They sat down at a little dive restaurant that was open 24 hours. Sitting in a little booth in the back she fidgeted with the napkin in front of her. "Hunter thank you for everything. I mean I couldn't have done all this if you wouldn't have agreed to everything."
"Don't thank me. I'm glad you're here." Looking over the menu as the waitress was ready to take the order. "What looks good? I'm thinking big greasy burger and fries with a shake. I know you didn't eat today so you're not going to be one of those girls who just get the salad are you?"
"Haven't eaten like that in a long time. Sounds good. I'll have the same." She shuffled her weight in the seat. "Hunter, no...umm...Paul…Yes, Paul." He looked up putting down the menu. Must be serious. "Umm….I know about you and Steph and Chyna. Everything really. I know taking me into your group must not be easy for you. But, I can assure you I'm nothing like her. I never imagined in a million years I would actually be here. More or less be with my favorite faction DX. I know you were mad that I interfered with you and Chyna. I just wanted my friend to talk to you and her to be happy. Even if that meant you two got back...well never mind that." He looked at her questioningly. "You see, I've dreamed of this for years and now I can't believe I'm here. This means the world to me. And being part of it, with you...well...it is more special than you realize. Paul. I just want to thank you for doing all this."
"You don't have to say anything. We are all glad you're part of this. Me especially. I was a little apprehensive at first. But, tonight you proved to me you have what it takes. I know you have ring skills. I've watched you since you came on the scene. Your beautiful so that's just a plus. And just so you know. I could tell you were before than damn mask ever came off." Hunter smiled.
"That's the reason I wanted to talk to you. See... I'm not used to people saying that. I'm not used to guys coming on to me. And when they do it's usually some low life jerk. But, your not. You have it all together, you have goals, passionate about your job, you're...I don't know. You are different than other guys. Maybe it's just me being a fangirl or something. I just don't want you to think I'm some girl who is here to be some hoochie ring rat. I got in this business to kick some ass not be a Barbie doll. Back to my point. Truth is I don't know what came over me earlier. That's not me. That girl on the dance floor and back at the arena. I don't know who that girl is. I use to have that confidence around men. But, now I just don't know that girl anymore. I know you know all that happened to me. It doesn't define who I am. I'm not playing a victim. It's something that happened from a person who was bad. I don't hate men and don't define myself by it. But, I am still scared and confused. I hope you don't think less of me for the way I acted earlier. I acted like a slut." She looked down at her hands.
Hunter rubbed his face realizing maybe he had been too forward with her. "Sweet lady. I am sorry if I came on too strong. You sure as hell did nothing wrong. What's so bad about feeling attractive and desired. Because honey you are sure as hell are desirable. At least in my eyes. I should have realized I was pushing you a little too hard. I'm sorry."
"No. Don't apologize. I actually...I can't believe I'm saying this. I find you very attractive and I don't know what it is about you. Had it been any other guy who said these things, I would have already made you eat your own teeth. But, you are a charmer." She blushed.
The food came and Hunter sat thinking about what she just said. Is this girl really into me. Is this why she didn't want to meet me all those time with Kev? Surely not.
"Ok, Miss Anna. Let's get to know each other. Back things up a bit. First, where did you learn to dance like that?"
As they ate and chatted things started to become more relaxed. He was so easy to talk to and he loved how she would get so excited telling about things that interested her. They found that that had a lot in common from bodybuilding, taste in music, and both had a great family back home. It was like she was pouring out her heart and breaking down a wall. They sat and talked for hours. When Hunter realized it as getting late. They headed back to the hotel.
"What do you mean they don't have a room for me?! I called a week ago for a reservation." Hunter saw her panic look set in.
"Hey, sweet lady it's ok. You can room with me." He picked up her things from where the guys had left them with the bellhop.
"What?! No way! I can't ask you to do that." She looked at him.
"It's fine. I promise I'll be a good boy. If you want I'll even sleep on the nasty hotel floor and you can take the bed. No arguing." He wasn't taking no for an answer and she saw it. She hurried to catch up with him.
As they entered the room he put down all their bags. He pulled off his DX shirt and threw it in his bag. She looked over with eyes wide. She tried to look away but it was just too much. His perfectly sculpted body, short scruffy beard, long blonde locks. She couldn't help herself from looking. She felt her fingers run over her stomach and biting her lip. 'Oh god, this was going to be a long night.'
Hunter looked over out the corner of his eye. He chuckled. "Like what you see?"
"Oh gosh. I'm sorry...I just." She scrambled to get her words.
"It's fine. You think I haven't noticed your body. Woman, you're sexy as hell. I'm not going to pretend I don't notice. I'm not some shy high school boy. I tell it how it is." He smiled making her blush. Walking over to her. " You can touch it if you want. They don't bite." Flexing his chest muscles making them dance." She giggled smacking his arm playfully.
She went to her bag pulling out a t-shirt and some shorts to sleep in. She headed to the bathroom washing up and changing. When she came out he was sitting on the bed in gym shorts and no shirt. Leaning against the headboard. "So pretty lady how we going to play this? Are you going to make this poor tired man who has been beaten and battered in the ring tonight sleep on the floor?"
She smiled and crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her chin like she was thinking about it. "Hmmm. My choices have a whole big king size bed to myself or let some big strong man join me? First off. You didn't have a match tonight. Second. Okay. I think we are both grown adults and can resist our hormonal urges for one night. I trust you. Kev says if anyone in this world I can trust it's you. And Kev would never lie to me. Just don't get any slick ideas mister man. "
"Well, mention Kevs name and that instantly turned me off...so. Yes, I can be a good boy tonight." He winked.
He pulled the covers back and got in reaching for her to join him. She snuggled into her pillow and turned her back to him, "Thank you, Hunter."
"You're welcome beautiful." He rolled over toward her and pulled her to him holding her in his arms. She started to look over her shoulder at him. "What?! I'm being good. Guys like to snuggle too." She smiled and fell right to sleep.
The next morning she awoke to his arm draped over her waist. She rolled to her back trying not to disturb him. She lay quietly looking over his face and she gently touched his lips. She felt him move slightly and her hand retreated. Once she thought Hunter was back fully asleep her fingers found their way back tracing the lines of his face. Once they made it back to his lips he smiled and gently kissed her fingertips. "Ummm...Good morning. If you're going to continue to do that please don't let me stop you." Anna blushed and pulled back her hand.
"Sorry."
"Stop apologizing to me. Now woman get up and get dressed. I'm hungry. I'll call the guys and see if they want to join us for breakfast."
She got up and headed to the bathroom to get ready. Finishing her makeup she looked at her reflection. 'How could I do something so reckless? He's going to figure out I like him without me saying a word. Hell, he already pretty much has figured it out. I'm just afraid. I can't just go up to him and say I'm in love with him.' Anna scrunched up her face.
She looked in the mirror realizing she didn't have on a mask. For the first time in a long time, she wasn't reaching for it to put it on. It was odd, unnatural now. Tears fell to her face. It's not a physical mask anymore. It's just the invisible one she always put up. Even before David. For so many years fear consumed her. She had a great childhood except for being a shy girl. She was bullied as a kid and wrestling empowered her. But here she stood in the room of the man she was in love with and was more afraid than she had ever felt. Not afraid of anyone. Just her own thoughts and desires. Afraid she would not be good enough, not sexy enough, not...enough. She pulled herself together and fixed her face.
Exiting the room Hunter noticed her sad eyes, "Everything ok?"
"I'm fine. It's just not having the mask in public. It's sort of an emotional time, I guess."
Hunter walked over to her wrapping himself around her. "You're not alone on this you know. I'm here, X-Pac, the guys, even Vince. All the roster was behind you last night. We are a family here. There is nothing we don't do for family." He hugged her and he could feel her body relax in his embrace. How could anyone ever hurt this girl, he thought.
They made their way down to the hotel restaurant and the guys were waiting. "Morning Sunshine!" Brian (Road Dogg) pipped in.
X-Pac put his hand on his shoulder. "Dude never say that to her. That or wakey wakey eggs and bakey. She hates mornings. Never talk to her before the juice comes." She laughed. He handed her her orange juice. He knew her too well.
Billy looked over at Hunter remembering they left together the night before. "So old man how was your night? Anything interesting happen after the bar?" Drinking from his coffee cup.
"Dude, nothing happened." They all looked like they had been up to something. "You didn't!"
Anna looked around wondering what they were all being weird about. "What?"
Pac almost spit out his coffee laughing. "So pumpkin did you sleep well? I noticed you never came to the room. You always set one up by mine or Kevs. Since Kev isn't here I just assumed." She quickly figured out she was set up.
"YOU ASS! You canceled my room!" Pac laughed and she slugged him in the arm.
"Well, we had to have some official DX hazing initiation. Hey, I just figured that it was about time you stop hiding from this man. Besides I knew Hunter would never push you into anything you didn't want. So what happened? Do tell sweet cheeks. Get ya any?" He acted like a girl gossiping and crossed his legs like a chick and his hands on the sides of his cheeks.
"Nothing happened. I may have flirted like crazy last night but, I'm not a jerk. We talked and went to sleep nothing else. She's a lady and if and when she decides to let me in her bed for that, it will be between us. And I sure I don't need any help from you dicks." It was sweet how Hunter defended her.
"Ya! What he said." She laughed.
"Soooo. That means there is a chance then?" Brian chuckled.
"Don't push it!" She smiled. "And Pac. Prank Wars can be reinstated!"
She told the guys how Pac and she had a prank war for weeks and how he always ended up getting it worse than her. How one day he had really did it by freezing all her underwear in a snowbank and putting her bras up a flagpole and, the things she did to him in retaliation.
After many long nights, the prank wars were called to a truce. The DX guys were rolling laughing as Anna told her stories and Pac just sat with his arms cross in defeat laughing at the thought of their prank war memories.
The rest of breakfast the guys went back to the night before and teased Hunter relentlessly. She even joined in. She couldn't remember how long it had been that she could just let loose and have fun with a group of guys and not feel threatened. The only ones she let in this way was the NWO. She was missing Kev. He had been her best friend and her protector. Shawn eventually joined them but, wasn't saying much since he was rockn' a pretty big hangover.