Where Are The Boys?
Chapter 3

"What exactly are we doing?" Ted was confused. He was supposed to be spending the day with Maria. Just the two of them hanging out. But somehow like always, things had shifted focus on to John and now they were standing outside of what was supposed to be his hotel room.

"I don't know. I was hoping that by the time we got here I would have a plan or at least you would have one. We need a plan. What to do? Oh jeeze what am I doing? I'm going to die. I need my plan. I don't have my plan!" She was pacing back and forth in front of the door while Ted just stared at her from his place against the wall.

"What plan? What are you talking about? And could you please calm down and breathe?"

"Maybe I should just knock. But then what if Michelle's in there? I can't put the moves on if she's in there. Oh my god! What if they're doing it and I interrupt them and he comes to the door with just jeans on or something and I jump him because I can't resist him."

Ted didn't want to tell her that he was sure that wouldn't happen. Not while he was present and not ever if he was sure of it. But before he could utter the beginnings of a reply, Maria froze, then began sprinting down the hall. Halfway down the hall she realized Ted wasn't following her. "Come on." She said in a harsh whisper. Not knowing what else to do Ted quickly jogged over to her. She continued to run until a corner came up and she quickly ducked behind it this time pulling Ted with her.

She stood in a typical spy stance. Back to the wall occasionally poking her head slightly out around the wall to peek down the hall. She kept her stance and occasionally peeking for around ten minutes before Ted became a little worried for her sanity. "What exactly are you doing?" She just looked over at him and let out a huge sigh before sliding down the wall and putting her head in her hands.

"I have no idea."

"Care to explain what all of this was about." He too slid down the wall until they were facing each other.

"I don't know. It's just knowing what his room was and not doing anything about it was killing me. I had to do something, but then I panicked and I though I heard someone about to walk out of the room so I ran. But I just, I just want him to finally notice me. I've been trying so hard and it's just so frustrating. I've been after this for so long that it's embarrassing to even tell people." She let out another sigh and quickly dabbed at her eyes.

"What am I doing? I still have a chance. There'll always be a chance." She stood up and smiled. "Sorry for being a spaz. It's just stupid hormones. You know a certain time of the month they go haywire. I have a plan. A plan that's going to work and then he will be mine so they're nothing to worry about. Let's go Teddy. I need to get out of here before the hormones go off again."

Ted was still stunned. One second she was on the verge of tears and the next she was cheery and bubbly again. Something wasn't adding up. But for the sake of both of their sanity he let it go and stood up. She did want to spend time with him so that was always the positive side of things.

"Piggy back ride Teddy!" She jumped on his back and he began walking down the hall. She was okay for now so he really saw no need to bring the little outburst up.

"Are you still mad at me?" Candice just looked over at him before turning to look back out the window. They were at a gas station waiting for Jeff to get back from doing whatever he was doing inside the little convenience store. "Candi... You're ignoring me too...Candi...." She looked over at him again and he was giving her his puppy eyes and his bottom lip was poked out. She couldn't help but to crack a smile.

"I'm not mad at you. Never was. Just slightly annoyed."

"I'm sorry. You know I'm more careful than that. It's just I was a little annoyed myself. I mean we hardly get anytime together and then the once time we have a chance to be alone you invite the person we're keeping the secret from the most. I mean I love my brother and all but I love you too and I want to spend time with you."

"I know. How about I talk to Maria and tell her about us and see if she thinks we should tell Jeff yet."

"That sounds like a nice start."

"I would kiss you but you know..."

"Yeah I know." Both were glad the kiss didn't ensue because a split second later Jeff stepped back into the car. "Took you long enough."

"Yeah, yeah just drive."

Later that night at the arena Candice was walking back to her locker room after her match when she was stopped by Gregory Helms.

"Candice can I talk to you?"

"You already are, but sure what is it you want to talk about?" Candice was momentarily thrown off. Sure she talked to him, he was Matt's best friend. But it wasn't often he wanted to speak to her alone.

"Can we go somewhere a little more private? This isn't something I want the whole roster to hear."

"Sure. I was heading back to my locker room anyway." Now she was a little worried. But she just led to way to her room happy that the other occupant wasn't there. "Now what was it you wanted to talk about?"

"I know about you and Matt. I mean I have for the longest."

"He told you? I swear. Things go in one ear and out the other with him."Candice let out a frustrated growl and began pacing the room. Matt was a huge sofite. She knew it from the beginning but if he couldn't keep it from his best friend how was he supposed to keep it from his brother? Greg just laughed.

"He didn't tell me. I figured it out." She stopped mid stride.

"What? That's not possible. We're so careful. He had to have told you."

"Matt is my best friend. I'm not like Jeff I can see what's in front of me. All of the signs are there. It's not like you guys aren't good at hiding it because you are, it's just if you know what to look for you can see it." Candice began bitting her thumb. How many people like him where there? How many people were going around laughing at them because they knew?

"Oh. Well is that all you wanted to tell me?" She needed to do some serious damage control. She was beginning to wonder was it all worth it. Keeping their love a secret? It couldn't be healthy. It wasn't healthy. The anxiety of someone outing their relationship was beginning to get to put a strain on the relationship too. The petty little fights were beginning to increase.

"No, you see I was talking to Jeff, and he said he was thinking of asking you out sometime soon and I just thought you should know. I mean he's not going to tell Matt because he knows that Matt has some kind of feelings for you. But I just wanted to prepare you for when it happens because I know it's going to be soon and he's not changing his mind." Once again she stopped mid stride. But this time she also stopped mid thought.

"You've got to be kidding me." She said from her frozen stance.

"I wish I was. This is beginning to get way too complicated." Candice sighed and sprawled out on the bench. "I hate to sound so negative, but if the both of you knew about Jeff's feelings, why get together in the first place? Talk about a recipe for disaster."

"I wish it was that simple. I wish that it could have just been a 'bros before hoes' situation but obviously it's not. And it's not even like we simply said oh forget Jeff, lets have a secret affair. We tried. Really hard not to end up in this situation."

"Well it looks like there's only one way to get out of this."

"I wish it wasn't the only one."

"Teddy, I'm beat." Maria was once again on Ted' back as he carried her back from the arcade. But this time unlike last she was completely slumped over and her arms were dangling limply on his shoulders as were her legs on his waist. They had spend a good four hours in the arcade just goofing off and having a good time. Maria was happy because she had fun. A lot of fun and Ted was happy that he was able to keep her mind of John for four hours.

"I would be beat too if I spent an hour and a half playing DDR."

"It was so fun though. But now I think it's time for me to retire." The truth was she hadn't fully stopped thinking about John. He was still lurking in the back of her mind and she need to sit and think about when she was really going to put the operation into motion."

"I guess to your room then." The journey to her room wasn't very long from the hotel arcade, but halfway into the trip Ted felt Maria go completely limp and he knew she was sleeping.

"Ted!" Hearing his name he slowly turned around to see who was calling him. He saw Randy quickly making his way towards him. "Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you."

"I was hanging with Maria why?"

"A bunch of us are going out and we wanted to know if you wanted to come with." Ted knew right away that he didn't want to go. He was hoping to squeeze in more time with Maria, but before he could decline Maria spoke up for him.

"He'll go."

"I will?"

"Yes. You will. Go have fun with someone besides my crazy spazy self. Hang out with the guys and do whatever it is guys do."

"So are you coming?"

"Yeah but so is she."

"What?" Now she was fully alert no longer hanging limply on his back.

"You're coming too."

"Ted I told you I was tired. I can't hang out."

"If I go so do you."

"Whatever lets go."Randy said as he shrugged and began leading the way to where the others were gathered.

"You suck." Was all Maria said before biting his shoulder.

"What the hell was that for?"

"Being a idiot."

"So you bite me?" She just smiled and laid her head back on his shoulder in another attempt to have a quick nap. She didn't realize it, but this time there wasn't a single thought of John on her mind.

So yes I am aware of the fact that it seems like this story is disgustingly chiche(or it seems so to me). But trust me it's anything but. My plans for it are far from chiche! So yeah. Watch out for the major dramatic turn around chapter 8 or so according to my plans. It includes pickles, wood, cotton candy, oil, bed bugs, and random body parts like eyelids........

I'm just kidding that sounds gross...but yeah I'm rambling. But I do suggest listening to the songs of the chapter titles while reading the chapters if you can. It's usually the song I listened to while writing it so you can get the feel of the chapter from it and if you listen to the lyrics you may get a little spoiler for future happenings of the story. So with that said I've decided on a spoiler for the next chapter. The title is Positive Tension-Bloc Party listen to it or read the lyrics and in there you may find what's going to happen. But it's up to you, they are great songs though. ~Mrs. Randista

P.S. All of the artists of the songs(chapter titles) are in my profile.