Trish was looking at Brock like he had lost his mind. "You did what?" she screamed. "Well Trish she was acting like a brat. She punched me in the stomach." Brock said. "Oh and I suppose she really hurt you?" Trish asked. Brock sat down on his bed. "Look Trish that's not really the point." Brock said. "I guess you didn't take into account the fact she was attacked last night, or that Jeff hurt her today by acting like a fool, or that me and her ended a part of our relationship last night. Hell I would be a little moody too." Trish said. Brock looked down. "I guess I could have handled it a little better than I did." He said. Trish sighed. She sat down beside Brock. "You didn't hurt her did you?" Trish asked. "Trish I cant believe you would ask me that. I smacked her bottom with my hand. I didn't beat her with a two by four. I would never hurt her." Brock said. "Is she back from the arena yet?" Trish asked. "I don't know." Brock said. Trish tried to call her phone but there was no answer. "Trish I will talk to her in the morning I promise. Let her cool off tonight she was pretty mad." Brock said.
Jeff sat at the bar drinking. He thought about Shelby and ordered another drink. To hell with her, he was doing fine partying with a different woman every night before he met her. He spotted a sexy looking little number out on the dance floor. He went up to her. "Want to dance baby?" he said. She slid her arms around him and started moving her hips against his. "Aren't you Jeff Hardy?" she asked. "Yea." He said and pulled her closer. To hell with Shelby she wasn't the only woman in the world.
Shelby sat on the ground outside the arena with her back propped against the building. She lit the cigarette and took a draw. She thought about how fucked up the day had been. A few tears ran down her face. She didn't notice the car sitting in the parking lot, it was too dark and she wasn't paying attention. Eric sat in that car watching her. Soon bitch he thought.
Taker walked out the back door to the arena. Damn it was cold tonight he thought. He seen a car start up and pull out. Another late leaver he thought. He started to his truck when he seen the glow of a cigarette against the building. He walked over. It was Shelby sitting against the wall. "You know cigarettes will kill ya." He said. "I don't smoke but after a day like today I figured it was a good time to start." She said. He heard her sniffing like she was crying. He sat down beside her. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. "Thanks." She said. He reached over and wiped a tear off her cheek. There going to freeze on your face tonight." He said. She ran the back of her hand over her face trying to wipe them away. Taker Pulled a Bandana out of his pocket and gently wiped her face. "Blow." He said handing her the bandana. Shelby noisily blew her nose. Taker grinned you know ya got it bad when you watch her blow her nose and think it's cute. "Come on its freezing out here. Come back to my room and you can tell me all about your horrible day." He said. Shelby looked at him. "I promise I aint going to try nothing, just friends." He said. Shelby took the hand he offered. He helped her up and took the cigarette pack she had in her hand. "Let's ditch this okay?" he said. She nodded and he tossed them. Taker walked her to her car and shut the door as she got in. "Ill see ya in a few." He said.
Shelby found herself in Mark's room setting on his couch. "Take ya a hot shower Darlin. You'll feel better." He said. Yea right she thought get naked in the next room from a man you find incredibly sexy. But "Okay." Was what came out of her mouth. Taker handed her a dead man inc. shirt and some boxers. She went in the bathroom and showered letting the hot water wash over her. God it felt good. When she got out she did feel better. She put on the shirt which came well below her knees and laughed. The boxers were also huge but she knotted the waist so they would stay up. She combed the tangles out of her hair and put it in two braids. Taker grinned when he seen her she looked adore able. "You look like you're about 12." He said teasing her. "Gee thanks just what a women wants to hear." She said. "Come on I ordered us some food." He said. Shelby went and sat down. He had ordered steaks and salad. She demolished the food. She hadn't eaten all day and didn't realize how hungry she was. Hey got threw and Taker led her over to the couch. They sat there a minute. "Okay tell me why you were sitting outside the arena crying." Taker said. "Well first thing was I had to tell Trish last night we couldn't ya know be together no more. Brock told me he was going to ask Trish to marry him. I knew we were going to have to stop what we were doing. Everybody acts like I'm just supposed to say okay it was no big deal. Like it was just cheap sex or something. But it wasn't. I really care about Trish and it hurts. Then Jeff came down today acting like a jerk. I really care about him I thought we were friends. He's acting like some big jerk making demands of me and now he won't even speak to me. Taker put his arm around her she was really wound up. Then Brock came up to me and told me to find another roommate that Trish would be rooming with him. Like he was afraid I was going to jump her bones and seduce her or something, He couldn't wait to get her away from me. Then he told me he was taking me to get a tetanus shot cause I cut my arm, didn't ask me told me. Carried me down there like I was two or something and made me get a shot. I was still mad and I punched him in the stomach and he..." She trailed off. "He what? Darlin." Taker asked. "He hit me." She whispered. "He what!" Taker yelled. Shelby jumped. "Where did he hit ya? Are ya hurt?" He boomed at her. Taker found it hard to believe Brock would hit her. Brock didn't seem like the type to hit a woman. He looked Shelby over to see if she was okay. "Calm down Taker he didn't punch me or nothing." She said looking embarrassed. "Where did he hit you?" Taker asked. "On my butt." She whispered turning red. Taker couldn't help it. He started laughing. Shelby looked up angry. "Well I'm glad you find this so funny." She said. "I'm sorry Shelby. When you said he hit you. I knew Brock didn't seem like the type to hit a woman. He tanned your hide did he?" Taker asked. Shelby pulled away from him and crossed her arms angrily. "Don't be mad. Sorry Shelby but I seen ya. You were acting like a brat. I would have done the same thing." He said. "Men are nothing but Neanderthals." Shelby snapped. "Aw darlin don't be mad. I don't make no excuses for the kind of man I am. I'm from a different era honey when men were men and women were women. I aint going to apologize for the way I am. At least you know ahead of time." He said grinning. "You are so not cute." She said. Taker hauled her onto his lap. "You have had a bad day little one." He said. He kissed her forehead and cuddled her on his lap. She felt her anger at him melting away. She sighed. Neanderthal or not it sure felt good lying in his lap with his big arms around her. Shelby laid her head on his chest and went promptly to sleep. Poor little thing was exhausted. He picked her up and put her in one of the beds and covered her up. He went over and climbed into the other. Damn if she wasn't worming her way into his heart and Taker didn't know if he liked it or not. He knew one thing though it meant nothing but trouble.