Corey waited at the gorilla position for his match to start. He was excited that he was part of a real storyline, but he was also nervous and confused.Getting to work with Chris was a big relief for him, and also Morgan seemed to be easy to get along with.
And then there was Brandon, the reason why Corey was so confused. During the last weeks they had barely talked to each other, most of the time Brandon wouldn't even look at him, but now he had been kind of – friendly. Corey shivered as the word entered his mind.
Brandon had never been friendly, he had never even tried to socialize with him, Corey thought. Why the sudden change of attitude? Or was Brandon really THAT much of a professional to forget about their personal issues for at least half an hour?
Now that sounds rude, Corey thought. He might not like Brandon but he had always had a lot of respect for his achievements, and to say that Brandon wasn't professional just wasn't fair.
But it bugged Corey. Why did he have such problems with Brandon at all? Ever since they had met they had shot daggers at each other. Brandon would always make some insulting comments towards him, and that made Corey just angry. And he had to admit to himself that it only didn't make him angry, but also sad. Corey had a wonderful friendship with Hunter, but why in the blue hell couldn't he just get along with his son?
He was pulled out of his thoughts by a hand on his shoulder.
" Calm down C, we're on in 5." Morgan flashed him a smile which Corey returned.
" You know what to do?" came a voice from behind them. Corey flinched, he'd recognize that voice everywhere. Turning slowly he came face to face with Brandon.
" Yep, we're ready, dog. We'll make 'em burn." Morgan said grinning, going into character.
Brandon nodded. " And you?"
The question caught Corey off guard. Well, not the question itself but the fact that Brandon was actually talking to him.
" Yeah..I'm gonna be ok.." Corey answered quietly.
" NO, no, don't be ok Kid. You can't be just 'ok'. Every time you step in that ring you have to give everything you got, you hear me? Perform like your life depends on it!"
Corey stared into space. There was Brandon, not only talking to him, but giving him serious advice, and to top it actually a good one??? What the hell…
His thoughts were interrupted by Morgan's entrance theme, and he pulled himself together.
After Morgan had been welcomed by the crowd with lots of 'boos' as he was a heel, Corey's music blasted through the speakers and he stepped through the curtain.
'Don't fuck this up, boy' he thought to himself while he walked down the ramp.
Monday Night Raw
'The Kid' CJ Johnson vs. 'Bulldog' Morgan PorterThe match went as scripted, and CJ had to take a lot. Morgan turned out to be a ruthless competitor and Corey silently begged God to let the time go by faster. On clue Justice Helmsley came running down the ramp and surprised Morgan, who had his back to him, with a thunderous bulldog. The ref rang the bell and Ruby announced 'Bulldog' Morgan Porter as the winner of the match via disqualification. After nailing Morgan with a few hard punches Justice turned his attention to CJ and helped him to his feet, much to the delight of the audience. At the top of the ramp Justice turned and raised CJ's hand, and together they made their way to the back.
As soon as the curtain closed behind them Brandon released Corey's hand and after shooting him an annoyed look went straight back to the men's locker.
Corey sighed and went to find Chris.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
" That was one hell of a beating you received there, Kid." Chris chuckled as he and Corey walked through the back exit of the arena.
" Tell me about it. Did you see that clothesline? I thought he took my head off." Corey answered.
" HEY GUYS " someone called behind them and the men saw Joelle approaching them.
" 'Sup girl." Chris greeted.
" Shane called a meeting, you are to be there Chris."
" What meeting?" Chris asked curiously.
" Dunno. He invited just a few people, you better hurry, they've already started."
"Shit." Chris muttered and walked back into the building.
Corey gulped, he was once more left alone with Joelle.
" Ready?" she asked.
"Uh..ready?..For what?"
" To go back to the hotel, dumbass. You look horrible." Joelle giggled.
" Uh..oh..yeah..I feel a little sore."
" Then let's go." She snatched the car keys out of his hand." I'm driving."
The ride to the hotel was spent in silence as Corey dozed off, his head leaned against the window.
Parking the car Joelle glanced over at Corey and smiled. How peaceful he looked, she thought, and caught herself checking him out.
His shoulder length brown hair framed a distinctive yet soft face, his full red lips were parted slightly, and Joelle asked herself how these lips would feel on hers. Her gaze traveled over his broad shoulders and down his arms and rested on his…
Joelle blushed and shook her head, trying to push these thoughts away. He is just a man, she thought. But what a good looking one. No, leave it, he might be just a man, but he's your friend. That's it Joelle, he's a FRIEND.
" Corey." She called softly and he stirred.
" Wake up, we're there."
Slowly Corey opened his eyes and glanced around. When his eyes met the blue orbs of Joelle he blushed.
" Sorry.."
" For what? You had a rough match tonight, but let's go to our rooms, I already hear my bed crying out for me." Joelle grinned and exited the car.
Corey got out and straightened his clothes. The sound of his cell phone made him jump slightly.
" Hello?"
" Hey Kid it's Chris."
"Oh hey, 'sup man?"
" Listen..uhm.. could you do me a favor?"
" Sure Chris."
"Well, you see…you know, that little, erh, 'incident' a few hours ago? You know, me..and Ruby.."
" Oh..yeah?"
" You see, I told her we'd finish this later, right? And now she's..uh..kind of..excited if you know what I mean..well..could you..uhm..stay somewhere else tonight?"
" Oh..huh..I don't know…I mean sure.. I'll just ask one of the guys.."
" That's awesome Kid, you're a real friend, I owe you."
" No problem, uhm..have fun.."
Chris laughed. "I sure will. Thanks man. Bye"
" Yeah bye Chris."
" What are you gonna ask the guys?" Joelle gave him a questioning look.
" Uh..well…uhm.. I need a place to stay at for tonight.."
" Why? I thought you're rooming with Chris."
" Yeah but..uhm..he and..Ruby.."
" Okay okay I understand." Joelle snickered. " But most of the guys are still at the arena."
She was right. Great, Corey.
" Damn." He muttered.
" Hey, you can stay with me until they come back." Joelle offered.
Corey blushed at the thought of being all alone with Joelle in her room. But it was either that or waiting in the lobby the whole evening, so he accepted.
After entering the hotel room Joelle threw her bag on the bed and plopped down next to it.
Corey remained standing in the middle of the room with his bag in his hand.
" Are you glued to the floor?"
" Huh?..Oh..no.."
„ Well, what are we doing now?" Joelle asked.
" Uhm..I don't know…what do two people normally do all alone in a hotel room?"
As soon as the words exited Corey's mouth he turned a deep shade of red realizing how that must have sounded. Joelle laughed out loud and rose to her feet.
" If that's what you want.." she said and let her finger trace down his chest.
Corey stood there mouth open and blushed even harder.
Joelle snickered and poked him in the ribs.
" Just kidding. You really thought I'd throw myself at you, didn't you?"
" I..I..no you..uhm.." Corey stuttered feeling very foolish.
" Just for the records, I'm not that easy." She said.
" I..never..I never thought about you being easy..I…think that..that.."
" What? C'mon Corey spill."
" That…you..have..class.." Corey said and trailed off, embarassed.
Joelle looked at him with big eyes. " You really think that?"
Corey nodded, his eyes settled on the floor.
" That's the nicest thing someone told me in a long time."
Corey felt her eyes on him, and he had the feeling his head would explode any second.
" It's true.." he said quietly. " And everybody who doesn't see it is an idiot.."
" Thank you.." Joelle said, equal quietly.
Ask her already, Corey thought. She's single, you're single, not that it matters, ask her as a friend…
" Joelle…"
" Yes Corey?"
" I..uhm…I thought that…."
" Yes?"
" Well..uhmm…that..maybe..you..and….me..that we..uhm…"
He was interrupted by the door flying open and Selma and Felicity entered chatting and giggling.
" Hey Elle..uhm..hi Corey."
" Hey." Corey greeted the two divas. Damn, he thought.
" We didn't interrupt something here, did we?" Felicitiy asked, eyeing her friends.
" No, what would be there to interrupt?" Joelle asked, slightly annoyed.
Selma and Felicity looked at each other knowingly.
" Hey Corey, Chris solved your little problem. Brandon has a week off and will fly back home to his wife, so you can stay with Bobby tonight." Selma said.
" Oh..cool..okay. I better go then. Bye ladies." Corey grabbed his bag and practically ran out the door and into the hallway.
Well done, Corey, you almost did it..Yeah, almost.Damn!!
Back in the girl's room Selma and Felicity turned to Joelle.
" What happened?"
" What do you mean, what happened? Nothing happened, we were just talking."
" Oh c'mon Elle, you know exactly what I mean. He was red all over." Selma pointed out.
" Oh, he just made a compliment, that's all."
" What compliment?"
" None of your business!"
" Aaaaaaaaw Elle spill already." Felicity pouted.
" Fine, fine, he said that he thinks I have class. Satisfied now?" Joelle said annoyed and turned her back to them to hide her smile.
" So it's true. I knew it. Hah!" Felicity exclaimed.
" Knew what?" Joelle asked, getting interested.
" He likes you."
" Yes, and? We're friends."
" He likes-likes you. Ruby told me."
" Ruby huh? Do you believe everything Ruby tells you?" Joelle chuckled.
" No, but she knows it from Chris. And guess who told Chris?"
" Fine. Who?" Joelle said rolling her eyes.
" Corey himself."
Joelle stood there not sure if she could believe her friends words. Corey told Chris that he liked her? Doesn't sound like Corey, she thought. He always seemed to be more on the shy side. But what was it that he was going to ask her?
" Give it a week maybe, and the whole locker room will know." Selma giggled.
God, the guys will tease him to no end, Joelle thought to herself. And then Corey will know that I know. Poor boy.
" Girls, promise me you wont tell a soul." Joelle suddenly said.
" What? Why not? I mean, it's no big deal."
" Maybe it is for him. Or don't you think if he wanted me to know he likes me he would have told me?..Oh..maybe he about to…"
" He was about to what?" Selma asked her friend.
" When..when you came in..he..was about to..tell me something..he really seemed to struggle with the words…wow..." Joelle said.
Unbeknownst to them somebody was eavesdropping on the other side of the door, and that someone was known the be always up to date with the newest gossip.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hey :) I know, short chapter, but I promise to post another longer chapter soon.
Thanks for reading, please review.
Jacky