AN: I wanna say thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Wow, I really am updating daily, now you've got no choice but to mark me as your favorite author =D.

Can't You Feel The Weight of My Stare

CHAPTER SIX:

Trying Hard to Control My Heart

"Tonight's the big night," Ashley teased as she snuck up behind me once again. As I turned towards her I couldn't get the staggered, nervous, panicked expression off my face.

"Don't remind me," I muttered.

I couldn't believe that tonight I'd actually be debuting my 'Relationship' with Jeff. Two weeks ago, Vince had told us that our storyline would begin and already it was time to get to business.

But I couldn't do it.

But it seemed like everyone- excluding Phil, thought it was best. It was going to be pure hell and I knew that deep inside my heart it was true. What about my fans? I doubt that anyone them don't know that I'm dating Phil, and once they see what me and Jeff have in store, they'll think I dumped Phil for him. I couldn't have Phil be humilliated like that. I couldn't let him be depressed because he actually thought I was considering about dating Hardy.

When I technically wasn't.

I tried to conceal myself before walking into the arena with Ashley. What was worse was that since I got here early, I had nothing to do and had no choice but to practice the script for me and Jeff's storyline.

As me and Ashley reached the front door of Jeff's locker room I hesitated to knock. That same stupid smirk appeared on her face.

"Go ahead," she mocked. "It's not gonna open by itself." I turned around to glare at her before she slowly began walking away. That was until I grabbed her arm in fainted horror.

"Where are you going?!" I managed to keep my voice low enough so Jeff couldn't hear, but I had enough enthusiasm in it to prove to her how serious I was. She looked at me with wide eyes before smiling.

"I have to go meet with Matt. We need to practice one more time before our match tonight," she explained. "Don't worry, you and Jeffro will be doing tag team matches together in no time." I rolled my eyes before turning my attention back on the door that was in front of me.

"I'm nervous enough, Ash. I don't need you making it any worse," I pleaded. She put her hands up in mocked defeat.

"Well I won't want to get in your way, so let me be on mines," she said as she backed up, expecting me to stop her or grab her once again. When I didn't she turned around fully and stalked off.

Breathe, I reminded myself. It was just Jeff. There was no... connection between the two of us, so why am I feeling all weird about it?

Once again, fate was on my side.

As soon as I sucked in whatever nerves I had, Jeff jammed open the door before I could even press my knuckles to it. His expression was eager, anxious almost... frustrated. Figuring it was best to say nothing, I stepped in.

"You're late," he stated as he closed the door behind me. Again, thank you Captin Obvious.

"I didn't know there was a specific time I was supposed to be here. The show starts at eight, we've got plenty of time," I reassured the look on his face it seemed as if he was ignoring me.

"If you showed up earlier, we could of been done by now," he said his eyes narrowing.

"Look, Jeff. I already know all my lines if that's what you're worried about. But-" He cut me off before I could finish.

"I'm not worried about anything," he spat, eyes still narrowed.

At this point I was at a loss for words. "So what's your problem, then?" I was pretty surprised with myself at how rough and ticked my voice sounded. It was as if he was trying to annoy me just to prove whatever point he was getting at.

"You still didn't answer my question." Those were the only words that came out of his mouth, everything else was either groans or sighs. His words caught me off guard. Had he really been thinking about my answer, still? Sure, I hadn't forgot about his question, but I was sure that he'd give it up by now. But I should've realized:

Jeff Hardy never gives up.

So in other words, he'd get me to answer. Maybe he'd push me to a point where I had no choice but to. He was so intimidating and crazy that you weren't really sure how to act around him.

He could crack any second now.

I could see him with his hands folded perfectly across his chest. His foot was tapping repeatedly and his penetrating stare was become more and more impatient by the minute. I had to answer sometime, before he had a heartattack.

"What question?" I asked, dumbfounded. His narrowed as soon began to roll.

"You know the question. Why do you love Phil? Do you recall that?" His saracasim was eating at me.

"Oh, that," I laughed. "Yeah, I remember." My tone was playful, but being the serious guy he was, his wasn't.

"Maria," he sighed. "Are you gonna answer the damn question or not?" I could tell he was getting annoyed, but it wasn't my fault. It wasn't my fault that he was asking me the question, he was the one putting his own self in distress. He had no right to ask about my personal feelings and I actually found that quite rude at this moment.

"Jeff, that's a really personal question." He face tensed and his lips pursed.

"I don't care," he stated honestly. "What- you don't trust me or somethin'?" Now I was the one to roll my eyes.

"I don't know. I barely know you, Jeff," I replied honestly. Could I really trust him? I mean, Jeff was never known for being untrusted. But there was still something in me that said it wasn't the time; wasn't the place.

"Do you want to know me?" He asked, his eyes more calm now, full of curiousity. That was another question that was a little too personal for me. Was he really this curious as to my reactions, my answers? Were they this important?

"What's with all the questions, Jeff?"

He cleared his throat, "Vince said we'd need to learn more about each other. We need to know stuff." I didn't believe his excuse. I knew he just wanted to know for his own guilty pleasure.

I couldn't come up with a response so I just shrugged it off and sat down. From the corner of my eye I could see him studying me carefully while I took out the script that we'd need to practice.

I slowly looked up to see an amusing smile on his face.

"Aren't you going to practice, too?" I asked, trying to ignore his perfect smile. He shook his head.

"I don't need to. I don't need a script to tell me what to do or how to do it. I can play this role like I play anyother one," he concluded. I raised an eyebrow. So he was Mister Big Shot, huh?

"And how do you play everyother role?"

His smile faded. "With dedication," his tone was serious, dark. "I have to give it all I've got." It was just a storyline. There wasn't anything that big about it except for the fact that he was fueding with Morrison for the title. But I doubt he was going serious about that.

Was he actually enjoying this?

"But...," I hesitated. "It's just a storyline." His face went hard at that point.

"Well, I'm glad you feel that way. But to me, it means more than you could imagine," he emphasized. My whole body went numb at that point. His words even if they were cruely said, they were deeply... Passionate?

Whatever they were didn't matter at that point. I was slipping out of my seat and I was headed for the floor.

It's a good thing Jeff was there, though, otherwise, I'd have some serious head trauma.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he caught me. Once I turned my eyes away from the floor, they quickly met his. He must have been amused by my almost nearfall, since his smirk slowly faded. It was as if this was a staring contest and he beat me, but he still kept staring.

I wasn't fully aware that he'd been holding me around my waist until I was trying to back up. He quickly grasped my waist, holding me tighter than before. Then, he stared into my eyes one more time before opening his mouth... To speak.

"What color are your eyes?"

Okay it was official. He was now the master of out of nowhere questions.

"Um, they're blue but sometimes they look green. Depends on the lighting," I said, sounding fragile enough for him to let go.

"Sorry," he said as I stumbled backwards. "That shouldn't have happened."

Oh how I wanted to scream how wrong he was. "It's okay. Everyone makes mistakes." He sighed and looked away, muttering something to himself.

"Yeah, and I've made too many," he said to himself. I looked at him with questioning eyes. He glared. "Don't ask." I looked astonished. There was no way that he was going to refuse to tell me something personal, when he had the ordasity to ask me mines.

"And why not? You ask me person-" He cut me off once again.

"Yeah, but I asked you a question I really wanted to know. I needed to know. And you still haven't answered it," he threw his hands up. I rolled my eyes.

"Oh? Well, I guess you'll never know, then," I teased. His eyes narrowed.

"You're really pissin' me off, Kanellis." I put my hands on my hips, looking at him in humor.

"So, what- you're the only one that gets to get angry?" He ignored me. "Are you going to answer the question, Jeff?"

"Are you gonna answer mine?!" He quickly faced me, causing me to stumble backwards.

"What's wrong with you?" I answered in shock.

"My temper's not really that pleasing when I'm angry, Maria. So how 'bout you just get the hell out of here before I do something really shitty?" He was doing it again. He was intimidating me. Making me feel smaller than I already was.

I slid past him and tried to ignore the rapid beatings of my heart. Before I left the locker room I couldn't help but say the two words that were really aching to get out.

"I'm sorry."

I had to admit, Jeff wasn't lying when he said he'd take it seriously. I thought he did a way better job at it than me. On screen he wasn't all cheery and preppy like me. In between lines he still secretly glared at me. He still had that serious face that wouldn't leave my conscience and he still managed to maintain the mood of the whole scene. And what was worse? He didn't talk to me for the rest of the night.

But what was really worse?

I'd have to share the same hotel room with him after the show.

"Hey, Ria," Ashley greeted me as I walked towards her. "That was great. He really seemed into it." Yeah, like I didn't know that.

"I doubt it," I sighed. "Did you see the look on his face?" I rolled my eyes.

"What look?" She asked, dumbfounded. "Camera plays tricks on people, you know." How I wanted to take the headfull of hair and pull it out. She needed some sense knocked into her.

"Just forget it. It's bad enough where I have to go after the show. You know anyone that's going to stay at the hotel around the corner?" I asked hoping that she was one of them.

"Hmm," she thought for a moment. "I won't be there, but I heard a few superstars would be there. No one fancy, though." I mentally hung my head in disappointment. What was there to do now? What was I going to do- make small talk with Jeff? Would I even talk to him?

"I can't believe I dragged myself in this storyline. It's pathetic." Her face was no hanging.

"It's not pathetic, Ria. I promise you, you'll be happy soon. Just... keep up whatever you're doing. Making Jeff the way he is only makes him all the more interested in you," she clarified.

Huh? "What?" I asked.

She sighed, "Just... follow your heart. Follow your emotions. It's Jeff we're talking about, here! He's a cool dude, you can be laid back around him. You don't even have to speak to him, you could just ignore him."

"Ashley, let me be the first to tell you that Jeff Hardy can't be ignored," I glared, as she stiffened.

"That's exactly the point," she chuckled. "He's irresistable, and frankly it's the same way with you- to him." I still didn't know where she was getting at, but something was telling me that my heart would be beating a lot tonight.

"What time is it?" I asked, for the sake of my emotions. She quickly glanced at her watch and informed me.

"It's... 11:01." Damn it. I only had four minutes until I had to leave. What could I possibly do to distract me for four minutes?

Nothing. "Ooh, well I have to go find Vince," she sighed. "He had another match planned for me, so I'll talk to you tomorrow?" She had hope and wonder in her voice. Like she wanted to know everything that was going to happen with me and Jeff.

"I'll make sure to tell you all the details, Ash."

And with that and a quick laugh, she was headed down the hall.

And now, I had to step in the path of ... mixed emotions.

I inhaled deeply before I opened the front door of me and Jeff's hotel room. I cringed just thinking about sharing a room with anyone besides Phil. I slowly swiped the card, savoring the moment of being... alone.

Once it was fully swiped, I opened the door and stepped in.

And there he was. He was studying intently on what he was doing - drawing perhaps? That's what I've heard he did. It must have been a really good drawing too since he didn't even look at me, to see if it was me. He just studied on his notebook and his drawing.

I took off my coat and set it on the bed, carefully, so I didn't disturb him. I thought it was best that I didn't sit next to him - nor did I really feel like it. I spotted a mini sofa on the other side of the room and walked over to it.

I sighed as I plopped down, keeping my eyes on the ground.

I took one peek up and he was staring at me, surprisingly he was smiling.

"Do I have rabies or somethin'?" He sounded amused, while I still kept a straight face.

"No..."

He chuckled. "So why are you all the way over there?" I looked at where I was sitting and realized that it was a little ridiculous.

"I didn't want to distract you," I said honestly, for my sake he was still smiling.

"Distract me? From...?" He trailed off, obviously not getting it.

"From your art work?" Now I was just as confused as him.

"Art work," he laughed - more like choked. "It's just a poem." Must have been a damn good one too.

To ease the tention, I laughed too. Finally, I was at a good pace with him - almost. But that's when his face turned serious.

"Can we talk?" He asked, his face serious, nonplayful.

And that's where it all began...

AN: Oooh, is that a cliffhanger? It was supposed to be, lol. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Now I feel I have to thank you guys for reviewing. So thanks for reviewing the last chapter! And please review this one =D.

BTW; Lets all say CONGRATS to Jeff Hardy for finally winning the WWE Championship!!