Chapter 7...

2 Days Later…

"This seat taken?"

Jeff looked up from his food when he heard the chair across from his being pulled out.

Paula smiled, sitting down without waiting for his response. Jeff tried his best to be nice to Paula when John was around but when he wasn't, all bets were off. He'd never liked her and he didn't see that changing anytime soon. She had a tendency to act like the world was hers and everyone else was just living in it, like everyone was supposed to be in awe of her. She tried to control it in front of John but when he was gone, she showed her true colors. It still amazed Jeff that someone as smart as John didn't see right through her but they hadn't been together too long, he was sure his friend would figure it out eventually.

She wasn't exactly his biggest friend either.

"We need to talk," she said, folding her hands and resting them on the table.

"Do we have to?" he asked.

"Do you know what's up with John?" she asked.

"Shouldn't you be asking him that question?"

"No, I'm asking you," Paula glared. "He's been acting weird for a few days now and I don't know why."

"And what makes you think I do?" Jeff asked.

She rolled her eyes, "I am so not in the mood for this. Do you know what's wrong with him or not?"

Jeff shrugged.

"Does it have something to do with that party you guys went to?"

"Did he tell you anything about it?" Jeff asked.

"No," she shook her head. "He just came back and got all quiet."

It seemed to dawn on her that her suspicions were correct.

"What happened?" her eyes narrowed.

Jeff smiled, standing up and pulling some money out of his pocket. He dropped it on the table and then shrugged, "You'll have to ask John about that.

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"and 5..6..7 and 8," Brianna watched the dancers in the mirror as she and her assistant Rob went through the steps with them. She'd been narrowing the field all day. She started at 6 that morning with about 120 dancers. Now, she was down to about 30 dancers learning the steps for what would hopefully be her last video before a long vacation, Christina's new song 'Candy Man'. The song had a very 40's swing vibe and at Christina's request, she'd made the couples routine, which the artist wouldn't actually be dancing in, very difficult with lots of lifts and tricks but most of them seemed to be stepping up to the challenge. It was good to see them doing so well but it made her job a little harder.

"Okay guys, I really do hate to do this but it is that time again and I've gotta make one last cut," Brianna said, breathing a little heavily. She smiled when Rob brought her a towel and a bottle of water. "Before I do that, I wanna tell you that you are all fantastic dancers and I want you to know that getting cut from this one audition should not make you stop trying. It's truly been a pleasure to work with all of you, it was worth getting up so damn early."

They all laughed a little but they still looked anxious. Brianna felt for them, there was a time when she was in their position.

"If your number isn't called, then you are due back here tomorrow morning at 6 A.M. for the beginning of the video shoot…Okay, here goes," she said. "Numbers 2..6..8..9..11..14..15..19..20..and 22, thank you all so much for coming in, I'm really sorry but we're not going to ask you to come back tomorrow. Thanks again guys."

Five of the six looked disappointed and one of the girls looked a little angry but they all walked to the back of the room to pick up their stuff and quietly filed out of the room.

"And now that I've created this warm, fuzzy environment," Brianna laughed, clapping her hands together. "I'll give you all some time to catch your breath, drink some water, and chill, in about a half hour or so, the stylists will come in to fit you for your wardrobe for tomorrow…I'm gonna get going, I will see you all in the morning. It's been great. Have a good evening guys, thanks again for all the hard work."

They all thanked her before rushing over to the cooler full of water bottles.

"Rob, I'll see you at 5 tomorrow," she sighed, tossing her towel over her shoulder and walking out of the rehearsal room. She went around the corner into the dressing room where Maya was lying on the couch taking a nap, a blanket draped over her. She knelt beside the couch, gently placing her hand on the young girl's forehead.

"Hi," Maya smiled sleepily.

"Hi sweetheart," Brianna brushed her hair out of her face. "You hungry?"

Maya nodded, "Can we go eat?"

"Of course we can," Brianna stood, picking her up. "What do you wanna eat?"

"Food," Maya shrugged.

"Sounds good," Brianna laughed. "I just need to change and we'll go pick something up."

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"So your contract is signed?" Gia asked, sitting on the couch with her sister.

Raquel nodded, "All done as of today..Now I just have to wait for them to figure out what to do with me."

"I've been trying to figure that out my whole life," their father shook his head.

"Well I'm excited for you Raquel," Gia smiled.

"I'm excited too," Raquel smiled.

"I never thought I'd have to say that my daughter works for the WWE," Frank said with disdain.

"What's wrong with that?" Gia asked. "John works for the WWE."

"Why on Earth have I had to hear that name so much lately?" Frank asked, annoyed. "Am I really the only one that sees that it's good that he's been out of our lives."

"Yes daddy, you are," Raquel said.

"I don't know," Gia said. "Bri didn't exactly looked thrilled to see him."

"She hates surprises," Raquel shrugged. "But she was glad to see him, I could tell."

"You could?" Gia asked.

"Because of the way she looked when she opened the door," Raquel answered.

"She looked like her heart stopped," Frank argued.

Raquel smiled, "Exactly."

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"I think all we need now are lasagna noodles kid," Brianna said as she pushed the cart through the store. Maya was sitting in it, surrounded by groceries.

"And cookies," Maya smiled.

"Now what do cookies have to do with lasagna?" Brianna smiled down at the young girl.

"Dessert," Maya laughed. "Duh."

"Duh," Bri jokingly smacked herself in the forehead, making Maya giggle. She was so focused on the young child that she didn't see the cart crossing in front of her.

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John stumbled a little when he hit the other cart. He was about to tell the idiot to watch where they were going but stopped when he found himself staring into a very familiar pair of green eyes. He knew he should say something but for some reason his brain was having trouble sending messages to his mouth and he just stood there, staring.

"John!"

He snapped out of it when he heard the cheerful voice coming from the cart. Maya smiled brightly, her pigtails swinging a little as she waved enthusiastically.

"Hey there Maya," John smiled.

"What are you doing here?" Maya asked.

"A little grocery shopping," John looked down at his cart. All he had so far was a carton of eggs and a gallon of milk. "What are you doing here?"

"Brianna's gonna make lasagna," Maya smiled. "And she said I could help."

"Well that should be fun," John smiled. "I know Brianna makes great lasagna."

He looked up at her again and she was rifling through her purse. John knew she wasn't really looking for anything. Whenever she didn't want to make eye contact, she practically shoved her face in her purse to avoid it. He'd always thought it was kind of cute.

"You should come over for dinner!" Maya exclaimed.

Brianna looked up, obviously alarmed. John had to admit, he was a little surprised too.

"Oh I couldn't do that," John shook his head.

"Please," Maya looked up at him.

John didn't feel right saying no to the kid. And a part of him was hoping that maybe he and Brianna could talk, maybe straighten a few things out.

"I..I guess I could if it's okay with Brianna," John left it up to her.

"Please Brianna," Maya clasped her hands together, pleading.

John could see that she wanted to say no and it made him a little nervous.

"Pleeease," Maya begged.

Brianna sighed, "Okay, okay, just stop giving me the puppy dog eyes."

Maya smiled excitedly, "You wanna come over now?"

John laughed, "I cant right now, I've gotta go back home and take care of a few things."

"Maya, sweetheart, why don't you run over there and get your cookies?" Brianna suggested.

"Okay," Maya stood up, excited.

Brianna lifted her out of the cart and she was running almost before her feet hit the ground. She looked after the young girl but John knew she'd sent her away for a reason.

"I can make up some excuse to back out if you want," he offered, hoping that wasn't what she wanted.

"No," she shook her head, still not quite looking at him. "Maya wants you to come over. She likes you..You always were good with kids."

"So were you," he smiled. "Are you sure you're okay with me coming over?"

"Yeah," she nodded, tapping her fingers on the cart. "Why?"

"Because you aren't looking at me," he said.

She looked up at him and he got a strange feeling in his chest. Not bad just…something he hadn't felt in a while. He couldn't really identify it.

"I was hoping maybe..maybe we could talk," he suggested.

She seemed unsure but she nodded a little, "Yeah, um..maybe."

"I got the cookies," Maya ran over, smiling, a pack of cookies under each arm.

"Good job," Brianna forced a bright smile, lifting her up and putting her back in the cart. "We should get going sweetie, say bye to John."

"Bye John," Maya waved.

"Bye," John waved back.

"You can come over at about 8:30," Brianna said, turning the cart.

John smiled, "I'll be there."

John watched them leave and he was about to turn away when something caught his eye. The loose pants she wore were sliding down a little and he could clearly see, very low on Brianna's back, a little to the right side. He couldn't believe she still had it. She'd gotten it when she turned 18 and he had been there with her, holding her hand. She said that it described how she felt about him. She had the words tattooed in small cursive letters:

Sei La Mia Felicita

It was Italian for 'You Are My Happiness'

John shook his head, knowing that if he didn't stop staring, people were going to think he was a stalker or something. He was just surprised. He assumed she would have gotten it removed. But for some reason, he was glad she didn't. He laughed a little, wondering if it was a full moon or something. The thoughts that were going through his head and the things that were happening, it was just…strange. He'd spent countless time thinking about Brianna, wondering how she was and what she was doing and if she thought about him. And after he'd finally decided that he was over her, that she was out of his life and he was okay with it..He'd gone from not seeing her for years to being invited to her house twice in one week. Now he just wondered what was going to happen next.

Dinner should be fun. Hope you're enjoying the story, reviews are, of course, greatly appreciated. Thanks !