| Part XIX |
It was the weekend and a group decided to go to a nearby club one of the local security guards directed them to. Kane, Storm and 'Taker were in the lobby waiting with Alex. They all turned to see Ice, Jim, LaShana and Steve get off the elevator. �Is this all that�s going?� Storm asked. �No, Leah said she and Hunter would be along, RIP and Jeff will be here in a second.� LaShana informed her. As they were waiting, Jesse and X-Pac came out of the hotel bar. �Hey all. What�s going on?� Jesse asked, as he came to stand next to Alex. �We�re heading to a club down the street. You guys want to come?� she asked. �Yeah, sounds good. Nothing going on in there.� Jesse informed them, jerking a thumb at the hotel bar. The elevator came down this time with Leah, and Hunter. ~Where�s RIP and Jeff? Kane asked, looking around. �They should be here. They left before us.� Leah answered. Just then another elevator came down with RIP, Jeff who were accompanied by Matt and Jericho. �Hey, found a couple more.� Jeff stated jokingly. �They looked kind of pitiful all by themselves and I took pity on �em.� Chris smacked him in the head as he laughed. Which turned into an impromptu wrestling match. After de-tangling the two mischievous children they headed out. The club had a large dance floor and a live band. The group was seated near the back but with a good view of the dance floor and band. The club was fairly large so that they went relatively unnoticed. �This place is great!� LaShana stated. The group looked around the place and murmurs of agreement went around the group. The band was very good in that they played a variety of music, from country to just plain rock and roll. They also slowed it down a couple of times with love songs for the couples. Alex sat out most of the evening. She just enjoyed sitting around watching the other patrons and her friends dance, talking with her sisters and playing pool with X-Pac, Matt and Jesse. During one particularly hot song, Jesse pulled Alex out to the dance floor, with her protesting most of the way. �No! Jesse! I don�t want to dance.� She exclaimed. �Just one, I promise. You�ve barely moved out of that chair all night.� Jesse refused to let her leave the floor and Alex conceded that one dance wasn�t going to kill her. Kane had finally released his hold on her emphatic abilities and getting them back was a little strange. She had almost forgotten what it felt like. She just couldn�t get out of this funky mood she had been in since her collapse. The girls had explained that it was just all the left over grief � for lack of a better word. That maybe her emphatic abilities were just a little off from having to dealing with her emotional overload and the outside emotions as well. Alex also still couldn�t shake the distinct feeling that she�d forgotten something. It was always just beyond her grasp in her mind. It was really beginning to annoy her. Alex just wished it would hurry up and straightens itself out; she hated feeling like this. Alex looked up at Jesse as they danced at arms length, �Okay, I was wrong.� She stated. �Of course you were.� Jesse assured her. �About what?� he grinned. Alex laughed as she responded, �Turns out you are a good dancer.� �Damn straight.� He answered; he took her hand and placed the other on her waist as he moved her around the dance floor. The song ended and the band announced that they would be taking a break. Jesse walked Alex back to the table before heading to the bar for a drink with Chris, Jeff and X-Pac. ~You look happy, little girl. 'Taker stated. She looked across to the other end of the table and smiled. *I feel better than I have in a while, so I guess that helps. She answered. The guys came back to the table and Jesse placed a drink in front of her. �Thanks.� She looked over and noticed X-Pac was snickering, Jeff was whispering something to RIP while he tried not to laugh and Chris looked irritated about something. �Something wrong?� she asked Jesse, because she could feel a slight tension coming from him. He shook his head, �No, nothing at all.� He replied, smiling. Alex could tell he wasn�t being completely truthful, but decided to let it go. The band came back after about 30 minutes and announced they would be slowing it down for the couples. Alex watched silently as her sisters� lead their men out to the dance floor. Matt was still playing pool with some of the bar patrons, X-Pac was talking to a girl at the next table and asked her to dance as well. 'Taker instantly felt Alex�s mood change and looked over at her. Before he could do or say anything, Jesse had tugged on Alex�s hand. This time she flatly refused. �No.� Alex stated firmly, shaking her head and pulled her hand away from him. �Indulge me.� Jesse insisted. When he got her off her feet he pulled until she finally gave in. When they got to the floor Jesse took her in his arms, then proceeded to lip-synch with the band - loud and off-key. �What are you doing?� she asked because she knew Jesse had a great singing voice. Jesse continued to sing out of tune and with exaggerated emphasis, pantomiming with the song. When Alex tried putting her hand over his mouth Jesse simply took her hand and held it against his chest and Alex couldn�t stop giggling. �Will you cut that out?!� She requested, as people began to stare. �You look ridiculous.� Jesse swept his hand around the floor and ignored her request. X-Pac danced by and popped him in the head. �Do you mind? Some of us are trying to enjoy the dance.� He stated. Jesse stopped lip-synching and he and Alex laughed as they continued to dance. During the song Jesse began to hum along with the singer. Alex got a slight shiver down her spine. �You okay?� Jesse asked, rubbing her back thinking she was cold when he felt her tremble. �Yeah.� She said softly. �You sound different.� She mentioned. �Different?� he asked. �I . . .was remembering . . . You sound different from what I remember.� She mentioned. �Doesn�t matter.� She stated smiling. The singer was obviously having some trouble with his voice and instructed the band to go on without him. The band continued into the next song and Alex went cold. As the first strains of �Sleepwalker� started Alex broke from Jesse�s embrace and hurried back to the table. �Alex, what�s wrong?� Jesse asked catching her before she got to the table. She didn�t answer for a minutes. Arms crossed, nails digging into her arms and just looking at the floor as she stood facing him. Alex was trying to get a hold on her emotions, then remembered that�s how she ended up sick to begin with. She let go and when she looked up a tear fell. �That�s the first song Paul and I danced to. I didn�t think it would effect me like that . . .� �Sshh.� Jesse quieted her; he took her hand and walked her back to the table. �Sorry I didn�t mean to get you upset.� He apologized when they were seated at the table again. -Is she all right? LaShana asked her sisters, blocking Kane and 'Taker, all of them still on the dance floor. �She�s okay. Jesse seems to have her. And 'Taker is at the table. Storm answered; she let Kane hear that part as well as he was about to walk off the dance floor. �I think she just needs someone who�s not going to hover. Ice guessed. �That overbearing thing gets to be too much. Jesse makes her laugh. RIP added. �No, it�s okay, I guess. I know what you were trying to do. It was all just a little much.� She explained, her voice shaky. �Seeing everyone paired off, so happy. Then that song hit and. I guess it just tugged at my heart.� She stated. She looked up at Jesse, �Is it always going to hurt so much?� she asked, slight heat in her voice, wiping the tears. �To think about him I mean.� Alex wasn�t exactly sure why she asked Jesse that. She just knew she needed an objective opinion. 'Taker and Kane were nearly violent when the subject of Paul was broached. Her sisters� were helping, but she�d always been able to talk to guys better about things like this. �So are you finally admitting that he hurt you?� Jesse asked. �That stoic �nothing hurts me� thing was getting kinda old. It�s not like you�re the first person to get their heart broken you know.� He stated. When Alex rolled her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest, he continued, �To answer your question; nah eventually you�ll just remember the good stuff. 'Til then though . . .it�s hell.� He replied and Alex laughed. �Gee, that�s comforting.� She managed through her laughter and Jesse laughed with her. She looked across at 'Taker as she could feel him watching her. *I�m okay. She assured him. He nodded solemnly and turned back to the dance floor. �You�re so good to me.� She mentioned lightly resting her head on Jesse�s shoulder. ��Cause you need it. I know those two,� gesturing toward Kane and 'Taker, �are there for you. But I�ve noticed they can be a little over-bearing at times.� Jesse smiling when Alex giggled, �Well, that�s one word for it.� �I don�t like to see you unhappy.� Jesse explained. He started to take a drink from his glass, grinned mischievously looked down at her out of the corner of his eye, Jesse continued. �Besides we both know you�re secretly in love with me and can�t have me.� Alex stifled a giggle and looked up at him with her best innocent look, �No?� she asked pouting her lips. �Don�t go batting your lashes trying to look cute. That only works on people who don�t know you!� Alex bit her bottom lip in an effort to keep from giggling. Jesse smiled and rested his arm on the top of her head. �I�m too much man for you anyway.� He informed her, as she continued her control her laughter. �Besides, you�re just way too short.� Alex wobbled her head and playfully elbowed Jesse as she finally laughed out loud. Jesse�s arm had fallen behind her and he held her tightly. �Not to mention you�re ugly as sin.� He continued. �Hey!� Alex exclaimed, �I get the point.� She pouted. �You�re just saying that cause I won�t give you the time of day.� She countered haughtily. Alex suddenly felt over-whelming hostility, but since most everyone was on the dance floor she couldn�t figure out from where. She noticed 'Taker staring off into space and that Matt was standing near the edge of the dance floor talking to Jericho. The band announced that it would be their last song and that the club was closing. Jesse got up and turned to Alex to ask her to dance. �You�ve monopolized her enough tonight.� Chris informed Jesse as he walked over with Matt. Chris reached over and took Alex's hand from Jesse�s. �She wants to dance with me.� Jesse informed Chris smugly. �Don�cha baby girl?� She looked up at them and quickly removed her hand from Chris� and laughed, �This is insane.� She commented. �She wants to dance with me.� Matt announced, taking her hand before she could place it in her lap; Alex laughing again. �You�re all a little nutty, aren�t you?� Before any of them could say another word, 'Taker had risen from his seat at the other end of the table and pushed between them all, removing Alex's hand from Matt�s grasp. �You youngin�s work it out; I don�t think she wants to dance with any of you.� and pulled Alex on to the dance floor. �My hero.� She giggled at 'Taker as they reached the dance floor. �Young punks - don�t know how to treat women.� 'Taker grumbled. �They�re harmless and you know it.� She informed him. *Besides, if you wanted to dance with me, all you had to do was ask. She stated looking up at him and smiling. 'Taker looked down at her knowingly but was unable to suppress a smile. They finished the song and everyone walked back to the tables. They gathered their things, paid the tabs and moved out to the parking lot to go back to the hotel. As she walked, Jesse fell in step with her as she talked to Leah. Chris walked pass them and bumped Jesse�s shoulder. Jesse stopped and glared at him. �Sorry man.� Chris mumbled, as he continued to the car. Jesse started to go after him, before Alex grabbed his arm. �Hey, what�s wrong with you?� she asked lightly. �It was an accident.� She stated. �Nothing,� Jesse muttered; then he smiled down at her but Alex noticed it didn�t reach his eyes. She looked at him curiously, �What?� she asked. �Come on, it�s getting late.� He answered, avoiding the question. Jesse put his arm around her waist and walked her to 'Taker�s car. Alex stopped abruptly and stared at the ground for a second, �Something�s wrong.� She informed Jesse. They both turned to the sound of Steve cussing a blue streak. Everyone walked over to his truck to see that one of the tires was flat. �Uh oh,� Alex whispered, �He is pissed.� �Steve, baby you need to calm down. It�s just a flat tire.� LaShana stated, trying to calm him down. Steve proceeded to swear for a few more minutes until LaShana wrapped her arms around him and held him for a minute. �Better now?� She asked. �Hell baby,� he grinned sheepishly, �it�s just a flat tire.� Steve had stopped swearing but was still agitated. Everyone grinned and the girls giggled at LaShana�s uncanny ability to be able to calm the �rattlesnake.� �You guys can ride back with us and we�ll send someone from the hotel to pick up the truck tomorrow.� Hunter suggested. Steve, LaShana, Ice and Jim headed toward Hunter and Leah�s car. Jesse followed Alex to 'Taker�s car. �I thought you came with them?� Alex asked him. �You think the D oh double G�s getting in a car with a pissed off Rattlesnake? I don�t think so!� he informed her. �Us either.� Matt agreed walking up behind Jesse with X-Pac. �Besides all the lovebirds piled into the back seat,� nodding toward the car, �and are all over each other.� X-Pac informed them rolling his eyes. Storm and Alex looked at the car to see Steve, Jim and Jeff were sitting in the back seat with each of the girls on their laps. �He�s just pissed �cause he didn�t get that girl�s number.� Chris informed them as he walked over. �RIP suggested I ride with you guys.� �Where - on the roof?� Jesse asked sarcastically. �Trunks empty.� 'Taker suggested and Storm elbowed him as X-Pac snickered. It was decided Storm would sit in front with 'Taker, who was driving, and Kane. �You guys will fit, just squeeze in close.� Storm suggested as she smiled knowingly. Matt, X-Pac, Jesse then Alex all piled into the back seat. �We don�t fit!� Alex laughed, �Now what?!� she laughed. She squeaked when Jesse scooped her up and placed her on his lap. �HEY!� she protested, as Chris got in slowly and closed the door. �Well what do you suggest?� Jesse asked. �Okay, this isn�t comfortable at all.� She stated, pouting. �Here try this.� X-Pac stated and picked up her legs and put them across his lap. �Okay that�s a little better. Good thing this is a short trip.� Alex stated, yawning. �You falling asleep, baby girl?� Jesse asked. Alex sighed and nodded as she laid her head on Jesse�s shoulder shutting her eyes. She didn�t see the scowl on Jericho�s face as he stared out the window the entire way back to the hotel. She also missed the wicked grin on Jesse�s face and the knowing looks being exchanged between Storm, Kane and 'Taker. |