Adam was in an Intercontinental title match against the former ECW's Lance Storm and was excited about it for more reason than one.  First, Lance was an impeccable, technically sound competitor, and the two would have a fantastic match.  Secondly, in the short period of time that the man had been with the WWF, they'd become friends, as Lance was one of Chris Jericho's best friends, the two going back a long ways.  Third, and perhaps best of all, Edge was slated to win the Intercontinental title, his first reign since June two years ago, in which he held the belt for one day only.

As he'd hoped and expected, the match went by very well, and at one point, Jay ran out to interfere, as Christian was supposed to "help" Edge.  In keeping up with the future breakup of the team, Christian ran in to spear Lance Storm, but instead, he got his brother.  The inadvertent spear didn't matter, because Edge got back up and executed his DDT finisher to win the match and the Intercontinental championship along with it.

After the referee handed Edge the belt and raised his arm in victory, Christian rushed over to give his brother a hug.  This actually marked the beginning of a new angle between the two Canadians.

Amy watched the match on a TV monitor backstage, her eyes glued to the screen.  She felt a surge of emotion as Edge was declared the winner - Adam looked so happy.  She reached out tentatively from where she stood in front of the set and touched his image on the screen.

She didn't have a match scheduled for the pay-per-view.  For the last week or so, she'd had to feign a limp after Lita had been jumped on Sunday Night Heat by Ivory, Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson.  She'd hated when Torrie had gotten hold of her leg so Ivory could kick her.  It had been for the sake of the storyline, but she couldn't help feeling helpless when the blonde had held her while she was down on the floor.

A small smile crossed her face as she witnessed Jay hugging Adam in the ring.  She wanted so much to hug the tall blond, for she was really happy for and proud of him.  Lifting her right hand in a thumbs up gesture, the redhead said softly, "Way to go, Adam..."

*

"Hey, Jeff, can I talk to you, man?" Shane Helms asked as he walked into the locker room the Hardys were sharing.  He'd really been looking for Matt, but the elder Hardy was nowhere to be found.

"Sure, Shane...what's up?" the rainbow-haired man said.

Helms sat down beside his friend, thoughtfully stroking his goatee for a moment before speaking.  After a moment, he said, "I don't know quite how to say this, but...well, it might be a bit awkward because of the friendship we've had all these years, but..."

"Just spit it out," Jeff said.  He wondered where this was going.

"I want to ask Amy out," the other man blurted.

Jeff's eyebrows raised in surprise.  "What??"

"You see, I told you it would be awkward..."

"Okay, so you want to ask Amy out...So, go ahead.  I mean, what's stopping you?" the younger man asked.

"Well, we've been friends for so damn long, I don't know how she'll react," Shane explained.  "I've always liked her, though...I just never thought she would like me that way."

"Well, you never know until you ask...why don't you talk to her, man?" the younger Hardy suggested.

"I will...I guess I'll go find her right now.  Thanks, Jeff..."

"Anytime, Shane.  Good luck!"

*

"Come in!" Amy called in answer to the knock that suddenly came on the door to her locker room.  She had no idea who was paying her a visit, but part of her hoped it was Adam.

She didn't get her wish.  Shane Helms stuck his head in and peered in at her.  "Oh, hi, Shane."

"Hey, Ames..."  He stepped into the small room and glanced around, relieved that no one else was in the room with her.  Good - they were alone.  "Umm...can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course you can...what's up?" the redhead asked, sitting down on the small couch in the middle of the room.  She tucked one leg beneath her and patted the other cushion for her friend to sit beside her.

Shane sat down and gazed at her uncertainly, a feeling of great nervousness coming over him.  He realized he was being silly - Amy was his friend and had been for years.  He'd never felt anything but at ease with her, and now should be no different.

"Well, err...Ames, I just wanted to ask if...well..."

Amy nodded, waiting for him to finish.  She wondered what was on his mind, as he had never been like this before.

"...Would you go out with me?"

The diva blinked, taken aback.  Had she heard him correctly?  Shane Helms was asking her out???  After a moment, she found her voice.

"You mean on a date?"

"Yeah," Shane said.  "A date..."

Amy blinked again as she studied her friend's face.  Looking directly into his brown eyes, she said, "Wow - well, that definitely took me by surprise!"

Helms reddened slightly.  Who was he kidding?  Why would she want to date him?  "Okay...sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you...just forget I asked."  He stood up and was about to leave, but Amy grabbed him by the wrist, stopping him.

"No, wait, Shane..."  He turned around and met her hazel eyes.  "...You know what?  I think it would be nice," Amy said without really thinking.  "Yes...yes, I'll go out with you...We've been friends for a long time, so why not?"

"Really?"  The man's face brightened into a happy smile.  He couldn't believe his luck.  He'd been certain she would find the idea of them dating ludicrous.

"Yeah," the redhead said.  "When and where?"

"Well, how about tonight, after the pay-per-view ends?  We can check out this club in the area..."

"Okay, that sounds good," she said with a smile.

"Great - so it's a date," Shane said.  He studied her for a moment without a word, then looked up.  "Well, I'd better get my stuff together to get out of here...I'll see you later."

"See you later," Amy said with a wave.

When Shane was gone, she stared at the closed locker room door, wondering what in the hell she was doing...

*

Adam and Jay returned to their locker room together, and the taller of the two blonds hefted the Intercontinental belt higher on his shoulder.  "What a rush!" he exclaimed.  "I can't believe it - I can't believe how good it feels to win this thing again!"

"Well, enjoy it while you can, dude," Jay said with a smile.  "Before you know it, it'll be mine!"

"Whatever," Adam said with a smirk.  "You just can't let me enjoy my moment, can you?"

The other man laughed.  "You know me too well..."

As the taller blond placed the belt on top of his suitcase, he looked back up.  "Hey, have you seen Amy tonight?"

"Err...yeah, I saw her back here earlier - right before I ran out to do my spot, in fact."

"I should go see her," Adam said.

"Well, you better shower first," Jay cracked.  "I don't think she'll care too much for you all sweaty and stuff."  He made a face as he teased his best friend.

Adam reached out, pretending to take a swing at him.  The shorter man ducked out of the way, laughing.  "Go on, I'll watch your precious belt for you..."

*

It took Amy a few minutes to decide what to wear for her date with Shane later on.  She chose a blue tank dress made of a stretchy metallic fabric and put all her hair up.  She was just slipping into a pair of heels when there was a knock on the locker room door.

Trish, who was sharing the room with her, jumped up upon seeing Amy was putting on her shoes.  She opened the door and smiled as she saw Adam standing there.  "Hey, Mr. New Intercontinental Champ - congratulations!"  The petite Canadian smiled.

"Thanks, Trish," Adam said with a smile.  "Is Amy-"  He looked past her and caught sight of the redhead, who looked up and met his eyes.  Swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat, he found himself speechless.

"She's right there," Trish said, turning around and gesturing toward the other woman with both hands.  "I'll just leave you two alone...I'm going to go see Jay."

"See you later, Trish," Amy called.

Adam only mumbled something unintelligibly, as he was still distracted by the redhead's appearance.  She looked so beautiful.

He stepped into the room.  "Wow...you look great," he finally said.

"Thanks," Amy said with a smile.  She didn't say so, but she thought he looked great as well.  He was wearing tight black leather pants and a black short-sleeved shirt with buttons.  Subtlely, she allowed her eyes to scan him over.

"I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to come hang out with me in my room tonight...we could watch a movie or something..."

"I can't - not tonight, Adam...I'm sorry."

Adam blinked, suddenly feeling stupid, as he hadn't realized she obviously had to have plans - why else would she be all dressed up like this?  He ran a quick hand through his long blond hair and asked, "You going out tonight?"

"Yeah - I have a date with Shane Helms," she said quickly.

Adam flinched upon her last four words.  He felt as if he'd been punched in the stomach.  "A date?" he asked after another moment of speechlessness.  "With Helms?"

"Yeah...he came by earlier and asked me out.  It was kind of cute," she said with a smile.  "He was all nervous and everything, like he doubted I'd say yes."

"Oh."  The blond didn't know what to say.  His mouth suddenly went dry, and his disappointment deepened with the realization that the young woman actually seemed excited about her date.  "Well...I hope you have a good time."

"Thanks."

"Okay, well...I'd better get going.  Me, Jay and Trish were going to head back to the hotel after my match, so...I'll see you later."  He turned to leave, but the redhead's voice stopped him.

"Adam?"

He turned back and found himself gazing directly into her eyes.  He felt like he could lose himself in her hazel depths.

She came toward him, her eyes locked with his.  "Come here," Amy said, holding her arms out.  "I didn't even congratulate you on your title win - congratulations!"

Adam pulled her to him and held her tightly, letting out a soft sigh as her arms went around his waist.  God, it felt so good to have her in his arms.  "Thank you."  As he closed his eyes and rubbed his chin against the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her soft auburn hair, he realized he didn't want to let her go.

*

"Hey...you look great," Shane said to Amy when they met just outside her locker room.

"Thank you," the redhead said graciously, a small, uncertain smile on her face.  She felt distinctly odd about the situation, but she decided a distraction might do her some good.  Lately, she had been concentrating too much on Adam - and Torrie Wilson's attentions on him.  A date would take her mind off that stuff.

"Where's your rental car?" Amy asked as they walked out of the arena and to the parking lot.

"Not far...actually, right about...here," Shane replied after they walked a few more yards.  He stopped in front of a silver Nissan Maxima, unlocking the passenger's side door for the diva.  He opened it and held it so she could slip in, then slammed it behind her, a grin on his face.

The ride to the club was light and pleasant as their conversation, mostly small-talk, had been.  Once inside the establishment, Amy and Shane sat at a small table in a less noisy corner.

"Do you want something to drink?"

Amy didn't have to think it over very long.  The last time she'd drank - when ditzy Torrie Wilson had cut in on her dancing with Adam - she'd woken up the next day with a hangover.

"No," she said.  "Thanks, but I'm good.  I'll just have water."

"So will I, then."

The pair danced a little, but came back to their table soon after for a breather.  Luckily, it hadn't been taken.

Amy studied the young man silently for awhile.  Shane noticed that something was obviously on her mind.

"So...were you surprised when I asked you out?"

"Yeah," she admitted.  "How could you tell?"

Helms laughed softly.  "Well, the look on your face gave it away."  Then, growing more serious, he said, "Ames, I'm gonna admit something right now...I've always pretty much had a crush on you."

"You have?" she asked, again genuinely surprised.

"Oh, yeah..."  He nodded, smiling.

Amy smiled too, her eyes downcast.  Shane was sweet.  But her mind kept focusing on another man who was her friend - someone else who was also sweet...

*

Adam wearily walked up the stairs to his hotel room.  Jay was not rooming with him but with Trish tonight, which actually suited him just fine.  The way he was feeling, he'd rather be alone, anyway.  His mood had gone south upon finding out that Amy had a date with Shane Helms.  Now, even Edge's Intercontinental title win didn't matter much to him.

He stepped through the door and into the room, eyes down.  When he looked back up, he froze in his tracks at what he saw.

Torrie Wilson had somehow gotten into his room.  The blonde was laying on his bed, wearing a sheer white bustier, matching panties, garter belt and stockings.  As he watched her in shock, she slid over onto one side and gently traced the blanket upon which she lay with one finger.  A wheeled cart sat near the bed, a bucket of champagne on ice and two glasses resting atop.

Adam was so surprised that he was initially struck speechless.  Torrie smiled and said in a low, soft voice, "Hello, champ...I thought you might like to celebrate your title victory!"

"How the hell did you get in my room?" Adam asked, finally finding his voice.  He came to stand at the foot of the bed, staring incredulously at her.

The young woman crawled seductively over to him, looking up at him with innocent-looking blue eyes that were most definitely not innocent.  "I told the front desk clerk I needed to get in here...I said it was an emergency..."  She smiled broadly.

"Well, get out - put your clothes on, take that cart with you, and get out!"

It was Torrie's turn to look shocked.  Her jaw dropped, and a frown overtook her face.  "You can't be serious..."

"Oh, but I am...out!  Now," Adam ordered angrily, gritting his teeth and pointing toward the door.

"What is your problem?" the blonde asked, now annoyed herself.

"Look, Torrie," he said, his ire increasing by the second.  "The truth is, I have no interest in you whatsoever...now get your clothes on and get out of here!  And if you don't do that, I will throw you out myself - bodily!"

"What's this all about, Adam?  Is it about Amy?" she asked, emphasizing the redhead's name and rolling her eyes.

Adam was taken aback.  Maybe Torrie wasn't as dumb as he'd thought after all.  "No, it's not...and don't you say a word about her!  It just so happens that I don't like sleazy tramps - and I don't fuck women I don't like, either - that's what this is all about!"

Torrie got up, rushed over and slapped Adam across the face.  The tall blond man was so much more shocked that he barely reacted.

"How dare you!" the woman spat.  "How dare you reject me!"  She grabbed a long, silky white robe she'd dropped on the bed, slipped it on, and angrily stormed toward the door.

"Don't forget this cart," Adam said as he wheeled it toward her.  Torrie, who already had the door open, nearly growled as she grabbed one of the wineglasses, hurling it at his head.  Adam ducked, and it came to land with a clunk on the floor by his feet, unbroken because of the carpeting.

"You psycho bitch!" he yelled.  "Stay the fuck away from me!"

Torrie flipped him off as she slipped out the door.

"Jesus Christ!" Adam cried when she was gone.  "What the hell is going on around here?!"