A/N: Not that I have anything against John Morrison or Miz, because I actually like them. I just needed a bad guy(s) for the sake of the fic. Thanks for the reviews, adding the story to your alerts and everything!
"Thanks for the ride man." Shannon slurred as he and Autumn exited the backseat of CM Punk's car. Shannon walked ahead as Autumn said goodnight to Maria who promised to take Autumn to pick up her rental car tomorrow morning.
Autumn caught up to Shannon who was loaded down with his bags, a bag of food and trying to retrieve the room key from his pocket.
"I've got my key right here, come on."
Shannon stopped and waited for her to lead the way. Apparently, the liquor was kicking in as he stumbled a bit and stopped to readjust the bags. Autumn smirked and took the bag of takeout from him. "Thanks."
Once they were inside her room, she kicked off her heels and Shannon fell into a chair. "Please tell me you have provisions."
Autumn shot him a sideways glance. "Provisions?"
"Yeah, booze, liquor, hooch, beer, wine. You get the picture?"
"I think you need to eat." She set out the Styrofoam containers on the table.
"Thanks mom, but I know what I need and it's not steak. Not yet anyways."
"There's beer in the fridge, help yourself." Autumn sat on the edge of the bed and picked at the steamed vegetables on her plate while watching Shannon out of the corner of her eye. Something was definitely off with him. He never drank like this unless it was his birthday of New Year's Eve. And the look he got on his face when Chavo walked in the Outback earlier she thought he might actually try to take his belt right there.
Shannon walked over to the fridge and retrieved a beer and a mini bottle of vodka. He popped the top on the beer and started drinking before he made it back to the chair. Autumn ate her dinner and he drank his liquor while awkward silence settled over the room.
"How long are you gonna be mad at me?"
"Until you tell me what's going on with you."
Shannon finished his beer and stood up to leave. "You wouldn't understand. It's not as hard for the divas. All you need is a great set of tits and a firm ass but I need to be bigger, better and stronger than the next person. I don't have time to explain this to you again. I'll see you later."
Autumn sat there shocked and stunned. She wasn't sure what had gotten into Shannon and at that moment, she was too pissed to care.
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The next morning Autumn knocked relentlessly on Shannon's door only to get no answer. She checked her watch again. If they wanted to make it to Birmingham in time for the SmackDown taping, they needed to leave in the next hour. She pulled out her cell phone, dialed his number, and of course got his voice mail. She left a message telling him to meet her at the waffle house next door.
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The waffle house was packed with many of her fellow co-workers yet no sign of Shannon. Autumn managed to find an empty table next to Torrie, Rey and Jamie.
"Hey Autumn! What's wrong?" Torrie greeted in her usual cheery voice.
"I can't find Shannon and he's riding with me. Have any of you seen him?"
"I haven't." Rey offered between bites of his omelet.
"Me either, sorry." Torrie smiled.
Jamie who had his mouth full took a little longer to reply. "Yeah, I saw him about thirty minutes ago. He was getting into the truck with John Morrison and Miz ."
Autumn just stared at him dumfounded before she mumbled a thanks and left.
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Autumn spent most of the four-hour drive to Birmingham seething in anger. They always traveled together and not once had he ever left her hanging as he just did. Not only that when did he start hanging around John Morrison? The guy was bad news and both she and Shannon knew that. So now not only was she pissed but now she was worried.