A/N: Damn, guys. Y'all are amazing. Read all your reviews for this and the new Edge/Ashley one-shot! Thank you so much! From today onwards, I will try to reply every single review ever given to me because I appreciate them all so much! Thanks for sticking with me. (:
PS. I'm thinking of doing song one-shots/songfics. If anyone has any requests just leave me a PM or tweet, /eveninglights.
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing!
Chapter 11: I'd walk across the Ocean for You
Shannon Moore sat back down on his sofa, fiddling with the bandana on his head. He was unhappy, that was clear. Maybe he suffered a broken heart; who knew? He certainly didn't. Grunting, he stood up contemplating whether or not he should head out – only to sit back down. Matt Hardy eyed his best friend, giving him a questioning look.
"You alright man?"
Shannon grunted, mumbling a fine before settling to head into the kitchen to grab himself a beer. "You want something?" he asked the dark haired man who shook his head in return. It was three in the afternoon, a little over two hours since Ashley drove out of his driveway. As he ducked his head, searching for a can of beer he noticed a little note pasted on the milk carton.
Try not to get yourself drunk, Shannon. Love, Ash.
He touched the note; feeling like it was the only thing that kept them together. He needed to see her, to touch her face; to feel the warmth of her skin against his, to see her gorgeous smile upon that tiny framed figure. In an instant, he forgot about the beer can and took the note with him; shoving it into his back pocket.
"Shannon, seriously, man," the elder of the two began. "What's going on with you? You seemed to have your head in the clouds since the whole incident with Phil."
Shannon rolled his eyes at the thought of Phil. Phil Brooks, better known as CM Punk was nothing but a sad excuse of a human being. Shannon was bitter – his best friend had chosen to 'catch up' with him rather than let him do all the work.
"Phil sucks," the dirty blonde muttered.
"Sometimes I wonder why you're my best friend," Matt shook his head. "You act like you're five."
Shannon narrowed his eyes at his childhood friend, making a face before giving him the finger.
"You're such a drama queen, Shan."
Folding his arms, he huffed wishing Matt would just disappear. It was bad enough that Ashley had to leave for the weekend but now he was stuck with Matt who'd do nothing but bother him about Phil and Ashley. Phil and Ashley; just the two words together made him sick to his stomach. He knew of their secret relationship, he knew. But it was because he knew that deteriorated their friendship. Not that Phil had any idea.
Shannon knew there was so much more to the story rather than just them starting this secret affair. Maria, her name escaped his mouth. He snapped his fingers, proceeded to look around for his cell phone. He frowned as he went through his contacts.
"I don't have her number," he said to Matt who looked at him confused. "Maria," he continued as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I don't have her number."
Matt raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have this thing for Ashley? You move on fast."
Shannon's eyes widened. "What? I do not! I don't have a thing for Ash! She's my best friend!"
Matt laughed, "You sure about that, bro? Cause I can smell jealousy."
"What the fuck are you talking about? Will you just pass me Maria's number and stop being so nosey?" Shannon frowned, punching Matt on the arm. "I don't have a thing for Ashley."
Matt rubbed his arm and continued to laugh. "Sure, whatever you say Prince."
Snatching Matt's phone way from him, he literally jabbed her numbers onto his phone, tapping his foot as he waited for her to pick up the phone. He walked away from Matt, knowing he'd ask more questions if he knew what was going on. But who was he to decide, he didn't know much either.
"Hello?"
But he knew she did.
"Maria? Can we meet tonight? I have something to ask you."
Tonight, he'll find out. He wants to know what else Ashley had kept from him and most importantly, why she kept it from him. They were best friends, weren't they? As he heard her agree to dinner, he took a step outside and shoved his hands into the front pocket of his jeans.
He leaned against his home, taking a deep breath. He just knew there was more than meets the eye and deep inside, he had this gut feeling telling him that Ashley wasn't in Texas, let alone at a signing. He hated having to doubt her this way but he couldn't help himself. She's lied to him once before, what made him think she wouldn't do it again? He knew – he knew she was with Phil. Where, he didn't know. Why, he didn't know either. But if it was up to him, he'd find out.
He took out the note she left out of his back pocket and took out his wallet along with it. Searching into a compartment of his wallet, he took out a photograph. He took a good long look at it; using his index finger to form a heart around her face. He loved the dirty diva. He loved her. He had loved her when he was with Julie, he had loved her when he broke up with Julie – and he had never stopped loving her.
Call it cliché, if you will but he was in love with his best friend. And nothing and no one could change that. He shoved her photo and the note back into his wallet. He clenched his fist slightly. He was mad at himself for not telling her how he felt. And now he was going to lose the love of his life to that sorry excuse of a punk.
Punching the wall, he made his way back inside. He saw Matt narrowing his eyes at him, an eyebrow raised. "Nothing is wrong, if that's what you're wondering," Shannon muttered.
"I wasn't," Matt moaned, defensively. "But Jeff just said he's coming over with Shane in a bit for some guy's night out. You game?"
Shannon tapped his fingers on his knee. Jeff. He had almost forgotten that Jeff and Phil were good friends. Maybe a guy's night out might be the best thing to casually slip a question to Jeff, one that Jeff would forget he ever asked after getting drunk for the night. Shannon had to find out if Phil loved Ashley.
"I'm game,"
Shannon Moore is a man with a plan.
