Author's Note: BIG thankyou to foldintothenight for reviewing, The Viper's Krazy Chick for reviewing & favouriting and shiki94 for reviewing & alerting, as well to those who read my story. Hope you all enjoyed it :)

The lone sound of drumbeats filled the air of the local dive bar. Curt stood on the small stage, guitar in hand as he awaited his cue to come in. The sound of his electric instrument soon joined the drum, as a cover of Nickelback's Bottoms Up was being played by the band, the music filtering through the open windows into the Floridian night. They always ended their Saturday night gig with the same song, encouraging the select group of patrons to enjoy the rest of the night. Curt was joined on stage by his long-time friends and band mates, Jeff Hardy, Phil 'Punk' Brooks and Adam 'Edge' Copeland. "Bottoms up!" Jeff sang into the microphone, effectively ending the performance for the night as the usual group of alternative, college-goers applauded and cheered for the band.

The manager and owner of the bar walked over to the group, tip jar and a wad of $20 notes in his hand. "Great work tonight boys," he congratulated his regular Saturday act has he handed each member $100 and the tip jar to be divided amongst themselves.

"Thanks Steve," Curt replied, shaking the bald-headed man's hand. He was still so grateful for being hired, despite Steve's original hesitation to due to the boys' ages. However an increase in patronage and profit soon led him to 'forget' about the legal issues of employing under 21's to work in his bar. Steve figured that all four band members could pass for 21, as long as the police didn't happen to check their ID's and see that they were in fact two years younger.

"No worries," Steve said, "I'll see you boys next Friday, same time," he continued as the band finished packing up most of their equipment, the drums and amplifiers being left behind in their usual spot on the stage, before walking off to serve a female group who were clearly celebrating a 21st.

"I'll catch up with you guys back at the dorm," Curt said, "I've got to go and see Ryse," he added, picking up the case containing his electric guitar, his most prized possession.

"You and that girl," Edge said with a shake of his head, "how have you not tapped that?" he asked incredulously.

"Bro…" Curt replied, a slight look of disgust crossing his face, "she's practically my sister," he said for what felt like the millionth time. His friends just couldn't grasp the fact that he, Curt Hawkins, was "just friends" with Isolah College's most eligible freshmen bachelorette Maryse Ouellet. In fact they found the idea that Curt was even friends with her to be more unbelievable, "I'll see you all later," he said as he left the dingy bar.

Curt began the short walk from the bar to the campus, by now he knew the route like the back of his hand. Suddenly, he found himself colliding with a solid form, and watched in horror as his guitar case dropped on the ground, sending the contents crashing onto the road. "Hey! Why don't you watch where you're going?" he snapped angrily at the dreadlocked figure, "shit man, you broke my guitar," he continued on his tirade after examining the remains of his guitar, of his livelihood.

Curt managed to get a good look at the man who had ran into him. Tall, dreadlocked and muscle-bound, he cringed internally as he realised that this man could break him as easily as his guitar. "I'll pay to get it fixed, don't worry," the man sighed, irritation colouring his voice. Curt retrieved his black iPhone from his pocket and gave it to the man, asking him to put his details in, "come see me tomorrow," he added after giving Curt the necessary information, and then continued to walk off down the street.

After picking up his broken instrument and replacing it in its flimsy case, Curt looked at his phone to figure out the identity of the guy who'd run into him.

Tyler Reks

'Little Slice of Heaven'

Ask for Shaun or Hunter and they'll get me for you

"Didn't even leave a freakin' number," he said to himself, still feeling irate about the events which had just occurred, "and what the hell is 'Little Slice of Heaven'?" he mumbled to himself as he reached the co-ed dormitory, placing the case on his bed before walking down the hallway to Maryse's room. He figured he may as well ask her what 'Little Slice of Heaven' was while he was visiting.

Curt knocked on the door of the room which Maryse shared with Rosa Mendes, hearing girly giggling coming from the other side of the white wood, "is everyone decent?" he asked, something he had gotten in the habit of since accidently walking in on Maryse getting changed once. Not that he didn't enjoy the view, but like he told his friends, she was practically his sister and it was just weird.

"Eww, go away Curt," came the accented reply of Rosa, as he smirked to himself, shaking his head. It wasn't only his friends who couldn't believe that the two of them were friends. But unlike Curt's friends – who encouraged the friendship – Maryse's friends tried to discourage the French-Canadian beauty from even speaking to 'that guitar player' as if he possessed some sort of hideous, contagious disease.

"I'm coming in ladies," Curt said, dismissing Rosa's disproval. He was greeted by the sight of not only Maryse and Rosa, but also Eve Torres and Nikki & Brie Bella, the twins which Jeff was obsessed with; only because he couldn't decide which one he thought was more attractive. He kissed Maryse on the cheek, something he'd been doing since they first became friends, since Maryse slapped him for not saying 'hello' the French way. Out of the corner of his eye, Curt saw Eve pretending to gag.

"How can you let that thing touch you Ryse?" Eve asked in disbelief, "seriously." Maryse shot her friend a deadly glare, effectively shutting up Eve Torres. She knew that her new college friends didn't approve of her friendship with Curt, but they didn't know the whole story. Maryse and Curt had been friends for as long as she could remember, his parents were like a second family to her. And while she could admit, if it wasn't for their families, the two of them probably would never have spoken to each other, Maryse wasn't going to ditch her best friend because the girls didn't approve.

"Girls, can you leave us for a bit. I need to talk to Curt," the tone of her voice turning the question into a statement. The other four females reluctantly left the room, Rosa the most unwilling to be kicked out of her own room. "Sorry about them," Maryse said to Curt, disappointment colouring her voice. She wished her friends didn't treat him like he was the dirt beneath their Manolo Blahniks.

"Na, it's alright," he said, flashing her a cheerful smile. He honestly wasn't worried about the opinions of the four brunettes. "I've got a question. Do you know what 'Little Slice of Heaven' is?" he asked the French-Canadian curiously. He had assumed it was some boutique clothing store, but then again, he couldn't imagine the intimidating Tyler Reks stacking clothes in size and colour order.

Maryse stifled a laugh with her manicured hand, looking at Curt incredulously, "um…" she started, "why?" Maryse questioned her friend, who before tonight, would have no problem believing that he was straight. Now however, she wondered about her judgement.

"Some douchebag broke my guitar. Apparently he works there," Curt replied, filling in Maryse with the events which had occurred previous to his visit.

A look of shock crossed her features, "your guitar's broken?" she asked disbelievingly. She knew how much the instrument meant to her friend, "I can pay to get it fixed. I don't mind."

Curt shook his head, unable to accept her offer, "I can't Ryse. That dick needs to pay for his mistake, and I need to prove to my parents that I don't need their money or support to be successful," Curt said, resent filling his voice at the mention of his parents. When he left for college, they cut him off from his trust fund. It was their idea of punishment for not following their career paths of medicine, and instead deciding to study music to be one step closer to achieving his dream of becoming a worldwide music sensation.

"Well okay," Maryse said, finally accepting Curt's refusal of help, "you want to know what 'Little Slice of Heaven' is?" she dragged out giving him the answer, awaiting the look of disbelief to cross his face, "it's a male strip club."

Author's Note: another chapter done and dusted. What did everyone think? Are the characters the right choice? What about the way Maryse's friends treat Curt? Any ideas as to what the next chapter may be about? Leave your thoughts in a review you lovely readers :) xx