Sighing Corey stood in front of Joelle's door, unsure if he should either knock or run away. But one quick glance down the hallway where Hunter still stood and watched him he knew there was no choice. So Corey knocked softly, praying that Joelle was already asleep or prevented otherwise.
But of course she was not and opened the door a few seconds later.
" Corey…"
Corey shifted uncomfortable from one foot to the other and looked down on the floor, his hands in his pockets.
" Hey.." he said quietly, not looking up.
" Corey, what's wrong? Why did you just run away from me? Did I say something wrong?"
Corey took a deep breath. " I think you know why…"
And it hit Joelle that for once Serena had told the truth. Corey Johnson liked her. Not as a friend, but like a man likes a woman. Realizing that she blushed.
" Corey, you.." but Corey cut her off.
" I know, you don't have to tell me. It's stupid, I don't even know you that well, and you must think I'm retarded and…" this time Joelle cut him off.
" Why are you saying that? But come in, you don't have to stand there all night." She said and pushed the door further open.
" But..Selma and..Felicity.."
" Selma's with Declan, and Felicitiy…well..I don't know who he choose to stay with tonight, but she's not here either. And where Ruby is you should know."
Corey nodded shyly and stepped in the room, plopping down on the sofa. Joelle closed the door and took a seat next to him but Corey jumped up.
" Corey?"
" You're making me nervous ok!" he blurted.
Joelle sensed that she had to be patient with him and nodded. Corey exhaled deeply and closed his eyes.
" Corey? Do you really like me?" Joelle asked quietly.
Corey nodded.
" Why didn't you tell me?"
" Because someone else obviously did. I…I…I wasn't…ready…to..tell you…she..shouldn't have…" he admitted, not opening his eyes.
Though he couldn't see it Joelle nodded in understanding. He was right, it was his place to tell her, and she could see he was far from ready. But here they were in her room, and they couldn't turn back time.
" That's really sweet of you, CJ." Joelle broke the silence. " And..uhm.. you're a sweet guy and everything, and you've become a good friend, but listen..uhm.. I don't know..ah what the hell.."
Corey opened his eyes hearing footsteps approaching him. Joelle stood in front of him and looked directly in his hazel eyes. Taking his hands in hers she whispered " C, we don't know each other that well to start a serious relationship, but I want you to know that I'd love to get to know you better, and maybe we could give this a try if you want to."
Corey blinked. Did she really say say? She wanted to get to know him?
" You…you're not..mad?"
" Why ? Because you told me you like me? I see how hard it is for you to admit that, I think you really mean it. You know, most of the guys see me and the divas as a piece of ass, nothing more, but you're serious about me, and I don't think you're one of these guys using a woman…"
Corey shook his head eagerly. " I'd never do that. But..you know… I..don't have that much of experience…with..girls.. " He admitted and blushed.
" And here I thought women would kill to have you, I mean, you're a handsome guy…" Joelle giggled, causing Corey to blush even harder.
" You look beautiful when you smile.." Corey said softly, mesmerized by Joelles deep blue orbs.
" Thank you.." she said equal softly. " And now that we're dating you could try and stop stuttering everytime you talk to me." And she giggled again.
Corey smiled shyly as the words sank in. " We're…uhm..really dating?" he asked just to reassure himself.
Joelle nodded. " If you want, that is. We'll take it slow, okay?"
" Of course I want to." Corey blurted and Joelle had to laugh. " But..uh…what should I… I mean..call you? I mean…we're not..serious..you know…not yet…I mean…"
" What was that with the stuttering, huh?" Joelle smiled and Corey grinned goofily.
" You can call me your girlfriend if you like." She said, squeezing his hands.
Corey sighed and nodded. But a glance at his watch pulled him out of his perfect dream world.
" Holy shit, we're supposed to be at the arena in 30 minutes." He shouted.
Joelle went blank. " What? Oh my god. We better hurry. I'll see you there." And she pushed Corey towards the door. He nodded and stepped into the hallway, but was pulled back by Joelle. Giving him a bright smile she placed a quick kiss on his lips. " See you later, babe." She giggled and closed the door.
Corey stood puzzled in the middle of the hallway, touching his lips with his fingertips. Then a huge grin spread across his face and he practically danced down the hallway to his own room.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Corey, Chris and Bobby arrived at the Casper arena 10 minutes late. They stormed to the men's locker and changed in record time. Exiting the locker room area Bobby sighed with relief.
" Thank god Shane didn't notice."
Cameron Hickenbottom patted him on the back. " Hey, I would have covered for you guys. "
Chris nodded and the four of them made their way to catering where half of the roster was gathered around. Glancing around Corey spotted Joelle talking to Morgan and Felicity. Felicity saw him first and he waved. She tapped Joelle on her shoulder and pointed in his direction. Joelle turned and smiled brightly. Corey smiled back shyly as she started to walk towards him. Reaching him she locked her arms around his waist.
" Hey there. Ready for your match?"
Corey nodded and put his arm around her shoulder.
" Let's go somewhere." Joelle proposed and released him.
" 'Kay." Corey waved goodbye to Chris and Bobby before taking Joelle's hand and together they walked off, leaving their friends staring and whistling after them.
" Did you see the looks on their faces?" Joelle laughed after they had settled themselves on the announcers table.
Corey grinned. " I sure did. Bobby's eyes almost popped out of his wholes."
After giggling and joking around a few more minutes Joelle turned serious.
" Corey? Are you sure you want this? I mean… I don't want to be hurt..again.." she said softly.
" Again? Who hurt you?"
Joelle sighed. " Last year, there was this guy… he seemed cool and everything.. we were dating for 2 months when I..you know.. gave myself to him. But…after we did it..a few times… he dropped me, telling me I was an 'easy fuck'.. that SOB.. I just don't want that to happen again.."
Corey was shocked. What kind of a man would use this beautiful woman?
Putting his arm around her shoulder he pulled her gently against him. " If he didn't see what he had he wasn't worth it anyway. And I promise I will never hurt you in any way, Joelle. "
Joelle met his eyes and saw the honesty in them.
" I know..just wanted to make sure…"
Their eyes locked and Joelle's face inched closer to his. Corey held his breath and closed his eyes. He could feel Joelle's breath on his face, and seconds later her soft moist lips touched his own. Joelle wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him closer.
Corey had never felt anything like that in his life. His lips felt like burning, and the butterflies in his stomach were having a party. The slightest touch by Joelle sent bolts of electricity through his body, and he locked his free hand with hers. He wanted this moment to last forever.
" Get a room." A deep laughing voice made the couple jump and break away.
They looked up but saw no one.
Corey felt Joelle tap his shoulder and turned. Hunter sat in an empty chair in the front row behind them, his hands somewhere down his wife's shirt who sat on his lap and giggled like a school girl.
" Where did you come from?" Joelle asked.
" Nowhere. I've been sitting here for the last 20 minutes. " Hunter grinned.
" Oh, well, don't mind us." Joelle giggled along with Jay.
" I sure as hell don't." Hunter stated and bit Jay's neck softly, causing her to giggle even harder.
Corey rolled his eyes and laughed. " Are you even thinking about anything else?" he asked.
Hunter shook his head. " Not at all." and shoved his tongue in Jay's mouth who gladly accepted and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Joelle elbowed Corey and smiled. " What's wrong? I think it's cute. I mean, they've been together for so long.. "
" But he's OLD." Corey exclaimed playfully.
Hunter broke the kiss and said " Who cares? She doesn't (poking his wife in the ribs). And I'm not THAT old, it's still working pretty good and I'll only stop the day they bury me six feet under."
" Which means he's a dirty old man who can't keep his hands by himself." Jay pointed out and gained another bite to the neck.
" But you wouldn't want it any other way." Hunter grinned. Jay giggled and shook her head.
Hunter stood up, lifting Jay with him and flung her over his shoulder.
" I'll leave you two alone. You're an item now?"
Joelle smiled and nodded and leaned her head against Corey's shoulder who put his arm around her instantly.
" That's good to know. Hey Corey, wait till it comes to the real stuff, you have no idea what these women can do with their…" but he was cut off by a slap on his behind by Jay.
" Will you leave it. You're so naughty."
" Oh you want naughty, huh? I'll show you." Hunter grinned and disappeared through the curtain with a giggling Jay on his shoulder, leaving it to Corey's and Joelle's imagination what was about to happen in a private area somewhere in the arena.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CJ stood on the apron, ready to be tagged in by Justice Helmsley who was currently in the ring with Morgan Porter delivering a series of German suplexes to his opponent.
Their first official tag team match had went as scripted so far, and Corey knew he would be tagged in within the next two minutes.
Justice released Morgan and stumbled in his corner to make the tag. CJ jumped over the ropes and waited for Moragn to get to his feet only to send him back to the mat with a backcracker.
CJ climbed the turnbuckles to hit Morgan with a moonsault and went for the cover immediately, but Chris Cruise distracted the ref causing CJ to jump up and send him to the floor with a straight right hand. Sending one last look to Chris CJ turned but was greeted with a hard kick to the guts by Morgan who had gained his second wind during the distraction. He lifted CJ up for his finishing move, a brainbuster, but the second before he was driven to the mat CJ felt himself slip out of Morgan's grip and landed on the mat with the back of his head in a dangerously wrong angle. Corey heard his whirls snap and cried out in pain, but remained laying in the ring for Morgan to pin him. Bending over him Morgan shot him a concerned look, but Corey mouthed for him to get it over with.
After the three count Brandon knelt down beside him.
" What happened?"
" I don't know, I slipped, ooooh, my head…"
" Don't move. " Brandon instructed and made the X sign for the EMTs in the back, signalising Corey was hurt.
" No, let me get up.." Corey groaned, and despite the pain he managed to pull himself up and to his feet.
Brandon helped him up the ramp and to the back, but as soon as the curtain closed he released Corey and walked back to the men's locker. Corey was brought to Dr. Fielding and was diagnosed with a light concussion and a few pulled muscles in his neck.
" No in-ring action for you next week, but I think you'll be able to make it to the next show in two weeks. Just take it slow. " Dr. Fielding instructed. Corey nodded and exited the doctor's room where Joelle was already waiting for him.
" Are you okay?"
" Yeah, just some pulled muscles, nothing to worry about. I'll miss Raw next week though."
Joelle nodded and leaned her head against his chest. " That looked pretty bad. I'm glad you're not seriously hurt."
Corey took Joelle's hand and kissed it softly. " Thank you."
They made their way to the locker room area together where Corey was stopped by Shane McMahon.
" I heard you're missing next weeks show. Why don't you take these two weks off and return home? "
" That would be great. Haven't seen my Mom in a while."
Shane nodded. " Then it's settled. Get well and I'll see you in two weeks."
" Thanks Shane." Corey shook his hand and continued to the men's locker.
" Two weeks without you. How boring." Joelle sighed.
" Yeah… but I'm happy to see my mother again. I'll call her to let her know I'm coming."
Joelle nodded and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
" Kay, uhm..will you call me too?"
" Of course, can't let my favorite girl wait, right?" Corey smiled.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
" Excuse me?"
Corey turned around to see a group of teenage girls standing before him.
" You're CJ right? From Raw." One of the girls asked.
Corey smiled. " Yeah, nice to meet you."
A dark haired girl blushed. " Could you sign my bag?"
" Sure." The girl handed Corey her bag and he signed it, and one by one all the girls gave him something to put his autograph on.
" How's your neck?" a blonde girl with big blue eyes asked. She reminded him of Joelle, and he smiled.
" A little sore, but I'll be back soon." Corey answered.
" That's good. We're big fans." The blonde girl said shyly.
" It's always a pleasure to meet my fans." Corey grinned, amazed that people already recognized him after only a few weeks.
" THERE'S MY BABY!" came a female voice from behind him. Corey turned and almost got knocked down by his mother who jumped him and hugged him tightly.
" Mom…" Corey groaned a little embarassed. " Watch out, my neck.."
Trina released him immediately. " Oh god, sorry, darling. " She then noticed the group of girls gathered around Corey.
" Already making the ladies weak, huh?" she teased.
Corey rolled his eyes. " Mom, please.."
" Okay, okay. Well, are you done here or are you gonna come home with me?"
Corey said goodbye to the girls and followed his mother out of the airport in his hometown.
The ride to their house was spent talking and exchanging news.
Corey even told Trina about Joelle, and she was more than happy for him.
" You're serious about her, right?"
Corey nodded eagerly. " I am. I really like her, Mom. I've never felt like that for anyone. And I think she likes me back."
" That's great, darling. I'd like to meet her sometime."
" You'll liker her, I know I do. Wait a minute. " Corey searched through his bag for the shedule.
" Hey, Raw's here in two weeks. Why don't you come to the show? I'll get you a backstage pass."
Trina smiled. " I'll think about it, darling. Look there's Sue. Now let's spend a quiet two weeks." she said as she pulled into the driveway of their home in Phoenix.