Disclaimer: Contrary to my own belief, I do NOT own anybody in this story. To make things even worse, I'm not making any money, either.

The Next Kiss

Three years. That's how long it had been since the love of my life, Scott Hall, died in a car accident. It was a long three years with many tears falling and lots of time being spent in depression. As time went on, it became easier to deal with, just like Shawn said it would. The good days started outnumbering the bad. The smiles started outnumbering the tears. However, I still never thought that I would fall in love again.

*****

I was watching a baseball game on a hot August Saturday when my telephone rang. The score was too lopsided for the game to be interesting anymore. I let the phone ring a couple times before I answered.

Hey, Kev. How are you doing? It was Shawn. He had called me at least once every day since Scott died. He's such a wonderful best friend.

I'm doing okay. How about you?

Fine. I've got a question.

I asked.

Why don't you come to the pay-per-view tomorrow? he offered. It's in Orlando, and you'll get to hang out with your best friends.

I guess so, I answered, a little unsure. I stopped wrestling after Scott died. I never officially retired, I just quit. Only in the last few months had I started going to shows to hang out with friends. Attending a wrestling show without Scott still upset me a little bit. However, I really liked to see old friends and meet the new guys.

You don't have to come if you don't want to, Shawn said, picking up the uncertainty in my voice.

No, I'll go, I said with more confidence.

You sure?

Yeah, there's nothing else to do anyway. So, is somebody gonna pick me up, or do I have to drive? I asked.

Hunter and I will pick you up. Just be ready by noon, Shawn said.

Sounds good.

Great. See ya tomorrow, then.

Love ya.

Love you, too, Kevin, he said and hung up.

*****

I was ready by noon the next day, but Shawn and Hunter didn't show up until close ton one. Figures, Shawn's never on time.

I woke up in the morning feeling guilty about having good plans when Scott wasn't alive to enjoy them with me. I was going to call Shawn and tell him that I couldn't come. After a good cry and a refreshing shower, I decided against it. I knew that I had to keep moving on. I was in an unusual happy mood when Shawn and Hunter finally arrived.

At the arena, Shawn and Hunter had to prepare for Hunter's match, which Shawn was refereeing. I walked around the building greeting everybody and making small talk. After wandering around for an hour, I finally found the man I was looking for.

Sean was sitting at a table talking with someone. Sean went back to WWE not long after Scott died. I didn't hear from or see Sean often. He distanced himself from me after Scott's funeral. I know that we're still best friends, it's just that Sean misses Scott and I'm too much of a reminder. I understand how he feels.

As I walked toward him, Sean got up from his seat to greet me with a hug. We sat down and I saw that Sean had been chatting with Nathan Jones. I gave him a brief hello' before starting a conversation with Sean.

How have you been? I asked him.

Good. What about you? he replied.

Okay. Are you winning tonight? I asked referring to his WWE title match with John Cena.

Sean answered with a huge grin.

Really? That's awesome, I said. Scott would be so damn proud of you--you're finally gonna be the champ.

I know, he said, his grin falling at the mention of Scott. As a matter of fact, I've got to talk with Cena about it now.

Okay, I'll see ya later, I told him as he walked away. I was really happy that Sean was going to be the champion. I was proud, too. It was a bittersweet situation, though. Scott used to go on and on about how Sean deserved that title, but he wasn't here to see it happen. Thinking about it brought a tear to my eye.

Are you okay? I heard a thick Australian accent ask me as a big hand rested on my shoulder in a comforting gesture.

I woke from my daze to see Nathan Jones looking at me with worry. Uh, I'm fine, I said and quickly brushed the tear away with the back of my hand.

You sure?

I said and gave him a small smile to prove that I was telling the truth.

I'm sorry about what happened to Scott, Nathan said.

It's not your fault, I replied.

You know, I don't believe we've really met before, he said.

You're right, I said after thinking about it for a moment. Nathan had debuted just before Scott died, so I didn't meet him. Just before I began coming to the shows, Nathan had torn his biceps and was out. How is your arm? I asked.

All better. I was cleared last week, he replied.



Yeah, I'm supposed to make my return tomorrow on Nathan said.

That's cool, I said. Are you excited?

Yeah, I can't wait, he smiled and check his watch. It's been nice talking to you, Kevin, but I'm supposed to meet someone at the gym now.

It was nice to meet you, I said as he got up to leave.

Yeah, hope to see you around some more, Nathan said with a smile and walked away.

I watched him leave and thought that it would be really nice to see him again. Nathan was a nice guy, and he was good-looking, too. I wondered if he was gay for a moment. I quickly caught myself, though, and mentally slapped myself. There was no way that I could be thinking like that. I still loved Scott, it was almost like cheating on him. I quickly got up and started a conversation with the first person I saw, before I could give any more thought to Nathan.

*****

Shawn and Hunter took me back to my house after the show. They decided to stay the night, because it just didn't make sense for them to pay for a room when I had a free one. I tried to convince Sean of the same thing, but he claimed that he was going to party with the other guys over his title win.

So, did you have fun, Kevin? Shawn asked when we got in the house.

Yeah, I had a good time, I answered. I had actually spent the better part of the day trying to avoid Nathan. Fortunately, I didn't see him for the rest of the day.

I guess you could've done without the surprise of Sean winning the title, Shawn said.

I'm proud of him, and I know that Scott would be, too.

It just sucks that Scott isn't here for it, Hunter said.

We all feel quiet and silently mourned Scott's death again. Before we could let the grief get the better of us, Shawn spoke, Tomorrow's Raw' is in Orlando, too. Wanna come, Kev?

I immediately thought of Nathan and how he told me that he hoped to see me again. I knew that he would be there because he was scheduled to make his big return. I heard myself say, Yeah, sure, even though I had tried to stop those words.

Shawn said.

How could my mouth betray me like that? I didn't really want to see Nathan again, and I would have to if I went. I was deathly afraid that I might be attracted to him. And that certainly couldn't happen, because I couldn't turn my back on my love for Scott.

It's late, Hunter yawned. I'm going to bed.

I looked at the clock on the wall. It read 2:10 a.m.

Yeah, and we have to get up kind of early, Shawn said.

See ya in the morning, Hunter said as he began climbing the stairs to my guest room.

Shawn said and followed his lover.

I called after them. Don't be too loud, I said and heard them laugh.

I went around the house locking doors and turning off lights. Then, I retired to my own bedroom, which was still decorated with pictures of Scott. I undressed and climbed under the sheets, that didn't smell of Scott any more. As always, my last conscious thought was of Scott, and how much I hated the empty spot beside me.

TBC