after ordering we sat there silently, awaiting our drinks. I felt something brush my hand, and I realized that it was another hand--Nikki's. This felt like a repeat of our first date. 

She's waiting for you to make a move, I realized. She brushed her light brown hair away, and I could see her face perfectly. I started leaning in. She did, too.

Our first kiss. That was the moment when I knew that I was totally in love with this girl. This fearless Nikki.

Not even the football half of my brain could deny it now.