Matt blared the stereo on his rental car as he followed the directions as they popped up on his GPS system. He couldn't understand what had gotten into him, but he just had a feeling he needed to be next to CJ. He stepped on the gas more as the freeway opened up more, he could smell the ocean breeze as he rolled down his window to enjoy the ocean that had just come into view.
He pulled off the exit Lily had told him and soon enough found himself at the state beach as he parked his car and walked out onto the sandy beach. He walked along the beach watching the kids splashing in the ocean, he had walked just a few feet when his eyes found what he was looking for, he saw CJ sitting on the beach, her feet running through the sand as she watched the ocean, the waves crashing on the shore again and again.
CJ looked out among the waves, when a familiar voice shook her out of her thoughts "Want some company sweetie?" CJ looked up to meet the brown eyes of the elder Hardy looking down at her with a smile on his face. CJ smiled as she patted the sand next to her as he took a seat, CJ's eyes returned to the ocean as she spoke "Let me guess, Lily sent you up here?" Matt laughed a little as he slid his shoes off before he explained "Actually we had to torture it out of her, well Jeff did" causing CJ to laugh as she turned to Matt "Letting your brother do your dirty work?" Matt leaned back on his hands, looking out at the ocean as he released a deep breath "Well I didn't hear Lily complaining" as CJ shook her head chuckling to herself. Her sister definitely took a liking to Jeff, so she was positive Matt was right.
CJ took a deep breath as she returned her attention to a couple kids who were splashing in the ocean, couldn't help but bring a smile to her face. Matt watched as CJ watched the kids playing in the ocean, their parents playing with them happily, when he spoke "You wanna talk about it?". CJ responded "Nothing to talk about" without breaking her concentration of watching the family, when Matt decided to take another route, he took a deep breath as he started "You know after my mom died, I used to watch families like that all the time" CJ's attention broke as she turned to look at Matt as he continued to watch the family "I used to wonder why she had to leave us" he took a shaky breath as he continued "but then I realized things happen for a reason and I'm sure she's watching over us now."
CJ couldn't help but feel for Matt, she knew what he had been through and yet it still tugged at her heart strings. She reached out and put her hand over his on the sand, as she responded "I'm sure she's extremely proud of you and Jeff", Matt tore his attention away from the family and let his eyes connect with CJ's as he answered "I hope so…" CJ gave his hand a slight squeeze, and a slight smile before she turned her attention back to the ocean.
Moments passed until CJ broke the silence "The last time I saw either of my parents I was 6 years old, sometimes I wonder if they ever think about Lily and I.." Matt turned and watched CJ, as she spoke looking out on the ocean, while she continued "I always wonder what I did wrong to make them not want me or Lily, it must have been something horrible for them to give up their own kids huh?" Matt reached out and took CJ's hand in his, as CJ turned and gave Matt a slight smile when he spoke "You were just a child, it was nothing you did I'm sure". CJ took a deep breath, as she looked back out on the ocean "I was 4 when my mom left. I woke up in the middle of the night cause Lily was crying, she was just a few months old at the time. My dad worked nights, so I went into her bedroom and my mom wasn't in there. I figured she was out in the living room, so I picked Lily up out of her crib and carried her out to the living room, and sure enough my mom was out there. She had a bunch of bags with her, and I couldn't understand why, but my mom cooked Lily a bottle, turned on the tv, and sat Lily and I on the couch and told us to watch cartoons. I watched my mom walk out of the door…" CJ paused and took a deep breath, as Matt squeezed her hand tight, encouraging her to continue "I figured she'd come back…she never did. My dad came home about an hour later and found us, and two years later he got remarried and walked out on us also." CJ ran her free hand through her hair as she took a shaky breath "Lily doesn't even remember them, which is a good thing I guess…but in the end I can't just can't stop thinking I did something wrong…I did something so horrible, my own parents left us behind." A lone tear rolled down CJ's cheek as the pain hid behind her eyes, as Matt reached and cupped her chin gently as he turned CJ to face him, he gently wiped away the tear with his thumb as he spoke "I'm guessing this all happened around February?", CJ smiled slightly as she nodded, as Matt pushed her bangs out of her face as CJ's bottom lip quivered as she spoke "I guess that's why I don't deserve anything, I didn't even deserve parents", Matt's hand gently and firmly grabbed her chin, forcing CJ to connect her eyes with him as he spoke "No. You deserve so much more. You deserve all the happiness, all the pleasure your body can take." Causing a slight smile to cross CJ's lips as he continued "You are such a great person, your cute, your caring, your personality makes everyone fall in love with you, I know if I was with you I'd make sure you got everything your heart desired, cause you deserve it and so much more" he said barely above a whisper. It was like a magnet was pulling CJ closer to Matt, CJ was so close she could feel Matt's hot breath on her lips, CJ tried to fight it deep within her, but something just seemed right about the position she was in, and something was telling her to go for it. Before she had the chance, Matt pulled away and let a smile cross his face as he reached out and brushed his fingers across her cheek. His hand left CJ's face and rested over CJ's in the sand, before he spoke "You hungry?" CJ smiled and nodded as Matt got to his feet and helped CJ up, Matt dusted the sand off himself before turning to CJ "Well lets get you something to eat then", as the two walked along the beach making their way back to Matt's rental car.
After eating and spending an hour or so touring the boardwalk, Matt and CJ were in Matt's rental car, making their way back to the hotel. CJ looked out of the window, watching the scenery fly by, when Matt broke the silence "So how are things between you and Paul?" Matt knew what he wanted to hear, he had quit lying to himself months ago. Matt was more than aware that he had feelings for CJ, but he wasn't the type of guy to make a move on another man's woman. Being friends with CJ was enough for Matt right now, but that's not saying he didn't hope that the relationship would go sour. He didn't mind that CJ was with Paul, it was just sometimes, he didn't like the way Paul treated CJ. CJ deserved someone to treasure her, not someone who was only there when he wanted to be. CJ thought about the question for a moment before she answered "We're good….I guess" she said with a sigh. Matt glanced over to her, before returning his attention to the road "You guess?" CJ let out a deep breath, as she ran her fingers through her hair, she tried to explain "I don't know…it's just…sometimes I just feel like he's not there for me…I mean maybe I'm just being selfish or something…" CJ said almost in a sad tone…Matt spoke almost suddenly when he spoke "You're not selfish, it's just some people need more than others…" CJ couldn't help the smile that creeped across her mouth, as she glanced over to Matt who was still concentrating on the road.
They pulled into the hotel parking garage and walked into the elevator together. CJ stared at the elevator buttons, watching them light up as the elevator got higher and higher. The doors opened and CJ was caught surprise when Paul was waiting on the other side of the doors. Paul exclaimed "CJ!" before he bolted towards her, wrapping his large arms around her frame, holding her tight against his body. CJ smiled as she hugged him back, not noticing that Matt sneaked away. Paul pulled her back, still grasping her arms "Are you ok? Jesus, you scared me!" he said relieved as he pulled CJ against his body again. CJ looked up into his brown eyes as she spoke "I'm sorry…I just" and before she could finish Paul lunged forward, his lips meeting hers. The shallow kiss broke, and Paul spoke again "I was about to go to the police station, I was so worried". CJ felt guilty, she never meant Paul to worry like this, she just had to be alone. CJ apologized again "I'm sorry" Paul wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he led her back down the hallway towards the room they shared. Paul spoke "No worries, just don't disappear on me again ok?" he said unlocking the room door, as he opened it.
CJ cleared her throat suddenly, when Paul turned CJ spoke "I really should go find Lily, let her know I'm alright and things" Paul looked at her puzzled, when CJ continued "Why don't you go get us some dinner and I'll meet you back here?" she said with a smile. Paul smiled wide, walking out of the hotel room, closing it behind him. He strode towards CJ, wrapping his arms around her waist, he spoke in a gruff whisper "You promise you'll be here when I get back?" CJ smiled, as she leaned forward, pressing her lips against his, letting her tongue snake out, just gently and swiftly swiping across his bottom lip. She heard the slight groan coming from his chest, when she broke the kiss and simply smiled at him. Paul let a deep breath go, and spoke "Alright, I'll be back in a few" and he headed towards the elevator.
CJ made her way down the hallway, she assumed Lily would probably be in Jeff's hotel room. She made her way to the room and knocked twice, the door flung open and CJ came face to face with Jeff Hardy who was smiling wide. Jeff spoke "She returns!" before he quickly hugged CJ. CJ rolled her eyes at Jeff's antics, as she simply spoke "Funny…" before she walked into the hotel room. Lily was laying on one bed as Matt sat in a chair in the far corner of the room. CJ walked in, plopping down next to her sister, collecting her in a quick hug. Lily asked "Have you seen Paul?" CJ nodded, before turning her attention to Matt. "You didn't have to leave Matt…" she spoke calmly, Matt simply shrugged his shoulders before speaking "Well, I needed to get back here anyways" he responded almost coldly. CJ was almost shocked by the way he responded, had she done something wrong? CJ simply shrugged it off, assuming maybe Matt was just tired.