TITLE: Alluded Distress
AUTHOR NAME: Marlena R. Snape
CATEGORY: Drama
SUB CATEGORY: Romance
RATING: PG-13 for language and such.
CAST: Marlena Dubois, Ashleigh Morgan, Chris Sabin, A.J Styles, as well as mentions and appearance of others throughout. ( Tons of cameos! )

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER:
I don't own anything, y'heard? I only own Marlena Dubois, as minus the last name and picture base? She IS me. Ashleigh is credited to one of my best friends, Candace. Brooklyn Dubois ( the few parts she's in I should say ) is credited to my friend Angel, while Marlena's parents, and her sister Patricia are my real family. Chris Sabin, A.J Styles, and the rest of the NWA:TNA superstars in this story, are to my best rendition of their real selves, but I don't know them, or own them. ( However a girl CAN wish! ) Chris Irvine ( 'Jericho' in the WWE scene ) is not mine either…oh how I wish. He makes a few appearances as well, as do a few other WWE superstars. I own jack shite, okay? So don't sue me for letting my imagination run wild! :-P Enjoy the story.


Chapter Eight: Just Another Manic Month


The month of April, was completely insane for everyone in TNA. "Vendetta Rising" was coming about, with "A.J" suffering the backlash of his double crossing Vince Russo's orders. Out side of the company though, everything was still going well for Marlena and her friends. Ashleigh still lived with Marlena, and Chris was half on the verge of moving in. It took a lot of talking between the three of them, when it was decided that Chris was in fact taking the offer up. Allen helped them move Chris in, and things got settled. So now is was Chris, Ashleigh, and Marlena under one roof, with Allen paying frequent visits. Everything was settled the end of April, early May.

It was nice having Chris around, both Marlena and Ashleigh figured. For different reasons, though. Marlena, because Chris was always humorous, and was a nice person to have around. Ashleigh, because she was dating Chris. It also gave them all a chance to get to know each other better, considering how close knit they were working in TNA. During this time, though, Chris was able to help Marlena get her foot in the door of Ring of Honor, where he and Ashleigh occasionally worked, and where Allen was avid about.

Marlena liked RoH. Just everything from the people, to the way they operated. She had the opportunity while over there, to work with Allen a little more, only this time on opposite ends of the spectrum. She accompanied CM Punk to the ring against A.J Styles, where she played off as a little distraction to cause A.J to lose. It was the first bit of heel heat she had experienced, but she didn't seem to mind it.

A couple weeks after Sabin moved in with Ashleigh and Marlena, another Chris paid a visit to the household. In the form, of Chris Irvine. He knocked, and it was Sabin who answered the door, much to Irvine's surprise.

"I...must have the wrong apartment." Irvine said, as Sabin looked confused.

"Who ya looking for?"

"Marlena Dubois…"

"Oh, no you got the right place. Come on in." Sabin said, extending his hand. "I'm Chris Sabin, I'm friends with Marlena, and dating her room mate Ashleigh."

"Alright then." Irvine said with a smile, shaking his hand. "Chris Irvine, long time friend of Marlena's."

"You're also Jericho." Sabin said with a small smile, "It's nice to meet you, man."

"Nice to meet you too." Irvine said, as he walked in. He walked over to the window, looking down to the street. "COME ON UP!" he yelled, as Sabin looked confused. Irvine just chuckled. "Just a couple friends, nobody too important."

Marlena had just got out of the shower, and walked out of her bedroom in a pair of white pajama pants and a baby blue tank top, a blue towel in her hand drying her long hair. She looked a little stunned when she saw Irvine standing there, and he mocked appalled.

"No hug? No kiss? Bitch."

"Chris! What the hell are you doing here?!"

She dropped her towel, running up to him. Jumping into his arms, Irvine caught her, chuckling softly as he spun her. She remained in his arms, punching his shoulder.

"Whore, you should have told me you were going to be in town!"

"It was spur. Besides, we're in Knoxville… decided to say, hola?" Irvine chuckled, "I thought I had the wrong place, your friend answered the door."

"Yeah, Chris moved in with Ash and I a couple weeks ago," Marlena said with a smile, "It's been a blast. He's a real good guy."

"Aw, well, shucks, girl." Sabin said with a smile, as he leaned against the doorframe with a can of pop in his hand. "I'm glad you love me."

"You just know I do." Marlena said with a smile.

Marlena stepped down from her grasp on Irvine, and looked at him oddly. It was strange, that he would come alone. The door to the apartment opened, as Ashleigh walked in, looking a little stunned.

"Did you know Jason Reso, John Cena, AND Randy Orton are ALL outside?!" She exclaimed, before her eyes fell upon Irvine. She blinked, "Uh - I missed something."

"Ash…" Marlena said with a smile, "This is Chris Irvine. Jericho, to most. He's just visiting."

"Hey," Irvine said, extending his hand to Ashleigh. "It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you." Ashleigh extended her hand out for a shake, and he turned it, kissing her hand lightly with a charming smile. Sabin smirked at Ashleigh's blushing.

"It's nice to meet you, too…" Ashleigh said with a barely noticeable giggle.

There was a knock on the door, and Marlena answered it, to let Jason, Randy, and John all in. After hugging them individually, they all came in and sat down in the living room. The group all sat around, but as Marlena went to sit down, Cena pulled her into his lap with a chuckle.

"Sorry, now that my boy's outta the picture, I gotta make some dibs."

"John, quit being a whore." Irvine said, rolling his eyes with a laugh.

"Oh… well, when you put it that way," Marlena said, sitting comfortably in John's lap, a smirk on her face. "How could I resist?"

"This just seems wrong." Jason said, shaking his head. "Incredibly wrong."

"I agree." Randy said, "She should be with a man like me."

Marlena rolled her eyes with a smirk as everyone sat together in the living room. Ashleigh and Sabin were sitting on one of the armchairs, they seemed entranced with the conversation, but like always, with the other.

"So, who's your friends?" John asked, as Marlena smiled.

"They're actually my room mates." She said, "We work together. That's Chris Sabin, and that's Ashleigh." She explained, pointing individually to the two.

"Hey, it's nice to meet you guys." Jason said, as Sabin and Ashleigh each smiled, and gave a nod.

"Likewise," Sabin said with a smile.

"Definitely!" Ashleigh said, "It's great to meet you all too."

As they conversed, there was a quick knock on the door, and a man walked in. It was Allen. Marlena was still sitting in Cena's lap, looking completely unphased until he started tracing her back with his fingertips. She slapped at him, as Sabin slapped Allen a low five, and Allen looked confused.

"Someone didn't inform me of a party?" He said with a half chuckle, and Marlena slipped out of John's lap, sitting beside him.

"Stop your shit, Cena…" She said with a smirk, as she glanced toward Allen. "Believe me, hon, you're as surprised as I am. It's like CJ to just pop in unannounced…"

They all had a conversation for a little while, talking about work, about life in general, until Marlena did the unthinkable. It slapped her across the face that she inquired, but in turn, it slapped Allen unbeknownst as well.

"How's Charlie?"

Irvine even seemed taken aback by her inquiry. He took a moment to think about it, as everyone exchanged glances. Sabin looked knowingly at Allen, who gave him a "don't worry" look.

"Well," Irvine started. "He's decent. He asks about ya all the time, but he still understands why you guys broke up."

"Good…" Marlena said, as she sat Indian style on the sofa. "I just hope he doesn't completely hate me…"

"He doesn't." Jason said. "He still adores you, but he's got himself a new girlfriend."

"Really?" Marlena asked, a smile coming onto her face. "That's awesome, what's her name?"

"Donna." Randy said.

"That's great, I'm happy for him." Marlena said, as Randy gave her a cocky smile.

"How about you, you dating?" He asked, as Marlena rolled her eyes with a chuckle.

"No, and if you're inquiring, you're SOL, and we all know what THAT means!"

"You really need to stop hanging with Sandy…" Sabin said with a laugh.

"Sandy?" Irvine asked, before realization struck. "Fuck me… don't tell me Mike Sanders?"

"'Above Average', Chrissy." Marlena said with a smirk.

The boys had to get back to Knoxville, after making the hall to Nashville to visit, figuring it would have been rude to stop by and not come and see Marlena. Irvine asked what it would take for them to get tickets to the asylum the next night, since they didn't have to work, and were still in town. Marlena made a phone call, and got a few tickets for them. 10 of the WWE stars would be coming to the event. Chris Irvine, Randy Orton, Trish Stratus, Jason Reso, John Cena, Shelton Benjamin, Amy Dumas, Matt Hardy, Stacy Keibler and even Charlie Haas. It would be the first time she saw him since their breakup. It was also one of the first non-WWE events the guys and girls would have been to for a while… it was going to be different for them, as it was going to be difficult for Marlena to perform in front of her friends.

That night, Allen stayed the night in the guest room again. The four of Ashleigh, Chris, Marlena and Allen went out to dinner, and headed out to the movies to check out "Cat Woman". Chris enjoyed the movie, whether it be for the comic, or the fact Halle Barry was 'macking cat style in leather', he didn't care. Allen enjoyed it for the movie, not Halle, as he was still thinking about earlier. He couldn't help dwelling on it, just the look on her face when she mentioned Charlie. He didn't think she was over him. But the truth was, she was.

They went back to the apartment, and Chris was STILL going on and on about how good the movie was. Ashleigh was blocking him out by reading ESPN Magazine, an article with Tom Brady. She was about as entranced in that, and it seemed like Sabin was never going to shut up. Almost as if they were in each other's head…

"Chris, shut up!"

Marlena and Allen both exclaimed, before looking at each other. She smirked, and Allen chuckled quietly, as Chris mocked taken aback. Ashleigh looked up to that, and noticing the look on Sabin's face, she began giggling, and went back to her article about the QB/QT.

That night, Chris and Ashleigh went to bed at a reasonable hour. 10:30. They knew they had to be up tomorrow early, to hit the gym and take care of some pre-show business. Marlena and Allen stayed up until at least 11, but Allen seemed a little distant. Marlena looked confused.

"Are you okay, Allen?" She asked, as he looked up at her confused.

"Me? Oh yeah, I'm fine."

"You're awfully quiet…" Allen shook his head a bit as Marlena turned away.

"Nah, I'm just thinkin' is all."

There was an odd silence for a few minutes. Allen broke it, by moving to sit next to her on the sofa from his seat on the air chair across the room. She looked over at him, and he cleared his throat, a nervous smile on his face.

"What are you thinking about?" Marlena finally asked him.

"Well…" Allen started, "I've been meanin' to talk to you for a while now."

"What about?" She asked, and Allen's cheeks turned a slight shade of crimson. He was a little more nervous than he normally had any reason to be.

"Okay… well, I vowed to say somethin' if nothin' happen in a month. It's been over that," Allen said, as he took a breath. "You know I like ya don't you?"

"Yes, and I like you too. You're a great guy, Allen."

"Alright with that covered, you know I really like you, right?" Marlena blinked softly, as Allen took a breath. "I'll explain." He said, "I really like you. It's not like, friend like. I've had a crush on ya since we met… even bigger crush after I saw you in the ring." She thought she should have known by the way he acted, but she didn't. He continued. "Chris and I always talked, and I couldn't tell him how much I respected you, how much I liked you, and when I heard about you and Charlie, I felt bad. But I also felt real hopeful, that maybe down the line I'd have a chance to make you happy…"

"I'm speechless…"

Was all Marlena could muster to say. She had liked Allen, but never really thought like that. After all, she never even thought he'd take to her like that. Allen didn't feel bad about telling her, as he slowly stood up from the sofa.

"I'll letcha sleep on that… and we'll talk in the mornin'…" Allen said slowly, before correcting his forwardness. "If you want."

"Of course, we'll talk then. You get some sleep, okay?"

Allen gave her a nod, as he walked out of the living room. He went into the guest room, as Marlena sat on the sofa for a long moment. Just trying to process what he had said. Was she shocked? To say the least. Was she expecting anything like that? Never in a million years.

After a few deep breathes, Marlena stood up. She went past the guest room, lingering a moment in front of the door. She sighed a bit, walking to her bedroom. Allen heard her door close as she went in, as he was laying on his bed, the lights out, his hands propped behind his head. He had already changed into just a tee-shirt and boxer shorts, and was relaxing. Marlena changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top to sleep in, but was she actually going to be sleeping now?

She wasn't so sure. She had a lot on her mind, and a lot to think about before morning. She sat on the edge of her bed, before sitting Indian style in the middle of it. She pulled out a notebook from her nightstand drawer, and flipped a few pages. Marlena figured, going back to her old roots of writing when she was confused, would help her out, massively. And now, she was beyond confused. She was a twisted basket case of emotions. She never knew Allen could do that to her…


[ A/N: Chapter Eight is as they say - history, my friends. The next two chapters, are going to just involve Allen and Marlena. The next chapter, nine is going to be from Marlena's point of view. The tenth, is going to be just Allen's. I hope this short chapter wasn't completely boring… . Thanks again for the reviews, keep 'em comin', and I'll keep the story comin'. ]