Chapter 5
We've Got A Big Mess On Our Hands

This time it was Ted who was posted up against a wall in the far corner of the room. Beer in hand and by himself, it definitely wasn't how he planned on spending the rest of his evening. The guys couldn't believe Maria's skill and just about everyone in the room (except Ted of course) had challenged Maria. For a short amount of time he and Maria had worked as a tag team against Randy and John, but once that was over it was back to everyone trying to finally beat her and him alone on the wall. Randy and John, being the most competitive of the bunch, were trying the hardest and Ted could see how excited Maria was because of this. He wanted to run over, throw her over his shoulder and get her out of the room, but he knew she would never forgive him if he took her away from spending time with John.

Plus he had dealt with his jealous urges long enough to not act on them anymore. He didn't do it when he saw John's eyes linger on her ass and chest whenever Maria jumped around and taunted the guys. He didn't do it when Maria outright ogled John when he striped down to his undershirt because he claimed it was 'too hot' in the room. He didn't do it when John flexed his muscles, caught Maria staring, smiled and flexed some more. And as hard as it was, he didn't run over and rip John's head from his body when he suggested he and Maria play again with a leer and long tight goodbye hug. He just let out a long sigh and walked out the door with Maria on his heels.

"Ted DiBiase Jr., I could kiss the ground you walk on." Maria sauntered up to Ted and latched on to his arm as if she couldn't support her own weight. He just kept on walking. "No, seriously Teddy, that was heaven back then. Do you know how much easier putting my plan into action is going to be now that he actually has a reason to be around me?" She pulled his arm and he stopped walking in fear of dragging her down the hall. "He talked about doing it again sometime!" Ted stared off down the hall not looking in her direction. "Aren't you going to say something?"

"It's late and we're in the hall. I should get you back to your room."

"Jeeze dad. Way to kill my mood. No I take that back. Nothing could kill my mood right now!" Ted just rolled his eyes. "Well someone's acting a little salty all of a sudden."

"Maybe someone doesn't want to hear you go on and on about the same guy constantly. I spend enough time around that man to know that you have serious delusions about him. He's not perfect. Pretty damn far from it if you ask me." He wished he had a video montage of all the nasty, rude, and just plain disgusting things John said and did all day. But even if he did play it to Maria, she's probably fall harder for him because of his 'flaws' or something else ridiculous.

"You only say that because you're one of the guys. I know how he would act around his girlfriend. I hear it all the time from Michelle's mouth….." And suddenly Ted knew he had lost Maria now. She was lost in evil Michelle McCool thoughts as he liked to call them. And suddenly they were walking again. He wasn't sure if Maria knew where she was taking them, but soon they were in front of her room and she was fishing the keys out of her huge purse.

"I'll take this as my cue to leave and you can go on to do whatever it is you do when you're in your room." With that awkward goodbye Ted turned around on his was back in the direction of his room, but was stopped as Maria grabbed a hold of his shirt and hauled him in the room. "What the hell Maria?" He watched as she continued to ignore him and started to dash around the room in what seemed to be an attempt at finding something.

"When you were talking earlier, you said something and it made me realize how stupid I was being. All this time I've been going about it the wrong way. I've been trying to crack the case, but with empty ammo. How much more stupid could I be? I mean all these attempts and it takes a single sentence to make me realize it! I can't believe it. This adds so much more to the plan. Now it might actually have a chance at working. No more going into it blind and hoping they pull their weight.! God Teddy you've been heaven sent into my life for the sole purpose of helping me!" The whole time she was on her rant she was throwing things around the room in search of this mystery object. When she finished she practically threw a book at his head and he just caught it before it collided with his face.

"Maria, I have no idea what you're going on about."

"Don't you see it Teddy? All this time I've been enlisting Jeff as the main man to get the dish on about John, but I was wrong. He's just not cut for the part, you are! You have mutual friends with him and even hang around him, which means you can easily pick up the dish on him for me, if you don't know it already…." She was getting more excited by the moment just thinking of all the possibilities knowing that Ted could go in and get the dirt for her. Ted on the other hand, wasn't so gun ho about the whole thing.

"You want me to snoop around behind Cena to get some news to deliver back to you?"

"That's not just it though. You know how I have that whole plan to steal John? I was thinking it would be easier if you kind of stole Michelle away from him….I know it sounds crazy, but if he found out she was cheating or something he's going to need someone to comfort him and that someone could be me! Don't you see? This is perfect, it benefits both of us, I finally get John and you get some free ass from Michelle out of it too!"

"I can't believe you actually think this absurd plan could work."

"You'll never know until you try!" He didn't want to try. The risk was too great. He wanted to be able to say that he knew for sure that neither John or Michelle would stray. But he saw the looks that John was sending Maria earlier and they were not the looks of a man that was happily in a relationship. Ted knew that all it took was the right situation and the man would go after what he wanted. But then again that might be to his advantage. John may look like he was a slight brush up against the opposite sex from cheating, but that's all it was, cheating. He didn't seem like the type to actually drop everything he had, to be with another. If all John wanted was a drive on the wild side for the excitement of it, then Ted was all for it. As long as he was the one Maria was with in the end nothing else mattered. That way Maria got the taste of John she wanted, John got whatever it was that he wanted, Michelle would still be with her boyfriend and he would have Maria like he wanted.

"God I know I'll regret this, but I swear I'm only agreeing because I want to prove it to you that it won't work." Who was he kidding? He'd do anything for that girl and it scared him.

As Candice sat across from Jeff in the restaurant she tried her hardest to think of something to say, but nothing took away from the fact that it was awkward. Very awkward. It wasn't supposed to be like that. She had dinner with Jeff all of the time. But knowing that this time it wasn't just them hanging out was enough alone to add a weird tension, but the fact that Jeff decided to take her out to a fancy restaurant and he actually cleaned up and was wearing nice casual clothes that had no rips and fish nets in sight.

She was surprised because he looked kind of hot. And when she thought things like that it only made the situation even more awkward. It was her boyfriends brother for Christ's sake and one of her best friends. She definitely shouldn't be looking at him like that but she couldn't help it.

"So how was your day?" He was even playing the part of the perfect gentleman. She had to laugh, it was seriously ridiculous.

"Jeff, you know this is neither of us. You should know better than anyone that I don't need this type of schmoozing wine and dine mess." He let out a chuckle of his own and looked down in embarrassment.

"I know, I thought the same thing, but everyone was throwing ideas at me and I don't know, I've kind of been working hard at this. I mean I've wanted this for like forever and I wanted it to be perfect. Completely perfect."

"Well I have a better idea of how to make this perfect."

Maria sat on the bed in her room even more giddy than she was when she first came up with her plan and told it to Jeff and Candice. It was even better than that tine because now, she had a willing participant who wanted to actually help her. Just thinking of the words willing participant and John Cena scheme in the same sentence almost made her turn into goo.

"Could you please get that crazy look off of your face? You're starting to scare me." She was snapped out of her happy place by Ted who she forgot was still in the room with her.

"Sorry, I'm just so happy you agreed to help me." She further proved her point by the squeal she let out.

"Okay. Enough of that mess. We're moving on. Enough talk about John. How about we talk about something else." He was done discussing all things John Cena.

"Something else like what?"

"Like how Jeff and Candice are out on a date right now."

"Aren't you the little gossiper. Why is that so special?"

"Oh come one. You know why it's special! Because it's scandalous!"

"Teddy stop you're starting to scare me by acting like Ken, my gay best friend slash hairdresser. Just spit it out without all the dramatics." Ted's eyes just about bulged out of his head.

"You're telling someone to skip the dramatics? Anyway, I thought it's interesting that she's out on a date with her boyfriends brother." He was expecting Maria to bug out next. With the information he just dropped on her, he was expecting a reaction of Fat Man and Little Boy proportions. One in which she flipped out, ran around the room for a little while. Then called Candice and Matt every name in the book. Then came up with another absurd plan to catch the two of them in their own lie. But all she did was let out a humph.

"You're not dropping any juicy new gossip on me Teddy. What kind of best friend would I be if I didn't know that Candice and Matt were going out?" Ted just sat dumbfounded scratching his head. "I already knew about them. I just pretend I don't because it makes Candice feel better if she thinks she's the perfect secret lover. I don't think many people don't know about them. We just all let them think we don't know. Isn't that what you did too? Acted like you didn't know?"

"Yeah I did. But you mean most of the locker room knows? And Jeff doesn't?" He couldn't wrap his head around it. He only found out because one night he had the unfortunate experience of having a room next to theirs and heard all the proof he needed.

"I have no idea if Jeff knows or not. I can't see how he wouldn't know. But whatever he's doing, it's with purpose."

What Candice had in mind was a small bar that had an open mic night and karaoke night all in one. She didn't know how they did it, but the deep poetry mixed with the horrible karaoke mixed into a wonderful blend of fun. A whole lot of fun. Especially when Jeff went up and started singing Pearl Jam songs in his best Eddie Vedder impersonation. It was truly a sight to see.

But now their little date was over and she was slammed with the reality that she did nothing to turn the date wrong. She had been enjoying herself so much that it took them walking back to the hotel for her to remember how it was supposed to turn out.

When Jeff finally got over his nerves after the restaurant mishap she realized that she liked hanging out with him again. They hadn't spent time like that together in a long time and it felt good to have her best friend back they way it was before all of the complicated Matt stuff came into the picture.

"Candice I'll have to say I had a very nice night. It was fun. Thanks for giving me a chance and sticking around after that stupid restaurant move." She didn't even realize they were at her room until he stopped walking and turned to talk to her.

"I had fun too. It was nice."

"So you wouldn't mind doing it again?" She should have saw it coming, it would have been too good to be true for him to just give up and let her go after only one date. She knew she wasn't lucky enough to be able to get out of such a huge problem. She should have just listened to Matt and just told Jeff about them. She wanted to tell him no, but another small part of her was asking what would the harm be in another of his so called dates. They didn't have the vibe of a date. It felt more like they were hanging out like they used to. But Matt would bite her head off and say she was leading him on to eventual heartbreak. Which she kind of would be if she played him like that.

"Jeeeeeeffffffffff I-" Before she could even begin to turn him down he kissed her. To say she was surprised would have been and understatement. It started of just a gentle peck, but when he realized she wasn't pushing him away or slapping him, he pushed on harder and she could hardly think. She felt his tongue brush her bottom lip once. Then twice, and she tried to resist, but the third time was the charm. If her mind was gone when it was just and innocent kiss, it had to be mush now that his tongue was in the equation. Never had she felt so much from just a simple kiss. Soon, the lack of air became apparent and he pulled back. They both began to take in harsh breaths and she could slowly feel her brain functions returning to normal. She could see it in his eyes that it was talking him just as much as it was taking her not to say fuck it and pull him in her room, but she didn't know why he was holding back.

"I'll see you after the show on Monday so we can go out again." With those last parting words he leant in for another kiss. This one a quick peck. Then backed away shaking his head with a smile. And Candice knew she was in deep shit.

She sat staring at the door anxious for it all to be over. Candice knew Jeff was going to go back to the room he shared with Matt and drop every single juicy detail of their date. She knew that Matt would act the part of the encouraging brother, but when enough time had passed, he would flee his room to come and yell at her.

So she sat waiting for him to knock on the door to get it all over with. Questioning the whole time why God couldn't be on her side for at least two seconds. When the knock finally came after who knows how long she got up and prepared her self for what was about to come.

On the other side of the door. Matt looked the perfect mixed of pissed off and annoyed. His dark eyes were a shade darker than usual and his curly hair was out of it's usual ponytail and hung loose around his face. She felt even more worse for thinking about how hot he looked at the moment.

No greeting were exchanged. He shoved past her and began pacing in her room. She went back to her place on her bed and began picking at her nails waiting for him to start lecturing her on all she did and always does wrong when it came to Jeff.

"I don't get it really. I seriously don't understand why you have to constantly make things more complicated then they need to be. This could have been solved a long time ago, but for some strange reason you like to drag it out. Well guess what. That little smooch, that wasn't a final goodbye I'm over you kiss. Do you know how hard it is to have to listen to your brother constantly telling you about how hot his kiss with your girlfriend and not be able to say anything is?" She just sighed and looked up at him. Candice had no idea what to say. She was just happy he was mad about the experience and not that fact that she kissed him back.

"I'm sorry, Matt. You act like I go around everyday planning a new way to put Jeff through the ringer. I don't want to hurt him just as much as you don't. He kissed me. I was getting ready to turn him down and finally break it to him that no we can't go out on dates, and the next thing I know he's kissing me and then he's gone talking about next time. I didn't kiss him. I didn't encourage him to kiss me. So I don't get why it's always my fault." They weren't yelling yet so she had hope that things would turn out alright.

"Okay you didn't start the kiss, but you didn't end it either. What the hell Candice? You were supposed to push him off as soon as it started. You promised me that all it was going to take was this one time to get him to realize you're not the one for him and it didn't happen. If anything he thinks you guys are like soul mates now. I don't know what you wanted from this whole ordeal, but I can tell you what I don't want. I don't want to share my girlfriend with my brother while she thinks it's okay. I can't do it."

"Who said anything about sharing? I just need a little more time to get him-"

"No Candice, you don't need time. You need to just get it over and done with. If it was up to me it would have been done. But you seem to like the games. The only reason I don't go and do it is because you begged me not to and said you wanted to because he's your best friend and you would think of a way to do it. This isn't a way to do it. It's more of a way to have your cake and eat it too." She felt it coming. She didn't even have to ask anything because she could already feel where he was going with the conversation, but she had to do it anyway.

"So what now Matt? You don't like my approach, so what do you think should be done?"

"I don't care how you tell him. All I know is that I can't be with you, while you go creeping around with my brother behind my back. I can't watch him be with you in public while I've had to go around in secret for the past year and a half. So until you finally tell him about us, maybe there shouldn't be an us. Hell, maybe then you'll never have to tell him."

"So that's it? Your calling it quits now?"

"For now, yeah. Tell Jeff about us, and maybe it might change. I love you Candice. So much. But I really can't do it." He looked at her for a long moment and then walked out the door.

Even though she was expecting something along the lines of a breakup it still didn't prepare her for it. She didn't understand how he could lose faith in her so quickly. All she had been working for so they could actually be together and not have to worry about someone seeing them and it was all gone. Well just until she told Jeff, but how did she know that Matt wasn't just bluffing and wouldn't get back with her even after she told. It hurt just to know that he could give everything they had up just like that.

She wiped away the tears she didn't even know had fallen and threw herself back on to the bed. She never expected a night that was going so well to end so bad.

Two weeks later Ted was happy with how things were going. After agreeing to help Maria in her plan he was blessed with being able to spend more time with her. A lot more time. Sure the bulk of it was spent dishing out annoying things about John Cena, but when he wasn't the main focus they had a lot of fun together. He just wished whatever was going to happen with Cena would be over so he could finally move in.

He sat in Randy's locker room listening to a bunch of the guys talking about something that really wasn't of any concern to him. He had been in on the conversation for a while, but it took a turn for the worse so he decided to stay out of it. His mind wasn't really even in the room, until he felt someone sit down next to him on the bench. He looked over and saw it was John.

"So Ted, how's everything with you?"

"Fine, but since when did you care?" It was safe to say that he was suspicious of why John was there talking to him.

"You're right I don't." He laughed and shook his head. "I came over here because I wanted to know how things are between Maria and you." Now Ted was even more suspicious.

"What do you mean?"

"Well are you guys just friends, or is she your girl?"

"We're friends, but what's it to you?" He hoped John wasn't inquiring about Maria for the reasons he though. When he said he hoped the whole thing with John would be over already, he didn't mean this soon. He wasn't ready yet.

"What's it to me? Have you seen that girl? She's one seriously piece of hot ass. And I know she's been feeling my vibe for a while now, so I though I'd check her out."

"What you and Michelle not together anymore?" He had been talking to the girl more just to let Maria think he was going along with her plan, but she didn't tell him anything about not being with John anymore.

"No, we're still together. But no one said I couldn't have friends."

When Ted finally got back to the hotel he all but ran to Maria's room to tell her about the conversation with John. He had planned on letting her see for herself that John only wanted her as someone to cheat on Michelle with, but he couldn't risk that. He knew how she acted around John and he didn't know if she could realize how wrong that arrange was if he was around.

"Hey Teddy, any new delicious things to tell me tonight?"

"Actually yeah. Sit down, I think this may be a little too much to take while standing." She let out a squeal and bounced over to her bed.

"Okay tell me now I'm ready."

"So I was talking to John today-" She squealed again. "And he was asking about you." This time her squeal was completed with a couple of jumps around the bed.

"This is awesome Teddy! He finally notices me! Now all I have to do is get him to notice my super hot bod. Maybe I should pull the trench coat and lingerie move. Act like I need help with something in my room and let the coat accidentally slip open. Or I could constantly bump into him and purposefully rub against him while our bodies are against each other. Or I could walk around with a folder full of a whole bunch of sexy pictures of me and accidentally leave it in his locker room!"

"Maria, I wasn't done."

"Oh sorry Teddy continue." She sat back down on the bed and gave him her full attention.

"He was asking about you, but he said he just wants to be friends."

"Teddy that's prefect. It's the whole purpose of Operation Make John Realize How Beautiful I Am Compared to That Troll Michelle. We start off as friends and then move on to something more. It's prefect and it's all falling into place. A couple of weeks with me and he'll be saying Michelle who!"

"I'm still not done Maria."

"Oh okay sorry. That was the last time I swear."

"The whole thing is he has no intentions of breaking up with Michelle. He just wants to use you. He wants you to be his mistress. Can you believe that?"

"I can believe it and I'll take it."

"You wouldn't mind being the girl he's cheating with his girlfriend with?"

"Teddy, in a perfect world I'd care. I'd slap him and tell him off for trying to steal my virtue and would have remained a virgin until marriage and would have found the perfect husband and have perfect kids. But this isn't that world. My virtue is gone, it's pretty damn hard to find the perfect guy when you're constantly on the road. John's who I want. So maybe I'll relationship may have to start with me being the other woman. But if that's what it takes to become the only woman, I'll just have to live with it and leave that part out when I talk to our grandchildren."

Ted couldn't believe what he just heard. He thought that Maria would be appalled with the thought of being John's girl on the side, but it seemed she didn't care at all. She thought she would think higher of her self than to just be John's other woman. But obviously he was wrong. And that changed a lot of things for him. Because if she was okay with it, he obviously lost the battle, because now John was definitely in the picture and something told him that would mean he would be out it.

AN: So here it is. Chappie five finally. I fought for it for the longest but it's finally out in large part due to wAcKiEjAcKiE826 for getting me off my ass and actually writing this. So now actual plot comes into the story and the good juicy parts are comming! Please review and tell me what you think of the lates change of events and what you think will happen in the future. I'd love the feedback, it helps me write faster! Thank you!