Disclaimer : I do not own any of the characters mentioned herein. This is pure fiction, written for entertainment only.

Chapter 12

Adam stepped outside to fits of laughter. Cena and Jeff were in the pool and the former was trying to lift a wriggly, squealing Hardy onto his shoulders. Adam fumed inwardly as he watched Cena ready Jeff for an F-U into the water. "Why does he always get to hoard him? He's always with him!"

Despite his struggles, Jeff still ended up getting dunked in the water. He came up gasping and spluttering and Cena laughed his head off at him. "I'm going to get you for this!" and Jeff chased him around in the pool. He finally managed to jump on his back and sent him sprawling face down into the water. He clung to Cena as he straightened up, choking and gasping.

"Do you give up?" Jeff asked in between giggles and Cena shook his head, grinning from ear-to-ear. He loved how Jeff clung to him, with his arms and legs wrapped around him. Both men turned as Adam swam up to them. He had decided an interruption was timely.

"Hi!" he greeted them, a false smile on his face. Jeff slid off Cena's back and returned his greeting awkwardly. Cena just nodded an acknowledgement. Adam wished he would go away but Cena continued to stand there, waiting and watching. He decided to just speak to Jeff in his presence. "Jeff, I've just spoken to Matt about us."

He didn't get far because Randy's voice cut him off. "Jeff!" They turned to see him jumping into the pool and swimming quickly towards them. "Come here, baby," Randy pulled Jeff towards him while sending a glare in Adam's direction.

Adam gritted his teeth in anger. Until a decision was made, he didn't see why Randy should keep Jeff to himself. Now that he had made his intentions known to them, he felt liberated to speak and act on the issue.

"You don't own him, Randy!" Adam spoke tersely.

"I want you to stay away from him!" Randy warned. While the two faced off in a confrontation, Cena looked warily from one to the other. He decided that at the first sight of trouble, he was going to take Jeff with him and bail from the scene.

Jeff sensed the open hostility and said uneasily, "Please Randy, …" he started to say, but was interrupted by Matt calling them from the side. They turned to see him gesturing for them to come in.

"It's about time!" Adam wore a smug look on his face as he headed in with the others. Matt must have reached a decision.

Matt, Chris and Morrison waited for them to climb out. "I'm glad all of you are here," Matt began and turned to his brother, "Jeff, I just found out something interesting and I think you should know because it involves you!"

When his brother sent him a puzzled look, he elaborated, "I just had a talk with Adam and Randy and …" he paused to turn Adam, "Do you want to tell him yourself?"

"Now, hold on!" Randy cut in. "I thought you said it's going to take a while to consider everything. What are you doing now?" He was alarmed at the rate things were moving. He didn't get a chance to speak to Jeff yet.

Jeff looked from his brother to Randy, to Adam and back again. "What's going on? Tell me what and consider what?" he asked, not following them.

"Adam here thinks he has a shot with you and he pleaded with your brother who seems to be inclined to giving him a chance, although I don't understand why the hell he wants to do that unless he's deliberately provoking me just for the fun of it!" Randy said it in one long breath and waited for Jeff to voice his protest against the very idea of it. But, he just stood there in stunned silence. It was Cena who spoke. "You did what?" he asked disbelievingly.

Matt sighed and said, "Look, I just want Jeff to know what's going on, but, I never said anything about giving Adam a chance. I haven't spoken to Jeff yet. Randy just jumped the gun, again!" and sent an exasperated look in the direction of the said man.

"Are you telling me that you're not going to consider my request? Then, why the hell did you call us here?" Adam was starting to lose his patience. He thought that Matt had made his decision and he was going to get his chance. How could Matt deny him after everything he had done for Jeff?

"If everyone will just shut up for a moment, I will get to the point!" Matt snapped back, sending them scorching looks. Chris and Morrison snickered at their predicament and received glares in return.

"I guess by now, thanks to Randy's big mouth, everyone knows that Adam wants an equal opportunity to win my baby brother's affections."

Jeff squirmed uncomfortably just as Randy hissed out vehemently, "Over my dead body!"

Matt sent him a scathing look. "If you interrupt me one more time, I'll forbid you to see my brother for a whole week! And that goes for everyone else!" Randy bit back his retort. He knew it was not an idle threat.

"Now, since we're on the subject of equal opportunities, I would like to throw open to the floor." He sent Cena a sidelong glance and he perked up immediately. He tensed with anticipation and was promptly rewarded. "Who else here, besides Randy and Adam, is interested to go out with my brother?"

Morrison had his hand half-raised when Chris elbowed him hard at the side and hissed at him, "Don't you dare! You keep out of this! We have enough trouble as it is!"

Sighing with resignation, he folded his arms instead. Chris was right. He couldn't see himself winning in such a situation. Earlier on, Matt had asked for their opinions and they all agreed that, all is fair in love. They encouraged him to allow Adam to pit against Randy for Jeff's affections, provided his brother didn't object. Matt had given them a sly look and said he held an ace card up his sleeves and would make it known in a short while. He couldn't help wondering what he had in mind.

Cena spoke up suddenly, "I know it's a conflict of interest since I'm guarding Jeff, but I don't see why I should step aside and give these two a free hand in this situation." He turned to Jeff and giving him a wry grin, said, "You can't really blame a guy for trying, you know. I would do just about anything to go on a date with you!" Jeff couldn't help himself but flushed with pleasure.

Adam narrowed his eyes in annoyance. It didn't escape him that the two got along famously, and the fact that they even roomed together didn't sit well with him. What were his chances with the two men standing between him and Jeff? Grudgingly, he admitted it didn't look good at all, but he wasn't about to give up. He was confident he would win if he perservere. He glanced over to see Randy's reaction and was exasperated to see him gawping like a fool.

Randy was struck speechless by the turn of events. First, Adam and now, Cena. His two good friends and confidante were now his arch rivals! And Jeff, the centre of his universe, hadn't spoken a word against his brother's vile plan to tear them apart. He felt his fury rising when he noticed how pleased Jeff looked on hearing Cena's words. Without thinking, he stepped up and pushed hard at Cena who lost his balance and tumbled backwards into the pool.

"John!" Jeff cried out and dived into the pool after him just before Morrison. They came up with him between them. He wasn't hurt but he was furious. He climbed out and threw himself at Randy. Both men grappled and launched punches at each other. Chris and Matt tried to pull them apart while Adam just stood and watched with quiet amusement. Jeff and Morrison quickly got out of the pool and went to aid Matt and Chris in trying to separate them.

"Stop it, Randy, stop this right now!" Jeff yelled at his boyfriend, putting himself between the two and using his weight to push Randy back. Blinded by rage, Randy hungered for a fight and he wanted to get his hands on Cena. Without thinking, he thrust Jeff back, intending to get him out of his way, and sent him sprawling on his back.

"Jeff!" Cena freed himself from Morrison's grip and hurried to his side, just as Matt did.

"I'm sorry, Jeff, I didn't mean to!" His anger cooled instantly when he realized what he had done. He stepped forward to help Jeff but Cena growled at him, "Take your hands off him!" before helping Jeff up to his feet. He was about to challenge Cena when Matt stepped before him.

"I would advise you to calm down before you do something else stupid! You could have hurt Jeff and John!" Matt was taken aback by his violent reactions.

"So, this is my fault? You're the one who came up with these … stupid ideas! What the hell is your problem with me?" His anger fueled at the unjust treatment he had been receiving from Matt. He couldn't understand why he was so adamant to tear Jeff away from him.

"Get a hold of yourself, Randy before you make matters worse!" Matt warned him.

"Get a hold of myself?" Randy let out a harsh laugh, "That's easy for you to say! Why are you doing this to me? I'm trying my best to prove to you, and especially to Jeff, how much I love him but you made sure to keep him away from me every chance you get! As if you haven't made my life miserable enough, you come up with this stupid idea of bringing the two into the picture! You're driving me up the fucking wall!"

Matt looked down in silence. He was beginning to think that maybe, he might just have overdone things.

"I told you before, Randy, that it doesn't matter because I love you!" Jeff spoke up. "But, you refuse to listen. You're impulsive, rash and hot-headed! You could have hurt John and he hasn't done anything to you!"

"So, you're worried about John!"

It irked him that Jeff was more concerned right now with Cena than him. Somehow, the notion that something was going on between them suddenly crept into his head. Once again, jealousy fueled his anger.

"What about me? You allow your brother to tell you what to do, who you should or shouldn't see! Have you considered my feelings at all? You're my boyfriend, for Christ's sake! Don't you have anything to say to these games your brother is playing to keep us apart? Even when you bunked with John, did I say anything? But then again, you could have slept with him for all I know!"

Yet again, Randy allowed his anger to get the better of him, but the sight of Jeff looking shocked and then hurt at his accusation made him realize he had spoken out of turn. However, pride stood in his way and he stubbornly told himself he was done apologizing.

Jeff walked up to him with his hands balled into fists. "Did you just accuse me of cheating on you with John?" he spoke in a barely controlled voice, trembling with his emotions.

"You should know if you have slept with him!" and the next thing he knew, Jeff had smacked him hard across the face. He stared in stunned silence as Jeff fled with a choked sob. Cena threw him a baleful look before going after him. Adam hesitated and decided against following. He would have his chance, he just had to be patient and bide his time.

There was a moment of silence and Matt said, "It shouldn't end like this. I thought …" and he let out a sigh, "I thought wrong," he admitted quietly. He turned to the others, "Guys, can I have a moment alone with Randy?" Chris, Morrison and Adam left them and he moved to stand before the suddenly quiet, contrite young man.

"I know you hate me right now, but, I didn't mean all of these to happen. You're right. I was playing games with you. I got carried away and I'm really sorry for my part in this, but you shouldn't have said those things to Jeff. He wouldn't betray you and I think you know that. But, what you've just said proves you do not trust him and John, for that matter. How do you expect the relationship to last if you don't trust him? Jeff had a lot of faith in you but you just blew it! I don't know if the situation can be salvaged. You have just crushed his heart, but are you willing to do what it takes to renew his faith in you? If your answer is yes, then, you may want to get a move on it. I'll be honest with you. Jeff likes John a lot more than he knows and John would just about do anything for him. As for Adam, they were really good friends back then. Adam always has a soft spot for Jeff. And as for you, all I can say is, it's not too late."

Randy raised his head to give him a skeptical look. Both men gazed at each other for a long time until Matt raised an eyebrow and said, "What are you waiting for?"

That was all it took and Randy never moved so quickly in his life. In his haste, he bumped into Carlito who was just coming out to join them. While he was sleeping, Morrison decided to leave him a note to let him know where they had gone to. He grumbled under his breath when Randy didn't stop to apologize. "That's not cool!" he shouted after him before looking around and realizing the others weren't there. "Where's everybody?" he asked Matt.

Matt sighed and gestured to him to take a seat before sitting down himself. "It's a long story. I don't want to get into it right now." He fixed Carlito with a steady gaze, making him feel uncomfortable. "I just want you to know that Shannon is like a brother to me and Jeff. I don't want to see him hurt. Now, tell me, just how serious are you about him?"

~*~

Cena patted Jeff's back to soothe him, he was still crying. He had caught up with him and brought him back to their room. Smoothing his hair back from his tear-stained face, Cena said, "Please don't cry. You know how he is. He doesn't mean what he said."

Jeff was huddled against his chest. He still couldn't believe that Randy would doubt him. "He doesn't trust me! He believes I slept with you!" he choked out, his tears falling again.

"He just lost his head, that's all. I admit I'm partly to be blamed for this. I lost my temper and attacked him. I'm really sorry, Jeff." Cena wished he could do something to repair the damage. It pained him to see Jeff so upset, so heartbroken.

Jeff raised his tear-filled eyes to look at him. "It's not your fault, John, he attacked you first. Even now, you're still speaking up for him." He shook his head disconsolately, "I don't know what to believe anymore, John. I thought …" and his tears welled up again. Randy had hurt him deeply with his accusations. Even though he knew they were spoken in a moment of anger, he couldn't help wondering if Randy did, in fact, thought him to be unfaithful. "He wouldn't have said it if he didn't think it!" Pain tore at his heart at that thought and he started crying again.

Cena continued to rock him. Damn that Randy! Why must he be so hot-headed all the time? He wanted to throttle the man for hurting Jeff but the damage had been done. Randy had managed to shred the confidence Jeff had in him.

"That should work in my favor, but why am I feeling bad about it?" Cena mused to himself. He didn't get far in his thoughts when someone knocked on the door.

"I'll check who that is," Cena said and lay Jeff down on the bed before getting up to get the door. Jeff hugged a pillow against him and sniffled.

Cena glared at Randy who actually looked remorseful. "Can I come in? I need to see Jeff." He held in his hands, a beautiful mixed bouquet of white calla lilies and red roses.

Cena had a mind to slam the door in his face but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. "Wait here, I'll check if he wants to see you," he spoke gruffly before closing the door gently.

Jeff looked up from his place, "Is ... is that Randy?" he asked and Cena nodded. "He wants to see you. Are you up to it?"

Jeff sat up looking indecisive and finally said, "Will you tell him I'll see him later, just not now? I'm still upset with him."

"I'll do that." He opened the door and stepped out, gesturing Randy to follow him. He didn't want Jeff to hear what he had to say to Randy.

As soon as they were a safe distance away, he stopped and turned to Randy, "That was a low thing to say and you know it!" His eyes blazed with fury.

"I know and I'm truly sorry! That's why I'm here, to apologize to him, and to you. I'm sorry, John, I shouldn't have pushed you, and I was way out of line with what I said," he apologized sincerely.

Cena studied him carefully and finally nodded, "Apology accepted, and I'm sorry for attacking you."

Randy crooked a smile at him, "Still friends?" and extended his hand for a handshake.

Without hesitation, Cena grasped it firmly and said, "I still want to kick your ass but yes, we're still friends."

Randy nodded gratefully and gazed longingly at Jeff's room before sighing despondently, "He won't see me, is that it?"

He looked so crestfallen that Cena felt sorry for him. And then, he remembered the pain he caused Jeff and decided he should be taught a lesson. "He'll see you, just not now. He's very upset. Give him time to compose himself."

Randy let out a sigh of relief. "That's better than I thought. I would think he would never want to see me again!"

"Jeff's just too sweet to hurt anyone, even an asshole like you," Cena said in a half-deprecating manner. Friends or not, Randy did hurt Jeff's feelings and he was really pissed with him. To his surprise, Randy didn't take offense to his words.

"I know I've been behaving like one, so I'm going to let it slide … just this once" and he grinned at Cena, who, in spite of himself, grinned back.

"Will you take these flowers to him? I'll come by later again. Please take care of him, John" and he handed the bouquet over to Cena and left, his shoulders slumped over dejectedly.

Jeff was looking expectedly at the door when he stepped in. His face lit up at the sight of the flowers. Cena placed them in his hands and said, "They're from Randy. He says he'll come by later again."

Jeff sniffed appreciatively at them, flushing with joy at its significance. Randy was sorry for his behavior, but he had mixed feelings about forgiving him so easily.

"He's so in love with him and that fool doesn't even know how lucky he is! If only Jeff could love me the same," Cena wished longingly as he stared at Jeff.

A voice suddenly spoke in his head, "You haven't tried, so how would you know he wouldn't fall for you? You just have to go for it!" it urged him.

An airy voice, different from the first, spoke up, "You can't break up a good thing, it's not right! You wouldn't be able to live with yourself!"

"Look, it's anybody's game right now. If you don't take hold of this opportunity, he may end up with Adam instead! Can you live with yourself then?"

"John, don't listen to him! Jeff is not fickle. He'll not change his mind. You know he loves Randy. You can't do this to them! How can you think of breaking them up?"

"Oh, shut up! I'm telling you, John, you'll regret it if you give your chance up! Adam is going in for the kill! Are you just going to stand by and do nothing? Don't listen to that goody-two-shoe inside your head! You know what they say, good guys always finish last! Is that what you want to be? Come on, stand tall but fight dirty! If you don't …"

Cena groaned suddenly, holding onto his head and cutting the voices out. "Oh my God, that is so freaky! I'm hearing voices in my head! They're supposed to be in Randy's head, not mine!" He let out a shudder and looked up to see Jeff giving him an alarming look.

"John, are you alright? You're talking to yourself!"

Cena gave him a weak smile. He actually felt kind of woozy and tired. "I think I need to lie down for a while."

Jeff set the flowers aside and got him to lie down on the bed before going to the bathroom to fetch a cold towel. He placed it on John's forehead and asked in a worried tone, "Do you want me to call for a doctor?"

"No, I'll be fine after some rest. Why don't you lie down with me for a while? I need to ask you something." He waited for Jeff to get comfortable beside him. It was time to find out how he felt about the current situation.

"I hope you're not angry with me for speaking up in front of the others. I do not want to be left out if there's a chance to be with you, but I hope I didn't make you feel uncomfortable."

Jeff cast his eyes down awkwardly, blushing faintly.

"He is uncomfortable! Oh God, he's going to move out and stay with Matt!"

Jeff lifted his eyes to meet his and said bashfully, "I'm really flattered by all the attention, John. You have been more than a friend. If … if I wasn't with Randy, I think, I would have fallen for you" and he blushed furiously at Cena's elated look.

It was more than Cena had expected. He took a moment to take it all in and it suddenly registered that he might still stand a chance! A thought struck him and he just had to ask, "What is it with Adam? I mean, did you guys date way back then? I haven't seen him with anyone but Amy. He has suddenly taken an interest in you."

Jeff averted his eyes and said quietly, "Can we talk about something else?"

Cena wanted to kick himself for ruining the moment. He speculated that the two had some history between them and didn't part with the best of terms. He didn't want to probe further. If Jeff wanted to talk about it, he would in his own time.

"I'm sorry for intruding, it's none of my business," he apologized. He suddenly grimaced at the sharp pain at the back of his head. His head was beginning to throb and the lights were hurting his eyes. "Jeff, do you mind if I close my eyes for a while? My head is hurting."

Jeff looked worriedly at him. He removed the towel and touched his forehead and thought he felt feverish. "I think you have a fever, John. Let me call a doctor."

"No, just let me sleep for a while, I'll be fine," Cena insisted. "Stay with me?" he looked pleadingly at him.

Jeff gave him a reassuring nod and smile. "I'll stay with you. Just close your eyes and rest. I'll be right here when you wake up," he assured him.

Jeff watched as he finally fell into a restless sleep. He was able to study him without being observed and realized that he really liked what he saw. He furrowed his brows in confusion and reprimanded himself for his treacherous thoughts. "How could you? You can't do this to Randy, he loves you!"

"He does? Then, why does he doubt me?" Jeff battled with his own thoughts. "You know that John held special feelings for you, he told you that himself. He has refrained from showing you because he doesn't want to put you in an awkward position, but things have changed. You're not promised to Randy, so you still have a choice. Look at John, he's a good man! He's always watching over you and he conducts himself like a gentleman even though you share the same bed. And, he makes you happy! Just give him a chance, he deserves it. Like you say, if it wasn't for Randy, you would have fallen for him!"

Furrowing his brows, Jeff realized that in the midst of all the happenings, he had not asked Matt why he had involved John and Adam into the game plan. He thought they were supposed to test the depth of Randy's love for him. Was this recent development part of the plan to invoke his jealousy? If so, it didn't go well, considering Randy's reaction and how it ended up tearing them apart. Besides, he was unwilling to continue the game at someone else's expense. He didn't want any of them to get hurt.

He studied John affectionately in his sleep. He knew that John cared for him deeply. Would Matt allow them to room together now that he knew his intentions? He surprised himself with the realization that, in spite of everything, he wished to continue to stay with John.

His thoughts went to Adam. He still had mixed feelings about him. Adam might have taken him by force, albeit unintentionally, but he had forgiven him the day he came to his aid when he was almost knocked down and brought him back to the hotel. That was the Adam he knew, the caring, dependable person he once was. He recalled the bond they once shared. Was Adam trying to reestablish what they had lost? Would he welcome it?

"What's lost is lost," he told himself but he couldn't fully convince himself. He didn't know what to make out of the whole situation. He needed advice and he knew who to go to.

"I need to talk to Matt about this. If he's doing what I think he's doing, then, I've to put a stop to it. I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me. John almost got hurt this afternoon and Randy's angry outburst had caused a rift between us."

He decided to wait till dinner to speak to his brother. He couldn't bring himself to leave John at the moment. He closed his eyes wearily. His tiff with Randy had left him emotionally drained. Within minutes, he joined Cena in deep slumber.

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