******
-Monday Night Meeting - Two weeks later-
"Welcome back girl! We missed you here, it sucked that they booked you off for that long." Trish exclaimed throwing herself at Summer in a hug.
Summer hugged Trish tightly. She hadn't kept in touch with anyone from Raw while she was away over the past two weeks because most of her time was spent with Jeff, and she was surprised at how much she missed them all, especially Trish.
"You know what Trish? I got to work on some outside interests, so it worked out well for me. I better go meet with Jim and Eric though, there is apparently some storyline that they've had placed on the backburner with me and Jeff, and they want to try it out."
"Have a good meeting Hun, and pop by the locker room when you're done. I don't have a match until later, so we can catch up."
Summer made her way to the room that was being used as Jim's office. She paused a minute before knocking on the door.
*****
"Come on in"
"Hey Jim! You wanted to see me?"
"Actually yes Summer I did. I mentioned this to Jeff awhile back, and he probably forgot to tell you, but I want to place the two of you together."
"We've been together before though. What will make this time any different?"
"It will be different because it's going to be more intimate. People want to know why your face had Jeff's UV makeup on it, and we honestly want to give it to them."
"How intimate are we talking here?"
"Some hand holding, and stolen kisses. Just romantic things he does for you. Can you handle that?"
"Yeah sure Jim. Jeff is my best friend as you know, and I feel really comfortable with him. Is he alright with it?"
The door to Jim's office opened at that moment and Summer turned around to see who was coming in. Jeff walked in and took Summer's hand and smiled.
"I'm more then okay with it. I already told Jim that on my end, it's a complete go ahead."
"Then I guess it's settled then. Jeff, go get your paint on and suit up, because you're going to be cutting the promo in fifteen minutes. Summer, same thing goes for you. Go do what you need to, to get ready. Then we are going forward with this tonight." Jim stated before standing up and shaking Summers hand.
Jeff walked out of the room and down the hall to the make-up counter. Summer followed slowly behind him and made her way back to the ladies locker room. She remembered a conversation from the week before that she'd had with Jeff, as she threw her gear on.
~~~~
"Do you ever wonder why we're single Summer?"
"No, I haven't been single in a long time, so I'm still adjusting remember?"
"I just mean, you're a nice girl and very pretty, and well I'm not exactly ugly, and I think I'm nice. I just wonder why we're alone."
"Because we haven't found anyone that can handle us, we're unique."
"That we are. Maybe we should throw caution to the wind and just be together. I mean who knows us better then we know ourselves right?"
Summer blushed; she immediately stood up and turned away so Jeff wouldn't see.
"We're too much alike, it wouldn't work well would it?" she whispered.
"Um... yeah I guess you're right. I was just kidding around anyway. It just sucks sometimes is all. I mean, being 25 and single."
~~~~
Summer took and deep breath and sighed. Over the last month and a half, her and Jeff had been getting closer, and it was to the point now that they didn't go anywhere without the other. Jeff had been with her through the dark moments in her life, everything with Matt and the injury. There wasn't anything they couldn't share. She changed into her outfit and remembered the last conversation with Matt from her house.
~~~~
"But there's someone who is slowly helping it mend."
~~~~
Jeff had no idea that Summer was interested in him in any other way then friendship, and she didn't know how to approach it with him. Matt was his brother and she really didn't want to complicate matters.
"Hey babe, you ready for the promo?"
"Jesus Jeff, you scared the hell out of me."
"Sorry sweetie, I just wanted to make sure you were still into this whole thing. I mean have you really looked at the script?"
"Yeah I have. You get to come on to me Jeff Hardy style. We get to share a kiss as well don't we?" Summer looked him and grinned.
"Yeah, and you're sure that you are comfortable with doing that? I mean I can tell Jim to call the whole thing off."
"Out of everyone in this locker room of guys, and there are some cute ones, you are the one guy that I'd love to kiss. I feel comfortable with you Jeff."
"Um. Summer. there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about."
"Yes Jeff?"
The door to the locker room opened and Jim poked his head through the door. He looked down at his watch and pointed before speaking.
"Five minutes until show time guys. Its time to shine as I know only you two can."
Jeff took Summer's hand as they walked to the back lot where the camera guys were set up.
"What did you want to tell me Jeff?" Summer asked quickly.
"It can wait for another time. Let's just get this whole thing over with."
Summer tightened her grip on Jeff's hand and felt the electricity pour through her body. This felt so right, she just had to let Jeff know how she was feeling. She had never felt this kind of spark with Matt. Jeff looked down at her, breaking her away from her thoughts, and smiled. It was show time.
*******
**********************
-Promo-
Jeff walked up behind Summer as she is doing some light stretches. She hasn't been cleared to wrestle, but flew in to train with the guys. He tapped her gingerly on her shoulder, causing her to jump and spin around on her heels.
"Oh... Hey Jeff."
"Hey Summer. Listen, I know awhile back I got some UV makeup on your face, and I just wanted to apologize. I know what it created for you, and what everyone has been saying in the back."
"What we're they saying?"
"That me and you.. Well you know. did something together." He said trying not to blush.
"I thought we did do something. You kissed me remember?"
Jeff smiled and ran his fingers through his hair nervously. He wasn't even focused on the promo anymore. It was just him and Summer, and nothing else.
"I do."
Jeff pulled her close to him and gently kissed her lips. He felt the shock at the same time as Summer. She opened her eyes and gazed straight into his. Without thinking she deepened the kiss, closing her eyes and getting lost in the moment, not focusing on the camera's anymore. After months of speculation, this was what it felt like.
Summer watched suddenly as the camera turned off, and she instantly pulled away from Jeff. She looked up and saw the look on his face. Without a second thought, she turned on her heel and ran.
******
**********************
-Women's Locker Room-
"What was that I just saw out there girl? Did you really just kiss him that passionately?" Trish asked smiling.
"Yeah I did. I thought he might want me too. God I was such an idiot Trish. He looked up afterwards and he looked totally shocked. I just can't stay here now."
"Summer honey, don't run from him. You probably just took him off guard. It wasn't supposed to be that hot and sexy that fast."
"God help me Trish, but I like him. I mean there were sparks and the whole deal. I never had anything half that good and weird with Matt. I had to take the chance I was given, and now I know not to do it anymore. I'm flying home, its just better this way. Have a good match babe, and kick her ass for me."
"Summer wait, don't go home!!" Trish called after her.
It was too late, before Trish could even get the words out, she was already gone. Trish stared at the door for a moment before realizing she had better go find Jeff and explain what had just happened. She ran down the hall to his locker room.
*****
"Trish Hey, what are you doing here? Have you seen Summer?"
"She's on her way to the airport Jeff. God this whole situation just sucks." Trish said pacing frantically.
"Why is she leaving town? We were supposed to leave together. Wait a minute, what sucks?"
"Jeff if you haven't noticed, Summer is falling for you. I saw the kiss man, and you were there for Christ's sakes. What did you feel?"
"Trish, my god I'm an idiot. I can't even go catch her. I'm booked in this damn match. I won't even be able to focus on that now. I'm in love with her damnit. I waited for her through Matt, and then her injuries. She wanted to be friends and that's what I was. I think I've always loved her. Shit, I'm an idiot." Jeff stated sitting down on the bench and putting his head in his hands.
"Wait a second here. Why didn't you tell her?"
"Probably the same reason she didn't tell me. We don't want to complicate the friendship we have, and the people around us that would be affected. She is fresh off her thing with my brother, and I just couldn't do it. Shane told me too, and I blew it off."
"You really are adorable Jeff. Didn't you pick up on her hints? I mean she did agree to the kiss. She even said that there was some sort of sparks."
"I know... God I felt them too. When she deepened that kiss, she threw me off, but it was in a good way. I've been wanting her to kiss me like that for the longest time."
"You want my advice? You don't have to take it, but just listen to it."
"Yes, of course I would. It seems I'm not good at listening to it though, by my actions lately."
"Go home after your match. Get on the next flight back to Cameron. My advice to you is simply this. Since you both have the day off, go home and tell her everything, really make her listen and really see you."
"I will. Thanks a lot for coming and telling me that she left, and for the advice. I have no other choice but take you up on it now. I might lose her if I don't."
******
Summer paced around her house, remembering all the good times she had had with her friends and especially with Matt and Jeff. How could something that had seemed so right, turn out so wrong? She had tried to sleep, and now she felt like absolute crap. She had finally come to terms with her relationship with Matt, and it didn't hurt half as much anymore. She thought she had it all figured out with Jeff as well, everything just seemed to fit. They were the same in so many ways, from their color of hair, and way of dress to the way they looked at the world as a whole. She couldn't believe it had taken a year to really see it.
She poured herself some herbal tea and sat down at her desk. Maybe it was time to focus on her music again. It had been a long time since she had even looked at her music book. When she had finally made it into the wrestling business, which was her main dream in life, she put all the other ones on hold. The main one being her music. But now was the right time to go back to it. She opened it up and grabbed a pen that worked from her desktop and looked down at the page. She immediately recognized Jeff's handwriting.
~~~~
"I like this girl And she doesn't have a clue I want to tell her But I have to remember That it's not all about you She's been hurt so many times By so many screwed up lines But I wouldn't, I couldn't Because she's the girl My whole world.
~~~~
Summer closed the book and looked out the window into the beautiful sunlight blaring through the street. She noticed the crazy volcano on Jeff's front lawn. The one he had jumped with her right there looking on. She remembered that night so well. He was so excited to have her there, so she could watch him jump it. Matt was at another house show, because he was always being booked on them, so she had decided against her better judgement to keep him company.
~~~~
"Want to see me jump it babe?"
"Jump the volcano? Jeff are you mental? Wait! Don't answer that one."
"Yes I mean jump the volcano. I can't exactly jump you now can I? Unless I want to have Matt kick my ass! You've known me for six months now. I think you can handle seeing me jump it." Jeff said grinning at her like a kid in a candy store.
"What if you get hurt?"
"Then you can help me heal silly!"
"You're going to do it no matter what I say here, so why are you even asking?"
"I'm asking because I know that you will eventually give in to me, you always do."
"Am I that easy to read?" Summer said pouting her lips at him.
"Not at first, you are actually quite hard to read to a common person. But you're like me, you have about fifty things going on in that pretty little head of yours right now, and because of that common thread, you are easy for me to read."
"Yay! How totally wonderful. You are just as messed up as me."
"Not messed up, just a little unique. So can I jump it?"
"Jump it, just don't get hurt." Summer exclaimed rolling her eyes. Sometimes he was like a little kid in a man's body.
"I promise you that I will be careful. Just in case though, get the ambulance on standby." Jeff smiled and Summer laughed. Jeff had to be the craziest guy she had ever met, and she loved it. She watched him get ready for the jump and rev the engine of the bike loudly. She almost wanted to hide her eyes; he was totally going to get hurt.
When she saw Jeff take off on the bike, she noticed how truly at peace he looked. When he was on Raw, he never looked this good, or this happy. He really was a kid stuck in an adult body. He took the first jump and landed perfectly. Summer found herself getting into it too. This looked like the biggest rush in the world. He took the last jump with ease and came to a halt and flew off the bike. She immediately ran over to his side.
"Jeff are you alright?"
"I'm fine babe. God that was such a rush for me. Wait a second here, if I'm in pain you'll fawn over me right? So God, I think I threw my shoulder out."
"I'll make you hurt more than your shoulder if you don't get up this minute Jeffrey Nero Hardy!!"
"Is that a promise?"
Jeff flashed her that killer smile and she felt her heart skip a beat.
"Come on daredevil, lets go inside and eat. Watching you almost kill yourself gave me an appetite."
Jeff smiled and took her hand and headed inside for some food.
~~~~
