Kimber turned her head and rolled her eyes as she listened to Punk, who was addressing the camera.
"I will put down anybody who shows me disrespect. That's what I do." the wrestler stated, eyes flashing like fire as they bored into the camera lenses, "I am the WWE Champion and I've been the WWE Champion longer than anyone here today. And at Survivor Series I will beat John Cena and I will beat Ryback and I will finally, FINALLY, get the respect I deserve!"
"Thank you, Punk." she replied at last.
"Yeah, whatever." the WWE champion sneered, "You're just as bad as the rest of them. You don't know anything about respect, either."
Paul Heyman slithered up to the champion's side and took his elbow, leading him away. The two men began to speak in hushed, secretive tones.
"Why don't we take a break." Kimber told Joel, who let out a sigh of relief.
She turned and walked away, her eyes going skyward. What an egomaniac! Ugh, she didn't know if she'd be able to deal with him for another hour, let alone a week.
And all of his talk about respect and the fact that he was the best in the world. She honestly didn't believe she was going to survive. She didn't know how she was going to make it.
She looked up ahead and paused, her eyes landing on the tall redheaded Irishman standing a few feet up the hall. Anxiousness and uncertainty welled up deep inside her. She hadn't seen him since that past Saturday night.
That Saturday night that had started out so right but had turned so wrong.
She began to fidget with her hands, hesitant.
He looked over his shoulder, spotting her, and everything inside her went still. He turned and made his way towards her, his face revealing nothing of what he was thinking.
"Kember." he nodded as he approached her.
"Hi." she offered, her voice shaking slightly due to nerves.
"Can you talk to me for a minute?" he questioned and Kimber nodded mutely.
They walked down the hallway and slipped into a side hall, gaining some privacy.
"I'm so sorry for Saturday night." Kimber jumped right in and apologized, "It was a lovely evening and I'm sorry for ruining it."
Sheamus stared down at her in disbelief. This woman. What was he going to do with her?
"You don' have anythin' to apologize for." he shook his head, "Ah'm the one who should be apologizin'. Ah never should have initiated that kiss-"
"No." Kimber interjected, vehement, "No, I. . ."
She glanced down at her clasped hands and admitted with a small smile, "I liked the kiss at first. A lot."
She peeked up to find him watching her with a tender expression, a ghost of a smile dancing on his lips.
"Ah liked it, too." his grin grew, "A lot."
His smile slowly faded as he reached out and took her hand in both of his, pressing it against his chest. Kimber swallowed, her eyes going to where they were joined.
Such large, strong hands. Hands that were used for fighting. But those same hands had shown her only gentleness. His large hands all but swallowed her smaller one up, but it didn't intimidate her. Instead, it seemed to comfort her. Give her support.
She regarded him silently, awaiting what he had to say.
"Ah meant what Ah said that night." he replied quietly, "Kember, you can trust me. You can talk to me."
Kimber pressed her lips together, as though that were a means to keep the words from coming forth.
But then she looked up into his beautiful blue eyes. He seemed so sincere, so unguarded. Maybe she could confide in him. Maybe he would still feel the same way about her. Maybe he wouldn't pull away.
He's proven time and time again that he can be trusted, she reminded herself, How many times as he been in my corner? My gosh, he faced Alberto Del Rio and Big Show to keep me from being hurt. If that doesn't prove the extent of his feelings, what does?
"Sheamus-"
"There you are."
The pair pulled apart and turned in surprise as Natalya made her way down the hallway. She brushed passed Kimber without a glance and advanced on Sheamus.
Kimber took a step back and watched the blonde with narrowed eyes.
"I was hoping we could finish our conversation." Natalya replied hopefully.
Sheamus closed his eyes for a moment and willed his temper down. Was this bleedin' woman ever going to let up? He had already made it clear that there was nothing left to say. At least not on his end.
"There's nothin' to talk about." he replied at last, his voice an almost growl.
"I think there is." Natalya wouldn't relent, "I owe you a hundred apologizes for the breakup. I was so wrong to do it. Words can't express just how sorry I am.
She took his hand and held it to her chest, "While I was in rehab I had a lot of time to think. And the thing is, I kept thinking about you."
Kimber took in the scene with disgust and misery. She couldn't stomach standing there another second. Shaking her head, she wheeled around and began to head back down the corridor.
"Kember!" Sheamus yanked his hand free from Natalya's hold and started to go after the reporter.
"I have to go meet with Punk." Kimber waved a hand back at him, not even bothering to turn around.
Sheamus watched as she disappeared behind a corner before he slowly turned around to face his ex. At the tightly leashed rage written across his red face Natalya swallowed nervously and took a step back.
"I'm sorry for interrupting you-"
"No yer not." the Irishman practically spat.
"You know what, you're right. I'm not." Natalya admitted, "Not when I have so much to say to you."
"What makes you think Ah want to hear it?" Sheamus muttered, "Ah stopped listenin' to anythin' you say the day ya cheated on me with Kidd."
"I never cheated-"
"Ah caught the two of ya making out at that nightclub!" the Celtic Warrior bellowed.
"After we had already broken up!" Natalya refused to give up.
Sheamus threw his hands up in the air in revulsion and started to storm off.
"No, wait!" Natalya ran in front of him and held up her hands to try and keep him in place, "And, believe me, it was the biggest mistake of my life! God, don't you see? I miss you. I miss you so much."
Tears began to collect in her eyes then, "You were so good for me. We were so good together. And I. . .I was stupid to let that go. To let you go."
"It's too late." Sheamus smiled coldly down at her, "Ah've moved on."
"To Kimber?" Natalya scoffed.
"That's none of yer business, lass." Sheamus again tried to walk around her, but again she blocked his way.
She sniffed away her tears and offered him a luminescent smile, "I'm better for you than her."
She reached up and ran her hands over his muscular chest, "Don't you remember how good we were together? What it used to be like between us? The fire? The passion? Sheamus, we were explosive."
He remembered all right. And now that he looked back on it he realized that was all they had. There was no connect other than the physical. No depth. No substance. He couldn't remember them ever just sitting down and talking.
Ah know more about Kember than Ah ever knew about Natalya. he realized, the thought bringing a slight smile to his lips, And Ah haven' even spent half the time wit' her.
The blonde noticed his expression ands she took it as a good sign. She began to message his pecks, something she remembered drove him wild.
Sheamus took hold her wrists and forcefully removed them from his chest. He brushed past her and headed back towards the main part of the arena.
"Ah remember, all right. Yer the one who forgot." he called after her before disappearing around the corner, "And now, Ah can' wait to forget, meself."
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Kimber looked at the monitor with wide eyes, hands covering her mouth.
It was a bit later in the night and Sheamus was facing Antonio Cesaro in what had to be the most brutal match she had ever seen.
Or maybe she thought it was so brutal due to her feelings for the pale, redheaded Irishman.
The cocky United States Champion had Sheamus in the corner. He suddenly delivered a head butt to the other man, causing Kimber to gasp.
Sheamus blinked several times, trying to clear his darkened vision away. He could feel Cesaro take hold of his neck and start to drag him to his feet and something came over him.
He began to plow the other man with blow after blow, weakening him.
The Celtic Warrior whipped him into the ropes but the lucky fella held on. Sheamus took off, meaning to clothesline him, but at the last second Cesaro pulled the ropes down and the Irishman went over and onto the apron.
Cesaro turned, meaning to level him with a blow. But Sheamus beat him to the punch, so to speak, and hit him. He spun the other wrestler around and, taking hold of his neck, jumped down onto the floor. Cesaro's neck bounced off the ropes and he fell face first towards the canvas.
Sheamus attempted to climb back into the ring but Cesaro slid forward, knocking his feet out from under him. Sheamus landed on his knees on the ground below.
He struggled to his feet, his temper threatening to erupt. He turned away for a second, scrubbing his hand over his face and attempting to put it back in check.
He went back to the ring and grabbed Cesaro's feet, pulling him out onto the ground with him. There he hammered him with a blow to the back and drove the other man into the barricade. The crowd groaned and cheered simultaneously in response.
Kimber stared intently on the monitor, watching as the camera closed in on the Irishman. She could see the intensity in his face and knew that Cesaro was in for it.
The Celtic Warrior grabbed Cesaro and started to lead him back up the steps. Unexpectedly, the other man grabbed his legs out from under him and Sheamus crashed into the unforgiving steel.
Sheamus hit it with a groan, pain shooting over his body, and he crashed onto the floor. He drew his arms up towards his chest, trying to fight through the sting that coursed through his body.
Kimber felt her chest constrict as she helplessly watched the redheaded man on the ground. More than anything she wanted to run out there and make them stop, but she knew she couldn't. It was the worst feeling in the world.
Antonio got Sheamus back in the ring and tried for a pin. One! Two!
Sheamus kicked out and the crowd cheered as the Irishman rolled onto his chest.
Not to be deterred, Cesaro wrapped his powerful arms around the other man's torso and began to squeeze.
Sheamus clenched his teeth in pain and tried in vein to reach for the ropes. It did no good and Cesaro increased the pressure.
The Irishman felt his temper begin to rise. Teeth grit, he struggled to a sitting position. Antonio tried to fight him but Sheamus appeared to be too strong to control.
The men got to their feet, Cesaro's arms still tightly wrapped around his middle.
Sheamus tried to break the lock, but it wouldn't budge. He suddenly drove his elbow up and towards the other man's jaw. Antonio had no choice but to break the hold.
As the Celtic Warrior spun around he drove his elbow into Cesaro's chest. Cesaro answered him with a forearm to his jaw, knocking the larger man back a step or two.
Sheamus turned around, though, and came right back to a shot to the United States Champion's face. He answered him with one of his own.
Kimber felt her breath catch in her throat as she watched the two men deliver vicious blow after vicious blow to one another. She couldn't believe that either one could still be standing after the punishment they had endured.
Sheamus got the upper hand, hammering him again and again before knocking him off his feet. As Antonio struggled to his feet the Celtic Warrior came at him again, again knocking him down.
He bulled the other man into the corner, driving his shoulder into Cesaro's ribs. He ran to the ropes, meaning to clothesline him, but Cesaro came after and knocked him down with a clothesline of his own.
Sheamus hit the canvas and the Antonio jumped on him for a pin.
One! Two!
Sheamus again kicked out, the crowd's cheers rising.
He started to get to his feet when he felt Cesaro wrap his arms around his middle and almost effortlessly lift him up.
"Oh!" Kimber cried out in alarm as she watched Cesaro grab Sheamus as though he weighted nothing and flip his over his shoulder.
He was on him once again, going for the pin. One!
Somehow Sheamus had the strength to kick out at one and a half.
The big Irishman rolled out onto the apron, trying to buy some time and regain his energy. He began to struggle to his feet when Cesaro jumped on him again, tying him up in the ropes. He then proceeded to nail him with uppercut after uppercut.
Sheamus felt the shots shoot through his body and he eventually went down to his knees. He saw Antonio start to advance on him and he suddenly lunged at him, driving his fist into the other man's gut. He stood up and punched the United States Champion's back again and again, causing him to hunch over the ropes.
Bellowing, the Celtic Warrior hit him with a knee once, twice, a third time.
Cesaro turned around and now it was his turn to be caught up in the ropes.
Eyes wild and teeth gnashed, Sheamus began to drive his fist into the other man's chest. One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten!
Cesaro staggered away. As he came back Sheamus launched himself over the top rope, driving his shoulder into the other man's chest and knocking him to the mat.
Not wasting his momentum, Sheamus came right back at him and lifted him up, driving him down onto his knee for the Irish Curse.
He planted him onto the canvas and went for the pin. One! Two!
Miraculously, Cesaro kicked out and rolled away. Both men struggled to regain their energy and slowly got to their feet.
Sheamus grabbed a hold of his arm and whipped the other wrestler into the corner. He went to follow it up when Cesaro managed to jump up and plant his knees into his face. Sheamus staggered backwards and as Cesaro came forward the redheaded man managed to catch him up and try to deliver the White Noise.
Cesaro drove his elbow into his jaw, though, and Sheamus lost his hold. The United States Champion went for him but Sheamus caught him and slammed him into the mat.
He again went for the pin but, again, Antonio kicked out.
Sheamus couldn't believe it. He also couldn't help the grudging respect he had for the other man. This fella was tough!
Kimber watched as they pulled in close on Sheamus once more. She could see the frustration in his eyes. She could also tell that he was trying to figure out a way to stop his opponent.
He rose to his feet and tried to go for the Clover Leaf. Unfortunately Cesaro wiggled his way to the ropes, grabbing hold of the bottom one.
Sheamus reluctantly broke the hold and backed away in aggravation. He started to go for the other man again when Cesaro planted his feet against the Irishman's torso and sent him sprawling back.
The Celtic Warrior hit the mat but instinctively got back to his feet. Slightly dazed, he turned around and found himself on Cesaro's shoulders.
Kimber's eyes widened as she watched from backstage. She couldn't believe anyone could get the massive wrestler off of his feet and here it was Antonio Cesaro doing it.
He slammed him onto the mat with brutal force and Kimber found she had to look away and shut her eyes.
She couldn't watch this. She just couldn't do it.
She heard the ref count one, two and suddenly the crowd's cheering filled her ears and she quickly spun back around to see that Sheamus had again kicked out.
"Yes!" she couldn't help but cheer, arms raised high above her head.
A couple of the crew took notice of her, a few of them smirking or laughing.
Kimber paid them no heed though, all of her attention on the match before her.
Sheamus struggled to his knees. Teeth grit and fighting through the pain, he made his way over to the far ring post. He leaned back against it and fought to get his second wind. Or was it his twentieth?
Cesaro rose to his feet and went for him. Sheamus, hands gripping the bottom ropes for leverage, kicked at him with his massive boot. Antonio went down to his knees.
Big mistake as Sheamus repeatedly kicked at him again and again.
Kimber watched in wonder as he managed to hold onto the top ropes and back flip his way onto the top rope from that sitting position on the ground. She couldn't help but be impressed with his strength and determination.
Sheamus dove off the rope for a battering ram but at the last second Cesaro turned and leveled him with a ferocious uppercut, knocking him to the canvas.
The Irishman looked up at the ceiling, but didn't really see anything. He was too dazed.
He felt Antonio drag him to his feet and prepare him for the Neutralizer. It was then that something clicked in his head.
The redheaded man without warning stood up, flipping the other man over his shoulders. Sheamus staggered over to the ropes, taking in deep lungfuls of airs.
He turned around and just as Cesaro stood he launched himself at him for the Brogue Kick.
He connected instantly and dove on top of the other man for the pin. One! Two! Three!
Sheamus music hit and the Celtic Warrior rose to his feet, beating his chest and bellowing to the cheering crowd.
It was a long, hard fought match and one he couldn't be prouder of.
The ref helped Antonio leave the ring and began to lead the other man to the back. As they walked up the ramp they passed by Kimber, who was suddenly on the stage.
She made her way down to ringside. As she approached she studied the Celtic Warrior, mentally calculating the damage.
To her absolute relief she discovered there really wasn't any. He was flushed and sweating, a light bruise on one of his biceps and one on his side. But other than that he looked all right.
She walked up the steps and onto the apron. As she approached the ropes he instantly came forward and held them open for her. He took her hand and led her inside and over to the center of the ring.
He was surprised to see her there, but happy none of the less. He didn't want anyone else to share in his victory except for her.
Reluctantly he released her and scrubbed a hand over his face, offering her a grin to let her know he was okay.
Kimber beamed up at him and raised her mic, "Sheamus, that was an amazing match between yourself and Antonio Cesaro."
"Ah, Antonio is a heck of a fighter." Sheamus grinned out at the crowd, "And if there's one thing Ah love, it's to fight!"
The crowd cheered in agreement.
"Speaking of fighting, you have a fight on your hands when you go up against Alberto Del Rio at Survivor Series this Sunday."
"Bertie." Sheamus chuckled at the other man's name, "If there's one thing Ah've learned about Bertie is that you can have all the money in the world and it still won' buy ya class."
The crowd began to cheer at that and Kimber found herself chuckling in spite of trying to stay impartial.
Sheamus noticed her and winked, "Liked that, did'ya, Kember?"
The reporter cleared her throat and tried to wipe the smile from her face. It was hard to do though. Especially with him looking down at her with that mischievous grin of his.
"You seem to be taking your match against Alberto pretty lightly." she observed.
"Not a'tall." Sheamus told her, "I know that Del Rio is a heck of a competitor. But the fact is, the only way old Bertie feels that he can beat me is by attacking me from behind. But at Survivor Series he's goin' to have to face me, man-to-man. No more cheap shots and no Ricky helpin' him.
"And after Ah finish wit' him," Sheamus' smile faded away as he looked at the camera, his tone turning deadly serious, "Ah'll be comin' for you, Big Show."
At that moment Alberto's music hit the arena. Ricardo stepped out onto the stage and started to announce his boss.
He didn't get far, though, as Alberto stormed past him and snatched the microphone out of his hand.
"Perro. You think it's going to be so easy to defeat me, you peasant?" the Mexican aristocrat spat out angrily as he made his way down the ramp and towards the ring, "Huh? You think you can beat me? You are a fool, Sheamus. I'm going to win our match at Survivor Series and then I will be the one to go on win the World Heavyweight Championship."
The crowd began to boo him. His eyes narrowed at that but he continued to give Sheamus his full attention.
"Why don' you climb into this ring, Bertie." Sheamus grinned down at the other wrestler, "And we'll see who could win in a fair fight."
"Kimber. Nena." Del Rio instead turned his attention on the reporter and grinned slyly, "Kimber, I'm willing to let bygones-be-bygones. I'm willing to give you a second chance, nena. Wouldn't you rather be with a real man? Hmm?"
Sheamus pale face began to take on a red tint. His fists started to clench at his sides. They did so so tightly that Kimber could actually hear his knuckles pop.
She looked up at him in concern, seeing just how angry he was becoming.
"Sheamus, ignore him." she placed a hand on his arm and tried to talk him down, "Please, it's all right."
"Come on, Kimber." the Mexican aristocrat wouldn't let up, "Te voy a enseñar cómo un verdadero hombre debe tratar. Podría llevarte a mi cama y amarte toda la noche."
Ricardo began to grin and he bumped arms with his boss.
Kimber's eyes narrowed and she was grateful that her Spanish was so limited. She didn't even want to know what he had just said.
She looked over and gasped as she took in Sheamus' frightening features. She had never seem him so. . .so enraged before.
And then it dawned on her. Oh God, he knew! Whatever Alberto had said Sheamus knew what it meant.
Instantly, before anyone could react, the large Irishman launched himself through the ropes and at the other man. He landed on him, both of them going to the ground.
Sheamus wasted no time. He climbed on top of the other man and began to rain fists down upon him. Alberto tried to fight back but it was a losing battle against the infuriated Celtic Warrior.
Ricardo looked on in fear before taking some imitative and going after the larger man.
"Sheamus!" Kimber called out the warning.
Sheamus turned just in time and jumped up, hitting the Brogue Kick on the announcer. He crumbled to the ground like dead weight.
Alberto got to his feet and tried to fight back against the larger man. They began to trade blows up the ramp.
Kimber gripped the ring ropes tightly; the young reporter giving all of her attention to the two men a few feet away. She watched on nervously as Alberto drove his forearm into the Celtic Warrior's face.
Sheamus took the blow and suddenly turned around, scooping Alberto up and setting him up for White Noise.
"No!" Kimber gasped, realizing that he was going to do the move on the steel ramp. She instantly worried for his well being.
Sheamus slammed the arrogant man onto the ramp, causing him to whine in pain. He seemed none the worse for wear, though, and jumped to his feet.
He beat his fist against his chest and threw his arms out at his sides, bellowing, "Fella!"
Kimber shook her head in disbelief. She didn't know whether to be angry or relieved.
Her mixed emotions instantly narrowed in on surprise. Suddenly there was Natalya on the stage. Smiling triumphantly, the blonde walked over to Sheamus and tugged at his arm. As the Celtic Warrior turned around she grabbed hold of his face and yanked him towards her for a passionate kiss.
Kimber felt tears begin to well up in her eyes and a pain shoot through her heart. Well it looked like they had gotten back together after all.
She dropped the forgotten mic and climbed out of the ring, storming up the ramp and towards the back. The last thing she wanted was to be out there anymore.
Sheamus pushed Natalya away and scrubbed a hand over his mouth in disgust.
"What's the matter wit' you?" he demanded angrily, "Get it through that thick head of yers that Ah don' want you!"
He noticed Kimber disappear behind the stage and he instantly took off for her. He had to catch her and tell her he wanted no part of that little banshee or her lukewarm kisses.
As soon as he hit the backstage area he spotted Kimber hurrying up ahead.
"Kember!" he called out to her but the young reporter kept going, "Kember, would ya stop!"
"I don't want to get in the middle of this!" she yelled back, not even giving him a backwards glance.
"There's nothin' to get in the middle of!" Sheamus tried to tell her but she disappeared behind a corner and was gone from view.
He turned and stormed off in the other direction, eyes filled with rage and chest heaving. He was getting sick and tired of her always running away from him.
She had to know that he wanted nothing to do with Natalya. She had to know that she was the only woman he wanted.
He drew to a stop, something clicking in his mind. When she had last seen them Natalya had wanted to talk about getting back together. Perhaps Kimber believed that they had. If that kiss was any indication, he could see why she would assume as much.
He needed to go to her and tell her he didn't want Natalya. That he wanted only her.
He spun around and went back up the hallway. The sooner he got to her and put things right the better.
He rounded the corner she had passed through and ran into Bobby.
"Have ya seen Kember?" he asked the smaller man.
The stagehand shook his head, "Sorry, Sheamus, you just missed her. She grabbed her stuff and hurried out of the arena about a minute ago."
Sheamus felt his temper begin to rise again. Right now he wanted to Brogue Kick someone.
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Natalya slipped to the backstage area and headed towards her locker room. To say she was livid was an understatement.
How could he turn her down? Her?! It made absolutely no sense.
"Hey, sweets." Alicia and Rosa fell into step on either side of her, "Too bad about Sheamus."
"I'm not giving up." the blonde hissed angrily.
"Well what more can you do?" Rosa lightly questioned her, "He's already made it clear that he doesn't want to get back together with you."
Natalya spun around and sent her heated glare. Rosa nervously backed up a step and offered what she hoped was an apologetic smile.
"He's only acting this way cause of that. . .that slut." Natalya spat, "So long as he has her around he's going to think that he doesn't need me."
"So what are you planning to do?" Alicia inquired.
"I don't know!" Natalya threw up her hands in frustration, "Something. I just want to do something to make her quit. But I don't know what. I don't even know where to start."
Alicia began to slowly smile, the wheels in her mind turning.
"What?" the blonde asked, confused, "What do you have in mind?"
"When in doubt." the other Diva replied with a Cheshire grin, "Google."
Natalya and Rosa exchanged glances and began to smirk.
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Kimber's grip on her pen was so tight that she was surprised it hadn't burst right there in her hand. Thank God it was Friday. Because if she had to spend another week with this guy she was going to kill someone. Or go crazy. Probably both.
"What kind of shot is this?" CM Punk snapped, his green-brown eyes constricted and focused on the screen.
Kimber and Joel exchanged looks, both trying hard to keep their tempers in check.
The WWE Champion and Paul had muscled their way into the Production office early that afternoon and spent the past few hours dictating every shot for the show.
"Would you prefer us to use the take where you sneezed?" Kimber asked him sweetly, "Because it's either that one or this."
Punk sneered at her, "If you think I'm going to sit by and watch you make a fool out of me on your little nothing YouTube show you have another thing coming."
"Punk," Kimber had to mentally count to ten before she could go on, "The last thing I want is to make you look like a fool. You've watched the other episodes, yes? And did you have a problem with those?"
Punk glared at her but didn't speak. She took that to mean that he didn't.
"Trust me to finish this." she told him, "I promise you that we will give this, and you, the utmost respect. And nothing less."
"Why don't we get something to eat." Paul suggested lightly, "We've been stuck in this dinky little room for hours and I'm starving."
No surprise there, Kimber couldn't help but silently quip.
Punk regarded her closely before slowly rising from his seat and leading the way out of the room.
He popped his head in one last time and ordered, "Make it look good, Kimberlynn. Or there'll be hell to pay."
"I promise." she offered him a bright smile.
He left, slamming the door behind him, and Kimber slumped in her chair. John hadn't given her a fifth of the problems Punk had.
"Well, now that he's out of here let's get down to business." Joel grinned, cueing up the next clip.
Without Punk there to dictated every little shot they were able to finish the episode in twenty minutes.
As they wrapped up, Joel reached over and turned on one of the side monitors, bringing up the SyFy Channel.
"Do you wanna check out SmackDown?" he asked her as he settled back in his chair, "Considering that neither one of us could make the show this week."
"I'd love to." Kimber grinned, "Maybe it'll take my mind off of this horrible week with our darling champion."
Joel snickered and turned up the volume for the show. It was going full force, the pair enjoying it immensely. They cheered their friends and booed the heels. It was great.
Kimber sat up a little straighter in her chair as she watched Sheamus walking down the hall. He appeared pensive and more than anything she wanted to know what he was thinking about.
And though she was still hurt and angry over what happened Monday night, she couldn't help the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach at the sight of him. He was so handsome.
And she was so hopeless.
Suddenly Natalya came running up behind him. At the sight of her Kimber could hear the faint boos of the crowd.
Smart crowd, she thought with a wiry smile.
Natalya reached the Irishman and took hold of his arm, halting his steps. She looked up at him pleadingly. He, in turn, regarded her with annoyance.
"I, uh," Natalya's eyes fell to the ground for a second before focusing back on him, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. Not for kissing you, because that was an amazing kiss. But I'm sorry for coming out when I did."
Kimber's eyes constricted. She had never wanted to punch her fist through a television screen but right now the idea sounded too tempting for words.
"You and Ah have different ideas about what that kiss was." Sheamus muttered, "Look, ya need to get it through yer head that Ah don' want to be wit' you. Not anymore. Ah've moved on."
"Sheamus-" Natalya just wouldn't let the matter drop.
"Enough!" the Irishman practically roar, passed sick and tired of the blonde's antics by now, "Ya wanted us to break up and so we did. Ya got what ya wanted, Natalya. Move on. Ah have."
Tears began to collect in the Diva's eyes. She choked back a sob and turned, fleeing from the corridor. Sheamus watched after her and sighed, clearing hating that he hurt her but also knowing that it had to be done.
He turned back around and noticed that the camera was still on him. He scrubbed a hand over his face and offered a hint of a sad smile.
"Oi, Kember." he spoke up wistfully, "We miss ya here tonight."
The picture faded to black and the show cut to a commercial.
Kimber continued to stare at the screen, eyes wide with shock. Did he really just say. . .?
At that moment her cell phone began to ring. She promptly picked it up and answered.
"Oh my gosh!" Cassidy's animated voice filled her ear even before she could speak, "That was the best thing ever!"
"I'll just leave you to your call." Joel chuckled as he rose from his seat and left the room.
"Hey, Cass." Kimber couldn't help but quip weakly, "So I take it you watched."
"Are you kidding me? Of course I watched!" Cassidy laughed, "That was the best!"
"Calm down, Cass." Kimber found herself giggling. Her best friend could always put her in the best of moods.
"I will not calm down." Cassidy replied vehemently, "And I'm pretty sure you're not calm, either."
Kimber sighed, slumping back in her seat, "Okay, you're right. I'm not calm, either."
"So are you finally admitting that there's something going on between you two?" Cassidy pressed.
"Yeah." Kimber confessed quietly, "There's something going on."
"I knew it!" her best friend sang out.
"But the thing is," Kimber spoke up loudly, trying to cut in, "I'm not sure what."
"You like him and he clearly likes you." Cassidy told her, "I think that pretty much spells it out."
"I. . ." Kimber closed her eyes, debating on whether or not she should tell her about the date and how horribly it had ended.
"What is it?" Cassidy instantly grew serious as she realized that something was going on with her best friend, "What? Talk to me?"
"Okay." Kimber opened her eyes and exhaled, "While I was staying when John in Florida this past weekend Sheamus and I went out to dinner."
"A date." Cassidy replied matter-of-factly.
"Yes, a date." Kimber confirmed, "He-Cassidy, he was so amazing. He took me to an Italian restaurant because he had found out I like Italian food. He was so sweet and charming. He was such a gentleman."
"And?" her friend prompted.
"And after dinner we went back to his place." Kimber replied softly.
"He didn't do anything to you, did he?"
"No!" Kimber stated instantly, "No, Cass, it's not what you think.
"He showed me around his home," she explained, "And, Cass, it's gorgeous! I've never seen such a beautiful house before.
Anyway, he showed me around and we ended up in his living room. I was looking over his CD collection and I made a joke about music. He started chasing me around the room and then he caught me.
"And then he. . ." she hedged, glancing down at the video consol, "And then we started to kiss."
"I see." Cassidy murmured, "Go on. What happened?"
"It was great at first." Kimber confided with a soft smile, "Probably the best kiss of my life. But I. . .I don't know, things started getting. . .heated and I freaked out."
"Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry." her friend sighed, "What did he do?"
"Sheamus?" Kimber cast her eyes to the ceiling, blinking back tears, "He was wonderful. So sweet and attentive. He couldn't have been nicer."
"That's great." Cassidy tried to consol her, "Sweetie, the fact that all of that happened and he's still sticking around is a great sign! I really think you have a good one here."
"He's the best." Kimber agreed, pensive.
"So did you tell him what happened?"
"I haven't." Kimber closed her eyes, "I'm starting to believe that maybe some day I can. I just need the right time. And, maybe, a little more courage."
"Good." Cassidy informed her, "Take your time. And don't give up on him. He seems like a real winner to me."
Kimber bid her friend goodbye and hung up. She leaned back in her seat, a gentle smile on her lips.
"He is a real winner." she murmured warmly.
