… … …

Chapter 6

Morning afters. She read about them in books, seen them on TV. One person wakes up in panic as they try to place where exactly they were, then they turn around to see someone behind them and they stare in horror as they try to remember what the fuck happened the night before but upon seeing themselves naked, they really go into panic mode as they try to gracefully make an exit in hopes of never seeing that person again.

Catelyn wasn't so lucky.

Upon waking, she groaned as everything came crashing back to her. She wasn't one of the lucky ones who forgot everything the morning after. Oh no, she remembered everything and knew for a fact Matt was behind her.

"Please let him be sleeping, please let him be sleeping." She quietly whispered to herself.

"Nope, I'm wide awake. Why, plan on making a run for it?"

"Oh yeah." She said, getting up as she began searching for her clothes.

"Why?"

"Cuz I told you last night what would happen." She reminded him. "I don't get black out periods when I'm drunk, I remember everything."

"So you hate me?" He asked.

"Nope." She replied, finding her bra on a nearby lampshade. Wasn't that a cliché.

"You hate yourself?" He asked, rolling onto his back, his hands behind his head.

"Nope." She walked across the room, snatching her pants from the bathroom doorknob.

"But you're still gonna make a run for it."

"Oh yeah." She said again.

"And avoid me at all costs?" He asked with a smirk.

She pulled her shirt over her head and finally turned to face him, her face going bright red as he was completely nude with no blanket covering him.

"Probably," She squeaked. "I gotta go."

She practically ran for the door and yanked it open but stopped when Matt called her name. She didn't turn around, just waited for him to speak.

"I'm not going to stop you from leaving."

"Good." She huffed.

"But I'm not going to let you avoid me."

She turned to glare at him, trying her hardest to keep eye contact and not let her gaze slip. "You can't stop me."

"No, but I will give you a few days to think then I'm coming for you."

"For what?" She asked with an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes

"I don't sleep around with just anyone."

Her eyes snapped back to his. "You mean you're wanting this to go somewhere? You don't' know me Matt, you don't want to know me, I have too much baggage and quite frankly I don't want to start anything with anyone."

Grabbing her sweatshirt of the door handle, she opened the door, slamming it behind her as she stomped off down the hall.

"Crazy night?" She heard Jeff call out to her.

She turned to face him. "And where did you stay?"

"Punk's room, You and Matt sounded a little busy."

Her face went bright red and she threw her sweatshirt at him. "Shut up Jeff."

She continued on to her room, opening it and slamming it behind her, leaning against it with a huff.

"Where the hell have you been?"

She looked up to see Shawn sitting on the bed, still in the same clothes from the night before, looking like he hadn't slept a wink.

"I went out with some guys and I crashed with Matt and Jeff. And don't say Hell, that's swearing." She said the last part mockingly.

"And you didn't think to let me know?"

"What does it matter? I work for you. I don't have to let you know where I am every god damned minute of the day."

He opened his mouth then quickly shut it, glaring at her.

"I needed you to go over some of my stuff, I don't remember giving you the night off."

"You gave me the whole week off, when Melina attacked me, remember? You said I could as long as I roomed with you."

"Well you didn't room with me last night, now did you?"

"I could barely walk I was so drunk, Matt ended up carrying me back to his room."

"You were drinking? Did he try anything with you?" Shawn asked looking outraged

Catelyn glared at him, doing her best to not let anything show.

"That's none of your business, again, my time, my life. You are the em-ploy-er. Deal with it."

"Look, just... let me know next time."

She stomped over to her suitcase and grabbed some clothes. "What does it matter to you? If I didn't know any better I'd think you almost cared Shawn. I'd think you were almost playing the worried father. Well just stop before you go and complicate this even more. I have enough complicated crap in my life."

She went into the bathroom and Shawn winced as she slammed the door behind her.

He really didn't need these paternal feelings towards her. She wanted to talk about complicated crap? He was sure he won hands down right now.

… … …

"Catey."

"Punky." She replied back with a smile.

"That's the first smile I've seen on you since we went out."

Her smile grew. "It's the first time you've seem me since, you dork."

"I know." He said with mock hurt shining in his eyes. "We think you don't love us anymore. Are you avoiding us, or just Matt?"

Catelyn's eyes narrowed as he grinned at her and she looked around before stepping up close to him and pushing him back into an empty room.

"Does everybody freaking know?"

"Nope. Only me and Jeff. You weren't exactly keeping quiet."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not avoiding anyone. I've been looking after Shawn's stuff like I'm supposed to. I am his assistant after all."

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much." He dryly replied.

"Methinks somebody should shut his big fat mouth." She grumbled.

"So where did Michaels think you were that night."

She rolled her eyes. "Too drunk to make it back so I crashed at Jeff and Matt's. It's no big deal I'm sure you guys do things like this all the time."

Punk chuckled. "No not our dear little Matty." He opened the door a big grin now on his face. "He's looking for you and told me to tell you if I saw you, that your time is up and he's coming for you."

Catelyn let out a shriek of frustration as Punk left her alone in the locker room.

Great, just frigging great. Now how was she supposed to hide for the rest of the night? With a sigh she left the room in time to see Maria watching Punk walk away then turn to look at her, her eyes narrowing.

"What were you guys doing in there?" Maria asked.

"Talking." Catelyn replied with a shrug.

"Just talking?"

Catelyn looked at her. "Yes, just talking, what's wrong?"

"You know him and I are going out right?"

Her eyes widened as she realized what Maria was implying. "Okay I didn't but oh my god, nothing is going on. Why does everyone think I'm sleeping with every guy I talk to?"

Maria shrugged. "I didn't say anything, just be warned."

She walked away and the taller girl stared after her in horror. What the hell was everyone's problem here? She was really, really beginning to hate this place.

She walked back to Shawn's room, a frown on her face as she entered.

"Where were you?" Shawn asked.

She shrugged, moving to sit down.

"What's wrong?" He asked now, noticing the look on her face.

"What the hell happens here that everyone is so damn suspicious that they think I'm sleeping with everyone?"

"Who now?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Maria thinks I'm sleeping with Punk. This is ridiculous."

"Welcome to the wrestling business. If you let it get to you, you'll go mad. The best thing to do is just brush it off."

"Is that what you do?" she skeptically asked.

"Yes. It's what I have to do. It's made me come off as the bad guy a lot of times because I don't' go gossiping around, but I want no part in it."

"I'm not even a wrestler." She cried, folding her incredibly long legs beneath her as she gracefully plunked herself down on the couch.

"The fact that the Diva's are treating you as competition though means you should be careful unless you want more Melina like altercations happening."

Catelyn rolled her eyes. "Why would I be competition?"

Shawn stared at her trying to gauge if she was serious or not. Did she really not see it? She was beautiful. She could take on any of the WWE Diva's in a heartbeat if she really wanted to.

"What?" She asked. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You don't see it, do you?" he asked, shaking his head. Either she was a really good actor, she'd have to be to still pretend to be his daughter or she just didn't see it. He sadly shook his head. Her mothers influence no less.

"What? See what?"

He opened his mouth to tell her but there was a knock on the door. He watched as Catelyn's eyes lit up in panic.

"I'm not here." She hissed as he stood up to answer the door.

"What?" He asked, opening the door, smiling when he saw Matt there. "Hey Matt, What's up?" Behind him he heard Catelyn groan.

"I was just wondering if Catelyn was here." Matt said with a smile.

"No." The both heard her weak reply.

Shawn lifted a brow at Matt who just smiled back.

"You think I could go for a walk with whoever is in there then?" Matt called into the room.

"No." Came another reply.

Shawn rolled his eyes. "I need to go talk to Vince so feel free to use the room."

Matt stepped into the room, closing the door behind Shawn before turning to Catelyn.

"Sitting there and pouting at me isn't going to make me go away."

"What will?"

"Nothing." He replied, moving to sit beside her. "You want to tell me why you hate me and are avoiding me like the plague?"

"not particularly."

"I don't think I've ever met a woman who talked as little as you do."

She responded with a raised eyebrow as she unfolded her legs and stood up. "Matt, let me make this simple for the both of us. What happened was a drunken mistake. I don't do the relationship thing, so if you're here looking for that-"

"One date." He interrupted her.

"What?" She asked in surprise.

"I just want to take you out on one date."

She tilted her head to the side as she regarded him "Are you for real? Am I talking and you're just not hearing?"

"You at least owe me that."

"I owe you nothing." She exploded. "I don't owe anyone a thing."

"One date and I'll leave you alone."

"Fine." She replied in an exasperated tone. "One god damn date, then you leave me alone for good."

She regretted the words the moment they came out of her mouth. But it was too late, she had agreed.