Chapter 11:
~2 weeks later~
"JEAN!" Jeff yelled up at her from the kitchen. "Get your behind down here!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" she called back. "I'm almost done packing, I swear!"
"God, you're turning into Matt!" he yelled back.
"HEY!" Jean screamed, affronted at the insult. "THAT WAS WAY HARSH!"
"Harsh but true!"
"Oh, you're so going down!" she cried as she ran down the stairs to tackle her cousin. Her bruises had almost completely healed, and she was thrilled because she'd been able to get in a little bit of gymnastics practice over the past week. She was sad because she'd had to call her coach and tell him that she was retiring from the competitive circuit, and it had hurt even more when he'd mocked her for her new career choice after she'd told him that she was joining the WWE. The man had been a father figure to her for ten years, and then to have him turn on her like that was almost like having her mother turn on her again. Jean shook her head and tried to wipe the depressing thoughts from her mind, reminding herself that she was going back to join the WWE today, and she'd get to see everyone for the first time in two weeks. The fact that she couldn't decide if she was happier about getting to see Amy and Matt or Rene had nothing to do with it....right?
"Ha!" Jeff laughed at her as he rolled over and pinned her after she'd tackled him. "You should know better than to pick on someone bigger than you short stuff!"
"Oh, that's what you think Skittles!" Jean said, laughing evilly as she started tickling him.
"Ah! Hey...quit...that!!" Jeff gasped out, as he tried to get away from his cousin's tickling fingers.
"But why?" Jean asked with a grin. "You always torture me like this!"
"But that's different!" Jeff tried to rationalize it.
"Nope! I disagree!" Jean said, continuing to tickle him, even after he rolled off of her and tried to get away. "Say uncle!" she commanded as she continued to tickle him.
"Never!" Jeff said, struggling to get away. "Grr," he complained as she followed him as he tried to get out of her way. "Okay...fine...uncle!" he gasped out finally after another five minutes of being unable to escape.
"HA! I win!" Jean gloated as she sat down next to her cousin's sprawled body. "Anyway, I'll be ready in a few minutes. I just have to find my diary, and then I'll be good."
"Oooh, a diary," Jeff got an evil look in his eyes.
"Touch and die," Jean warned him, noticing the look.
"Okay, fine," Jeff pouted, sticking out his lower lip.
"Oh quit," Jean said rolling her eyes. "That doesn't work on me hon...I'm not a ring rat!"
"That was cold," Jeff winced.
"I know," Jean smiled widely as she bounced up the stairs back to her room. She quickly packed the rest of her things that were lying around the room and ran back downstairs. "Let's go!" she said happily to Jeff who was sitting on the couch.
"Alrighty then," Jeff said, doing his Jim Carrey impersonation.
"Oh God, please stop," Jean complained. "Don't make me deal with that!"
"Fine. I can tell when I'm not appreciated," Jeff sniffed and pouted.
"Aww, I love ya cuz," Jean said, hugging him. "I just don't love your impersonations."
Jeff laughed. "Fine, fine. Now get your butt in the car so we can head out of here!"
"I'm going!" Jean complained as she put her bags in the trunk and got into the passenger seat and put her seatbelt on. "Let's go then!"
Jeff rolled his eyes as he shut the trunk and got into the car. "So what CD do you want to listen to?" he asked as he reversed out of the driveway.
"This one," Jean said, putting in Trapt's self-titled CD and turning it up so that Headstrong blared out of the speakers. "I think I want this to be my theme song. What do you think?"
"I think it suits you," Jeff said, smiling at her. "It definitely should work with your character too."
Jean smiled widely as she settled back into the seat as the song blared out of the speakers.
Trapt – Headstrong: Circling your (2x) Circling your head, contemplating everything you ever said Now I see the truth, I got a doubt A different motive in your eyes and now I'm out, see you later
Bridge: I see your fantasy, you wanna make it a reality paved in gold See inside, inside of our heads, yeah, well now that's over I see your motives inside, decisions to hide
CHORUS: Back off I'll take you on Headstrong to take on anyone I know that you are wrong Headstrong, we're headstrong Back off I'll take you on Headstrong to take on anyone I know that you are wrong If this is not where you belong
I can't give everything away, I won't give everything away
Conclusions manifest, your first impressions got to be your very best I see your full of shit and that's alright That's how you play, I guess you get through every night Well now that's over
Bridge
CHORUS
I can't give everything away(this is not where you belong) I won't give everything away
I know, I know all about (3x) I know, I know all about your motives inside, and your decision to hide
CHORUS
I can't give everything away I won't give everything away(this is not where you belong)
Jean stretched in her seat as their plane finally landed in Houston, where tonight's Raw would be taped. She'd be making her debut tonight as a manager, and she still didn't know who she was going to be paired with. She'd done a little bit of research on both Evolution and La Resistance, and she could honestly say that she'd be happy with either group, assuming that Vince kept to his word that he would place her with one of them. Deep down, she hoped it would be La Resistance, because then she would have an excuse to be with Rene, whom she had a large crush on that she had finally admitted to Jeff earlier that week.
~Flashback~
"Jeff, I have something to tell you," Jean said shyly as she faced her cousin over the dinner table.
"What's up short stuff?" Jeff asked, after he swallowed the piece of steak he'd been chewing.
"I...uhh...well, I like Rene Dupree," she admitted shyly.
"Oh hell, I already knew that," Jeff said, rolling his eyes. "All I had to do was look at the history on my computer. Ever since you ran into him at the arena you've been all smiley whenever his name was mentioned or you saw a picture of him."
"Oh," Jean said, startled. "I didn't realize that I was that obvious," she blushed.
"Only to someone who knows you really well sweetie," Jeff said, reaching over to give her a hug. "If you want to date him, I have no problem with it. But if he screws up and hurts you...well, let's just say that Matt and I, along with Amy, will probably kill him."
"Okay then," Jean said, smiling at her cousin. "The threat of violence hopefully won't be necessary, but if it is – I'd still rather deal with it in my own way than have the three of you come after him. Besides, I don't even know if he's interested in me at all."
Jeff shook his head at his cousin. "Sweetie, you didn't see the way he was looking at you at the arena. He's definitely interested, and that's not just coming from me...Trish and Amy both think he likes you. Amy said that he's asked about you a few times."
"Really?" Jean smiled widely. "Yay!" she cheered happily.
Jeff rolled his eyes. "Just be warned that if you do go out with him, and you turn into another Matt and Amy....I will not be held responsible for my actions."
Jean laughed. "Oh lord, I really hope I don't become that bad. If I do, let me know so that I can stop myself while there's still a chance."
"Oh that won't be a problem," Jeff promised. ~End Flashback~
Jean smiled as she poked Jeff in the side to wake him up. "Hey cuz, we're here," she said as he finally started to move.
"Huh? What?" Jeff muttered as he stretched.
"We're here," Jean told him again. "They're supposed to meet us at the gate right?"
"Yeah," he said as his mind finally cleared enough to realize what was going on. "Amy and Matt are both supposed to meet us there, unless things have changed since the last time I talked to them six hours ago," he said, rolling his eyes at her.
"Oh you hush," Jean said, sticking her tongue out at him. "Can you blame me for wanting to make sure that all the details were fixed?"
"No," he said, "I can understand why you do that. But anyway, let's get out of here." He stood up as the passengers slowly began to file off the plane, and his eyes narrowed suspiciously at the group of three people standing at the gate. He turned back to Jean and raised an eyebrow. "So what was that you were saying about how you weren't sure if he liked you or not?"
Jean's eyes widened as she recognized Rene standing with Amy and Matt and she smiled happily. *Oh my gosh, I can't believe he came with them! That's so awesome! I really like him, and I guess he's interested too...I mean, why else would he show up here just to welcome me back from the airport? I really hope that Vince puts me with La Resistance because then I'd have an excuse to spend a lot of time with him!*
Jeff laughed at his cousin's expression as she saw Rene. "You're hopeless sweetie," he said as they walked towards the group.
"Am not," Jean complained.
"Are too!"
"Am not! Am not!"
"Are too! Are too!"
"Am not! Am not! Am not!"
"Are too! Are too! Are too!"
"CHILDREN!" Amy yelled at the two of them, abruptly stopping the argument and causing Jeff and Jean to look at her wide-eyed. "Thank you," she said happily.
Matt laughed at the two. "Y'all are such children when you get together."
"I know," Jean said, laughing. "What's up cuz?" she said as she hugged Matt and then Amy. "Hi," she said shyly, looking up at Rene.
"Hey," he said, smiling down at her.
"What? Rene doesn't get a hug? Sheesh Jean, way to leave him out," Amy teased her.
Jean stuck her tongue out at her. *Thanks Amy. Thanks a lot. Now he's going to know that I like him, if he didn't already.* She put her arms around Rene and hugged him quickly, and was surprised when he hugged her back.
*Thank you Amy.* Rene thought gratefully. He'd been jealous when Matt and Amy had gotten hugs from her, but he hadn't wanted to make the move to hug her in case she hadn't been interested. He was very grateful to Amy for taking the time to listen to him and to advise him on what to do with Jean. *I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for Amy right now. Sylvan was about ready to shoot me after the first day I met her because he was so sick of hearing about her. It was really nice to be able to talk to someone other than Sylvan and Rob, because it seems like all of the other wrestlers automatically assume that we're just like our characters, and they never want to talk to us. Being accepted is something that's never really happened to me before in the WWE but then again I guess it's my own fault too partially because I never made the effort to talk to anyone before. I was so nervous at first that I just kept to myself because I didn't know what to say, and I guess it just came off to everyone that I was a jerk just like my character. I'm so glad that Jean ran into me two weeks ago, because my life definitely took a turn for the better that day.* He picked Jean up and swung her around in a circle happily before he realized what he was doing, and abruptly put her down, his cheeks flushing a bright red. "Sorry," he apologized quickly.
"No, it's okay," Jean assured him, giving him a quick hug, and smiling when after the hug he didn't take one of his arms away from her and left it around her shoulders.
Jeff gave Amy a look that practically demanded to know what was going on and why Rene was with them.
"Alright well, can we get out of this airport before we get attacked?" Matt asked nervously, looking around. He and Jeff had gotten mobbed by fans in an airport once, and he was paranoid about having it happen again. Two wrestlers was bad enough when it came to attracting attention, but four made it damn near impossible to pass unnoticed, especially when they were accompanied by an unknown female.
"Yeah, sure," Jeff said as he walked towards the baggage claim area. "Our bags should be unloaded any minute now," he said as luggage started winding it's way around the carousel. He quickly grabbed his luggage and Jean's, smiling inwardly when Rene took her bags instead of letting her carry them. *Oh boy. He's gonna get it now!* Jeff thought gleefully.
Jean looked at Rene when he took her bags. "Excuse me?" she said, putting her hands on her hips.
"What?" Rene asked nervously, not knowing what he'd done wrong. He quickly took his arm away from her shoulders. *Oh God. What'd I do already? SHIT!*
"My bag please," Jean said, holding her hand out. *Dammit. He didn't have to move his arm.*
"I'll carry it for you," Rene said, refusing to give up the bag.
"It's mine. I'll carry it," Jean protested.
"Jean," Amy said, getting her attention.
"What?" Jean asked without taking her eyes off of Rene.
"Quit being a brat, and let Rene carry your bags so we can get out of here. If I was you, I'd appreciate the fact that he was being a gentleman and carrying them for you," Amy said, making a backhanded insult to Matt.
"Ouch," Matt winced, accepting the comment as his due. "Sorry sweetie," he apologized as he looked down at the ground.
"Okay, fine," Jean pouted. "Thank you for carrying the bags," she said to Rene as they reached the car. "Even though I could have done it myself," she said, and then winked at him as she climbed into the backseat.
Rene smiled happily as he put her bags in the trunk. Her attitude was adorable, and he loved how she refused to take any shit from him. "Yes dear," he joked as he climbed in the back seat next to her, then laughed when she rolled her eyes at him. "Can I talk to you later?" he asked quietly while Amy, Matt, and Jeff made their way out to the car at a considerably slower pace than the two youngest ones.
"Yeah, sure," Jean said, smiling at him. "As far as I know I'll be at the arena all night after we check into the hotel so I'll have plenty of time to get myself lost and run into you again."
"I can hardly wait," Rene teased her with a wink, and then fell silent as the other three got into the car and began discussing dinner plans with Jean. He had already made plans to eat with Sylvan, so this conversation really didn't concern him too much so he could concentrate on what he wanted to say to Jean later.
"JEAN!" Jeff yelled up at her from the kitchen. "Get your behind down here!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" she called back. "I'm almost done packing, I swear!"
"God, you're turning into Matt!" he yelled back.
"HEY!" Jean screamed, affronted at the insult. "THAT WAS WAY HARSH!"
"Harsh but true!"
"Oh, you're so going down!" she cried as she ran down the stairs to tackle her cousin. Her bruises had almost completely healed, and she was thrilled because she'd been able to get in a little bit of gymnastics practice over the past week. She was sad because she'd had to call her coach and tell him that she was retiring from the competitive circuit, and it had hurt even more when he'd mocked her for her new career choice after she'd told him that she was joining the WWE. The man had been a father figure to her for ten years, and then to have him turn on her like that was almost like having her mother turn on her again. Jean shook her head and tried to wipe the depressing thoughts from her mind, reminding herself that she was going back to join the WWE today, and she'd get to see everyone for the first time in two weeks. The fact that she couldn't decide if she was happier about getting to see Amy and Matt or Rene had nothing to do with it....right?
"Ha!" Jeff laughed at her as he rolled over and pinned her after she'd tackled him. "You should know better than to pick on someone bigger than you short stuff!"
"Oh, that's what you think Skittles!" Jean said, laughing evilly as she started tickling him.
"Ah! Hey...quit...that!!" Jeff gasped out, as he tried to get away from his cousin's tickling fingers.
"But why?" Jean asked with a grin. "You always torture me like this!"
"But that's different!" Jeff tried to rationalize it.
"Nope! I disagree!" Jean said, continuing to tickle him, even after he rolled off of her and tried to get away. "Say uncle!" she commanded as she continued to tickle him.
"Never!" Jeff said, struggling to get away. "Grr," he complained as she followed him as he tried to get out of her way. "Okay...fine...uncle!" he gasped out finally after another five minutes of being unable to escape.
"HA! I win!" Jean gloated as she sat down next to her cousin's sprawled body. "Anyway, I'll be ready in a few minutes. I just have to find my diary, and then I'll be good."
"Oooh, a diary," Jeff got an evil look in his eyes.
"Touch and die," Jean warned him, noticing the look.
"Okay, fine," Jeff pouted, sticking out his lower lip.
"Oh quit," Jean said rolling her eyes. "That doesn't work on me hon...I'm not a ring rat!"
"That was cold," Jeff winced.
"I know," Jean smiled widely as she bounced up the stairs back to her room. She quickly packed the rest of her things that were lying around the room and ran back downstairs. "Let's go!" she said happily to Jeff who was sitting on the couch.
"Alrighty then," Jeff said, doing his Jim Carrey impersonation.
"Oh God, please stop," Jean complained. "Don't make me deal with that!"
"Fine. I can tell when I'm not appreciated," Jeff sniffed and pouted.
"Aww, I love ya cuz," Jean said, hugging him. "I just don't love your impersonations."
Jeff laughed. "Fine, fine. Now get your butt in the car so we can head out of here!"
"I'm going!" Jean complained as she put her bags in the trunk and got into the passenger seat and put her seatbelt on. "Let's go then!"
Jeff rolled his eyes as he shut the trunk and got into the car. "So what CD do you want to listen to?" he asked as he reversed out of the driveway.
"This one," Jean said, putting in Trapt's self-titled CD and turning it up so that Headstrong blared out of the speakers. "I think I want this to be my theme song. What do you think?"
"I think it suits you," Jeff said, smiling at her. "It definitely should work with your character too."
Jean smiled widely as she settled back into the seat as the song blared out of the speakers.
Trapt – Headstrong: Circling your (2x) Circling your head, contemplating everything you ever said Now I see the truth, I got a doubt A different motive in your eyes and now I'm out, see you later
Bridge: I see your fantasy, you wanna make it a reality paved in gold See inside, inside of our heads, yeah, well now that's over I see your motives inside, decisions to hide
CHORUS: Back off I'll take you on Headstrong to take on anyone I know that you are wrong Headstrong, we're headstrong Back off I'll take you on Headstrong to take on anyone I know that you are wrong If this is not where you belong
I can't give everything away, I won't give everything away
Conclusions manifest, your first impressions got to be your very best I see your full of shit and that's alright That's how you play, I guess you get through every night Well now that's over
Bridge
CHORUS
I can't give everything away(this is not where you belong) I won't give everything away
I know, I know all about (3x) I know, I know all about your motives inside, and your decision to hide
CHORUS
I can't give everything away I won't give everything away(this is not where you belong)
Jean stretched in her seat as their plane finally landed in Houston, where tonight's Raw would be taped. She'd be making her debut tonight as a manager, and she still didn't know who she was going to be paired with. She'd done a little bit of research on both Evolution and La Resistance, and she could honestly say that she'd be happy with either group, assuming that Vince kept to his word that he would place her with one of them. Deep down, she hoped it would be La Resistance, because then she would have an excuse to be with Rene, whom she had a large crush on that she had finally admitted to Jeff earlier that week.
~Flashback~
"Jeff, I have something to tell you," Jean said shyly as she faced her cousin over the dinner table.
"What's up short stuff?" Jeff asked, after he swallowed the piece of steak he'd been chewing.
"I...uhh...well, I like Rene Dupree," she admitted shyly.
"Oh hell, I already knew that," Jeff said, rolling his eyes. "All I had to do was look at the history on my computer. Ever since you ran into him at the arena you've been all smiley whenever his name was mentioned or you saw a picture of him."
"Oh," Jean said, startled. "I didn't realize that I was that obvious," she blushed.
"Only to someone who knows you really well sweetie," Jeff said, reaching over to give her a hug. "If you want to date him, I have no problem with it. But if he screws up and hurts you...well, let's just say that Matt and I, along with Amy, will probably kill him."
"Okay then," Jean said, smiling at her cousin. "The threat of violence hopefully won't be necessary, but if it is – I'd still rather deal with it in my own way than have the three of you come after him. Besides, I don't even know if he's interested in me at all."
Jeff shook his head at his cousin. "Sweetie, you didn't see the way he was looking at you at the arena. He's definitely interested, and that's not just coming from me...Trish and Amy both think he likes you. Amy said that he's asked about you a few times."
"Really?" Jean smiled widely. "Yay!" she cheered happily.
Jeff rolled his eyes. "Just be warned that if you do go out with him, and you turn into another Matt and Amy....I will not be held responsible for my actions."
Jean laughed. "Oh lord, I really hope I don't become that bad. If I do, let me know so that I can stop myself while there's still a chance."
"Oh that won't be a problem," Jeff promised. ~End Flashback~
Jean smiled as she poked Jeff in the side to wake him up. "Hey cuz, we're here," she said as he finally started to move.
"Huh? What?" Jeff muttered as he stretched.
"We're here," Jean told him again. "They're supposed to meet us at the gate right?"
"Yeah," he said as his mind finally cleared enough to realize what was going on. "Amy and Matt are both supposed to meet us there, unless things have changed since the last time I talked to them six hours ago," he said, rolling his eyes at her.
"Oh you hush," Jean said, sticking her tongue out at him. "Can you blame me for wanting to make sure that all the details were fixed?"
"No," he said, "I can understand why you do that. But anyway, let's get out of here." He stood up as the passengers slowly began to file off the plane, and his eyes narrowed suspiciously at the group of three people standing at the gate. He turned back to Jean and raised an eyebrow. "So what was that you were saying about how you weren't sure if he liked you or not?"
Jean's eyes widened as she recognized Rene standing with Amy and Matt and she smiled happily. *Oh my gosh, I can't believe he came with them! That's so awesome! I really like him, and I guess he's interested too...I mean, why else would he show up here just to welcome me back from the airport? I really hope that Vince puts me with La Resistance because then I'd have an excuse to spend a lot of time with him!*
Jeff laughed at his cousin's expression as she saw Rene. "You're hopeless sweetie," he said as they walked towards the group.
"Am not," Jean complained.
"Are too!"
"Am not! Am not!"
"Are too! Are too!"
"Am not! Am not! Am not!"
"Are too! Are too! Are too!"
"CHILDREN!" Amy yelled at the two of them, abruptly stopping the argument and causing Jeff and Jean to look at her wide-eyed. "Thank you," she said happily.
Matt laughed at the two. "Y'all are such children when you get together."
"I know," Jean said, laughing. "What's up cuz?" she said as she hugged Matt and then Amy. "Hi," she said shyly, looking up at Rene.
"Hey," he said, smiling down at her.
"What? Rene doesn't get a hug? Sheesh Jean, way to leave him out," Amy teased her.
Jean stuck her tongue out at her. *Thanks Amy. Thanks a lot. Now he's going to know that I like him, if he didn't already.* She put her arms around Rene and hugged him quickly, and was surprised when he hugged her back.
*Thank you Amy.* Rene thought gratefully. He'd been jealous when Matt and Amy had gotten hugs from her, but he hadn't wanted to make the move to hug her in case she hadn't been interested. He was very grateful to Amy for taking the time to listen to him and to advise him on what to do with Jean. *I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for Amy right now. Sylvan was about ready to shoot me after the first day I met her because he was so sick of hearing about her. It was really nice to be able to talk to someone other than Sylvan and Rob, because it seems like all of the other wrestlers automatically assume that we're just like our characters, and they never want to talk to us. Being accepted is something that's never really happened to me before in the WWE but then again I guess it's my own fault too partially because I never made the effort to talk to anyone before. I was so nervous at first that I just kept to myself because I didn't know what to say, and I guess it just came off to everyone that I was a jerk just like my character. I'm so glad that Jean ran into me two weeks ago, because my life definitely took a turn for the better that day.* He picked Jean up and swung her around in a circle happily before he realized what he was doing, and abruptly put her down, his cheeks flushing a bright red. "Sorry," he apologized quickly.
"No, it's okay," Jean assured him, giving him a quick hug, and smiling when after the hug he didn't take one of his arms away from her and left it around her shoulders.
Jeff gave Amy a look that practically demanded to know what was going on and why Rene was with them.
"Alright well, can we get out of this airport before we get attacked?" Matt asked nervously, looking around. He and Jeff had gotten mobbed by fans in an airport once, and he was paranoid about having it happen again. Two wrestlers was bad enough when it came to attracting attention, but four made it damn near impossible to pass unnoticed, especially when they were accompanied by an unknown female.
"Yeah, sure," Jeff said as he walked towards the baggage claim area. "Our bags should be unloaded any minute now," he said as luggage started winding it's way around the carousel. He quickly grabbed his luggage and Jean's, smiling inwardly when Rene took her bags instead of letting her carry them. *Oh boy. He's gonna get it now!* Jeff thought gleefully.
Jean looked at Rene when he took her bags. "Excuse me?" she said, putting her hands on her hips.
"What?" Rene asked nervously, not knowing what he'd done wrong. He quickly took his arm away from her shoulders. *Oh God. What'd I do already? SHIT!*
"My bag please," Jean said, holding her hand out. *Dammit. He didn't have to move his arm.*
"I'll carry it for you," Rene said, refusing to give up the bag.
"It's mine. I'll carry it," Jean protested.
"Jean," Amy said, getting her attention.
"What?" Jean asked without taking her eyes off of Rene.
"Quit being a brat, and let Rene carry your bags so we can get out of here. If I was you, I'd appreciate the fact that he was being a gentleman and carrying them for you," Amy said, making a backhanded insult to Matt.
"Ouch," Matt winced, accepting the comment as his due. "Sorry sweetie," he apologized as he looked down at the ground.
"Okay, fine," Jean pouted. "Thank you for carrying the bags," she said to Rene as they reached the car. "Even though I could have done it myself," she said, and then winked at him as she climbed into the backseat.
Rene smiled happily as he put her bags in the trunk. Her attitude was adorable, and he loved how she refused to take any shit from him. "Yes dear," he joked as he climbed in the back seat next to her, then laughed when she rolled her eyes at him. "Can I talk to you later?" he asked quietly while Amy, Matt, and Jeff made their way out to the car at a considerably slower pace than the two youngest ones.
"Yeah, sure," Jean said, smiling at him. "As far as I know I'll be at the arena all night after we check into the hotel so I'll have plenty of time to get myself lost and run into you again."
"I can hardly wait," Rene teased her with a wink, and then fell silent as the other three got into the car and began discussing dinner plans with Jean. He had already made plans to eat with Sylvan, so this conversation really didn't concern him too much so he could concentrate on what he wanted to say to Jean later.