Disclaimer: I do not own the WWE or any of its employees mentioned in this story
"Do you know why I asked you here?" Joseph Blank asked, looking down at the boy who was dating his little girl.
"Clearly it wasn't to give me your blessing." The younger man said dryly watching as Joseph's calm expression changed to a glare of hatred.
"Let's get straight to the point here, I don't like you and you don't like me," Alex nodded, trying his hardest to pay attention, he'd heard this little story before about how he wasn't suitable enough to date Kelly.
"Which is why," Joseph said, reaching into his trouser pocket and producing his wallet. "I'm willing to pay you to leave my daughter and this town, for good." He said, pulling out a wad of 50 dollar bills and aiming them towards Alex who frowned at the money.
"You're really stooping this low?" Alex asked with a small chuckle. "Why can't you just accept that your daughter is happy with me?"
"What happens in the future Alex? My daughter is aiming to be a lawyer! She may be happy with you now but I can't say she'll be happy when you're holding her back from a successful career!" Joseph said bitterly watching Alex bite back a comeback and slowly start to think about the words being said.
He didn't know about the whole lawyer thing but Kelly was adamant about going to college and university, that much was true; would he really be holding her back with his dreams of becoming a professional footballer? Yes. A small voice in his head said, he had more chance of working in a fast food place than playing football professionally. He sighed, her father was right; he would only slow her down chasing after his dreams.
"I," he stopped short, he couldn't believe he was agreeing with Joseph, after fighting for her he was actually giving up? "I see your point." Alex said slowly and a small smile worked its way across Joseph's features.
"Well off you go then!" Joseph said forcefully pushing the money at Alex, he couldn't wait for him to leave and finally watch his daughter gain the successful life she deserved. Alex stepped back, a hand swatting the money away.
"I'm not leaving because you paid me to leave; I'm leaving to give Kelly a better future, a better chance at life." He said sadly. "It wasn't nice knowing you, but it was certainly nice knowing your daughter." Alex said before turning and heading down the drive.
Joseph couldn't hide his glee as he watched the boy enter his car and reverse out of the drive, out of his life but more importantly out of Kelly's life.
Present Day
Alex shook the memory away as he passed the sign announcing that he had finally reached the small town he left behind six years ago. Letting out a sad sigh he stared blankly at the road ahead of him, hoping he wouldn't have to deal with drama when he got to his destination. A small hand wrapped around his on the gear stick and he turned to look at the redhead sitting beside him, a comforting smile on her face.
"It'll be fine, we go in, pay our respects and leave. Simple." She said and Alex shook his head, a small smile on his face, he loved her optimism at a time like this.
"It's not as easy as that Ria." He said, staring out at the road ahead of him.
"I know." Maria said softly, giving her friend's hand a small squeeze before releasing it.
"I miss her, every day. I'm starting to wonder if I made a mistake leaving her."
"I know." Maria repeated and he turned, his expression apologetic but she brushed the facts she'd heard millions of times before away with a smile. "Its fine, you're nervous, you're scared, and you're upset. Anyone would be in your position." Alex nodded, glad he'd agreed to let her come on this trip with him.
"I know its wrong but I just want to get this over with Ria,"
"Its fine Alex," a frown creased his features as he turned back to the road. "Honestly it is! I know you didn't want this to happen, and I know the only reason you don't want to be here is because there's a small chance you'll bump into-" Maria stopped herself and Alex smiled weakly.
"Its ok you can say her name."
Maria raised an eyebrow at him and turned to look out of the window.
"This place is beautiful." She said, smiling to herself.
"Don't try to chance the subject." Alex said pointing a finger at her and Maria turned to him. "I'm not gonna cry if you say her name." Alex said and Maria gave him a look that said: really? "Again." He said lamely and she chuckled lightly.
"Now can I change the subject?" she asked as he sheepishly turned his eyes back to the road. Alex nodded and Maria repeated what she'd previously said about the town they were fast approaching. Alex smiled at her and nodded. He missed this place and not just because the girl he loved was here.
Alicia Fox chewed noisily on her latest stick of gum as she browsed through a fashion magazine. Being a hotel receptionist wasn't the best job ever, especially for a girl like Alicia but it was paying the bills. For now at least. Besides business wasn't exactly booming which gave Alicia plenty of reasons not to do her job properly, no one would be checking in any time soon.
Or so she thought.
The bell above the emerald door rang out and Alicia sighed, glancing up from her magazine and looking across the black and white floor to look over the latest guests, a rather tall looking man who seemed familiar and a small, slim red headed woman entered.
Alicia gave them a small smile, the best she could manage after they interrupted her seemingly permanent break, and slowly closed the magazine, casually sliding it from the desk and onto her lap.
Suddenly a memory came into her thoughts and she turned her attention to the new comers, who were quickly approaching the desk. She gasped when she realised why she had recognised the man. It was Alex Riley, the man who left six years ago, breaking her best friend's heart in the process, what was he doing here? Alicia narrowed her eyes at Alex, anger building up inside her.
"Great she recognises me." Alex muttered and Maria frowned.
"I told you to stay at your father's." she said matter-of-factly.
"Like he would be happy to see me." Alex said and Maria shrugged. "He'd be ashamed of me and would slam the door in my face Ria."
"You could have at least tried; you are his only son after all."
The pair had finally reached the desk and Alicia Fox was looking less than happy.
"Alex, what are you doing here?" she asked sweetly her facial expression the complete opposite from the sickly sweet tone of voice she was using. "And who is this, your latest girlfriend?"
"Alicia…" Alex warned but the woman continued.
"Or is this your wife, a lot can happen in six years!"
"Listen, Alicia is it?" Maria piped up. "Sorry to burst your bubble but I'm just here for morale support, my friend," she placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Has just recently lost his mother and wanted to say a final goodbye without the misfortune he caused coming back and biting him on the ass." Alicia raised an eyebrow but let the girl continue. "So would you please be professional and treat him like any other customer?" Alicia rolled her dark eyes but nodded.
"Whatever," she muttered. "How can I help you?"
"We'd like two rooms for the week please."
"Brave enough to stay a whole week." Alicia muttered to herself before tapping away at the computer. "You'll be staying in rooms 213 and 214 up on the second floor," she said standing and collecting their keys from the racks behind her. "How will you be paying today?" she asked giving them a warm but fake smile.
"It's a shame about Donna Riley, isn't it?" Kelly Blank said as she perched herself on her colleague and close friend Randy Orton's desk. Randy sighed and leant on one of his student's desks.
"Yes it is." He said nodding and making sure her crystal blue eyes never wandered away from his steel blue ones. "But that's not really what you're talking about."
The blonde frowned and he gave her a weak smile, standing upright and making his way towards her.
"You're worrying about Alex showing up on Tuesday." The blonde sighed and gave a small nod, smiling weakly at him.
"You know me so well." She said and Randy chuckled, sitting beside her.
"No, I just listen in on your nightly calls to Alicia." Kelly looked shocked. "Not in that way," he said giving her a small nudge. "I listen to the advice she gives." Kelly nodded.
"She does give good advice, I'm just not sure if I can follow it this time around." She said with a small shrug, Randy wrapped an arm around her shoulders, letting her rest her head on his.
"On the off chance that he does show, which he might do considering it is his mother's funeral," Kelly allowed a small smile to form. "Just ignore him."
"What if he wants to talk though?" she asked, sitting up and looking at her friend, worry written all over her face. "Try to explain what, why…" she trailed off and Randy gave her a small squeeze when he saw tears forming in her eyes.
"Then you be civil." He said and she gave him a weak smile. "Sure, it'll be hard, we all know what he did to you Kelly, but in the end it will be worth it."
"How do you know that?"
"Personal experience." Randy explained with a small shrug. "And if he does show and you do have a civil conversation will you finally talk to your Dad?" Kelly sighed and ran a hand through her blonde hair.
"He had something to do with it though, I know he did!"
"But if you forgive Riley then you can-"
"I will never forgive Alex." Kelly said standing up. "I loved him Randy, and he just left without warning!" she threw her hands in the air. "The only thing he left was a tiny note saying that he would always love me or something like that!" she began to pace. "If he really loved me he wouldn't have left would he?"
Seeing his friend was starting to get stressed Randy stood and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Calm down!" he ordered and Kelly sighed looking up at him with a sorry expression. "We don't know why he left you Kels but what we do know is that he left loving you." he pushed a stray curl from her face. "That's better than nothing right?" he asked softly and Kelly nodded, a tear slowly trickling down her cheek.
"But-" Randy pressed a finger to her lips and wiped the tear away with his thumb.
"No matter what happened six years ago you will find a decent guy, this guy may be Justin, it might not be, but don't give up hope you'll find your guy and he'll be the luckiest man in the world. Wanna know why? Because you're a beautiful girl with such a great personality and a kind heart." He said kissing the top of her head gently.
"Is that what you've got with Alicia?" she asked and Randy smiled.
"Yeah," he nodded, releasing her shoulders and taking her hands. "I promise you Kels you will find Mr. Right, you've just gotta wait for him." Kelly nodded.
"Thanks Randy, Alicia's a lucky girl." She pulled him into a hug, hoping Mr. Right would make an appearance soon if he wasn't Justin.
"No way!" Layla practically screamed down the phone, she was certainly glad she had her own office to scream in she was sure the others wouldn't approve. "And you're sure it's him?"
"No he just looked extremely similar to Alex, of course it was him Lay!" Alicia Fox said on the other end of the line.
"Well why is he back, I thought he was gone for good!"
"So did everyone Lay, I guess he's back for the funeral… that girl did mention something about his mother, not that I was paying attention to that stick." Layla smiled.
"Wow choosing to be a receptionist was definitely the right career for you, you're such a people person." Layla teased and she knew over at the hotel Alicia was rolling her eyes.
"Whatever, the point is what are we going to do about K-E-L-L-Y?"
"We should just tell her." Layla said shrugging.
"And put her off going to the funeral? Martin would be heartbroken; she's the closest thing he has to Alex."
"Fine, don't tell her then." She heard Alicia sigh on the other end and Layla frowned. "Well we can't put her off the funeral and she can't go to the funeral and get the shock of her life so what the hell are we meant to do?" she asked.
"Maybe we should tell her on the way to the funeral then she can't back out!"
"Yeah but she'll put up a pretty good fight." Layla said, tapping a pen on her desk.
"What else can we do?" Alicia asked sounding slightly stressed. A sudden idea popped into Layla's head.
"Well you said Kelly's the closest thing Martin has to Alex right?"
"Yeah but I don't see-" Alicia started but Layla cut her off.
"Alex is bound to visit his father right?" Alicia nodded her head, forgetting she was on the phone but Layla continued. "I mean it's the only way his father will let him go to the funeral anyway, so why don't we let Martin deal with it?"
"That's quite a good idea Lay," Layla smiled to herself, hoping her 'good idea' would actually work.