Dirty Deeds

CH 4: Running Into Matt

       After leaving Punk's room, I take a long walk. It's weird being out of the hotel without any of my friends. Usually, Layla and I go shopping or we hang out by the pool and make fun of the rest of the roster. Up until this week, both Matt and Maria have been frequent targets. I'm not in the mood to make fun of anyone today, though; not with Wrestlemania looming in just over a month. Our hotel is across the street from this cute little park with lots of walking trails. Normally, I'd ignore something like that, but it's too tempting to pass up this time.

I'm in my own little world, thinking over the Matt and Maria problem when someone slams into me with the force of a train. I manage a startled, "Hey!" and then I'm on the ground, staring up at a very flustered Matt Hardy.

"Are you all right?" he asks, holding his hand out to me.

I stare at him for a long moment, then take his hand. "Sure. Uh, but if you wanted to talk to me, all you had to do was come up and say hi. No need to run me down."

His skin turns an interesting shade of red. "I didn't see you." He pulls me up, then leans down to pick up a huge box. He must have dropped it when we ran into one another.

"What is that?" I ask.

Matt's voice is muffled behind the box. "Canned food."

"Well, that explains why it felt like getting hit by a truck."

"Sorry," Matt says.

"Where are you taking it?"

He shifts the box so he can see a little better. "I heard there was a food bank in the area that was having some trouble. I thought I'd help them out."

Does this guy ever quit being good? I sigh. "You're going to get run over or something. Let me help you."

"Really?" He looks skeptical.

"Sure. I'm all for helping the food bank."

"Uh, okay." Matt smiles at me. He is kind of cute. Wait, did I just think that? I smirk and take his arm, leading him in the direction I'd just come from. "Thanks for your help."

"You're welcome. So where's this food bank at, anyway?"

"Er, well. It's across town. I was just taking the box to my car..."

"Gotcha," I say with a smile. "I'll help you get to the car, and then you can be on your way."

"You can come with me, if you want."

I surprised at the offer. "Oh. Um. Isn't Maria coming with you?"

"She can't. She's got some kind of photo shoot. We're having dinner after tonight's house show. So do you want to come with me?"

"Sure," I say, smiling. "Sounds like fun."

Matt looks really confused, but he nods. We make it across the street and into the hotel's parking lot with no more incidents. I lead Matt to his car and he sets the box down beside it before opening the door. Together, we manage to shove the box into the backseat. "Whew, that was heavy."

"Why did you put the cans in a box, anyway?"

"The guy at the grocery store was going to bag them, but I thought a box would be easier to carry," he says.

"Guess you didn't account for needing a guidance system on that thing."

"I didn't," he agrees, "but you made a great guidance system."

My cheeks grow warm. "Thanks," I mutter.

Matt grins, then climbs into the car and unlocks the passenger door for me. I slide into the car, self conscious. When he turns the key, the radio blasts out something loud. Matt hurriedly turns it down and looks at me. "Sorry. Shane must have turned it up last night, because I don't remember it being that loud."

I chuckle. "I never remember it being loud when I get in my car."

"Yeah." He pulls into traffic, glancing at me. "Hey, Michelle? Can I ask you something?"

"Hmm?" I'm not looking at him. I'm not sure I can look at him.

"What's the deal with you lately?'

"What do you mean?"

"A couple of weeks ago, you were yelling, 'Loser alert!' when I walked by you..." Oh, God, I'd pushed that out of my head. "and now, you're being... nice."

"Er." I look out the window. "I don't know. I just thought maybe... we could talk."

"About what? Aside from our jobs, we don't have a damned thing in common."

"How do you know?" I finally look at him. "We've never had an actual conversation."

"Probably because every time I get near you, you make a snide comment." Ouch.

"It's hard to explain."

"Try anyway."

He's watching the road, but I can see he's also watching me from the corner of his eye. "I'm not sure I can put it into words." Matt sighs. "Let me think on it, and I'll see if I can explain it."

"All right." He glances at me, then turns the radio up a little. Not enough to hinder the conversation, if I want to continue it, but enough so that the silence that is descending on the car feels less awkward. I'm left to consider what I want to say for the rest of the ride.