~*~
Chris Irvine walked into the room, not even bothering to knock
as he came face to face with Paul Levesque. He gritted his teeth, trying to calm
himself, remembering what Melly had told him before he went in search of the
older man. "Be calm and act like an adult, Chrissypoo, if you fly off
the handle, you're not gonna help your sister any." Taking a deep
breath, he went to speak calmly, his calm disappearing when the image of his
sister entered his mind.
Flying forward, he pushed the dark blonde into the wall, resting his forearm at
his throat as he spoke through clenched teeth. "What the fuck did you do to
her, Levesque?"
Paul Levesque felt his eyes widen as he was pinned against the wall. Calmly, he
removed Chris's arm from his throat, softly pushing the younger man away from
him. He knew why he was here. With his voice calm and soft, he answered. "I
did nothing to her Chris, you of all people should know I wouldn't hurt
her."
Chris felt his anger drain away at the honesty in the other mans voice. He
slumped down on the bench, his voice drained. "Then why is she in such a
state, Paul? She's my baby sister. I have to protect her. But how can I when she
wont let me in?"
Paul shook his head, mildly surprised at Chris's change in attitude. "I
don't know, Chris. All that happened was we had a fight. It's wasn't our first
and I doubt very much it'll be our last. I'll go and talk to her."
Chris looked up at him, standing from the bench and nodding. "Yeah. Go and
talk to her. But don't make her worse." He sighed, running his hands
through his long blonde locks. "I don't think I could handle it right now,
I have enough with Melly. She's having the worlds worst mood swings
lately."
Paul chuckled slightly, the image of Melly McMahon screaming at Chris causing
him to laugh outloud. He stopped abruptly at Chris's glare. "I'll go talk
to her. You go and talk to Melly." He watched as Chris turned and went to
leave the room. "And Chris?" The younger blonde turned. "Don't
come slamming in here like that again."
~*~
Paul ran his hands through his hair as he approached the young blonde, even
looking at her taking his breath away. He'd been dating Cleo Irvine since her
twenty-fourth birthday. Eighteen months. He knew what was going on with her,
which had caused their fight in the first place. Taking a deep breath, his
softly placed his hand on her shoulder, his voice barely a whisper.
"Cleo..."
Cleo Irvine turned, a mixture of relief and anger crossing her face as she laid
her green eyes on the man before her. She looked down, taking a deep breath
before looking up and speaking, her voice softer then his. "What do you
want, Paul?"
His eyes glazed with pain as she spoke and he took her arm softly, pulling her
into his locker room. "We need to talk, Cleo." He sat her down on the
bench, kneeling infront of her. "You know we need to talk."
She nodded, closing her eyes at his closeness, having to fight the feelings
rising within her. "So talk, Paul. Explain to me why it is that everything
else in your life comes before me."
He shook his head, frustration evident in the gesture. Standing he began to
pace, his voice rising slightly with every word. "I've told you before,
Cleo. Not everything in my life comes before you." He stopped standing in
front of her. "Why do you say that every fucking time we have a
fight?"
"Because it's fucking true!" She almost yelled the words, hitting the
bench beside her in frustration. "I come last in your fucking life, Paul.
And it may suit you but it doesn't suit me."
"That's why you fucking run to him, isn't it?" His voice was strained
as he yelled at her, hurt tainting the words. "You think because my career,
wrestling comes first in my life, he has to come first in yours!"
Her mouth hung open as he spoke and she had to fight to regain her composure.
How did he know? Who had told him? Shaking her head, she rid her mind of the
thoughts. "I don't run to anybody! And I won't ever need to if you show
your fucking love once in a while!"
He shook his head, his voice one again soft as he spoke. "You know I love
you, Cleo. Jesus fucking Christ, I'm so in love with you, everytime I see you,
it hurts. The emotion in me is so fucking strong I'm afraid I'll fucking
burst." He took a breath, almost overcome with emotion as he explained it.
"But my career comes first with me. It always has. Wrestling is my
life."
She stood up, running her hand down his cheek. "I know, Paul. I understood
that wrestling was your life, that your career came first the day I met
you." She sat back down again, lowering her head. "I'd never try to
change that. Never. But I want to be part of your life. I don't want to be
forgotten the second something comes on TV. I've accepted that when you go
through that curtain, you're not you anymore. I understand that. What I don't
understand is why I have to stand on the sidelines and act that I don't care
that you spend more time with Stephanie McMahon then you do me."
He sighed heavily, crouching infront of her and taking her hands in his. "I
come home to you every night do I not?" He continued as she nodded.
"You're the only woman in my life. You're mine away from the wrestling. Not
just in the ring." He took a breath, not sure about his next words, even
thinking about them causing more hurt then he could bare. "But I'm not for
you, am I? You have to make a decision, Cleo. It's me, or it's him."
Her eyes widened in shock at his words. Taking her hands from his, she stood up.
"Paul..." She wrapped her arms around his neck, squeezing him for all
she was worth.
He sighed softly, wrapping his arms around her waist and squeezing her in
return, kissing the top of her head. After a few moments he went to speak,
stopping when her teary voice sounded.
"You have a decision to make, Paul. Stephanie or me." She hated the
words as she said them, but the nagging fear she had only got worse everyday, If
she didn't address it now, things would get worse.
He pushed her away from him, holding her at arms length. "W-What? I can't
choose between you and my career, Cleo! How the fuck can you ask me to!"
She shook her head. "I'm not asking you to. All I want is for you to
promise that you wont see her out of work. That once the show is over, you wont
spend so much time with her."
His mouth opened and closed a few times before he regained his composure enough
to speak. "I can't do that, baby. You know I can't. We have storylines to
go over and everything."
She sniffed, letting the tears fall down her face. "Then I guess you just
made my decision for me." She moved forward again, kissing him softly
before turning her back and walking out. Making her way to Steve Williams
dressing room. Unaware that she had just left Paul Levesque a broken man.
~*~
Steve Williams eyed her as she entered the room, her eyes red, her face tear
stained as she sniffled. He took her into his arms, holding her tightly and
letting her sob into his chest. After a few moments, he held her at arms length,
wiping her tears as he asked softly. "What happened, Princess? What's
wrong?"
Cleo looked up into his concerned blue eyes, not to sure exactly how to answer
him. She sighed heavily, biting her lip to stop the flood of tears that wanted
to take hold of her. "It's over, Stevie. He made the decision for both of
us."
Inside, Steve Williams was happy. He had been getting tired of having to share
the woman he loved. But his happiness was marred by her complete sadness. With a
start he realised her heart had been broken. Kissing the top of her head softly,
he asked her. "What happened, Cleo? What decision did he make?"
She sniffed, unable to stop the tears as they fell from her eyes. "He knew
about us. He asked me to make a decision. I asked him to make one. He said he
couldn't stop seeing Stephanie out of work. So in essence, he decided for the
both of us." She sniffed again, burying her head into his chest. "I
love him, Steve. I didn't want to lose him."
He bit his own lip, the emotion within him so strong he feared his own face
could be tear streaked within seconds. Taking deep breaths, he calmed himself,
regaining his composure. "I'm sorry, Princess. I know you didn't want to
lose him." He swallowed, trying to get past the lump in his throat.
"I-I know you loved him I know how you're still so much in love with
him."
She looked up, surprised at just how shaky his voice was. "I love you, too,
Stevie. I'm not sure I could have ever choose between the two of you." She
thought a minute, her words being said in all honesty. "Maybe this is for
the best."
He shook his head, the words paining him more then he ever knew possible.
"I don't think it is. You're in pain, Cleo. I'm not worth it. Believe me,
baby. I'm not." He squeezed his eyes shut, biting so hard on his bottom lip
he could taste his own blood. Afraid to say anything else, scared to show
weakness. He had to be strong, tough. He couldn't let his heart ruin him.
"I'm not fucking perfect either!" She almost wailed at him, hating
that he was saying he wasn't good enough. "Look at the fucking baggage I
have!" She pulled away from him, moving across to the other side of the
room. "If anyone isn't worth it, it's me! I fucking caused all this shit! I
wouldn't be surprised if he went to Stephanie for something I can't fucking give
him!"
"Don't ever fucking say that." He flew across the room, grabbing her
roughly. "Don't you ever fucking let me hear you say that again, Cleo
Irvine. You fucking understand me?" He let go of her, walking across the
room and putting much needed distance between them before he completely lost it.
"She has nothing on you. Absolutely fucking nothing. If he has even been to
her in that manner, it's his fucking loss."
She stared at him open mouthed, more then a little shocked at his reactions. She
walked over to him, placing her hand on his arm softly. "Stevie?"
He pulled away from her, flinching at the look of hurt that crossed her face. He
ran his hand over his bald head, trying hard to regain his composure. "I'm
sorry, Cleo." He closed his mouth, not be able to bring himself to say the
three words he knew he felt. "I need some air." He kissed her head
softly, opening the door, finally muttering the words as he left. "I love
you."
She barely heard the words as she fell down onto the wooden bench. In a matter
of mere minutes, her life had turned completely upside down. Paul had made the
decision, he couldn't be away from Stephanie. She couldn't be with him fearing
the security of they're relationship every two minutes. Steve has more then
confused her. Okay one minute, losing it the next. She sighed heavily. She knew
he was afraid of his own feelings, he tried to hide them, wanted to remain being
seen as tough. When they had been fooling around, it had been different. It
hadn't been as serious, could Steve be serious now? With a sigh of desperation,
Cleo Irvine wondered if she should of fought Paul, if they had made the right
decision.
