-Harley-
"Jeff!"I call, running out of the locker room in a panic. Candice just told me about his match with CM Punk and the cost. I had faith in him don't get me wrong, he's a very strong willed man but the possibility of losing him terrified me. I see him walking down the hall stretching and rolling his neck before his eyes ever look up into my direction. He smiles faintly and steps toward me, though he was cut off by Edge and Lita.
"Still wanna be friends darlin?"Lita laughs, snapping her fingers. Edge grins and crouches, spearing me. All the air was sucked out of my lungs in an angry fit, forcing me to cough and groan against the resistance the pain in my ribs seemed to scream.
"Jenny!"Jeff yells, running toward me. I couldn't breathe, but the sound of my heart pounding boomed in my ears. Jeff carefully picks me up and carries me to a medic, calling Matt to stay with me. I nod that I'm okay, but hug him tight.
"I don't wanna lose you."I say softly, my voice very dry and hoarse. He kisses my jaw and smooths my hair, lying me back against the stretcher so a perimetric can check my ribs.
"I'm not going anywhere."He says reassuringly before forcing himself away. I sigh and lie still, trying to regain my stability and breath. After several minutes, Matt finally comes to see me, looking at me with a disgust I never would've thought could've tainted his normally generous eyes.
"You do realize that no one wants Jeff here but you, right?"He hisses. I sit up, holding my ribs, and look at him. He wasn't the same man I grew up with.
"Everyone but you and CM Punk wants him here."I growl, climbing out of the ambulance. I walk out to stand in Jeff's corner and just as I reach the curtain the bell rings. I run down the ramp and push through the pain not only in my ribs but in my heart. CM Punk still had the championship. I fall to my knees outside the cage as it lifts and he walks out.
"I told you she'd be mine."He snickers into a mic, gripping my arm. I tear myself away from him and crawl into the ring toward Jeff. He sat with his head in his hands, breathing hard. I wrap my arms arm him and kiss his hair, whispering in his ear that I'm here for him. He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me to his side just as he shifts away to grab a mic. He stands painfully with my help and leans into me, his eyes filled with regret and pain.
"First of all, I'm sorry if I've let anybody down."He says, bowing to the audience slightly as his eyes lock with mine. He was speaking to everyone but I knew he felt bad for me.
"I'm sorry that you'll be seeing CM Punk instead of me on Smackdown."He continues, pulling away from me to pace the ring. I could see children dressed in his merchandise crying and waving Hardy signs. It was heart breaking.
"But it's been on hell of a ride, hasn't it?"He asks, his voice putting much more enthusiasm and flair to it to disguise his sorrow as his pacing leads him back to me.
"I just wanna thank all of you and say that this is not goodbye forever. This only goodbye for now."He says, stepping up to me. His eyes fill with tears as he grips my chin gently. I cup his jaw and nod slightly, forcing a smile.
"And if the time is right, I'm sure I'll see you in the future. Thank you all."He says, kissing my hair before waving to the crowd. He takes off his shirt and ties it around his waist, pulling off his arm bands. He throws his arm bands into to he crowd and takes my hand, lacing his fingers in with mine.
"I'm so sorry."He says softly as we walk up the ramp for the last time together to the sound of his music. I shake my head and pull him close.
"I won't lose you. I promise."I say softly as his fire works go off once more as if to say goodbye. He smiles and wipes the tears from my eyes, nudging me to dance with him. I laugh softly and do my best, groaning in pain and holding my ribs. He stops and helps me backstage.
Jeff was allowed to stand in my corner during my fight with Michelle McCool after that, but it was hard. I was taking out my anger from Matt acting out, Jeff being thrown out, losing Lita to Edge and CM Punk's smug face plagued my memories all on her. I won in a blur of highflying, painful -Jeff-Hardy-memorial- moves. Even after the bell ring and I knew Michelle was hurting, she got up and hugged me, apologizing for everything I was going through. I thank her for her concern and climb out toward Jeff. In that moment I knew I was going to change everything about myself to fit my ever changing world. Jeff helps me to the locker room and even out to my car once I got changed and he had cleaned out his locker. When I pull up to hotel, he stays silent. He takes my hand and rubs his thumb over it soothingly.
"Nothing is going right anymore and I'm going insane."I finally whisper, not able to bring myself to break the entire volume of silence at once.
"Matt's getting better and you can't help what Lita wants to do sweetheart."He says, looking at me. I lace our fingers together this time and squeeze his hand.
"I'm losing my support system, Jeff. Matt's just now coming back from weeks of psychotic jealous action, Lita is a completely different person know that she's with Edge and now you're leaving."I say, tears slowly running down my cheeks. He sighs faintly and climbs out of the car, walking around to me. He grabs my bag and picks me up, carrying me up to my room.
"Get changed and meet me in the hot tub."He says simply, rubbing my arms. I knew what he was trying to do. Whenever our bodies were sore from a fight we would get in the hot tub. Ultimately it would relax us as well as our muscles. It tended to even clear our minds. This was his way of spending his last day with me. I didn't argue. I simply changed into my bikini and walk down to the pool. He opens the door for me, standing in his Hawaiian swimming trucks with his hair pulled up, and smiles as if he hadn't endured hell over the past several weeks. He gives me his hand and helps me into the hot tub before sitting next to me with his arms draped around the sides. I pull my hair up into a pony tail and lie my head on his shoulder.
"Matt and I will always be here for you. He's coming back and without me there, he'll come back faster."He says with a faint laugh. I smack his chest playfully and shake my head.
"That's not funny."I say, watching him. He looks at me and smiles, tucking hair behind my ear.
"He'll get better and you'll always have a Hardy on your side. Plus you'll be home next week so you'll be able to see me then."He says happily as if it would make things better. It would, and I knew he was focusing on the good parts of the situation so I wouldn't have to worry about him anymore, but what happens when I leave to go to another city with Matt and Jeff isn't with us? I sigh and nod, closing my eyes. He chuckles faintly and lies his head against mine.
After that dreadful week passed, Matt and I were finally able to drive home. Matt was getting better, he even facetimed Jeff with me a few times, but I missed him. Matt and I would stay up late in our hotel room talking to or about Jeff and watch movies that made us all happy. It was kind of like a Hardy memorial, but in a way it brought Matt and I closer after losing Lita and Matt's temporary laps of judgement toward Jeff.
Today, after finishing our tag team match against The Hart Dynasty, we were going home. To my home at least, but the boys had their own rooms there anyway and Shannon lives near by so it really was like it was OUR house. Shannon meets us outside, laughing as Axel jumps up into my arms. Matt kisses his head and hugs Shannon, carrying our bags inside.
"Jeff went for a walk. He'll be back soon."Shannon informs me, patting his leg for him to come. I knew exactly where he went. I walk toward the old makeshift bridge where they shot the Billy Goat Gruff video for their YouTube channel. He was lying in the middle of the narrow road singing lowly. That was one thing we shared. When we were upset or bothered, we'd sing or hum to get rid of the nerves.
"Jeffery Nero Hardy, you better get your ass up."I call, smiling as he jerks upright. He smiles brightly, the setting sun tinting his white bandana as he stood. I run to him and jump into his arms. He chuckles and catches me, wrapping my legs around his waist as he holds me.
"I told you this week wouldn't be bad."He chuckles, kissing my cheek as I tuck my head into his neck.
"Matt and I fought The Hart Dynasty with John Morrison today. All I kept thinking about was how that should've been a Team Extreme moment and how hard this is going to be when we leave again."I say softly as the aches and pains from the match slowly start to set in.
"It will be again. I promise, but right now I'm signing back with TNA."He murmurs, his voice dropping the more the sentence progressed. I started out in TNA, fighting along side my friend Gail Kim, but I left when the company itself started being corrupt. Jeff loved the impact zone and so did I, but it was nothing compared to our home in the WWE. I pull away and sigh, knowing he was only doing what was best for him and his career.
"I'll have to come watch you fight sometime."I say, smiling though the idea of not being in his corner hurt after all this time.
"I'll be watching on tv."He promises, kissing my hair. I nod slightly and turn into him.
"Did Shannon tell you about Stephanie's plan for drama?"I ask, sighing. Matt and I didn't like the idea much, but I think it was mostly because we saw each other differently. Jeff shakes his head, eyes wondering over me as if checking for any signs to be concerned about.
"She wants Matt to blow this entire thing off as him being jealous of you being with me and having feeling for me, but I'm supposed to be sucking up to CM Punk still."I say, watching his eyes mask with a jealous I had only ever seen once. When CM Punk kissed me. He takes my hand and kisses it.
"I know you and Matt can do this, but it don't know if I want you around CM Punk."He says softly, concern in his tone. I nod slightly and lean into him.
"I don't want to. I just want to beat him with a lead pipe."I say, making him laugh. He wraps his arms around me and traces designs over my back.
"Like I said, you'll always have a Hardy with you. Just call for Matt when you need help."He says, his tone losing the enthusiasm it once held. He was right, but Matt wasn't the Hardy I wanted.
After talking to Jeff, I made sure to grab my Hardy teddy bear before Matt and I left again. Jeff oddly enough found it adorable to see his mini-me lying on my bed in my hotel room when I would FaceTime him. Matt and I made sure to play our parts well, though it can still hear Jeff and Shannon laughing when he described our kiss as awkward and unnatural. He hugged me after, and I knew he was joking, but he was right. I think he knows about my feelings for Jeff. I think he always has. I changed everything up after leaving again. I changed my ring name to my real name, Jennifer Quinn, my song was changed to Every Other Day which just happened to be by Jeff, my entrance was now a lot like Jeff's though I tweaked it to fit my natural-born rocker style, and my hair was now a dark mix of purple, blue and green. Matt loves it surprisingly.
Well, months later, TNA and Smackdown were finally in the same city. After damn near gagging next to CM Punk for a few weeks straight, I needed to see Jeff. Matt was going to come with me, but he was invited to a local bar by Maria and Layla. The thought made me smile as I walk into the Impact Zone in black jeans, heels and a black corset vest.
"Hey girl, coming to see your babe?"Gail laughs jokingly, hugging me. I smile and nod slightly.
"He's in a match right now with a really annoying kid. He calls himself Rockstar Spud."She says, her small face twisting in annoyance and disgust, rolling her eyes.
"Thanks Gail. Call me sometime."I say, smiling as I walk toward the curtain. I ran a mic, hearing someone screaming out in the ring. I knew it wasn't Jeff, over the years I just knew, but Jeff wasn't a reckless person to go out of his way to punish and mangle someone even if they did deserve it. I step out, my wondering smile at the crowd falling as my eyes land on the man dressed in all black on top of the fifteen foot ladder.
"Jeff."I call over the speaker system, watching the man in the wicked black and white mask turn toward me. His eyes were white though his face was painted dark. He snarls, looking at the man below with his leg caught in a steel chair. Even with the contacts in and the mask covering most of his face I could see his expression twist violently from hatred and disgust for the man to compassion and wonder for me. I step up onto the metal stairs, my heels clicking against them.
"What are you?"I ask softly, looking up at him. His eyes shift to the black and white umbrella near by. I bend down to look at it just as the fans start chanting the embroider name. Willow. Without warning, Jeff jumps off the ladder and across the man. His screams tear through my heart. I hurry into the ring. Jeff stands and takes my hand, helping me over the ropes as if I hadn't done this a million times before. I look at him for a moment, trying to understand what he has become, and run to the man. I help the ref get his leg out of the chair and get him onto a gurney.
"Harley?"He asks, his voice seeming much too creature-like to be his. I look at him and stand angrily.
"It's actually Jennifer again, but yea. Who the hell else would deal with your bullshit?"I growl. This man was not my Jeff. He was something unknown and terrifying. He moves quickly, almost too quickly, and stands in front of me. His eyes wash over me hungrily as if looking for satisfaction.
"What are you doing here?"He asks, eyes flickering over my face.
"I came to keep my promise."I say, stepping closer. His jaw drops slightly as if he hadn't expected or realized the truth behind my action. "I came to see Jeff Hardy. Gail didn't tell me you turn yourself into a monster."I say, my eyes filling with tears. This was his alter ego, his pain and frustration all out into one horrifying thing. He cackles this loud and high pitched laugh before closing the gap between us, backing me into a turnbuckle.
"Just like you've changed, sweetness. Willow is only better."He snickers, referring to himself in third person with yet another cackle. I slap him across the face, or most so his mask, and growl, "Jeff Hardy never would've done this. My best friend would've taken revenge knowing his own limits and not trying to mangel someone."He didn't like that. His eyes flicker toward me again, the contacts making his eyes seem much more ominous, and grips my throat. He leans over me and bends me ever so slightly over the turnbuckle.
"Willow was pushed into a dark place, Jen. Don't make Willow push you into one too."He snickers like a creepy, all-too-happy-to-kill-you clown. What scared me most was the odd thought of how sexy he was with fire in his eyes and an aggressiveness I've never seen.
"Look at yourself, Jeff. I'm in my dark place. My dark place is called remembering the charismatic enigma that is and should still be Jeff Hardy."I say, forcing myself to push against his hold on my throat as I straighten. He tightens ever so slightly, his eyes filled with pain but only for a moment. The crowd starts cheering for Hardy, but the name makes Willow retreat. I drop my mic and force him to look at me as I slowly remove his mask. His eyes stay on mine as if pleading me to still believe in him. I always would. No matter what. He bows his head as the mask slips off as if ashamed of the person underneath. I pick up his chin and smile slightly as braids fall into his painted warrior face. He hasn't worn his hair in braids in such a long time I almost forgot how much I hated them. I lean closer, picking up the hand he held around his mic, and breath shallowly.
"You will always be Jeffery Nero Hardy to me. My best friend, my brother, my tag team partner. Just please don't lose yourself in Willow's darkness."I say, letting his hand drop and kissing his cheek. He wraps his arms around me as the mic falls and leads me back to the locker room. A darkness unknown within Jeff Hardy was dangerous and something told me would be much worse once I leave.
