The next day arrived fast and the dolls were having another meeting everyone was there except Stephanie and Shane.
Paul frowned " He was meant to keep her in line not make her late".
" Hey watch your damn mouth" Shane said while entering the room with Stephanie.
Paul shook his head " Well your nearly thirty minutes late".
" Yeah well our pilot was late so we got on the jet later then we planned" Shane said while watching his sister sit next to the other dolls and take out her cellphone.
Paul nodded " That's fine, next time can you just call and let me know you guys are okay?"
" Yeah sure" Shane answered as he sat down and waited to see what Todd had to say.
Todd looked at everyone " Okay right, first Shane will be travelling with you all so he can keep an eye on Stephanie".
Stephanie looked up from her phone " I am not a child therefore I do not need to be looked after and what about these four they aren't angels"
Todd nodded " I know, they're just easier to deal with than you are as you seem to only listen to your brother or father".
" Enough Stephanie" Shane said sternly after that she quited down and just went back to texting on her phone. After an hour the meeting was finished and the girls had to make an appearance at TRL. Todd looked at Paul " So you ready to deal with them at a TV show?"
" As long as Shane keeps Stephanie in line I'd say yea" Paul shrugged
Shane meanwhile was really getting a taste of what Paul and Todd had to deal with. Paul and Todd just arrived while the girls were on stage. Shane looked exhausted.
Paul sneered " You look tired dude, giving you some hell is she?".
" Don't even start bro" Shane laughed
Paul sat down smiling " Okay I won't but you should get an early night tonight for the sake of youe health... oh wait, you'll have to go with Stephanie when they most likely go partying".
The girls were playing truth and dare when it was Stephanie's turn.
" Truth or dare" The host asked
" Um dare" Stephanie shrugged
" I dare you to kiss any guy in the building" The dared her
Stephanie frowned " That's it"
" Well how about your manager" The host asked
" Whatever" Stephanie shrugged as she headed back to Paul.
After the kiss the girls were getting ready to perform but Stephanie couldn't focus on getting ready because her head wasn't in it.
" Girls let's go" Shane said but then stopped when he saw the expression on her face and walked over to her " Hey you okay baby girl" Shane asked very concerned because Stephanie usually wasn't this quiet.
Stephanie nodded " I'm fine, just thinking".
" Well what are you thinking about you can tell me anything and i won't judge you sweetie" Shane said softly trying to get more out of her
Stephanie shook her head "It's nothing", she didn't want to tell her brother she was thinking about Paul, he'd get the wrong impression.
" Alright go ahead the dolls are wating for you" Shane sighed his sister was a hard women to figure out.
Shane watched Stephanie walk out with the dolls, he was getting a taste of what Paul and Todd had to deal with and he wasn't liking it.
" God i think i finally understand what you and Todd go through with my sister and i know it's me and my dad's fault" said Shane to Paul as he walked in the room where the three men were to watch the show. Shane frowned, there was not a reaction from Paul, he didn't even seem to be on the planet.
" Hey Todd what's with Paul?" Shane asked
Todd shrugged " He's not said anything since Stephanie kissed him".
" Well I hope he knows that my sister wasn't serious she was just playing" Shane said
Todd shrugged " If you can get an answer out of him why don't you ask".
"Paul PAUL PAUL" Shane screamed trying to get his attention
Paul shook his head "Whoa there dude, I'm not deaf".
" What the hell is wrong with you" Shane said as Todd just shook his head.
Paul frowned " I was thinking, you may have heard that before".
" Touchy what were you thinking about" Shane asked
Paul decided to bluff his way through it "What the plan for the dolls should be".
" Okay gentleman that's enough" Todd said getting in between the two before something happened
Paul frowned "We weren't doing anything".
" I think that it be best if we take a few days off let the girls go home let Vince and Shane talk to Stephanie and you Paul go home to your family to see if this job is really for you" Tim said breathing a sigh of relief.
Paul frowned " Why would I not want to do this?.
" You may not want to admit it but i have been around the block a few times and i feel the sexual tension between you and Stephanie and i know from experience she ain't the easiest to figure out and maybe your mom and sister can help you figure out what to do" Todd said as Shane was just looking on in shock.
Paul looked at Tim like he had three heads "Pardon? Are you insane?".
" You know what i am talking about i am not stupid just listen to what i said Paul'' said Todd as Shane still said nothing.
Paul just nodded "Fine. How long do I have off?".
" Well the girls will have about two weeks you will have one oh Shane cat got your tongue" said Todd as him and Paul turned around to see a shocked Shane just standing there.
Shane blinked rapidly as the girls came rushing back after their performance "Did you see us?"
" Yeah they loved us" said Stephanie as all five were jumping up and down.
Paul smiled "Good. I'll review the tape when I'm on holiday".
As they were talking to Paul and Todd about the Performance Stephanie couldn't help but notice the expression on Shane's face so she walked over there " Shane what's wrong you look like you've seen a ghost" concern evident in her voice
Shane shook his head "It's nothing, you are imagining it".
" Look i'm your sister me and you are close and when your hurting I'm hurting so tell me what is wrong" Stephanie said as a tear fell down her cheek. Everyone in the room grew quite just looking on in awe at how concerned Stephanie was they never seen this part of her. Paul was so happy to see the real Stephanie the one he saw the night they had there chat.
Shane shook his head "Not here, not now Steph".
" Then come on " Stephanie said guiding Shane to the door. But everyone just stood there in shock.
Stephanie turned to glare at them " What is it?"
" Hell has frozen over" Todd said
Paul shrugged " Hell freezing over isn't a bad thing".
" Assholes" Stephanie muttered as she walked out the door to talk to Shane.
Todd sneered " Maybe she's not a completely changed person".
" So tell me whats wrong Shane" Stephanie asked as she and Shane walked through Central park with people staring at them.
Shane took a deep breath " You like PAul don't you? I mean like him like him".
" What do you mean Shane" Stephanie asked not really knowing how to answer that.
" Just answer the question Steph" Shane said looking at her
" Shane if this is about the kiss then it was just a dare. I wouldn't have kissed him if tit wasn't for the dare.
" It's not the dare I am worried about but the reaction you had after it. Steph do you like him?"
" Shane I don't know he's 11 years older then me, I'm so confused" Stephanie started to cry. Shane rubbed her back in circled trying to make her feel better. He knew dad wouldn't be to happy about this.
" Steph age is just a number if you really like him... however you know dad will freak so you need to figure out how you fell about him".
" How am I supposed to figure it out?".
" I don't know talk to him, hang out with him... be real with him Steph don't put up a front because your scared and confused".
" What do mean I act fake" Stephanie asked Shane
Shane sighed " Steph when your with me or dad your nice, your kind and your funny, when you're with anyone else you act aloof and rude and like your better then anyone them".
" I just need time to see if this lifestyle is really for me" Stephanie said
Shane nodded " Todd is giving you girls two weeks off"
" I don't mean two weeks maybe this group isn't for me" Stephanie sighed
Shane frowned " Now you're just talking stupid, you love it
" Yeah but sooner or later I am going to have to get away from the girls and start my own carrer" Stephanie said
Shane nodded " But is now the right time? Are you wanting to do it for the right reasons?"
" I think so I mean I don't like what I've become, before this group I knew who I was but this life has changed me into a different person and I don't like it" Stephanie said with a few tears running down her face.
Shane frowned " Just take a couple weeks and think about it properly away from this".
" I can do that" Stephanie smiled sadly as they walked back to the building
.
As Shane enter the all eyes fell on him " Todd, Paul can I see you outside for a moment". All the dolls exchanged a worried look as Paul and Todd left the room.
" Ok let's not beat around the bush me and Stephanie talked and she is thinking about quiting this group and try to have a solo career she says that she doesn't like what she has become when starting this group trust me she has changed alot" Shane said with a sigh of relief as the dolls were speechless they heard every thing from behind the door.
Todd frowned " She can't leave the group, not yet anyway".
" What do you mean Todd" Shane asked pissed
Todd glared at him "Well for one her contract runs for another eighteenth months, two the album has only just been released and losing Stephanie would lose the momentum and three she's the strongest singer".
" Maybe you should have thought about that before you decided to screw her life up and besides weren't you going to drop them anyway" Shane said starting to get loud.
Todd nodded " Unless Stephanie was brought into line yes buy she seems to be behaving today".
" You need to stop talking about her like she is a two year old" Shane yelled
Todd laughed " Well maybe if she acted like a grown adult instead of a two year old I might".
" Well maybe if you got a chance to know the real Stephanie and actually seen why she was acting this way maybe you would understand'' Shane said getting pissed off more and more.
Tim crossed his arms over his chest "Come on oh wise one, why is he acting like this?"
" Look okay if you see how she acted around her friends and family back home you would see the real Stephanie not only that but she is 23" Shane said getting into big brother mode if Paul didn't stop the sparring match it may get physical
Paul stepped between them "Calm down please before the Police are called. I know Stephanie is a good person, she's just putting up a front".
" What do you mean you know the real Stephanie" said Todd and Shane at the same unison
Paul sighed " I had a chat with her the other night and I thought we were on the same level and she'd be easier to handle".
" Yeah well if she really wants to quit there are ways Todd" Shane said glaring and Todd
Paul sighed heavily " Will both of you shut up. Shane Stephanie has two weeks off so let her take that time and think over what she really wants to do and if in two weeks she still wants to quit we will discuss it further".
" Wait she can't quit without her we will be nothing" screamed Sara as the girls came from the room.
Paul sighed " I'm not dealing with this right now because it is not certain she is leaving so you're panicking over nothing".
" Well is she isn't leaving then where is she" Just as Nicky asked that Stephanie walked through the door with all eyes on her.
Stephanie frowned " What did I do?".
" Stephanie I told them sweetie" Shane said walking over to Stephanie and then proceeded to give her a hug. Stephanie could see the devastation on the dolls faces as she stood there.
" Girls don't be like that it will happen sooner or later" Stephanie said. It was hard for her but it was best for the group.
The girls frowned " Like what Steph? Without you we we're nothing" Jade spoke up.
" What would you like from me" Stephanie yelled
Paul stepped in " Everyone calm down. You're getting two weeks off and I expect you to go away and relax and also Stephanie think about your future and if you still want to leave we'll discuss it"
" Fine I need to get away from this shit for awhile, Shane let's go we have to get the bags packed and call daddy" Stephanie said as she walked out the door with her head held high. Shane followed Stephanie out the door without saying a word to the girls. " It's not over is it?". Todd looked at them then at Paul he didn't know how to answer that question.
Paul wasn't in the mood to sugarcoat so he decided to be honest " Possibly".
" Can one of you answer us by giving us the truth" Jade pleaded with Todd and Paul
Todd shrugged " The truth is we know as much as you do right now"
" I am so sick of you two just standing there doing nothing while our group is dying, now we will see you in twoo weeks asshole" Nicky said as she walked out with the other girls close behind.
Todd sighed and said to Paul " Just go, take some time off and come back in a week and we'll think again then"
" Okay then" Paul sighed walking out the door.
Soon Stephanie and Shane arrived at the airport and then proceeded to go to their parents home for the night. The morning Paul arrived to his parents house he went straight to bed as soon as he got home, he was mentally and physically exhausted.
" Morning " Said Lynn as Paul came in the livingroom an hour later.
" Paul nodded morning, not sure what's good about it".
" What's up your new job sucks or something" Lynn asked
Paul sighed " One of the girls is a pain"
" Mom come here" Lynn yelled as there walked into the room " What Lynn" Pat asked
" Sit down Paul has some stuff to say" She said to her mom
Paul groaned " Did you have to do that?" Lynn nodded " Yes so start talking".
" Okay well you know how Nayssa loves the Pussycat dolls well there who I'm managing" Paul sighed
Lynn smiled " Nayssa would be stoked to know that but why am I getting a bad vibe over this?
" Sweetie tell us what's wrong" Pat asked as she sat down
Paul frowned " Stephanie wants to leave the group" Lynn frowned " And? I'm not sure why you're acting like this over that".
" I think I like her" Paul said
Lynn and his Mum looked at each other and then back at him "Ohhhhhh" Lynn then spoke up "So what makes you think you like her?".
" That is a real dumb question Lynn but i just that i never dated someone that was such a challenge" Paul spoke up feeling like weight has been lifted off his shoulders.
Paul's Mum frowned "You see her as a challenge? In what way? Be careful what you say as you are sitting in front of two women".
" Okay it just there is something different about her whenever i was dating the other girls it didn't feel like this" said
Paul.
Lynn frowned " If you like her then why are you here and not trying to convince her to like you too?".
" See there in lies the problem" Paul sighed
Patricia nudged her daughter " Shut up and let him tell us the story"
" Look she acts like a spoiled brat around everyone when i really know she is just putting on an act even her brother thinks so Todd may of dropped them because all they do is party so her father Vince Mcmahon who is tottaly rich came up to the building to talk long story short she is a hard girl to figure out and she is 23 which means she's still imature" Paul was starting to feel better.
Lynn frowned "Maybe she's not immature, maybe she's just scared and her way fo dealing with it is to act immature".
" I don't know" Paul sighed.
" Um talk to her i mean Paul if you want something fight for it" said Lynn to Paul.
"But what if she doesn't want to be persuaded otherwise?" Paul asked.
" I don't know try until you succeed" said Lynn as Nayssa came into the room crying. Lynn frowned and scooped her daughter up into her arms "What's wrong baby girl?"
" Are the Pussycat dolls breaking up?". Nayssa asked
Lynn looked at her brother with a pointed look and he shook his head "Of course they aren't sweetie. Where did you hear that?"
" Look" They then looked at the magazine Nayssa was holding
"PUSSYCAT DOLL STEPHANIE MCMAHON LEVES GROUP
what is left of this group" said People magazine
Paul shook his head and stood up "I'll see you guys later" and he walked out of the door on a mission.
" Where are you going" said his mother as she caught him at the door
Paul stopped briefly "To sort out this whole mess" and with that he walked out.