A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, you guys. I think I know who to pair Maria up with.
Chapter 07:
Jeff Hardy stood in front of Randy Orton's locker room, hands inside his back pockets while studying him carefully.
"Jeff, what do you want?" Randy repeated, eyeing the strange superstar from head to toe.
"Your ears," Jeff finally replied.
"My what?!" Randy exclaimed. "Jeff, you're seriously the weirdest guy I've ever met. Why the hell would you want my ears?!"
Jeff shrugged. "I need them to listen to me."
Randy was about to say something but shut up instead. Jeff got him there.
"So, your ears?" Jeff reiterated, giving him an eager look.
Randy rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine."
"Good. Come with me," the younger Hardy brother stated, motioning for the Legend Killer to follow him to his purple rented Lexus.
"Woah. Where are we going?" Randy stopped in his tracks.
"Just get your ass in the car, Orton," Jeff ordered, waiting for Randy to get in the front seat and driving away to a certain place he used to always go to.
"Where the hell are we?" Randy inquired the moment they reached an extremely overrated pub.
"Welcome to Absinth," Jeff grinned at him, nudging his eyebrows twice.
"What the hell is this?" Randy asked, studying the crowd. It was evident that guys his age were getting way too high on drugs, and that the scantily-clad women were dancing and grinding so wild, the dance floor was already oozing of sex.
"It's where I used to go to all the time," Jeff replied, automatically locking the doors of his car.
"And why are we here?" Randy slowly asked.
"Because you need it."
"Look, Jeff," Randy started. "I appreciate it that you're trying to get me out and forget about… my life, or something, but I really don't need this right now."
"Sure you do," Jeff shrugged. "See all those guys in there?" he gestured. "You're starting to turn into them."
Randy glowered at him. "Just who the hell do you think you are to bring me here and tell me I'm starting to be like one of them," he nodded his head towards the crowd. "See, I knew it was a bad idea to come with you. Can we please get back to the hotel now? I would really like to get some sleep."
"Get some sleep? Or get some weed?" Jeff teased.
Randy's jaw almost dropped. "What in the blue hell are you talking about?!"
"You know, Randy," Jeff began. "You probably won't believe me, but I know all the shit that you're going through."
Randy narrowed his eyes a little. "Oh really?"
"Ever heard of Trish Stratus?"
Randy rolled his eyes. He didn't see this coming.
Jeff smiled. He knew he was getting into Randy's head. Maybe with his help, he could tighten up the screws a little. "Get in the car if you want to hear the rest of the story."
"So just like that, things ended?" Randy cocked an eyebrow, slurping the last of his mocha frap from Starbucks.
Jeff nodded. "I told you. Our timing was never right. We hooked up. She got injured. We hooked up again. I got fired. Now that I'm back, she left…for good."
Randy winced. "Did she leave because of you?"
Jeff chuckled. "Maybe. But she pretty much cleared up that she left to settle down. Just like Stacy," he mentioned.
Randy ignored Stacy Keibler's name. "So Trish is getting married now?"
Jeff shook his head. "She never said she was engaged to anyone. She's planning on settling down. Thing is, she hasn't found the right guy yet."
"Then why couldn't she settle down with you? You're already back," Randy pointed out.
"Ever watched season three of One Tree Hill?" Jeff asked, expecting Randy to shake his head and he did. "Well, just like one of the characters said, 'It's hard to get back in the ring with the one who knocked you out in the first place.' And based on mine and Trish's history of knocking each other out, I was the last one who had outdone her."
"So, what now? She's trying to get her revenge by leaving?"
Again, Jeff shook his head. "She's trying to forget me by leaving."
"What about Maria?" Randy suddenly brought up.
"What about Maria?" Jeff repeated, wanting to avoid the issue.
"Don't you have the hots for her?" Randy questioned.
Jeff immediately shook his head, turning red at the same time. "No. Of course not."
Randy laughed his head off. "Someone's in denial."
"So what if I do?" Jeff sneered.
Randy shrugged. "Nothing, man. Just so you know, even John has the hots for her."
If it was possible, Jeff turned redder. "He does?" he squeaked, hoping that whatever Randy said wasn't true.
"Why do you think he saved her from Umaga? Why do you think he flirts with her every chance he gets? He likes her. And he told me. I'm his best friend, in case you forgot," Randy smirked.
Jeff rolled his eyes. "I can't believe he likes her," he muttered.
"He liked Trish, too."
"What?!" Jeff exclaimed.
Randy snickered. "You guys must have the same taste in girls."
Jeff groaned. "This isn't happening."
Randy clapped Jeff's back and grinned. "You know, it all boils down to who Maria likes."
