"My Stupid Mouth"
Matt Hardy/Ashley Massaro
Thanks for the Reviews: rory21 big thanks to her for reviewing Chapter two! Don't be shy to comment. Anything you say whether it's
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Chapter Four: An Unexpected Guest
The cab pulls up to the arena as Ashley leans forward paying the driver. Matt slides out first and offers his hand out to help Ashley out. The cab driver walks around opening the trunk letting them get out their bags. Ashley dragged her wheeled suitcase away from the street. She turns her pink hair getting caught in the Austin, Texas hot dry weather. She pushes it out of her eyes again. Matt thanks the driver turning around slinging his bag across his shoulder and dragging his wheeled suitcase. He grabs Ashley's free hand not thinking anything of it rushing her towards the back arena entrance.
"Matt, Wait!" She trips a bit at the rushing. Matt looked back while practically jogging the two into the arena. Ashley clutches her hand tighter to him afraid that if he let go she'd be left outside of the arena.
"Come on Ash, get those legs of yours moving." Matt teased as he pulled open the door. Ashley narrowed her eyes knowing now wasn't the time to try and cause a battle with Matt. Matt pulled her down the staff cramped hallways of the arena that Monday Night Raw was performing at. She saw Mickie James who had a face of shock after seeing the dirty diva.
"Ash!?" Mickie called out stepping farther out into the hall as Matt Hardy zooms Ashley past.
"Hi Mick! I'll come talk to you after—" Ashley realized Mickie could no longer hear her with Matt tugging her down the hall so fast. He pulls her into a locker room making a bunch of guys stand up. Ashley raises her hand up covering her eyes quickly. "I'm not looking!" She quickly defends herself. Matt lets go of her hand tossing his bag on a bench. He walks back over to her grabbing her shoulders spinning her around towards the door.
"Wait outside okay? I have to get dressed the show is going to start really soon and if Vince finds out I was late—" Matt was suddenly interrupted by MVP.
"He already was looking for you." Matt turns looking at MVP sitting on the bench. "I can tell by that look on your face you are about to go into a state of shock. So get dressed, chill with me, and I'll cover for you."
Matt took a sigh of relief. Ashley taps Matt's arm. "Um Matt, I don't have a visitor pass." She stares at him.
"I can take her to get one." Brian Kendrick walked out of the bathroom. Matt pats Brian's arm thanking him. Ashley grins widely at her old friend.
"Go with Brian, I'll find you in a bit okay?" Matt looked at her concerned. She nodded as Matt walked over quickly to his bag. He turned looking as Ashley hugged Brian with a happy hello walking with him out of the locker room.
"How long have you and Ashley been dating again?" MVP enquired. Matt was in the midst of changing. He decided it wasn't worth the time to answer as they hadn't been and he hasn't really figured out how he did feel about her. Matt quickly pulled on his wrestling tights and starts taping his wrists. MVP took the hint that Matt was not the person to ask questions to tonight.
++ Old Friends ++
Ashley smiled talking to Brian and Mickie James with her new visitor pass pinned to her jean skirt. "--Yeah, so, I came with Matt. I think he forgot I live in Austin cause he took me out shopping but didn't bother telling me Raw was here. If I had known that I would have told him to hold his money." She giggled at Mickie.
"Aw, well it was sweet of him anyway; he always looked out for you."
"Here he is!" Brian exclaimed. Ashley was still smiling wide with Mickie before both girls turn to see who Brian was talking about. Ashley's expression quickly dropped to a new level of shock. Mickie took one smile at the guest before looking over at Ashley's expression. She now knew that she might have to hold up Ashley from passing out.
"Hi." A deep male voice spoke to Ashley.
"Um, Hehe, She says hi." Mickie hits her elbow in to Ashley's side. Ashley takes a moment to close her mouth and looked at Mickie then back at … him.
"Paul." Ashley said only letting a small smile come from her mouth still in awe at Paul London's presence. Brian distracted her by bringing both into a group hug.
"Look we are all back together for one night! And I'm the only one still hired by WWE." Brian said with a wide smile and teasingly to both former group members. Ashley couldn't believe her eyes. Paul shot Brian a look. "Only jokin! Jeez tough crowd huh Micks?" Brian let go of them elbowing Mickie's elbow. Mickie was still watching the eye contact between the two.
"Brian, five minutes." A staff member walks past. Brian pats both of their shoulders.
"I'll let you two love birds get back to reuniting. Escort me Mickie? No? Later Gators!" Brian cockily walked away in his THE Brian Kendrick persona attitude.
"Ash, did you want to go to the soda machine now?" Mickie strongly hinted trying to help Ashley get out of the awkward situation.
"Actually, I wanted to speak to her alone is that okay?" Paul said putting his hands in his pocket. Ashley looks quickly at Mickie who nods walking away still looking back a bit nervous for her. Ashley slowly put her eyes up to Paul.
"What's with that look? You act like you didn't know I lived in Austin," He said with a smirk. "Remember you use to live with me."
Ashley couldn't believe Guy A, unreliable guy A was standing there. Right in front of her, she still wasn't sure what to think. She knew for a fact Paul still liked her, in fact he had been trying to get them to go on a date again for weeks, months even. But after she had found out about Matt and Paul's internet throws back and forth at each other, it didn't seem worth it. Paul sometimes said horribly mean things to Ashley when he'd find out she was still in contact with Matt let alone wanting to go back to the WWE. So to her surprise someone so recently that was so anti-WWE being backstage on the SAME night she made a surprise visit to Raw was a little daunting.
"I'm here with Matt." Like word vomit it toppled out of her mouth. She gave him a look of slight fear and confusion.
"Oh, I was going to ask you where you had been since I dropped by your house earlier this week. But, I see you were shacking up with him. What did he say this time to make you crawling back to North Carolina? Ash," He put his hands on her shoulders which use to be comforting now sent loud booms of don't touch me screaming in her head. "Ash, I don't want to see you hurt again. Please tell me you know what you are doing."
For a while now it had gotten harder and harder to speak to Paul. His hands, gestures and eyes said one thing but his mouth spoke another. Nothing was coming up, not even a thing to defend Matt. It wasn't even him that asked her to come she thought. She was the one chasing Matt this time. "Um," Her thoughts had escaped her. Paul instantly pulled her into a hug as he rested his head next to hers. Matt walked out from around a corner joking with MVP about something.
"I'll talk to you later man." Matt said with a smile as Montel walked off. Matt looked down the hall looking for Ashley. He turned the corner seeing Paul London hugging Ashley tight and her arms lightly placed on his sides. Paul kissed Ashley's head stroking her hair. Matt froze as if someone hit him with a freeze ray. His chest started compressing in as he felt everything get to a new level of hard to breathe. He turned the corner as Eve jumps up at him.
"Hi!" She says with a wide grin. She quickly runs in for a hug.
"Eve?" He managed to cough out.
"No! It's Kelly, she just suddenly changed to me." She smiled wide at him, "Of course it's me. I'm did a Superstars match before Raw didn't you see?"
"Oh," still lost in thought, "No sorry I was late tonight. I'm actually dodging Vince."
"I'll forgive you this time," She smiles and grabs his hand. "I have that story to tell you! You forgot to call me!"
"Ah shoot! Sorry I completely forgot so much has been going on."
"Well come on let's get coffee and hid from Vince together." She giggled with a happy expression to see her friend, "Besides he is up at gorilla curtain and you don't have to see him till your match. Pretty please!"
Matt looked at Eve who gave him puppy eyes of begging. He looked back down the hallway at Ashley who had now stepped away from Paul looking at her feet. Paul had a wide smile still stroking her hair. Matt looked back at Eve and nodded. Eve pulled him quickly over to the cafeteria to watch Raw and talk to him.
++ After his Match ++
Matt walked through the curtain starting to pull at the tape quickly before his hand gets caught by someone at the light board. He looks over at Vince K. McMahon.
"We need to talk, stick around after Raw." Vince said with a demanding but serious tone. Matt nodded and walked away down the stairs. He walks through the black tunnel back to the camera free zone. Ashley smiled walking away from the monitor; unfortunately Paul and Brian have been sticking to her like glue the whole time. Matt and Ashley haven't even had time to talk or spend time. She was heading in his direction when Eve walks up tossing him a bottle of water. Ashley stops dead in her tracks. Matt was ripping off his tape looking at Eve who was talking away about something or another.
"Told you," Paul whispered in Ashley's ear. "Rumor has it they are an item." Suddenly Ashley snapped inside she flung her elbow back hitting Paul in the stomach. He bends over as Ashley grabs his jaw. "Ash what was that for—"
"Listen Paul, you need to stop bad mouthing Matt! I'm tired of it! Ever since your guy's internet thing, you both are acting very immature about the whole thing."
Matt looked over and all he could see was Ashley holding Paul's face and him bent over. To him it looked like they were talking extremely close or worse he thought, they could kiss right there. Why do I care? He thought. His arm was yanked a bit by Eve.
"Are you listening there Matty?" Eve piped up.
"Sorry what?" He turned his full attention to Eve.
"I said you did great out there, championship material." She smiled. She continued talking but Matt found himself thinking instead of listening. What's wrong with Eve, maybe Ashley is more into Paul. So what, I have a great girl right in front of me. She smiles at me and calls me for no apparent reason. Jeff likes her, the guys like her. And before these past few days getting back with Ashley was the last thing on my mind. So how did my life suddenly become another soap opera? The last thing I want to do was fight over another girl with a guy. I already did that with Amy and Adam. But him? Paul London? He is a jackass. A moron, there is not one good quality in him, and why is here anyway! He doesn't –
"Even work here." Matt muttered.
"What?" Eve said confused. Matt looked at her like a deer in headlights.
"You don't even work here, I miss talking to you." Matt quickly covered up. Ashley grabbed Matt's arm startling the oldest hardy. Eve jumped at Matt jumping which only made Ashley jump more.
"Hi Ashley." Eve said warmly to the dirty diva. Ashley gave her a small smile visibly upset. "Is everything okay?" Eve touches Ashley's arm suddenly worried for this girl she barely knew. Matt read Eve's face now understanding Ashley was upset by connecting the dots. He looks at her just as confused.
"Yeah, I just got my finger caught." Ashley quickly lied and clutched Matt's elbow trying to cue him to take her away from the area. She didn't want to tell Matt anything Paul had just confessed to her. Let alone want to get to know Eve at this time. She had nothing against Eve, just was jealous of her relationship with Matt. Matt looked at his elbow then at Ashley's eyes.
"I'm going to go clean up quick okay?" Matt looked at Ashley almost hesitant to touch her not knowing what went down between her and Paul. He officially was thinking the worst. He was ready for her to just tell him she was getting back with Paul and this whole week was a mistake and that she was sorry. And that she was going to get in Paul's car and drive to his house and live happily ever after.
"—Please?" Ashley begged. Matt looked at her confused missing what she had just requested.
"Yeah, sure." Ashley quickly grabbed Matt's hand. Matt wasn't quite sure what he had agreed to as he smiles at Eve and touches her shoulder goodbye. He walks past with Ashley in tow the two were completely quiet as Matt headed into the locker room trying to let go of Ashley's hand.
"What are you doing?" She said confused.
"I was going to shower."
"You said I could come in." Matt looked at Ashley like why would I say that. "Matt, I just asked you over there with Eve."
"Why would I say yes to that?"
"You just did!" Her eyes started getting filled up. Matt wasn't sure what the hell had happened with Ashley and Paul but whatever it was made her more emotional; and made her cry over something so little like a kid having a tantrum.
"Ash, it's okay." Matt wanted to hug her but the thought of how sweaty he was just from working in the ring made him resist. "I promise I'll take the quickest shower. You know the divas aren't supposed to be in the men's locker room. I think visitors imply to that rule as well. I apologize whatever happened between you and Paul, we'll talk about when I get out." Matt was finding himself trying to be comforting to her but upset that she was getting back with Paul. And he didn't even know they were. He just didn't want to hear it from her. He didn't know if he wanted to hear her rejecting him. Which for the first time he realized he was a bit jealous of Paul but not for the fact that he was Paul but that he was still close to Ashley.
"Matt, you remember our talk?"
"Ha," He laughed small, "which one?"
"Guy A-
"Guy B" Matt points to himself with a grin almost half liking where this was going, Ashley just responds with a nod.
"Yeah, Paul is guy A, but Paul still is unreliable and he still is there waiting for me but—Where are you going!?" Ashley touches the door watching Matt walk into the locker room. He had heard enough, he knew where she was going. Or so he thought, he walked right into the bath room.
"Don't think you are supposed to be looking in there." Ashley jumped as Mickie was behind her. Ashley hugs her tightly. "Hey, aw what's wrong girly?"
"I think," She steps back wiping her tears, "look at me I'm crying for nothing." With a small smile, "Matt, Paul, what am I doing girly?" Ashley stared right back at Mickie.
"Well, you are standing outside the men's locker room getting over emotional. When you should be happy to see your Mickie!" Mickie giggles cuddling Ashley into a hug again which only made Ashley cheer up a tiny bit for that moment forgetting how upset she really was over the whole situation. That comfort was all she needed.
"Mickie, I missed you." Ashley laughed into her friends shoulder as she was pulling her emotions together.
++ Let the Trouble Rumble ++
Matt stood in his button up shirt and jeans standing outside Vince's office. He had just had his meeting with and let's be honest Vince knew about Ashley coming with Matt to the arena. He knew he was late because he was with Ash. Thanks to some unknown snitch backstage who saw the two arrive. Ashley walked towards Matt looking at his serious face. Matt turned cuing Ashley to walk with him. She walked next to Matt suddenly feeling extremely small.
"So? What did he say?"
"He said that I have two choices," Matt stopped and turned looking at Ashley as they stood in an emptying hallway. People were pushing equipment next to them. "Before I tell you them, he told me if I want to play the late game I can go do it with my brother."
"Oh! How mean!" Ashley knew Vince was right though, Jeff was notorious for showing up at times on his own schedule.
"This is Monday Night Raw Ash, I can't be late like that ever again. He could pull me off air for awhile." Ashley nodded agreeing. "But he said since Miss Massaro wants to tag along backstage causing drama by walking into the men's locker room and making one of his superstars late she can do it under contract or leave Matt hardy alone."
Ashley looked now suddenly puzzled, "Wait, What?"
"Ash, I talked him into signing you to Monday Night Raw, and If you want the job he is going to wait in there; for you to accept or decline. Come with me on the road. I said I'd help you with your personal problems that kept you from the road before, and I'd be there for you."
"Matt, what are you talking about-" Ashley hit a different state of panic. This was worse than the Paul/Matt situation. Now she has to suddenly decide if she was to sign with the WWE. She didn't even get to tell Matt that they had offered already so his asking wasn't something new. But the fact that he'd be the one helping her with her personal problems mad her think. "What about Eve-" Why was that the first thing that fell out of my mouth? She questioned.
Matt looked at her suddenly confused. "What about Eve?"
"I- I just can't believe you put me in this position."
"What position Ash! You can wrestle again! How is this thought? You can be on the road with me, we can work on.. Us.
Ashley looked up at Matt now realizing why he was pushing this so much. This was the first time he had really showed emotion on working on them as a couple. "What?"
Matt suddenly back tracked, "You know we can be great friends again! Travel Buddies, you can still visit Paul-"
She put her hand on his mouth, "No, what did you say.. we could work on.."
Matt swallowed hard, "Sign. Please."
Ashley stepped back now realizing that this could possibly the first confirmation from Matt that he was interested. It was now or never. She looked at him before turning and walking back into Vince's office. Matt followed putting his ear up to the door trying to listen. Paul pulled Matt's shoulder back.
"Now I don't think Vince would want that." Paul grinned. Matt glared right back at Ashley's ex. "What's wrong hardy? You going to blog about me," he fakes a cough. "Wanna cry?"
"You know Paul; at least I know how to do my job right, Instead of laughing at a segment that wasn't supposed to be funny." Matt snapped back at Paul who was known for laughing at Vince's infamous walk to 'death'.
Ashley hopped out just before Paul could respond. She held up a copy of a contract. "Signed!" She smiled with glee. Paul smiled back and pulled out something holding it in her face.
"Signed" He mimicked but his face was serious. Ashley snatched the papers from his hands in disbelief. She flips through Paul's papers comparing them to hers. Vince walked between the group saying good night getting the same from the group.
"Oh and Hardy; the deal is on. Don't let me down." Vince gave a low voice to Matt. Matt turned and nodded. Vince walked away as Ashley looked at Paul as he took his papers back.
"Looks like the group is back babe." Paul smiled, "I missed working with you." He kissed her on the cheek as her eyes were wide while looking at Matt as if she was frozen. Matt shook his head turning on his heels starting heading away. Ashley pushed Paul away quickly and ran after Matt.
"Wait! Matt!" She whined nearly tripping when she fell forward into Matt. He stumbles forward turning around at Ashley on her knees at his feet. He laughs slightly shaking his head bending down picking her up by the elbows. "Ouch," she moans.
"You are a klutz Beavis." He grinned.
"Well only because you speed walk away from me. You are moody today."
"You are emotional today."
"Wasn't what we planned huh?"
"Nope." Matt put his hands in his pockets.
"I got an idea!" She hugs him around the waist walking him towards his locker room. "Let's go to my house! Save money on the hotel and it's my treat! And we can head to the next destination in the morning together!" She quickly tried to show Matt that it wasn't Paul she was interested in but him.
Matt shakes his head and looks over Ashley's head noticing Paul waving at him mockingly before walking off with Brian. Matt scowled and looked down at her. "Good idea. You going to make me breakfast?"
"I will… buy you milk and cereal." She giggled.