'Marie!!
Hey there! What's up? Not much here. Haven't heard from you in awhile. I know you've been busy with the federation in all, but, gee girl don't you know how to keep contact with your friends?! Dang. Anyways it was really nice seeing you again. Nice meeting Jeff too.. I really liked him. Ha ha, he's such a sweetheart. Thanks for hooking me up with those good tickets and backstage passes. Anyways, email me back. Gotta go to work now. Toodles babe!
Jennifer'

~*IM Ring sound*~

Marky Mark77: Marie! What's up?!
PiglEt maRie38: Mark!! nothin and yourself?
Marky Mark77: oh nothing, hey did you wanna come spend the week with me sometime to catch up on old times?
PiglEt maRie38: I'd love to. I got a vacation coming up soon, I can take. come in about 2 weeks if you want me to..
Marky Mark77: Okay.. Let me know when your coming and all that other info so that way I can fix up the spare room. So, how's everything going?
PiglEt maRie38: Pretty awesome. I'm just on my way to umm.. hold on let me ask Jeff...
Marky Mark77: LoL, okay..
PiglEt maRie38: I'm on my way to Sacramento.. been traveling to much. Jeff says Hi by the way...
Marky Mark77: tell him I say hi. hey well call me with the info.. bye babe.
PiglEt maRie38: bye!
Marky Mark77 signed off at 5:38 pm
PiglEt maRie38 signed off at 5:39 pm

After I signed off I closed up my laptop and put it away. I could tell something was wrong with Jeff. He seemed more uptight then usual. He's been acting that way ever since that morning we woke up in the same bed. I don't remember everything that happened just the fact that I told him to stay. Now that I think about it, he's been that way whenever
I come around and he's with his brother.

"Hey Jeff," I said in a low voice.

"Yeah?" he responded.

"What's wrong? You seem tense.." I stuttered.

"Nothing. Just been thinking about some things," he answered sounding unsure of himself.

"No I mean every time I'm around. I've been meaning to ask you, just always forgot to ask," I explained.

"Listen Marie, I told you it's nothing. Cant you just leave it at that." Jeff yelled.

"Damn it Jeff. Pull over.. I'm sick of you avoiding the subject. Never mind do NOT talk to me for the remainder of the time. Do not even talk to me when we're in Sacramento!" I yelled.

"Fine!" he yelled back.

~*Later that day in Sacramento*~

"So you guys had a fight in the car?" Amy asked.

"Yeah, I feel like an ass. I mean, it's just been bothering me that he never tells me anything when I ask. I'm going to go see Vince later tonight about taking off for two weeks. Mark wants me to go visit him for a week. Then I figure the second week I can spend some time here. My home," I sighed

"Don't let it get to you. Jeff has a lot of things on his mind right now," Amy responded.

"That's just it!" I interrupted, "I know he does. I really wish I knew. I thought we were best friends. He hasn't let me in on anything. I feel like I'm useless. Sort of like I'm not included in anything you guys do anymore. And to tell you the truth I hate it. I hate not being able to spend time with him. He's my friend too. Shit, with the way I'm talking
you'd think I had a thing for Jeff."

"Do you?" Amy asked.

"God no," I yelled, "Just forget we had this conversation. I'm going to go see Vince."
When I went to go see Vince he was very understanding. He told me that I could go for a week, and if I needed more time he could just give me a month off and say I'm on sick leave. I don't really remember. I would have to wait for a month before I could actually go anywhere. I think Vince was going to have me loose a few matches and get hurt in one and write me off as if I'm on injury leave.

Over the next month I made myself scarce around Matt and Jeff and Amy. I spent my time with practically everyone else in the Federation. I could tell Jeff was a little upset with that. But I didn't care. I only told Tori and Stephanie where I was going to be. So that way if I need to be contacted they could reach me. I planned on making this vacation a vacation indeed. I didn't feel comfortable staying at Mark's for certain reasons, so I made a hotel reservation at the Holiday Inn.

"Well Marie, I'm going to miss you," Tori said as she gave me a hug.

"Hey, I'll only be gone for a week. Maybe. Don't tell anyone where I am unless it is necessary. I'll call you when I get into my room and give you the hotel number and room number. Okay?" I confirmed.

"Yeah. Okay. I promise I wont tell anyone unless it's an emergency. Have a safe flight kiddo." Tori cried.

"I am seeing the softer side of Tori. I didn't even knew there was one," I giggled.

"Don't expect it to last. Don't even tell anyone I was crying," she laughed.

"Okay. I'll see you in a week." I said giving her one final hug.

The flight to Pittsburgh was good. I slept most of the way. I got a few fans who noticed me and asked for an autograph and picture. I politely gave them their autographs and took pictures. I had no idea I would even be noticed. When I got off the plane I went to Enterprise and rented a car. I didn't want to be a burden for Mark having to drive me around. Once I got into the hotel and checked in I went to my room and put my stuff down. I went to the phone and picked up the receiver and dialed Tori's cell phone number.

"Hello?" Tori answered.

"Hey babe. I made it in safely," I replied.

"Oh hey Liz!! How are you?" Tori said, when ever she called me Liz that meant that Jeff was somewhere in the vicinity. Liz was my codename and Max was his. How original were we??

"Oh, um, what's he doing there?" I asked.

"Well that's good to hear that your doing okay. Max has been looking for you. I guess he needs to tell you something. He really didn't go into details about it," she explained.

"Okay. Thanks Tori. I'll call you back later." I said hanging up the phone.

I looked over at the alarm clock on the nightstand. It was 7:32 pm. I decided I'd call
Mark and let him know I was in safely. I suggested that maybe I go over to house and we could eat some take out and watch a movie or something. He said that was cool. I told him I'd be there in an hour after I took a shower.

When I got to Mark's house he showed me around his new house. We ordered some pizza and sat down to watch The Original Kings of Comedy. It's my favorite movie all times. After the movie was finished we went to his backyard and laid down on his hammock and looked at the stars. He let his fingers run through my *as he put it* long silky golden brown hair.

"Marie," Mark paused.

"Hmm.." I replied.

"Look at me," he hesitated, "I have to tell you something."

"Yeah," I said sitting up.

"You know, your still as beautiful as I remember. Your natural beauty. Why did we break up?" he mumbled softly.

"I don't know Mark. We just grew apart. You know as well as I do that we just couldn't be together," I started to explain but before I could get any further I was interrupted by a pair of lips kissing mine.

I was completely shocked. What was Mark thinking? Obviously not very clearly that's for damn sure and I wasn't about to let him think I enjoyed it. So pushed him off me *he fell on the ground too* and ran off to my car.

"Marie!! Wait.." Mark called after me.

"Why should I?" I retorted.

"So I can explain," Mark said trying to catch his breath.

"Explain what? I thought you invited me out here so I can spend some time with as a friend. Not as a lover or a girlfriend. You knew this was my vacation time." I yelled as I got into the car and drove off leaving Mark standing in his drive way.

"So I can explain that I love you.." Mark yelled as I drove off..

'Sure he loves me. Every male who watches wrestling loves me. Why cant I just have a guy in my life that wont try to ruin it. Am I that bad of a friend? What is with me? I mean I just lost Mark as a friend and on top of that Jeff is probably furious at me for leaving and not telling him where I went.' I thought to myself. The entire way back to the hotel I contemplated about the whole thing. I had had enough of the situation. I couldn't stay here in Pittsburgh. So I called Jennifer and asked if I could stay with her for a month. She said it was cool. After I hung up the phone I called Vince's home, knowing well that'd he'd be home.

"Hello," Stephanie answered.

"Hey Stephanie, it's me Marie, is Vince home, it's vital that I talk to him." I answered.

"Yeah, hold on." She replied.

"Yes, Marie what is?" Vince said softly.

"I'm going to need that month off." I said.

"Okay. I'll let everyone know that your out on injury. Just make sure I have a way of contacting you," Vince stated.

"Sure, I'll give the number to Stephanie. Thanks Vince, sorry to bother you at home. Can I talk to Stephanie again?" I asked.

"Yeah let me go get her," Vince replied.

"Marie what happened? Are you okay?" Stephanie questioned.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just wanted to let you know I wont be in Pittsburgh starting tomorrow morning. I'll be up in a town called Schenectady, NY. It's close to Albany. I'll be staying with Jennifer, Tori knows her number. I'll be back in about a month.. Maybe sooner, I'll probably just hang around up there for a good 2-3 weeks and probably go home to Sac." I explained.

"Okay. Well, I hope the rest of your vacation is alright.. Take care." Stephanie sighed.

"Toodles, and please don't tell Jeff where I am." I said.

"Alright. I wont. See ya Marie." Stephanie said as she hung up.

When I got into my hotel room there were several messages from Mark. I deleted them all. I didn't want to talk to him if my life depended on it. After deleting all the messages I called the airport and made a flight reservation to Albany. I packed my stuff up and went to sleep. What I needed was a vacation for me to think, reflect on things, what I really want.