"Shane, since we have the day off, let's go to the Bronx zoo," I
suggested placing my head on his bare chest.
"Nah, I'd rather lye here in the nice air conditioned hotel room with my girl wrapped in my arms." I sat up and stared down at him.
"Well, that's no fun!" I exclaimed. "Please?!"
"Case, it's gonna be like 80 degrees in the Bronx," Shane whinned.
"So?! You grew up in the south! You should be use to the heat!"
"I'd just rather spend the day doing nothing honey."
"Well, would you mind if I asked Jeff?"
"Well, I suppose not," Shane answered sadly.
"GREAT!" I yelled excitedly. I quickly kissed him before gathering my camera and film together. I waved at him and ran out the door.
"Case, what's up?" Jeff asked with a smile as he opened the door.
"Wanna go to the Bronx zoo with me?" I asked shyly.
He gave me a smile, grabbed his room key, and grabbed my hand before saying, "It would be my pleasure!"
I giggled happily as we headed down to the rental car. "Why isn't Shane taking you?"
"It's too hot for his wimpy ass," I laughed.
"What's up with you two lately?" Jeff asked glancing over at me as we sat in the long line to the zoo parking lot.
"What do you mean?"
"You guys fight constantly. You can't be around each other without fighting. Why is that?"
"If I ever find out I'll let ya know." I smiled as we walked up to the ticket counter. Jeff paid for my entrance and we began our walk through the steamy hot zoo.
"I love whit tigers. They're so beautiful," Jeff said leaning against the rail as I took pictures.
"I would love to have a tiger. They're such beautiful animals. But then again, I would love to have pretty much every animal known to man." He laughed at me and took my hand as we continued our walk.
"SURPRISE!!" Jeff exclaimed pulling a stuffed tiger in front of my face.
"Awe! Jeff, you shouldn't have!" I said taking the stuffed creature out of his hands to examine it.
"I know, but I wanted to," he said sitting next to me on the bench.
"Thank you. It was really sweet of you," I said moving in to kiss his cheek. He suddenly moved his head causing his soft lips to touch mine. Shortly after, we pulled a part and smiled at each other.
"I'm so sorry Case. I didn't mean to move my head. Honestly!" Jeff said worriedly.
"Chill Jeff. I've kissed you so many times on the show that it doesn't really bother me anymore," I laughed putting my hand softly on his cheek.
He smiled at me before pulling me to my fee. "We should probably go," he said. "It's getting kinda late babes."
I nodded and held his hand as we made our way out of the zoo. Jeff walked me to my room when we got the hotel. I kissed his cheek and thanked him for a wonderful time before walking in to see Shane in the same spot and position I had left him in.
"Looks like you had a productive day," I joked as I carefully placed my camera in its bag.
"I missed you," he whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my waist. I sighed deeply as he placed his soft lips on my bare neck.
"Did you see the tiger Jeff gave me?" I asked as his arms dropped to his side. I held it up to him and smiled. "Isn't it cute?!"
"Just adorable," Shane muttered sitting down on the bed.
"You should have gone. We had an awesome time!"
"I bet," he muttered once again.
"Are you upset about something?" I questioned tilting my head to the side.
"No, everything's fine," he said giving me a phony smile.
"Whatever," I said with a shrug.
"Happy Birthday baby!" I yelled standing at the foot of the hotel bed.
"What?" Shane said groggily rubbing his sleepy eyes. He looked at me and smiled.
"Happy Birthday," I said more quietly modeling his gift for him. I wore nothing but the Green Lantern football jersey I had gotten him which came down to my knees. I crawled onto the bed and he placed me on his lap. "You like the shirt?" I kissed his lips with a smile as he put his hands under the netted shirt.
"I love it. But you didn't have t get me anything. Having you is enough for me," he replied sweetly.
"Well, you can have the shirt AND have me," I responded with a hair flip before attacking his bare chest with kisses.
"Mmm," he moaned as I rubbed my hands down his body. "I love my birthday."
"Yeah, you should have one everyday!" I joked pulling away from him. "You old man you!"
"I'm not old," Shane pouted.
"Honey, you're nine years older than me. You're getting old!" I laughed as he flipped me over on my back so he could lean over me.
"Being old has its privileges," he smiled.
"Oh? And what's that?" I wondered.
"Younger girls like yourself find older men irresistible," he said with a seductive wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't find you irresistible," I said in a playful snobbish tone.
"Then why the fuck are you with me?!" Shane exclaimed harshly as he jumped out of the bed quickly.
"Whoa! I was just joking." I sat up and watched him pace across the room.
"Were you? Cause sometimes I don't think you are." He stopped and looked at me coldly.
"Of course I was joking. Shane, I love you."
"I'm gonna take a shower." He stormed off into the bathroom, slightly slamming the door.
"Jesus Christ!" I yelled throwing my fist down on the bed. I pulled on some clothes while Shane showered and placed his new jersey on his suitcase.
"Thank you for the shirt," he said coolly while stuffing it in one of his bags.
"What's the matter with you?!" I exclaimed placing my hands on my hips as I stared at him.
"Nothing!" he replied.
"Something's wrong. You don't just explode at someone!" I argued.
"Maybe I just wanna go home!"
"Well, what about Saturday and Sunday? We can go home for the weekend since we're off," I suggested.
"Yeah, maybe we should," he said softly.
"Dudes! You two coming to the arena with us or what?!" Matt yelled through the door. I looked at Shane then at the door and sighed as we picked up our bags and left.
"I can't do this!" I cried as I looked at the schedule that Shannon handed me. I played with the strings to Adam's sweatshirt that I still had.
"What can't you do?" Shannon asked.
"This better be one of Paul's jokes!" I rolled up the schedule and stormed out of the locker room. I walked into Paul's locker room and stared at him as he sat on the couch talking to Steph and Scott Steiner.
"Hey Case. What's up?" Paul asked.
"Okay, I know the tights thing may have gone a little far but this is just cruel!" I yelled hitting him in the head with the schedule.
"Ow! What the hell are you talking about?" he asked rubbing the back of his head.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" I exclaimed in almost a scream.
"Oh shit. I think I know what you're talking about. Case, this isn't one of Paul's jokes," Steph said standing. I looked at her and crossed my arms. "Dad wants you to go there. Dad finalized the schedule. Paul had nothing to do with it. I swear to you!"
"What's wrong with the schedule?" Paul asked taking it out of my hand gently. He looked down and saw the one thing that could make me go crazy like that. "Oh man. Case, I can't believe you would think I would do something that bad!"
He gave the schedule back to me and put his hand on my shoulder softly. "I'm sorry to accuse you like that but I thought you were getting me back for the tights trick. And I thought that you might just be jokin with me and giving Shannon a fake schedule to give me."
"I wouldn't do something that bad. That's all Vince. Not me!" he said.
"So I guess next week, Thursday July 24, will be my home coming. Bangor, Maine. Jesus!" I cried.
"Go talk to my Dad. I'm sure if you just tell him that you're really upset with this, he'll reconsider," Steph said. I nodded and walked out of the locker room in search of Vince.
"Casey, what can I do for ya?" Vince smiled as he looked up at me from a table set up in the trainer's locker room.
"I need to talk to you about the schedule," I said quietly.
"I thought you might. I can't change it Casey. I wish I could, but I can't. You're like the "home town hero" and you've got the intercontinental title. It'll be a good match."
"But I can't go home. I just can't!" I cried as my eyes weld up with tears.
"I know, but you'll have plenty of protection. I'm sorry Casey, but that's just how it has to be."
"Why? Why can't you just have Trish go instead?!" I exclaimed.
"She doesn't have that belt. Casey, I'm sorry but this is non- discussable."
"Fine. Whateva!" I said angrily as I stormed off down the hall.
"What's wrong?" Chris asked as he walked by me.
"I have to go home in a week," I said as my voice shook.
"Why are you so upset about that? You deserve a break," he smiled.
"Not Cameron home. Maine home," I said blinking back my tears.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Wow, that sucks. How do you know?" he asked putting his arm around my shoulders protectively.
"The schedule. They were handed out."
"Yeah, I haven't looked at mine yet. Did you talk to Vince about it?"
"Yeah, and he said there was nothing that could be done." I let out a deep breath as I gave a little sniffle.
"Everything will be fine. Don't worry about it, okay killer?" he asked, his blue eyes staring deep into mine. I nodded before he lightly kissed my forehead. He walked away slowly, leaving me in the middle of the hall.
"God, why me?" I asked out loud to myself.
"Are you gonna be alright with goin home?" Shannon asked walking up behind me.
"I'm gonna have to be, aren't I?" I asked choking back the tears that were fighting to fall down my cheeks.
"I'll be right there by your side the whole time. And so will Shane," Shannon said.
"But Jeff won't be there and neither will Mat or Amy. I don't know if I can do this," I said breaking down in the middle of the hall. I slid down to the floor and Shannon followed me, wrapping his arms around me tightly. He held me as I cried on his shoulder.
"So what? Your loving boyfriend will be there," Shannon said hoping to make me happy.
"I know and I'm happy about that, but it's just not gonna be the same without my brothers," I said looking up at him.
"Oh and what am I?! Chop liver?!" Shannon joked. I looked up at him with sadness in my eyes and shook my head. "Okay, no jokes."
"You know what I mean, Shan," I said. He nodded and let out a sigh as he rocked me back and forth.
"Nah, I'd rather lye here in the nice air conditioned hotel room with my girl wrapped in my arms." I sat up and stared down at him.
"Well, that's no fun!" I exclaimed. "Please?!"
"Case, it's gonna be like 80 degrees in the Bronx," Shane whinned.
"So?! You grew up in the south! You should be use to the heat!"
"I'd just rather spend the day doing nothing honey."
"Well, would you mind if I asked Jeff?"
"Well, I suppose not," Shane answered sadly.
"GREAT!" I yelled excitedly. I quickly kissed him before gathering my camera and film together. I waved at him and ran out the door.
"Case, what's up?" Jeff asked with a smile as he opened the door.
"Wanna go to the Bronx zoo with me?" I asked shyly.
He gave me a smile, grabbed his room key, and grabbed my hand before saying, "It would be my pleasure!"
I giggled happily as we headed down to the rental car. "Why isn't Shane taking you?"
"It's too hot for his wimpy ass," I laughed.
"What's up with you two lately?" Jeff asked glancing over at me as we sat in the long line to the zoo parking lot.
"What do you mean?"
"You guys fight constantly. You can't be around each other without fighting. Why is that?"
"If I ever find out I'll let ya know." I smiled as we walked up to the ticket counter. Jeff paid for my entrance and we began our walk through the steamy hot zoo.
"I love whit tigers. They're so beautiful," Jeff said leaning against the rail as I took pictures.
"I would love to have a tiger. They're such beautiful animals. But then again, I would love to have pretty much every animal known to man." He laughed at me and took my hand as we continued our walk.
"SURPRISE!!" Jeff exclaimed pulling a stuffed tiger in front of my face.
"Awe! Jeff, you shouldn't have!" I said taking the stuffed creature out of his hands to examine it.
"I know, but I wanted to," he said sitting next to me on the bench.
"Thank you. It was really sweet of you," I said moving in to kiss his cheek. He suddenly moved his head causing his soft lips to touch mine. Shortly after, we pulled a part and smiled at each other.
"I'm so sorry Case. I didn't mean to move my head. Honestly!" Jeff said worriedly.
"Chill Jeff. I've kissed you so many times on the show that it doesn't really bother me anymore," I laughed putting my hand softly on his cheek.
He smiled at me before pulling me to my fee. "We should probably go," he said. "It's getting kinda late babes."
I nodded and held his hand as we made our way out of the zoo. Jeff walked me to my room when we got the hotel. I kissed his cheek and thanked him for a wonderful time before walking in to see Shane in the same spot and position I had left him in.
"Looks like you had a productive day," I joked as I carefully placed my camera in its bag.
"I missed you," he whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my waist. I sighed deeply as he placed his soft lips on my bare neck.
"Did you see the tiger Jeff gave me?" I asked as his arms dropped to his side. I held it up to him and smiled. "Isn't it cute?!"
"Just adorable," Shane muttered sitting down on the bed.
"You should have gone. We had an awesome time!"
"I bet," he muttered once again.
"Are you upset about something?" I questioned tilting my head to the side.
"No, everything's fine," he said giving me a phony smile.
"Whatever," I said with a shrug.
"Happy Birthday baby!" I yelled standing at the foot of the hotel bed.
"What?" Shane said groggily rubbing his sleepy eyes. He looked at me and smiled.
"Happy Birthday," I said more quietly modeling his gift for him. I wore nothing but the Green Lantern football jersey I had gotten him which came down to my knees. I crawled onto the bed and he placed me on his lap. "You like the shirt?" I kissed his lips with a smile as he put his hands under the netted shirt.
"I love it. But you didn't have t get me anything. Having you is enough for me," he replied sweetly.
"Well, you can have the shirt AND have me," I responded with a hair flip before attacking his bare chest with kisses.
"Mmm," he moaned as I rubbed my hands down his body. "I love my birthday."
"Yeah, you should have one everyday!" I joked pulling away from him. "You old man you!"
"I'm not old," Shane pouted.
"Honey, you're nine years older than me. You're getting old!" I laughed as he flipped me over on my back so he could lean over me.
"Being old has its privileges," he smiled.
"Oh? And what's that?" I wondered.
"Younger girls like yourself find older men irresistible," he said with a seductive wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't find you irresistible," I said in a playful snobbish tone.
"Then why the fuck are you with me?!" Shane exclaimed harshly as he jumped out of the bed quickly.
"Whoa! I was just joking." I sat up and watched him pace across the room.
"Were you? Cause sometimes I don't think you are." He stopped and looked at me coldly.
"Of course I was joking. Shane, I love you."
"I'm gonna take a shower." He stormed off into the bathroom, slightly slamming the door.
"Jesus Christ!" I yelled throwing my fist down on the bed. I pulled on some clothes while Shane showered and placed his new jersey on his suitcase.
"Thank you for the shirt," he said coolly while stuffing it in one of his bags.
"What's the matter with you?!" I exclaimed placing my hands on my hips as I stared at him.
"Nothing!" he replied.
"Something's wrong. You don't just explode at someone!" I argued.
"Maybe I just wanna go home!"
"Well, what about Saturday and Sunday? We can go home for the weekend since we're off," I suggested.
"Yeah, maybe we should," he said softly.
"Dudes! You two coming to the arena with us or what?!" Matt yelled through the door. I looked at Shane then at the door and sighed as we picked up our bags and left.
"I can't do this!" I cried as I looked at the schedule that Shannon handed me. I played with the strings to Adam's sweatshirt that I still had.
"What can't you do?" Shannon asked.
"This better be one of Paul's jokes!" I rolled up the schedule and stormed out of the locker room. I walked into Paul's locker room and stared at him as he sat on the couch talking to Steph and Scott Steiner.
"Hey Case. What's up?" Paul asked.
"Okay, I know the tights thing may have gone a little far but this is just cruel!" I yelled hitting him in the head with the schedule.
"Ow! What the hell are you talking about?" he asked rubbing the back of his head.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" I exclaimed in almost a scream.
"Oh shit. I think I know what you're talking about. Case, this isn't one of Paul's jokes," Steph said standing. I looked at her and crossed my arms. "Dad wants you to go there. Dad finalized the schedule. Paul had nothing to do with it. I swear to you!"
"What's wrong with the schedule?" Paul asked taking it out of my hand gently. He looked down and saw the one thing that could make me go crazy like that. "Oh man. Case, I can't believe you would think I would do something that bad!"
He gave the schedule back to me and put his hand on my shoulder softly. "I'm sorry to accuse you like that but I thought you were getting me back for the tights trick. And I thought that you might just be jokin with me and giving Shannon a fake schedule to give me."
"I wouldn't do something that bad. That's all Vince. Not me!" he said.
"So I guess next week, Thursday July 24, will be my home coming. Bangor, Maine. Jesus!" I cried.
"Go talk to my Dad. I'm sure if you just tell him that you're really upset with this, he'll reconsider," Steph said. I nodded and walked out of the locker room in search of Vince.
"Casey, what can I do for ya?" Vince smiled as he looked up at me from a table set up in the trainer's locker room.
"I need to talk to you about the schedule," I said quietly.
"I thought you might. I can't change it Casey. I wish I could, but I can't. You're like the "home town hero" and you've got the intercontinental title. It'll be a good match."
"But I can't go home. I just can't!" I cried as my eyes weld up with tears.
"I know, but you'll have plenty of protection. I'm sorry Casey, but that's just how it has to be."
"Why? Why can't you just have Trish go instead?!" I exclaimed.
"She doesn't have that belt. Casey, I'm sorry but this is non- discussable."
"Fine. Whateva!" I said angrily as I stormed off down the hall.
"What's wrong?" Chris asked as he walked by me.
"I have to go home in a week," I said as my voice shook.
"Why are you so upset about that? You deserve a break," he smiled.
"Not Cameron home. Maine home," I said blinking back my tears.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Wow, that sucks. How do you know?" he asked putting his arm around my shoulders protectively.
"The schedule. They were handed out."
"Yeah, I haven't looked at mine yet. Did you talk to Vince about it?"
"Yeah, and he said there was nothing that could be done." I let out a deep breath as I gave a little sniffle.
"Everything will be fine. Don't worry about it, okay killer?" he asked, his blue eyes staring deep into mine. I nodded before he lightly kissed my forehead. He walked away slowly, leaving me in the middle of the hall.
"God, why me?" I asked out loud to myself.
"Are you gonna be alright with goin home?" Shannon asked walking up behind me.
"I'm gonna have to be, aren't I?" I asked choking back the tears that were fighting to fall down my cheeks.
"I'll be right there by your side the whole time. And so will Shane," Shannon said.
"But Jeff won't be there and neither will Mat or Amy. I don't know if I can do this," I said breaking down in the middle of the hall. I slid down to the floor and Shannon followed me, wrapping his arms around me tightly. He held me as I cried on his shoulder.
"So what? Your loving boyfriend will be there," Shannon said hoping to make me happy.
"I know and I'm happy about that, but it's just not gonna be the same without my brothers," I said looking up at him.
"Oh and what am I?! Chop liver?!" Shannon joked. I looked up at him with sadness in my eyes and shook my head. "Okay, no jokes."
"You know what I mean, Shan," I said. He nodded and let out a sigh as he rocked me back and forth.