a year later.

"hey daddy" I answered my cell phone

"hey kid! hows its goin?"

"its going alright"

"try that again kid, you don't sound happy"

"i don't think its for me dad"

"why not?"

"i don't like the role playing and I don't really get along with anyone. I don't know dad wrestling just isn't what I thought it would be that's all"

"why don't you get along with anyone?"

"there all so different from me, I just don't really have anything in common with them"

"so my little girl doesn't wanna wrestle anymore?"

"not really dad, you know how important it is to me to love what I do and what I drive"

"that I do, sweetie can you leave if you want?"

"i don't know I gotta ask john"

"if you can leave are you gonna come back to philly and start boxing and training people again?"

"its all I know so yea I probably will just come back and go back to what I use to do. I miss the snow and cold"

"we miss you too. the gym and everybody has"

"can I have my job back?"

"kid you know better than that, as long as I own the joint you'll always have a place to work and train"

"thanks dad"

"your welcome baby, so I was thinking maybe when you come in for Christmas in a couple weeks we could bring a couple soldiers to the house and let them stay and help during the holidays"

"sounds good to me daddy, I've got a meeting with vince in the morning then i'm having lunch with john then i'm hitting the road for home"

"so your coming back sooner?"

"if I can convince vince to let me out of my contract"

"are you keeping your place there?"

"maybe, Its paid off and I can always come down on weekends and take a break from philly"

"sounds like you've got everything figured out"

"not everything but i'm trying"

"so still fighting off the guys?"

"always daddy."

"that's my little girl!"

"haha alright daddy as much as I love hearing from you I got training with john in ten minutes and I've still got to grab somethin to eat"

"alright baby i'll see you in a couple days"

"alright bye daddy"

"bye chris"

we hung up and I grabbed my bag off the couch and ran to my car then grabbed a salad from mcdonalds and headed to the gym.

6 hours later.

"your a killer chris"

"thanks johnny! I was trained to be the best!" I smiled before taking a long drink from my water bottle

"so what did you wanna ask me?" he said breathing heavy sitting on the bench

"well a few things but anyways umm first thing is can you just leave your contract or do you have to break it?"

"you have to talk to vince and Stephanie. why you asking anyways?"

"I've decided that i'm leaving WWE"

"i had a feeling you were, lately you just seemed like you were rolling through the motions"

"been doing the best I can"

"you don't love it anymore do you?"

"not really, I love the training and growing stronger but the role playing and pretending just doing work for me"

"i get you there, I hate they put role playing in it too. I don't really blame you for wanting out, if I hadn't been here so long I'd leave with you"

"so your not gonna be mad if I leave?"

"i'm gonna miss you a lot but I'm not gonna be mad, i'll understand"

"i really thought this was for me but I just don't love it"

"i get it, have you asked to meet with vince and Stephanie?"

"yea I got a meeting with them tomorrow"

"before we go to lunch?"

"yea, once we have lunch i'm heading back to philly for Christmas"

"but its not even thanksgiving yet"

"i'm gonna help my dad out til after Christmas"

"oh ok, i'd come but I've got events and Christmas with my family so"

"that's okay. its probably best that you don't"

"yea maybe so"

"so i'm gonna go shower and head home, maybe grill up some steaks"

"mind if I come over and have some steak?"

"sure why not, i'd like the company"

"alright so can I just follow you from here?"

"yea that's fine, I might have to stop at the store for a few things but I can give you a key and you can go ahead"

"that works" with that we get up and head to shower before we head out.

before we leave the gym I give him my spare set of car keys and he goes on to my house while I stop at the store to pick up a few things.

I finished up at the store and headed home.

I got back to the house and found john on the back porch getting the grill started with a beer.

"drinking my beer now are we?" I chuckled

"yea hope you don't mind"

"nah, I don't need it anyways"

"its alright every once in a while"

"yea I guess so"

I got the steaks from the fridge and took them out to john at the grill.

"so you really didn't have a date tonight?" he asked

"nah"

"why not, guys beat down your door all the time and they're all good guys"

"i don't know I guess I just don't think anybody can put up with me and my training and just me in general"

"why your really a great girl, I've put up with you almost 2 years and to be honest it hasn't been all that bad"

"yea says the guy who almost fired himself 3 times in one months from training me"

"true but I never did quit so"

"that you didn't. anyways I guess I just never really like the guys that ask me out or they're just not my type"

"i guess I can understand that"

"it just never works out"

"i know its not really any of my business but it wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that you keep your self locked up like a military base would it?"

"i guard myself because I don't want to get hurt again, its hard to trust people and let people in once you've been crushed"

"i get it but you know not everyones gonna hurt you right?"

"yea I know I just can't help but think about the past every time I try to let someone else in"

"is that what happened with you and mike?"

"that and he was after maryse and now there married so it worked out for the best"

"true but you need to stop guarding yourself so heavily. your life doesn't have to be a long span of one nightstands from bars"

"i know but maybe its best that its a long span of one nighters then I don't get attached and hurt again"

"you may not get hurt but you hurt those guys chris, one nightstands are fine for college kids but Chris your 24 almost 25 its time to stop the one nightstands and get serious about things"

"i know its just hard to get my act in shape"

"you've always got my shoulder to lean on and you can always count on me"

"i know your really great johnny"

"if I was 10 years younger i'd have a shot at you myself"

"haha I know you would"

he laughed and took the steak off the grill before we plated em and headed to the living room to watch a movie and eat.

once we finished eating we decided we'd watch a couple more movies and I ended up falling asleep.

John's POV

we sat there watching a movie and half way through it I looked down and saw that she had fallen asleep, I pulled the blanket up over her and held her a little tighter as I went on watching the movie.

I ended up falling asleep and staying the night. early the following morning I got up and made sure I was leaving chris comfortable on the couch. I found a pad to leave a note on and wrote

'Chris,

i left  right after  you passed  out. see you at  lunch tomorrow.'

                                                                                                 -Johnny

putting the note on the coffee table i left. knowing i would have to see her again in a few hours with the likely news that she's leaving tampa and WWE. just the thought of her leaving breaks my heart, knowing i love her so much but theres no way i can ever let her know because she doesn't need someone like me, now or ever. keeping it from her is the best thing to do.

5 hours later. Chris POV

'lets do this chris you got this!' i said to myself as i got out of my car and went inside to meet with vince and Stephanie.

"good morning christen!" Stephanie greeted me

"good morning steph!"

"morning chris" vince

"morning sir"

 "so what did you wanna meet with us for?" vince asked

"well I've done a lot of thinking and soul searching in the recent weeks and I've decided that my time here at WWE is ready to come to an end"

"so you feel that your ready to leave WWE?" Stephanie

"i feel that I've spent the time i was meant to spend here"

"you realize that you still have 6 months left in your contract correct?" vince

"i do sir"

"we normally make our wrestlers stay the full term of the contract" vince

"yea sir"

"umm if you don't mind me asking why do you feel that your time here is finished?" Stephanie

"honestly its the role playing and the fact that nothing but the injuries feel real. i honestly don't feel like i'm really fighting for a purpose like i use to" Stephanie nods and vince waves his hand motioning me to go on

"i feel like i'm just fighting for a paycheck and not for a passion, i started fighting because i loved it and i had a passion for it but i don't feel that way anymore. i still love the thrill of the fight and knock outs but what i'm doing here just isn't what my love and passion is for. i feel that what i'm doing here is settling for second best instead of being happy with first best"

"so you feel that you don't have a purpose for fighting here and that your passion for wrestling has faded away"

"yes"

"if we changed things would you be willing to stay on with us?"

"i love working with you guys but i don't think i could stay even if you changed things. i'm just not happy as a wrestler. I've loved my time here at WWE and I've met a lot of great people during my time here but wrestling just isn't for me anymore"

"i understand, so we can terminate your contract and you can be out of here by Monday" Stephanie

"ok that's fine"

"we really hate to see you go, but we don't want to keep you here if your not happy. we want our wrestlers to be happy so they'll do there best out there in the ring and if your not happy then your not going to be doing your best out there so we will terminate your contract and let you go" vince

"thank you,  i really hate to leave you guys but its just not for me"

"we understand, wrestlings not for everybody even if they love it"

"thank you again guys"

"no thank you for coming to us and telling us"

"your welcome. umm i hate to rush but i have a lunch date in 20 minutes so i should really get going"

"of course! thank you for coming in today"

i smiled and got up from the chair and walked out the door. i got in my car and drove to the café down at the beach to meet john for lunch.

i got out at the café and found john sitting at a table on the beach. i walked over and sat down.

"hey chris!" johnny smiled

"hey johnny!" i smiled

"so how did it go with Stephanie and vince?"

"it went really well and they are terminating my contract so i can head back to philly today"

"that's great chris!" he tried to look excited for me but failed

"johnny whats wrong?"

"nothing"

"john tell me now!"

"i'm going to miss you that's all"

"johnny i'm not gonna be gone forever, i'm coming back to see you guys and besides you can come visit me anytime in philly"

"i know its just gonna be lonely around here without you"

"you'll find someone to take my place before you know it and you wont need me anymore"

"christen i will always need you and no one will ever take your place now or ever"

"i'm replaceable so you can find someone better to fill my spot as hang out buddy and Thursday night movie and steak partner"

"nope that's our thing, i got a couple days off could i tag along with you to philly?"

"i don't see why not. I've gotta run back to my place and grab bubkis then i'm hitting the road"

"so can i just leave my car at your place?"

"sure"

we ordered lunch and at before he followed me back to my place and got bubkis then we hit the road to philly. 

we arrive in philly and head to my parents house to get settled before i took john and bubkis out for a walk.

"johnny why did you wanna tag along with me?"

"just wanted to make sure you make it safe"

"sure there wasn't another reason?"

"nope i don't think so"

"okay" we finished our walk and headed back to the house before john asked to talk to my dad in privet.

John's POV

"what did you wanna talk about son?"

"i just needed you to know a few things"

"okay lets hear it"

"i am in love with chris but i know i'm not the kind of guy you want for her, i don't have a chance with her and even if i did she most likely doesn't feel the same"

"her ma and me don't have anything against you its just-"

"i know i'm not good enough for chris and i understand sir. she'd never say yes anyway and i'm okay with that."

"chris isn't like me she will give everybody one shot and she'd give you that shot"

"i know, sir i just think its best if i don't tell her. i don't want her to feel bad for breaking my heart by saying she doesn't feel the same way, i don't want her to regret it"

"so you'd rather keep it from her then be a man and tell her?"

"i wanna tell her but i think its best that i don't"

"what are you afraid of son?"

"i'm afraid that if i tell her i'm gonna lose my best friend and the girl i love"

"john your her best friend she wont let you go, it might be awkward between you guys for a while but your best friends you'll work it out"

"i don't think so sir"

"are you sure?"

"yea i'm sure, i think its time she comes back here and gets back to her life"

"shes moving back?"

"yea they terminated her contract when she met with them so shes free of WWE so shes coming back here. i think its for the best"

"alright i get it" about that time chris burst into the room and says

"alright dinner is served!"   we got up and ate dinner.

"this is really good mrs balboa!"

"thank you john, it's Chris's favorite and please call me maggy or mom"

"yes ma'am"

"so how are things going in Tampa with you guys?"

"there good, I'm coming back here mom"

"I know you are daddy told me but what about you and John?"

"what do you mean? we're just friends.....best friends"

"oh honey i know there's somethin between you guys, every time we call one of you is at the other ones house or your out laughing and having fun together"

"because we're best friends mom, we just hangout a lot together"

"oh...ok.." she turned back to her plate before finishing and getting up to clear the table.

"dad can you help mom with the dishes please?"

"sure baby girl"

"John lets go get bubkis and daisy and go for a walk"

"Okay" we went and got the dogs and headed out for a walk.

we were a few blocks away when i broke the silence between us and said

"I'm sorry about my mom in there, shes always been like that. she wants me to find someone and get serious"

"no it's alright, I'm honored that she thinks I'm good enough for you"

"your more then good enough for me but we're best friends"

"yea.........."

"is everything okay?"

"yea everything's fine" I avoided looking down at her.

"John thats a lie and you know it! you've got somethin on your mind, please tell me"

"i can't, I really wish i could but if i tell you. it's going to mess everything up"

"what do you mean mess everything up?"

"ill lose you and I cant do that"

"John cena you are my best friend and you are not going to lose me no matter what, look at me" she puts her hands on my cheeks and makes me look at her

"listen to me Johnny, you are my Johnny and I'm not going anywhere. i am going to be right here, right beside you always I promise."

"I can't- i can't tell you tonight. I'm sorry Chris I just can't"

"Alright I get it." she let's up and we finish our walk then head back to the house.

we went to bed and after 45 minutes of dousing and turning i got up and went to Chris's room.

I knocked on her door.

"Chris?"

"its open"

i opened the door and found her in bed watching tv in the huge hoodie she took from my house.

"couldnt sleep either?" she looks up at me

"nope i tried but it wasnt happening so decided to come and bother you" she smiles

"well im glad you did, come and sit" she pulled back the comforter and sheet before patting the bed.

"Alright"

"what did you want to ask me earlier?"

"are you sure you want to me to?"

"Yea."

"I wanted to know if I could kiss you"

"what?"

"yeah, I'll make a bet with you if you let me kiss you and you dont like it then I'll put new tires on the trans, buy you 4 new outfits and I'll clean your house for a month and if you like it we stay exclusive"

"hmm that sounds fair. alright go ahead"

"seriously?"

"yea why not? your my best friend, things arent going to change between us and I'm okay with it"

"you sure?"

"Yea"

I put my hands on her face and leaned in before our mouths crushed together.....i pulled away and she said

"tha-" i cut her off with my mouth and kissed her again, she wrapped her arms around my neck and mine went around her waist to pull her close.

it wasn't long before she was sliding her hand up my shirt and trying to get it off. I pulled away and said

"are you sure you wanna do this?" she nodded yes and I got up and locked the door before i took her in my arms and had the best night of my life, nikki wasn't anything compared to chris. she's more than just a one night stand, shes my person....my little person. I rocked her world and she rocked mine before we passed out. i only hope this isnt going to mess up the relationship I have with her.

the next morning I wake wearing nothing but a smile and find chris laying on my chest with my arms wrapped protectively around her as she slept in my hoodie.

I laid there thinking about what happened last night,  hoping that chris doesn't regret what happened and praying that she really does love me like I love her.

after laying there just a little bit longer I feel her stir slightly, I brush the hair from her face and whisper

"sleeping beauty" she smiles up at me

"morning johnny"

"how'd you sleep?"

"like a baby, we should have done that a long time ago" she chuckled

"i have something I need to say to you" I held my breath for a second

"i love you christen, I'm in love with you I have been since you walked into my life so sassy and strong. I thought I was just being a man and the feeling would pass but i'm more in love with you now then I was the day before. chris you are what makes me whole, my hand to hold and my person to protect. I really love you chris" I looked down at her big brownish gray eyes that held tears and her face held a smile.

"i have been waiting so long to hear you say those words to me. i'm not a real relationship kinda of girl but with you I am, johnny I may not have loved you the moment you started loving me but I love you, I didn't love you from the beginning but even better I grew to love you and I love you more each day." I smiled down at her.

"i was so afraid you were going to say you didn't love me like I love you"

"you shouldn't have been, i would have told you that i loved you sooner and you wouldn't have had to hold it in this  long or you could have just kissed me because i talked to much and i would have figured it out." i chuckled

"i really should have done that, i think the wait was worth it though, last night was amazing" her eyes sparkled and her smile got wider.

"it was so worth it!" i smiled

"so what do you say we tell your parents today?"

"i think that's a really good idea but i think we should have a faster retake of last night while we shower...."

"that is an even better idea" she sprung out of bed and walked over to her dresser to grab clothes before leading me into the bathroom.

this time was better than the last time. once we finished in the shower i realized all my clothes were in my room across the hall meaning chris is going to have to go get them.

"hey babe?"

"yea?"

"can you go over to my room and get me some clothes?"

"yea, what do you want out of your bag?"

"gray t shirt, hoodie, jeans, briefs and my orange tennis shoes"

"alright i'll be back in a minute" she walks out of the connected bathroom and out the room door before she opened my door and grabbed my clean clothes and came back.