'I didn't hear you leave,
I wonder how am I still here,
I don't want to move a thing, it might change,
my memory.' – Here With Me, Dido
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Eight
:
Storyline Re-Beginnings
Jeff had to discover the hard way that it was difficult to move on. It had been two months since Dawn ran away, becoming another face in the crowd. The cards that had been dealt, however, ended up being played in an interesting twist. Indeed Kyle had told Vince about Jeff and Dawn's relationship. But since the idea of it was so absurd, Vince laughed it off, figuring Dawn had just left to get away from her brother. She'd left him with a forwarding address, after all. Jeff wasn't taking it too well, though.
In the first couple of weeks, Matt and Amy gave Jeff space. They knew that they'd gotten close in the time they spent with one another. He spent most of the time locked up, only coming out of his cave to wrestle. In the ring is what was worrying everyone, his risks had become even more dangerous. The constant use of ladders, leaps off the top rope onto the announcer table or to the barricade, through tables… That was more risk then what was necessary.
When you feel nothing but heartache, the physical pain in welcome.
Kyle had stuck around for a few more days, hoping that Vince would offer him Dawn's job. But he never did seeing as Dawn's job was still hers, unbeknownst to the blond-haired sadist. He eventually left just as quickly as he'd come, feeling his purpose for coming had been done. He'd ruined Dawn's life. Jeff would have laughed at his stupidity, but it was the fact that he'd ran her off, that he resented that prick.
Matt and Amy did their best to cheer Jeff up. They'd even taken him dirt-biking a couple times, he seemed willing to get on with his life. People do come and go in the wrestling business quite often. Unbeknownst to them, it was just a front. How could he let his brother and his girlfriend know that he cared more about Dawn then what the believed? It wasn't possible. So he tried to look happy just to keep them off his back. Jeff was a good actor.
The younger of the Hardy brothers, though, had begun to withdraw himself from co-workers now more than ever. He'd been quiet before, but now he seemed like a ghost, or a shadow. Always around, yet eerily quiet. That happened whenever someone got particularly close to someone who ended up moving on, so no one gave it a second thought. Jeff was grateful for that. But he still wanted Dawn back. Why he hadn't gone after her still baffled him. I wouldn't have known where to start anyway… Now I'll never be able to find her. Something told him that Vince knew how to get a hold of her, that information was kept under locker and key – Most likely the wishes of Dawn Mallund. She was still working for the WWF, he knew that much. A Christian t-shirt had recently been printed, one that could only have been made by the hands of Dawn, she had a style all her own.
Vince had given the fans some story about Dawn, rather Sunset to the people, being ambushed backstage by the Dudley's, the 'sword enemies of the Hardy Boyz' that was easily bought. Supposedly, she was at home recuperating from the attack. Too bad the story was bullshit because they were in Chicago, Illinois – Her hometown where they'd first met.
"Jeff, we're up," his older brother, Matt, informed him. Jeff followed him up to the curtains.
He heard their music playing. Many time's he'd added lyrics to their theme, even if the words were only heard in his head. X-Treme ain't just a mood… It's a lifestyle… We're not content standing on the ground… We've gotta fly. Jeff trotted out alongside his brother, his body bouncing with the music. He went to edge of the stage and stretched his arms down and outwards, bowing his head. It was a mirror image of the cartoon Jeff Hardy on his shirt, the one Dawn had made him.
Sliding into the ring, he hopped up into the second turnbuckle, doing the same post he had on the stage. He looked out to the crowd. This match would take his mind of Dawn, just so long as he delivered enough punishment to himself, as sadistic as that may sound. He twirled down and waited for their opponents. A sign on the titan-tron caught his eye. It was a glowing green overtop some kind of purple satin that made the Hardy Boyz logo, purple glitter sprinkled around it. He'd know that sign anywhere. It was the sign Dawn had made. She was here!
Jeff looked tried to search the thousands of fans packed into the arena, eyes darting through the mass of people. He didn't see the sign anywhere. He was forced to step out onto the apron when the bell rang, they were facing the evil duo of Kaientai.
His mind was barely on the match when he felt a slap to his hand, Matt had tagged him in. The match was quick. It was rare the high-flying pair fought a team smaller then them, but rare doesn't mean never. Jeff hit the Swanton on Funaki to score the victory and his eyes scanned the arena again for the sign. He spotted it. Dawn had managed to get the same seat she'd had the last time. Her hair was different now; purple and pink strips in the front immediately followed by orange and red, those followed by white and green and ended with yellow and blue. It was a wonder she hadn't been mobbed by fans, maybe the dark sunglasses through them off.
Before Jeff knew what he was doing, he'd hopped over the barricade and grabbed Dawn, scooping her up and taking her back to the ring. Surprisingly, she didn't fight him. It was like she'd wanted him to find her. They slid into the ring together, Matt looked as shocked as the crowd. He instantly embraced Dawn and the crowd roared their approval of seeing Sunset again. To them, it was just part of the storyline. But Jeff knew it was more than that.
The second they were in the backstage area, a round of applause greeted them. A few of the mid-carders had gathered in the back to welcome Dawn back. The story they'd gotten was that she had family matters to take care of, only Matt, Amy and Jeff had known that Kyle was the reason. Amy and Matt just hadn't been told about what Kyle had done. It only took a day to send the world crumbling, so a world can be rebuilt in a day too.
Matt and Amy waved the two off into the Hardy's locker room while they went to get changed elsewhere. Jeff locked the door and in one swift movement his hands were on either side of Dawn's face, kissing her lips hungrily. He bent down to let her wrap her arms around his neck, both enjoying the kiss until they had to break apart for air. Jeff's hand was caressing her exposed stomach as she leaned against him. Minutes passed until finally the silence was broken.
"Why'd you go?" Jeff blurted out. Dawn was silent for a moment longer even though she'd been expecting the question.
"I was scared, Jeff. You knew that."
"But why were you so scared, Dawn?"
"Do you think I want to see you go to jail? I'm surprised Kyle didn't go to police with this," she muttered bitterly.
"He has no proof, don't let him get to you… ever."
Jeff wrapped his arms around Dawn from behind, pressing his lips to her neck gently.
"C'mon, come back to the hotel with me," Jeff said, almost asking.
"I'm staying at the same hotel as you guys anyway. You don't honestly think I'd stay at home, do you?" Dawn grinned and Jeff shook his head to hide the smile.
~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff woke late the next morning, a warm body next to him. He smiled. She was still here. There was a fleeting though in the back of his mind that Dawn might have run off again, but she was still lying next to him. He tried to scoot out of the bed without waking her, but the second he moved, her eyes were open.
"Well someone wakes easily," he murmured and kissed her sweetly.
"I'm a light sleeper," she responded groggily, curling up closer next to Jeff.
"Well you sleep some more, I need to take a shower."
Dawn whined her complaint as he rolled out of bed, suddenly finding herself cold from the lack of body heat. She heard the shower start and sat up in the bed, her head leaning back against the headboard, almost falling back asleep. For two months she'd gone from hotel to hotel, mooching off of the money she'd put into a bank account from her first paycheck and then having two more payments from Vince wired to it. Dawn had wanted to go back to Jeff each day, it had taken everything in her not to, constantly reminding herself of why she left. But when she saw Jeff on the television night after night, she realized that maybe Kyle hadn't succeeded in ruining them. He wouldn't have stayed around for long, but she stayed away just in case. How would she live with herself if she got Jeff put behind bars? When she heard that the WWF was going to be in Chicago, it seemed right to go. There was a kind of… romance to returning in the same place they met.
"Tired?" Jeff asked.
"No."
She opened her still-tired eyelids, which quickly opened wider when she saw that all Jeff had on was a towel wrapped around his waist. He just smiled and went to his suitcase to get some clothes.
"Come here," Dawn gestured.
"Can I get dressed first?"
"Nope." When Jeff didn't move, she grabbed his arm and tugged him over, pointing for him to lie down on his stomach, which he did.
"You aren't going to spank me are you?" he teased.
"Nah, gonna give you a massage."
Jeff seemed to like that idea as Dawn moved to his side on her knees, rubbing his shoulders with surprising strength. She had Jeff practically purring like a cat. Dawn moved to sit on his lower back, saying that it was more comfortable this way for her. Her hands moved down along his spine and Jeff bit his tongue. He was enjoying it, a little too much. Dawn was oblivious to his arousal as he was still lying on his stomach while she moved back some to kneed at his lower back for the finish.
"Feeling better?"
He twisted his head to the side, Dawn rolling off to the side of him.
"Much better," he smiled. His back did actually feel a lot better than it had in weeks, he hadn't had the knots worked out in quite sometime. Not to mention Dawn was the one doing it, Jeff mused.
Dawn rested her head next to Jeff's, Jeff brushing his nose against hers briefly before finally getting up to put on some clothes. He tossed her bag to her so she could find something to wear as well, one can't go out in public in their pajamas. She did have some training to do in the ring that would have already been completed if she hadn't runaway for those two months. But now that Dawn was back, it was finally time to start it. Vince had set up that Jeff would be one of the one's training her, along with Edge and Christian.
~~~~~~~~~~
A/N – Did this chapter really suck? I'm sorry. ::frowns:: I had this pounding headache on Thursday that continued on to Friday when I finally figured out I was sick. So now since I have nothing else to do… Voila! Another chapter is up.
Teaser – Sorry, there won't be a teaser for the next chapter. I haven't worked out the next chapter and at the moment I'm just too sick to worry about trying to do that. Sowry, folks.
