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The next afternoon, Matt and Brittany were invited to Shawn and Rebecca's house for lunch before Matt was scheduled to leave. After everyone had eaten, Brittany felt as if she should tell her father the truth. So, with the encouragement from Matt, they both pulled Shawn and Rebecca privately into the family room, told them everything.
As Brittany told her father and step-mother what happened, she could feel the occasional loving hand squeeze from Matt. She could also see the anger in Shawn's eyes, and was worried he was mad at her.
"Where is this jackass now?" Shawn asked.
"He's in jail. I really don't know when he's supposed to be paroled or released, but I don't think it's anytime soon. But, I do have a restraining order against him, if he ever tries anything."
"Well, if he's smart he will stay away…especially since you have two WWE Superstars in your corner," Rebecca said.
"You know, I'm glad this prick is in jail. He should feel safe there," Shawn said, seething in anger.
"Ummm…Rebecca, Matt, could you please excuse us for a second?" Brittany asked. "I would really like to talk to Shawn alone for a second."
Rebecca nodded and Matt softly kissed Brittany's forehead before they left the room and closed the door behind them. Brittany stood up from the recliner she was sitting in, and started playing with her hands as she stood face to face with her dad.
"Shawn…do you blame me for all of this? Are you angry with me?"
Once Shawn looked into his daughter's eyes and could see how frightened and scared she looked, he instantly calmed down. "No, of course I'm not angry with you, and I don't blame you for anything he did," Shawn finally said. "Why would you think so?"
Brittany shrugged. "I don't know. I'm always worried that someone will think this is all my fault. Even after I was released from the hospital, I lost some friends because Justin literally brainwashed them with lies."
"Brittany, when you and Justin first got together, did you know he had an abusive side?"
"No of course I didn't. Otherwise, we wouldn't have gotten together in the first place."
"Ok, so here is my point. Brit, you didn't ask to get into an abusive relationship. You got in the relationship with Justin like any other girl would-with the best of intentions. You didn't ask to be hit. You didn't ask for all the verbal abuse, and you certainly didn't ask to be burned on your chest and upper back with a cigarette. None of it is your fault!"
"Thanks Shawn."
Even though he didn't want to admit it, Shawn felt a little disappointed he wasn't called dad. But, it was up to Brittany and she had to be the one who was comfortable in saying it. "Your welcome, and you don't have to thank me for anything. You know, even though I haven't known him all that long, Matt's a good guy. Just from what you've told me, he is the complete opposite from this Justin guy."
Brittany nodded in agreement. "Yeah he is. I am really lucky."
Not long after, Matt and Brittany left Shawn's house and drove back to her grandparents in comfortable silence. After pulling into the driveway, neither attempted to walk inside the house. Brittany knew Matt would have to leave soon, and decided to stay outside.
"I can't believe how fast the past 24 hours have gone," Brittany said, sticking out her lower lip. "I don't want you to leave."
"I know it babe, and I don't want to either. But, we both know I have to."
Brittany nodded as she felt Matt's lips brush against her forehead, pulling her into a hug. "Have I told you lately how proud I am of you?"
She leaned back just a little, not breaking the hug and eyebrows scrunched together. "Your proud of me? Why?"
"For telling me the whole story with you and Justin. For telling your dad and step-mom as well. That was really, really brave of you."
Brittany shrugged. "It was just something that needed to be told. It was literally eating me alive."
Matt kissed the top of her head as he pulled Brittany as close as humanly possible. Both contently sighed, as they held each other in silence.
"I want to ask you something," they both said at the same time.
Brittany smirked. "Go ahead. You go first."
"Alright. Um…listen, my parents and brother are going to visit me at the ECW tapings on Tuesday in St. Louis. Now I know it's short notice, and I don't have your school schedule completely memorized. But, I didn't know if you would be interested in traveling to see me, and meet my family."
As Brittany thought about her school schedule in her head, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous. While she wasn't necessarily nervous in meeting his family, she was nervous about meeting new people, and wondered deep down if they would like her.
"I don't see why not," Brittany finally answered. "I don't have class on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I can fly out like Monday night, meet you on Tuesday and go home on Wednesday morning or so. Monday is my important day."
"I am so glad to hear you say your coming," Matt exclaimed, clearly excitement in his voice. "Why is Monday such an important day for you?"
"That is the day I have to turn in my Psychology term paper, and my professor even let me write about my situation and how I've turned out from it."
"That's awesome to hear baby-you saved yourself a lot of time doing the research," Matt chuckled as he leaned back against the car.
"Not really though. How do you explain in so many pages that my mom died when I was one, only met my dad several weeks ago and yet I have a level head on my shoulders? In my opinion, that's only like two pages right there."
Matt chuckled. "I'm sure your paper will turn out great and I'm sure it will be the best in your class," he said as he rubbed his hands up and down her arms. "Do you have much more to go or are you done?"
"I only have like a page to go and I should be finished. I'll probably work on that tonight after you leave."
"Like I said, I'm sure your going to do great on it," Matt smiled. "Now what was it that you wanted to ask me?"
Brittany took a deep breath as she started messing with her hands. Even though they had been together a short period of time, Matt knew it was a sign she was nervous about something. "Come on Brit, you can tell me. What's up?"
"Well, you know that fall semester starts in late August, about 5 weeks away, for students. And with the summer semester pretty much over, the graduation is set for the first week in August, another three weeks away. The ceremony is on a Thursday evening, so you wouldn't have to miss a show, nor would I want you to.." she rambled.
"Brit, are you trying to ask me to your graduation ceremony?" Matt finally asked.
She let out a sigh of relief, silently thanking him for making the question just a little easier. "Yes I am," she smiled. "Like I said you wouldn't have to miss work, and I wouldn't want you to. But, I would really like it if you came, but if you don't want to you don't have to…"
Matt chuckled as he listened to his girlfriend continue to ramble, and finally silenced her by softly kissing her lips. "Just so you know, Brit, I would love to come."
"Really?" she exclaimed. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I am sure. It will be an important day for you, and for future reference, even if the ceremony would have been on a Tuesday or during the weekend, I still would have found a way to come."
Smiling, Brittany wrapped her arms around Matt's neck. He gladly returned her hug, and once the embrace was broken, he looked at his watch. "Baby, I should get on the road. I can't be late for tomorrow's house show."
"Alright," Brittany whispered.
Matt then cupped her face to kiss her, and as he continued, the kiss became more passionate. It was more passionate than he had ever kissed her before, and Brittany began to start feeling nervous on the inside. She broke the kiss moments later, but smiled toward Matt to re-assure him.
"I will miss you," she said.
"I'll miss you too, but we'll only be apart for a few days."
"Those two days will go by SO slowly," Brittany stated.
Smirking, Matt kissed his girlfriend one last time and waved good bye as he pulled out of the driveway, and drove down the road.
Later on that night, after dinner with her grandparents, Brittany settled in front of her laptop and began finishing her Psychology term paper.
"And although it was hard growing up without knowing either of my parents, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I don't think I would have the relationship that I have with my grandparents. I don't think I would have the relationship that I have with my friends and other family members. But more importantly, I don't think I would be who I am. But, I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life. I now know who my father is, and I am looking forward to building a relationship and bond with him and his family. I am looking forward to being a part of my new family," she read to herself.
Feeling satisfied, Brittany printed off her term paper, and after she stuck it in her Psychology folder, she flopped on her queen sized bed. Brittany then grabbed her pink cell phone.
It's done! It's finally done! she texted Matt.
While waiting to see if he would reply, Brittany took a quick shower and changed into her pajamas. As she settled into bed and turned on the television, Brittany heard her phone beep.
Congrats babe, Matt texted. So very proud of you.
Thank you!
As Brittany started to doze off, she heard her phone beep one more time, and wasn't too surprised to see another text message from Matt.
I just got to the hotel and gonna check in. I'll talk to you tomorrow?
Sounds good, Brittany texted. Talk to you in the morning.
Matt smirked as he got his girlfriend's text message while walking into the hotel. Sweet dreams!