Well today was a writing day as I was on the computer a very long time typing up these chapters. This has to be one of my favorites yet so it's really important to me. I hope you guys are a little stumpt. You'll figure out the secret on New Years don't worry about it. Love ya'll, review and I'll try to get a computer real soon, I promise
A Merry, Merry Christmas
"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."-Alexander Graham Bell
"Casey why haven't you been talking to Matty?"
"I don't know."
"What happened between you two?"
"Nothing's happened to us yet but there is something I have to tell him."
"What is it? What did you do?"
"Well it wasn't just me."
"Umm, okay. What is it Casey? You can tell me."
The spa was just what Casey and Lexie needed on Christmas Eve to relax a little bit after everything that had happened.
"Alright, enough about me," Casey said wiping away a tear. "What have you decided to do for Christmas? Since you're dating Jeff again you should have it at Daddy's house."
"Umm, I think I'll do what I've been doing since my parents died. I need to get caught up on the horrible horror flicks that came out in 2006. Plus, I've gotten invited to go like everywhere and I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings."
"Yeah I guess so."
"So what are you going to do about your situation?"
"I know that I have to tell Matt but I don't know when."
"Well you're gonna have to soon."
"Maybe sometime in the next week. I don't know."
"Alright it's up to you."
"How are you and Jeff doing?"
"Umm, we're just trying to get everything back the way it was. I just don't believe he only waited 2 weeks before he started dating Riley."
"Well hun, I don't know what to say except that I hope you learned your lesson."
"This is not my fault and I'm sick of you saying it is. He is the one who brought it upon himself and everything that happened between us before has been forgotten and if we were able to let it go, then you should be able to too."
"Well Lexie, I don't agree with how you handled the break-up and how you acted afterwards. You forgot about everybody else and decided to throw yourself a pity-party for a month straight. It's ridiculous for you to have been so immature about everything. I just thought that you would have grown-up."
"You know what I would love for you to lose both of your fucking parents, your boyfriend and your best friend within two years and see how fucking fast you mature and don't live in the past. I thought that you would be more supportive of me. I guess that I made the right decision when I stopped talking to you. Maybe we should have left it that way."
"Well guess what, I just lost my best friend."
Lexie walked away from Casey and went outside to the parking lot. She took out her phone, lit a cigarette and called Shannon.
"Hey Shan, what are you doing?"
"Just chillin, why, what's up?"
"Can you come and get me? I would ask Jeff but he's with daddy."
"No problem Lexie, I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Thanks." Shannon hung up the phone and turned to his friends.
"You guys need to hurry up, that was Lex."
"Can you stall," Jeff asked. "Take her out to lunch or something. They were supposed to take longer than they did."
"Which means something must have happened. I'll figure it out."
"Of course you will. Lexie loves you." Shannon stared at Jeff. "She trusts you man. She likes talking to you about this stuff cuz she knows I really don't care."
"Well I guess I could take her somewhere. I'll call when I'm on the way back."
"Alright, take care of my girl."
"I will."
"Man that's still weird to say again."
Shannon left everybody and picked up Lexie as she was finishing her smoke.
"You alright Lex?"
"Yeah I guess so."
"What happened between you two this time?"
"She's mad because I ignored her after Jeff and I broke up and she thinks I'm a dumbass for breaking up with him to begin with."
"Oh well you're girls, this will happen."
"Of course it will. You don't think I was wrong do you?"
"No, I think that you had every right to be pissed off."
"Where are we going," she asked as he passed by her street.
"Umm, I wanted to take you somewhere."
"You aren't doing anything with your family today?"
"No it's tomorrow and it just doesn't feel the same without my dad here."
"When did he pass away?"
"The spring. It was really difficult and I think tomorrow is going to be horrible."
"Well you still have your family. I watched horror movies the year after my dad died and I've been doing it ever since. I just hate Christmas because I hate being alone."
"You aren't alone anymore. You have all of us now."
"I know but I don't know where to go because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings."
"You should go with Jeff. He is your boyfriend again."
"I know but I could go to see pops or Allyn's parents' house or to see Johnny Boy or you. I just don't know. I think it's better if I go at it alone."
"We're here." Shannon turned off the car and opened Lexie's door for her. He put his hand behind her back and led her into the abandoned building.
"You're not gonna rape and kill me are you?"
"No I'm not going to kill you and I would never do that anyways. This is my Christmas present to myself."
"What is it supposed to be?"
"My new tattoo parlor."
"Really."
"Yeah it's what I'm going to do next. I figured I never had the time to learn how to be a tattoo artist and this way I can put in my heart to everything. I want to make it unique, new aged. All the tattoo places around here are so old school and I want this to be different. I'm gonna have all my friends come down and do whatever they want. We've got Jeff's creative art work and your creative empowerment. I think this place will be great."
"When do you want it opened by?"
"The beginning of February."
"Well we've got a lot of work to get done."
"How about now?"
"On Christmas Eve?"
"You said you had nothing to do and neither do I so why not? It's a good way to waste part of the day."
"Alright, where is everything?"
"In the back room."
Shannon got the drop clothes out and put them down on the floor. He then brought out the paint.
"The walls are this dark royal purple color and will be used on the two side walls and the front wall. The back wall is going to be a faux brick and the trim and the door to the back room is the really dark black color."
"Alright. Well I call the right half of the back wall. I want to do my own little job on it. Have you come up with the logo yet?"
"Not quite yet."
"Well I'm gonna get started on painting, you go and sketch for a little bit. The back wall will be mine and Jeff's to do what we want with it."
"Wow, be a little bit more bossy."
"Well Mr. Bossman, I'm your new project manager and I never miss a deadline. We have a little over a month to get this place up and going."
"Well I can sketch anytime I want so lets get to painting."
"Alright, come on Shan." Lexie and Shannon both started painting and got the first coat done within 2 hours. "It's starting to look good in here."
"What are you doing on your part of the wall?"
"You'll see don't you worry."
"Oh but I do worry. This is a lot of money that I am investing to get this project off the ground."
"Shannon once wrestling fans realize this is yours and the art was done by Jeff and I people will be coming from all over the states just to get their tattoos here."
"This is a cool idea."
"Shannon, you need to realize that the fans loves you and it's not your fault if Vince doesn't give you any good storylines."
"I guess now. Lexie how are doing now?"
"Actually this helped to get my mind off of things for a while."
"Well I've got really good news."
"And what is that?"
"You know how I went to the bar on Friday night."
"Yeah I know. You called me and woke me up."
"Well I met a girl."
"Why Shannon, how could've we been here for 2 hours and you not say anything about this?"
"I don't know."
"So what's her name?"
"Ally and she is just a great person. She doesn't know who I am so it's just great. And she loves art and music and writing."
"Shannon that is so great, I'm so happy for you."
"We have a date on Wednesday and I'm so nervous."
"Don't be. I'm sure she's gonna like you no matter what."
"I know but I'm still afraid of things with her and with this place."
"Come on buddy, don't worry. Right now we need to let the dry. What's going on with the floors?"
"It's gonna be like my kitchen with the black and white checkers."
"Alright."
"And the desk is diamond studded and it will be here. Next to it will be the piecing center with all the cool jewelry that I ordered. My new tattoo artists will have their art hung up on the walls in frames and in the flashracks will be other samples of their art."
"Shannon I'm so happy that you are finally doing something that is worth your time. You know that even if you don't succeed that you've accomplished so much with just even trying to open this place."
"Thanks Lexie, for everything. With everything that you've done for the shop and everything you've done for me as a friend. I really appreciate you."
"And I appreciate you too Shannon. Come here best buddy." Lexie motioned for Shannon to come over to her and he gave her a hug. "Alright Shannon, I'm kinda hungry."
"Wanna go back to your house and get something to eat?"
"Sure."
"Go and wait in the car. I'll be out in a minute, I gotta pee."
"Well this is one hell of a place you've got here. You even have working bathrooms."
"Shut up and go to the car."
Lexie went out to the car while Shannon went to the bathroom. He then called Jeff.
"Are you ready?"
"Yep where have you been?"
"The tattoo parlor."
"Oh, what did you guys do?"
"We painted a little bit."
"Oh alright. See you in a bit."
"Alright bye."
The one that I can turn to
When times get to rough
Someone who truly cares about me
And is always by my side
Is exactly what I've been needing
He's been there through all the arguments
And through all of the pain
He was always there to lend a hand
Or a shoulder to cry on
And now in his time of need
I need to be there for him
As a support for him and to be there for him
Just as he has been there for me
I love him to the end of the earth
Because he is the savior of my being
The love that I could never have with him
Because he is like my brother, my best friend
And since everything that has happened to me
He is here for me to be my best friend
And that's all I could hope for
As he is my rock and my savior
My love and my life
"You alright Lexie?"
"Yeah you just scared me is all. So it's back to my house right?"
"Yep, I'm starving. I hope that you actually went grocery shopping."
"I don't know and if I didn't we can just order in."
"Alright."
Shannon started up the car and they drove for around 1o minutes back to Lexie's house. She saw the cars lining the street.
"I wonder who's having the party," Lexie said as Shannon pulled into the driveway.
"You are," he said as all of their friends appeared on the front lawn. Lexie got out of the car and ran up to Jeff.
"Boyfriend," she yelled before jumping into his arms. "I've missed you so much."
"And I've missed you calling me that." He gave her a kiss.
"What is all of this?"
"This is your Christmas. Daddy hit the lights." Daddy put the switch in the electrical outlet and the entire house lit up with an assortment of Christmas lights. Lexie burst into tears in Jeff's arms.
"I can't believe you guys did all of this."
"It wasn't my idea."
"Who's idea was it?" Jeff stepped out of the way to reveal Casey standing behind him. Lexie smiled at her and gave her a hug. "Thank you Casey and I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too Lexie. I shouldn't voice my opinions on you."
"No you have the right to because you're my friend and you just want to make sure that I don't get hurt and that I stand by what I believe in. And I shouldn't be mad at you for trying to make sure that I live my life the right way."
"Come on sweetie, there are people here that want to say hi to you."
Lexie went over to Shawn and gave him a hug. "Dad, I don't want you here."
"Of course you do."
"I know that I do but Becca probably doesn't."
"She actually didn't mind once I told her that I was catching the red eye back to Texas tonight to be home in the morning."
"Thank you so much."
"Thank you too Angel. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too."
He gave her a kiss and Lexie continued to say hi to everybody. Afterwards, Lexie, Casey, Jeff, Matt, Shannon, Shawn, John, Allyn, Shane and daddy Hardy went inside to eat dinner. There was a huge Christmas tree in the foyer when they walked in the door and another in the living room with presents underneath it. The dining room table was set and the food was done in the kitchen. The group sat down at the table and ate dinner together. After dinner was over, they all sat down in the living room and opened their presents. Shawn got Lexie a heart shaped diamond necklace while Jeff gave her a brand new set of acrylic paints. Lexie smiled around at her friends as they all sat around the tree singing Christmas carols and she then realized all of what she was missing out on.