Dis: I own everything and then some...
A/N: This chaper is craptastic. There, I said it so you don't have to. I know I haven't updated in a while and there is a reason. For 3 weeks in Sept I was taking 29 credits at once. 29!! I am so burned out from school. Only a few more months until graduation. On top of that, my beautiful car broke down on the highway. My car is everything to me. Luckily I was able to fix it. After everything that has happened this month I took a well deserved shopping trip and ran around the mall singing the Darkwing Duck song with my best friend. (Random impulse buy of the day: a Jeff Hardy baseball cap. I didn't know they even made a Jeff Hardy baseball cap.) So, like I said, this chapter is craptastic. I started writing it when I was alright, then I wrote some when I was stressed, then I continued when I was depressed, and today I finished it while trying to keep my sanity intact. The madness is just for this chapter. Things will be back to normal in the next one.
Alright, enought talk. I promise I'll be sane by the next chapter.
When I was younger I used to wish I had an older brother to watch over me and protect me. Now that I have one, I want to give him back.
Matt Hardy was standing right in front of me, hat backwards and arms crossed, with a wicked grin on his face.
"I don't see why this is any of your business," I whined again.
"Come on now little one. I just want to know how your date went." He put way too much emphasis on the d- word.
This was my fault (although I won't admit that out loud). I knew the SmackDown/ECW schedule ended on Tuesday night and that Matt and Jeff would be back home on Wednesday. If I was smart I would have just stayed home today, but nooooo.
"It was not a date!"
Matt laughed. "Sure..."
Apparently, the Hardys saw me leaving the movie theatre with Chris and decided to investigate further. After hunting me down and kidnapping me, Matt drove us to a park where he began to interrogate me. What made the situation worse was the fact that he was having fun with it.
I turned to Jeff but he was no help. He just leaned against a big tree watching the whole scene play out.
"What did you say his name was again?" Matt continued to enjoy every second of this torture. I groaned and dropped my head.
"Chris. For the fourth time, his name is Chris," I answered in a flat tone.
"And he's a worker?"
"Yes. I met him at that company you hooked me up with."
"Do we know a Chris?" Matt asked over his shoulder.
"Yeah…" Jeff pushed off from the tree and came closer. "But he's not her rebound guy. This is someone else."
"REBOUND GUY?? I am not on the rebound!"
They both stopped and looked at me. "Yeah ya are," they said in unison.
"Whatever…" I crossed my arms and switched my attention to a nearby squirrel. How could they even assume that?
"I think we hit a nerve." Matt's smile widened.
"So it seems…" Jeff added leaning on his older brother. "I wonder what she's hidin…" He winked.
My eyes went wide. That creep! I stood up and glared at Jeff. "Pervert!"
In protest, I turned towards the car, but before I could take a step Jeff's arm wrapped around my waist and pull me into him.
"Aw come on, Jessie. You know you wouldn't have me any other way."
He quickly secured his other arm so I couldn't move.
"What I think Jeff means is that we're glad to see you're having a little fun," Matt said saving his younger brother.
"Chris is NOT my rebound guy!" I repeated
"He might not be now…" Matt snickered. I switched my glared to the older Hardy. What did these two know? NOTHING is going on between me and Chris. I'm still married for crying out loud! Instantly felt the need to change the topic before I hurt someone.
"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starved. So, if we're done here…"
They both nodded and Matt started towards the car. Jeff, on the other hand, decided to goof around a bit while he had me in his arms. I wanted no part of this. As soon as my feet left the ground I wiggled out of his arms and pushed him into a tree.
Jeff's smile vanished. "What was that for?" he asked in disbelief.
"Like you need to ask."
Jeff stopped in his tracks as I walked the rest of the way. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see the Hardys, but I can only take so much abuse before I snap on them, and the stalking/kidnapping scheme that they pulled used up all their free points.
The three of us grabbed some take out and headed back to Matt's house. We didn't talk in the car. Matt seemed content in his own little world. His fingers happily drummed on the steering wheel as he drove. I don't think he even noticed that there was tension between Jeff and me. Then again, Jeff and I tend to butt heads a lot so tension was almost normal.
"Hey, come help me in the kitchen," Jeff said quickly as I set the food on the table when we got to the house. I looked back at Matt, who was going through a pile of mail, before following him.
"So what do you want, a fork, a spoon, or both?" I asked. Jeff hopped on to the counter while I went through the silverware drawer. He didn't answer.
"Come here and look at me," he finally said grabbing my wrist and dragging me in front of him. I went along with it. He took my hands in his and quietly looked me over. After a while his silence became unnerving.
"WHAT?" I finally demanded.
"You're different," he stated with a sigh.
"What are you talking about?"
"Usually when you first see me you run to give me a hug. Today you shoved me into a tree."
"Well that could have something to do with the fact that you and Matt were hounding me with questions."
"No, it's not that…" he pushed my hair back away from my face. "Something's not right…"
I pulled his hand down. "Sweetie, I think you've taken one too many shots to the head."
"I'm serious, Jessie."
"So am I."
"HEY! Can we eat anytime soon?" Matt yelled from the other room.
"Coming!" I shouted back.
Jeff let my hands slide from his. He watched as I gathered up a few plates and the silverware and went back into the dining room.
Things settled down a bit while we ate. Once again we were just one big happy dysfunctional family. Matt and I exchanged notes from the last week. He told me a story that made me laugh so hard that soda almost came out my nose. Jeff mainly kept quiet, which was odd, but we are talking about Jeff Hardy here. Of course, Matt HAD to keep asking about Chris.
"For the last time, Chris and I are just friends. Not even friends. I only hang out with him because there is nothing else to do here." I got up and started clearing off the table.
"Fair enough," he said putting down his fork. "I only have one more question,"
"Shoot."
"When can I meet him?"
"Never," I said pushing his hat over his eyes.
I offered to wash the dishes and Matt was more than willing to let me do them. He went off to sort his wash and Jeff disappeared to another part of the house. I stood alone in front of the soapy water as my mind began to wander. Matt was crazy to think there was something between Chris and I, right? I mean, he saw us together for a total of 3 minutes; he has to be out of his mind. Like I said, the only reason I hang out with him is because there is nothing else to do. That, and the fact that he cheers me up when I'm down, but that's irrelevant because any idiot who hates HIM could do that. Hell, if Jeff was around more there would be no need for Chris…
The radio played softly as I pushed my thoughts out of my head and concentrated on the dishes. I started to hum along to a song as the water drained, but I was interrupted.
Two strong arms slid around my waist as someone came up behind me. A head rested on my shoulder.
"Be my girl tonight," Jeff whispered in my ear.
"Jeff…" I turned around in his arms to face him. How do I respond to that? I searched his bright green eyes for some hint to what he meant. The sides of his mouth pulled up to a small smile as he explained.
"My friend's band is playing down at a club and no one will come with me. I promise you'll have fun."
"I don't know Hardy. I didn't bring any clubbing clothes."
"Jessie, you'll look good in anything you wear." He gave a little puppy dog pout. "Please?"
I closed my eyes. "Fine…"
With a smile he kissed my forehead and walked out. I let out a heavy sigh.
There is one question that I get asked time and time again. "Why do you put up with Jeff Hardy?" I hear it from Glenn, John, even Matt. I ask it myself after every 3am phone call. Life around the one and only Charismatic Enigma is definitely a trip. An hour ago I wanted to kill him. Now, I'm going out clubbing with him. Things change so fast that I can't keep score anymore. I'm not his blood, and I certainly not sleeping with him, so why do I do it?
I guess the answer is quite easy, actually. I love him.
"Don't give me that look," Helms cried when I got back to his place to change. "I told you I wasn't going to cover for you."
"Yeah, but you didn't have to send them out after me. I was coming right back." I leaned over the couch where he was sitting. I had an hour to shower and get ready before Jeff was going to pick me up.
Helms' smile stretched from ear to ear as he put his hands behind his head. "But what fun would that be?"
I smacked him. "Do me a favor and take a nap on the railroad tracks," I replied before running to my room.
Right on time a car horn honked outside.
"And he wonders why he has no luck with the ladies," Helms mumbled to himself as I tried to run down the hallway and zip up my boots at the same time. "He could at least come to the door."
"Yeah well, then he might make me change."
I slipped on Helms' long jacket and hustled out the door before he could react to what I had said. When I told Jeff that I didn't bring any clubbing clothes, I wasn't lying. I literally had to hunt for something to wear. The outfit I had on was a mix between random articles of clothing I brought, and things I grabbed out of Helms' closet.
"That is… a nice outfit…" Jeff commented when he helped me with my coat. "Are those Go Go Boots?"
I stuck out my right foot and did a little pose. Yes, they were Go Go Boots. I was also wearing a green pleather mini skirt (I was a Power Puff Girl one Halloween. Don't ask me why I brought it to North Carolina), a black tank top and a white button down shirt that I tied up. Trust me; the outfit looks better than it sounds.
Jeff shook his head while taking off his own jacket. "And people think I'm weird."
He escorted me into the club. It was the type of club that welcomed people like Jeff and me. There was multicolored hair as far as the eye can see. The music wasn't bad either. Jeff's friends actually had some talent.
"Dance with me!" Jeff yelled pulling me away from the bar.
I was having a great time. It has been a while since I last got out. A couple songs in I noticed that I no longer held Jeff's attention. He was watching a girl dance near the stage.
"Go talk to her," I said leaning into him. He shook me off. "Go talk to her!" I said again. I pushed him in the girl's general direction. "And don't come back without a date."
I stayed on the floor for one more song before I headed to the bar.
"Hey there pretty lady. What's your name?" a man to the right of me asked as I signaled the bartender for a drink. I hesitated a second before answering.
The boy wasn't bad looking. He had short brown hair and was wearing a green and white striped polo with kakis. (Ten bucks says he's a frat boy.) Ah well, I have some time to kill. I could have some fun with him.
"Amanda. Name's Amanda." I shifted my body to face him.
"Well, Amanda, I'm Nick." I shook his hand as he handed the bartender some money.
"You don't have to do that."
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure a beautiful woman like you gets free drinks all the time." He winked. "So, I haven't seen you here before…"
"I'm visiting family in the area." I took a sip of my drink. His lines were getting more generic by the minute.
"Are you here alone?" he asked inching closer.
"Can I help you bub?" Jeff cut in putting an arm around me.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Nick straitened and sized up Jeff.
"I'm the guy she came with," Jeff answered.
"Alright man, there are plenty of fish in the sea." Nick quickly backed down and disappeared into the crowd.
I rubbed the migraine that was forming as Jeff tasted my drink and ordered another.
"What was that for? I was going to have some fun with him."
"Trust me, I did you a favor."
"I thought I told you to go find a girl."
"Eh, none of them really interest me."
"You're way too picky…" I yelled over the music as a new song started.
He leaned over the bar and downed his drink. "So… Amanda is it?"
"Huh?"
"You introduced yourself as Amanda. What's wrong with Jessica?"
I shrugged. "It's fun being Amanda."
"I get it. Amanda doesn't have to deal with Jessica's problems.
I rolled my eyes. He was not trying to have a heart to heart talk in the middle of a crowed club.
"What's so wrong with pretending that the last few weeks never happened?"
"A lot, actually, but that's your choice. I know Randy," I winced, "crushed your heart, but acting like it never happened is not the way to go." I turned my back to the bar and watched the people pass. "For the record, I prefer Jessica over Amanda any day."
"That's easy for you to say. You're only in town for two days a week."
"So come on the road with me."
"I can't do that, so stop asking."
"I'll stop asking when you give me a decent answer." A woman at the end of the bar waved and got Jeff's attention. "Just think it over," he said before taking off.
I crossed my arms and watched him walk away from me. Why do I put up with him again?
A/N: I'm not to sure that Jeff would call someone "Bub", but after reading a stack of X-Men comics, some of the dialog stuck. Againg, I promise the next chapters will be better than this. I do have a plan.
...oh yeah, and Go Brewers...
