Chapter 29
"I feel terrible," Teddie commented to Izzie later in that evening.
"You look it."
"No, I mean I told Jeff when we were in Greensboro that I would see him Saturday in Boone, but when it finally boiled down to it I was too upset and distracted the whole night to look for him.
"Oh, he wasn't able to make it," Izzie informed her. "But he sent you a message, he said to tell you hi and that he would see you in a couple weeks with a surprise."
Teddie frowned. "What? How do you know this?"
"Matt passed it on," Izzie shrugged. "He was a little upset after you kind dove into the match on Saturday but he told me to tell you, and so the story goes."
"Well, that was nice of him," Teddie managed a faint smile.
"Who—Jeff or Matt?"
"Well, I was thinking of Jeff, but you can tell Matt thanks too for me if you want."
Izzie cocked her head. "You don't like Matt very much do you?"
"Oh, he's fine," Teddie said quickly. "He's just sometimes a little too, I dunno, self-righteous? I mean, you remember that whole deal with Lita and everything. He got real popular by playing the wounded lover. Not that he wasn't, but ...I dunno."
Izzie shrugged. "He may come across that way in the ring, but he can be a lot of fun backstage."
"Honestly? I don't think I want to get to know any more guys right now," Teddie groaned, reaching for Gracia. Izzie handed the little girl over and Teddie gathered her in her arms, kissing the rosy cheek. "Thanks for watching her."
"Hey no problem girl, but, um, you might need to ask around and see if someone else can watch her for a few minutes tomorrow night."
Teddie frowned. "Why?"
"Our match—wait you didn't know about that?"
"No. What match?
"Um, well talk about awkward, but it's me, Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore against you, Finlay and Hornswoggle."
"What!"
"Yeah. So um, start asking around cuz Gracia will need a babysitter for that one."
"I'll watch her," Cody Rhodes offered.
Both girls turned in surprise.
"Seriously—I don't mind," Cody assured them.
"You know, he could..." Izzie mused. "He held her half the night Teddie."
Teddie raised her eyebrows. "Wow—that's impressive Cody! She usually doesn't take to men that fast!"
He shrugged. "I like kids. I hope to have a passel of my own someday."
"Cody, are you sure you want to?" Teddie asked anxiously. "I don't want to make you do it if you don't want to."
"No—it's no problem. I mean, it's only for ten minutes."
"Haha—likely shorter with me out there," Teddie remarked wryly. She added, "Cody, you're my hero. Thanks so much!"
"Anytime," Cody smiled. "Well, I guess I'll see you girls tomorrow night?"
They nodded.
"Goodnight!" Izzie called out after him. She turned back to Teddie. "What happened out there girl? You look so sad."
"Finlay found me."
"I know, I told him where you were."
"Traitor," Teddie teased. She then briefly recapped the their conversation
"Oh man, that's rough," Izzie grimaced. "And that much more for Finlay."
"What do you mean?"
"Just because he's going to do the right thing doesn't mean he wants to, silly. It's been quite clear to me and everyone else for some time that he had his mind set on one thing and for once it wasn't fighting. It was you."
Teddie hung her head. "Well, it's too late for that now."
"Come on girl! Don't give up hope yet." Izzie squinted. "As weird as it is for me to imagine you seeing someone his age, I can tell you're starting to fall for him."
Teddie shook her head. "I took a chance once before with Aidan and that chance didn't pan out. I'm tired of panning. I want something that is sure."
"Stop it," Izzie lectured her. "Stop thinking about what you want and how someone might hurt you. There are other hurt people walking around you everyday—including Finlay. I imagine he's hurting even more than you are over this whole situation. Grow up and face the gallows. Life is going to be painful any road you take—you might as well take the right one!"
Teddie blinked. "Wow. Okay."
"Okay, now go back to the hotel and put my niece to bed," Izzie gave Teddie a hug and chucked Gracia under the chin. The little girl giggled.
"Be good and go right to sleep," Izzie admonished her.
"Yeah right!" Teddie snorted. "Thanks again for watching her Izzie."
"No problem—good night!"
Izzie stuck her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and wandered backstage. She heard voices and looking around was shocked to see her brother deep in conversation with Shannon. She stared in shock until John noticed her.
"Izzie, can you come here a minute?" He asked.
"What's this?" She asked.
"Izzie I just wanted to tell you...you were right. I have been spending too much time concentrating on my own career and not considering you. I accused you of using me to get to the top, but what I didn't see is that I stepped over you to do the same. I was thinking about it all during my match tonight and ... I talked to Mr. McMahon." John held up a clipboard and a pen. "Izzie, if you would just sign your name at the bottom of this page..."
"What is it?" Izzie asked, accepting the clipboard.
"Oh, it's just your two-year WWE contract," John shrugged nonchalantly. "If you don't want it..."
"Oh my God—John!" Izzie squealed leaping at him and throwing her arms around his neck. John gave a deep throaty laugh and hugged her back. "I've missed you Izzie. I've really missed you."
"And I you," Izzie whispered, tears flooding her eyes. "Thank you—thank you so much!!"
"You better thank the big man over there too," John said, motioning toward Shannon. "It wasn't all me—he was already pulling strings to get you in with the the management before I even got there."
Izzie let go of John and threw her arms around Shannon's shoulder. She kissed his cheek. "Thank you so much Shannon. How can I ever repay you?"
"I think he, uh, wants to take you," John coughed suggestively.
Shannon frowned at John and shook his head, warning the elder Cena to mind his own business, but Izzie jumped back with a broad smile.
"Yes!"
I'm not sure why I'm writing so much tonight...maybe because I might not be able to update tomorrow...I have to be in the film photo lab until I get all my prints finished...about 25!! :-p I have finals Thursday and Friday too, but after that I am THROUGH for the summer!!
Wow it's amazing how many hits this story has! So far it has 5209 (possibly more...it seems to change everytime I hit refresh! ...I posted the last chapter only about 4 ½ hrs ago and already it has 27 hits and 4 reviews! WOW! You guys rock—thanks so much!!
P.S. JEFF HARDY IS BACK!! ;)
Shout Outs:
Takersgurl35: Well I was thinking about it and the easy thing for me to do would be to kill her (Finlay's wife) off right away, but I'm not that cruel and that seems like an easy way out to me. :-P Shannon and Izzie are VERY cute together—I was not anticipating that, but Shannon has really become a real positive driving behind Izzie!
SBMFanatic: Lol..Shannon is so good with Izzie. They just seem to fit together, hand-in-glove-like :)
Medieval Mystic: Well, I don't know if you got to chapter 28, but Finlay does come off as real perverted until you figure out his real motives. :) And did you see RAW tonight? JEFF HARDY IS BACK!!
Sweeney todds pirate lady: WOW! He actually came back!! I was NOT expecting that—I'm all pumped up about writing his return now...it was earlier than I thought so that's just a few chapters away!
XinnLajgin: You know, sometimes I have no idea what you're talking about, but I love it! LOL (j/k) Coming from a farm, I personally like the idea of the 2x4! ;)
