Matt awoke the next morning to the sound of car horns from the busy streets below. He yawned as he rolled onto his side and stared immediately at the picture of Leah that was leaned against his clock on the night stand next to his bed. He smiled and sighed heavily as he remembered how close he’d finally come last night to the touch of her soft lips, and how in one instance it was ruined. Matt rubbed his forehead with his hand and stretched as he climbed lazily out of bed and walked towards the sliding glass door which lead onto the balcony of his room. Matt slipped outside and took a deep breath, the air was clean and sweet, and the sounds of the cars below and the bustling about of people greeted him to the morning. Matt sat down on the fancy swing and closed his eye’s. For the first time in a while he felt truly relaxed and clam. He smiled knowing he’d be seeing Leah later tonight at the show. Matt sighed, she’d naturally be rehearsing for RAW next Monday night, and Matt was happy he’d be able to hear the soft hypnotizing sound of her beautiful voice when she would sing later today. He’d had such a great time with her last night that he was anxious to repeat it. *** Matt had all but dozed off sitting on the swing on the balcony when he opened his eye’s at the sound of a phone ringing from within his room. Matt groaned as he got to his feet stretching again and went back inside sliding the door tightly into place as he made his way back to his bed and reached for the phone on the dresser. “Hello?” Matt asked sleepily as he held the phone to his ear. “Matt.” The voice said cheerfully. Matt recognized Leah’s voice instantly and he smiled excited to discover it was her who was calling him. “Hey Lee, what’s up?” Matt asked as he sat up and smiled waiting to hear her voice again. “I just got back from the photo shot I was doing like all morning, I thought I’d call you to see what you were up to. Did I wake you?” Leah asked softly as Matt grinned. “No I was wake, I’m just lying here on my bed, procrastinating as long as I can.” Matt said softly as Leah giggled. “I just wanted to say that I had fun last night, it was weird too though..... hanging out with you again you know?” Leah asked as Matt smiled. “It’s been so long.” Matt sighed, “I had a real good time though. I’m glad your here.” Matt said softly just picturing her sitting on the couch in her dressing room, the phone held to her ear smiling at his every word. Matt grinned, “I was thinking maybe if your not busy after the show tonight maybe we could walk around Disney and go on some rides or something, goof off, you know act really immature, it’d be fun!. Ohh we could shake hands with Mickey.” Matt said softly chuckling, praying he’d be able to hangout with Leah alone again, so maybe he could get the fortunate opportunity at trying to kiss her amazing lips once more. Leah sighed giggling, “I can’t.” Leah said softly sounding disappointed. “Ohh well its all right, we have plenty of time...... we can do something tomorrow or..... sometime.” Matt mumbled disappointed, feeling his heart sink. Leah sighed, “It’s just that I promised Amy.... I promised her I’d go to this club with her tonight..... she heard stuff about this club and she told me I had to go with her because it was like her way of welcoming me into the WWE music, wrestling family or something. I dunno but, Jeff’s gonna be there.... uhhh lot of people are gonna be there apparently.... ummm I’m kinda like the only one without a....” “What?” Matt asked sitting completely up now, feeling like he knew what she was getting at. Leah always had her own unique way of doing and asking for things. Leah sighed, “This is so embarrassing.” Leah said softly as Matt chuckled. “I’m like the only one with no date.” Leah blurted out awaiting Matt’s response. Matt smiled, “Lee is this your shy way of asking your best friend in the whole entire world if he’ll be your date for tonight?” Matt asked as Leah laughed. “It is only if he’s saying yes.” Leah said laughing. Matt chuckled, “You want me to be like your date.......?” Matt asked kinda shocked. Leah sighed pausing, “You sound shocked.” Leah said smiling at the floor from where she sat in her dressing room and waited for Matt to respond. Matt sighed, “I am.” Matt said softly smiling, “I think that would be really cool Lee.” Matt said softly smiling. “Well if you really wanna.” Leah said softly sounding like she really didn’t know what she was asking. Matt chuckled, “I’d be more then honored. It sounds fun, I’m excited.” Matt said softly, but deep down he was thrilled. Leah sighed, “Really? So you’ll come and we can hangout! Great now I’m excited! Aww thanks Matt.” Leah said giggling. Matt sighed. “I’ll be looking forward to it all day long!” Matt said softly as Leah laughed. “Ohh hey Matt..... Rick is on the other line I gotta go... we’ll hangout later at some point okay?” Leah asked as Matt grinned content and happy in his glory moment. “Yeah I’ll see you later Lee.” Matt said softly as he heard her sigh happily and then heard the click as she hung up. *** Later... Matt had just left his dressing room later that afternoon, to head down to the ring, to rehearse. Matt sighed as he stopped into the catering room and grabbed a bottle of water to drink. Matt stopped at a table where he saw Shane and Shannon sitting with a late lunch. “Hey how’s it going Matt?” Shane asked as Matt sat down in the empty chair next to Shannon Matt shrugged, “Pretty good, whats goin’ on?” Matt asked smiling from Shane to Shannon. Shane shrugged and Shannon smiled, “Nothing just grabbing a bite to eat before the chaos of pre-show insaneness begins.” Shannon said grinning as he took a big bite of the sub he was eating. Matt chuckled, “Speaking of pre-show I need to go rehearse, are you guys going to the club later tonight?” Matt asked standing. They both nodded, and Matt said goodbye to them and made his way out of the room and headed towards the ring. Matt made his way to the backstage area and chatted quickly with some crew people he was close to and then made his way through the curtain to go down to the ring. Matt looked around to find the usual crew people and directors around the ring directing the guys in the ring where to stand and what to do. Vince McMahon was standing on the ring steps talking to Test who was sitting on the mat with Stacey Kiebler at his side. Matt saw Amy and Jeff and some others sitting front row to watch the rehearsals and he climbed over the wall to join them. Matt had been sitting with the group in the front row for a while when something from the opposite side of the arena caught his attention. Matt was staring across the ring where the steps for the lower level seats empty into the main arena floor where fans get merchandise and food. Matt stared at the opening and saw Leah standing there and that blonde guy whom he been introduced to yesterday as Rick, her manager. The guy that had ruined his moment by calling last night. They looked like they were arguing. Leah was waving her arms around like she was infuriated. Matt watched for long time. At one point Matt was ready to rocket from his seat, dive across the ring, run up the steps and grab Rick by the neck and hurl him into the floor... Matt’s heart raced as he watched Rick saying something to Leah as he stepped towards her and almost slapped her across the face. Matt’s felt his blood boil as he watched Leah step away and then they backed away from view. Matt sat for a moment and then looked around, no else seemed to notice. Matt got up quickly and made his way from the row, as he heard Amy ask him where he was going, but he didn’t answer- he was in a hurry to get to Leah. Once Matt was up the steps he started to run. There wasn’t anyone around, and Matt could hear his foot steps echoing through the arena as he ran as fast as he could to where he’d seen Leah and Rick. Matt stopped about halfway to take a deep breath and he realized he could hear there own echoing voices as they yelled at each other. Matt walked quickly and quietly towards the direction as he tried to listen to there shouting. What were they arguing about? What was going on? The echoing made there shouting hard to understand but Matt heard the greater part of it... “Rick that was a long time ago! I don’t wanna be with you... you need to move on!” Matt heard Leah shout. “Don’t you think its time for you to get over him? To move on!? It’s never gonna happen Leah.... It’s never gonna happen! Your career is taking off don’t screw it up because your hoping something that’s not gonna happen between you two will, nothing’s gonna happen! Leah I know what I felt between us, I want that again! I want that again, I wanna be with you. Move on... let it go.” Matt heard Rick shout. Matt stopped his heart raced and he waited silently for Leah to answer. He realized then that they were trying to make a point to each other. Matt let out a deep breath as he waited for Leah’s response, knowing they were referring to Matt and Leah. “Rick I don’t how to make this any more clearer to you, I don’t wanna be with you, I never have, I don’t have strong feelings for you... let alone any feelings for you. I mean I was upset, you were for me that one night, I wanted some comfort, and you mis-taked my need for affection for something kind of fantasy big deal relationship.... that I don’t even want from you. I don’t like you that way, your my boss and that’s not the kind of relationship I want with my boss. We can be friends Rick but not lovers... because I don’t love you. I don’t love you, I never did. You have to let me go Rick...... ” Leah shouted as Matt’s heart raced faster. “He’s not right for you!” Rick shouted. “Ohh and I suppose your going to tell me that your right for me? I think that’s my decision to make. He’s more right for me then you’ll ever be Rick!” Leah shouted as Matt started walking again. This situation had to broken up before someone got hurt. “I am the right one for you... to be with you.... you deserve better Leah! Be with me and not him!” Rick screamed. Leah let out a cry and Matt started running again. What the hell had happened? “Rick I don’t want you..... I don’t want anything to do with you... I just want you to manage my career so I’m successful and that’s it... nothing more. It’s obvious to me now that I made a horrible, huge mistake that night, that I will live to regret, but I don’t want you.... I don’t want you, I do not love you..... let it go.” Leah shouted as Matt heard her cry out again. Matt raced around the corner as he heard Leah shout again and saw that Rick had grabbed her hair and she was trying to run away and he was holding her back. “I suggest you take your arms off of her if you still want them!” Matt shouted as he came up behind them. “Matt!” Leah cried as Rick instantly released Leah tossing her away to the floor and turned to face Matt. Matt’s eye’s glanced towards Leah who was on the ground, then instantly down into Rick eyes. Rick stared up at Matt, Matt noticed surprise shown in his eye’s for an instant and then faded to anger and disgust. Matt stared down into his eye’s with nothing but complete hatred, Matt wanted to reach down and plunge his hand into the mans chest and ripe out his heart. “It would be wise for you to stay out of this!” Rick growled as Matt nodded. “Ohh and why is that?” Matt asked crossing his arms across his chest surprisingly humored by the mans obvious defiance, and complete lack of sight. Matt could crush him with his bare hands like a bug. Matt was so enraged by how this man had touched Leah that he was fighting his own battle not to grab him by the throat and see to his last breath. Rick stared up at Matt with just as much hatred, “You have no business here, interrupting us in our conversation!” Rick exclaimed as he looked down to Leah who was still on the floor rubbing her forehead. Matt followed his gaze and saw that Leah was in obvious pain. Matt wanted to be done with this fool quickly so he could get to her. Rick finally looked back at Matt. Matt sighed, “When someone I care about is hurt, and I watch it happen I make it my business.” Matt roared as he walked quickly past Rick and knelt down at Leah’s side. Matt touched Leah’s head gently, smoothing her hair as she looked up at him, she looked tired and weary and tears were silently running down her cheeks. Matt sighed as he smiled at her, and touched her cheek gently. Then Matt rose to his feet again and turned to find Rick still standing there watching them. “Your through here.... I want to personally ensure to you that Leah will be taken good care of, you can go now!” Matt yelled as Vince and some other directors appeared and stared completely puzzled at the scene before them. “What the hell is going on here?” Vince thundered as he took a step towards them and stopped between Matt and Rick. “Apparently Mr. DeLuka here wants to be with Leah and he can’t take no for an answer. I saw them arguing and it appeared to me that if someone didn’t stop it Leah would be hurt, I almost made it in time Vince... but obviously I was a bit to late.....” Matt said as he continued to stare at Rick. “You have no right to stick your nose into things that aren’t any of your business!” Rick cried as he looked desperately at Vince. “Leah’s my business, and anything that happens to her!” Matt yelled staring at Rick. “Enough!” Vince yelled. Vince stared at Rick for a long time and then glanced at Matt. Vince sighed as he glanced over Matt’s shoulder and saw Leah who was still on the floor, holding her head. Vince moved away from Matt and Rick and knelt down close to Leah, “Leah are you all right?” Vince asked as he touched her hand. Matt watched Leah as she stared shaking, tears rolled down her cheeks and she shook her head. “What happened?” Vince asked softly handing her a tissue from within his pocket. Leah wiped her cheeks and her eye’s and took several deep breaths. Leah spoke softly finally, “Rick was mad because I don’t wanna be with him...... and he wants me to.... so we began arguing.... finally he grabbed me and my hair and he just wouldn’t let me go.................. then Matt appeared and he told Rick he should he let me go... and he did... he threw me aside. I don’t know what would have happened if Matt hadn’t showed up.” Leah whispered as more tears rolled from her diamond blue eyes as she looked up and met Matt’s eye’s. Matt stared at her and rubbed his own head. Vince touched Leah’s shoulder and rose to his feet. “See to it that she is taken care of!” Vince said speaking to the security who had gathered at the opening way. Vince glanced back down at Leah as some security guards came to her side to help her to her feet. Then Vince came back to Matt’s side and patted his shoulder and Matt stared at him. Then Vince looked at Rick who hadn’t taken his eye’s off of Vince yet. “See to it that Rick is giving a ride to the airport, he’ll shortly be leaving, and make sure that Leah can get another manager... someone caring and supportive needs to make sure her career is successful. And Rick I don’t ever wanna see your face here in the WWE again!” Vince thundered as he glanced back to make sure Leah was okay and then started to walk away as all the other top heads of the company followed him. Matt stared at Rick as more security came to escort him from the arena and away to the airport. Rick continued to stare at him and shook his head. “This isn’t over you know!” Rick said softly as Matt raised his eyebrows and watched him as security lead him away. Once Rick and the security had disappeared Matt rubbed his head. Amy, Jeff, and Jason stood in the opening way watching him and Matt looked up and saw them. Matt sighed not wanting to be bothered with anyone for a while, he needed time to think and clear his mind of all the thoughts he had and all the things he’d just learned. Matt walked a few feet to the steps leading up to the upper level of the arena and he sat down an rubbed his head. After a long time Matt realized that someone was sitting beside him. Matt looked up slowly and saw Amy. Amy smiled at him and patted his shoulder. Matt sighed as cleared his throat and stared at her. “I knew instantly when you didn’t answer me that something was wrong.” Amy said softly as Matt frowned and looked away from her. Amy did indeed know him very well. “So what exactly happened?” Amy asked as Matt got to his feet, his back to her and he shook his head. “Amy I don’t wanna talk about it!” Matt answered angrily, his usual voice replaced with disgust. “Matt I’m not stupid.... I knew the minute that you laid eye’s on Leah that you had were crazy about her..... I know there’s a strong attraction between you too! A connection... something you both are obviously trying to hide, why I don’t know!. But I’m not blind.... and I also know more things about the relationship she had with Rick at one point then you do!” Amy said standing as Matt spun around to face her finally. “Then tell me Amy what kind of relationship did they have?” Matt asked angered still further that Amy of all people choose to want to speak of Rick and Leah’s relationship at just such an instant. “A one night stand really.... Leah was really upset one night because she found out someone she was dating had cheated on her. So she went looking for comfort and she just so happened to find some that night with Rick.... she told him the next day she didn’t want him to take last night personally, that it meant nothing but after a while as she began dating again he always found a way to be around or to ruin a good night... she couldn’t seem to have a happy relationship with anyone, Rick told her finally that he wanted her and he wasn’t gonna let her go.........” Amy said sighing as she stared at Matt. “Then...... one night he told Leah he was in love with her and he wanted to be with her and well he tried to force himself onto her and she ran from him. He just kept on ruining any relationship she tried to have and well know this happened.” Amy said softly. Matt stared at her a long time and shook his head. “Leah and I met each other at the pool behind the hotel last night after the show about 12:30 and I was so close Amy... I was so close to finally kissing her... after all these years of regretting so many things about our relationship together about my never being brave enough to tell her how I feel about her.... I was so close.... I could smell her... I touched her cheek, her skin was so warm and so soft, I could feel her breath on my face that’s how close I was.... and her cell phone started ringing and it was Rick...... later we went to a dinner and we were sharing a soda we were making fun of each other an laughing and her phone rang and it was Rick....” Matt paused for a long time and shook his head, “Then we drove out to the beach we parked the car and we climbed onto the hood and layed back and watched the stars.... it was great, real romantic you know and weren’t saying anything or doing anything. I was looking over at her and like she knew my eye’s were on her she looked up at me... it was one of those moments you know... were its just right and her damn phone rang.” Matt whispered shaking his head, as he sat back down on the steps and rubbed his head.. Amy sighed, as she sat down next to him and touched Matt’s arm, “Matt I don’t know what to tell you...........” Amy admitted truly not knowing what advice to give him. “How does something like that.... how does one night of that not mean anything?” Matt asked whispering as Amy sighed. “Matt its called being hurt and drunk.” Amy said softly as Matt grinned and shook his head. After a long period of silence Matt sighed rubbing his head as he pulled his hair into a ponytail. “I’m scarred you know... because suddenly she’s here and she’s close enough to touch.... she’s suddenly back in my life again and I find myself constantly trying not to think about her, not to think about her leaving me....” Matt paused whispering softly, “but no matter how hard I try to forget her or to not think about her... she just becomes all I think about. I never knew how much I missed her or how much I want her and how much I really care about her until I saw her again and she was here and until I saw Rick with his arms around her... saw the way her touched her... the way her hurt her.... I’m just scarred.... I don’t know what to do.... I know she’s got her career... she a success..... she incredible, she’s got this voice that melts my heart, an I know she can’t stay forever but I sure don’t want her to ever go away.” Matt whispered as he closed his eye’s and dropped his head back into his hands. Amy sighed taking a deep breath as she bit her bottom lip and hugged Matt gently. After a few moments Amy spoke, “Matt you protected her... if you hadn’t come like she said who knows what Rick would have ended up doing to her. Go to her... go now... go right now and tell her all the things you’ve told me... she needs that whether you know or believe it or not... she does.... I think Leah truly cares for you just as much as you do for her.... you love each other... stop hiding it already! You’ve been in love with each other since the moment you met and neither of you had the guts to do anything about it.... what’s stopping you know? Absolutely nothing.......” Amy said softly as Matt looked up and stared at her. Amy sighed. “I gotta go met Jeff.... We’ll talk later.” Amy said softly as Matt watched her stand and watched as she walked away and disappeared. Matt sat alone, confused and pondering what on Earth to do next.
