The Great Escape

AN. Thank you to xHalosandwings, MrsDibiase-10, BigRedMachineUK, John Cena's Field Hockey Star, Grits0205, Tiffyxox, xTwistedxImperfectionx & TJ Sparkles for reviewing the last chapter.

Thanks very muchly! :)

Chapter Thirty-Seven – Better in Time

EVE

It felt strange to be back on campus.

Though classes hadn't started up again on account of the New Year to come, Eve felt as though some familiarity should have been recognized by now. Instead, it seemed like the only comfort she could find was in Maria, who was more and more like her bubbly self after the run-in with Michelle the other day.

Never usually one to let things get her down for too long, she wondered if her odd mood had anything to do with the guy in her room at the moment. Jeff Hardy, dancing stupidly for Maria's evident amusement, was a blaring reminder of her past relationship—and Matt Hardy hadn't been easy to let go of. She wasn't entirely sure she had, if she was honest with herself.

Still, her history was just that: history. Wasn't it about time to leave it in the past?

"Hey Eve, care to showcase your dancing skills besides Mr. Hardy here? I plan to videotape it in a minute." The redhead giggled with delight.

"I'm going to have to say no – I mean, I wouldn't want to embarrass myself next to such a dancing legend."

"You've got that right." Jeff said out of breath, thrusting his hips in a strange manner. "I'm telling you this though: one day everybody is going to want to dance like me."

"Uh, I think I'll believe it when I see it." With a smirk on her lips, she lifted her lazy body off of her bed and sighed. "I guess I'll go and see what Mickie's up to. I'm sure she has something to tell me... maybe about how soft her boyfriend's hair is..."

"What about Ashley?"

"She's with Adam." She and Maria answered in unison, with the latter adding, "I have it on very good authority – okay, from Miz – that they haven't left the room yet."

Just one mention of Mike forced the brunette to recoil away from any quips she may have had for that particular statement. She said her goodbyes, making a quick grab for her leather jacket, and shut the door behind her on the way out.

She shook her head while she walked, the gesture meant for herself. She hated just how jumbled up her thoughts became when Mike was featured in them. On one hand, she was proud to remember the moment she told him nothing could happen between them—it would have been so easy to give in to temptation and carry out a heated affair, but she stood her ground. It was immoral and that was that.

But on the other hand...

It was hardly news anymore that another break-up was on the cards. The students on campus were talking about the split of Mike and Layla, who were thought to be the hottest new couple around. Of course, the brunette heard it from Maria first hand and thought it to be just another rumour... but was it entirely wrong to feel a spark of delight at the prospect of it being true?

It took a while for Eve to shift back into the present day. When she did, she glanced up from the path she was walking along and spotted two very familiar faces. Despite herself she smiled; even if she and Ashley weren't the best of friends, it had to be said that the blonde looked a lot better with that certain glow of happiness surrounding her. Adam looked exactly the same as he rested his head on top of hers while they walked in the far distance, one arm wrapped snugly around her shoulders.

A pang of sadness hit her, and she suddenly wished the new couple were both still back in Adam's room, unable to keep their hands off each other – at least it wouldn't remind her of how alone she truly was.

A small sigh spilled through her lips. It was time to remind herself, yet again, that things would be better for her in due time.

"Oh God, it's you."

Pulling her focus away from the happy couple, she narrowed her eyes on Layla, who'd felt the need to stop right in front of her instead of just walking past her. Was it really necessary for them to have a conversation – one which would no doubt be full of bitchy comments and back and forth arguing? She thought they were done with that.

"I could say the same to you." Stuffing her hands into her pockets, she nodded at the petite woman. "Look, we don't have to make this anything. You can walk past me – or I could walk past you, whatever – and we don't even have to talk."

"Too bad because I want to talk to you."

Fantastic. A thin smile was offered. "Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like what I'm about to hear? What are you going to tell me?" She raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow, wanting to get her shots in first. "That just because you and Mike broke up that I shouldn't go after him? Oh... or that you'll be back with him in no time and I shouldn't set my sights on him? Lay it on me."

The dark-haired student was perfectly still for a moment. Then, as if by default, the bitchy look on her face seemed to melt away. Instead of folding her arms across her chest stubbornly like she usually would, Layla shrugged instead. She seemed... different. Almost human.

"This must be serious," continued the Latina, beginning to feel a little uneasy despite the smirk on her face. "You haven't called me a bitch yet."

"I don't want to stop to talk to you just to call you a bitch—credit me with some dignity. Please." Traces of the Layla she knew poured through with each glare sent her way. Eventually, she decided to hear the girl out. "I just wanted... I can't believe I'm going to say this... but I just wanted to let you know that he's all yours. Mike, I mean. If you want to be with him go for it."

Eve was cautious, waiting for a moment before she spoke. "Why are you telling me this?" There was no longer any tension between them; just concern.

"I'm telling you this because I broke up with Mike and guess what? He didn't seem to care. He actually looked quite happy about it – though bless him, he did try to look sad." A faint smile came to her lips, but disappeared just as quickly. "I was in over my head with him from the start. It's you who he wants, not me. If I didn't believe this with all my heart then I wouldn't say it because, trust me, it's hard enough to admit a guy doesn't like me more than you. But what can I say? He's completely in love with you. And now you can have him."

It was hard to find words to reply with. In a state of quiet shock, the brunette could only try to think of what she should say. Mike was in love with her? She knew there were strong feelings involved, but had always thought it was all a result of a school boy crush.

And now she had a guy who she couldn't seem to stop thinking about who loved her? This was... insane.

But something was holding her back. It just didn't feel right, and Eve knew it didn't have anything to do with the person telling her this news. "What if I don't want him?"

"But you do – and I shouldn't be saying this because right now I think he's a huge jerk, but he's worth having. Whatever, it's your choice I guess. I have to go."

She watched her fellow student disappear. It wasn't until after Layla was completely removed from her sight that she set about on a different path. She knew exactly where she was going now, and what needed to be done about her confused state of mind.

-x-

"Cody, do you ever... do you ever..."

Amused, Cody Rhodes lazily angled his head in Eve's direction, where she laid naked beside him in his bed. Though she was covered up by the duvet, he still couldn't help the smirk on his face—it always was quite the pleasure to do business with her. "What's the matter? Was I so good this time round that I... took your breath away?"

Without straying from her gaze of the ceiling, she smacked his bare chest with the back of her hand, and then dragged it back to run it through her messy hair. "Shut up, you idiot." A beat later, she became much more serious. "I want to ask this question but it might be a little too deep for us."

"Baby, I'm nothing but deep."

"I don't have the energy to smack you again."

"Because I left you breathless, right?"

"No, wait. I've still got one in me." After hitting him again, they both laughed. She eventually settled and dared to ask her question, revealing of her personality as it was. "Do you ever wonder if there's such a thing as true love... like, undeniable, unbreakable love?"

She'd only whispered the comment but it only took a moment for him to turn on his side and face her. She stared back at him, concerned by the sudden focus on her. "Do you?" He asked instead.

"Maybe. I don't know, it's kind of hard to tell these days." She turned her gaze back to the ceiling, as if ashamed, though he stayed perfectly still. She could feel the heavy stare of his eyes on her. "I thought I was in an amazing relationship with my old boyfriend, but time and distance broke us up. Then there was another guy... who I'm not so sure about, even though I really want to like. I just... don't understand relationships at all."

All that greeted her was silence.

"Please say something. I feel like an idiot."

It was beginning to show, too. He could see her cheeks heating up with a pink tint. Smiling lightly, he moved closer, taking her into his arms for comfort. She seemed grateful for the contact and rested her head on his chest. "Honestly? I don't understand relationships either. I used to think they existed. Don't tell anyone this—because I will kill you if you do—but I used to watch all those corny love films and think maybe that would be me one day."

"Wow, that was really brave for you to say considering you're a man-whore." He felt her smile against his chest. "Remind me to mock you about it for all eternity to come."

"My point is, I know as much as you do. But we're still in college. Why are you talking about these things so seriously? You're probably going to look back on this day in twenty years time and wonder what the hell you were complaining about..."

"I don't even want to think about myself in twenty years time. I'll probably be a lonely old woman with seven cats."

"I'll probably be a famous man-whore."

"There's a lie in there somewhere."

"The part about where you said you were going to have seven cats? Yeah, I thought so too. You'll have eight, right?"

"If I wasn't so comfortable here I'd kick your ass." Eve shook her head, pulling away from him for just a moment to look into his eyes. "So are you saying I shouldn't worry? How do you deal with the whole relationship thing?"

Cody shrugged. His smile – she noted – was a little sad. "I sleep with lots of girls. If it makes you feel any better, you're the one I've slept with the most. No such thing as one night stands with you."

"I think I appreciate that. But then what are we doing? Are we just finding comfort in each other because we're too scared to face our feelings? Are we shutting off our emotions? Are we—"

"Talking way too much? Yeah." He placed a light kiss on her lips. It seemed to distract her. "Have you ever thought that maybe it's okay not to be in a relationship? I know it sucks to be single after being in a long relationship but it's not wrong or anything. You just have to find your feet again. Be independent, be... you again."

"Oh yeah? And how long have you been single?"

"We're not talking about me right now. Do you understand what I'm saying? Because it sounds like you're so desperate to have your own love story that you're not really appreciating what's right in front of you."

"Which would be... ?"

"The world is your oyster. Or something like that anyway. You don't need to be in a long-term relationship just to enjoy your life—we're at college, Eve. We have the chance to learn new things... to explore different things. Do you really need a suitable man at your side to do that?"

"I guess you're right."

She knew, in his own way, he was right. She'd been focusing so much on having her own relationship—a perfect little love story like in the movies—that she started to believe it wasn't acceptable to think about having any other sort of life.

Maybe it was okay that her love life was in shambles. Sure it would make her feel lonely every once in a while, but the chapter wasn't over yet. There was no need to close the book in defeat; there were so many things bound to happen in her life, and this was only just the start.

"... But are you saying there's been no special girl in your life? No-one now that you'd think of as more than a one night stand?"

"Maybe." He smiled coyly. "But do you really think I'd tell you?"

The Latina shook her head in disbelief. After everything she'd just told him he wasn't going to pour out his own story? It seemed like she didn't particularly care after a few seconds though, as he chuckled and leaned in for another kiss. Lost in the moment, she let her troubles go and kissed him back.

It was true that she didn't know what was going on in her life. Matt or The Miz? The Miz or Matt? This was always the question, and yet she knew it was time to let it go.

Matt—as heartbreaking as it was to acknowledge—was an ex-boyfriend now. He was someone to look back on and think about with lovely memories. She wasn't bitter towards him in the slightest and it was just... nice to know they'd had a good time together before they split.

With Mike, she didn't know. Would they be brought back together? Would she stop holding back her feelings and go for it? Would he move on from her again and let her go? There were so many unresolved issues with them.

All she knew right now was that she wanted to have fun. Cody Rhodes, of all people, had forced her to realize this. Adam and Ashley, Phil and Mickie, and hopefully Randy and Maria could have their happy endings...

She just hadn't found hers yet.

So there's the next chapter. Please review :)

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Up next is the last chapter for Maria.