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

Thank you for the reviews!

So, John finally had him some! That horndog deserves some loving, I'm actually happy for him. Ooh... Randy is pissed that Jeff is no longer his alone. Adam has been keeping a low profile. Hmm… should I give him his chance? Read on to find out. Enjoy!

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Chapter 15

"I don't think I can do this, Matt. Maybe I should just call Adam and cancel."

Matt watched as Jeff chewed on his nails nervously. They had been talking about the situation and Jeff was having second thoughts about the 'date' thing.

"It's just a date, Jeff. Why are you so nervous? Both of you know each other well enough. Is there something you're not telling me?"

Matt was baffled by his reaction. Among the three men, he thought that Jeff would feel the most comfortable with Adam as they knew each other from back then.

He's getting suspicious. I better just shut up and follow his plan or he'll start asking questions.

"I..I guess you're right. Maybe I'm just afraid that Randy and John will read too much into it," he gave Matt a weak smile.

"They have agreed to it so I don't see any problems, unless …" and Matt smirked, "you do the naughty deed and climb into bed with Adam as well."

The nervousness was immediately replaced by annoyance. "You got me into this mess! Things would have been fine if you have just left Randy and I alone!" Jeff huffed.

"I was only trying to help and you wouldn't be in this predicament if you didn't jump into bed with John!" Matt retorted back and immediately wished he could take it back when Jeff's face fell. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," he apologized. "You want to tell me what brought about the situation with John?"

Hugging cookie monster against him, Jeff related to him what happened.

"We started off as friends. I've always felt comfortable with him and can talk to him just about anything. Somehow, in the midst of everything, there was a shift in the relationship and we started to grow fond of each other and … you know the rest." He started chewing his nails again in consternation, "I don't know what to do, Matty. I can't decide between Randy and John and whatever I do, I'm going to end up hurting one of them. I can't help feeling it's wrong to go out with Adam when both of them are hurting."

"The whole idea of going out with each of them is for you to get to know them better. Need I remind you that you've only met Randy and John for less than a week? You don't know much about them except, how good they are in bed!" and sniggered at the baleful glare Jeff threw at him. "I want you to re-evaluate your feelings for each of them after spending some time with them. I know they are all decent guys and have no doubt they have feelings for you, but you need to find out who you love most."

"Isn't there any other way around this without getting Adam involved? It's complicated enough without bringing him into the picture." He still felt uneasy about the whole arrangement.

"You have to give him a chance like the others, Jeff. Don't you think you owe it to him after what he has done for you?" Matt asked.

"I know, but I'm afraid he may get the wrong idea. I don't mind being friends with him but what if he wanted more from me?" Jeff voiced his apprehension. They couldn't be more than friends. Right?

"You know, I find it strange that this conversation keeps coming back to Adam. Don't you like him anymore? I mean, the both of you used to be close. He only wants to go out with you on a casual date but you keep coming up with excuses not to go. Is that the way to pay him back?"

Jeff looked guilt-stricken. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to appear ungrateful. I'm just worried about Randy and John. Randy is so mad at John and it's my fault. Why do I keep ruining people's friendship?" he said quietly.

"It is not entirely your fault," Matt comforted him. "Those guys know how to take care of themselves, so I want you to stop worrying about them and just go out and have a good time with Adam."

Matt made it sound so easy but he still had his reservations. There was a knock on the door and Jeff jumped, his nerves already frayed by his current predicament.

"Your date is here," Matt informed him with a smirk.

"Oh God, I've lost track of the time! I'm not ready!" Grabbing his bag of clothes, he quickly dashed into the bathroom. He hadn't even unpacked since leaving Cena's room.

Matt waited for the bathroom door to close before moving to open the front door.

"Hey Adam, come on in, Jeff's not ready yet." He took in his casual attire and smiled; Adam remembered how Jeff hated going to formal places where they needed to dress up.

"So, where are you taking him?" Matt asked casually.

"Well, I was thinking of lunch at Denny's and then, we'll decide as we go along," Adam said. He hated to plan ahead and he knew that Jeff shared the same sentiments. They would rather do things at the spur of the moment.

Matt nodded. He hesitated before asking, "Is everything alright between you and Randy?"

"We're cool for now, but it's a different story with him and John; he's royally pissed with him!"

Matt sighed. Well, at least Randy and Adam seemed to have come to a compromise and remained as friends. He decided to talk to Randy and John once Jeff left with Adam. They needed to understand that only one of them would end up with Jeff, so they might as well start learning to be gracious with each other. He decided to be forward with Adam about the present arrangement.

"Listen, can I be honest with you?" he asked after inviting him to sit.

"Sure, Matt, what's on your mind?"

"The recent development has put Jeff in a quandary. He's not exactly eager to go out with you after what happened this morning. I'm just wondering if you can try to make this not so much like a date than an outing with friends. It'll make him feel more comfortable. You know what I'm saying?"

Adam gave him a smile, "I understand what you're saying Matt. You have nothing to worry about because we're just going to have lunch and hang out, just like in the old days. I promise I won't do anything to make him feel uneasy."

Matt breathed out a sigh of relief, "Thanks for being so understanding. I'm glad to hear you're not expecting too much from him on the first outing."

The bathroom door opened and Jeff stepped out in faded light blue jeans, fashionably ripped at places to reveal skin and a long-sleeved white t-shirt that hugged his small frame. He had toweled his hair dry but the ends still hung in wet tendrils. He didn't want to keep Adam waiting for too long and decided to skip blow-drying his hair.

"Hi," he greeted Adam awkwardly and said, "Just let me put on my shoes and we can go."

Adam smiled at him, "Take your time, Jeff, there's no hurry."

As Jeff sat down to pull on his socks and platform shoes, Matt turned to Adam, "What time will you be bringing Jeff back?"

Adam hesitated before saying, "Around midnight, if that's alright with you."

Jeff gulped as his nervousness returned. Just treat this as a regular outing and everything will be fine. You're worrying too much unnecessarily!

"It's fine. Drive carefully and if you're drinking, take a cab back," Matt advised before pulling Jeff into a hug. "Don't think too much and enjoy yourself, I'll wait up for you," he whispered to him before relinquishing his hold and allowing Adam to take over.

As Adam guided Jeff out with his arm around his waist, he turned to Matt to reassure him, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of him."

"I'm not expecting anything less. Enjoy yourselves, guys," and watched them leave with a pleased smile on his face. Let's see how things work out between them.

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Adam spoke in a casual tone as he drove, "Is lunch at Denny's okay with you?"

Jeff's eyes lit up. "It's fine. Their milkshakes are the best!"

He was startled when Adam said, "I know. I remember how much you love them. That's why I'm taking you there."

He remembered!

Minutes passed and an awkward silence fell between them. Adam glanced furtively at him. Jeff was fiddling nervously with his fingers and his brows were worried into a frown.

Come on, say something to put him at ease.

"Do you still paint?"

Jeff turned his head towards him. "Occasionally, when I get the inspiration. Matty says I have to get a container to store my paintings because they're cluttering up the place."

"You can sell them on the net you know? I'm sure there are a lot of Jeff Hardy fans out there who would love to own a piece of your artwork!" Adam suggested with a grin.

"I don't know if I want to sell them. I will probably have use for them once I get my own place.

"You're planning to move out soon and stay on your own?" Adam was surprised. He didn't think Matt would agree.

"Well, probably not for the next two years. I'm comfortable staying with Matty and even if I move out, I'll probably build my house next to his. We can look out for each other that way," he informed him in a serious tone.

Adam went suddenly quiet. He spoke after several moments, "I'm really sorry for breaking him and Amy up. They could have been together right now if not for me."

Jeff hesitated before speaking, "I honestly doubt it. They were having problems and if she didn't cheat with you, it would be with someone else. Anyway, that's the past, let's not bring it up."

Adam nodded his agreement and glanced over at him, catching his eyes. Jeff caught the look and knew what was on his mind.

"Don't say anything, Adam! Just leave the subject alone, okay?" he pleaded.

"Just let me get it off my chest and I promise I'll not bring it up again. Please?" It was his turn to beg. Hunter was right. No matter what, the thing hanging between them had to be spoken and resolved.

Jeff sighed and nodded reluctantly. "Okay, I'm listening."

"I swear to God that hurting you was the last thing on my mind. I haven't forgiven myself till today. I broke that day you told me what I did and ran from me. Saying sorry won't cut it and I just want you to know that I'll find a way to make it up to you somehow, no matter how long it takes!"

Jeff let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding. He remembered how they used to hang out together, before and after shows, and even conspired to play pranks on the unsuspecting in the locker room. Adam was the one who initiated all the mischief and those instances when Jeff was caught by their co-workers while running away from the crime scene, Adam would turn back and face their wrath with him. Even when they shopped for clothes, he would ask Adam for his opinion and they even shared the same taste for music and food.

"Are you alright?"

Jeff broke from his reverie. "I'm fine, just thinking about the old days," he admitted to him. He took in a deep breath and said, "I want you to know that I don't hold anything against you. You saved me, twice, so let's just forget about the whole thing and move on."

Adam shook his head adamantly, "No! Just let me do what I need to do or I won't be able to live with myself!"

"Adam …" Jeff started to protest but he cut him off.

"Just for today, Jeff, can we go back to the way we used to be? I want us to hang out and reminisce the good times, but I can tell you're not comfortable with me."

Jeff couldn't deny it. In spite of what he had said, he wasn't being fair to him. He felt like such a hypocrite.

"Promise you'll keep this casual?" he asked still feeling somewhat wary.

"I promise! Cross my heart!" His sincere and solemn gesture brought the beginnings of a smile to Jeff's face which gave Adam his answer.

"Great!" He was pleased they had reached an understanding. It was a start. He wanted Jeff to learn to trust him again before he proceeded to reinforce their relationship. They reached their destination and he parked. As they both walked into the restaurant, he groaned inwardly when the lunch crowd perked up at the sight of them and the more ardent fans rushed towards them, screaming their lungs out. They found themselves surrounded and obliged the fans by signing autographs and having their pictures taken with them. After fifteen minutes, it didn't look like they were going to get away anytime soon. Adam decided a change of plan was needed.

"Let's just order to go," he suggested to Jeff and he quickly nodded his agreement. Adam gestured to the manager who was watching from a distance and quickly gave his orders for the take-away, together with the payment. As the manager headed to the back, the crowd continued to grow as the lunch crowd started drifting in. The two men realized they were hemmed in and Jeff literally jumped when he felt someone groping him. He couldn't move out of the way and the next moment, he yelped when the person grew bolder and pinched his ass. He sent Adam a desperate look who realized his predicament. Grabbing him by the arm, he pulled him forward in front of him.

"Excuse us but we have to go. Thanks for all your support," he thanked their fans properly whilst pushing Jeff ahead of him. He grabbed their orders on their way out, nodding his thanks to the manager. They quickly got into the car and sped off, leaving a trail of fans behind. After a minute of silence, both men suddenly burst into laughter.

"Remind me never to go to a public place for lunch during rush hour," Adam said with a shake of his head. "I forgot how crazy it can get." He turned to Jeff, "You okay?"

"I guess. I'm lucky to just get away with a pinch and grope with the size of that crowd. It could be worse," he said ruefully which got Adam bursting into laughter.

"It's not funny!" he protested but the sides of his mouth twitched in amusement.

"I'm sorry. Let's just find a nice quiet spot to eat, and I think I know just the place!" He drove for a bit and finally turned into a sandy coast and parked near some palm trees. There wasn't anyone around besides themselves and that could be attributed to the fact that the water was cold at that time of the year and the air was nippy.

Adam threw his door open and went to the trunk. As Jeff got out and walked towards the water, sniffing the air appreciatively, he pulled out a blanket and laid it on the ground, weighing it down with their take-away. He reached into the car and turned on the radio, flipping the channels until he found something he thought they both like. Satisfied, he turned to Jeff and watched him gaze quietly out into sea, with his hands thrust into his pockets to keep warm. He walked over to join him, not saying a word and just let the sounds of the waves and the distant cries of seabirds washed over them.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Jeff said in a hushed whisper, keeping his gaze far out at sea. It was almost like he was afraid to break the tranquility of the place.

Adam nodded silently. They remained so for a few more minutes until Adam spoke, "Come on, let's eat before the burgers and fries turn soggy." He took him by the arm and led him to sit on the blanket before pulling out the burgers and fries and milkshakes.

"Eat up, you can afford to put on some weight," he commented before biting into his burger with relish.

"Yes, mother," Jeff replied teasingly before popping a fry into his mouth. They ate silently, just enjoying the serenity of the place and each other's company. Jeff sipped on his strawberry milkshake and sighed blissfully. "This is so good! I can have this for all my meals!"

Adam gave an exaggerated gasp, "You will end up looking like Big Dick Johnson! How are you going to perform the Swanton if you weigh over three hundred pounds?"

"Hey! That's mean!" Jeff punched him on the arm and pouted. "You just said I needed to put on some weight."

"In the right places, Jeffrey. Those shakes will go directly to your ass and we don't want that to happen, do we?"

"It's my ass, so I do what I want with it!" Jeff rolled his eyes and continued to enjoy his shake, looking far out at sea. Adam studied him appreciatively. His face had turned ruddy with the biting air and his lips were ruby red. He caught him shivering.

"It's cold out here, why don't we get back into the car and turn up the heat?" he suggested slyly, but the insinuation was lost on his companion.

"Let's stay out a bit longer, I like it out here," Jeff said as he folded his arms to keep warm. He lifted his face to the cold air and closed his eyes, breathing in deeply the tangy sea breeze. A sense of tranquility washed over him and a serene smile broke over his face.

Adam watched him mesmerized. So beautiful, as always, and he doesn't even realize the effect he has on people. Involuntarily, he reached out and caressed the soft cherry blonde locks between his fingers. Jeff's eyes flew open, startled by his touch but he recovered quickly. Hugging himself, he asked, "Have you been keeping in touch with Jay?"

"Not exactly," Adam replied with a sigh. "Actually, I've never called him since he left, but I heard from Chris and Show that he's doing alright over at TNA. They live next door to each other."

"I spoke to him a couple of times and he seems happy, I'm glad for him," Jeff shared with him. He hesitated before asking, "Why didn't you call him? You have been friends with him for a long time."

"I don't think he wants to have anything to do with me after I initiated the breakup of Edge and Christian," Adam said quietly.

"Jay has gotten over it, he told me himself. You should call him after today. He'll be glad to hear from you. He was upset at first but he realized it was for the best. It was a blessing in disguise, those were his words. Don't you miss the camaraderie you both shared in the past?" He was surprised that Adam didn't make an effort to call Jay.

"Actually, I do miss it, especially what we four shared. Eddie, bless his soul, used to call us the four amigos. Remember?" Adam mused out loud.

Jeff chuckled. "Yeah, I remember. Those were fun times, weren't they? We were so young and foolish and we caused so much trouble! Everyone was afraid they would be next on our prank list!"

Before they could reminisce any further, they heard the distant rumble of thunder and Jeff flinched. They looked anxiously at the fast approaching dark clouds gathering in the distance. It looked like they were heading inshore.

"Let's get out of here. I think it's going to pour any minute." Adam got up to clear the litter and before Jeff could pick up the blanket, a strong gust of wind sent it flying into the waters. He cried out in dismay but Adam assured him, "It's okay, Jeff. Come on, let's go!"

The menacing clouds were almost upon them. As they climbed in, big raindrops pelted down. It soon became a downpour. The car was chilly and Adam started it to turn on the heat, but was surprised when it refused to start. He tried several times but the engine spluttered and went dead.

Jeff asked in a worried tone, "Are we out of gas?"

"No, the tank is full. I think the engine stalled because of the cold. Let's wait a while and I'll try again later. Anyway, there's no point trying to move out; visibility is poor. Damn, it's really raining hard!" he said as he wiped the screen to look outside. He could hardly see anything with the heavy downpour.

Jeff hugged himself, trying to keep warm. With no heat, the cold was building up inside the car quickly. Adam removed his jacket.

"Put this on, Jeff," but he shook his head.

"No, you need it. You're only wearing a t-shirt." As much as he wanted to take the jacket, Adam wasn't better dressed than he was.

"Don't argue with me, you're shivering!" Saying, he laid his jacket around Jeff's shoulders and grinned when he gave him a grateful smile. A sudden clap of thunder startled both of them. Jeff whimpered frantically and covered his ears, squeezing his eyes shut. Adam suddenly recalled that he was afraid of thunderstorms.

"Jeff .." Before he could comfort him, another loud clap of thunder pervaded the air and Jeff screamed, cowering in his seat.

"Sshh… it's alright. There's nothing to be afraid of." Adam pulled him into his arms and held him. He could feel him trembling against him.

"Addy …" he whimpered and screamed when a succession of claps resounded, clinging tightly to him.

"It's okay, the storm is just passing us. Let me try to start the car again," but it was useless, the car refused to start. Adam pulled out his phone and tried to call out but he couldn't get any signal.

"We are stuck, aren't we?" Jeff spoke in a quavering voice and buried his head quickly into his chest when lightning flashed and thunder followed.

"I don't think so. We just have to wait out the storm. Here, let's get comfortable." He reached to pull the lever to lower his seat at almost a 180-degree angle and adjusted Jeff's seat as well. Pulling him to rest against him, he stroked his hair to comfort him. At least, the thunder was receding into the distance.

"Addy?" Jeff whispered. Adam couldn't help smiling at the pet name; it was the second time he had called him that.

"Yes, Jeffrey?" he cooed softly, stroking his soft locks.

Jeff shifted to look at him with eyes brimming with tears, "Thank you for watching out for me like you did before. I miss you, I miss you a lot!"

Adam hugged him tight, "I miss you too! It's my fault we were torn apart. I'm never going to let you go again!" He was so caught up with his emotions that before he realized what he was doing, he had turned Jeff's face and claimed his mouth in a searing kiss. Jeff struggled to free himself but Adam deepened the kiss, losing himself to it. When he felt Jeff kissing him back tentatively, he shifted and laid him on his back, moving on top of him.

"No!" Jeff cried out and shoved him off. Before Adam could stop him, he was out of the car.

"Jeff!" he climbed out and went after him in the storm. "Jeff! Wait!" His long legs took off after him and he caught him.

"No! Let me go!" Jeff fought him and Adam realized he was crying.

"I'm sorry! Please don't cry, I'm really sorry!" he held him until he finally stopped struggling and just lay against him, sobbing helplessly.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Please forgive me?" he whispered against his ear.

Jeff finally looked up at him with haunted eyes and cried out in anguish, "Why? Why now? After all these years of waiting and you never came, why must you choose now!"

Adam couldn't answer him. He just held him tight and kept whispering over and over again, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

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