chapter two
The Gleam of Wet Pavement

"If I wanted men's attention, I would've just gone to a bar— not some stupid wrestling show."

•
Blue eyes are far more sensitive to light then brown ones. Having a flashlight shined into her already sensitive pupil felt like cruelty and the only thing it succeeded to do was increase the pain of Prue's headache. Her whole body throbbed as she remained quiet and followed the medic's flashlight with her eyes. It was in her best interest to cooperate because, honestly, she just wanted to get out of there.

Instead of meeting up with her friend and ending this horrific night, Prudence was gotten herself into a medic's room backstage at an NXT live show. A show that she didn't even want to intend in the first place. However, there she was, getting checked for a concussion whilst Kyle and one of his other wrestling friend's murmured to one another in the corner. Occasionally, they would glance over at her and it was driving Prue insane.

Soon, the light that the medic held was turned off. "Well, you don't seem to have a concussion. However, with the hits that Mr. Greenwood described— I do suspect that you'll be dizzy and sore for a couple of hours." The medic explained, talking to everyone in the room instead of just the patient herself. "You probably shouldn't drive home and you should take some pain relievers before bed."

At that point, Kyle had moved next to the medical professional. He was listening to what her was saying, nodding. "And if her pain worsens or doesn't go away?"

"Then I will take myself to the hospital." Prue stated.  Although grateful that she hadn't been left out in the parking lot when she had been on the verge of passing out, she still didn't think that she needed some guy, who didn't even know her, to look out for her.

Kyle was about to reply, most likely with a shot back at her. Unfortunately, the beginning of their bickering was interrupted by two more men walking into the room. Unlike Kyle and his dark haired friend, Prue didn't recognize the other two men from the show. However, they both gleamed with sweat so they must have gotten done performing.

One of the men had long, brown hair and blue eyes. Draped across one of his shoulders was a championship belt and by the look on his face, it was obvious that he was not pleased by the events that were going on. It was obvious, by looking at the four men, that this one was the alpha of the group. He might not have been their leader, but he sure presented himself to be.

"I go off to fight in the main event and I come back to find out you hit some fan with your car?!" He was angry.

"I didn't hit her with my car, I hit her with the trunk—" Kyle went to speak up.

"I don't care, Kyle." The man reached up and ran his hands through his long hair. There was tension in his shoulders. "This could mean lawsuits. It could mean articles, paparazzi, trouble. You wouldn't want us to go through that, would you?"

Prue stood up, not feeling comfortable with how Kyle was being treated. She might not have known the guy or even really liked him, but that didn't mean it was okay for him to be pushed around. "Excuse me, but I'm right here. Don't talk about me as if I'm not in the room." She crossed her arms, drawing the attention of all four men by speaking up.

"Oh yes, the attention seeker." The long haired man laughed. "What's your name, doll? I'll write you an autograph."

"Austin—" Kyle went to stop his friend, embarrassed by his attitude.

"No, if she went out of her way to get back here... The least I could do is sign a program for her." Austin smirked, looking her up and down. His toned arms crossed over his chest, mimicking her expression.

Although he stood about five inches taller than her, Prue wasn't intimidated. If anything, his posture reminded her of a peacock. "Oh please, I don't even watch your stupid wrestling shit. I'm not a fan, and even if I was a fan of the company.. I sure as hell wouldn't be impressed by you." She scoffed. "If I wanted the attention of a man, I'd go to the bar— not some stupid wrestling event. Instead, it seems like I've got the attention of Ken and his other plastic friends."

The darker haired one who stood behind Kyle let out a small laugh, only to be met with a small smack of the head by the fourth man, who had still yet to say anything. At that, they both straightened their posture and went back to straight faces.

"Listen, miss. I don't know who you are—" Austin began to speak.

"And I don't know who you are! Funny how that works, right?" At this point, Prue was just having fun with it. She liked how the expressions on the man in front of her changed at her back-handed remarks.

Turning away, Prue shifted through her purse. She pulled out a pair of keys and handed them to Austin. "Now, get your panties out of a twist and go take my friend home. I'm in no state to drive."

All four men were shocked by the lack of respect that the young woman had. Her night was already bad, she couldn't imagine it getting worse. Honestly, she just wanted it to be over.

"And if I don't?" He inquired.

"Then I'll rethink that lawsuit idea, huh?" She pushed his buttons further. "Oh and don't tell her what happened."

"Well then what am I supposed to say?"

"I dunno, come up with something." She shrugged. "Make-believe is what y'all do for a living so, I'm sure you'll be fine."

☼

With her car gone with Austin to take Kit home, Prue was stuck with Kyle once again. Although, after seeing how his own friend had treated him, she was starting to reconsider her opinions. Perhaps, and maybe this was a long shot, Kyle wasn't so bad after all. There were a few reasons why she was beginning to think that, but the main one that stood out her was this; Kyle could have called her a taxi or gotten someone from the company to drive her home, but he insisted on doing it himself.

It had began to rain and the scent of the weather drifted through the window of the vehicle, which was just slightly opened to let in some fresh air. For the first few minutes after they had left the arena, the car remained silent. Both parties were assuming that the other had no interest in talking.

Surprisingly, Kyle was the first to speak up. "Is it too cold in here? I can close the windows."

Prue shook her head. She was wrapped in Kyle's flannel, which he had offered her when the weather turned bad, and she was pretty calm and content. "No, it's fine."

There was a silence for a few more minutes, but then Prue sat up further in her seat. Looking over at Kyle, she spoke. "Why do you let them treat you like that?"

"What do you mean?" The driver glanced over at his passenger quickly before locking his eyes back onto the road in front of him.

"Well Austin and the other one, when they walked in— you and your other friend just kind of shut up and listened to them. Austin was being so rude to you, and you just let him." Although she had witnessed it herself, Prue was still in disbelief. How could a man, who pretty much fought for a living, take so much shit from one of his colleagues? Why didn't he just sock him in the face when he had the chance?

"Well, Austin and Chris are kind of like the big brothers of the group. Sure, we're all around the same age, but we all went through the trials and errors of wrestling together. We're like siblings, and we look after each other." Kyle shrugged. The car splashed across another puddle as he spoke. Prue assumed that the man who accompanied Austin into the room earlier that night was Chris. "When we got to NXT and got put into this faction, they took the big brother roles, and Bobby and I never complained."

The Undisputed Era. Those four guys had a bond that no other faction in professional wrestling could compare to. Over the last several years, the group had watched each other grow, both as a team and as singles competitors. Each had their moments where they where the picked on one member more than the rest, but that's just how their bond worked.

"Well, I used to have a brother and if he ever talked to me the way that Austin talks to you, I would've slapped him silly." Prue let out a small laugh, Kyle's following soon after.

The two sat there, driving down the interstate. "So did your brother like wrestling?"

Prue stiffened up. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Noted. I won't bring it up again." He sent a warm smile her way, she could only see it as they passed a street light. "So, if you don't like wrestling... Then what do you like?"

"If I didn't know any better, Mr. Kyle Greenwood, I would say that you were trying to be my friend." The brunette let out a laugh. For her new acquaintance in the driver seat, her laugh seemed to warm up the car, the same way that a person's smile can light up a room.

"And if I was? Would that be so bad?"

"Absolutely." She replied, before letting out another one of her laughs.

Kyle glanced over at her. The car was dark, shadowed by the night. However, there was a break in the clouds and the moon shined through. Off the wet pavement, reflected just enough light for him to be able to see the girl's smile for the first time. Maybe the events of that night were just a happy accident.

☼
Author's Note
Well this chapter is really freaking long lmao. I feel so bad making Adam a bad guy, but I gotta, for the sake of story telling.
This chapter has a wholesome ending and, because I don't want this fic to drag on, I'm really trying to make Prue warm up to Kyle. Soooo tell me how you think it is! I've loved everyone's responses to everything so far.
(Also I definitely laughed at myself for calling Adam the Alpha)