My One True Friend

Is it too late to say

How you made my life so different in your quiet way

The joy in simple things

The sunlight sky and all the songs we used to sing

And we could start again

You are my one true friend

The tension that filled the air of the tiny locker room in the Pepsi Arena in those moments could barely have been cut with a knife, it was so thick.

Kalleasto McMahon stood, fidgeting desperately with the ring on the index finger of her shaking left hand, her heart pounding in her chest. She and Matt had not been alone is so very, very long.

“I think...” His voice was a forlorn croak and he cleared his throat before trying again. “I think that we’re both pretty lost right now, Kalli. I think... I know, you hurt. You hurt more than anything. I can’t see anything else in you anymore but that.” He shook his head sadly, longing to see the happy Kalli he knew and loved return.

She nodded, her knowing in her voice, “And you...” She spoke slowly, meaningfully, “You’re so afraid you might lose Krissy that it crushes you. It terrifies you, and it weakens you.” Her words could not have been more honest if she tried, “You are so strong, Matty. Stronger than anyone I have *ever* known... But the moment you think you might lose Krissy,” she whispered, “You break.”

“So maybe...” He started.

She nodded, “Maybe when all else seems lost...”

He finished for her, “We fall back on the people closest to us.”

She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t wondered in the weeks and weeks since then if perhaps it truly had been something more than that. She didn’t want to even contemplate it, but guilt, and an overwhelming sense of it at that, pushed her toward ideas and possibilities she did not wish to consider.

Kalli was attracted to Matt, yeah. There weren’t a whole lot of women in the world that weren’t, Kalli was sure. Women everywhere they went would fall all over themselves for a chance to be near him and out in front of those crowds... Those screaming girls that helped fill arenas all across the country did not scream just for Jeff, and she knew it.

Matt was a handsome guy.

In fact, he was a whole lot more.

Her best friend had a good heart, a pure heart. He was loving and supportive, honest and trustworthy. He would accept her every fault and any differing opinion she offered, but he would open her to change if he thought it was best for her and would challenge her beliefs if he truly disagreed with her. He was intelligent. He was loyal. He was damn near perfect.

But was that enough to push her to the level they had eventually reached?

Or was something deeper the true cause of her guilt?

The elder of the two Hardys remained where he had stood as the door slammed shut behind Stacy Kiebler as she exited the room, Matt seemingly as furious with her as Kalli had been. He wanted to turn to Kalli, to talk to her, but everything had changed for them... Hadn’t it?

He cut her off, “No, Kalli, please. For your own sake, I’m asking you...” Urgency filled his voice, “I’m begging you,” he pressed a hand against her cheek, looking right into her eyes...

And for the first time ever, Kalli McMahon pulled away from him, almost as if burned by his touch.

His eyes filled with hurt, her eyes flooded with shame.

And the most uncomfortable silence either one had ever endured beset upon them...

Until Matt Hardy turned...

And he walked away.

He had never believed there would be a day when he turned his back on her. Even for a moment.

Everything about their friendship had altered, apparently forever, because of that one kiss.

In the time since that fateful evening, they had barely seen each other. He had stayed with her at the hospital for a day until she had, behind his back, convinced Vince to send him back off to work. Matt sighed. He had known that it was Kalli that had organized to have him shipped off, though he had never said anything about it.

He didn’t want to vocalize what they both knew.

For years, they had been best friends.

No matter how they tried, the moment their lips had met, their friendship had been destroyed.

He could hope that they could rebuild that. That somehow they could recover that old comfort they found in each other day in and day out.

But fear of a repeat niggled at him.

There was no one else, there could be no one else in his life that he shared such friendship with.

But was that enough to push him to the level they had eventually reached?

Or was something deeper the true cause of his guilt?

Finally the elder of the two Hardys turned around, as blank an expression on his face as he could muster...

She flinched on seeing it regardless.

He was in pain. Living, breathing, constant pain.

And all the attempts at a blank expression in the world would not hide that from her.

Tears touched her eyes as she whispered softly, “Oh, Matty...” She took a hesitant step forward, beckoning for him to near her. He did so as slowly as she, until eventually they stood before each other, ever so close but not touching. For moments they stood locked in each other’s gaze until eventually she whispered, “Is it true?” Shame was painting her face again, “Is that what everyone is saying about us? That we’re...” She broke off, unable to complete the sentence.

“Maybe.” He shrugged half-heartedly, “I don’t listen. I can’t listen.”

“But it’s not like that...”

Kalli realized how hollow the words sounded and she cringed.

With all of her heart, she loved Jeff. And she knew above all else that he was her destiny. But until her guilt, until her fear left her, until her doubts were truly cast aside, she could not know if those words were true. She doubted herself...

And he doubted himself.

Noting the look on Kalli’s face, Matt told her softly, “I know, Kalli. I know what you‘re thinking...” He admitted shamefully, “I wonder too.” He sighed gently, “But then I think of Krissy. I let my heart take over me and I *know* that she is the only one for me.” Choking up a little he asked, “Why else would it hurt like this? Why else would I feel so bad?”

Seeing tears forming in his eyes, Kalli reached out a hand, touching it to his arm, resting it there, “Matty...”

Her touch on his arm moved him.

Since Unforgiven, Matt Hardy had been alone.

Krissy had left him, Kalli had disappeared and he and Jeff were still on shaky ground at the best of times.

And for all that time he had longed for someone to touch him the way she was touching him now. To care that he was dying inside, to care that for the life of him he could not breathe for pain.

Rubbing his arm tenderly she cooed, “Yeah?”

“I want her back. I stay away because I said that I would... I’m keeping my word... But I want her back.” The first tear escaped him and Kalli’s heart broke. Tears filled her own eyes and it took only seconds before the first of them escaped him. His pain consumed her as he hurried on, “I always hoped, I think I always believed even, that she would be with me. God...” Another tear escaped him, “Even when I didn’t hold her heart, at least she was with me.”

Her second hand reaching out and taking hold of his other arm, Kalli cooed, “I know, Matty. I know.” She rubbed both arms softly, “But that’s not how you would want your life with her to be. You could never bare it if you kept her when her heart was not yours and yours alone.”

“I thought that too,” he nodded slowly, “But it’s been so long, Kalli. So long since I woke up beside her, so long since I held her in the morning and knew that she’d be coming home to me when the sun went down. I thought... I thought that I had the strength to do what is best for her, but I can’t do it anymore...”

“Listen to me,” her hands crept up to his face, cupping it gently, “You can. I know that you can. And I know that if you don’t, Matty... You would never forgive yourself for not giving her the clean break she wanted.”

Broken he whispered tearfully, “But I miss her.”

Kalli sighed sadly, instinct kicking in. She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him and holding onto him desperately. He cried softly against her shoulder, her hair being slowly dampened as he did so, little tears of her own streaming down her face and dropping solemnly onto the soft, dark strands of his own lengthy hair.

She wanted to know the words that would make this better for him.

But there were no such words.

And standing before him now, holding him as he cried, she knew too...

Come hell or high-water...

She couldn’t stay away a moment longer.

Her best friend was broken. And he needed her.

Let the WWF Locker Room talk, let Stacy Kiebler twist things however she wanted...

Her fear, her guilt, they were strong.

But her love for Matt was stronger.

“I’m sorry, Matty...” She cooed into his hair, “I’m so sorry.” She rubbed his back warmly, soothingly, “And I’m so sorry I haven’t been here. I should’ve been here for you...”

“Its okay,” he murmered into her shoulder.

“It’s not.” She pulled away from him slightly, looking up into his dark eyes, “I know that... Everything is different, Matt. Everything has changed.” She gave him a sad smile, “But its you. And I love you. Matty...” She whispered, “You’re my best friend. And I should never have left you to do this alone.”

And though he wanted to tell her that he would be okay, that it wasn’t necessary, that they need not subject themselves to all the heartache and confusion that seemed to come from being near each other...

He couldn’t bring himself to make her stay away.

“Thankyou...” He whispered.

Because though he wanted to be strong...

Matt Hardy wasn’t sure he could live without Krissy McMahon.

Matt wasn’t sure he could live...

All the times you closed your eyes

Allowing me to stumble or to be surprised

My life with all its twists and turns

You always knew that I would learn

Its your who stayed

That I’d come home again

You are my one true friend

Though love may break

Through changing eyes

You always were the light inside of me...

You are my one true friend


	My One True Friend And now Is it too late to say How you made my life so different in your quiet way I can see The joy in simple things The sunlight sky and all the songs we used to sing I have walked And I have prayed I could forgive And we could start again In the end You are my one true friend The tension that filled the air of the tiny locker room in the Pepsi Arena in those moments could barely have been cut with a knife, it was so thick. Kalleasto McMahon stood, fidgeting desperately with the ring on the index finger of her shaking left hand, her heart pounding in her chest. She and Matt had not been alone is so very, very long. “I think...” His voice was a forlorn croak and he cleared his throat before trying again. “I think that we’re both pretty lost right now, Kalli. I think... I know, you hurt. You hurt more than anything. I can’t see anything else in you anymore but that.” He shook his head sadly, longing to see the happy Kalli he knew and loved return. She nodded, her knowing in her voice, “And you...” She spoke slowly, meaningfully, “You’re so afraid you might lose Krissy that it crushes you. It terrifies you, and it weakens you.” Her words could not have been more honest if she tried, “You are so strong, Matty. Stronger than anyone I have ever known... But the moment you think you might lose Krissy,” she whispered, “You break.” “So maybe...” He started. She nodded, “Maybe when all else seems lost...” He finished for her, “We fall back on the people closest to us.” She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t wondered in the weeks and weeks since then if perhaps it truly had been something more than that. She didn’t want to even contemplate it, but guilt, and an overwhelming sense of it at that, pushed her toward ideas and possibilities she did not wish to consider. Kalli was attracted to Matt, yeah. There weren’t a whole lot of women in the world that weren’t, Kalli was sure. Women everywhere they went would fall all over themselves for a chance to be near him and out in front of those crowds... Those screaming girls that helped fill arenas all across the country did not scream just for Jeff, and she knew it. Matt was a handsome guy. In fact, he was a whole lot more. Her best friend had a good heart, a pure heart. He was loving and supportive, honest and trustworthy. He would accept her every fault and any differing opinion she offered, but he would open her to change if he thought it was best for her and would challenge her beliefs if he truly disagreed with her. He was intelligent. He was loyal. He was damn near perfect. But was that enough to push her to the level they had eventually reached? Or was something deeper the true cause of her guilt? “Matty?” The elder of the two Hardys remained where he had stood as the door slammed shut behind Stacy Kiebler as she exited the room, Matt seemingly as furious with her as Kalli had been. He wanted to turn to Kalli, to talk to her, but everything had changed for them... Hadn’t it? He cut her off, “No, Kalli, please. For your own sake, I’m asking you...” Urgency filled his voice, “I’m begging you,” he pressed a hand against her cheek, looking right into her eyes... And for the first time ever, Kalli McMahon pulled away from him, almost as if burned by his touch. His eyes filled with hurt, her eyes flooded with shame. And the most uncomfortable silence either one had ever endured beset upon them... Until Matt Hardy turned... And he walked away. He had never believed there would be a day when he turned his back on her. Even for a moment. But he had. Everything about their friendship had altered, apparently forever, because of that one kiss. In the time since that fateful evening, they had barely seen each other. He had stayed with her at the hospital for a day until she had, behind his back, convinced Vince to send him back off to work. Matt sighed. He had known that it was Kalli that had organized to have him shipped off, though he had never said anything about it. He didn’t want to vocalize what they both knew. For years, they had been best friends. And that was over. No matter how they tried, the moment their lips had met, their friendship had been destroyed. He could hope that they could rebuild that. That somehow they could recover that old comfort they found in each other day in and day out. But fear of a repeat niggled at him. There was no one else, there could be no one else in his life that he shared such friendship with. But was that enough to push him to the level they had eventually reached? Or was something deeper the true cause of his guilt? “Kalli.” Finally the elder of the two Hardys turned around, as blank an expression on his face as he could muster... She flinched on seeing it regardless. He was in pain. Living, breathing, constant pain. And all the attempts at a blank expression in the world would not hide that from her. Tears touched her eyes as she whispered softly, “Oh, Matty...” She took a hesitant step forward, beckoning for him to near her. He did so as slowly as she, until eventually they stood before each other, ever so close but not touching. For moments they stood locked in each other’s gaze until eventually she whispered, “Is it true?” Shame was painting her face again, “Is that what everyone is saying about us? That we’re...” She broke off, unable to complete the sentence. “Maybe.” He shrugged half-heartedly, “I don’t listen. I can’t listen.” “But it’s not like that...” Kalli realized how hollow the words sounded and she cringed. With all of her heart, she loved Jeff. And she knew above all else that he was her destiny. But until her guilt, until her fear left her, until her doubts were truly cast aside, she could not know if those words were true. She doubted herself... And he doubted himself. Noting the look on Kalli’s face, Matt told her softly, “I know, Kalli. I know what you‘re thinking...” He admitted shamefully, “I wonder too.” He sighed gently, “But then I think of Krissy. I let my heart take over me and I know that she is the only one for me.” Choking up a little he asked, “Why else would it hurt like this? Why else would I feel so bad?” Seeing tears forming in his eyes, Kalli reached out a hand, touching it to his arm, resting it there, “Matty...” Her touch on his arm moved him. Since Unforgiven, Matt Hardy had been alone. Krissy had left him, Kalli had disappeared and he and Jeff were still on shaky ground at the best of times. He had been alone. And for all that time he had longed for someone to touch him the way she was touching him now. To care that he was dying inside, to care that for the life of him he could not breathe for pain. “Kalli?” Rubbing his arm tenderly she cooed, “Yeah?” “I want her back. I stay away because I said that I would... I’m keeping my word... But I want her back.” The first tear escaped him and Kalli’s heart broke. Tears filled her own eyes and it took only seconds before the first of them escaped him. His pain consumed her as he hurried on, “I always hoped, I think I always believed even, that she would be with me. God...” Another tear escaped him, “Even when I didn’t hold her heart, at least she was with me.” Her second hand reaching out and taking hold of his other arm, Kalli cooed, “I know, Matty. I know.” She rubbed both arms softly, “But that’s not how you would want your life with her to be. You could never bare it if you kept her when her heart was not yours and yours alone.” “I thought that too,” he nodded slowly, “But it’s been so long, Kalli. So long since I woke up beside her, so long since I held her in the morning and knew that she’d be coming home to me when the sun went down. I thought... I thought that I had the strength to do what is best for her, but I can’t do it anymore...” “Listen to me,” her hands crept up to his face, cupping it gently, “You can. I know that you can. And I know that if you don’t, Matty... You would never forgive yourself for not giving her the clean break she wanted.” Broken he whispered tearfully, “But I miss her.” Kalli sighed sadly, instinct kicking in. She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him and holding onto him desperately. He cried softly against her shoulder, her hair being slowly dampened as he did so, little tears of her own streaming down her face and dropping solemnly onto the soft, dark strands of his own lengthy hair. She wanted to know the words that would make this better for him. But there were no such words. And standing before him now, holding him as he cried, she knew too... Come hell or high-water... She couldn’t stay away a moment longer. Her best friend was broken. And he needed her. Let the WWF Locker Room talk, let Stacy Kiebler twist things however she wanted... Her fear, her guilt, they were strong. But her love for Matt was stronger. “I’m sorry, Matty...” She cooed into his hair, “I’m so sorry.” She rubbed his back warmly, soothingly, “And I’m so sorry I haven’t been here. I should’ve been here for you...” “Its okay,” he murmered into her shoulder. “It’s not.” She pulled away from him slightly, looking up into his dark eyes, “I know that... Everything is different, Matt. Everything has changed.” She gave him a sad smile, “But its you. And I love you. Matty...” She whispered, “You’re my best friend. And I should never have left you to do this alone.” And though he wanted to tell her that he would be okay, that it wasn’t necessary, that they need not subject themselves to all the heartache and confusion that seemed to come from being near each other... He couldn’t bring himself to make her stay away. “Thankyou...” He whispered. And he meant it. Because though he wanted to be strong... Matt Hardy wasn’t sure he could live without Krissy McMahon. Matt wasn’t sure he could live... At all. For all All the times you closed your eyes Allowing me to stumble or to be surprised My life with all its twists and turns I made mistakes You always knew that I would learn And when I left Its your who stayed You always knew That I’d come home again In the end You are my one true friend Though love may break It never dies It changes shape Through changing eyes But I was blind I now can see You always were the light inside of me... In the end You are my one true friend ~ The End ~ Main \| Fan Fic Menu \| Hearts & Ladders