The Ride Home
Prelude
Kalli McMahon stepped slowly down the corridor of the seemingly abandoned arena, surprised by how dim the lights along it seemed to be. It was dark here, and growing darker by the second unless her eyes were deceiving her.
The sound of a door slamming somewhere behind her caught her ear, her heart beating that little bit faster as she turned to look after it, surprised that to see that as she walked, the lights dimmed into pure darkness behind her. Footsteps echoed down the corridor, but if there was someone there, she could no longer see enough to know who it was.
Unnerved, she walked a little faster.
When she rounded the corner, spotting Jeff slightly up the hall, she smiled, calling out, "Jeffy?"
The Hardy Boy paused at the door of the room he was about to enter, looking up at her to flash her a winning smile. When she approached him, he held out a hand for her to take, pulling her gently into his arms. "Kalli," he whispered, "I love you."
And then as suddenly as he had been there, he disappeared right before her eyes.
She looked around for him wildly, casting a look back over her shoulder...
The footsteps were growing louder.
And the darkness was still coming.
Kalli started walking again, quickly, her eyes scanning the corridor ahead for a door or some means of escape from the darkness closing in on her.
But there was none.
Eventually, panic starting to consume her, she broke into an exhausted run, desperate for a way out as a voice touched her ears from the dark.
"I love you, Beth..."
Spotting a doorway up ahead, Kalli made a mad dash for it as the voice came again.
"I love you, Beth..."
She came to a screeching halt before the door, yearning for an out as she tore at the door handle to open the door.
But the handle did not budge.
The footsteps grew louder and louder and the darkness now loomed over her.
Bringing a fist down on the door she called out, "Hello? Please? Somebody? Open the door!!!"
She looked back, frightened, the darkness upon her...
Clenching her eyes closed, she slumped to the floor, hugging her legs to her chest and huddling into a ball as it swept over her.
"Kalli?"
A familiar voice reached her ears and an even more familiar touch pressed against her arm lightly. Slowly she looked up, her terrified eyes brightening when she saw him.
"Matty?"
He nodded softly, "Hey."
She leapt forward, wrapping her arms around him, grateful when his arms moved around her, holding her tightly against him, "Did you hear it?" She stammered, tearing up, "Did you hear Jeff?"
The elder Hardy nodded solemnly against her, quoting gently, "'I love you, Beth...'"
Kalli shuddered at the sound of the words, "Why did he love her first, Matty? Why did he love her when I was there? I was always there..."
"Guys are clueless when it comes to love." He pulled away from her slightly and gave her an adoring smile, "I'm living proof of that."
"No..." She shook her head slightly, her fingertips reaching up to caress his cheek gently, "You're not clueless, Matty."
But he nodded, his eyes locked on hers, "I loved you." He went on softly, shame on his brow, "I loved you when I should have given my love loyally to someone else."
The guilt on her face matched his as she whispered, "And now?"
"I love you," he whispered back. "I'll always love you."
Somehow moved by those words in a way she had never expected, a smile touched her face, "I love you, Matty." She was shaking as she spoke but she hurried on, leaning closer to him, her face only millimetres from his. "I love you," her lips pressed together in the makings of a kiss and she moved to touch them tenderly to his.
"Matt?" Krissy's voice echoed around them and Kalli looked around, only now aware that the darkness still stood all around her, surrounding them, threatening to engulf them yet again. Startled she clung tighter to Matt as her older sister's voice came again, "Matt? Where are you?" She sounded a little distraught when her voice came again, "Matty? Matty, I need you."
And the man Kalleasto McMahon clung to so desperately stood.
"Matty?" She reached up from where she sat, taking his hand, "Don't leave me here, please..."
"I have to go," he explained plainly.
As he spoke the darkness neared her again and she pleaded softly, "But you said you loved me."
He smiled gently, "I do."
But still he stepped forward into the darkness as Krissy's voice called to him again.
Kalli could look after him for the briefest of moments.
Then the darkness engulfed her again and she screamed...
~*~
Chapter I
The plane jolted, snapping Kalleasto McMahon awake as a voice came over the intercom, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are currently experiencing some turbulence..."
"Kalli? Are you okay?"
The McMahon Heiress looked over at her sister, wiping sleep from her eyes, "Uh huh." She yawned, her heart still pounding in her chest. "Why?"
Heidi Jacobs reached out, touching her sister’s face, "You were whispering in your sleep, and you sounded so... So hurt and upset..."
Worried Kalli whispered, "What was I saying?"
"I couldn't quite make it out," she looked at Kalli intently, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah." She yawned again, "I'm fine."
But she wasn't.
The remnants of her dream hung in her head and they frightened her.
When she rounded the corner, spotting Jeff slightly up the hall, she smiled, calling out, "Jeffy?"
The Hardy Boy paused at the door of the room he was about to enter, looking up at her to flash her a winning smile. When she approached him, he held out a hand for her to take, pulling her gently into his arms. "Kalli," he whispered, "I love you."
And then as suddenly as he had been there, he disappeared right before her eyes.
He had been there. Jeff had been there.
And then he was gone.
And most painful of all...
"I love you," he whispered back. "I'll always love you."
Somehow moved by those words in a way she had never expected, a smile touched her face, "I love you, Matty."
As insane as it seemed...
Her dream was a moment of realization.
"I love you, Matty."
And for the first time since the night of Matt's birthday when they two had stumbled unwittingly into a kiss, Kalleasto McMahon knew those words to be true.
She loved Matt Hardy.
Not as a brother, not as a friend...
As something far deeper, far more intimate than that.
"Where's my bag?" She turned to Heidi, "I need my book."
Heidi shook her head, "Kalli... You know that when you read or write on a plane it makes you sick..."
"Where's my bag?" She snapped.
Her younger sister sighed, "Here..." She pulled Kalli's handbag out from under her feet, handing it over to the girl who tore it open, yanking the book from it. "Kalli?" She whispered softly, "What are you doing?"
Near frantic she whispered back, "I need to write."
And she did.
Because Jeff Hardy was her be all and end all. Jeff Hardy was the love of her life.
Not Matt Hardy.
Not Matt Hardy.
Not...
"Are you all right?"
Matt Hardy turned from where he leant against one of the huge stone pillars at the front of the McMahon home. He had been looking out into the darkness for minutes when Kalleasto McMahon had stepped outside looking for him.
But she hadn't said a word.
She simply lingered behind him, her gentle eyes locked on his bag, hurt my the way his shoulders slumped forward, his emotions clear.
Adam Copeland and Krissy McMahon were inside, all smiles and adoring glances and little kisses.
And it hurt Matt in ways nothing else did.
"Kalli," he whispered when he saw her, "What are you doing out here? You should be in there enjoying the party."
She smiled softly, stepping up to stand beside him. He turned back to his original position, his gaze again locked out into the dark night. She slipped an arm around his waist and he lifted his arm to pull her against him in a warm hug. "How can I party without my best friend?"
Matt chuckled softly, "Same way you always party, Kalli. Long, hard and drunk."
She giggled, "I learnt from the masters."
And she had. There were no better teachers on the best method to party than Matt and Jeff Hardy, Shannon Moore and Shane Helms, that was for sure, and since The Hardy Boys had come to the WWF, she had been given several lessons on the art of having a wild and raucous time.
"Matty?" She whispered when he did not answer her, staring blankly off into space. "Talk to me."
He sighed, "It's just..." But he broke off.
Kalli nodded knowingly all the same, "Krissy?"
"Yeah."
She hugged him a little tighter, "I'm sorry, Matt."
"She's so into him," he struggled weakly, "She just loves and adores him and it kills me, Kalli. It kills me to see her with him."
"I know," she told him softly.
And Matt knew she did.
It had been months now since Kalli had first started hanging out with The Hardy Boys.
And it had been months since she had fallen head over heels in love with his younger brother, Jeff. She looked at him with total adoration in her eyes, yearning for him wholeheartedly, and in response he would ruffle her hair or play fight with her while he brought home date after date after date.
When her eyes filled with tears at the sight of Jeff with another woman...
His brother never noticed.
Matt sighed again, whispering, "Why didn't I fall in love with one of the other McMahon girls?"
Kalli giggled softly, "Yes, Matty. I can just see you and Stephanie now..."
"Not Stephanie," he squeezed her a little tighter to him, giving her a playful smirk, "You."
She blushed, moved by the fact that unlike Jeff and Shannon and Shane... Matt Hardy didn't see her as one of the boys. "Well," she spoke softly, her voice wavering slightly in her embarrassment, "Why didn't I fall in love with one of the other Hardy Boys?"
Mimicking her giggle he said cheekily, "Yes, Kalli. I can just see you and Christian now..."
She grinned, "Not Christian," it was her turn to squeeze him that little bit tighter, "You."
The exchanged a long look and then the two burst into laughter, shaking their heads at the sheer ridiculousness of the suggestion.
Kalli paused, her pen still pressed against the paper.
It had been such a ridiculous suggestion after all.
She shook her head, writing on...
Their laughter filtered away as the two spotted a car heading up the drive of the McMahon Estate.
"Expecting anyone else, Kalli?"
The girl shook her head, "Everyone's here but Jeff and he said he wasn't coming..."
But the car came to a halt at the foot of the front steps, and it was indeed Jeff Hardy who climbed from within it.
~*~
Chapter II
"Hey Matt! Hey Kalli!" He waved up at them from the open car door.
Exchanging a slightly confused look, both waved back before Kalli moved to step down the steps, "I thought you said you weren't coming."
"I wasn't..." The passenger door opened and a girl stepped from within it, "But my friend wanted to see how the McMahon family parties."
Kalli had made it down all of two steps when she ground to a halt. Somehow she managed a smile, "Oh." She looked to the girl, "Hey."
"Wow!" The girl, clad in a short, short skirt and the tiniest tiny-T Kalli had ever seen, stepped toward the McMahon Heiress, "You're Kalleasto McMahon!"
"Uh..." Kalli threw a startled look over her shoulder at Matt. For the most part, WWF fans had no idea who she was. Save a family portrait that had appeared in a WWF publication earlier in the year, Kalli had never appeared publicly in any way with the WWF, though her father had promised her that eventually he would allow her to take a more active role in the company. After all, she was already working in with Krissy in the Creative Department learning the ropes there.
"I'm Monica!" The girl snatched Kalli's hand, startling her from her thoughts as she shook it, "It's *so* great to meet you."
Still managing a smile Kalli mumbled, "Thanks." She cast a look over the girl's shoulder at Jeff and he smily smiled and shrugged in response as the girl stepped around her.
"And you must be Matt!" Matt held out a hand to her as she approached, a little surprised by her enthusiasm as she said, "Jeff has told me all about you."
With her back to Monica and Matt, Kalli mouthed silently, "Where did you find her?"
Jeff stepped around the car, walking up the stairs to stand beside her, "She's a friend of a friend of Shannon," he whispered, "She's cute as, huh?"
"Yeah," Kalli struggled, "Real cute."
The younger Hardy Boy ruffled her hair then moved up to Monica, "Come on, Mon. Let's go inside and I'll introduce you round..." His voice trailed away as he led her into the house.
Kalleasto McMahon stayed on those steps, swaying slightly in the cool winter breeze. She wasn't aware Matt was even there until he stood beside her, "Kalli. You okay?"
"Uh huh," she whispered.
But she could feel the sting of tears in her eyes.
"Kalli..." Matt sighed, pulling her into a hug. "I'm sorry." He shook his head slightly where it rest against hers, the McMahon melting into his arms, "My brother is a moron."
It was her turn to shake her head, "No..." She whispered, "No. He's just not interested, Matty." She looked up at him, "I'm stupid to think it could ever be any other way."
He sighed again, "Kalli..."
She pulled away from him, "Come on, Matty. We should go back inside before someone notices we're gone."
But the Hardy Boy pulled her to a halt, "Kalli."
"Don't, Matty." She told him painfully, "We both know it's always going to be this way. Jeff is never..." The words ate her up inside, "Jeff is never going to fall for some stupid little tomboy who kicks around with the boys."
"And Krissy is never going to leave Adam Copeland to be with a Hardy Boy," he snapped plainly.
Her eyes filled with sadness, "Matt..."
He shook his head at her, "It’s okay for you to lose all hope but it’s not okay for me?"
"It's different," she stammered meekly.
"It's not."
The two exchanged another long look. Both angry, both hurt...
Both feeling inadequate.
Eventually the heat in the look faded and the two shared a smile.
"God we're pathetic," Kalli mused warmly.
Matt chuckled softly, "Incredibly pathetic." He stepped up the steps to stand behind her, hugging her for a few moments before telling her playfully, "Well, if we're going to be pathetic, we should at least be pathetic and drunk."
"Ooohhh," Kalli clapped excitedly, "Yeah! Let's go in there and watch the people we love be all smoochy and lovey dovey with other people so we have an excuse to be so pathetic we *need* to get drunk."
The elder Hardy laughed, keeping an arm around Kalli as they walked back into the mansion, "You know Kalli, I've been meaning to tell you," his voice was more playful than ever as he said, "I think you enjoy getting drunk far too much."
"Are you implying I'm an alcoholic?" She asked, mock horrified.
"Uh huh..."
"Matt!"
She slapped his arm and he gasped, "Ow! Kalli!"
~*~
Chapter III
Resting the book down in her lap, Kalli skimmed her eyes over the last few lines of what she had just written. In some ways she wasn't sure if that memory had been more of Matt or more of Jeff.
It didn't matter, she supposed.
Because it had been a Jeff memory in essence.
A painful Jeff memory.
Before Beth, he had brought home girl after girl, dating like the world was about to run out of women at any moment.
It pained her in ways she couldn't describe that for so long he hadn't seen her. For so long he'd chosen superficial bimbo's and wannabe ring rats over her...
And maybe that was what lay at the core of her problems now.
Because while Jeff unknowingly battered and bruised her ego...
Matt Hardy had been true to her throughout it all.
While the other boys saw her as little more than a tomboy, Matt had always seen her as something more. In Matt's eyes she had been a fiery young woman, driven to make it in a business that could be cruel and relentless. A young woman in love with his brother.
A young woman alone.
In the early stages of Matt and Jeff's WWF careers, Matt Hardy had fallen deeply, deeply in love with Krissy McMahon, and Kalli knew that ultimately, it was the unrequited love both were subjected to that had brought them together as friends.
It was that fear of unrequited love that brought them together now.
For the first time in her life, Kalli McMahon knew that for years she had not felt worthy of Jeff. For years she had followed him around, the love struck puppy that was seen, but never truly heard. And though they had come to be together eventually...
Jeff had still walked away.
She snapped, angry in her hurt, "This hurts me worse than worrying about you ever could... Please, Jeff... Please..."
The younger Hardy shook his head, "No, Kalli. I'm sorry." A few more tears escaped him, trickling mournfully down his face as he told her softly, sad certainty in his voice, "It's over."
When she had needed him most...
He had walked away.
That had fed her fears. Those old feelings of unworthiness, that dread that what she longed for most could never be... They had been given a new lease on life.
And once again, it had been Matt, not Jeff, who stood tall for her.
For Matt...
While Krissy ran around with Adam behind his back, while she loved someone as much, possibly even more than she loved him, he too had fallen back into those old emotions.
Just as he had that night on the front steps of the McMahon family home, he had felt the outsider with the woman he loved. He had not been worthy to be the one to love her. He had been second best to Adam Copeland.
Kalli shook her head.
Yes.
That's what it was.
It had not been Jeff that drove her to Matt.
It had not been Krissy that drove Matt to her.
It had been their own fears. Their own weaknesses.
Lost in worthlessness, afraid they could never be good enough for the people they longed for, the people they loved and needed most, Kalli and Matt had fallen back on the only two people who had ever been there for them without question. They had fallen back on the only two people who had always loved and accepted them with open arms. They had fallen back...
On each other.
Kalli closed up the book, hugging it to her chest and clenching her eyes shut.
She loved Matt.
But Jeff...
She loved him more.
She sighed.
Why had it taken her this long to figure that out?
And now that she knew...
How in the hell was she going to even start to make it right?
She pondered a moment, a sad smile touching her lips.
Kalli knew where she needed to go now.
~ The End ~