The Hounds of Justice

14. Preshow

Kayla Reigns

I stare at myself in the mirror. I left the arena before the others last night, my mind clouded with memories. I look at the clock, 2 am. I look back at the mirror.

Dark circles sit under my eyes, making me look like a raccoon. My long black hair up in a messy bun, stray strands of hair framing my face. Lipstick still stains my lips. Streaks of dried tears lay upon my cheeks. The last time I looked like this was when Alex broke my heart.

The year I got signed to NXT I was 20 years old. The same year The Shield got called up, and I thought I had already found my soulmate. Alex was perfect, even though he drank a lot. Or I thats what I thought. The night after I signed with NXT he proposed. I couldn't believe it, my life was perfect, I had my dream job, my dream Fiancé, my dream house, my dream life. But that's all it was, a dream.

A few months after Alex and I got engaged I woke up to find the other half of our bed empty. Everything he had at my house was gone, all he left was a note;

I found someone else. We're over.

Well it turns out 'someone else' was my best friend from the time I was 2. I had been devastated, my dream seemed to shatter. But I still had the dream job and dream house, that's all that I had. My brother was now traveling the world, doing what I wanted to be doing. But now we are together.

I splash water on my face and turn off the bathroom light. The boys are sound asleep, Joe in one bed, Jon on the couch, and Colby in the bed we are sharing. I slide back under the covers. I put my head against Colby's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.

"I hope I can trust you." I whisper into his chest. His arms tighten around my waist and him whisper back to me.

"Always."

At the Arena 11 am

There's barely anyone here this early, mostly crew and creative. Talent usually doesn't show up till noon.

"I'm going to find Maryse. Catch you guys later." I say once I put my bag down in our locker room.

I walk past catering, Xavier is in there. "Hey X you seen Maryse?" I ask grabbing a water bottle.

"I think I saw her going to the women's locker room." He replies.

"Ok thanks." I say turning to go.

"Hey, you should come on Up Up Down Down sometime. We have a Madden Tournament coming up."

"I would love to, I'll talk with the boys, we'll figure something out." I say on my way out the door.

I walk into the women's locker room. There's only a handful of people in there. Most just in workout clothes or sweats. Charlotte, Sasha, and Bayley all leave to go do something, leaving Lana, Maryse and I alone.

"Wow I'd never expect to see you in here." Maryse says standing up and giving me a hug.

"I know! So weird right." I laugh sitting down on the couch next to Lana.

"No offense Kay, but you look like crap. What's up." Maryse says sitting on the coffee table across from me.

"I didn't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about Alex." I say looking at Maryse. I don't mention the other guy, that's not something I need to worry about right now. "How can I trust any guy after that?" How can I trust myself after that?

"What he put you through was horrible. But Colby Lopez is not Alex. You have to remember that." Maryse says looking me in the eyes.

"I'm lost... who's Alex?" Lana asks.

"My ex fiancé, cheated on me with my childhood best friend." I quickly summarize the painful experience for Lana.

"I'm in a funk, let's hit the ring." I say standing up. I pull my hair up into a ponytail while Lana and Maryse slip into some workout clothes. I'm in sweats and a tank top so I'm good.

I slide in the ring and run the ropes while Maryse and Lana stretch outside the ring. It feels like forever since I've been in an arena, and I've missed it.

Lana and Maryse get in the ring. Lana and I have a practice since she is working in NXT now. She works hard, I'll give her that.

"Looking good Kayla." I hear a familiar voice say. I look at the ramp to see Colby standing there.

"Well hello to you too." I laugh. Lana takes advantage of me not paying attention and rolls me up for a 3 count.

"What I had to capitalize!" She laughs rolling out of the ring.

"I ship you two, so much!" Maryse whispers standing next to me.

Colby is walking down the ramp, I just lean on the ropes and watch him. "What brings you here?" I ask as he gets closer.

"I was looking for you actually." He states hopping up on the apron.

"Well we will leave you two alone." Maryse says slipping out of the ring and heading up the ramp. She winks at me, silently laughing, behind Colby's back.

"And why would you be looking for me?" I ask sitting on the top turnbuckle.

"I just wanted to tell you, you can always trust me. No matter what happened to you in the past. I'm not Alex." He says looking into my eyes.

"How do you know about him?" I ask, his brown eyes still look into mine.

"I asked Joe."

"I just don't know if I can trust someone again..." I trail off and look over his shoulder, anywhere but his face.

"Well let's start small then. A coffee date tomorrow morning before RAW." He says, nervously chuckling to himself.

"Colby Lopez I would love to get coffee with you." I laugh hopping of the turnbuckle. I catch him off guard by pulling him into a hug, "Thank you." I whisper.

"Now I have to go to makeup, then get my ring gear. Probably cut a promo or two. Then we have to kick some ass." I say pulling out of the hug.

I smile as I sit down in the makeup chair. "I know, I know, I look like crap." I say as Leslie looks at me with a disapproving face.

My makeup is simple, as it always is. Smokey eye, no lipstick. Plus I wet my hair like the boys so there's no reason to style it.

I walk back to our locker room. More superstars have showed up. I smile and wave at Renee who is taping an interview with Enzo and Cass.

I walk into the locker room to see Colby and Jon passed out on the couch, blankets pulled above their heads. Joe motions for me to be quiet and walk into over to him.

"What's the meanest way we could wake these two up right now?" He asks me in a whisper.

"Dump water on them? Jump on them? Taser? Drum solo? Scream?" I ramble off.

Joe hands me two water bottles and motions for me to take Colby. He grabs two of his own waters and walks behind Jon.

"On three." He mouths.

"1.... 2..... 3!"

We dump the water on their faces. They splutter and spit out water, yelling at us. I fall on the floor I'm laughing so hard. Joe's doubled over laughing. Jon looks so offended, Colby looks like he was expecting so much worse.

"Get ready pre-show is about to start, and pre-show is only one match tonight." I say once I managed to stop laughing.