p style="text-align: center;" data-p-id="0eca72608f9d971c9e00fb2976260aca"strongemMay 27, 1996/em/strong/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="9f5e3897008fcd934dbb61946ad0efe7"I sat on one of the gray couches that came with the small room Paul, Shawn, and I had claimed as our locker room. No one wanted us anywhere else, so we usually kept to the three of us. Now that there were only three of us. I had Kev on the phone and WCW playing on the small box TV that I'd found./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="5bbaeea539e5ca3f7dbfd4bb27aeca8b"em"Where are the guys?"/em Kev asked./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="049fe695ca037bd58a98158c5d669b15""Around," I replied. I was eating a salad I had stolen from catering. Typically I didn't eat catering food, but I didn't have time to go get dinner. "Paul already had a match tonight. He's probably still getting his ass chewed about the other day. And Shawn... well, you know how that goes."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="189ecd67525ae98a4338caffe3ed4f33"He chuckled from the other end. em"Yeah, sounds about right. I'm backstage here and let me just say, they do not like us too well."/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="0f46de94f5ca88f5f278b5826d5888f8"I switched the phone to speaker phone and set it on the table so I could eat easier. "Why not?"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="791291316beaed4e4555531b6d2bebbe"em"I don't know, Kat. It's just... different. Like we're invading them or something. I'm pretty sure at least half of these fucktards are convinced Vince sent us here to fuck shit up."/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="d54255985d0e39a90b76762134e5b264""You're like... outsiders," I joked. "Don't worry, no one likes us up here, either."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="6947cf15abf34e7238a3cb1e0adb067c"He laughed again. em"I guess you're right. Hey, are you watching?"/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="64063652de1acf4c9aa2e67689d396a3""Of course I am! Where's Scott?"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="6e34b59d83c1540cffea001f77aff14d"em"He's already waiting for his cue,"/em Kev answered./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="63572ff419305338d6958da540316a92""Damn. I wanted to wish him good luck," I pouted./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="b087746267c1afca1a8099fe117fffa1"em"I'll let him know when he gets back,"/em Kev assured me./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="4763d3fe80cd1dca890ca9137d0be391"Paul entered the room quietly. "Who are you talking to?"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="6f068321f5e74f9d60436fc4ab66de1d"em"Is that Paul?"/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="5a9c5e5d50b963b056bff25cca4dcb9e""Kev's on the phone. Paul say hello," I told them. I pushed my empty bowl away. "It's back!"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="24088c6b284df3041ee6de1ee218137c"em"Welcome back live to the first hour /ememof/emem this edition of WCW Monday Nitro on TNT. Tony Shivone, Larry Zybisko, and we are taking a /ememlook/emem at The Mauler /ememcompletely/emem maul his opponent, Steve Doll." /emThe TV announced./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="9e75e1c750544dd72098f960e86ecb8e""How are you guys?" Paul asked, taking a seat beside me./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="6c0ca5b7ff21b3e02d94fd350850674f"em"You know, we're-"/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="495834ef6ad077a9e7b45e26ae094d61"I squealed, shushing them. "Shhh! There's Scott!"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="fbcbc0d3eb9c85a96c1e399b920cb874"Shawn walked in at that moment. Before he could even say anything, I waved him over. "Scott's on!" He walked over and lifted me up, before sitting in my place and resting me on his lap./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="b2d0d885ef3f02a68361df9767fe5f35"Scott had made his way into the ring, mic in hand. The wrestlers, who had just a second ago been, well, wrestling, were gone./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="6a2020a63d34a3b73b1649af71f0ff81"em"Hey. You people... you know who I am. But you /ememdon't/em emknow/emem why /ememI'm/emem here. /ememWhere's/emem Billionaire Ted? /ememWhere's/em emthe/emem Nacho Man? That punk /ememcan't/emem even get in the building. Me? I go where /ememI/emem want, when /ememI/emem want. And where, oh, where is Scheme Gene, /ememcause/emem I got a scoop for you. When that /ememKen/emem Doll lookalike, when that weatherman wannabe comes out here later tonight, /ememI've/emem got a challenge for him, for Billionaire Ted, for the Nacho Man, and for /ememanybody/em emelse here in/em WCW," he made a mocking noise that made us all laugh, em"that thinks they got what it takes. Hey, you wanna go to war? You want a war? You got one."/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="db59a51542591afff36f68a99d4015c7"Tony Shivone and Larry Zybisko acted like they had no clue what to do. Some referee hopped up onto the apron and made Scott leave. The last thing we saw before the commercial break was Scott throwing his toothpick at the camera./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="71d2de4206cf0f34e0c95fd07a08dd9b"We all sat in silence for a moment./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="4c97d0e8d7e57c011f1f69e38dac7e51"em"Well?"/em Kev asked./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="46d3b84a96b40e5e5ccc9b5d0526f95c""That was awesome!" I exclaimed excitedly. The guys were in agreement./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="b8becc1246804bca9e0e875d51a70df2"Kev laughed. em"I figured you would think so. How are you guys /ememholding/emem up /ememwithout/emem us?"/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="3dc7406a1f214385a63c89e7810cb834""We miss you, big guy," Shawn commented. "Scott too."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="d6d90a4b065bc0ac6d0542436cca77f6"em"We /ememmiss/em y'all. emI miss waking up to Shawn's early morning bitchiness."/em He chuckled, but then turned serious. em"Hey, Paul,/em emI'm/emem sorry you got stuck with all the shit. You know /ememI'd/emem take some of that if /ememI/em emcould/emem."/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="685cc92d1f47035b0bf2acfb9c567bcf""I know. Don't worry about it, I'm fine," Paul shook it off. "When are you making your debut?"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="cf0b3cd8ac91d8e1854ac3b6e8301508"em"I would /ememlove/emem to tell you guys, but /ememI/em emhonestly/emem have no /ememclue/emem what /ememI'm/emem doing. Scott /ememsays/em emhe's/em emgot/emem some kind of plan, but hell if /ememhe'd/emem share it /ememwith/emem me," /emKev answered./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="ba5872f2d00cd261013e36ed59e0ae16""Tell him we said good job," I said./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="c4e6960e758edffa32374b0560b77e7a""And that we'll be thinking of him next time we're playing poker," Shawn added jokingly. "Or drinking."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="c354fa0619616adf336b23423e6238db"Kev chuckled. em"/ememWill/emem do. /ememDon't/emem you guys have a match tonight?"/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="4f4b8526f4bd5de3cbf18143eaf4153f""Not yet. We should probably get ready, though," I explained./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="2fa748a56c21243347a1acadc02a6a31""Speak for yourself, babe. I'm always ready," Shawn teased./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="9f445efb541fab48369b6304dc6fd365"I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. We'll talk to you later, Kev. See you around."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="1a1fe8a1ba9321de2fc7c2697524597c"em"/ememAlright/emem. Too sweet."/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="d0b89ecd2c0820c8da538bde62ddf023"I changed into my gear and walked back in where the guys were chatting. WCW was still playing on the TV, something that would probably upset my dad if he knew. I noticed the scratch on Shawn's face when I went to sit back down. It had been bleeding./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="c1eed57d7b1356eb7eac2d585f1305f1""What's that?" I asked./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="4d175f89030142fd48026c5ea25679ca""It's nothing," he promised./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="0c5694b38007d98d27ce619088312e93""Shawn, your face doesn't just spontaneously start bleeding. What's up?" I asked again, genuinely concerned./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="3a4fa248d9e3cf3f7d566c17e4075b92"He gave me a soft kiss, avoiding the question again. "I told you, it's nothing, babygirl."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="256106c44b73367592cff643449f7be9"I wanted to protest, but I couldn't help but melt when he was sweet like that. He knew that, too, which is why he did it./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="aa7635e77df2a8a07f64d222398a12c1""You have to stop doing that."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="b55cedfc4fa96e2e62179c8c49a1a80a""Doing what?" he asked innocently./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="8513f5b8f8fecd89ad6f7ff4e620dad3""Thinking you can just make all your problems go away by kissing me," I declared./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="c0a75c64913f1d3c39bf758052bc0d54""Can't I?" he smirked./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="b75145ff4d2acbf85d962530405daaf2"He could. Why did he have to be so adorable? I sighed as he kissed me again. He won. He always won. Why did I even try to understand this man?/p
p data-p-id="b8d85a8f8828c9b51b0d32fc1ac97aa4"Paul coughed loudly. "Get a room."/p
p data-p-id="bd212247c3c167e8465df7d47005b39c""Maybe we will." Shawn winked./p
p data-p-id="8a7ab20ec0ab3262ce329c7dcb399a4e"***/p
p data-p-id="c59e77050c0243508f13ed3b11d57fc1""Shawn, Paul's waiting in the car, he sent me to come tell you, and I quote, 'get your ass going because it's fucking late'," I announced, shoving open the door to our locker room./p
p data-p-id="9dc2149f6be417bce802e7d73b36f7cd"Shawn was there alone. He'd just taken a shower. I guess I startled him when I walked in, because I saw him jump. He swiveled around to face me, obviously hiding something behind his back. "Tell him I'm coming as fast as I damn well can."/p
p data-p-id="1e06c98edb3e26544453d4af073e4225""What's that?" I asked./p
p data-p-id="9b78df8651783388075089b359ba46bd"He rambled some excuse that probably ended up as "nothing", but I knew better./p
p data-p-id="cebf9d5e7248ab481441a1f76d4afe39""Are those your pills?"/p
p data-p-id="61de5004f8769bfa877e55dd806e9f32""What?" he stared at me, wide-eyed, in shock. "How-"/p
p data-p-id="92ac15e629875895beae71e9885abfaa""Just something Kev said. I've been meaning to ask," I told him./p
p data-p-id="b4856fbd2488d68bfaa244b3002b1834""Kev is isane. Whatever he told you about me, he's over exaggerating." He threw the pills in his bag, zipped it up, and threw it over his shoulder. By his stance and the change in his facial expression, I knew not to push any further./p
p data-p-id="d12fc505fc71bae942bb206cac363aad""...just curious," I muttered./p
p data-p-id="13318fb8827f78c344c1039197188718"I didn't like this Shawn. The Shawn that came out when he was mad. I'd only seen it one other time, the time he almost got in a fight with Bret. I figured the cut on his cheek was probably from another fight./p
p data-p-id="9e171dcb5e9472f8efb5c63ece5346c6"Seeing my face, he softened. He shortened the distance between us in two seconds, taking my face in his hands. "I'm fine," he promised./p
p data-p-id="d31bc47ec9222812b7d7941238dcd6c0"He kissed me and I nodded, but I wasn't so sure./p
p data-p-id="66f5bb4c16beb0dd21896047ccdb8d9d"***/p
p style="text-align: center;" data-p-id="59111005a99ff8c6fad2ddba3ce391e2"em-/embr /emShawn's POV /embr /em-/em/p
p data-p-id="88a26bef9192fd904894454ce31691b6"I said goodnight to Kat and shut the door to the hotel room I was sharing with Paul. It'd be cheaper if Kat would share a room with us, but she seemed to value her privacy, and I wasn't going to force her into it./p
p data-p-id="74b1625b531b114778cfe208625aad69"I fell onto one of the beds with a groan, running my hands down my face. I was about to pop some pills and call it a night, but Paul sat down next to me, drawing my attention./p
p data-p-id="2ade502508315f6e497a71a369a10000""Y'know, Kat has a point," he said./p
p data-p-id="da0af839bc033e173ec9d31b8f3f4c2c""And that is?" I asked, exasperated, my face still hidden in my hands./p
p data-p-id="66f1e7066d2e5e50748d93a6c4685a10""That you can't hide from your problems."/p
p data-p-id="df490b790d5ff9ec11f3c65c5ac94942"With another groan, I flopped onto my back. "Not you too."/p
p data-p-id="08f5a072c9c0338dc21975cda3362f86"Paul held his hands up in surrender. "I'm just saying." He grew silent for a moment before starting in again. "What emis/em the cut on your face from?"/p
p data-p-id="59146760d26ebfa7c94df20e91b1ac02"I felt the pit of guilt in my stomach grow. I covered my face with my arm because I didn't think I could make eye contact with him in that moment. "...I was fucking around with Sunny. She got a little rough with her nails."/p
p data-p-id="cd89e23277eaca4bdc278d11dc893e9b""Are you fucking kidding me?" Paul exclaimed. "You shouldn't be doing that shit anymore, Shawn. Kat-"/p
p data-p-id="55508926c3a3041f1cc379a584ab3265""You think I don't know that?" I exploded. "You think I haven't wanted to puke up the contents of my stomach every time I looked at her today because I feel so fucking bad about it? Go ahead, Paul! Tell me how I should feel. Tell me about how Kat's heart would be shattered if she knew. Go ahead!" I'd leapt off the bed and started pacing the room./p
p data-p-id="7e7cc56362ae8bde79fe79786e4511af""Shawn..."/p
p data-p-id="83f03331385f92624d9cf04ed4bfba36""Don't 'Shawn' me! I'm a fuck up, I get it. I have to live with that fact every day. I don't need you rubbing it in. I had to lie straight to my girlfriend's face because I don't want her to know about this part of me," I ranted./p
p data-p-id="ea068f5ea229e07a07cf0d0e19f514bf"I ran a hand through my hair as I continued to spill my guts to my best friend. "And I'm going to have to keep lying to her. Every day. You know, maybe Vince and Kev and that asshole Bret were right. Maybe I'm just not good for her."/p
p data-p-id="ea783e9b180b2d37fc8c697afc7f2089""Shawn. Settle down. Kat loves you." He took a deep breath. "You don't see the way she looks at you when you're not looking. You're the only thing that truly matters to that girl. She is going to care about you know matter what. And so am I, and so is Kev, and Scott, and Kid. But you can't keep living a lie. Just tell her. Maybe she'll be mad for a while. Maybe she won't want to talk to you. But it will be so much better if you don't bottle it all up. Or else it turns out like this," Paul told me. He was a great voice of reason./p
p data-p-id="f3787a6134657eab2fcf2c1f62842ce0"I sighed. "Maybe you're right."/p
p data-p-id="46bd9beaad6cf9b22ee7bbdfe1e2036f"That settled it. I was going to talk to Kat about it. But I was still convinced that I didn't have a problem. I was aching all over, so I swallowed a few pain killers and went to sleep./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="9f5e3897008fcd934dbb61946ad0efe7"I sat on one of the gray couches that came with the small room Paul, Shawn, and I had claimed as our locker room. No one wanted us anywhere else, so we usually kept to the three of us. Now that there were only three of us. I had Kev on the phone and WCW playing on the small box TV that I'd found./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="5bbaeea539e5ca3f7dbfd4bb27aeca8b"em"Where are the guys?"/em Kev asked./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="049fe695ca037bd58a98158c5d669b15""Around," I replied. I was eating a salad I had stolen from catering. Typically I didn't eat catering food, but I didn't have time to go get dinner. "Paul already had a match tonight. He's probably still getting his ass chewed about the other day. And Shawn... well, you know how that goes."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="189ecd67525ae98a4338caffe3ed4f33"He chuckled from the other end. em"Yeah, sounds about right. I'm backstage here and let me just say, they do not like us too well."/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="0f46de94f5ca88f5f278b5826d5888f8"I switched the phone to speaker phone and set it on the table so I could eat easier. "Why not?"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="791291316beaed4e4555531b6d2bebbe"em"I don't know, Kat. It's just... different. Like we're invading them or something. I'm pretty sure at least half of these fucktards are convinced Vince sent us here to fuck shit up."/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="d54255985d0e39a90b76762134e5b264""You're like... outsiders," I joked. "Don't worry, no one likes us up here, either."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="6947cf15abf34e7238a3cb1e0adb067c"He laughed again. em"I guess you're right. Hey, are you watching?"/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="64063652de1acf4c9aa2e67689d396a3""Of course I am! Where's Scott?"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="6e34b59d83c1540cffea001f77aff14d"em"He's already waiting for his cue,"/em Kev answered./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="63572ff419305338d6958da540316a92""Damn. I wanted to wish him good luck," I pouted./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="b087746267c1afca1a8099fe117fffa1"em"I'll let him know when he gets back,"/em Kev assured me./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="4763d3fe80cd1dca890ca9137d0be391"Paul entered the room quietly. "Who are you talking to?"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="6f068321f5e74f9d60436fc4ab66de1d"em"Is that Paul?"/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="5a9c5e5d50b963b056bff25cca4dcb9e""Kev's on the phone. Paul say hello," I told them. I pushed my empty bowl away. "It's back!"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="24088c6b284df3041ee6de1ee218137c"em"Welcome back live to the first hour /ememof/emem this edition of WCW Monday Nitro on TNT. Tony Shivone, Larry Zybisko, and we are taking a /ememlook/emem at The Mauler /ememcompletely/emem maul his opponent, Steve Doll." /emThe TV announced./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="9e75e1c750544dd72098f960e86ecb8e""How are you guys?" Paul asked, taking a seat beside me./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="6c0ca5b7ff21b3e02d94fd350850674f"em"You know, we're-"/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="495834ef6ad077a9e7b45e26ae094d61"I squealed, shushing them. "Shhh! There's Scott!"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="fbcbc0d3eb9c85a96c1e399b920cb874"Shawn walked in at that moment. Before he could even say anything, I waved him over. "Scott's on!" He walked over and lifted me up, before sitting in my place and resting me on his lap./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="b2d0d885ef3f02a68361df9767fe5f35"Scott had made his way into the ring, mic in hand. The wrestlers, who had just a second ago been, well, wrestling, were gone./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="6a2020a63d34a3b73b1649af71f0ff81"em"Hey. You people... you know who I am. But you /ememdon't/em emknow/emem why /ememI'm/emem here. /ememWhere's/emem Billionaire Ted? /ememWhere's/em emthe/emem Nacho Man? That punk /ememcan't/emem even get in the building. Me? I go where /ememI/emem want, when /ememI/emem want. And where, oh, where is Scheme Gene, /ememcause/emem I got a scoop for you. When that /ememKen/emem Doll lookalike, when that weatherman wannabe comes out here later tonight, /ememI've/emem got a challenge for him, for Billionaire Ted, for the Nacho Man, and for /ememanybody/em emelse here in/em WCW," he made a mocking noise that made us all laugh, em"that thinks they got what it takes. Hey, you wanna go to war? You want a war? You got one."/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="db59a51542591afff36f68a99d4015c7"Tony Shivone and Larry Zybisko acted like they had no clue what to do. Some referee hopped up onto the apron and made Scott leave. The last thing we saw before the commercial break was Scott throwing his toothpick at the camera./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="71d2de4206cf0f34e0c95fd07a08dd9b"We all sat in silence for a moment./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="4c97d0e8d7e57c011f1f69e38dac7e51"em"Well?"/em Kev asked./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="46d3b84a96b40e5e5ccc9b5d0526f95c""That was awesome!" I exclaimed excitedly. The guys were in agreement./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="b8becc1246804bca9e0e875d51a70df2"Kev laughed. em"I figured you would think so. How are you guys /ememholding/emem up /ememwithout/emem us?"/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="3dc7406a1f214385a63c89e7810cb834""We miss you, big guy," Shawn commented. "Scott too."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="d6d90a4b065bc0ac6d0542436cca77f6"em"We /ememmiss/em y'all. emI miss waking up to Shawn's early morning bitchiness."/em He chuckled, but then turned serious. em"Hey, Paul,/em emI'm/emem sorry you got stuck with all the shit. You know /ememI'd/emem take some of that if /ememI/em emcould/emem."/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="685cc92d1f47035b0bf2acfb9c567bcf""I know. Don't worry about it, I'm fine," Paul shook it off. "When are you making your debut?"/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="cf0b3cd8ac91d8e1854ac3b6e8301508"em"I would /ememlove/emem to tell you guys, but /ememI/em emhonestly/emem have no /ememclue/emem what /ememI'm/emem doing. Scott /ememsays/em emhe's/em emgot/emem some kind of plan, but hell if /ememhe'd/emem share it /ememwith/emem me," /emKev answered./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="ba5872f2d00cd261013e36ed59e0ae16""Tell him we said good job," I said./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="c4e6960e758edffa32374b0560b77e7a""And that we'll be thinking of him next time we're playing poker," Shawn added jokingly. "Or drinking."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="c354fa0619616adf336b23423e6238db"Kev chuckled. em"/ememWill/emem do. /ememDon't/emem you guys have a match tonight?"/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="4f4b8526f4bd5de3cbf18143eaf4153f""Not yet. We should probably get ready, though," I explained./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="2fa748a56c21243347a1acadc02a6a31""Speak for yourself, babe. I'm always ready," Shawn teased./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="9f445efb541fab48369b6304dc6fd365"I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. We'll talk to you later, Kev. See you around."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="1a1fe8a1ba9321de2fc7c2697524597c"em"/ememAlright/emem. Too sweet."/em/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="d0b89ecd2c0820c8da538bde62ddf023"I changed into my gear and walked back in where the guys were chatting. WCW was still playing on the TV, something that would probably upset my dad if he knew. I noticed the scratch on Shawn's face when I went to sit back down. It had been bleeding./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="c1eed57d7b1356eb7eac2d585f1305f1""What's that?" I asked./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="4d175f89030142fd48026c5ea25679ca""It's nothing," he promised./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="0c5694b38007d98d27ce619088312e93""Shawn, your face doesn't just spontaneously start bleeding. What's up?" I asked again, genuinely concerned./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="3a4fa248d9e3cf3f7d566c17e4075b92"He gave me a soft kiss, avoiding the question again. "I told you, it's nothing, babygirl."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="256106c44b73367592cff643449f7be9"I wanted to protest, but I couldn't help but melt when he was sweet like that. He knew that, too, which is why he did it./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="aa7635e77df2a8a07f64d222398a12c1""You have to stop doing that."/p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="b55cedfc4fa96e2e62179c8c49a1a80a""Doing what?" he asked innocently./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="8513f5b8f8fecd89ad6f7ff4e620dad3""Thinking you can just make all your problems go away by kissing me," I declared./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="c0a75c64913f1d3c39bf758052bc0d54""Can't I?" he smirked./p
p style="text-align: left;" data-p-id="b75145ff4d2acbf85d962530405daaf2"He could. Why did he have to be so adorable? I sighed as he kissed me again. He won. He always won. Why did I even try to understand this man?/p
p data-p-id="b8d85a8f8828c9b51b0d32fc1ac97aa4"Paul coughed loudly. "Get a room."/p
p data-p-id="bd212247c3c167e8465df7d47005b39c""Maybe we will." Shawn winked./p
p data-p-id="8a7ab20ec0ab3262ce329c7dcb399a4e"***/p
p data-p-id="c59e77050c0243508f13ed3b11d57fc1""Shawn, Paul's waiting in the car, he sent me to come tell you, and I quote, 'get your ass going because it's fucking late'," I announced, shoving open the door to our locker room./p
p data-p-id="9dc2149f6be417bce802e7d73b36f7cd"Shawn was there alone. He'd just taken a shower. I guess I startled him when I walked in, because I saw him jump. He swiveled around to face me, obviously hiding something behind his back. "Tell him I'm coming as fast as I damn well can."/p
p data-p-id="1e06c98edb3e26544453d4af073e4225""What's that?" I asked./p
p data-p-id="9b78df8651783388075089b359ba46bd"He rambled some excuse that probably ended up as "nothing", but I knew better./p
p data-p-id="cebf9d5e7248ab481441a1f76d4afe39""Are those your pills?"/p
p data-p-id="61de5004f8769bfa877e55dd806e9f32""What?" he stared at me, wide-eyed, in shock. "How-"/p
p data-p-id="92ac15e629875895beae71e9885abfaa""Just something Kev said. I've been meaning to ask," I told him./p
p data-p-id="b4856fbd2488d68bfaa244b3002b1834""Kev is isane. Whatever he told you about me, he's over exaggerating." He threw the pills in his bag, zipped it up, and threw it over his shoulder. By his stance and the change in his facial expression, I knew not to push any further./p
p data-p-id="d12fc505fc71bae942bb206cac363aad""...just curious," I muttered./p
p data-p-id="13318fb8827f78c344c1039197188718"I didn't like this Shawn. The Shawn that came out when he was mad. I'd only seen it one other time, the time he almost got in a fight with Bret. I figured the cut on his cheek was probably from another fight./p
p data-p-id="9e171dcb5e9472f8efb5c63ece5346c6"Seeing my face, he softened. He shortened the distance between us in two seconds, taking my face in his hands. "I'm fine," he promised./p
p data-p-id="d31bc47ec9222812b7d7941238dcd6c0"He kissed me and I nodded, but I wasn't so sure./p
p data-p-id="66f5bb4c16beb0dd21896047ccdb8d9d"***/p
p style="text-align: center;" data-p-id="59111005a99ff8c6fad2ddba3ce391e2"em-/embr /emShawn's POV /embr /em-/em/p
p data-p-id="88a26bef9192fd904894454ce31691b6"I said goodnight to Kat and shut the door to the hotel room I was sharing with Paul. It'd be cheaper if Kat would share a room with us, but she seemed to value her privacy, and I wasn't going to force her into it./p
p data-p-id="74b1625b531b114778cfe208625aad69"I fell onto one of the beds with a groan, running my hands down my face. I was about to pop some pills and call it a night, but Paul sat down next to me, drawing my attention./p
p data-p-id="2ade502508315f6e497a71a369a10000""Y'know, Kat has a point," he said./p
p data-p-id="da0af839bc033e173ec9d31b8f3f4c2c""And that is?" I asked, exasperated, my face still hidden in my hands./p
p data-p-id="66f1e7066d2e5e50748d93a6c4685a10""That you can't hide from your problems."/p
p data-p-id="df490b790d5ff9ec11f3c65c5ac94942"With another groan, I flopped onto my back. "Not you too."/p
p data-p-id="08f5a072c9c0338dc21975cda3362f86"Paul held his hands up in surrender. "I'm just saying." He grew silent for a moment before starting in again. "What emis/em the cut on your face from?"/p
p data-p-id="59146760d26ebfa7c94df20e91b1ac02"I felt the pit of guilt in my stomach grow. I covered my face with my arm because I didn't think I could make eye contact with him in that moment. "...I was fucking around with Sunny. She got a little rough with her nails."/p
p data-p-id="cd89e23277eaca4bdc278d11dc893e9b""Are you fucking kidding me?" Paul exclaimed. "You shouldn't be doing that shit anymore, Shawn. Kat-"/p
p data-p-id="55508926c3a3041f1cc379a584ab3265""You think I don't know that?" I exploded. "You think I haven't wanted to puke up the contents of my stomach every time I looked at her today because I feel so fucking bad about it? Go ahead, Paul! Tell me how I should feel. Tell me about how Kat's heart would be shattered if she knew. Go ahead!" I'd leapt off the bed and started pacing the room./p
p data-p-id="7e7cc56362ae8bde79fe79786e4511af""Shawn..."/p
p data-p-id="83f03331385f92624d9cf04ed4bfba36""Don't 'Shawn' me! I'm a fuck up, I get it. I have to live with that fact every day. I don't need you rubbing it in. I had to lie straight to my girlfriend's face because I don't want her to know about this part of me," I ranted./p
p data-p-id="ea068f5ea229e07a07cf0d0e19f514bf"I ran a hand through my hair as I continued to spill my guts to my best friend. "And I'm going to have to keep lying to her. Every day. You know, maybe Vince and Kev and that asshole Bret were right. Maybe I'm just not good for her."/p
p data-p-id="ea783e9b180b2d37fc8c697afc7f2089""Shawn. Settle down. Kat loves you." He took a deep breath. "You don't see the way she looks at you when you're not looking. You're the only thing that truly matters to that girl. She is going to care about you know matter what. And so am I, and so is Kev, and Scott, and Kid. But you can't keep living a lie. Just tell her. Maybe she'll be mad for a while. Maybe she won't want to talk to you. But it will be so much better if you don't bottle it all up. Or else it turns out like this," Paul told me. He was a great voice of reason./p
p data-p-id="f3787a6134657eab2fcf2c1f62842ce0"I sighed. "Maybe you're right."/p
p data-p-id="46bd9beaad6cf9b22ee7bbdfe1e2036f"That settled it. I was going to talk to Kat about it. But I was still convinced that I didn't have a problem. I was aching all over, so I swallowed a few pain killers and went to sleep./p