Chapter 5 Matt scratched his head as he tried to place Harley, "I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you.  Was I drunk?" Everyone in the room laughed at his comment. "We all were.", Jeff spoke up still smiling at Harley.   Matt looked at his brother, "You remember her?  How is that? You can’t even remember where you put your shoes half of the time." "Let’s just say she was hard to forget."   Harley was a wreck.  How could this be happening?  This was her worst fear - this moment was her worst nightmare.  Her heart was beating faster by the minute.  And to think all this time, Joey has been watching him on television and she didn’t even know it.  "Joey!", she thought to herself.  "Well it was nice to see you all again, but I think I should be going.", Harley said nervously as she began to make her way to the door. It was obvious to Jeff, and everyone else for that matter, that she wasn’t quite as pleased to see him as he was to see her and his smile quickly faded.  "But I told Joey that I’d introduce him to some of the guys.", Shane said trying to stop her from leaving. "Thanks, but maybe some other time.", Harley said as she reached the door.  But before she could grab the doorknob, there was a knock and then it opened.  Harley’s heart sank as she saw Mika walk into the room with her son, "Where you going?"  "I think it’s time to go.", Harley said grabbing Joey’s hand.   "Oh WOW!  Mom, it’s the Hardys.", Joey said with complete delight.  "Come on, Joey.  We need to go.", Harley insisted as she tugged at her son.  "What’s the big rush?", Shane asked.  Harley was trying so hard to control herself.   "Shane, those seats were great!  Thank you so much.", Joey said walking over to Shane in hopes that he would introduce him to his idols. "Whose this little guy?", Matt asked but quickly stopped in his tracks at the site of the little boy.  "This is Harley’s son, Joey.  Joey, I’d like you to meet Matt and Jeff Hardy.", Shane said proudly. Harley shot him a go to hell look.  Then a thought hit her.  This was all planned and they were all in on it - Shane, Jana and, yes, Mika. Matt looked closely at the boy, amazed at how much he looked like his own little brother, "It’s nice to meet you Joey."  They shook hands.  Jeff just stood there in awe of this child. "You guys are my favorite.  You are so cool.", Joey blurted out.  "Thanks.", Matt said, "Do you wanna be a wrestler when you grow up?"  "Yep.  I wanna be just like Jeff.  No offense."   "None taken.  And ya know, you already have a head start.  Did you know that you look a lot like Jeff when he was about your age?", Matt asked completely clueless.  "Really?" "Really.", Matt said slowly as if the thought had just entered his brain.  Harley looked around the room as everyone’s eyes were on Joey and Jeff.  She felt sick at her stomach.  The room seemed to be closing in on her.  And then, Jeff turned to look at her.  It was a look filled with emotions - disbelief, hurt, love, anger all rolled into one - a look that questioned if this was what he thought.  He knew.  Harley couldn’t take it anymore - without a word she ran out of the room as the tears that she had been holding back for so long began to pour down her cheeks.  She wasn’t sure where she was going, but it didn’t matter as long as it was away from there.  She ran down the hallway and out the arena door.  The next thing she knew, she was in a cab headed who knows where.  "Where did my Mom go?", Joey asked finally noticing his mother’s absence.  "I think I heard her say she was going to find a restroom.  I’m sure she’ll be right back.", Mika said covering for her friend’s sudden disappearance.  That seemed to appease him. "Can I have your autograph?", Joey asked Jeff. "What?", Jeff asked snapping out of his daze. "Can I have your autograph?"   "Oh, yeah.  Sure.", Jeff said as he grabbed the paper and pen that Joey was holding and scribbled his name.  "Thanks!"   "Sure thing.", Jeff said forcing a smile.  Joey showed his autograph to Mika as Jeff motioned for his brother.  "I gotta get outta here.", Jeff whispered.  "I’m sure this is just a coincidence."   Jeff looked at his brother and shook his head with complete seriousness.  Matt just stood there with a stunned look on his face.  "It was nice to meet you, Joey.  But I really have to get going.  Take care.", Jeff said to the little boy and turned to leave. "Thanks Jeff." Jeff took a deep breath and fought back tears of his own as he quickly left the room.  He had to get away.  Before he knew it, he was in his car driving - not knowing where he was going.  A thousand thoughts and emotions raced through his mind as his car seemed to be on autopilot.         Last Chapter ..*.. Next Chapter ..*.. Chapter Index ..*.. Home