AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, it made my day. - And wow, you guys weren't expecting that, were you? =D Well I really have no clue as to what I'm trying to accomplish in the chapter, so it might not be that long. But still, review!

Can't You Feel The Weight of My Stare

CHAPTER TEN:

Never Take One Single Breath for Granted

It practically took me ten years to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. He was still staring intensely into my eyes and I knew he wasn't going to release me until I answered him. But I didn't want to. I couldn't. So I just stood there, my back still against the door looking everywhere else except in his eyes. I could feel his breath becoming quicker on my face.

"God damn it, Maria!" He yelled, gripping his hands harder on the door. "I've waited too long - months have passed and you're still ignoring this?" I decided I would play dumb. It was the only thing I was known for anyway.

"Ignoring what?" I asked, hoping that my blush had faded and I looked as confused as possible. He looked at me with nothing but pure hatred as he spoke his next words with nothing but pure venom.

"The question." He gritted his teeth, trying to intimidate me, I guess. It was working but I refused to let it show. I was getting really sick and tired of his nosyness and it was beginning to really tick me off. If he was allowed to be frustrated, then so was I.

"Ugh," I grunted, satasfied that I'd taken him aback. "You're so annoying. Don't you have anything better to do with your life? Stop bullying me with your questions! How much times do I have to clarify that it's none of your business?" I could tell he was stung by my sudden break out, but he still kept the same face.

"You can keep clarifying all you want, Maria. But I'm still gonna bother you. I'm gonna bother you until you're so annoyed, you can't take it anymore. And if that doesn't work...," he paused, seeming to look for some more words to burn my ego with. "I'll just have to kiss you senseless... again." He added with a smirk.

My eyes widened and I couldn't hold it in any longer. I raised my hand and connected it to his mouth. I was intentionally going to smack him in the head, but I figured it would be better if his mouth was shut.

He held the corner of his mouth which was now reddened. He looked up at me, almost... amused.

"You bitch."

--

It was almost time for the show to start. I sighed as I did my last stretch and sunk to the floor. Who knew that stretching could be so tiring? Maybe it was the fact that I'd gotten hardly any sleep tonight. It seemed like I wasn't getting any sleep lately, especially now that I had both Jeff and Phil on my mind twenty-four seven.

And the one thing I couldn't get off of my mind was that stupid, and insanely wonderful kiss. I've never ever been kissed like that in my entire life. Not by Phil or any other boyfriends I've had in the past. Sure, I'd occasionally make out with them, but it didn't have as much passion and tension in it like it had last night.

But what surprised me the most was that he actually did it. I mean - why? He knew I had a boyfriend, and he knew how much me and him connected, yet still he had it somewhere in his mind that he had to kiss me.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." I yelled. I didn't bother to look up since I obviously already knew who it was.

"Phil, what do you want?"

"Now is that any way to talk to your boyfriend?" He said, walking over to me.

"Funny," I said. "I didn't know I had a boyfriend." The smile on his face turned into a frown.

"Ria, don't start with that. I'm already going through enough having to see you and Hardy - don't ruin this moment for me."

"Actually Phil, I think it's the other way around. I thought I told you over and over not to ever speak to me again?" I said, knowing that I didn't really explain that to him. His face looked disgusted.

"You never said that, Ria."

I put my hands on my hips, and looked at the door past him. "Well, I'm saying it now. You know we're not supposed to be seen together, not while I'm in a storyline with Jeff," I said, getting choked up on saying his name.

"Well, Maria. Last time I checked we were dating. I'm getting suspiciously annoyed that you're taking this whole storyline thing with Jeff seriously. Yet I'm your boyfriend and you don't even want me to talk to you? Impossible."

I rolled my eyes. "Phil, just go. I'm stressed enough and with all this talk, you're making me all anxious." I stated. "So leave." I saw him eyeball me as he stalked off towards the door.

"I don't know what's going on between you and Hardy, but if I catch him lay a finger on you, I'll be the living shit out of him and better yet - make you watch. Nothing would disgust me more than seeing you and that redneck together."

I scoffed. "I'm pretty sure that's exactly what he thinks when he sees you and me together. It probably disgusts him to know that I'm with you. But hey, you'll never go without a fight, would you?"

He glared before he opened the door. "Just remember what I said."

--

I sighed, pulling my hair back into a pony. Things couldn't have gotten worse. Not only did I lose my match against Jillian, but I had to be personally humilliated with her singing to me at the end. Plus I'd accidentally fallen of the turnbuckle, falling flat to my face, resulting in me with a bloodied nose. I was in such a sour mood, I didn't even want to be in this damn arena anymore.

I burst my locker room door open, still holding the ice pack I'd gotten from the trainer. The ice had already melted and it was nothing but cool water, there was no point in me using it anymore.

I packed all my things before leaving the locker room once again.

I couldn't wait to get out of this place, I couldn't wait to be in my real home in Chicago the next week. Things were getting worse and worse for me and all of my life had shrunk into a pile of shit.

I inwardly groaned, my frustration rising even more once I walked pass a certain door, hearing the one voice I couldn't bare to hear.

"Jeff, stop getting so worked up about this," Ashley said, sitting next to Jeff on the bench in the locker room. "She'll cave one day. Just give her time." I had to restrain from knocking my fists into that very door. I knew exactly who she was talking about.

"Time? I've given her time, Ashley! When is she just gonna admit it? Why do I have to be the one to admit first?" I watched as he layed his head in his hands trying to find some hope, I guessed.

"If you admit it, she'll admit it."

"I doubt it. She keeps everything to herself. The only one that seems to open her mouth is that shitty boyfriend she has. I can't get her to talk at all, I have to lose all of my self control and kiss her?" Ashley just shook her head.

"Jeff, calm down. You're starting to shake..." She looked up at him, as he dashed off the spot he was in.

"But I'm in love with her!"

And that was the last thing I heard before I fell flat to the floor.

AN: I really thought this chapter was boring. Boring boring boring. But oh well. I'm not in such a happy mood. And plus, when I'm bored all my creativity shuts off. But I hope that you all still enjoyed some of it. I don't know if the ending fulfilled your needs but... I'm just not so cheery right now, so please cope. And still please REVIEW!

The next chapter will be better than this.

Promise. =D.

Oh, and please VOTE on my Poll. Those of you Y2J lovers and lovers of my writing might be interested.