IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR:

For those of you who don't already know, this story was deleted for containing "non-story related material" in some of the chapters. Thank you , you FS!! Thanks to them, I lost all of my reviews, my only source for chapter four (I originally typed this somewhere else), and a whole lot of motivation.

In any event, I am reposting this story here, for your convenience b/c it's easier for all of you to find on this site. I will be re-posting all the old chapters as soon as I'm done tweaking them for errors and improvements. This chapter will be a bit different from the original mainly because I typed it on a computer at the library, and while I did print a copy of it for myself…I've lost the last page…Yah…go me.

Chapter Four: The Night Out: Part 2

Mackenzie laughed out loud as John finished his rather accurate impression of the Big Show. "Wow," she smiled, "You're really good at that."

"Yah, but it isn't really hard to do. Don't get me wrong, Paul's a good guy, but he's a lot like a bimbo himself," he chuckled.

"He seems like a typical jock," Mackenzie shrugged. She remembered him bumping into her and then shrugging so nonchalantly. As if knocking her off her feet weren't something to apologize for.

"Nah. Only sometimes, but he doesn't catch himself. He's been through a lot and gone from having nothing, like most of us, to being able to damn near have it all. He's living in the clouds, and with good reason. He's allowed to do that. He's paid his dues. Although, I'll admit he does take it a bit too far sometimes." John thought back to what Paul had said about Mackenzie earlier and nearly cringed. 'Why am I even trying to defend him?' John questioned himself.

"Hmm…" Mackenzie sighed before softly clapping her hands together, "Let's talk about something else, shall we?"

He nodded his agreement, "Why don't we talk about how you're going to cover the bill. You didn't even think to grab you purse tonight."

Mackenzie guffawed, "What!?!? You're the one that wouldn't let me bring-"

John put up his hands to silence her, "I don't want your excuses." He shook his head at her in disapproval, "First you drag me out to a movie-which I'm nice enough to pay for-then, you just have to stop at this over-priced restaurant and make me order the most expensive dishes on the menu, and now you expect me to pay for this as well." He leaned across the table and smiled challengingly, "and let's not forget the gas I'm going to have to waste back-tracking to your hotel. Humph, Of all the nerve."

Mackenzie, stepping up to his challenge, leaned forward over the table as well, "Like I was saying," she put on her best bitch face, "You MADE me leave my purse, you purposely passed my hotel, chose this restaurant yourself, and now you're trying to-"

"Kiss you," and kiss her he did. It was soft and caressing, a combination that Mackenzie found to be very intoxicating. Her hands didn't know what to do as the danced inches above the table, trying to grab on to some imaginary life line. When John deepened the kiss by actually licking her bottom lip, as if begging permission, her hands came to their senses and rested on his face. His skin was soft and warm-another deadly combination.

When John finally came to his senses and pulled away, he let out a huge sight. Mackenzie sat back as soon as he ended the kiss and looked down, evading his gaze so he wouldn't be able to see her blush. When she was able to speak again it was barely above a whisper. "I thought you said we were going out as friends."

"I'm sorry, Mac." His sincerity was obvious in his voice and his face, "It really wasn't my intention to kiss you tonight. I just wanted to get to know you. It was an accident-I fucked up." The more he thought of how good it had been, however, the less he truly regretted it.

"An accident?" she smiled wearily. Why did it always have to be an accident or a farce. Especially when the guy was as attractive as John.

"Well…yah," his features tensed at the way she was biting her lip. He had to say something to explain, "Mac, it's just that when I usually take a woman out, the night ends with both of us in my bed," he had to laugh at the way her eyes instantly widened.

"Maybe we should call it a nigh-"

"No, no. I didn't have that in mind when I asked you out, I swear. I just got lost in the moment and I kissed you. For that I'm very sorry. Friends?" He extended his hand, his eyes pleading for her to shake it.

"Okay. Friends," Mackenzie nodded with a smile, but when she tried to pull her hand away, John didn't release it. She looked up at him, baffled, right before he pulled her so close to him that he could whisper in her ear.

"If we weren't friends…I'd tell you how incredible you look tonight and that I'm not sorry at all for kissing you. We are just friends though, and so I am very sorry for breaking my word."

As soon as he let go of her hand, Mac slid back into her side of the booth which had quickly become her refuge. "Well, I don't know about you, but I could use another drink." She thought it was a rather smooth change of subject.

John laughed aloud and nodded his head before getting the waiter to get Mac another refill. When they were both finished with their meal, and Mac with her drinks, they decided to leave. Mackenzie felt a little tipsy when she stood, but she had drank four and half tequilas.

John had skipped the alcohol for tonight, but only because he was driving. He hadn't minded Mackenzie indulge herself, however, because he knew she needed to loosen up. He understood that she was probably stressed out over the new job and meeting all these new people; some nice, some not so nice. Of course, he probably hadn't helped anything by kissing her earlier either…

When they were finally back at the hotel, John walked her to the door with a smile. "You know, pink would really look good on you. Not that black doesn't look great, but pink would match your personality a lot better."

Mackenzie quirked an eyebrow, "What are you, a fashion designer? Besides, black has a trimming effect," she hadn't meant to say the last part. He wasn't supposed to know about that but for some damned reason alcohol made Mackenzie extremely honest. 'I really gotta build up my tolerance level.'

He furrowed his brow, "Why do you need to wear anything slimming? You look great."

Mackenzie let out a sardonic laugh, and in her buzzed stupor, decided to educate him in 'Dressing As a Fat Woman 101,' "Yah right. You're just saying that so I won't feel bad. That's what friends are for, right? And in case you haven't noticed, I don't look GREAT at all. I look like a big fat cow! So, MOOO!"

"Mack-"

"No. It's true! Let me tell you about pink. I was going to wear a pink shirt tonight, but after seeing how well it outlined my overly curvy midsection, I decided against it. I mean-"

"Mackenzie. Stop. Don't say anymore." John frowned at her, "I don't want to hear you anything else negative about yourself."

"Why not? I like being negative! It just always makes me feel so fucking positive!" Sarcasm dripped from her tongue like venom.

"Mackenzie," he let out a disheartened sigh, "Are you really so unhappy with the way you look?"

"Gee I don't know. Whatever gives you that idea?" she rolled her eyes.

"Hey, you don't have to be so defensive. We're friends now, Mac-"

She stared at him with incredulity, "We've been friends for about five seconds, John. We hardly even know one another."

"Yah? Well I've known you long enough to get a pretty good understanding of who you are. Why not tell me what it is that's bothering you so much. Why do you think you're fat?"

Mackenzie guffawed, gesturing at herself, "Look at me! I'm as big as a house. I've tried everything-diets, exercise, and all that but nothing works. I don't know how to manage my time or fit everything in. I don't even know where to start!"

John placed his hands on her shoulders and gave her a little shake, "Look, I don't know who's been filling your head with all of these ridiculous insecurities, but you are NOT fat. I know it doesn't do anything to for me to tell you this, because my opinion won't do anything to change yours, but I think you're incredibly sexy."

Mackenzie sighed, "I'm sorry I brought it up. I don't know what's gotten in to me…err…well, the alcohol probably has a lot to do with it…"

"I'm sure some of it is the alcohol…you did moo at me…but, hey, don't try to change the subject," John tucked a few strands of loose hair behind her ear, "If you really don't like the way you are, then change it."

"I've tried, John. I really have," Mac hung her head, "I'm just destined to be a heifer."

He chuckled softly, "No you're not. Look, there are a lot of trainers associated with the WWE. If you need help picking a diet and an exercise plan, then they'll be more than willing to help you. It probably won't cost much of anything either because you're an employee."

Mac nodded, but she wasn't sure she could actually do that. She always felt weird working out in front of people. She didn't' like it when there were a bunch of strangers looking at her and watching her fat rolls flop up and down when she hopped on a treadmill.

John's eyes lit up suddenly with an epiphany, causing Mackenzie to regard him strangely, "I don't like that look. What the hell is going on underneath that cap of yours?"

He smiled, "Well, I was thinking. We don't know each other that well, but we are friends. Why don't I be your trainer? We could get to know each other, you could tone up and learn to kick major ass, and we'd be able to work around our schedules because, going by what you said tonight at dinner, we have about the same schedule."

Mackenzie pondered it over for a few minutes, "I don't know, John. I don't like being watched when I exercise and I don't want to take out from your time off."

"It's not a big deal. I don't have a lot to do during my free time, besides playing video games, so it's really no trouble at all. I'd be happy to have something to do. Besides, I won't be watching you-I'll be pushing you to work hard and helping you to get where you want to be." He reached out and lifted her gaze to meet his, "C'mon, what do you say?"

Mackenzie let out a sigh, "Well, I guess that would be okay. When do you want to start?"

"How about next Wednesday?" I'll be able to think of a diet and a workout plan by then."

Mackenzie nodded then smiled, "Okay. That sounds good. Well, I'll see you next Tuesday." She turned to go inside but John's hand on her elbow stopped her.

"Mackenzie?"

"Yah?"

"You know, this whole weight loss thing…" He paused as he searched her eyes, "It's your decision, but you really are fine the way you are."

"That may be so in your eyes, but I'm not happy with myself. I mean, I don't want to be this way, and you're right. If I don't like something about myself, I should change it. I want to change it."

John smiled and let her go, "Then I'll help you. See you Tuesday."

"See ya," Mackenzie replied as he walked away. She finally retreated into her room for the night thinking about next Wednesday and how motivated she felt now to take control of her problem.

As she laid back on her bed she though over the night's events. It was true that the weight-loss issue weighed heavily on her mind, but more so than that……it was the kiss that she kept coming back to. Even during her sleep, the kiss haunted her dreams. Yes, it was no doubt one of the best moments of her twenties, but the sad thing was-it had been nothing but an accident.