Title: Appearances Can Be Deceiving
Author: Luna
Feedback: Always appreciated!
Archive: Full Moon Romper Room, WWEATSBTVS, anyone else just ask I'll probably say yes.
Rating: PG-13, for the moment. I, however, reserve the right to up the rating should the need arise!
Type: Romance, I guess.
Pairings: Lilian?
Disclaimer: Vince McMahon owns the WWE. Nothing is being gained from this, except a need to pass the time.
Summary:
Spoilers: None that I'm aware of.
Anything else: Oh we must thank Paulena for this little bit of fun. (This is in response to the second Lilian challenge.) It was her challenge that made the plot bunnies multiply. I'm still not too sure whom I'm going to be pairing Lilian up with but as soon as I know so will you! LOL. I'm using these characters as I see fit. I'm not going to be going against the nature(s) of those involved. At least I hope I'm not. Any comments are welcome as long as they are constructive.
Author's Notes: All your encouragement has meant the world to me. It gave me courage to go on when I didn't think I had the talent. Thank you to everyone that reviewed. YOU'RE THE BEST!
Chapter TenLilian wasn't quite sure how it happened. She had promised herself that she would be polite but wouldn't encourage Shane. All of her carefully laid plans were thrown out the window as the young man charmed the lovely ring announcer. Several of the divas shot her dirty looks when Shane wouldn't even give them the time of day.
The ring announcer was having a wonderful time and dinner hadn't even been served yet. She let her blue eyes move across the table to Kane and Victoria. The big red machine looked decidedly uncomfortable. When his mismatched eyes met her gaze she gave him an encouraging smile.
She let her eyes move to the other couples at their table. Rob was talking quietly with Stacy, who seemed to come alive under his intense attention. Matt and Lita were like a couple of lovesick high school kids. Their heads bent close together as they whispered to each other.
Shane let one of his arms rest on the back of Lilian's chair as he leaned into her. "Are you having a good time?"
The blonde turned to look at him a smile already on her face. "Yeah I am."
"I'm glad," he said returning her smile. Hesitantly he reached for her hand and held it in his own.
Butterflies took flight in the ring announcer's stomach at the simple touch. 'I'm being so silly,' she chastised herself. However, she couldn't stop the pleasure his innocent contact invoked. They stared into each others eyes. Neither was aware of anything more than the person in front of them.
A not so subtle cough reminded them of where they were. Blushing they turned their attention to their other dinner companions. Lita arched a brow at Lilian's behavior. Being the mature adult that she was the blonde stuck her tongue out at the other woman. The table began to laugh.
Dinner, itself, was uneventful. They had grilled salmon, rice pilaf, and asparagus. To finish off the meal there was either a scoop of rainbow sherbet ice cream or slice of strawberry cheesecake. The waiters rushed around clearing the dishes from the table and bringing everyone coffee. A DJ located discreetly in one corner began playing music softly.
Slowly the couples began filling the space that had been cleared for use as a dance floor. Lilian thought it was nice to finally be at one of these functions with someone rather than being there solo. She turned and smiled at the man sitting beside her. He gave her that heart-stopping grin.
They watched the other couples as they moved on the dance floor. Shane's thumb was absently brushing over her back. There was a silence between them. It wasn't awkward or uncomfortable. It was one that spoke of ease between two people.
Shane asked Lilian to dance. As the pair approached the dance floor Christian and Trish were walking off. The two blondes looked at the pair in front of them then at each other and began to laugh. Lilian was rudely reminded just why Shane had asked her to the dinner in the first place.
The young man's puzzled expression went from the retreating duo to the woman that now stood stiffly beside him. He wasn't sure what they'd done, but apparently it was enough to make her uncomfortable. It made him want to trail after them just to pummel them to death. Somehow he didn't think that would win him any points with the lady beside him, though he did give it some serious thought before shrugging aside the idea.
Lilian moved woodenly in Shane's arms. She could feel the tears pricking at the backs of her eyes. It hurt so badly to be reminded that someone had to be dared to even consider asking her out. What was so wrong with her that the guys couldn't just ask her out?
As the song came to a close she stepped out of Shane's embrace. She thanked him for a lovely evening and walked off the dance floor, leaving Shane to stare after her in confusion. He could hear some of the others beginning to snicker and felt his face flame. He trotted off the dance floor after the woman that had stolen his heart.
He caught up to her near the doors. He grabbed her arm, halting her retreat. She turned tear filled blue eyes to him. "Wait, please. I don't understand what happened," Shane confessed.
"Please, Shane, don't make a scene," Lilian implored. She noticed that her friends were already making their way over to them. She had to go now before she embarrassed herself even more.
"You can't just leave. Not like this. At least tell me what I've done."
"You already know what you did. I know about the dare," she said quietly, unaware that her friends were standing nearby. "Trish told me all about it. How the only reason I even got asked to this was because you were dared to."
"I'm going to kill that bitch slowly," Lita ground out.
"You have to get to her before I do," Victoria put in.
"Wait for me," Stacy chimed in following after them. The three of them went off to find one Trish Stratus and ruin her night.
"Lilian, please, listen to me," Shane begged, uncaring that they were now starting to draw a crowd.
What could she do? He still had a hold of her arm. She wasn't about to make a scene. He ran a hand through his hair and sighing harshly. "The reason that Lita dared me to ask you out was because I was too afraid to say anything to you."
Lilian was shocked. Lita had been in on this and hadn't told her about it? The next time she saw the redhead she was going to get it with both barrels, she thought darkly. She was so lost in thoughts of her friend's destruction that she almost missed his next words.
His hand rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I couldn't seem to find a way to just come right out and ask you. I've tried. Numerous times," he explained. "I always ended up backing out at the last minute, too afraid that you would say no, or worse laugh in my face." Shane turned to look directly at her. "What I'm trying to say here Lilian is that I love you."
"I," she started, a tirade dying on her lips as what he said finally began to sink in. "You love me?"
"As if you didn't know," Bubba Ray said from the sidelines.
She frowned at the man. "No I didn't," she defended.
"How could you not," Shannon Moore asked, clearly confused. "When you're around everyone else ceases to exist."
"I-I-I," she stumbled. She was at a loss as to how to answer. She really had no idea that he'd felt this way about her.
"Guys, could you give us some privacy," Shane stated. Once the others had moved away from them he turned back to her. He stared deep into her cerulean eyes. "I, Shane Helms, love you, Lilian Garcia."
Lilian squealed and launched herself into Shane's waiting arms. He held her in his arms savoring the feel of her pressed so close to him. Slowly he lowered his head, giving her a chance to stop or say something. She did neither; instead she closed her eyes as she felt Shane's lips close over hers.