Come Home To Carolina ( A Jeff Hardy Love Story) Character Information

Chapter 9 Making It All Worth While

The club was packed. Strange for a Monday night. My black dress grazed mid thigh and my too high stilettos made it hard to walk through the crowd of people. With a beer for Jeff in one hand and a screwdriver for me in the other I made my way to the table where Jeff was sitting. Brian Kendrick sat across from him. His Italian girlfriend, who I had only seen once before, perched on his lap. She was gorgeous. I had to admit, I’d never seen Brian as happy as he was when he was with her.

I smiled to myself and pushed my way through the crowd.

“Here you go.” I said, handing Jeff his beer.

“Thank you.” Jeff said smiling and pressing the bottle to his lips.

He scooted down the bench and I sat beside him. Once in the booth he wrapped his arms around me and I leaned back into him.

“Honey, I’m thirsty.” Alexandria whined in a thick Italian accent.

“Here.” he said handing her his drink.

“Thanks.” she said, taking a sip. She smiled at him and he smiled back, slipping an arm around her waist.

“Lexie!” Ashley yelled across the club. No one there even notice because the music was so loud.

“What?” I yelled back.

“Karaoke.” she said pointing to a small stage in the corner of the bar.

Jeff smiled at me. “You have to do it.” he said, mischievously.

I laughed. “You’re going to have to get me more alcohol than this if you’re going to get me up there.” I said, turning my screwdriver up.

Jeff laughed and planted a kiss on my bare shoulders.

Alexandria stood and adjusted her tight black pants. Black leather boots rested just below her knee.

“I’m going to dance.” she said, sitting Brian’s drink on the table.

“Me too.” Brian said, standing and placing his hands on her hips as they made their way to the dance floor.

“She seems nice” I said, looking up at Jeff.

“She is. She writes the storylines for WWE.” he said.

“Oh, well then, I guess I have her to thank for that kiss you gave me that I couldn’t stay away from.” I said smiling at him.

He smiled back and raised his eyebrows at me in a ‘you know I’m sexy’ way.

“Everyone’s dancing.” I said sticking my bottom lip out.

“Alright, lets go.” he said, giving in.

We edged out of the booth and made our way to the center of the floor.

A mixture of the heat, the drink, and the way Jeff looked so good tonight made me let loose a little.

They played I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll. Sweat began to roll down as we grinded to the music.

He looked so good. Dark blue jeans and a black button up shirt, his arms wrapped around my waist. I smiled and continued to dance.

“Want to go back to the hotel?” Jeff asked me. I bit my bottom lip and nodded my head.

We told everyone goodbye and soon left the club.

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We pushed through the hotel room door, barely able to keep our hands off of each other. He pushed me down on the bed and began to kiss my neck. I ran my hands through his hair, unable to suppress the moan that escaped my lips. I tossed his shirt aside and kicked off my shoes, not caring where they landed. “I love you Jeff.” I whispered.

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The next morning I pulled myself out of bed and got dressed in shorts, flip flops, and a t-shirt with ‘You wanna wrestle?’ written on the front of it.

I noticed Jeff was still asleep so I scribbled a quick note and went to take a walk on the beach. I carried my flip flops in my hand as I watched the waves crash on the shore.

I glanced back at the hotel room to see Jeff standing on the balcony staring at me with a loving look on his face.

I smiled and waved. I seen him take his cell phone out of his pocket and seconds later I got a text message.

~Morning Beautiful. Breakfast?~ I smiled and texted back. ~Morning. Sounds great.~ I seen him open his phone again and soon I got another one.

~K, give me 5. Meet you at the door.~ and with that he blew me a kiss and went inside to change out of his pajamas.

I made my way back up to the entrance of the hotel and waited by the elevator. A few minutes later Jeff appeared wearing black shorts, that exposed the dragon tattoo on his leg and a black Nike t-shirt.

“Hey” I said kissing his lips. His lip ring sparkled in the sunlight.

“Hey” he said wrapping his arms around me and holding me for a few minutes. I smiled into his chest as he pulled away.

“Lets go.” he said taking my hand.

We drove to a nice oceanfront restaurant and ordered our breakfast.

Across the table Jeff smiled at me.

“What?” I asked grinning.

“You’re beautiful.” he replied, covering my hand with his. I blushed and looked down at the table, making Jeff laugh.

My heart was racing and my head was going in 100 different directions. Happiness had overtaken me and I knew everything would be perfect.

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6 Months Later

I smiled as Riana paced the floor of the Smackdown locker room. Jeff and myself had been drafted here back in June and I was pretty excited about it.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her, pushing back my newly dyed blonde hair with purple tips and streaks.

Riana wrung her hands. “It’s smack down. I’ve only ever been on ECW.” she said.

Riana, now a ECW diva, was now on the same show as Matt. Matt had recovered from his appendix and had been back in action on Smackdown for a few months until being drafted to ECW. Luckily Smackdown and ECW travel together so we were all always together.

Ashley, too moved back to Smackdown along with Paul and a few of our other friends.

I sighed.

“We have a match together on…Smackdown.” Riana said. I giggled.

“Don’t worry.” Alexandria chimed in “I wrote in that you win.”

She lowered her eyes to the floor. “Some things happen that I didn’t write.” she mumbled quietly.

“What?” I asked, unable to hear her.

“Never mind.” she answered quickly.

I shrugged and picked up my script. I was glad they didn’t do anymore storylines with Jeff and I. We had decided to go public with our real relationship and let that be that. The fans deserved the truth anyway.

Ashley busted through the door making me jump.

“Lex, Mr. McMahon said about 30 minutes after your match to get dressed up and go to the ring.” she said.

Alexandria and Riana suppressed giggles, gaining them a deathly look from Ashley.

I raised and eyebrow and nodded. “Okay.”

Brian knocked on the door and winked at Alexandria. She nodded and rushed out of the room.

What is going on here? I thought to myself.

I walked into the bathroom and changed into black pants with purple stars and a black top that crossed on my stomach and tied in the back. I slipped my wrestling boots on my feet as I watched Riana again pace nervously back and forth.

“Riana, there you are.” Matt said walking in. “I wanted to wish you luck on your match tonight.”

He gave her a hug and she hugged him back nervously. Neither of them would admit to the other that they loved them but everyone around could tell it was obvious.

I smiled to myself as Matt gave me a wink and headed out the door.

“Just tell him.” I said, punching Riana playfully on the arm.

“I don’t like him.” she said. We went through this all the time. I would try to talk her into telling him she loved him and she would deny the whole thing.

I rolled my eyes and smiled. Grabbing her hand I pulled her out to the curtain. We were wrestling Maryese and Victoria tonight.

Suddenly Animal I Have Become by Three Days Grace blasted through the speakers. We ran out to Riana’s music and slapped a few hands. We entered the ring as the ref rung the bell. Riana started the match knocking Maryese to the ground. Wasting no time she went to the top rope and connected with a moonsault. I laughed and paced the side of the ring as Riana tapped my hand. I jumped in and picked Maryese up, pulling her into a twist of fate, then climbing the top rope for a swanton. I hit it perfectly and raised her leg gaining the three count.

Riana hopped in the ring and we raised each others hand, causing the crowd to go crazy. The lights dimmed and we exited the ring. As soon as we got behind the curtain Riana hugged me and took off running. I raised an eyebrow and shrugged. I wonder where Jeff is? I asked myself. I hadn’t seen him since we got to the arena.

I reached the locker room as Ashley and Alexandria pulled me inside.

“Shower NOW!” Alexandria exclaimed, pushing me in the bathroom and shutting the door.

“And hurry.” Ashley yelled, tapping the door.

“How rude!” I called as I got in the shower.

I reemerged from the shower 10 minutes later.

As I walked through the door back into the main area of the locker room Alexandria handed me a bag.
“What’s this?” I asked.

“A gift from the girls.” Ashley said smiling at me.

I smiled back and opened the bag to see a beautiful dress. Dark purple at the bottom and fading to lilac at the top.

I squealed and ran right to the bathroom to put it on.

It was strapless and fell gorgeously right below my knee. Silver heels completed it.

“Thank you guys.” I said giving them both a hug.

“You’re welcome. Now let’s get your hair and make up done before you have to go out there again.” Ashley said.

“I wonder why I have to go out there?” I asked.

“I… don’t know.” Alexandria stammered.

Ashley done my hair, curling it and putting it up on top of my head with cascading curls. The purple in my hair was so cute with it up.

Alexandria finished me up by doing my makeup.

I smiled when I was done and hugged the girls before I walked out to the curtain. I had no idea what was going on but I guess I’d find out soon.

My music began to play and I walked out.

The arena was dimly lit. The mat was covered with black velvet and purple and white candles were lit everywhere. Everything was quiet. I entered the ring and Lillian handed me a microphone.

Suddenly, to the sound of Matt’s music, all my friends came out and gathered around the entrance to the ring.

Matt, Riana, Ashley, Paul, Shannon, Brian, Alexandria, Phil and even Jeff’s dad were there. They were all dressed up, a different change from the jeans and tops I had seen the girls in earlier.

The crowd of my friends parted in the middle and Jeff walked down the ramp, to the ring. He was also dressed up. Wearing black dress pants, a white shirt and a purple tie. His hair pulled back into a ponytail.

He already had a mic in his hand as he entered the ring. He smiled at me and took my hand in his.

“Hi.” he said breathlessly, smiling.

“Hi.” I said, smiling back, but still confused.

“Lexie, I thought of a thousand ways to do this, and changed my mind a thousand times. Even before I came out here I had this all planned out. Then I walk out here and you smile at me and everything, all the words, don’t seem to match the feeling I get when I look in your eyes. I’ve never gotten this feeling before. Not until I met you. You make me feel like I can do anything. I would do anything to protect you and to make you see how much I care.” Jeff said as he got down on one knee.

“Lexie, I love you and I wanted to know if you will be my wife?” he asked me.

Tears fell from my eyes.

“Yes, Jeff. I love you. I’ll marry you.” I said, crying now.

My friends cheered, and so did the crowd. Jeff slipped a cold white gold ring on my finger.

He stood up and pulled me to him, smiling and crying.

He hugged me tight and kissed my lips.

“Come on guys.” Jeff said, motioning for our friends to come to the ring.

They all came in and gave us a hug one by one.

Ashley pulled me to her, crying.

“I love you girl. Congratulations.” she said with a smile that went all the way to her eyes.

“I love you too. And thank you.” I answered.

She let go of me and reached for Paul’s hand. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek, sweetly.

We hugged everyone and with a wave and a thank you to the fans we went back to Jeff’s locker room.

I pushed him on the couch playfully and sat on his lap. He smiled at me as I cupped my hands on his face and kissed him. Letting the coldness of his lip ring linger on my lips.

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“So we knew all along.” Riana said, as all the girls and I laughed. We were gathered on the outdoor patio of a small Italian restaurant. We had decided to have a small celebration with all the girls. Riana, Ashley, Alexandria, and me.

“So you guys were scheming on me the whole time?” I asked.

Ashley nodded. “We had to. Jeff threatened our lives if we didn’t.” she said laughing. I smiled.

The engagement had gone wonderfully the night before. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me and I have to say I was shocked.

I glanced down at the beautiful diamond sitting on my left ring finger. A square diamond with diamonds all on the band. Jeff had designed it for me which made it even more special.

“So, Riana. I’m with Jeff. Ashley’s with Paul. Alexandria is with Brian. Matt is single you know?” I said casually.

Her face changed from its usually pale state to the brightest red I’d ever seen.

“I..I can’t… I don’t… I don’t like him like that.” She said stammering.

“Yeah. Sure.” Alexandria said rolling her eyes and moving her ice in her glass with her straw.

“Well, I don’t! And even if I did he wouldn’t like me anyway.” she stated matter of factly.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” I said, smiling at them.

Suddenly my cell phone vibrated in my purse. I got it out and flipped it open to see I had a new text from Jeff.

I smiled.

“Is that Jeff?” Ashley asked me with a smile.

“Maybe” I answered as I sent him a message.

I laid my phone back on the table and took a sip of water.

“So, the reason I asked you all here is because I wanted to know if you all would be in my wedding?” I asked.

“Of course we will!” they all blurted out making us all laugh.

“Great!” I said smiling at them.

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By the time I reached the hotel room my brain was buzzing with wedding details. With our work schedule I didn’t know how we were going to get it all done. The date? The cake? The food? The guests? The dress? I knew nothing.

I slipped my key card in the door and walked inside. Jeff lay asleep on the bed. He was laying on his stomach sideways across the bed. I laughed quietly to myself and sat my purse down on the table.

His hair was pulled back but was falling out of the band. I walked to the bed and took a seat beside him and laid on my side. I gently stroked his hair and kissed his cheek. He awoke with a smile on his face.

“Hey” he said sleepily. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Jeff” I answered, running my finger along his jaw line.

He smiled and pulled me to him, hugging me tight.

“So, do we have bridesmaids?” he asked.

“We have bridesmaids. Do we have groomsmen?” I asked.

“Not yet. We’re meeting for dinner tomorrow night after we get home.” he answered. I nodded.

Jeff was going to ask Matt to be his best man and Shannon Moore, and Shane Helms to be his groomsmen. I wasn’t having a maid of honor. I couldn’t choose who I wanted it to be.

“I’m excited.” he whispered.

“Me too!” I answered honestly.

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