Chapter 9

Chloe sighed and threw the soft bed covers off herself. She groaned knowing
she had to get herself up when she had found a comfortable position but
slowly, she got up, not knowing whom it was and what news they brought. She
adjusted her baby blue tank top then opened the door. She squinted, blinded
by the bright hallway light, and then her eyes adjusted to the light,
letting her see the somewhat staring Jeff. "What? Am I covered in shit?"
Chloe asked knowing Jeff was still staring at her.

"Ah.." He said caught off guard. "Sorry, no you're not. You just. don't
worry." He said smiling. "What are you doing in your pyjamas anyway?" He
asked, making himself comfortable as he leaned against the doorframe.

"I was asleep." Chloe said knowing he was there for the long run.

"Oh sorry. If you want me too leave." He said.

"No Jeff." Chloe said cutting him off. "You must of come her for a reason.
Come in." She said stepping aside and letting Jeff into the spotless hotel
room. She turned on the light, letting Jeff see everything in the room.

Jeff looked around the Hotel room that was almost the exact same as hers but
her had everything magnified. His medium size TV was nothing compared to
hers, his medium size kitchen was nothing like her one that was obviously
oversized for one night. "How are you in this type of room already?" He
asked shocked by the room.

"Uncle Vince got it for me. He is paying for it all until I get enough money
to pay for this all by myself." She said getting a drink. "Want a drink?"

"Ah yes please, water." He said and Chloe delivered. She sat down, opposite
Jeff and looked at him.

"What's wrong?" She asked, wanting to get back under the warm fluffy covers
that were covering her bed as she dreamed she was in there. "I didn't think
you would ever knock on my door without a reason." She said resting her head
on the back of the armchair.

Jeff just smiled a hurting smile.

"Come on Jeff. Tell me." She said pressuring him.

"Chloe. Leah said you know her the best. More than anyone." He said and
Chloe pulled her head forward and slammed it back into the padded backing of
the overstuffed couch. "Come on Chloe. I know you don't want to talk about
Leah and I since you seem to hate us both.." He trailed off.

Hate them both? Chloe tried not to laugh. She didn't hate them both. She
admired Leah for everything and supposably everyone knew what her feelings
about Jeff were.

"Anyway Chloe. Since I know you just lost it all on me, can you help me."

"Why do you need help? You two seem to basically live off each other. You
have no need for me." Chloe said crossing her legs.

"Come on man! Help!"

"I'm not a man Jeff."

"Fine. Come one girl. Help!" He said smartly.

Chloe shook her head at him. "What's wrong anyway?"

"You know how you said we basically live off each other. That is what it is
like until we get into a room by ourselves. Just say I go over to her room
to drop her off, I don't even get a kiss good night!"

"Oh poor Jeff. Try waking up alone and going to sleep alone, knowing all
that you have done during the day, is ruin you life even more."

Jeff was quiet. "I got some friends." He offered.

"I don't want your friends." She said, then her eyes grew wide as she
stopped the rest of that sentence in her mouth before Jeff heard it. "Just
go Jeff."

"It seems like a show Chlo. It pisses me off that our relationship has two
sides. One when we are around people, and one when we aren't." Jeff said
dropping his head to his hands. "And she had said before that you know her
the best so I came here hoping you could help me."

"So you still want her?"

"I love her. Of course I do!"

"Okay, just checking." Chloe said disappointed. "How long has it been like
this?"

"About a week." He said sadly.

Chloe huffed. "Ever thought she has woman troubles?" Chloe asked.

"She doesn't. Trust me." He said sadly. "That's another thing, I just can't
show her that I love her. I don't know what is stopping me but I just can't.
Ever had the feeling that you need to tell someone something but you can't
because something is stopping you? Then when you finally do say it, you
can't show it?" He asked.

Ever had the feeling? Chloe lived it!

"Yeah I have." She said sighing. "I'm not a counsellor Jeff. I don't know
this stuff. I haven't been a relationship for ages."

"Come on Chlo. That is a little hard to believe!" He said in a tone that
meant she was horribly wrong. "If it wasn't confined in me, I would write
you the list of who likes you!"

Chloe smiled then stopped knowing she wasn't allowed too. She promised to
herself that she wouldn't like anything Jeff said to her, even if it was a
huge compliment.

"Come on Chlo, you know it." He said smiling. "Pity the main ones are
already taken."

Chloe began to choke. Had he said that most guys that went after her were
taken? Not that many guys were taken, that were in her age bracket. "So they
are like fifty."

"Twenties to mid thirties. Now I have to stop. I have already told you too
much." He said smiling. "Chloe why do you hate me? The first words after
hello between us were insults. You aren't that different from me so why try
to be?"

Chloe was stunned. "Because." She said brushing the hair that kept falling
back onto her tanned face, behind her back. "Everyone loves Jeff Hardy.
Everyone loves what he does and who he is. I never could have that."

"You do though Chloe. No one can hate you. Look at me." He said seriously.
"You always pick on me but I don't hate you. You make me listen to insults
that I know I'm not and are painful but I don't hate you, far from it."

"Excuse me Jeff?" She asked annoyed but secretly glow inside. How could she
not?

"Don't worry! I didn't mean anything like I should be saying to Leah, I just
mean I don't hate you, you're cool. So got any ideas about what I should do
about Leah?"

Chloe smiled. "Make her feel so special when you two are alone so she knows
you don't want it to be an act. She might think that you only want it as a
show."

"Thanks Chlo." Jeff said getting up and pulled Chloe up as well.

Chloe looked at him confused then suddenly his arms wrapped around her,
embarrassing her in a hug she knew she didn't need. As the milliseconds
ticked past, she knew it was getting harder and harder to leave his embrace.
She patted his back then pretended she couldn't breathe. "Help." She yelped.

Jeff quickly let go of her and watched her pant. "Sorry. Just. thanks." He
said smiling the leaving. "Thank you so, so much." He said glowing.

---

"You are such a dick!" Leah screamed and threw the script at Jeff. "How dare
you think you can do that too me!"

"But." He tried to explain.

"Don't even but me Jeff! Get out!" She screeched. Leah smiled
at Jeff then hugged him. "Good?" She asked, wanting a compliment.

"Perfect." He said giving her a little kiss. "Lee, you know how we seem to
be one couple in front of people and another when we are alone."

"Kind of." She said nervously. "I don't mean it Jeff. It's just that when I
walk into a room or sit down on a bed, I become tired and want to sleep."

"I'm not blaming you." He said holding Leah in his hands. "I went to see
Chloe before." Jeff said and noticed Leah didn't scrunch up her face as he
told her that he had seen Chloe. "She was helping me with this and well
Leah. Let me show you." He said smiling, kissing her lips before moving to
her neck. This time Jeff wasn't the one to stop the parade.

Leah pushed him back and looked at him. "Jeff, we need to talk. It isn't a
nice talk either." She said taking his hands and sitting him down on the
couch with her.

Chapter 10

back to Chapter 8