*************
As Shane leaped up the stairs he heard voices coming from Summer's bedroom. He knew he had to do this now or he was going to lose his chance, and his mind. Whatever came first. He knocked gently on the door, calling everyone's attention away from the things Summer was showing them.
"Shane, what can we do for you?" Summer asked a little taken aback.
"I need to talk to Hayley, if that's alright. Do you think I can steal her away for a few minutes?" he asked with a smile.
"Yeah, I need to get back to Jeff anyways, and I'm sure Trish has something she needs to do, like refill her drink?" Summer said nudging Trish in her side. She had thought there was something under the surface of Hayley's exterior when she had introduced them downstairs, and knew that this might be the chance she needed to confront it.
"Yeah, I do need another drink. We'll see you downstairs alright Hayley?"
"Yeah sure guys. This won't take long I'm sure. I needed to talk to him about some story lines anyway."
As Summer and Trish made their way out of the room giggling, Hayley turned to Shane and saw the look on his face. It was the same look from the club the other night when they'd talked the whole night. The same look she was hoping she would see again.
**********
"What do you need Shane?"
"I just wanted to talk to you for a minute, will you do that?"
"Yeah, I'm here and I'm listening. So what do you want to say this time?"
"I want to, god I don't know how to say this."
"It's easy, just say it."
"Believe me; It's not all that easy."
"Shane, you said before that you didn't need anything serious or want anything serious at the present time. So I'm here because Summer asked me. That's it. I didn't come here thinking you would be here so I could get into your system. I just wanted to make some new friends, since Summer was so nice to me on Monday night."
"I know."
"So if you know, then what are you up here for?"
"Someone explained to me what an idiot I'm being to you, and I wanted to say sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for Shane. We are both adults. Sure we had a good time the other night at the club, actually one of the nicest times I've had in awhile, being out with Amanda and Mike so much, but that's all it was. A nice time, and you want to keep it that way, and I completely understand."
"No you aren't letting me get this out, there's more to it and you know it too."
"I know absolutely nothing about you Shane. That's what I do know as of this moment. Is there something that will make that change?"
"God Hayley, why are you being like this?"
"Being like what Shane? I'm only being polite and understanding. I thought that's what you wanted. I can't see why we can't be friends. I mean we are going to be working together pretty closely over the next little while, I just want to make this job work as well as it can."
"You want the job to work right? So then do me a favor!"
"What kind of favor?"
"Go out with me. In the name of work if need be, just go out with me."
"Excuse me?" Hayley managed to choke out. Now this was something she hadn't expected happening at all tonight. She did want to get to know Shane better, but she wasn't going to push herself on him, and he didn't want it anyways. He had made that fact perfectly clear. She really had no idea where this was going, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know.
"Hayley Carmichael, I'm asking you out. I want you and me to go out somewhere alone, and just talk and have a good time like we did the other night."
"But I thought.."
"You thought wrong, and apparently so did I. So after I've spent the latter part of the day making an ass out of myself, I want to make it better. So will you go out with me?"
"I don't know Shane."
"What do I have to do to make you go out with me? I will do just about anything right now..."
"Explain to me where all of this is coming from, and then I will think about it."
Shane had no idea where to start with this girl. She was different then most of the girls he had gone out with before. The night spent at the club, there wasn't anything she wouldn't answer when he'd asked her, and the same seemed to happen to him. He normally didn't want people to know all that much about him, but with this girl, and her brutal honesty, he wanted to be the same way with her. He wanted to get to know her, and having her at work with him, it could only help him, couldn't it?
"When me and Shannon went to the club that night and I saw you sitting there alone, and Matt and Shan were all into talking about their girlfriends and wives, I figured I was as lonely as you were at that moment. So I took a chance and went to your table and talked to you. I had a really good time, and to be honest with you I couldn't get you out of my head. When you showed up at Raw in my locker room, I thought it was a dream. There was no way you could be there because I didn't tell you what I did or even give you my number. The reason I didn't do that was because I didn't want to lead you to believe I was home a lot of the time to call you, and I didn't want you to wait by the phone for me."
"But I never said I would do that did I?"
"No you didn't but let me finish okay babe?"
"Okay."
"When you showed up there and told me you were the new head writer, the one I'd been hearing about all night, my first thoughts were good, but then they turned bad because I don't want to throw you into my life, and make whatever was happening turn into a living hell. So I told you I wasn't ready for anything serious. The truth is, I'm 29 years old almost and I'm alone ninety percent of the time. All my friends are serious about their girlfriends or married. Jeff being the last one to do that. I don't want to be alone the rest of my life, but I don't want to mislead someone about me. So I pushed you away. I'm stupid and I thought that was right, but god you look so beautiful now, and I can't lie to you anymore. I want to get to know you Hayley."
"Are you done now?"
"Yeah I guess I am."
"Then here's my take on all of this. There are a lot of things we don't know about each other, and the only way to get past all of that is to try, so yes Shane Helms, I will go out with you. I will try."
"You'll what?" he asked. Shane had been hoping she would give this reaction so bad, but he knew after what happened the night before on Raw, that there was a chance she wouldn't even want to give it another try.
"You heard me Shane. You want to ask me out on a date with you, and I'm standing in front of you, saying that I will."
"So you'll give me a chance to make everything up to you? And get to know me better?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. So how many of your friends know about me now?"
"Matt and Shannon because they were there with me the other night, and well Jay because I wrestled with him last night and he knew my mind wasn't on our match when we were training. Jeff knows too, but he doesn't know you're the girl from the club, he just knows you as the head writer."
"Well okay then. We'll keep it that way for now. Summer and Trish might wonder what's going on, but at the time I don't want to tell them anything because I don't even know them yet. I would really like to know everyone that you know, to be part of your life at the moment, but it has to take time."
"Okay, I'll give you all the time in the world and I know they are all going to love you..."
"Yeah probably, I mean I am the head writer for half of them now aren't I? they have to like me!" Hayley smiled and hugged Shane gently. It felt nice to be this close to him, and know that he wanted to try something with her as well. Whatever that something was, only time would tell.
"So do you want to go downstairs and have a good time now?" Shane asked with a smile pulling out of the hug. He didn't want to let on to her the feelings he felt in his body having her that close to him. That would be better served for another time, when they were better acquainted.
"Yeah, I'm sure us being up here for so long is going to be the topic of conversation downstairs. Let's go have a good time. We have all the time in the world to discuss when we can go out on our first date."
"Yeah, all the time in the world."
*******************
*******
-Monday Night Raw-
"So what ideas have you come up with after watching the show Hayley?" Jim asked as the other writers around her watched on.
"I've had the chance to look at some of the performers in the singles division and I really see a need for better writing with some of them. Now I know I'm new here, and my ideas are still fresh in where I want them to go, but I've looked at Hurricane Helms and decided he needs a real run for the Intercontinental belt. That was the one thing, after speaking with him and gaining an idea of his career, that I want to take right now." Hayley gasped for air. She wasn't sure how the rest of the room was going to take this burst of energy.
"You do realize that Booker T is going for that belt Ms. Carmichael?" one of the short stubby writers asked.
"I do, but after all is said and done, after taking the time to sit with Booker T, I see bigger title hopes for him as well. I mean you have to see what I see here. He is a huge competitor, and to have him as the Intercontinental Champion, well it's just not the best move for him right now. He is such a big performer and wins over the crowd better then most I've seen at this point. All I think really, is people like Christian and Hurricane should be going for the IC title, not the big guys like Booker. It just seems like a waste for all the talent you guys possess here."
"So what you're saying is you want to write for Hurricane and Christian and add more elements to the IC division at the moment?" Jim questioned.
"That's exactly what I'm saying at the moment Jim. I mean it seems like a good route at the moment. No one has been doing anything with that belt since they brought it back a month ago. I just see bigger things for it. These are men that will eventually want to fight for the heavyweight belt, and this belt is a stepping stone to making people see they are better then what they've been given."
"It's a good idea, and with your writing talent, and these men and women backing you here in this room, I think we can make a go of it. So you have my support here, and well Eric needs the help too, so I'm sure it will work for him as well. So do what you need to do here Hayley."
"Thank you Jim. Now the other order of business I want to get out of the way is Shawn Michaels. I know from my research and watching old tapes, that he has never really faced Ric Flair in this kind of match before, the one at the next PPV, and I think that we should really make him win it."
"We had plans to let Ric take the match Hayley, why do you suddenly get to come in here and change the order of things?" one of the blonde writers asked.
"I'm not here to turn everything upside down. I am from Carolina alright? So I am one of the biggest Flair fans there could be, but Shawn Michaels has taken that torch they keep talking about and he still has a lot of time left in his ride. I just think letting him win this would look really good for him and the company."
"Well you would have to sit down with Shawn and Ric on this one Hayley. They are bigger performers and they might have their own way of doing this match. So before we decide anything in here, I'm asking you to go talk to Shawn tonight and then Ric when you get the time, and see what they say. Get back to me, and we can do some real writing with this. Is that alright for now?"
"Jim it's more then okay. You wanted me here to give you ideas and I'm doing that. I know I'm the new kid here, believe me, I haven't forgotten, but I think that in order for me to do my job right, I need to shoot everything out there, and what we use, well that's wonderful, but what we don't, then you can leave on the floor. I really want to get to know all of you, the writers, well. I do not want to come in here and take over. I want to work as a team to make this show that much better. Is that something that is understood here?"
Hayley was tired of this meeting already. The writers since the beginning had been giving her a hard time. She knew it was bound to happen but this was getting crazy. She was now part of the team and wanted the respect that would come along with it. She wasn't there to steal anyone's job. She got the job on merit and she wanted to use it.
Jim stood up from the table and walked towards the door. He looked at the room of writers and then back at Hayley. She was going to have a hard time cracking this family.
"It is perfectly understood. Now let's go start the show with what we have at the moment and worry about this other stuff later. Hayley, do what I said and talk to Shawn. I'm sure he can tell you what he wants to have done for this match. Just enjoy the ego you are about to encounter. It will give you a new element to work with tonight."
Jim walked out of the room as everyone packed up their stuff. Hayley took one look around the room and decided she had done what she could tonight, and could worry about everything else later. She had told Shane she would meet him in his locker room, and right now that was something she didn't want to miss.
*********
"So how was the meeting Hayley?" Shane asked pulling her into a hug, and proceeding to sit down on the bench.
"They don't accept me yet, which I expected. I can live with that, it's the total lack of ideas from them that I cannot handle."
"Is it really that bad in there? What did you say that would get them going?"
"I asked for you to be put in the IC title hunt. I mean I think you need to be there. Not because we have a date coming up and I want to make things easier for you. But because of your raw talent. I've watched tapes all week and this is just something you need to do. You've been meant to do it for some time now."
"You really put that out there?"
"Yes of course I did Shane. I want to see you succeed. I even asked for something with Michaels and Flair, and they shot that down pretty much too. Jim was good about it. He wants me to talk to Shawn and Ric, and then come to whatever conclusion I want as far as writing the match goes."
"It will get easier babe. You just can't give in to them. They haven't had a competent head writer for some time, and this is new to them. Having someone so."
"So what?"
"I was going to say so talented. but then your beauty took me off guard."
Hayley blushed. Shane had been really trying to get to know her better over the past few days and she was so happy about it. He had been calling her from house shows just to chat with her, like two best friends would. He also didn't miss a chance to tell her how much he did like her, and how pretty she really was. They still had to decide on their first real date, but just having him around like this was good enough.
"It did not!"
"Hayley, have you really looked in the mirror? Summer mentioned to me the night she met you that you didn't deserve to be in the back, you needed to be on camera, and that's true because you have the face of an angel. So why wouldn't your beauty take me off guard?"
"I wont be on television anytime soon Shane, so don't go getting ideas in your head. I like what I do behind the scenes. It means more to me."
"You don't like what I do every night?"
"Honestly?"
"Of course."
"Shane before you came into my life, I didn't like wrestling all that much. Amanda loves it, and that's great, but I wasn't a fan. When I got this job and then found out you were a performer, it made me respect it more yes, but I don't think I would ever do it. I don't travel half as much as you thank god. I don't think I could handle being away from home that much."
"But you like what I do?"
"Of course I do Shane. You're amazing!"
"So since I'm so amazing, when do you want to go out with me?"
"When are you home again?"
"Saturday I think. Actually I have both days. Saturday and Sunday, so we could make a weekend of it. Are you up for that?"
"More then anything. Plus I don't have to think about this stuff that happened tonight. It gives me some time to get all my work done before you come home."
"Good, because your going out with me, not the WWE." Shane smiled and pulled her into a hug.
"So this Saturday I should expect a superhero at my door?"
"No, you should expect plain old Shane Helms. Are you sure that's enough for you?"
"More then enough Shane. And I can't wait."
"Me either. Now I better get dressed for my match tonight. Are you going to wait around afterward so we can go back to the hotel together?"
"Yeah, I'm going to see Trish right now. I'll see you later."
Shane kissed her forehead gently and she left the locker room with a smile plastered on her face. She could wait for Saturday; things were turning around for her. A thought flashed through her mind of something serious she needed to tell Shane before they got serious. She put it out of her mind and ran down the hall to Trish's locker room. She knew she should tell Shane before he found out the hard way, but she didn't want to do it yet. The time wasn't right.
*************
************
"What are you grinning about Hayley?" Amanda said sitting down on the couch and turning on the television.
Hayley couldn't help it. She had been looking forward to this night all week, and now that it was here, she was excited. Shane had called her about an hour before and told her he would be there soon, and that he couldn't wait to see her. She didn't want to make anything serious of this, but they had been talking all week when he was on the road about everything, and this was just the culmination of all of those talks. She couldn't believe this was really happening to her.
"I have a date in like an hour! Why wouldn't I be smiling?"
"So he finally broke you down and got you to go out with him huh?" Amanda smiled.
"Yeah he did."
"So now will you tell me why you were so depressed the other day? I know we haven't had a chance to talk lately, since Mike has been here, and well you've been working, but I knew something was wrong the other night. Did it have to do with Shane then too?"
"Yeah, I mean I met him at Raw like you wanted me too, I fainted on him, and then he tells me that getting to know me was good, but he doesn't want anything serious."
"This from the guy whose been calling here all week and tying up the phone line?"
"One and the same Amanda."
"So what changed now?"
"We talked at Summer's the other night, and well it worked out well for us. He doesn't want to lead anyone on, and with me he thought that was what was going to happen. At the time I didn't know why he would do that, but now that he's explained it, it makes all the sense in the world. I didn't want anything serious either; I just didn't want to lose the chance to get to know this wicked man."
"Wicked huh?"
"Yes wicked. He's great Amanda. God you have to meet him. You will see what I see."
"I suppose I will get to meet him tonight. If he plans on taking you out, he better pass my test."
"You aren't going to do that test again are you?"
"Why not?" Amanda said laughing.
"Because it's childish and you come off like a parent or something. I don't need another father and mother Manda."
"I won't embarrass you if that's what you mean. I just want to meet him, so I can see what you see, and why you are so happy right now."
"You will, believe me."
"So do you know what you're doing tonight?"
"No one sweet clue. I left all of that up to Shane. I figured since he wanted the date with me, he could go over the details."
"Oh, so he could really shock you tonight and take you to a hotel."
Hayley just stood there in shock. She hadn't thought about it, but it could be something that he wanted to do. Maybe he liked to move in the fast lane since he was never home normally.
"I was kidding Hayley! My gosh, do you really think he would do that?"
"I don't know Manda. I don't really know him THAT well yet."
"Well he's from Carolina, and if his parents are like ours were, then he won't even try anything short of a kiss. It's the southern hospitality thing sweetheart. Don't start worrying about it now."
"I won't, but I just never thought about it before until you mentioned it. What happens if I don't move fast enough for him?"
"You've been with men before Hayley. You aren't a virgin here. Just do what feels right, and I'm sure nothing bad will happen. I mean he's a superhero remember?"
Hayley laughed and smacked her friend on the arm. It did seem pretty funny that she was going out with someone who considered himself on television to be a superhero and fight crime. It would make for a most interesting date if anything else.
"Go get ready girl. He's going to be here soon. We can talk about it when you get home."
"I'll see you in a few Manda, enjoy the television!" Hayley said as she climbed the stairs and made her way to the bathroom. She wanted to make sure she looked perfect for this date tonight. She hadn't had one of these in awhile, and didn't want to disappoint.
**********
"Hayley, you look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you Shane. Did you decide on what we are doing?"
"I was thinking something really simple for the first date. I don't want to impress you so much you think I'm stuck up now do I?"
"I could never think that. So what did you have in mind?"
"I was thinking about a walk along the shoreline. Just a better chance for us to talk and get to know one another a little better then we have been. Does that sound alright to you? Or did you have something better in mind?"
"Nothing better, believe me. That sounds perfect."
They drove in silence all the way to the beach and Shane parked the car and helped her out. Amanda was right when she said that he was raised right. He even opened the door for her and everything. She knew she had nothing to worry about with Shane's intentions for this date. They started walking towards the water and Shane took her hand gently into his, twining their fingers together. When he realized she wasn't pulling her hand away he smiled.
"Why are you smiling Shane?"
"I thought you were going to want to pull away..."
"Why would I?"
"This is our first date, official anyways, and I didn't want to take things too fast for you. After all I am the one who told you I wanted something not serious."
"Is that still the case?"
"Not really. I don't think it ever was. It just felt right for me to take your hand."
"It was right Shane, don't question it alright? I will tell you what's wrong, if you do it."
"Okay..."
Hayley looked up at the sky as the sun was going down and realized how beautiful it was living out here. She had been here for years but had never really noticed how nice she had it, until now. She guessed Shane brought out the best in her.
"What are you thinking about?"
"How nice it is out here. I guess I never noticed before. The sky is so bright right now. The orange tint makes it like a dream."
"It's not a dream."
"I know it's very real."
"Hayley. I missed you."
"You what?"
"I missed you this week. I missed your smile, and the way you laugh at silly stuff I say when I call you. Is that wrong?"
"No it's not Shane, why would you even think that? I missed you too. I was really looking forward to tonight."
"Me too.. So tell me about you and how you got to be here. Stuff I might not know already."
"Well you know I live here in Raleigh now, but I used to live in Fayetteville, and I even moved to Charlotte for awhile. My parents got divorced when I was really young, so I've never seen my father, at least not since I was like four. My mother loved Carolina though; there was no way she would ever leave it. So I did the same. I became one with this place, and I could never see myself leaving now."
"Where is your mother now?"
"She died a few years ago actually. She had cancer in her breast and they couldn't catch it in time, and she passed away..It was really rough."
"It seems like it would be. I'm sorry to hear about it though."
"Don't be. She's with me everyday of my life. She knows I'm happy and that's what she always wanted for me."
"I didn't mean to bring anything bad up, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize when it comes to things like this. She was my mother, she raised me very well, and it was her time to go. It wasn't murder or anything that was planned out, it was just some twist of fate that makes me who I am. It doesn't mean I don't think about her anymore..."
"I know, you probably think about her everyday. So how about we change the subject here?" Shane asked smiling down at her. He never realized before how small she was compared to him. She had to be about 5'6 on a good day.
"What did you have in mind Mr. Helms?"
"How happy I am that you came here with me tonight."
"Well the feeling goes both ways Shane, I'm glad we got to talk about this and I'm here now."
"You are?" he questioned.
"Of course I am." Stopping short in the sand and taking a quick glance out to the water and watching it slowly moving she turned back to him. "I like you Shane Helms. I think I did that night in the bar, with your friends all around you like hawks. There was just something about you that made me want to get to know you. I can't explain it, and I don't even want to try to, but when you asked me out at Summer's, I knew I had to do it."
"You wouldn't rather have someone like Jay or Jeff?"
"Why? I barely know those guys and besides, in case you forgot, they are both married. I consider Summer a friend too, and she and Jeff seem perfect for each other. Why would you even ask that?"
"Most girls I go out with tend to go for me because I can get them closer to the blonde heartthrobs that they really want..."
"Well Shane, that's not me. I think Jeff and Jay are good guys, and it's cool I get to work with them, well Jay anyways, but it doesn't mean that I want to get them into bed."
"Hayley I didn't mean to offend you here princess, I just want to make sure I don't put myself out there and get duped again."
"You won't get taken again Shane, I'm here for you."
"You mean that don't you?"
"What can I do to prove to you that I mean it?" Hayley asked with a small smile curving on her lips.
Shane just stared at her before he answered. He knew she was telling the truth, and knew that she wouldn't be like the last girl he had gone out with, that was so concerned with how Jeff saw her, that she didn't see him. He wanted to kiss her so bad, but he didn't want her to run from him for moving too fast. He didn't know how to explain what was happening with them, but he wanted to ride with it, and make it work.
"You can. well you can..." Shane stammered.
"I'm going to take a chance here and do what I think you might want to say, and I know it's what I want to do."
Hayley moved closer to Shane and pulled her hand from his and placed them on both of his cheeks. Just sitting there and looking into his eyes for a minute, and seeing his entire heart through them, she put her lips to his gently and kissed him. She didn't want to make him uneasy so she kissed him gently, and slowly. What she didn't expect was for Shane to kiss her back, and to deepen the kiss. It was obviously what he wanted to do, and she wasn't going to stop him. It just felt right.
Pulling away from the kiss after a couple of minutes, Shane looked down at her.
"I had to stop."
"I know you did." Hayley whispered trying to get her breath back.
"Do you think we should head back?"
"If you'd like."
"What I'd like to do is stay out here with you all night, but that's not right at the moment. Plus we have some time tomorrow to just do this all over again. That is, if you still want too?" Shane questioned, searching her face for the right answer. The one answer that would hold his heart.
"I'd like nothing more Shane. We can head back."
"Not before I do this just one more time. I want to make sure it was real." Shane whispered pulling Hayley closer to him and kissing her gently, feeling the electricity generating between them.
************
