Disclaimer: I own nadaaa! :)
A/N: Wow! Thank you SO much for the reviews I got for the last chapter. I didn't expect that many. I'm just glad people are reading this story! I must say though, unless a huge idea comes to me within the next few days, it's nearing it's end. I'd say three or four more chapters max. :( Which makes me sad since this has quickly become one of my favorites to write. Hmmm... other than that, I hope you enjoy the chapter! :)

Chapter Twenty:

Jeff stood in the hallway as Beth stormed out, leaving the house with a very cold demeanor. He stared at the door for a while as if Beth would come back in with a smile on her face, as if it was all a joke. Was he dreaming somehow? Finally though, he backed away slowly from the hall and sat down on the couch with his head in his hands. He didn't care anymore if Coral was in danger. His feelings were mutual with Shannon's – the girl was crazy and he was sick of trying to help a lost cause with someone who obviously didn't want the help.

She made Beth believe he was cheating on her! How could Beth even let that sink in her head? He found her so much more beautiful than he would ever find Coral. In fact, Coral seemed ugly suddenly, like she was some monster that was only hidden by face paint and hurting.

People hurt. It was just a thing of human nature. But he couldn't help Coral fix herself anymore. The girl was much too damaged for any normal person's help. She needed professional help, something that wouldn't send her to do the things she had done since moving in with Shannon.

"Jeff," Matt tried quietly. Jeff felt the couch sink a little as Matt sat next to him, but chose not to acknowledge him. There was a brief silence followed by a frustrated sigh from Matt's mouth. "Jeff… come on. Don't ignore me."

Jeff didn't care anymore. Why did he bother to help that slime of a girl? All she had done was cause him trouble! What was he going to do with Beth gone? She had always been his missing puzzle piece, the thing that kept him grounded when nothing else could. He had never deserved a woman as good as her and suddenly, when something wasn't even his fault… she was gone! There was just so much swirling in his head… what was he going to do?

"Jeff," Matt snapped, slapping his brother on the arm.

Jeff looked up tiredly, prepared to hear a lecture from his elder's mouth. Matt did this every-so often. Especially in the past when Jeff had screwed up with the WWE and had gotten himself suspended two times. Once when Jeff had been drunk and had said some pretty shameful things about Beth after they had an argument. But something told him that this was going to be the absolute worst. Matt knew what it felt like to be cheated on… he knew the pain all too well. He was going to be pissed that Jeff had "cheated" on Beth.

"What?"

Matt smiled slightly; glad finally it seemed that he had gotten his brother's attention. "Don't worry about Beth, she'll come around." He had to be starting off easily… where was the scolding Matt he happened to know all his life?

"Matt—"

"But it's going to take time. I don't think she's going to believe you for a while… I don't blame her for that. I mean, it makes sense when you think about it. Coral has only spoken to you with kindness… fuck… you know what I mean, but yeah. I can see why she mind believe what—"

"Matt—"

"—happened in the bathroom. But hey, it's obvious that it wasn't you who caused that. I actually thought it may happen for a while. The girl needs some help. I've been saying that since we picked her up from Georgia."

"Matt!"

Matt was startled by Jeff's sudden shout. "Huh?"

"You believe I didn't do it?" Jeff asked quietly, his voice like a child's who wasn't so sure about what to do.

Matt laughed. "Of course I do. I know you, bro. You wouldn't cheat on someone. You know, I have known you for all your life after all. Give me so credit."

Jeff hugged Matt before he could expect it. The younger Hardy was so glad to have someone in the house that believed him. "Thanks."

"No problem." Matt stood up, looking around him. "Where is the psycho bitch anyway?"

Jeff stood slowly, his back protesting. He scanned the house around him, listening intently for any noises that could link him to Coral. But all he heard back was silence. "I don't know," he finally admitted, "and somehow… that tells me we should worry."

What would Coral do now that she was shown in her true colors, her secret infatuation with Jeff Hardy? Would she go back to live with Shannon like she was supposed to? Or would she continue to try to make everyone's lives hell. Where was Shannon anyway?

Jeff thought for a moment about where Shannon could be. The words Coral spoke earlier haunted his mind. There was something wrong… he could feel it. Something told Jeff that Coral had done something to Shannon. The other part of him laughed – what a stupid thought.

Carefully though, he spoke in a low voice, "Matt, where was Shannon when you took Lucas to the groomers?"

Matt thought for a moment. "He told me he was going to wait for you to come back and try to talk about what to do with Coral. Seemed a little miffed actually. I don't know. Why?"

"I don't know where he is now."

Matt rolled his eyes. "Jeff, come on, it's Shan. When do we ever know where he is?"

But it wasn't a normal situation, Jeff knew. "Was he here when you left?"

"Mhm," Matt said, still not catching on.

"Fuck!" Jeff spat and looked around him. Quickly, he explained what had happened between him and Coral before Matt had come in with Beth. How she was drunk and everything seemed to be very shady. And of course, the Shannon factor.

"Do you think she did something to him?" Matt inquired. "Come on, Jeff. Think about it. She's what, four-eleven? She couldn't do anything to him."

"Call him then," Jeff pressed on. "Please… I just don't like this at all."

Matt sighed and pulled out his cell phone, keeping his eyes on Jeff partly while he scrolled to Shannon's cell number. Then, he put the phone to his ear and waited for the voice of the older Moore's voice to answer. It rang until it came to voicemail, which happened to startle Matt as well. Shannon always answered his cell unless he was wrestling. "Hey, Shan, it's Matt. Look, Coral's gotten a little out of hand here and we sort of need you right now. Don't know why you're not picking up the phone, but as soon as you get this message, call us back."

The phone was placed on the table while Jeff stared out at the woods without any emotion. He felt so betrayed by a girl he thought would be a friend to him. "I can't believe it's come to this," he muttered.

Matt sighed again and leaned against his dark blue counter. "She needs help," Matt agreed softly. "I didn't think she would let it go as far as this either. I suspected she liked you, but how many other girls are infatuated with you, Jeff? I mean who has the balls to go right out and kiss you while they knew you were taken?"

"Someone who doesn't give a damn."

Matt chuckled darkly. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense." There was a brief silence before Matt asked, "If Coral did do something to Shannon… what do you think she did?"

Jeff shrugged when he turned to face his brother, his eyes slightly haunted. The taste of alcohol was still heavy on his lips. Never before did he expect the usually refreshing taste of it to seem so bile-like on his lips.

"Maybe we should just ask her. She was drunk before after all."

"She's not going to tell us anything, Matt."

"And why is that?"

"Because if she's here right now she's heard everything we've said already and she isn't going to like it."

Matt slammed his hand down on the table. "Well I don't happen to give a fuck if she's heard everything we've said. If she did something to her own brother then I'll happily welcome her to come out of whatever room she's eavesdropping from and ask her myself what the fuck she's done. This bitch – yes, Coral, I just called you a bitch – is done getting the high treatment. As far as I'm concerned, she's below just about everyone on my friend's list."

The house sat quietly after Matt's angered words. It even seemed a little dazed by them. Then, there was a soft, bitter chuckle from somewhere behind him. Matt flipped around to see the haunted, livid, green eyes of Coral. She smiled darkly at him while he stared back, unsure what to say. "I knew there was a reason I never liked you," she muttered.

"Yeah, well consider the feeling mutual," Matt spat.

Coral rolled her eyes, dismissing his large and angry posture. "Hi Jeff."

"Don't try to even talk to me," Jeff replied in a tone like Matt's before he turned his back on the girl.

Coral chuckled again. "Jeez, the audacity you have."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jeff's curiosity got the better of him.

"Oh, nothing."

The sing-song in her voice made Jeff annoyed as he turned to face her seemingly carefree face. It was eerie to know less than twenty-four hours before her face was one that was pouring out tears, completely broken. Something inside of the girl had snapped… either that, or she was a very good actress. It seemed that Mike's death was the last thing on her mind.

"What did you mean," Jeff growled. "Stop fucking playing games, Coral. I'm not playing with you."

Coral leaned against the counter as the room began to reek of the mixture of vomit and vodka. She didn't seem to care about the heated words that came toward her. Instead, her mind seemed to be off in another world. Then, her head turned slowly toward Jeff. "You speak so passionately about where Shannon is but you also seem so quick to point the blame at me. If you really wanted to know where he was… I don't know, you'd think you'd be more kind to me."

Her words made no sense to Jeff. If she had nothing to do with Shannon's so-called disappearance why would he need to be nice to her? "Unless you seriously want me to rip your head off," Jeff said in a carefully tight voice, "I suggest you quit making up these diversions and tell me what the fuck you're talking about."

She laughed humorlessly again, clicking her tongue. "Patience, Jeff. Patience is key."

"Don't fucking give me that!" Jeff roared. "Listen, you little bitch. I have done nothing but be nice to you since your little hurricane came through these doors. I've done everything you've asked me and quite frankly, I didn't have to. Most people wouldn't have done that. I think I deserve a little more respect than you're giving me."

"Whatever." But he had seemed to hit a nerve with her. The little front she had put up seemed to waver just a little.

"No," Jeff said firmly. "It's not whatever. I want to know what you've done and why you've done it. That means everything. From the beginning. And it starts now."

A/N: Again, I'm going to let my writing speak for it's self. Okay, READ AND REVIEW AND UPDATE I SHALL!!