July 3, 2009 – San Diego

Adam sat in his hotel room in San Diego. They had arrived late last night and he had been so anxious on the bus. The anxiety was not from being stuck on the bus, he did that all of the time, but it wasn't very often that as he was on the bus that Matt and Jeff Hardy took a keen interest in him. Usually they fooled around with Khali and Singh in the back. Matt might wave or even say a 'hi', but Jeff always stayed as far away from Adam as possible, but not today. He began to wonder if they knew.

"Hey Adam," Matt started in his southern tongue, "What are you doing for fourth of July?"

Without thinking he replied, "My girlfriend and I are taking a trip up to Canada." Mentally he smacked himself in the face and was screaming shit whilst doing so.

"Girlfriend? Didn't know you had one. Normally you are the guy on the bus telling everyone just how amazing and hot your girl is, haven't heard you spit a word out about one in awhile. What's her name?"

Thinking quick he came up with the name, "Jessica, her name's Jessica."

He put his head back down and tried to focus, or at least make it look like all of his focus was on the small paperback book in his hand. Matt turned back around. Jeff continued to sit with his brother in the row in front of Adam, but refused to acknowledge him in anyway for the rest of the ride.

Once they made it to the hotel Adam had raced up to his room and laid down, but he wasn't able to sleep. He missed Valerie. He was so eager to get this show done and spend some alone time with her outside of her apartment. The thing he was most excited about was the fact that he had a surprise for her. It wasn't an engagement ring per se being that they had been together barely two and a half months, but it was a promise. He knew how hurt she had been in the past and he wanted her to know that he would never treat her that way. He pulled the little amethyst heart ring that he had gotten. It wasn't small, but it wasn't so big that she couldn't wear it at work. He smiled at the thought of her wearing something that he had bought her everyday. The smile on his face said it all.

Valerie got out of the cab in front of the hotel where she knew that Adam was staying the last night. She wanted to surprise him, but she knew she also had to be careful. Matt and Jeff were staying in the same hotel and she hadn't quite told them about Adam yet. They knew there was a man in her life, and they asked questions, but she just give non-committal answers and that was the end of it. Being at home she could brush things off, but being here in San Diego, if they caught her here well … she'd cross that bridge when she came to it. She wanted to tell them, but she still wasn't sure how they would take it. Beth forewarned her about how much Jeff still truly hated Adam, and the thought of Jeff being mad at her was beyond unbearable.

She had spoken with Adam earlier, and after a little coercion on her part she got him to tell her what room he was staying in. She hopped onto the elevator, pushed the button for the fourth floor and watched the door close as she heard a voice yell wait, but it was too late the doors shut and the elevator was on its way up.

Jeff sat at the restaurant on the hotel. He had a half eaten hamburger and an order of French fries on a plate in front of him. Beth's plate was sitting across from him. She had taken leave to go use the restroom. His lone long-neck sat empty on the table as he sat just watching the world go by. A couple people who were walking by recognized him, mostly kids and he signed those couple autographs. Jeff watched people go on and off of the elevator paying no mind to who they were until he saw a familiar face walk over and push the up button with a bag and a large rolling suitcase in tow.

He stood up to get a better look past the plant that was in his way. The woman was about twenty-five feet away from him but he was almost one-hundred percent positive that the woman was Valerie. He started walking towards the woman as she waited for the machine. The doors opened and she stepped on hitting a button to another floor. He started to run after her, but before he could make it to the elevator the doors shut. He called "Wait!" but it was too late. The elevator was on its way up.

He decided that he must have been seeing things, but he was almost positive that the woman was Valerie. The only perplexing thing was if it was her, what the hell was she doing in San Diego?

He walked back to his table where Beth was standing waiting for him. "What's the matter Jeffro?"

"I coulda swore I saw Val get on that elevator, but I must be seeing things. I mean what would she be doing here?"

"Good question," Beth replied. Beth looked away. Jef thought it was kind of suspicious. Then the thought hit Jeff. The fourth was his and Beth's ten year anniversary, maybe Beth had planned this big party for them and hadn't told Jeff, and then she had Valerie come out and help her put it all together. That explained the whole thing. He looked at Beth and smiled.

He walked up next to her and kissed her on the cheek. "See you upstairs."

Room number 426. It was at the end of the extensive hallway leading away from the elevators in the middle. She took a breath and blew it out slowly. Then she raised her hand to knock on the door. Before her hand actually hit the door it was pulled open exposing Adam looking down at his phone walking out and running into her.

Before looking up he started saying, "Excuse me, can I help …" then he looked and realized it was Valerie. "Val!" he grinned. "What are you doing here?" He gave her a light kiss and then pulled her in his room.

"I thought I would come and surprise you. And I thought maybe we could start our vacation early," they walked to the couch and sat down.

"What about Matt and Jeff?"

"Eh, I figure if they find out we're already going to be gone for a week so they'll have time to cool off." She pulled her sunglasses off of the top of her head and set them on the table. "Besides, I missed you."

His smile widened, "I missed you too."

"So where were you headed?"

"Um, I was about to go get something to eat real quick, then I was going to head over to the arena and go over the match and change."

"Oh, I didn't realize it was that late. What time is the flight to Toronto?"

"Well I am going to have to change it now. My flight was going to go to Raleigh first. So I guess I'll have to cancel that one."

"I guess so. Well we can look while we are eating."

"Okay." They stood up and he grabbed her hand and they walked out the door.