Disclaimer: My ownership in the story is limited. I own Hayley Carmichael, Summer Ryan Hardy, and Amanda Rodgers; they are new figments of my active imagination. The other people listed in this story, as of right now being Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Jason Reso, Trish Stratus and Shane Helms, own themselves and the WWE owns their characters. It is indeed a sad event ;) I plan on owning Shane Helms at some point though. ;)

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"What are you grinning about Hayley?" Amanda said sitting down on the couch and turning on the television.

Hayley couldn't help it. She had been looking forward to this night all week, and now that it was here, she was excited. Shane had called her about an hour before and told her he would be there soon, and that he couldn't wait to see her. She didn't want to make anything serious of this, but they had been talking all week when he was on the road about everything, and this was just the culmination of all of those talks. She couldn't believe this was really happening to her.

"I have a date in like an hour! Why wouldn't I be smiling?"

"So he finally broke you down and got you to go out with him huh?" Amanda smiled.

"Yeah he did."

"So now will you tell me why you were so depressed the other day? I know we haven't had a chance to talk lately, since Mike has been here, and well you've been working, but I knew something was wrong the other night. Did it have to do with Shane then too?"

"Yeah, I mean I met him at Raw like you wanted me too, I fainted on him, and then he tells me that getting to know me was good, but he doesn't want anything serious."

"This from the guy whose been calling here all week and tying up the phone line?"

"One and the same Amanda."

"So what changed now?"

"We talked at Summer's the other night, and well it worked out well for us. He doesn't want to lead anyone on, and with me he thought that was what was going to happen. At the time I didn't know why he would do that, but now that he's explained it, it makes all the sense in the world. I didn't want anything serious either; I just didn't want to lose the chance to get to know this wicked man."

"Wicked huh?"

"Yes wicked. He's great Amanda. God you have to meet him. You will see what I see."

"I suppose I will get to meet him tonight. If he plans on taking you out, he better pass my test."

"You aren't going to do that test again are you?"

"Why not?" Amanda said laughing.

"Because it's childish and you come off like a parent or something. I don't need another father and mother Manda."

"I won't embarrass you if that's what you mean. I just want to meet him, so I can see what you see, and why you are so happy right now."

"You will, believe me."

"So do you know what you're doing tonight?"

"No one sweet clue. I left all of that up to Shane. I figured since he wanted the date with me, he could go over the details."

"Oh, so he could really shock you tonight and take you to a hotel."

Hayley just stood there in shock. She hadn't thought about it, but it could be something that he wanted to do. Maybe he liked to move in the fast lane since he was never home normally.

"I was kidding Hayley! My gosh, do you really think he would do that?"

"I don't know Manda. I don't really know him THAT well yet."

"Well he's from Carolina, and if his parents are like ours were, then he won't even try anything short of a kiss. It's the southern hospitality thing sweetheart. Don't start worrying about it now."

"I won't, but I just never thought about it before until you mentioned it. What happens if I don't move fast enough for him?"

"You've been with men before Hayley. You aren't a virgin here. Just do what feels right, and I'm sure nothing bad will happen. I mean he's a superhero remember?"

Hayley laughed and smacked her friend on the arm. It did seem pretty funny that she was going out with someone who considered himself on television to be a superhero and fight crime. It would make for a most interesting date if anything else.

"Go get ready girl. He's going to be here soon. We can talk about it when you get home."

"I'll see you in a few Manda, enjoy the television!" Hayley said as she climbed the stairs and made her way to the bathroom. She wanted to make sure she looked perfect for this date tonight. She hadn't had one of these in awhile, and didn't want to disappoint.

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"Hayley, you look beautiful tonight."

"Thank you Shane. Did you decide on what we are doing?"

"I was thinking something really simple for the first date. I don't want to impress you so much you think I'm stuck up now do I?"

"I could never think that. So what did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking about a walk along the shoreline. Just a better chance for us to talk and get to know one another a little better then we have been. Does that sound alright to you? Or did you have something better in mind?"

"Nothing better, believe me. That sounds perfect."

They drove in silence all the way to the beach and Shane parked the car and helped her out. Amanda was right when she said that he was raised right. He even opened the door for her and everything. She knew she had nothing to worry about with Shane's intentions for this date. They started walking towards the water and Shane took her hand gently into his, twining their fingers together. When he realized she wasn't pulling her hand away he smiled.

"Why are you smiling Shane?"

"I thought you were going to want to pull away..."

"Why would I?"

"This is our first date, official anyways, and I didn't want to take things too fast for you. After all I am the one who told you I wanted something not serious."

"Is that still the case?"

"Not really. I don't think it ever was. It just felt right for me to take your hand."

"It was right Shane, don't question it alright? I will tell you what's wrong, if you do it."

"Okay..."

Hayley looked up at the sky as the sun was going down and realized how beautiful it was living out here. She had been here for years but had never really noticed how nice she had it, until now. She guessed Shane brought out the best in her.

"What are you thinking about?"

"How nice it is out here. I guess I never noticed before. The sky is so bright right now. The orange tint makes it like a dream."

"It's not a dream."

"I know it's very real."

"Hayley. I missed you."

"You what?"

"I missed you this week. I missed your smile, and the way you laugh at silly stuff I say when I call you. Is that wrong?"

"No it's not Shane, why would you even think that? I missed you too. I was really looking forward to tonight."

"Me too.. So tell me about you and how you got to be here. Stuff I might not know already."

"Well you know I live here in Raleigh now, but I used to live in Fayetteville, and I even moved to Charlotte for awhile. My parents got divorced when I was really young, so I've never seen my father, at least not since I was like four. My mother loved Carolina though; there was no way she would ever leave it. So I did the same. I became one with this place, and I could never see myself leaving now."

"Where is your mother now?"

"She died a few years ago actually. She had cancer in her breast and they couldn't catch it in time, and she passed away..It was really rough."

"It seems like it would be. I'm sorry to hear about it though."

"Don't be. She's with me everyday of my life. She knows I'm happy and that's what she always wanted for me."

"I didn't mean to bring anything bad up, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize when it comes to things like this. She was my mother, she raised me very well, and it was her time to go. It wasn't murder or anything that was planned out, it was just some twist of fate that makes me who I am. It doesn't mean I don't think about her anymore..."

"I know, you probably think about her everyday. So how about we change the subject here?" Shane asked smiling down at her. He never realized before how small she was compared to him. She had to be about 5'6 on a good day.

"What did you have in mind Mr. Helms?"

"How happy I am that you came here with me tonight."

"Well the feeling goes both ways Shane, I'm glad we got to talk about this and I'm here now."

"You are?" he questioned.

"Of course I am." Stopping short in the sand and taking a quick glance out to the water and watching it slowly moving she turned back to him. "I like you Shane Helms. I think I did that night in the bar, with your friends all around you like hawks. There was just something about you that made me want to get to know you. I can't explain it, and I don't even want to try to, but when you asked me out at Summer's, I knew I had to do it."

"You wouldn't rather have someone like Jay or Jeff?"

"Why? I barely know those guys and besides, in case you forgot, they are both married. I consider Summer a friend too, and she and Jeff seem perfect for each other. Why would you even ask that?"

"Most girls I go out with tend to go for me because I can get them closer to the blonde heartthrobs that they really want..."

"Well Shane, that's not me. I think Jeff and Jay are good guys, and it's cool I get to work with them, well Jay anyways, but it doesn't mean that I want to get them into bed."

"Hayley I didn't mean to offend you here princess, I just want to make sure I don't put myself out there and get duped again."

"You won't get taken again Shane, I'm here for you."

"You mean that don't you?"

"What can I do to prove to you that I mean it?" Hayley asked with a small smile curving on her lips.

Shane just stared at her before he answered. He knew she was telling the truth, and knew that she wouldn't be like the last girl he had gone out with, that was so concerned with how Jeff saw her, that she didn't see him. He wanted to kiss her so bad, but he didn't want her to run from him for moving too fast. He didn't know how to explain what was happening with them, but he wanted to ride with it, and make it work.

"You can. well you can..." Shane stammered.

"I'm going to take a chance here and do what I think you might want to say, and I know it's what I want to do."

Hayley moved closer to Shane and pulled her hand from his and placed them on both of his cheeks. Just sitting there and looking into his eyes for a minute, and seeing his entire heart through them, she put her lips to his gently and kissed him. She didn't want to make him uneasy so she kissed him gently, and slowly. What she didn't expect was for Shane to kiss her back, and to deepen the kiss. It was obviously what he wanted to do, and she wasn't going to stop him. It just felt right.

Pulling away from the kiss after a couple of minutes, Shane looked down at her.

"I had to stop."

"I know you did." Hayley whispered trying to get her breath back.

"Do you think we should head back?"

"If you'd like."

"What I'd like to do is stay out here with you all night, but that's not right at the moment. Plus we have some time tomorrow to just do this all over again. That is, if you still want too?" Shane questioned, searching her face for the right answer. The one answer that would hold his heart.

"I'd like nothing more Shane. We can head back."

"Not before I do this just one more time. I want to make sure it was real." Shane whispered pulling Hayley closer to him and kissing her gently, feeling the electricity generating between them.

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A/N: Okay so massively long chapter alert! I had an idea and I ran with it. I hope you all enjoy it and well review as always, you know I love it when you do!!