(Okay so I have no business starting a new story but I had to write this one! Tell me what you think)

Cody didn't usually have such open appearances in public. His accounting cubicle in the Orton conglomerate was cozy for his forty hour week. Even so, this was a very nice Sunday morning and his best friend had invited him to early breakfast at the local diner. It was a good thing Daniel's Diner opened up this early.

The sun had just reared its head over the trees to ring in the morning but Cody had been awake long before that. His daily jog was priority; beauty a priority above all else. That was the reason as well for his new mustache. He prided himself in his freshly flawless facial follicles.

Staring between his cup of coffee and his cleansed cuticles, Cody sighed in impatience. This was really not the scene for an introvert like him. Damien knew that but his persistent insistence was overwhelming to be blunt. Rhodes had fallen victim like any normal sap for their best and only real friend.

At the time, there weren't any other people in the diner except for the owner and his newest waitress. With flowing brown curls, she was a small bouncy Latina lady but for reasons unbeknownst to the customers, she didn't wait on any table. More than likely it was because she was Daniel's new girl friend. To Cody she seemed kind of loopy but who was he to judge? At least Daniel was attempting to intermingle with another person. On the other hand, he was single and had been single for almost three years now. That really didn't look good.

It was just that he hadn't ventured into it since his accident at work, the accident that got him the promotion and subsequently facial reconstruction on his broke face. The same accident that kept him cautious for a year about approaching anyone with that God-awful face mask . That was a situation he'd truly hate to ever relive. What a disaster that was... with very good benefits. A beautiful disaster. That was the best description.

Aside from his contemplative introspection, Cody looked up after hearing one sided bickering from the kitchen followed by the bearded owner bursting through the door with a box of vegetables. Seconds late, the young lady followed his path carrying two bags of fruit, apologizing like crazy for who-knows-what. Food and entertainment; maybe breakfast wasn't such a bad idea. Cody laughed slightly but everything ceased when he heard a rumbling laugh akin to his own.

An unfamiliar laugh. Belonging to an unfamiliar face; the face that thirdly came from the kitchen. A face that was attached to the most breath-taking man Cody had ever seen.

Carrying a flower arrangement, a young man with hey-colored hair and brilliant blue eyes strode through the door. He wore a tight peach short sleeve shirt, khaki pants, thick brown boots, and gardening gloves. Gorgeous tan skin and a smile to die for wrapped inside perfectly pouty lips. This guy was unbelievable.

Cody couldn't focus on the actual scene playing out around him in the diner. He didn't even realize he was staring until the newcomer nodded to him with a warming smile. Oh his stricken heart! Immediately his gaze fell back in his coffee, his flustered self finding something interesting somewhere in the refreshment. His further embarrassment keeps his eyes locked there as he just listens in on the conversation.

"This shipment was actually better than last weeks and the flowers look healthier. That's bound to bring in more customers!" Daniel laughed cockily which in turn made the stranger chuckle.

"I'm glad to help you," he said, handing off the bouquet of flowers and shaking the diner owner's hand. "You're my best customer, Daniel so I always give you the best I can."

"Every time," Daniel confessed with a way too happy grin.

There was dangling silence between the two before the young man shrugged. "Well, I'm headed off to see my dad before I make my next delivery. The doors are now opened." He gently nodded again and went on his way; his beauty here and gone just like that. The young man looked up to catch the runners last fleeing seconds before slowly beginning to rise himself.

Cody couldn't quite put his finger on why he wanted to turn stalker but he just felt a need to. Something about this guy was worth checking in to, so he followed him and when the man hopped in his pick up truck, even still Cody pursued him on his bike. Not that he couldn't drive but in a small town like theirs, there was no need to have that extra expense when most things were in walking distance. Either way, he was determined to learn something about this stranger.

:::

After a good twenty minutes, Rhodes found himself wheeling up to a church. Hadn't been there in a month of Sundays. He'd been truly busy for a long time.

He intently watched as the florist and farmer exited his pickup and eased inside the church doors. A few seconds later he followed in eight he intentions to make it seem coincidental that they attended the same church. That, of course, didn't happen and instead he ran into a sharply dressed minister. The older male's long dirty-blonde hair cascaded down the lapel of his suit and his back.

"Can I help you?" The man politely asked. "The session won't start until 10 o'clock."

"Oh," Cody gulped awkwardly. "No, I mean I didn't plan on staying for that. There was someone that just came in and I wanted to talk to him."

The blonde scratched his head quizzically. "What's their name. It's only a few of us in here."

"I don't..." Cody pointed his finger to the back as he caught a glimpse of the young man walking around. "Him."

The minister didn't even turn, he just pointed his thumb. "TJ? Ted junior?"

"Yeah Ted," Cody too happily continued. Now he had a name.

The minister blinked blankly before studying how Rhodes eyes lit up with the mention of the name and later repetition. "Oh," he smirked, "So you want to talk to him?" Suggestively he hiked his eyebrows and nudged Cody. "Not exactly the most ideal place to pick up guys though."

Cody's eyes bulged extremely before he stuttered out a "What, no!" but his blushing face said otherwise.

"Then what could you want with our boy?" Shawn asked innocently but regained his smirk as Rhodes was left speechless. He took the silence and began to slink around to distribute Bibles in the pews. "You know you've got pretty good taste if you're after him. The preachers son; that's bound to be interesting. He's a good boy though, not the type of man to just have a fling with. He's a keeper." The minister turned. "Not that you're interested."

Cody bashfully huffed before running after the retreating man. "Okay, maybe... maybe I am a little interested- for business reasons! I saw him with produce and flowers earlier."

The clergyman knowingly placed his hands on his hips. "You are incredibly in denial, you know that?" He examined Rhodes and stuck out his hands. "Shawn Michaels."

"Cody Rhodes," the younger received the shake.

"Well, here's a little heads up." Shawn turned to walk down the isle and reached behind his head to tie up his locks, talking to the other still. "His name's Ted Dibiase Jr. He comes in on Sundays to talk to his dad and get a blessing before service starts. He can't exactly make it because he's always busy on his little ranch but visiting time's over and we're about to start." He pointed towards the window to his sides around to the door. "I'm not turning you away from The Lord's house but what you're looking for isn't here anymore."

As if on cue, Cody honed in on the sound of Ted's truck revving up. Hastily, he thanked Shawn and headed off to tarry forth on his bike. "Ted. TJ...Teddy." Cody smiled as he repeated the name like a mantra. What a nice name to match an even nicer face.

:::

The rest of the morning into the late afternoon, Rhodes had enjoyed tailing his new obsession. Ted was just too sweet. He made one more delivery before heading to the racetrack to tend to the competing horses. Interestingly enough, they were mostly the creatures he had bred himself. Afterwords there was a trip to the children's hospital to drop off toys and finally to the park to drop off supplies for the following weeks festivity's. That was only a reminder to how much Cody didn't get out. He hadn't even known the area to have a town fair, parade, or tailgate party. Embarrassing.

On the outskirts of town, the way to Dibiase's house was imprinted on his mind and the ranch house stored in his memory. He'd tread on that land one day but as Ted turned up that winding road for home, Cody biked back in to town.

It was practically six in the evening and it would be seven when he reached his shared apartment. Almost instantly, the man slapped his forehead and pulled out his phone that he'd put on silent earlier. Damien must've been furious. Silently he cursed and sped on his ten-speed. His best friend would not be the happiest camper.

Arriving at the apartment, Cody was not surprised to see the bearded gentleman lounging on the couch, eyes closed, and enjoying classical music. Sneakily he tried to creep in without notice but the clearing of a throat warned him that he was definitely found out.

"Hmm," the man started before opening his eyes and turning fully to Rhodes. "Now I'm not sure but I do recall asking you to breakfast this morning. Am I mistaken?"

Cody winced under the obvious scrutiny. "We'll no but-"

"Oh so you stood me up on purpose?! You're welcome, best friend." He waved his hand away dismissively as Cody tried to move closer to the couch. "I don't want to hear your apology."

"Damien you don't understand. I waited but then this guy showed up a-" Before he could finish, a pillow was thrown his way and at his face.

"So you ditched me for a man?! I can not believe you!" Playfully Damien stood and ushered Cody on to the couch with him. "So...what's this guy look like? Tall, dark, and handsome?"

"I took a picture of him," Cody chuckled and pulled out his phone, handing it to his friend.

"My, my, my. This is more than 'a picture'." Sandow commented as he scrolled through the numerous snapshots. Damien sneered, "He's a blonde..." Out the corner of his eye he caught the brunette incredulously gazing at him. It only proved to make him grin harder. "Hey, you know my policy on blondes. Statistics have proved their intelligence," he held up his hands in playful defense.

"Thats not true...My dad is blonde."

"And I still back my opinion," he mumbled. "But besides that point, he is quite the stunning specimen. So he's your new obsession?"

"Its not obsession!" Cody snatched away his phone and proceeded to his room. "I just want to- you know- get to know him. Expand my networking circle." He called back as he threw off his clothes to jump in the shower. The warm water felt excellent on his aching legs. Riding around on that bike all day was not that smart. Cody zoned in on his room mate's voice that he guessed came from his usual spot on his bed.

"So, just to be sure, is he playing on your side of the field? You made sure of that, did you not?" The sound of the shower turning off and following silence made Damien sigh in distress. "Cody, you really know nothin about this guy. What If you're obsessing over this guy and he's not interested? I don't think I can take you sinking into your proverbial shell any more."

Cody pushed his way out the restroom with his underwear on and towel covering his wet hair; his pouty duck face full blown as he strode to his bed. "Don't worry so much. I told you it's not an obsession. I didn't even say I wanted to date him or anything. I just want to...talk...to him." He plopped on his bed next to Damien and the scruffier man patted his younger friend's head.

"Just be careful, please. I don't know if I can fix you anymore, you and your introvert ways." Damien stood and eased to the door.

"Fix me?! You didn't do anything for me! I'm still an introvert." Cody laughed.

Sandow just pointed, "You're welcome." He grinned and closed Rhodes' door. "Good evening." The man called.

Cody smiled at the door and whispered, "night," before grabbing his phone to gaze at the pictures he took.

Ted. He just wanted to know more about this guy. He was like a ray of sunshine in the usually gray and corporate world he lived in. The man's presence was just refreshing. He needed to get to know him, talk to him, heck maybe just look at him a bit longer. Either way he just wouldn't be satisfied until he got closer to Ted Dibiase Jr.

Review please!