" What do you mean he's bad news?"
" Dad you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. I don't want him near my children!" Jordan shouted.
"What's your problem? Did he do something to them, huh? Or to you? No! He doesn't even know what's going on, dammit. Have you seen that kid lately? Oooh sorry I forgot, you wont even look his way." Hunter shouted back.
" And I have some damn good reasons not to. I can't believe you're taking his side. I AM your child!!!"
" And so is he." Hunter said quietly.
" NO! Don't you see that? You love me and Brandon, at least that's what you keep saying. You and Mom, you wanted me, and you wanted Brandon. Him, he's just some stupid mistake, an accident, he's NOTHING! WHY DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?" Jordan started to yell, frustrated.
" Number one, he's NOT stupid! Number two, he's NOT nothing! Number three, he might have been an accident, I admit that, yes, but he's my child like you are, and like Brandon is. And I love him like I love you and your brother. Why don't YOU understand THAT?"
" BECAUSE IT'S WRONG! YOU'RE WRONG! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO LOVE HIM! YOU SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIM THAN WITH ME!" Jordan yelled.
" Ooooh, that's the point, huh? Then think about why I can't spend more time with you! IT WAS YOUR FREAKIN' CHOICE TO AVOID ME!" Hunter raised his voice, pissed by his daughter's point of view.
" AND WHY? BECAUSE YOU CHOOSE TO THINK WITH YOUR DICK! THAT'S WHY! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW I FELT? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH YOU HURT ME? AND HOW BAD YOU HURT MOM?"
Hunter threw his hands in the air in frustration. " I wont discuss this again, Jordan, I'm sick of it!" and he turned to leave, but his way was blocked by Brandon who seemed to appear from out of nowhere.
" Dad, you can't run forever." He said, giving his sister a reassuring look, and she nodded.
" Run from what? " Hunter asked annoyed.
" From the truth. You can't avoid us every time we confront you."
" You know what, Bran, THAT'S the point. EVERYTIME. You two just can't let it go. We talked about this over and over again, you forgave me, and what's most important, your Mom did. So do me a favour and leave me the hell alone with it."
But they wouldn't, and the argument started all over again.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Somewhere else xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Hey."
Corey jumped slightly, but relaxed immediately when he recognised the sweet voice behind him.
" Hey." He said quietly and Joelle took a seat beside him. " Are you alright? Chris told me what Shane said, and then I heard you had an argument with Hunter."
Corey sighed and nodded.
" I don't know…it's just…too much.."
Joelle nodded in understanding and placed her hand on his arm. " I'm sorry. If I can do anything…"
Corey sighed and looked at her. " No..no you can't do anything. That's probably something I have to go through on my own.. I'm alone ayway..I've always been.."
" You're not alone. I'm here, right?! You're my friend and I'll stick with you, if you let me. Okay?" Joelle smiled softly.
But I don't want you to be my friend, Corey thought sadly. I want more…
" Corey?"
" Okay." He responded.
Joelle smiled and pulled his head against her shoulder. As soon as his body touched hers Corey felt the butterflies in his stomach. No, I definitely want more. But how should I tell her?
Glancing around Corey made sure they were alone, then he pulled away and took a deep breath. Last time he got interrupted, hopefully this time…
" Joelle.."
" Yes?" she said cheerfully.
" Uhm..I…well…" Corey blushed, trying to find the right words.
" Yes?" She asked again, sensing he wanted to tell her something important.
" Uh..you see… I..thought that…maybe..we..could…you know….uhm…do…I mean…you and….and me…" Corey stuttered and trailed off. She must think I'm a retard.
" Corey, why don't you just ask me?" she smiled.
" Huh? What..uhm…ask you?"
" You're trying to ask me to go out with you, right?"
Corey stared at her. She knows? Oh god. He blushed and looked down at his shoes but nodded.
" I'd love to." Joelle said softly.
Corey's head shot up. Did she just say she'd like to go out with him? No. She'd LOVE to?
" Oh..uh..wow…cool…"
Joelle nodded and said " Corey Johnson, I'd really like to go out with you some time."
Corey still couldn't believe it that she accepted. He would go out with the sweetest girl he had ever seen. He had asked her, and she had said yes, simple as that.
" So..uhm..I thought we..could..uhm…maybe..go…watch..a..movie?"
" I'd like that, yes. But only if I get to pick which one."
" Uhm..sure..and…when?"
" Let's see, we have the rest of the day off. What about tonight? You could pick me up around 7." Joelle proposed, sensing that Corey was a little unsure of what to say.
" Yes, that would be great." Corey nodded.
Joelle looked at him and started laughing. " You know what? That was the first full sentence for the last two minutes."
Corey realized she was right. " I'm sorry, it's just…I mean..you're so beautiful and…" and he trailed off, embarassed about his choice of words.
" Thank you." Joelle blushed herself.
" So..uhm…around 7 then?" Corey asked.
" Yes, I'll see you then." Joelle nodded and walked down the hallway, leaving Corey smiling and staring after her.
He had a date. A real date. And to top it, with Joelle. He jumped up from his seat and made his way to the men's locker where he bounced joyfully through the door and almost knocked Chris, Cameron and Bobby down.
" Hey, watch out." Bobby said, but Corey didn't pay attention to him or anyone else. He quickly stuffed his things in his bag and pushed past his friends.
" Sorry, gotta get ready." When he exited the locker room he was stopped by Chris who had followed him.
" Get ready for what…..aaaaaah?" he asked curiously, but was cut off when Corey lifted him up and spun him around.
" Corey what the hell, put me down!"
Corey laughed and placed Chris back on his feet.
" What's with you? Just a few minutes ago you looked like you were about to freak, and now you're grinning like a little kid on Christmas eve."
" I have a date, Chris. A real date. With a girl. I'm going out, with a GIRL, tonight!" Corey explained excitedly.
" With who?"
" Joelle!" Corey almost screamed.
Chris smiled. " Really? Wow, that's awesome, dude. Congrats."
Corey nodded eagerly. " We're going to the movies. Oh god, I'm so nervous. What if I do something wrong?"
" You wont, Kid, everything's gonna be fine." His friend reassured him. " Now go get that girl."
Corey nodded again and practically ran down the hallway.
The time flew by, and at exact 7 p.m Corey stood in front of Joelle's hotel room, being a nervous wreck. Don't fuck this up, he thought and knocked. The door flew open, and Corey's jaw dropped. Joelle wore a pair of skin tight jeans and a black corsage top with matching black high heels. Her long blonde locks fell around her shoulders in soft curls, and all Corey could do was stare at her. She looked so beautiful, all words caught in his throat.
" Wow…" he stammered.
Joelle blushed. " Thank you…you don't look bad yourself."
Corey wore black dress pants and a black muscle shirt, his hair was tied back in a low pony tail.
" You..ready?" he asked.
" Sure, let's roll." Joelle said and together they left the hotel.
The evening was fun for both of them. They went to the movies where Joelle picked an action thriller since they both were huge fans of that kind of movies. Afterwards they had a late dinner at a small and quiet restaurant downtown. Corey felt more and more comfortable being around Joelle, and he managed to have a conversation without stuttering. They laughed and talked for hours before returning to the hotel.
" I had a great time tonight, CJ. Thank you for a wonderful evening." Joelle said when they stood on front of her room.
" Yeah, me too. Uhm…maybe..we could….do that again…only if you want to.." Corey said quietly.
She smiled and nodded. " Yes, I'd like that." Both of them fell silent, neither knowing how to say good night.
" Well..it's kinda late…" Joelle started.
" Yeah..uhm..okay…then..good night, Joelle." Corey said and turned to leave, but Joelle caught his arm and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
" Night, Corey." She said softly and quickly entered her room.
Corey stood in the middle of the hallway, smiling and touching his cheek with his fingertips. Yes, they would definitely do that again.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Their next destination was Casper/Wyoming, and the flight was long and boring. Most of the superstars spent it sleeping, but not Corey and Joelle. Sitting together, they continued their conversation from the previous night, getting to know each other better. Every now and then Corey would look up and see Chris and Bobby smirking at him, making kissing sounds or other juvenile things, and he knew as soon as they reached the hotel the guys would be all over him wanting to know about his date with Joelle.
And that was exactly what happened when the door to Chris' and Corey's hotel room closed. Not even two minutes later Bobby burst through the door.
" I want details!" he demanded, and Chris grinned. " Okay, shoot."
Corey shook his head. " There's nothing to talk about."
" Aaaw c'mon Kid, give me something, anything!" Bobby pouted.
" You look like Selma." Corey laughed.
" Who cares? And don't change the topic.!" Chris exclaimed.
" Fine. We went to the movies and had dinner later. That's it."
" What? No holding hands? No smooching, kissing, touching? C'mon Corey.." Bobby groaned.
" Nothing." Corey said.
"Oh man, if I had a date with Joelle I'd make sure to.." Bobby started but was cut off by Corey.
" But you don't. I don't wanna hear it, and I don't want you to talk about her like that, okay!!!"
Bobby looked at him, then at Chris. " Cruise, that boy really has a thing for her, doesn't he?"
Chris grinned. " He sure does." And Corey blushed again.
" If I were you I'd make sure Serena keeps her mouth shut, but knowing her it might be too late already." Bobby pointed out.
Serena Perez was one of the Smackdown divas and known for her big mouth. Corey's eyes widened. " You mean she…she told..Joelle??"
Chris shrugged. "Wouldn't surprise me. I've known her for 2 years, if you want to hear the latest gossip you go to her, she could tell you a thousand stories."
No, Corey thought, please don't… He didn't dare to think that Serena could have already told Joelle about his feelings. " I have to go." Corey exclaimed and jumped up. He grabbed his key card and hurried out the door and down the hallway to Joelle's room.
Arriving there he knocked furiously, not caring if the whole floor heard him. He had to know.
He heard muffled sounds from inside and the door was slowly opened by Joelle.
" Corey, what.."
" Do you…I mean..did she…uh.tell you..." Corey stuttered.
" Whoa whoa whoa wait. Do I what ? Who told me what?" Joelle asked puzzled.
" Serena.." Corey said quietly and Joelle was stunned. She had talked to Serena this morning. Could it be…?
" Uh..yes…uhm.."
Corey was horrified. " What did she say?" he blurted.
Joelle studied him closely. He looked panicked. Could Serena actually have told her the truth?
" Joelle.." Corey pleaded.
" She..she told me that…you..like me..uh..really like me…" Joelle admitted.
Corey went white. His mind and his heart were racing. That damn little…but he couldn't change it. Joelle knew.
" Corey?" But Corey didn't answer. He just stood there and looked –yes, kind of – defeated.
" Look, she.." but Corey cut her off.
" Damn that little brat. Why me? Why is everyone after me? What did I do?" he asked no one but himself.
" Is it…I mean..true? Do you..really…like me?" Joelle asked hesitantly.
Corey stared at her for a long moment, then hung his head and answered a quiet "yes", his cheeks were burning with embarassment, and he turned and ran down the hallway. Where to, he didn't care, but he needed to get as far away as possible from Joelle. His emotions got the better out of him and hot tears started to fall from his eyes. His life was a nightmare, and things couldn't get any worse for Corey. Or so he thought.
Cause when he rounded the next corner he bumped straight into Hunter and found himself on his butt.
Hunter had to look twice to recognize the crying young man sitting on the floor in front of him.
" Corey? What's wrong?" he asked concerned, but Corey's only answer were a few desperate sobs.
" C'mon stand up." Hunter said and tried to pull Corey to his feet but he refused to move. Suddenly Corey jumped up and threw himself at Hunter and cried against his mentor's chest.
Hunter stood completely still and let Corey soak his shirt with tears of frustration, anger and sorrow.
When Corey pulled away Hunter gently took the younger man's face in his hands.
" Feel better now?"
Corey coughed and nodded. " You must think I'm weak, sitting here and crying like a baby.." he said softly, slightly embarassed.
Hunter shook his head. " Not in the slightest. You don't hide your emotions, that's a good thing. Now tell me what's wrong."
Corey exhaled deeply and told Hunter what bothered him. His problems with Brandon, and now Jordan, about his date with Joelle and the kiss she gave him, and that Serena told Joelle about his feelings.
" It was my place to tell her….I…I wasn't ready yet.. " he finished sniffing.
Hunter nodded in understanding. " Someone should show that girl her place. I don't like her anyway. I never have. As for Brandon and Jordan, I know what you mean, I had a little argument with both of them today. "
Corey looked at him, and he already knew the answer to his next question.
" Because of me, right?"
" Among others…"
" I don't want you to fight with your children because of me. It's not right.."
" Yeah, but they're pissing me off with the same old shit, I can't hear it anymore, I'm sick of it." Hunter said, furrowing his brows.
Corey hung his head, everywhere he went he caused trouble.
"You should go talk to that girl, you know." Hunter advised him.
Corey shook his head. " Uh uh. No way. I've already made an idiot out of myself..maybe she doesn't even want to see me.."
" And you'll never know if you don't go and talk to her, and believe me, if you don't you'll curse yourself someday."
" But I.."
" No buts and ifs. Go." Hunter instructed and pointed in the direction of Joelle's room.
Corey sighed, but he knew Hunter was right. He had to explain somehow.
Hunter pushed him slightly. " Move or I'll go and talk to her. You want that?"
Corey frowned. Hunter and his dirty mouth…..only imagining Hunter's choice of vocab in these kind of conversations terrified Corey.
" Okay…I'll…do it." Hunter nodded and pushed him again.
Slowly Corey made his way down the long hallway, his mind searching for the right words to confess his feelings for Joelle.