Part 3:

"All right pretty people," Kai whispered, her voice a sultry whisper, "we're an hour past the other side of midnight and I have to call it a night. I'd like to thank Rhi and Kat for chatting it up with us on my first night and thanks go to Shane McMahon for leaping right into the lion's den and being so patient with me. It was a pleasure to have you Shane."
"It was a pleasure to be had by you Kai."
"He's a naughty boy, ladies and gents. And I'm going to tell you how naughty tomorrow. Until then, be good as I'll be. This is Kai, signing off."
"And we're out!" Kevin shouted.
"Thank God."
Kai sank down into her chair and covered her face with her hands. Shane sat by her quietly and gently rubbed her forearm.
"You were great," he told her, "really, really good. Your show is going to be a success."
"How do you know?"
"I heard you once, on your jazz show. And I was hooked. If your voice was a drug, the FDA would ban it."
"That has to be the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."
"Trust me, your legions of fans will be saying a lot nicer things pretty soon."
"You seem pretty sure of my success," Kai said, gathering up her stuff.
"I am. You have it, what it takes."
"And what's that?"
"You have the voice, first of all, which helps a lot. Then, there's your attitude, very mellow and relaxed, which is very appealing. And then there are your friends who spice things up a lot."
"They are great, aren't they?"
"Oh yeah."
"Children," Kevin said, "I hate to kick you out of here but I'm going to have to. This boy has got to go home. Kai, your car is downstairs."
"All right, thanks Kevin. And the show tonight was wonderful, thank you."
"Your voice is the star babe. I just move a few buttons around."
"Yeah right. Without you, I wouldn't even get on the air."
"Now, that is true. All right, let me walk the two of you out."
With Kevin leading her out, Kai heard Shane follow them. She could hardly believe it. Shane McMahon! She wanted to do a little jig but couldn't.
"All right little girl," Kevin said, "let me hand you over to your chauffeur. Ronnie, you got it from here?"
"Sure thing Kevin. Kai, you ready to go?"
"Uh Kai," said Shane, "you think you could give me a few minutes?"
"That shouldn't be a problem. Ronnie, you can wait a few extra minutes?"
"You're the boss, take all the time you need."
Shane led Kai to a bench about twenty yards away and sat next to her, keeping both of her hands trapped between his.
"Do you have to rush home?" he asked her.
"No, not really. Why?"
"Well, I'd love to talk to you some more. Like a lot more. I feel like I've only seen the tip of the iceberg and I'm eager to see more."
"Really?"
The word had trouble coming out of Kai's mouth. She could hardly believe it. Shane McMahon, heir to the great McMahon Empire wanted to talk to her. She wondered if her face could reflect her joy.
"You have a beautiful smile Kai," Shane whispered.
"And you're one hell of a liar Shane McMahon. I guess it's a family trait. Your father lies, your sister lies. And you lie too."
"Still on the Nick thing?"
"No, not on the Nick thing. That was dumb but hey, you're not perfect."
"So what is it that I allegedly lied about this time?"
"The beautiful thing Shane. I know how I look like with the scars. It's not because I can't see them that I don't know. Plastic surgery is great but…"
"The scars? What do you want me to say? That they are beautiful? I'd be insulting your intelligence and God knows I won't do that. But your smile, its essence…that is beautiful."
"Pretty words."
"True words."
"I have to go home now," Kai said, getting up from the bench, shaken by Shane's words and the ring of truth in them.
"I thought you said you didn't have to rush home or anything."
"I don't. I… I can't be here with you anymore Shane. I have to go home, take a deep breath and wake up."
"Wake up? From what?"
"The dream where you tell me I have a beautiful smile and that you tell me you want to talk to me some more."
"It's not a dream and you don't get to wake up from it. It's true Kai."
"All of it?"
"Yes, all of it."
She fell on the bench heavily, a smile drifting to her lips. She reached out and Shane took her hand in his, gently stroking it.
"That feels nice."
"Yeah, it does. Come here," he said, pulling her into his arms for a short, but warm hug. "I have a feeling people don't hug you often enough."
Kai's heart sang as Shane said those words. She tightened her hold on him and closed her eyes. Kat had hugged her a lot during her stay but no offense to her friend, Shane's hugs were way better.

"Good morning," came Kat's IM.
"Hey."
"I loved last night. Anytime you need me to come on, I'll do it! Being on the radio was incredibly cool."
"You did good kid."
"Thanks. All right, you're making me beg. What happened with you and Boy Wonder?"
"Nothing…"
"Are you doing more of the torture thing?"
"Yeah."
"All right."

Twenty minutes later…

"The torture thing works better than you beg," Kai typed.
"Really? I hadn't noticed."
"I don't know why I put up with you, you know."
"Neither do I. All right *sigh* I'll make a begging attempt."
"YAY!!!"
"Please oh please Kai, please tell me what happened between you and the stud muffin of the WWF."
"No."
"All right."
"Kat!"
"I said one attempt. That was my one attempt."
"Bitch."
"You say the nicest things."
"Fine. You stink at the torture game you know that, right?"
"Yes."
"We didn't do much. We just sat in front of the station for a few hours and talked."
"Score one for Kat."
"For you?"
"You'll notice that I'm getting the info without having played the torture game."
"Bitch!"
"Yes. Now go on."
"I don't know if I should."
"All right. Then maybe I shouldn't go on with the story I'm writing for you and Raven."
"Kat!"
"Yes?"
"He hugged me."
"He did? OMG, Kai. This is major! More major than Wrestlemania. It's more major than… everything! He hugged you! How did it feel?"
"So… I don't know. Can't describe it."
"That good, huh?"
"That good."
"So what are you thinking?"
"Happy thoughts. Oh, Rhi's on."
"Cool."
"She dreamt about me."
"I bet you it had something to do with Shane."
"It did!"
"I'm a fucking psychic too! YAY! What did she say?"
"She saw us together. And she made a new star picture. She says it's one of the few times she's felt such a powerful urge to do one."
"Oh God! Do I get to see it? Please? Pretty, pretty naked Shane please?"
"And I thought you couldn't beg."
"For this stuff, I learn. Can I see it?"
"Just sent it!"
"You rock! Received."

Five minutes later

"So? What do you think?"
"First off, congratulate Rhi for me! This was fucking amazing!"
"Will do. Tell me."
"My untrained eye sees so much. And bear in mind, I don't have a clue what I'm talking about."
"Tell me!"
"I see a lot of blue and white which seems good to me, purity and truth or something like that."
"That's good."
"Yeah. I see some red too… passion maybe. Ok… and there's the positioning of you and Shane. The colors between you two seem to be pulling the two of you together."
"Really?"
"But you know what else?"
"What?"
"This is going to be freaky. I feel hands pushing you two together."
"You do?"
"It might be a trick of the light, I don't know. But I could swear I see hands on your shoulders and his."
"Stephanie," genie Trish said, hands on her hips, "you told me…"
"I know, I know. I didn't think anyone would notice us."
"I think we're pushing the hands of fate a bit too much."
"I agree," genie Stephanie said, "I think you and I have done all that we can. We've given them both a big enough push. The rest is all up to them."
"Do you think they will get it right?"
"I hope so."
"Hands? The hands of faith maybe?"
"Kai, are you sounding optimistic?"
"It seems like it."
"Good. It's about time."
"But it's Shane McMahon Kat. Not anybody, Shane McMahon."
"I am aware."
"It's scary."
"I know. But you'll sweep him off his feet, don't you worry. The game's already won."
"I like this girl," genie Trish said, materializing next to Kat with genie Lita. "Very positive."
"For everyone but herself," genie Kane whispered, joining them. "She's very down on herself."
"Why?"
"Another case of loneliness."
"Is she yours?" genie Lita asked genie Kane.
"Yes."
"We can help her as well."
He smiled at genie Lita ran a gentle hand over his charge's shoulder.
"She can hold out for a while longer. But soon…"
"We'll find someone for her," genie Lita said with a grin, "and I already have an idea."

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