Cena got up the next morning and went for a run. In just a few days he would be journeying to the doctor for his checkup. If all was well, the cast would be removed and he could start back wrestling in no time. The main purpose for his run was not just to stay in shape. He was actually running because he slept horribly the night before. Every time he closed his eyes to sleep, he nightmares of his childhood. Images of his mom being beat to death clouded his mind to the point where he couldn't sleep. The thoughts of his mother only made him worry even more about Allison. Who could be hurting someone as harmless as she he wondered?

Cena's phone started vibrating in his sweats and it was just the excuse he needed to stop jogging. He looked at the ID and shook his head.Carmella.

"Hello?"

"Hey John. How are you?"

"I'm doing ok. How about you?"

"I'm…fine. Listen John, I just called to apologize for what happened the other day. I don't know what came over me and I just…"

"Hey…whoa…slow down," he chuckled. "And do quit the apologizing. It's not necessary."

"Yeah but I blamed you for a lot of things that I shouldn't have and I'm just…I'm really sorry John. I hope we can still be friends."

"Sweetie it's ok. And you know my policy-once a friend, always a friend…unless you go and kill somebody." Carmella started to laugh making Cena smile. "There's that laugh I like to hear."

"I feel a lot better now thanks to you. How about I get you a coffee and some donuts? My treat…you know, as a peace offering? I'm sure you're probably outside jogging anyway."

"You know me," he laughed.

"Well what do you say? Or do you have other plans? I can take a rain check you know."

"Uh…no actually I can do with a cold coffee right about now. Just give me about twenty minutes to rinse off and I'll meet you at Starbucks."

"Alright. So I'll see you in a few. Later John."

"Later sweets."

-----------------------------------

Cena arrived at the coffee shop exactly thirty minutes later and found Carmella waiting at a booth near the very back. Damn. I wish she wouldn't have sat so far back. I pray no one recognizes me.

"John!" she exclaimed. God, why is she so excited?

"Hey Mella." He pulled her into a warm hug and kissed her forehead before sitting across from her. Damn. She looks so hot…as usual.She was wearing some tight fitting blue jeans and a red halter. Her hair was pulled back into a high pony tail and her eyes were highlighted perfectly by the light shade of blue makeup. The red gloss on her lips was the icing on the cake, advertising those luscious, kissable lips of hers.

"I've already ordered our drinks and donuts since you always order the exact same thing," she joked.

"Oh good because I am starving!" Cena looked around the coffee shop and what he saw made the hairs stand on the back of his neck. Allison. She was looking right at him and for some silly reason he couldn't help but to feel guilty. He saw her set down a tray of glasses and hurry back towards the kitchens. Dammit. A second later, another girl came out of the kitchen and grabbed Allison's tray bringing it to their booth.

"Uh…are you sure this is ours?" Carmella asked. "Some other waitress took the order but…"

"Yes, this is it maam. The other waitress said she was feeling a bit faint so she's in the back taking a break."

"Oh ok. Well thank you very much. I hope the other girl gets to feeling better." Cena didn't hear the conversation between Carmella and the waitress. His mind was on Allison but he wasn't quite sure how to feel. On one hand, he felt relieved that she did not come to his table. Otherwise, it was possible that she would have found out that his name wasn't Shawn. On the other hand, he couldn't help but to be pissed off. If he wasn't sitting there admiring his ex, then he could have called Allison over and talked with her like he had been wanting to since their last meeting. Damn it all.

"John?" Cena jumped at the sound of his name. "Are you alright?"

"Uh…yeah. I was just…"

"Are you worried about your checkup?" she asked.

"Uh…"No but it's the perfect excuse so I'm running with it. "Yeah…you got me."

"Oh John…I am…I don't think you should worry so much. You're a tough guy and you can get through anything. I'm sure everything will work out just fine." She leaned across the table and kissed his lips. "Now eat your food silly," she grinned.

-------------------------

Allison just stayed at the door and watched as Carmella planted a kiss on Cena's lips. I knew it was too good to be true. He's taken…Not that I had a chance with someone like him anyway but still…Allison wiped the tears from her eyes before setting back to work. Just because the love of her life was seeing someone else didn't mean life would stop. There was always somebody else and with that thought she went back to making lattes.

----------------------------------------------------

An hour later, Cena and Carmella were heading outside of Starbucks to go their separate ways.

"Thank you Carmella. I had a great time and food's always good to make amends," he grinned giving her a half hug.

"Well, I hate to say it but I had a wonderful time too. You reminded me why I fell in love the first time." There was an awkward silence before Carmella turned and planted a kiss on his cheek. "I hope we hang out again soon John. Have a good one." He leaned over and gently kissed her lips.

"And you do the same." She flashed him a warm smile before getting in her Subaru and driving off. When he was sure that she was out of sight, he went back inside the coffee shop and waited for Allison to come out.

Allison finished washing a batch of dishes and decided to start back waiting tables. She grabbed a pen and pad then headed back out front but stopped short when she saw Cena waiting for her. Oh gee…what's he still doing here?

"Allison?"

"Uh…hi Shawn. Listen, I am just…" He grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. "Will you please talk with me?"

"I…I can't. I'm on duty so I can't…"

"I mean after you get off work."

"Well…I really…I have to get home," she stammered. Not really but I'm starting to like you too much and you're already taken…

"Why do you keep running away from me?" he asked, clearly very frustrated at this point.

"I don't…I just don't have time to talk and anyway, shouldn't you be with that girl of yours? How does she feel about you being here talking with me."

"There's nothing between me and her."

"If you call that nothing," she muttered. Yeah right…I saw the two of you kiss. I bet you're just like all the rest only you're hot.

"Allison…"

"I have to go. I'll…I'll try to call you later."

Allison walked off and started waiting tables. It wasn't long before Cena got up and left. A part of Allison wanted to run after him and ask him about that other girl but something inside her told her it was best not to pry. She had been hurt enough already so why push the issue and make matters worse.

---

---

Four hours later, she clocked out and caught a taxi home. Her car still had not been fixed but she was in no hurry to worry her father about it. She had enough to deal with without him knowing about the car. The taxi dropped her off a block from her dad's so she walked the rest of the way. She had almost reached the driveway when a familiar looking vehicle started to slow in front of the house. I know that's not…The Explorer stopped in front of their house and out walked Cena coming towards her. What is he now? A secret service agent?

"Hey baby girl."

"Uh…Shawn…what are you doing here? Are you some sort of stalker?" she huffed.

"Hey, don't give me that attitude. I told you that I wanted to talk with you."

"I said I would call."

"No you didn't. You said you'd 'try'. Any man with half a brain knows that 'try' translates into 'hell no'."

"You didn't give me a chance."

"And neither did you. Now what's with the attitude?"

"I…well you're following me home for one thing. How did you know that you were welcome to my home?" she snapped.

"I thought that we were friends," he replied slowly. "I thought that I could drop by to see you since we are friends…unless this is a one-sided friendship."

"No…It's not…I just…Dammit!" she huffed. She turned away from him and folded her arms. Now what do I do?

"ALLISON! WHAT ARE YOU DOING STANDING OUT HERE IN THIS RAIN? YOU CAN GET SICK AND I AM NOT PAYING ANY GODDAMN HOSPITAL BILLS IF YOU GET THE PNEMONIA!" Allison jumped at the sound of her father's voice. Oh no…

"Uh…I just got back," she stammered. "I'll…be in soon. I was just…talking with a friend."

"YEAH WELL HURRY IT UP. I'M STARVING AND YOUR MA WON'T BE HOME UNTIL LATE SO YOU'LL HAVE TO START DINNER." He went back inside the house and slammed the door. Allison was so flustered that she didn't know what to say or how to say it. She didn't even realize that she was crying until she felt Cena's fingers under her eyelids.

"Shawn just go," she whispered. Cena lifted her chin and brushed his lips against hers.

"I can't go…not just yet. I'm worried about you and I wanna be there for you but you won't let me. Why? Why won't you let me help you?" he asked.

"You can't. No one can now please go." She brushed by him but he pulled her back.

"Allison…I'm going to help you."

"How? You have no idea…"

"I'm not stupid sweetheart. In fact, I have a pretty good idea why you're always this timid but that will change soon. That is a promise." Before she could protest, he leaned over a kissed her lips. She didn't want to respond but when his tongue entered her mouth it had the same effect as it did the first night she kissed him. She wrapped her arms around him, deepening the kiss until she heard her father's voice again.

"ALLISON!" she jumped and started off towards the house, leaving Cena behind.

Cena watched Allison run towards the house without even chancing a glance back. He watched her go inside but his feet stayed planted where they were. For some reason his body would not move. Allison…what's he doing to you? He glanced at the front door and strained to hear anything but it was virtually impossible due to the steady rain fall. After finally claiming defeat, Cena headed back to his Explorer and headed for home. He was halfway there when his phone started ringing. Please be Allison…Nope. It wasn't Allison.

"Shawn?"

"Hey bro. It's Shawn although I can't help but to notice the extreme disappointment in your voice," he joked.

"No…it's not…of course I'm happy to hear from ya. In fact, I really need to discuss some things with you."

"Yeah well we can talk in person because I'm going to be in your neck of the woods for a few days."

"Alright. Great. So when can I expect you?"

"Tomorrow. So get ready to talk because I'm sure you have a lot on your mind."

"You have no idea Shawn. No idea at all…"

AN: Don't know when the next update will be but it will be soon...hopefully:P