"Pretty in Punk"
A Shannon/Ashley fanfic
Thanks to annskieesofresh, xAttitudex, csimiamigirl73, .CMPunkluver., awprncss4386, Cenaisalegend and xtobelovedx for reviewing last chapter, you guys rock! :)
Hope you like the new one!
R&R and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, the title of the chappie is from a Rev Theory song.
Chapter 12
"You Are My Favorite Disease"
"And that was it… Jeff fell on top of me and I fell on top of Greg… and when Matt walked in he had that priceless, confused expression…" Shannon trailed off with a laugh, in which he was soon joined by Ashley.
"Aw, I wish I could have seen that." She said in between her giggles.
"It was rather embarrassing actually… but I guess that's what you get when you suddenly decide to play Twister when you're in the middle of a strip poker, right?"
"I totally think so." She tried to recompose herself "But now that I think of it, it's actually a little disturbing… the thought of you three deciding to play strip poker by yourselves."
"Hey! We were drunk, don't get the wrong idea." He protested, taking his eyes off of the road for a second to meet hers.
"Uh-huh, sure you were." She complacently said, trying to keep a straight face.
"We really were!" He insisted "Oh, c'mon you have to believe me! Do you really think I'd wish to be anywhere near Greg's half naked body?" He earnestly asked.
"…Shan, relax, I'm joking." She grinned.
"Oh, right. Of course, I knew that." He nonchalantly shrugged.
"Absolutely," she playfully rolled her eyes "and by the way you totally made your point clear with that, don't worry." She giggled.
"Well, duh, who ever would like to be anywhere near Greg's half naked boy anyway?!" He said matter-of-factly.
"I have to agree." She smiled in amusement, then turned to distractedly glance outside the car's window and a sigh escaped her lips.
A sigh that he didn't miss.
"You okay, Ash?"
"Yeah…"
"Let's try again but with the truth this time?" He chuckled "So… you okay, Ash?"
She playfully rolled her eyes, "Fine, I'm not really okay."
"Can I ask you why?"
"I… I don't want to bore you, Shan."
"Ash, c'mon" he glanced over her "do I still have to repeat you that we're friends so there's no chance in hell you can bore me with whatever you're gonna say? And by the way we have another hour to go and I'm quite out of funny, disturbing stories about the gang so…" He motioned for her to go on.
She couldn't refrain from slightly smiling. "It's just… you know, this Raw thing. Let's say I'm not excited to go there." She let out a sigh.
"It's for Paul, right?"
"Yeah… well I'm not looking forward to see him again." She helplessly shrugged.
"But you got to see him again one time or another, right? So maybe it's better sooner than later… so then you can finally close this chapter and finally move on."
Maybe with me.
"Aw, that's probably right but… I wasn't prepared for this to happen, you got what I mean? I wish I had more time to think about it, to get used to the idea of see him again. It's all too… soon, almost in a rush."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." He sighed "The first time I saw my ex wife after we broke up, divorced and all… well, I tried to hide against Jeff." He admitted with a soft blush.
"You didn't." She stated.
"Indeed I did!" He insisted.
"C'mon, you're just telling me this to make me feel better."
"Nope, I swear, you can call Jeff and ask him. I'm serious."
"Alright… and then what happened?"
"Well, you know Jeff… he's always in other world so he actually called her and I had no choice but-"
"Stop hiding." She finished for him.
"Exactly." He nodded.
"And how did it go?"
"Aw… better than what I expected, really. You know, it's one of those things that you picture worse than what it then is… after all you can't hide forever, right?"
"I guess so."
"And I'm sure it'll be okay, you'll see. It's not like you have to spend the whole night with him… you'll probably say 'Hi, what's up' etc… and that's it."
"Yeah, maybe you're right."
"And after all… if things get really awkward… you can still hide behind me, you know? I promise I won't call him or try to catch his attention towards us in any way." He chuckled.
"I'll consider that," she smiled "Thanks Shannon. Really."
"Aw, don't even mention it." He smiled back, looking in her eyes before focusing on the road again.
"So, what about that time you guys were wrestling in the backyard and Greg didn't realize you had cut his pants?"
"Oh, that's a good one. So we were…"
x—x—x—x—x
"I can carry my own bags, you know?" The self proclaimed dirty diva pointed out with a playful roll of her eyes as Shannon leaded the way to the hotel with both their luggage in his hands.
"Of course you can," he chuckled "but what's the point when you have a handsome, talented, gorgeous guy who carries them for you?"
"Nice point… so where is he?"
"Who?" Shannon asked puzzled.
"This gorgeous, talented, handsome mystery guy who wants to carry my bags." She innocently smiled.
"Ha ha," he playfully rolled his eyes "now I should just drop and make you carry them yourself."
"I know, but you won't… cause you're too handsome, gorgeous… and I forgot what the other one was to do so." She giggled.
"Alright." He sheepishly grinned.
…I want this girl so bad…
"Oops, that's Torrie, I should take this call."
"Of course," he smiled back at her "I'll go ahead and register us in meanwhile."
"Yep," she dreamily smiled following the Reject with her gaze… before suddenly remembering her cell phone ringing. "Shit! …Hello?"
"Ashley Marie Massaro!"
Oops, full name… not a good sign."Torrie Anne Wilson?" She uncertainly replied, trying her most innocent tone… that evidently didn't work as the Boise belle kept on shouting in the small device.
"Can you explain me why on earth I'm stuck in a car with Gregory Helms for at least three hours ride when you're heading to the same bloody place?!"
Oops again, she found out. "Aw you're on Raw too? I had no idea, it all happened in a rush… Shannon and I got informed by Jeff." She partially lied… trying to save her hearing.
"Well tell me where you are so you can get your pretty punk ass here and save me from this nightmare!"
"Uhm, actually that'd be a little hard since I'm already here… we left as soon as we found out, didn't you find my note?"
"Yes, we did!" Michelle's voice echoed in the background, causing the dirty diva to chuckle. "You're there with him?!" Torrie's voice brought her back to reality.
"Well… duh, 'we' means that I'm not on my own, so…"
"Do you intend to have sex with him?"
"Torrie!" Both Ashley and Michelle respectively yelled.
"Relax…!" The Boise native huffed "I was just going to say to use protection, you know, God knows what disease he could have… look at him, all pierced and tattooed." She said in a disgusted tone.
"I'm pierced and tattooed too, Tor." She pointed out matter-of-factly.
"Yeah I know, but you never had a moahwk… and I thank God for that."
"Torrie-"
"OH MY GAWD!!"
"What? What happened? Is Michelle alright?" She asked in concern.
"He just honked! Gregory Helms just honked to call me!!" Torrie replied as there was nothing worse in the whole world.
"Well anyway I need to go now" she rolled her eyes "I'll book a double room then, I'll text you the number later."
"Yep… wait! Does this mean that in meanwhile you'll spend the night with him? Oh my God, please don't-"
"Bye bye Torrieee." The dirty diva cut her off in a sing song voice.
"Everything alright?" Shannon asked joined her a few seconds later and handing the card key of her room to the punk princess… just while she muttered something against her friend, flipping her cell phone closed.
"Yeah, it's just Torrie." She explained matter-of-factly as she playfully rolled her eyes "Oh and watch out for an upcoming call from Greg since they found out they're stuck together to come here."
"Shit… I'd better switch my phone off then." He grinned.
"Good choice, prince of punk." She giggled and passed him by, slipping the card key in her back pocket "Oh and by the way Torrie thinks you have some kind of sexual transmitted disease, just so you know."
He was –obviously- speechless at the casual revelation she just made him but his face told it all as he looked after her in disbelief. "What… how…"
"Aw don't worry," she sympathetically said entering the elevator "it's Torrie. I told her I don't think you have by the way."
"Yeah…" He nodded in confusion, following her.
"Cause… you don't, right?"
"OF COURSE I DON'T!" He exclaimed even more in disbelief.
"Good to know." She innocently smiled "I knew it."
"Unbelievable." He muttered "That girl is crazy, I'm not envying Gregory."
Ashley couldn't help but giggle at this, "Don't worry I'll always defend you. And just so you know, you'd be my favorite disease just in case."
"Thanks, I appreciate that." He rolled his eyes but eventually smiled at her.
"That's my floor," she smiled back as the elevator stopped "on which floor is your room?"
"Same as yours." He grinned taking both their luggage and following her outside.
"Cool, so when tomorrow Torrie and Greg arrive we could have some kind of sleepover party, don't you think?" She teased.
"Totally, I'll look forward to that." He playfully rolled his eyes, leaning with his shoulder against the wall as she proceeded to open the door.
"Don't mind her," she giggled "Torrie thinks I'm kind of a freak too. Maybe it's our piercings and tattoos."
"Yeah…"
"You alright Shan?" She asked as he remained where he was, while she entered the room.
"Yeah…" he uncertainly said "I was just wondering…"
"Yes?"
"You sure you're okay? About this Paul thing I mean… cause if you don't, I could… you know, keep you company since we're both on our own tonight." He blurted out avoiding her gaze and stuffing his hands in his jeans' pockets.
"I think I'm going to be okay," she shrugged as he merely nodded and started to turn back "but I could use the company." She concluded with a smile.
He couldn't help but widely smile back as he proceeded to close the door behind them both, "Awesome."
x—x—x—x—x
When around fifteen minutes later the punk princess emerged from the bathroom after a refreshing shower in a simple tank top and a pair of boys shorts, she couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the Reject, comfy sat on the couch in front of the tv… with his legs stretched out on the small coffee table.
"What are you watching?" She inquired sitting next to him, crossing her legs under herself.
"Just flicking through the channels actually." He smiled "I guess it's too late to find something good… except porn actually."
"First you invite yourself in my room and then you want to force me to watch some ridiculous porn movie with you? Naughty prince of punk." She laughed, slightly shaking her head… when something on the screen caught her attention. "Wait! Come back on that channel!" She urged.
"What…" he trailed off in confusion "I was joking about porn, really, I swear-"
"Awww I knew I got it right!" She squealed in excitement when the image she had just caught glimpse of came back on the screen. "Robin Hood!!"
"You like that?" He asked with a chuckle, amused by her reaction.
"C'mon, don't tell me you NEVER watched BBC Robin Hood! It's pure awesomeness, I'm telling you!" She grinned.
"Well, I trust your judgment then, let's watch it." He accepted with a smile.
"YAY!" She happily clapped her hands… before she proceeded to adjust her position into a more comfortable one, ready to watch one of her favorite tv shows. "Aw, that's the episode when Marian accepts to marry Guy… you have to see Robin's expression when she says yes… it's heartbreaking!"
Honestly Shannon couldn't care less of Robin Hood's expression, but as he found the dirty diva cuddled next to him, suddenly the whole Sherwood had a new found interest for him.
x—x—x—x—x
"Just so you know, you don't honk when you wait for me." Torrie pointed out with a glare as she opened the passenger's door.
"Well considering that I honked 20 minutes ago, I kinda got that you weren't down with that." Greg replied with a roll of his eyes.
"I wasn't done packing my things," she said in her defense "and excuse me if some of us want to look at their best. You never know who you're gonna run into."
"And since it's going to be just the two of us for the whole trip… I get I should be flattered by that?" He sarcastically asked.
"Ha ha," she rolled her eyes "keep dreaming Helms."
"Shall we then?"
"Sure. After you've put my bags inside, of course." She innocently smiled.
"Excuse me? And what are these?" He asked genuinely puzzled, pointing to the 3 –huge- duffel bags she had just placed on the backseat.
"Oh don't be silly," she giggled "that's just my wrestling gear! C'mon, we don't want to be late."
The look of disbelief on his face was surely a priceless one as he opened his door and eventually saw the four suitcases standing on the sidewalk.
"You're kidding me, right?" He asked through the opened window.
"Why should I?" She beamed.
He just shook his head and proceeded to take the first two suitcases… before he had to stop, put down one, and lift just the other one in his arms.
"How on earth did you manage to bring these down?! Unless you're Hulk, of course."
"Oh, no big deal, I had some help from the Edgeheads." She smiled "I have to say they're not indifferent to my charm… not that anyone is, of course."
"…"
"Greg, c'mon, how long do we have to wait?!"
The former Hurricane was too speechless to retort anything, so he just shook his head and went back to his task, preferring not to point out the fact that he had just waited half an hour for the Boise belle to finally join him.
"Awesome." She approved when 10 minutes later he entered the car again. "Now we're finally ready to go."
"Yeah," he agreed… silently taking a note to kill Shannon as soon as they were alone to have put him in this situation. Then something caught sideways his attention and he turned to look at her… and not only her.
"What's that?!" He almost screamed.
"What?" She asked alarmed, nervously glancing around her as to find a huge bee, a monster, or something like that.
"That." He added pointing at the white fluffy thing the diva was carrying on her lap.
"Oh," she giggled in relief "but that's Chloe! You already know her." She added with a glare… since last time he had met her inseparable dog he had took her for a… rat.
"And she's going to stay there? She's going to travel with us?" He asked almost in shock.
"Of course she is," she rolled her eyes matter-of-factly.
"…"
The superstar was left again without words and wisely decided to focus on the road… or at least he tried to do so… when Torrie began to baby-talk to her dog.
"I know baby, this car is not what we're used to… but don't worry, mommy is going to keep you on her lap, alright? And then we'll found aunt Ash as soon as we arrive!"
"Torrie." He couldn't refrain from stating.
"Yes?"
"It's a dog."
"I know, duh, it's my dog." She replied looking at him as he was insane.
"…It's a freaking dog!" He raised his voice in frustration "You don't baby-talk to a dog!"
"Ssssh!" She promptly said covering Chloe's ears with her hands "Don't talk this way about her, she's sensitive."
He just growled, adding to his mental note to actually kill Shannon with a painful death.
x—x—x—x—x
"I can't believe it," a disappointed Shannon exclaimed "she said yes! She accepted his proposal!"
"I told you so."
"But… she can't marry him! That's… wrong!"
"She accepted for her father's sake. You heard him… he can protect her and her father this way."
"Yeah, cause Robin can't." He sarcastically replied. "He's Robin freakin' Hood! He can protect her as well!"
"And what could she have said? If she said no the sheriff would have probably killed her father as next thing." She pointed out defending Marian's choice.
"But now she's going to marry him… the bad guy! And have you seen Robin's expression? He was in so much pain… c'mon it's obvious that he loves her, how can she do that to him!?"
"She has no choice…!"
"Of course she has! She can just run away to the forest with him and they're gonna live happily ever after…!"
She couldn't refrain from giggle at how convinced he sounded.
"Poor Robin, c'mon." He went on with a roll of his eyes "That's always the same story… girls dig the bad guy who's gonna break their hearts and they just don't realize that their best friends are in love with them."
"Maybe she's just afraid that Robin's gonna leave again… and she doesn't want to be heartbroken again." She lightly sighed.
A few minutes of silence followed before the prince of punk spoke again. "Okay, now you're gonna tell me how this thing ends," he said as the episode ended "I need to know how this works out."
"…"
"Ash?" He turned to see the dirty diva peacefully asleep on his shoulder as a sweet smile curved his lips. He silently switched off the tv and carefully laid down on the couch, bringing her down with him, and gently placed his arm around her.
After all it had been a tough day and they were both tired… the training session, the road trip… there was nothing wrong with it… right?
"Shan?" She groggily muttered.
"Yes…?" He responded, afraid that she would just send him away.
"She punches Sir. Guy right on his nose during the wedding and runs away with Robin, on horseback."
"Well done." He couldn't help but smile as she drifted back to sleep and he closed his eyes as well.
I know, i feel quite evil (lol!) to leave you here without her meeting with Paul, but the chapter was already enough long P And i promise i'll update next week, alright? See... i'm a still a good girl after all XD
