Chapter 4

Almost 3 years later (June)

"Guys, where are we going?" Adam Copeland asked impatiently. "I'm starving!"

"Yea Shannon, where are we going?" Jeff asked nudging his best friend.

"I saw a sign for this small diner. It says they have good home-cooked meals. I figured it would be better than fast food."

"I agree with Shannon on that. I am getting sick of fast food."

"Of course you are Amy."

"Shut up Matt!" She squealed slugging him on the arm.

"Hey! No hittin' the driver." Jason Reso yelled from his spot in the backseat.

"So, where is this place Shannon?"

"Um, not quite sure Stace, the sign just said follow Highway 16 for a couple miles."

"Well, it is in a town called Lac La Belle."

"How do you know that, Matt?"

"It is on that sign."

As they got to the diner, all 8 stomachs were growling. They walked in and saw a couple empty tables.

"Excuse me," Matt said tapping a waitress on the shoulder.

"Yes, how can I help…" Alexis said turning around recognizing the boys right away. "Um, I'm sorry. I thought ya'll were someone else." She said doing her best to cover up.

"That's all right. I was wondering if we could push those two tables together."

"Yea, sure, I'll be with ya'll in a couple minutes." She said as she walked to the back. "Holy crap, I knew they were in Wisconsin, but this is nuts. Oh well, Matt didn't recognize me." She walked back out carrying a tray of glasses filled with water.

"Hello, welcome to Jade's, my name's Ally and I'll be your waitress. Our special today is our famous Chicken Pot Pie and a slice of cherry cheesecake. Can I get ya'll something to drink?"

"Can I have a cherry Pepsi?" Jeff asked. Ally shook her head without looking up. She couldn't believe that he was sitting right in front of her. She was about to ask the next person what they wanted, but was interrupted.

"Did you grow up down south?"

"Matt!" Amy said exasperated.

"No, um, it's all right. Yea, I was born in North Carolina."

"Oh, I see. What part of North Carolina are you from?"

"Oh, um…" she didn't know what to say, but she didn't have to worry because one of the guys she only knew from TV spoke up.

"Don't listen to him. I'll have a regular Pepsi."

"It would probably be a lot easier for ya'll to just get some pitchers of soda." Ally said

"Adam, why don't we just get 3 pitchers of pop?" Everyone agreed and Shane Helms continued. "All right, we will have one pitcher of cherry Pepsi, one of regular Pepsi, and one of diet Pepsi."

"All right, I have a pitcher of cherry Pepsi, a pitcher of regular Pepsi, and a pitcher of diet Pepsi, is there anything else?" No one said anything. "All right, I'll be right out with those." A couple minutes later Ally walked out with the soda. As she was placing it on the table something caught Shannon's eye. The necklace she was wearing looked really familiar. It had 3 little charms, but one in particular made him recognize her. After Ally took the orders and walked to the back, Shannon excused himself from the table. He walked over to where Alexis was standing.

"Alex?" Alexis recognized the voice, but she hoped he would believe her.

"I'm sorry. You must have me confused with someone else. My name is Ally." She started walking away when Shannon grabbed her arm.

"Where did you get this necklace?" Alexis had completely forgotten she had the necklace on. Before she could answer Shannon spoke up. "You got part of that when you were 13. You were in softball, so your parents got you the medal of St. Christopher. Then you bought the number 6 because it was your favorite number. And that penny…I bought you that penny 4 years ago when you had knee surgery and couldn't play softball anymore. I bought it to make you smile."

"Shannon…"

"I can't believe it's really you!" He pulled her into a hug. "I have been praying for 3 ½ years that every girl I see is going to be you. But obviously I was looking for someone with short, wavy, blonde hair. And you have long, straight dark brown hair now. Oh my gosh! All the guys are going to be so happy to see you!" He started walking back out to the group, but Alexis grabbed his hand.

"No! You can't! Please Shan, you can't tell anyone."

"Why not Alex?"

"I have tried…you just can't."

"Alex, Jeff…and the rest of us have been looking for you. We're worried. I can't keep this a secret. These guys are my best friends and so are you I can't not tell them that you are okay."

"Shannon, please don't tell. There are reasons you didn't find me." She paused for a second trying to hold back the tears. "If you tell anyone I'll just leave again. And I'm happy right now and it would suck to have to leave again. It was hard enough once." Shannon thought for a moment. Finally realizing he wouldn't win and he didn't want to lose her again, he made a stipulation.

"Fine, I promise not to tell if you do one thing." Ally shook her head. "Meet me tonight. I want to talk to you." Ally stared at him.

"Okay, but you have to come alone."

"I'll come alone. Everyone else has to wrestle tonight anyway."

"Okay, meet me at my place at 7:30 tonight. I live at 1736 North 3rd Street. It is a small duplex."

"All right, I'll see you later tonight. It's nice to see you again Alex. I missed you so much." He said as he walked back to the table.

"Shan, where in the hell have you been?" Jeff asked as Shannon sat down.

"Oh, um, I accidentally ran into our waitress on my way to the bathroom and she dropped a pitcher of water. So I helped her clean it up."

"That is so like you Shannon."

"What can I say Shane." He smiled when he saw Ally bring their food. He noticed Stacy looking at him curiously.

"I'm excited for this home-cooked meal."

"Well, here ya'll go. Hope you enjoy the food. Can I get ya'll anything else?" Everyone shook their heads.

"All right, if you need anything just call me over." As the gang finished the meal Ally walked back over.

"How was everything?"

"Oh my gosh! That cheesecake was amazing. I haven't had any this good since Alex made it that one night." Amy said speaking up. Everyone looked up in shock at Amy. Ally looked everyone up and down and finally stopped on Jeff. He was just sitting there looking down at the table. She couldn't tell whether he was mad or just upset.

"Well, here is the check. Just go up to the register when you want to pay. Thank ya'll for stopping at Jade's. Please come again." She set the check on the table next to Matt and walked away.

"Well Matty, looks like you get to pay this one." Jay said smiling at the rest.

"Totally not fair!" Matt said grabbing the check and walking to the register. After they all left Ally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Wow! That was nuts!" She said to herself.