Ch. 16.

Although he had not shown much enthusiasm, Chris forced himself to make an effort and show his friends around Edmonton until they finally, at Chris Irvine's command, headed for a club. Thanks to the antics of the others, he managed to push recent events to the back of his mind, even though they were not completely forgotten. They had all been enjoying themselves, laughing and joking amongst themselves, until most of them had decided to hit the dancefloor. Only the two Chrises remained at their group of tables, watching the others and attempting to talk over the loud music. As a normal level of conversation was difficult to maintain, Chris Benoit had found his mind beginning to wander and he wondered again what Shannon was doing at that moment.

He raised his glass to his lips and was about to take a drink when he happened to look up, freezing before setting the glass back on the table.

"Oh, God," he said flatly, "She's here."

"No way, man," said Chris Irvine, guessing who he was referring to and shaking his head in disbelief, "You're just imagining what you want to see. Either that or you've been knocking them back when my back's been turned and now you're hallucinating! It's too much of a coincidence - of all the bars in Edmonton ....."

"..... she had to walk into this one." finished his friend, pulling him sharply to one side and nodding in the direction of the bar, "Shut up and look!"

For once he did as he was told and found himself staring past the crowds of bodies on the dancefloor at a pretty girl in tight-fitting blue jeans and a pale pink handkerchief top, who was moving towards the bar, carrying her leather jacket in one hand, blonde hair cascading to her shoulders in waves. He whistled appreciatively and turned back to the table to comment.

"WELL! Now I see what all the fuss was about!" he exclaimed with a grin.

"You just keep your eyes to yourself, Irvine." he was warned, only half jokingly.

"You were the one who told me to look!" he protested.

"Look, not leer." emphasised Chris Benoit firmly.

"Anyway, I'm guessing Mr. Tall-Dark-And-Arrogant behind her is the famous Billy, right?"

"Right. And I'm guessing those are his friends." said Chris, watching one of the guys say something to Shannon, making her bristle angrily while Billy laughed heartily, "They sure don't look like Shannon's."

"At least you know she's okay now."

"Yeah." said Chris, still watching her thoughtfully. "For now."

*****

Meanwhile, Shannon was looking around the club while she waited for Billy to order the drinks at the bar. Just as he was about to join her, she caught sight of Chris and his friends and felt her face flush guiltily. Raising her gaze towards the ceiling, she shook her head in disbelief. She had been determined to make an effort and had spent ages getting ready and trying to muster up some enthusiasm, putting everything else to the back of her mind only for it to be thrown in her face.

"Someone up there has really got it in for me. What, was I a serial killer in a past life or something?" she sighed. "I REALLY don't need this now - I can't let Billy see them." she thought, quickly turning to head him off and instead bumping straight into him.

"Watch it!" he barked sharply, as some of the two drinks spilled over his hands.

As he set them on the bar to shake his hands dry, she began to apologise hastily.

"I'm so sorry, Billy, I wasn't looking where I was going." she tried. She didn't realise that he was looking past her, not at her, when he smiled grimly as she was too busy inwardly chastising herself.

"God, listen to yourself!" she thought incredulously, "You're grovelling like a little kid, scared of getting in trouble - and to the guy who's supposed to CARE about you! The guy who USED to care about you anyway."

"That's okay, babe. I'll forgive you ..... this time." he said darkly, pushing her back against the high counter of the bar and kissing her roughly.

"What are you doing?" she hissed in embarrassment when he let her go, "There are people looking!"

"Let them!" he said, "You're not ashamed of me, are you?"

"Of course not!" she replied, almost too quickly, "Lets just find somewhere to sit, okay?"

"There's a free table over there." said Billy.

"Where?"

"Over there ..... beside your wrestler friend." he said, watching intently for her reaction and thinking he saw her pale a little, but unable to tell for sure.

"Wouldn't you rather sit somewhere else?" she asked, forcing herself to ask the question as casually as she could.

"What's wrong with over there?"

"Nothing, I suppose ....."

"Well, come on then." he said, grabbing their drinks and leading the way.

"He has to be doing this on purpose." she thought to herself dismally, as she realised she had no option but to follow him across the dancefloor and wish hopelessly that it would open and swallow her whole.

*****