| Matt had returned to Jeff's house around five o'clock, and Jeff was in the living room watching old wrestling tapes. Matt didn't bother knocking, he never did. He just walked in and said, "Hey Jeff, what are you doing?" "Come in Matt. I am watching some old wrestling tapes, what's up?" "Not much. Lizzie isn't home yet?" "No, and I don't really care when she comes home, or if she even does at all." "Are the two of you fighting again?" "When don't we fight? I cannot seem to keep the woman happy. Everything I do makes her pissed one way or another now a days." "Then why are you still with her man?" Matt asked as he sat down on the couch next to his brother. "I ask myself that same question everyday. I don't know. I thought that I loved her, but I am not so sure anymore. But what do I do? Throw three and a half years down the toilet?" "That's up to you, but you should do what makes you happy." "I don't think I know what that is anymore." "So what's up with you and that Lainey chick?" "Nothing, why?" "You had her in the studio with you. That would have pissed Lizzie off. You never let her go in there, yet you had another chick in there, and you were letting her play with your recording equipment." "That would piss Lizzie off, wouldn't it?" "I would say so. Are you interested in Lainey?" "I don't know, I hadn't thought about it." "Well, I think she's pretty damn hot. You have her number don't you?" "Yes, I do." "Can you give it to me?" "What would you want it for?" "I want to ask her out. She's hot, and I am single. You're obviously not making the play for her, and if she's not involved with anybody, I'd like to get to know her." "Okay." Jeff said. He jotted Lainey's number on a piece of paper and handed it to his brother. "There ya go." "Thanks." Matt replied, and put the number in his pocket. Matt and Jeff were watching the tape for a little over an hour when Lizzie arrived home. She saw her boyfriend and his brother watching the tape, again, and rolled her eyes. "Don't you do anything besides watch those friggin' wrestling tapes?" "Well hello to you too honey, how was your day?" Jeff asked sarcastically. "Hi Lizzie." Matt said. "Hello Matthew." Lizzie stormed off down the hall and Jeff gave her the middle finger as her back was to him. Matt started laughing. "Dude, is that how she's been?" "Pretty much." Jeff replied. "Do you understand what I mean now?" Before Matt could answer, Lizzie came back down the hallway and stood in front of Jeff. "Didn't I ask you before I left this morning if you could pick up the bedroom?" "I think so." Jeff said as he was trying to watch the television around her. He wasn't paying much attention, and Lizzie was getting angry. "Well, what the hell did you do all day?" Jeff didn't answer her so she went over and ejected the video out of the VCR. With it in her hand, she turned back around. "Well?" "What did you do that for?" Jeff asked. "I am sick of you not listening to me. What the hell did you do all day?" "I had a friend over." "A friend? Who?" "Does it really matter Lizzie? The point is that I was busy and didn't get a chance to pick up the room." "Yes, it does matter. I live here too and I deserve to know who has been in my house!" Jeff was getting really angry with Lizzie. He stood up and yelled, "Well you know what? Technically, this is MY house. I paid for it; you just moved your shit in. If you don't like it, then you know where the door is." Jeff stormed out of the house and went directly to the studio. Liger was right on his heels. As soon as he and his dog were inside, he locked the door. Jeff went to the back of the trailer and started working on some music. He was determined to stay in there all night. Lizzie was furious with Jeff. She threw the VCR tape across the room and it smashed against the wall. Then she followed him out to the studio. She banged on the door, but Jeff didn't answer. Matt had also gone outside, and tried to calm Lizzie down. "Lizzie, settle down." "No I won't settle down Matt. You don't live with that son of a bitch." "No, I don't. But I did for twenty-one years, and he's always been like that. You're not going to change him no matter how hard you try. If you love him, you'll respect him and quit fighting with him all the time. If you don't, he's going to walk away from you." "Fuck you Matt; it's none of your business anyway." Matt put his hands up and stepped back from her. "Okay Lizzie, but don't say I didn't warn you�" Matt got into his car and drove over to his father's house. Gilbert Hardy was outside cleaning up the yard when his oldest son pulled into the driveway. He stopped what he was doing and headed over to the driveway as Matt got out and said, "Oh my goodness, Jeff and Lizzie are fighting." "Again?" "Yes, and Jeff has proceeded to lock himself in the studio and won't come out." "What is it this time?" "I don't know dad. I guess Lizzie had asked him to pick up the bedroom or something, and he didn't. When she asked why, Jeff told her he had a friend over and she demanded to know who it was. When he wouldn't tell her she said she lived there, blah, blah, blah, and Jeff told her if she didn't like it then she knew where the door was." "Who was he with all afternoon that he couldn't clean the room?" "The girl he got into the accident with last night." "Why was he with her?" "I guess she doesn't live too far from here, and she was walking down the road and passed out near Jeff's. He found her, and brought her inside until she woke up. Then they ended up talking. I went over there and saw them. Aside from the fact that they were in the studio and Jeff was showing everything to her, it all seemed pretty innocent to me. Besides, Lizzie doesn't even know that it was a girl that was there." "That girl needs to get her head together." "All I know is that I am staying as far away as possible. I don't want to get dragged into the middle." "So what do you know about this other girl Matthew?" Gilbert and Matt sat down on the porch steps. "Not much Dad. She's pretty cute, and she seems really nice. I don't really know her, but Jeff insists that there is nothing going on. And if there was, I am sure he would tell me." "Does she have a name?" "It's Lainey." "Lainey Wilson?" "I don't know what her last name is." "I know everybody in this town, and the only Lainey I know is Lainey Wilson. She and her sister live next door to you." "They do?" "Yes, they do. They moved here about two years ago. They are nice girls. Cassidy is a chef and Lainey is a photographer. They both work in Southern Pines." "My god dad, is there anything you don't know?" "I can't believe you and your brother haven't seen them before. They walk this road every morning. They usually come by around six in the morning, but I didn't see them this morning." "Well, Lainey was in an accident last night. She probably didn't feel like walking." "You're probably right." "Alright dad, I'm going to go down to the caf� and get some food. Do you want me to bring you back anything?" "No Matthew, I am okay." "I'll see you later then." Matt walked backed over to his car and backed out of his father's driveway. He drove down to the caf�, and ordered some food. While he was waiting, he went into the small store that was next door. He was waiting to pay for a soda when he saw "Lainey" walk in the door. She immediately went to the cooler, grabbed a six pack of Smirnoff Ice, and walked over to the counter. Matt turned behind him and said, "Hello." "Hi." She said inquisitively, as if she didn't know who he was. "Don't you remember me?" "No, I don't believe we've met before." "Sure we have, earlier today at my brother's house." "You must be thinking of my sister, Lainey." "You're not Lainey?" "No, I am her twin sister, Cassidy. And you are�?" "I am Matt. I'm sorry. You and Lainey look so much alike." "Well I would hope so, we are twins." "So how are you doing?" Matt asked. "I am fine, how are you?" "I am well. How is your sister?" "She is alright. She's a little bummed out right now, hence the alcohol. I am hoping to cheer her up." "Why is she bummed?" "That is really none of your business. So you are Jeff's brother?" Cassidy asked as she looked Matt up and down. She liked what she saw. "Yes, I am." Matt said as he paid for his soda. "Let me ask you something." Lainey gave the clerk the money for the alcohol and her ID. "Is your brother as freaky as he looks?" The clerk handed her the change and her ID. She and Matt headed out the door. "Jeff is definitely a strange one. But he is one of the most carefree, laidback guys I know. Why do you ask?" "No reason. I met him at the hospital last night, and his appearance is�" Cassidy paused for a moment. "Let's just say he isn't my idea of attractive." "Well, my brother isn't my idea of attractive either. What's the big deal with what my brother looks like?" "I can't say. So he is involved?" "Currently yes, but I can't say for how much longer." "What?" "He and Lizzie fight constantly. They are fighting right now. I don't think Jeff can take much more of it." "Ohhhhhh�" Cassidy said. Matt could tell she was thinking something. "What's with all the questions about Jeff? Are you interested in him?" "No!" Cassidy said matter-of-factly. "Not me�" "So you're saying that Lainey is?" "I never said that." "But you implied it." "No I did not." "Yes you did. I think I'll go tell Jeff. He'd be happy to know your sister has the hots for him." "You wouldn't!" "Yes Cassidy, I would. And as soon I get my food, I am going to." Cassidy set the Smirnoff on top of the car and ran over to Matt to plead her case. "Matt, please. You can't tell your brother. Lainey would kill me!" "I am going to tell him." "Come on! I will do anything. Just please don't say anything to Jeff." "Anything? You will do anything?" "Anything!" Cassidy said. "Okay�" Matt thought for a moment. He figured that since he now knew Lainey was interested in Jeff, he'd try her sister on for size. "Go on a date with me." "Go on a date with you? No way, I don't even know you." "Alright. I'm going to get my food then I am going to Jeff's." Matt turned around and started walking to the door of the caf�. Cassidy thought for a moment and then yelled, "Wait!" Matt turned around and walked back to Cassidy. She looked up into his eyes and said, "Fine, I'll go out with you. When?" "Tomorrow night." "I can't. I have to work." "How about we go out after you work?" "I won't be out before one o'clock in the morning." "Do you work Friday?" "In the morning I do, until five." "Okay. Then I can pick you up at seven." "Fine, I will see you Friday at seven o'clock. Do you need to know where I live?" "I already know. I'll see you Friday." Matt walked away and entered the caf�. Cassidy grabbed the Smirnoff off the hood of her car and got in the driver's seat. She backed out and headed home. She was beating herself up about the whole situation, until she realized that this would be the perfect way for her to get out of her relationship with Nathan. |
| * Chapter Four * |
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