3 years later….
Here I am three years later. I'm still in DC, but not for long. I plan on moving back to NC to accept a new job for the same company that I have worked for going on 10 years now. No one knows yet, because I just found out today that I got the position. Things really haven't changed all that much since that day in Cameron a few years ago. There are a few notables to mention though. Shannon and Crystal had a beautiful baby girl named Chantelle. She turns 2 in March. Jeff and Beth finally got married last year. I think Shane has finally found the woman for him, and it isn't me. The next time Shane came to DC after my little vanishing act from NC; we sat down and had a long discussion. We even tried dating each other, but it just didn't work out. Of course no one knew this was going on. We are still the best of friends. After trying to work things out with Amy for 6 months following the entire Edge thing, Matt has been living the single life. According to Jeff, he hasn't dated anyone since he and Amy called it quits for good. Shannon says he mentions me every so often, asking how I am doing, but nothing more. He didn't even come to my 30th birthday party 2 weeks ago, although he was sent an invitation. I honestly don't know what to think about it all. Hopefully I can find out more once I return to my old stomping grounds.
"Sugar, Sugar, Sugar!"
"What's up my little Jack in the Box?"
"Not much, except I need your help with something."
"Anything doll face. Just name it."
"I need you to help me move."
"Why are you moving?"
"New job, different state."
"Oh no, not again."
"You're gonna like this one Sugar. I promise!"
"The only way I would like it, would be if you… You're not."
"I bought a house in Fayetteville last week Sugar."
"You're really coming back!"
"Yep, Jack is coming home."
"Does anyone else know?"
"Of course Shannon knows because I crashed at his place while I was in town. He so wanted me to buy a house in Southern Pines, but I decided against it. The brothers Hardy don't know yet, and they aren't to. They're gonna find out when I'm ready for them to, which will be in about a month."
"What are you planning Jack?"
"Just a little get together with my peeps. That's all."
"Is it just going to be you and me?"
"Nah, Shannon's already said he would help, as long as it got me back there."
"Okay, call me when you get all the details."
"You've got it."
Thank God the move went smoothly, as nothing got lost or broken. Neither Matt nor Jeff knows of my new address yet. That's all about to change as of today. I finally got the house the way I wanted it last week with Crystal's help. I sent the boys to go get the brothers Hardy while I got the barbeque started and changed into my swimsuit. I laid down explicit instructions that both boys were to come and not to tell them where they were going. Beth had come down earlier to help me and Crystal get things together for this afternoon. She had given Jeff the excuse that she had to run errands. Just as I came back from changing, I heard the unmistakable roar of Matt's Convertible. Beth and Crystal couldn't help but notice the smile that appeared on my face when they pulled in the driveway. We heard car doors slam, and I sent Beth in the house to let them in. I could hear Jeff all the way through the house as he was asking Beth why she was here. She led the boys through the house to the backyard. To say when they saw me standing there they were in shock is an understatement. Shane walked right up to me and hugged me, kissing me on the cheek.
"Looking beautiful as always Jack."
"Why thank you Sugar."
"Look who we got to tag along with us."
I turned around to see Jeff standing beside his wife with his mouth agape. However, Matt was nowhere to be found. I looked to Shane, the worry clearly evident on my face.
"Where is he Sugar?"
Shane turned around, just noticing himself that Matt had apparently disappeared. He shrugged his shoulders with a sad look on his face.
"This is not happening again."
With that, I handed Shane everything he would need for the grill and went into the house. I finally found Matt in my living room staring at the picture of he and I that had been made almost four years ago.
"I'm sorry I didn't come to your birthday party. I was kind of worried about seeing you again, considering how we left things."
I walked up to him, turning him around to face me. I placed my hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes.
"But you're here now. That's all that matters. Not tomorrow, not yesterday, now. Please stay."
With that, I turned around and walked back outside. Shane looked at me questioning what had happened inside. I shook my head, as I was going to wait and see what Matt had decided to do. I finally received my answer as Matt walked back outside. He walked over to me and hugged me from behind.
"I'll stay Jack. We need to talk later."
This kind of worried me as I didn't have a clue what he wanted to talk about. However, the party went on, with lots of food, drinks, and fun. Matt even threw me into the pool. Normally, I would have been mad. However, after years of turmoil between each other, it was like Matt and I were best friends again. A few hours later, I had to excuse myself as I was exhausted. I had been up since early that morning getting everything ready.
"OK guys, I trust you to leave my house in tact while I take a nap. Don't worry about cleaning, as I'll take care of it when I get up."
I went in my room and fell asleep. When I woke up, I realized I wasn't alone. I looked over to the clock on my nightstand and noticed it was already 7. I slowly eased myself from Matt's arms and went outside noticing it was already cleaned. I decided to take advantage of the peace and go swimming. About 15 minutes later, I heard the back door open and saw Matt walk out.
"Swim with me?"
Matt dove into the pool and swam over to where I was. The look on his face told me instantly that he had something on his mind. I didn't have to wait long to figure out what it was either.
"What happened to us Jack?"
"We grew apart Mattie."
"You haven't called me that in so long. I missed that."
"I've missed you."
"So have I Jack. So have I."
Matt and I began playing around in the pool. He talked me into a game of Marco Polo. I thought I was doing well until when I turned around to get away from him, I felt his arms snake around my waist. God I still got those butterflies in my stomach when that man touched me. I struggled to get away, and almost did. Matt finally succeeded in capturing me, and pulled me flush against him. The look on his face was unfamiliar to me. One arm was still around my waist, while the other came up to pet my face.
"You've changed so much, baby."
"Not everything has changed about me Mattie."
"We'll have to see about that now won't we?"
Matt lowered his head to mine and kissed my lips ever so lightly. Even the slightest contact was enough to almost make my heart stop. After he pulled away, I was almost afraid to open my eyes. When I finally willed myself to do so, I saw something in his eyes that I hadn't seen for several years prior: hope.
"Are you sure this is what you want Mattie? Because I don't think I could handle losing you again."
"I actually have wanted to do that since that night in Raleigh. I was fighting an inner battle because I had just broken up with Amy, and everything was so confused. The last time we saw each other, when you kissed me, it awoke something in my heart that I had thought died. It took me a while to realize exactly what it was, but now I know."
"Now you know what?"
"I love you Jacqueline."
With that, Matt leaned down and kissed me again. This time was more passionate than the first. We stood there in the pool, joined at the mouth for what seemed like hours until we both needed to come up for air.
"You wanna go inside?"
Matt helped me out of the pool, and we walked back inside and into my bedroom. He took me into his arms.
"That night in Raleigh, when you got all dolled up, you looked absolutely gorgeous."
"Wait a minute. You didn't even see me till the fight, and by then I was all disheveled."
"Oh no, I saw you before then. Remember, I told you that you wouldn't see me, but I would see you."
"You've never mentioned that before now. Why?"
"At the time, it didn't really seem appropriate Jack. Besides, that was the last thought on my mind that night. I didn't want you to get caught in all this mess with Amy and I. Plus you had enough trouble on your plate without me adding more to it."
"What did I tell you that night? I could handle if you didn't want to be with me. I just didn't want to lose our friendship. However, I ended up doing that anyways."
"Baby, you never lost me. I know it probably seemed like it at the time, but you didn't. Do you know how many times a day you've crossed my mind? I wondered how you were doing, and if you still thought of me. There were many times in which I picked up the phone and called you, only to hang up. I didn't want to hurt you anymore than I already had."
"OK, this is enough talk about the past. It's forgiven, done and over with."
"Jacqueline Rachelle Dawson, I love you."
"I love you too Matthew Moore Hardy."
From that moment on, Matt and I have been officially together. It was six months into our relationship before I finally got the courage to attend another WWE show in person. When I ask Matt what he wanted for his birthday, I wasn't quite expecting the answer I got.