'Ooh, she's a little runaway,
Daddy's girl learned fast,
All those things she couldn't say.' - Runaway, Jon Bon Jovi
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Chapter Seven
:
Runaway
Dawn bolted upright in bed, waking a sleeping Jeff next to her. What in the hell? She checked under the covers and she was in her pajamas. Jeff gave her a funny look as Dawn relaxed. It had been a dream. She chuckled. That was so not funny. She remembered yesterday clearly now. Jeff had taken her back to the hotel, she'd showered, without him. Then they ordered pizza for dinner and watched movies. It had been a simple night.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, sure."
Looking over at the clock, it read 6 a.m. She groaned. Getting up this early had to be wrong. Not as wrong as being with Jeff… she mused, but it feels so right. Shaking her head, she rolled out of the bed, much to the protest of a now shivering Jeff. Sleeping with him had to be what gave her that dream. She sighed and went into the bathroom, splashing some cold water over her face. It was a great wake-up call. Her head tilted back and Dawn stared at the ceiling for a long, long time.
There had been something in the dream, or maybe she should say someone. A certain blond that she had seen in the crowd. Kyle. He had been in the doorway behind Matt, like Kyle had led him to them. Well, her brother had always been out to ruin her life. But why dwell on dreams? They were just a fantasy.
The teenager tossed on one of custom-made Undertaker shirts and a pair of Undertaker jeans that she had also made. It was from his 'Lord of Darkness' days as it had his throne and a hooded figure, along with his old 'T' with an 'x' overlapped symbol. It was cold outside the hotel, but the sun was already starting to come up.
"Hello, Dawn."
She spun around.
"Kyle," she seethed through clenched teeth.
"Why sister dear, aren't you glad to see your brother?"
"No," Dawn spat angrily and brushed passed him, already heading back to the hotel. She didn't have the patience to put up with him.
"What's your hurry? I just want to talk. I mean, since mom and dad aren't around… You need to get a lecture from someone."
What? Dawn wasn't following him, her bewilderment clearly etched on her face.
"It's obvious you and Jeff are together. And you are a bit underage. I just thought you could use the 'sex talk'," he snickered. Before Dawn knew what she was doing Kyle was on the ground holding his nose. She'd wound up and let her fist fly. Damn that felt good.
She left him on the ground, stepping over him and breaking out into a job. Matt and Amy were just getting themselves some coffee when Dawn came in rather breathless.
"Where's the ghost?" Amy teased.
"Huh? Oh, no ghost. Just… an annoying brother."
"Hey!"
"I wasn't talking about you, Matt," Dawn stood on her tip-toes to ruffle his hair, "just my brother."
Matt smiled sympathetically and gave her a hug.
"Hey bro, you cheatin' on Amy now?"
Jeff had just come down and joined them. Amy hit him in the gut and Jeff took the hint to shut up. Matt just rolled his eyes. They all get along so well… The rainbow-haired brother put his arms around Dawn's shoulders, looking like a gesture of friendship to anyone's eyes. But not to Kyle, who was now outside. There was a trickle of dried blood from his nose, but he looked hell-bent as the quartet left for an early breakfast.
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By mid-afternoon, all four of them were in the hotel gym, practicing in the ring. Jeff and Dawn shared a knowing grin as memories of the kiss came to mind. They laughed at the memory now. The age difference problem had settled down to the back of their mind, for now anyway.
The four of them each went to a separate corner of the ring. It was time for flying lessons. Amy was the first off of the turnbuckle with a moonsault. Matt quickly followed suit as the redhead rolled out of the way to allow him to do his legdrop. Jeff was next, landing the swanton bomb on his brother. Dawn went after that, performing a flip-turned-frog-splash on the both of them. That took the wind right out of the new Team Xtreme. Amy had fallen into a fit of giggles at their ridiculousness. It seems 'Sunset' fit right in with them.
When they began going over routines for the match, Dawn found herself excluded. They wouldn't let her do that just yet. Oh no. Not until she got the training she didn't need. Instead of watching, she instead chose wandering. There wasn't a lot of wandering you could do in a hotel, but the snack machines were always a bonus. Which is where she headed. Dawn pulled a couple of quarters out of her pocket, who knew how long they'd been there. She never took her money out of her pocket, and it never fell out in the washing machine. Go figure.
"You and Jeff were looking pretty… hot… in there."
Kyle.
"Don't you ever go away?" the younger sister asked hottily.
"Aww, don't get feisty, Dawn. Well not yet anyway. You do realize I'm going to have to tell Vince about you two."
"There's nothing to tell, blondy."
"Oh I beg to differ. The kiss between you two… And I hardly think sleeping with a minor is legal," he was enjoying every moment of this, watching his sister's face turn from shock to horror.
"You wouldn't," Dawn choked. But she didn't need him to say anything. This was Kyle she was talking about… He would.
Dawn slowly shook her head as she backed away. Kyle was laughing… Laughing at her. At his own sister. He was a real sadist. There were tears in her eyes as she reached her room and slammed the door shut. She slunk down against the nearest wall, how could he know? Had he been watching them all this time?
If Vince found out, if anyone found out, she could kiss her relationship with Jeff goodbye. It was strange how Jeff had suddenly become her entire world. There was nothing else for her in life. This was her life now. Amazing how a person's life can change so quickly. But what could she do? Vince would know soon. He'd fire Jeff, he'd fire her. Would he call the police to and lock Jeff up behind bars?
She shuddered at the thought. There was only one thing she could do.
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"Dawn, I'm back. We're done," Jeff announced tiredly as he trudged into the room.
Instantly he noticed something was wrong. Some of the drawers were open and empty, none of Dawn's stuff in them. Her bags were gone too. And Dawn was gone as well! Jeff searched the room frantically hoping that he was just looking over something and she was just hiding. But she wasn't. Dawn was gone.
He saw her notebook on the table. It was open. He quietly walked over to it, holding back any of his emotion.
Jeff,
I'm sorry. I had no other choice but to leave. Kyle knows about us. I don't know how, but he threatened to tell Vince. By now he probably has. Without me there, then it will just be a lot easier. It might spare you getting into trouble over me. I am sorry about this, Jeff. I never wanted to leave. But maybe it's for the better. I'm too young, you know that. It's just not right. I do thank you for treating me like a real person, though. You know, instead of like a kid. I'll miss you, Jeff.
xOoX,
Dawn Mallund
Jeff crumbled to his knees, clinging the notebook to his chest. Dawn was really gone.
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A/N – I'd like to thank cole for pointing out to me Jeff's real age. ::smacks forehead:: I'm stupid, I know. Remind me not to listen to my friends without double-checking. ::glares at T:: But, still for the story, Jeff is twenty-five. :-P I hope it won't be too painful to endure. And I know I didn't have a teaser last chapter, sorry.
Teaser – Dawn's gone. Really gone. But is she gone forever? Will she remain in contact? Did Kyle even tell Vince? Will Jeff go after her? Stay tuned. ^.^
