AN: Once again, thanks for your reviews, guys. Did I already say I appreciate them? Well, I just want everyone to know that I took my time writing this chapter. I worked pretty hard on this, and you're reviews would really pay me back, lol. Here goes nothing...

Can't You Feel The Weight of My Stare

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:

That's What Makes You Unforgiven

I sighed as I let my tears fall. I'd been up all night trying to think of the perfect excuse to get out of kissing Jeff live, and came up with absolutely nothing. With each excuse I came up with, I was forced to realize that Vince would just think of a way around it. If I said was sick, he'd want me to take medication. If I claimed that I was tired, he'd demand that I get more sleep the next time, and he'd still order me to do my job.

I didn't know what was wrong with me. Why was I being such a coward? Probably because I'd have to be kissing someone who wasn't Phil. I'd have to be touched by someone who wasn't Phil. The worst part? I know how Jeff is. He'd probably take advantage of the situation - he'd done it before, hadn't he? He kissed me before, hadn't he?

But I figured that this was all pathetic. My behavior and attitude towards this was unnecessary. I'm a grown woman for Pete's sake, I shouldn't be acting like I've never done this before. But then again, I didn't have a boyfriend when I had kissed other guys. I didn't have Phil then, but I have him now, which makes what happened in the past irrelevant. It didn't matter that I had a boyfriend or not, I had to do this.

I glanced up at my reflection before grabbing a few tissues out of my purse. With all my crying and moping over this, something wasn't right. If I claimed that I was so happy with Phil, then why the hell was I always crying? I decided it didn't matter at this point. I quickly wiped my eyes before re-applying my mascara. I sighed, this time, setting my phase on relaxation before heading out of the bathroom, and back into hell. The backstage of the arena.

I put my fake smile on, waving at the familiar superstars who were waving at me. My smile, fake or not, faded when I passed a certain someone who I really didn't care to see at the moment.

"Maria, wait!" She shouted, grabbing my arm as she caught up to me. If I turned around, she'd most likely try to talk more about Jeff, and I'd just get frustrated even more. I tugged her arm off of mine, and began to quicken my pace.

"Maria, can't we just talk?" She pleaded, as she followed me around the corner. Why couldn't she leave me alone? Why did she have to keep starting fights, and then always end up starting another? I wasn't going to let her do it again. But of course, it was more easier said than done.

"Talk about what?" I asked, turning around to face her. I loosened up a bit as I watched her sigh.

"Ria, I'm sorry," she said.

"You should be," I shot back. Her face looked shocked for a moment. Did she really expect me to say 'It's okay,' while I watch her stand there, looking like the victim? If anyone was the victim in the situation, it was me. I'd be damned if I let her get away with what she's done, and then have her continue her actions. It wasn't fair to me that she had to act like it was all easy for me. And the innocent look on her face didn't intimidate me at all. What I really wanted to do was slap it right off her face, just to show her how serious I was.

She nodded her head in understanding. "I know I should be, and I am."

"Yeah, right," I stated, now wondering why I was still here, talking to a traitor like her. She shot me a look of disbelief as I doubted her.

"I am," she insisted. She eyed me as I put my hands on my hips. "so, what, you don't believe me now?" She shot me another look of disbelief, and it was finally time for her to be put in her place.

"Of course I don't! Ashley, do you realize how much you've been telling me that you're sorry? For months! I've forgiven you for it before, but ever since two weeks ago, I just couldn't believe it anymore. You went behind my back with Jeff, discussing my feelings like you've been inside my head. And what do you mean that I'll 'cave one day'? What in the world is making you believe that I have a thing for Jeff?" I looked up at her, seeing nothing but confusion and guilt across her features.

"Well?" I said, waiting for her worthless response. When I got no answer I just said: "Exactly. You don't know a damn thing, Ashley. I'm so disgusted by you that I don't even want to see your face right now. Just note that I love Phil with all my heart, and I'm still in love with him. So forget your doubts, and just deal with it." I tore my eyes away from her pitiful ones and stalked off.

"Stop lying to yourself." That was the last comment I heard before I rounded the corner.

--

I was on in five minutes, and Jeff wasn't even backstage yet. Was he just as freaked out by this as me? Of course not, he was Jeff Hardy, how could he be? He was the "Risk taker," the "Charasmatic Enigma," he couldn't be nervous.

But yet again, I was beginning to believe that he actually was.

"Have you seen Jeff today?" The camera guy asked me, I looked at him apologetically before answering.

"No, I haven't. But I'm sure he'll be here, just let a few more commercials run. He should be here in five," I assured him. He rolled his eyes, before answering.

"Okay, five more minutes." I nodded in agreement, figuring that if Jeff didn't show, the whole segment would be canceled and Vince wouldn't be a very happy camper. One thing I've learned about Vincent Kennedy McMahon: He'd fire you in a second if you didn't deliver.

Sure enough, five restless minutes later, Jeff came barging through the locker room, startling not only me, but the camera guy as well.

"Sorry I'm late. I got into a little bit of a tussle," he explained. He looked over at me, giving me a once over. "Lookin' beautiful today, Maria." The compliment threw me off, and I almost forgot my line.

"Um, thanks Jeff, you do too," I said, flushing once I realized how stupid that just sounded. But then again, my character wasn't the smartest person on Earth, so I just went along with it anyways.

He gave me a confused look and then chuckled. His once amused expression switched to a more serious one as he stepped closer to me.

"I mean it," he stated. Boy, I hated that I had to say what I said next.

"Wow, Punk hasn't told me that in forever," I exaggerated. His eyes darkened at the mention of Phil's name being morphed with my words. He cleared his throat before saying his next line.

"Well, I bet Punk hasn't done this to you in forever either," he said, leaning forward to capture his lips with mine. I couldn't help but get tense. Sure, it hadn't been our first kiss, but it still felt like it was.

My breath caught as I realized that his lips were looking for my ear like it had the week before. But I wasn't having that. For some odd reason, that not even I could fathom, I pulled him by his shirt and crushed my lips against his. Now, I really had a reason to kiss him: For teasing me before. The kiss got more heated, as the cheers of the crowd began to accelerate. He was kissing me fiercly now. I parted my lips, allowing him to deepen the kiss.

I whimpered as I felt him throw my back against the wall, breaking the heated kiss for only a second before crashing his lips down on mine once more. He tore his hands away from my face to grab my legs and wrap them firmly around his waist.

The cheers began to loosen as the camera guy yelled cut.

It seemed as if we hadn't heard, because we still continued our kiss. He yelled cut again, but we still ignored. We were too engaged in each others' lips to even care what the consequences of this was.

After for what seemed like hours, Jeff broke the kiss. He traced his fingers over my lips before releasing my legs.

"I love you," he whispered. My eyes widened in shock.

He just admitted - confessed his love for me.

He looked at me in wonder as he saw me struggling to get my words out.

"I..." I paused. "I have to go," I said, freeing myself before I felt the salty liquid mark my face. He tried to grab me, but I tugged away from him, exiting the locker room. I ignored the Superstars and Divas who were walking by, looking at me with nothing but shock and pleasure written all over their faces.

My tears were freely flowing now. No, not because I was sad. But because I was actually crying. I was crying tears of joy.

I had a lot of explaining to do.

--

AN: Okay, I hope that that was intense, because gosh, that took me forever to write. Yeah, it was three pages long, (if you even want to call it that) but it was full of important emotions, feelings, and kisses ;) - Speaking of kisses, it's their second, lol. PLEASE review this chapter. If I wanted you to review any chapter at all, it would be this one. Thanks!