"Pretty in Punk"
A Shannon/Ashley fanfic
Thanks to chnoelle, xAttitudex, xtobelovedx, csimiamigirl73, .CMPunkluver., Christal-R, annskieesofresh and awprncss4368 for reviewing last chapter, you're awesome! :)
Here we go with the new one, hope you'll like it as well!
R&R and enjoy it!
Chapter 10:
"Water Fights"
"What are you doing here so early in the morning?" Ashley asked with a confused look on her face, stepping outside her hotel room in a white tank top and skulls-printed pajamas bottom and carefully leaving the door ajar to not wake her roommates up.
"I was hoping you would be the one to answer the door and not Torrie." Shannon sheepishly smiled.
"I can see your point," she lightly giggled "I wouldn't wish that to anyone."
"So…"
"Is everything alright?" She asked wondering what reason could have brought him there, when they had just left each other like 3 hours ago and were both supposed to be peacefully asleep in their beds.
"I… missed you." I blurted out with a nervous smile.
"Oh… but we were together till a couple of hours ago." She pointed out with a smile.
"Yeah but… I just had to do this." He finally said stepping forward and sweetly kissing her, with his hand gently touching her cheek.
She was obviously pleasantly surprised and soon lost in the kiss… and would have gladly remained in that moment forever, but unfortunately an annoying, insisting noise… almost like a music, drifted her away too quickly…
x—x—x—x—x
"…I don't need a man to make me feel good…"
"What the…" Ashley muttered under her breath, slowly opening her eyes. After adjusting her eyesight at the daylight and noticing the petite figure of the Boise belle shaking her hips at the loud music blasting through the stereo, a disappointed frown appeared on her face as she realized it had been just a dream.
And she could have sworn to have felt the Reject's lips on her own indeed…
Too bad she had only dreamt it.
"Morning punk princess!" Torrie greeted her with a smile before starting to sing out loud –all over again- the popular Pussycat Dolls' song.
"What the hell is going on?" She groggily muttered.
I don't need a ring around my finger
To make me feel complete,
So let me break it down
I can get off when you ain't around
"Don't you love this song?" Torrie grinned "I'm declaring our independence."
"…And is it necessary to declare our independence at this ungodly hour?" She rolled her eyes.
"Actually it's almost eleven." Michelle giggled from the bed next to hers, lifting up her gaze from a fitness magazine.
The dirty diva groaned collapsing again on her pillow.
"Looks like someone had a good late night yesterday." Torrie pointed out with a smirk, keeping on analyzing her clothes from the closet and throwing the ones she didn't need over her back… almost covering both Michelle and Ashley.
"Did you have fun?" The all-American girl added with a smile.
"Yeah, I definitely did." She dreamily said thinking of the beautiful night she had spent with the prince of punk.
"So did you kiss him?" The Boise native asked suddenly turning to her with a mischievous grin on her lips.
"Excuse me?" She asked genuinely puzzled, trying to hide a blush as the memory of her dream immediately came back.
"John Morrison." She rolled her eyes "I told you you could hook up with him… did you?" She hopefully insisted.
"No, I didn't." Now it was her turn to roll eyes "I don't find him attractive, so…" She trailed off with a shrug.
"Oh Ash," Torrie helplessly sighed focusing again on her clothes "I give up on you."
"Finally." The dirty diva whispered making Michelle laugh.
"Oh by the way, did you tell her that Kelly was searching for her last night, 'Chelle?"
At these words the punk immediately sat up in her bed and looked alarmed at her friends, afraid that her lie had been discovered.
But apparently everything was alright.
"Oh right," Michelle smiled "probably you were in the bathroom or something and she was afraid to forget to tell you that she got the top you left at the arena… you know Kelly."
"Yeah… thanks." She nervously nodded as something in her smile told her that Michelle knew everything… but had covered up for her anyway.
But her thoughts were distracted again by the other blonde, or better from one of her mini skirts flying over her head.
"Tor, what are you doing?" The dirty diva finally asked, after ducking under a purple top.
"Oh I'm just searching for the right outfit…" She said matter-of-factly, still buried in the closet "I think I've packed too many things this time."
"Only this time?" Michelle sarcastically asked.
"And without adding all the clothes you bought yesterday." Ashley echoed.
"Whatev- ha ha! Found it! I knew it had to be somewhere!" She triumphantly exclaimed.
"Cool, now can we see what this disaster was about?" The punk asked gesturing to the amount of dresses, shorts, tops and mini skirts scattered all around the room.
"Et voilà." The Boise native turned with a wide, satisfied smile on her face revealing a swimsuit in her hands. It was a baby blue one piece… actually cut open on the hips so that just a stripe around a golden ring put together the upper and the lower parts.
"Oh, I like it." Michelle gave her approval.
"Nice, right? I'm planning on spending the day… or what remains of, at the hotel's pool."
"That's cool." Ashley commented.
"Glad you think so cause you two are involved in my plan too, of course." She flashed them an innocent smile "Oh, and since I'm in a good mood cause I've found my best swimsuit… I'll even let you wear a skulls-printed bikini or something in your weird taste." And with that she quickly disappeared into the bathroom to get changed first, without giving her friends a chance to reply.
Ashley couldn't refrain from rolling her eyes at that as she left her bed and sat down next to Michelle.
"At least we don't have to hit the mall again, the pool sounds much more inviting." The all-American girl playfully rolled her eyes.
"Indeed. And I even get to wear anything I want!"
"Awesome." She giggled.
Then as a comfortable silence filled the room while Michelle read her magazine and Ashley messed around with her iPod, the punk was the first to speak up.
"Michelle, you know that I wasn't with Kelly and the others yesterday… right?"
Michelle slowly put down her magazine as a smile curved her lips. "Well let's say that Kelly gave me the hint and I did the math. You were with Shannon, right?"
"Yep, celebrating our first win" she admitted with a smile before sighing "I'm sorry I lied to you… I just wanted to avoid-"
"Ash, it's alright." She chuckled "First, it's your life and second… I can totally see your point. I mean it's not like we've been supportive on the subject… thing I should apologize for, by the way." She playfully rolled her eyes.
"Nah, it's okay." She lightly giggled.
"So did you have fun? C'mon girl I want the details!" She widely smiled.
"As you wish then." She smirked before launching herself into a detailed account of her evening with the prince of punk.
x—x—x—x—x
In meanwhile someone else, just a few rooms away, was definitely in a good mood too.
The self proclaimed Reject couldn't refrain from smiling as he came out from the bathroom just in a pair of jeans and with his dirty blonde hair still wet from his refreshing shower.
His roommate, on the other hand, rolled his eyes at his friend's good humor while he lazily laid on his bed… and when the other even started to sing out loud, couldn't help but speak up.
"Standing on the rooftops everybody scream your heart out…"
"Man, please, singing it's not your thing." Gregory Helms said with a disgusted face.
"I'm not signing up for American Idol, don't worry." Shannon retorted with a chuckle, determined to not let anything ruin his good mood.
"What's up with the song anyway? Everyone seems obsessed with it lately." He rolled his eyes.
"I just like it," he shrugged "it was used for a Jeff tribute, ya know?"
"Of course I know… but it's pop." He said matter-of-factly as it was a bad thing.
"It's not pop, it's rock… or better punk rock. Pop is Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson or… whatever."
"Well punk rock sucks anyway then."
"Greg, just cause you like hip hop it doesn't mean that we all have to." Shannon pointed out in an amused tone, as someone who's trying to reason with a kid.
"Says the one who has weird tastes."
"Hey! I don't have weird tastes…! I just like… what's different." He defended himself.
"Yeah, like… dirty blonde divas with lips pierced and covered in tattoos?"
"Besides the fact that she's not covered in tattoos, I should know that was coming." He rolled his eyes.
"You came back pretty late tonight."
"Yep." He said almost ignoring him, turning to search for a clean t-shirt.
"Did you have fun then?"
"Of course I had. And probably not in the way you're thinking."
"Well if you're happy by being a replacement till her boyfriend comes back from Raw…" He trailed off.
"Not that it's any of your business, but for your information she and Paul broke up months ago… when she left for China, which is almost a year ago by the way."
"…That doesn't change the fact that she's Matt's ex girlfriend. You'd better think twice about it."
"Geez man, aren't you tired of repeating this every freakin' day?! Cause I am of hearing it, you're like a broken record on the subject!" The Reject finally snapped "What do I have to say for the thousand time, that she's one of my closest friends? Or that Matt and her broke up like 2 years ago?! Drop this already, trust me!"
"Wait till Matt gets back then." He muttered rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to that so you can finally room in with him."
"And who are you going to sleep with? Jimmy? Or wait, maybe with your new tag team partner?"
"Whatever man, you don't deserve an answer." Shannon just rolled his eyes and after quickly slipping a t-shirt on opened the door… just to find someone standing there.
"Hey… Shannon!"
"Jamie, what are you doing here?" He asked looking at Jamie Noble with a confused look on his face.
"I was actually waiting for you guys." He grinned walking inside the room, without being invited to do so, obviously.
"You could have just knocked on the door, you know?" Gregory Helms rolled his eyes.
"Anyway," the shorter superstar went on with a forced smile "I've just had the greatest idea ever…!"
"…And that is?" The punk skeptically asked.
"Are you busy right now?"
"I'm not, but I don't know if Shannon has already other plans with his girl-"
"Neither do I." The Reject cut him off glaring at his friend.
"Awesome! So why don't we hang out at the pool?" He hopefully grinned.
"Jamie… what's the reason behind that?" Gregory asked raising an eyebrow.
"Well… I've kinda been told from my sources that Torrie told MVP she was going to be there this afternoon… and if Torrie's here, Michelle would be there too. And so the other divas, probably." He smirked.
Shannon tried to hide a laugh at Jamie's obsession for Michelle, and pretended to turn it into a cough.
"Besides the fact that your sources is just Hornswoggle eavesdropping," the Hurricane rolled his eyes "I like the idea. Bunch of divas in bikinis. Sounds like a good way to spend a day off." He concluded with a grin.
"Awesome!" Jamie exclaimed "I don't want Michelle to think that I'm stalking her or something if I go there on my own… so you're in Shannon?"
"I would never let Michelle think that of your innocent interest Jamie, so count me in." He sheepishly grinned.
"EVEN BETTER!" The former two times cruiserweight champion smirked raising his hand for a high five… that wasn't returned.
"Let us get ready then Jamie." Greg said pointing at the door.
"Right, sure! I'll wait for you outside then! Hurry up!" And with that he immediately rushed outside.
"Weird dude," the dark haired superstar commented "but great idea."
"Yeah," Shannon automatically replied without really listening to him cause a smile suddenly appeared on his lips again thinking that Ashley probably would be there with her friends as well, and he already couldn't wait to see her again.
x—x—x—x—x
"Aww, sounds sweet!" Michelle squealed.
"I know, right?" She giggled "That's why he's special, I always smile when I'm around him… I don't know how or why, but he always seems to make me happy."
"I can tell."
"Sorry?" She asked puzzled.
"Your eyes shine just talking about him." The long legged diva explained widely smiling.
"Oh… I'm talking nonsense, that's stupid." She couldn't help but blush.
"No, it's not." Michelle begged to differ "Honey there's nothing stupid about it, actually I think something's really beautiful is happening… or is going to."
"You really think so?"
"Of course I do." She genuinely smiled "Even though Torrie would probably kiss us all. You two for liking each other against her will, and me for supporting that."
"I can totally see your point." She playfully rolled her eyes before sighing "I don't know what to do or what to think… I'm so confused… is he just a friend or… I don't know anymore. And surely I don't want to ruin our friendship, you know. Especially now that we're also tag team partners. The only thing I'm sure of is that it has been a long time since I felt this good."
"…I think you just have to take your time, Ash. I mean, keep on enjoying your time with him and don't worry about anything else, I'm sure you'll figure out the rest when the right moment will come. And just follow your heart." The dirty diva just nodded before her lips curved into a smile.
"Thanks 'Chelle, it means a lot."
"Aw don't even mention it." She smiled back "And now we'd better hurry up by the way before Torrie realizes we haven't found our swimsuits yet."
"That's right." Ashley giggled rushing to her suitcase.
x—x—x—x—x
Half an hour later the three blondes finally reached the pool side, Torrie lead the way with her inseparable little dog, Chloe, under her arm while Ashley and Michelle followed… cheerfully chatting about the dirty diva's match of the previous night.
The girls placed their bags next to the deckchairs and stripped off in their swimsuits, while Chloe happily walked around. Ashley was wearing a black & white polka dots bikini and her black cap with the white skull backwards as usual; Michelle revealed a red & white striped one piece.
"Ready to go?" The latter beamed.
"Right after you, my friend." Ashley smirked while the all-American girl proceeded to dive in the transparent water.
"What are you doing?!" Torrie exclaimed as they had just done something totally insane and inappropriate.
"…We're going inside." Ashley replied matter-of-factly "That's what the pool's all about, ya know?"
"Are you coming Tor?" Michelle asked re-emerging and tying her long blonde hair in a high ponytail.
"Absolutely not." The Boise native stated with an outraged expression "First, I have to work on my tan and second, I just curled my hair. So thanks, but no thanks."
"C'mon, don't kill all the fun!" The punk princess complained.
"You go ahead and ruin your just-done-yesterday hair, I stay here and enjoy the sun." She flashed her a smile adjusting a pair of over sized sunglasses on her nose. "Oh and don't splash me for any possible reason, thank you." And with that she finally laid down on one of the deckchairs.
Ashley rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at the now distracted diva before jumping inside as well, while Michelle laughed.
x—x—x—x—x
"I told you she was going to be there!" Jamie exclaimed with a triumphant smile as he spotted hisbelle playing in the pool with a multi-colored beach ball with Ashley.
"If you want to shout that out again maybe they didn't hear you." The Hurricane rolled his eyes, while Shannon followed… with the dumbest smile ever after seeing the punk princess.
"Ladies, here we are!" Jamie made their presence know and opened his arms as to offer himself while they reached the deckchairs.
"Oh God, what could I possibly did to deserve this?" The all-American girl complained in a whisper making Ashley burst out with laughter before recomposing herself to smile and wave at the dirty blonde superstar who gladly responded.
"Torrie, it's always a pleasure." Gregory smirked stopping just in front of her deckchair.
"Helms, you're blocking my sun." She coldly replied motioning for him to go on.
"What a welcome." He muttered rolling his eyes.
Who have had indeed a much better welcome was definitely the prince of punk.
"Hey," Ashley smiled as she, swimming, reached the edge of the pool where he just kneeled down, waiting for her.
"Hey back at ya," He sheepishly grinned
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh, Jamie almost pleaded us to come with him… to stalk Michelle, of course."
"Aw no way," she giggled "poor you."
"Well actually I can't say I'm not enjoying the view as well." He smirked.
"Oh shut up." She playfully rolled her eyes splashing water in his face "It's not that different from what I wear in the ring."
"And so can't I appreciate it anyway?" He pointed out with an amused smile.
"Sure, go ahead." She laughed "And by the way I love your swimsuit, so cool!" She said pointing at the white swim-shorts covered with orange skulls.
"I know, right?" He grinned "But for some reason I still prefer yours."
"And I won't even ask why." She rolled her eyes but smiled at him nonetheless… before Jamie's loud voice made her literally jump.
"Michelle, here I come!" He cried out as he proceeded to jump in.
Her embarrassment was evident as she rolled her eyes, quickly moving out of the way. "Actually I've already been inside for too long." She excused herself as she reached the edge of the pool to exit… and almost knocked out Ashley in the process, trying to avoid Jamie.
But fortunately the prince of punk offered his hand to save the situation.
"Need help dirty diva?" He chuckled.
"Yes, thanks." She gladly reached for his hand and came out of the water while he couldn't help but check her out.
"Torrie did I tell you lately that you look beautiful?" Greg in meanwhile tried again, sat on the deckchair next to hers.
"Gregory," she faked a smile lowering her sunglasses "since how many years do we know each others?"
"5 or 6 years I guess…"
"Good, and so what makes you think that now I won't reject you just like any other one?" She concluded before disappearing again behind her sunglasses.
He just rolled his eyes as the other 4 around him burst out with laughter. "Ha ha, very funny…" He sarcastically said before something caught his attention "Guys don't freak out but… there's a mouse over there!"
"Aaaah!" Torrie hysterically exclaimed jumping on her deckchair… as next to her Jamie did the same, kicking Michelle in the process, as she moved on the other one next to Ashley.
"Eww." Shannon commented standing up to see it too. "But it's white…"
"And it's… wearing a dress?" Gregory added with a confused look on his face.
At this Ashley and Michelle exchanged a surprised/amused look as they both muttered: "Chloe!"
"That's my baby, you idiot!" Torrie said smacking the back of his neck and after taking her 'baby' in her arms, indignantly marched away, muttering insults at the former Hurricane.
"Way to impress, Greg." Shannon couldn't help but laugh.
"She has a rat as a pet?" The other North Carolina guy asked puzzled.
"…It's a dog!" Ashley managed to say in between the giggles as she and Shannon had to look away from each other to someway control their laughter.
"Oh shit." He muttered rushing after her to apologize for his mistake.
"Good thing I was here to protect you, Michelle." Jamie proudly grinned finally coming down of the chair.
"Yeah, you're a life savior." She rolled her eyes, reaching for the sun lotion standing on the little table between hers and Torrie's former deckchairs.
Ashley giggled, amused by the dark haired superstar, who actually had been the one to freak out.
"Let me help you." Jamie immediately offered reaching for the sun lotion as well.
"That's no neces-"
"But I want to."
"Jamie, really don't-"
And as they both pulled it… the cap suddenly fell, covering all Michelle's neck, cleavage and chest with coconut-scented cream.
"Oh I'm so sorry…" Jamie immediately apologized as the diva glared at him.
"I told you to let go…!"
"Don't worry sweetie, we can fix it." He said stretching his hand towards her upper body.
"Keep your hands off of me." She warned in between gritted teeth, obviously annoyed.
"Sweetheart I-"
"And don't call me sweetie!" She exclaimed standing up.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
"To change! And don't follow me." She stated with a glare, before walking away.
"She's so into me." Jamie smirked at Ashley before running after the blonde "Michelle, wait! I can help!"
"Oh my gosh!" The dirty diva couldn't help but burst out with laughter, promptly followed by the prince of punk who was still standing at the edge of the pool.
"We surely won't say that this day wasn't funny." He echoed.
"And it's not over yet." She pointed out with a mischievous grin.
"Yeah… wait, what do you mean?" He asked puzzled, noticing the change in her tone.
But he didn't have to wait for an answer… since in meanwhile she surprised him securing her arms around his neck… and bulldog-ed him in the pool.
"Told you it wasn't over." She smirked as they both re-emerged from under the water.
"Oh no, you didn't…!" He grinned swimming towards her "Do you realize that now you're going to pay for this, dirty diva, right?"
"No wayyy!" She shrieked trying to swim away from him… but he caught her and pushed the punk princess down again.
"There you go." He smirked when he finally let go of her and she re-emerged.
"So we're fair now, huh?" She said catching her breath while she moved her wet fringe away from her eyes.
"I think so." He chuckled.
"Well I beg to differ, Mr. Reject." She giggled suddenly jumping on him and pushing his head under the water all over again… to let him go only when he started to tickle her.
Needless to say, this soon became an official water fight that went on for at least 20 minutes.
"Okay, okay… white flag!" She breathlessly said, with her arms around his neck to support herself, while his were on her hips.
"I won then!" He grinned.
"Yes, alright, I drank too much!" She giggled.
"I told you to stop laughing when you went down." He chuckled.
"Well what about you stopped pushing me instead?" She playfully rolled her eyes.
"Fair enough… but you started." He pointed out with a smile.
"…Right." She smiled back, lightly blushing noticing just now how close they were.
And he realized the same, smiling even more, seeing how good it felt to have her so close to him; so, staring in her light blue eyes, he slowly moved his head forward… until a sudden sound made both them startle and break free.
"What is she doing…" Ashley wondered looking at Chloe coming back and running around the pool.
"But… that thing she has in her mouth…"
"Isn't it…"
"It's Jamie's costume!" Shannon exclaimed with a laugh.
"Ew!" Ashley rolled her eyes before giggling madly "I don't want to know how or why she got it!"
"…Guys! I need your help!" Jamie's voice interrupted them as his face –and fortunately only that- appeared from behind the door.
"For heaven's sake, Jamie, remain where you are." Shannon called out with an alarmed/amused expression.
"I don't want to look, ewww!" She echoed with a laugh, turning and bumping into the prince of punk's chest.
"…At the count of 3 then, and close your mouth this time." He smirked diving them both down once again.
"Guys!" Jamie helplessly called out again "Come here doggie… come on…!"