Hotel
Gionna's POV

We get to the hotel TNA booked for us and look around the lobby. It's a really nice place. Clearly, WWE pitched in to help house superstars. Caleb goes to the counter to get everything situated, then waves me over to follow him.

Caleb: Conjoined rooms. Apparently Hunter wants us to do some social media stuff and look like we're living some kinda Ric Flair life. "The Diamondback doesn't settle for less" kinda thing.

Me: So every day, I'll take a selfie or something with you in the background just doing whatever you're doing? Easy.

Caleb: This Gionna is a lot easier to talk to, y'know?

Me: I can always go back to the bitter Gionna.

He chuckles and shakes his head. It'd be easy to switch over. All I'd have to do is think about how much he hid from me. His feelings, him vouching for me and fighting for me constantly, he could have told me all of it. Instead, he chose to hide it. Like I told myself last night, it's for keeping those things a secret that are why I despise him now.

Days Later, Backstage, TNA

Caleb leads me through the backstage area, introducing me to any of the TNA talent I haven't met yet. One person I got to talk to was Tessa Blanchard. I know she's not the most liked person now by any means, but you gotta be polite and talk to everyone. How do you think I got stuck in that hallway with Logan? By the way, the dude absolutely reeks. Seriously, shower for once, man. Geez.

Anyway, woah was she flirting with Caleb. I mean big time fucking flirting with him. There's no way he didn't notice. She was touching all over him, laughing and giggling, making sly comments. Did he stop her? Nope. Not even a little protest. He just stood there and let her do whatever she wanted until she got called over to go over her match.

Anyway, we finally get over to Matt and Jeff. They welcome us with open arms. Not metaphorically. I mean physically, and teenage Gionna Daddio would kill me if I didn't hug Matt and Jeff Hardy. Yes, I've met them before, but that's not the point. The point is I'm finally at the point in my career where I can hug my favorite superstars and they'll return it happily. If only teenage me could see me now...

Matt: You guys are here real early. Even by your standards, Cee.

Caleb: Jeff wanted to try something.

Jeff: Alright, you're gonna look each other in the eyes.

We both begrudgingly turn to face each other. Caleb sends a very HBK-esque smirk my way.

Instead of glorifying the ridiculous smirk with a response, I give him a "are you shitting me" look.

Truth be told, I had to remind myself repeatedly of everything I don't like about him just to make sure I didn't smile a bit.

Jeff: Okay, now, you're gonna take turns sayin' somethin' you hate about the other.

Caleb: Ladies first.

Me: Okay...

I take a deep breath, then look back at him. My eyes fill with fire as a surge of things I hate about him come to the surface.

Me: I hate that you grew that beard.

Because it's so hot...Yes, he looked good without out, don't get me wrong...but seeing him with a more matured look, it just makes me want to tame that Diamondback.

Caleb: I hate that you collect shoes.

Me: I hate your cockiness.

Caleb: Right back at ya.

Me: What? No! You can't steal mine! Come up with your own!

Caleb: Okay, I hate your arrogance.

Me: That's the same thing!

Caleb: They're two different words, Gionna!

Me: They're basically the same thing!

Caleb: But they're not!

Me: I hate that you're so aggravating!

Caleb: I hate that you're so bitchy!

As we continue our screaming match, we step closer and closer towards each other. Our eyes are filled with venom, our minds with insults, and our hearts with pain.

Me: I hate that you're so bossy!

Caleb: I hate that you don't listen! Ever!

Me: I hate that you're so stubborn!

Caleb: You just stole mine!

Me: Did I!? Guess I wasn't listening!

Caleb: Why are you always so loud!?

Me: You're loud too!

Caleb: I have to be just to talk over you!

Me: I hate that you think you know everything about everyone!

Caleb: I hate that you say "live your best life"! It's a dumb saying! You only have the one life!

Me: That's what it means! To make this life your best one!

Caleb: How can it be the best one!? You have nothing to compare it to!

Matt Hardy's POV

Me: Think we should stop 'em?

Jeff: No way, man. They need this. Besides, I promised Anne I'd send her a video of it.

Gionna's POV

Me: You're so infuriating! I hate that you let Tessa flirt with you!

Caleb: I hate that you think I cared about her flirting with me!

Me: Why wouldn't you care!? She's hot as fuck!

Caleb: Who cares!? I ain't lookin' at her!

Me: Why not!?

Caleb: She's not the dream girl!

Me: Dream girl!? What are you, fifteen!?

Caleb: I hate that you're so foolish!

Me: I hate that you use your real name in the ring!

Caleb: I hate that you love horror movies!

Me: I hate that you hate horror movies! Ya big chicken!

Caleb: You squealed at a McDonalds commercial! How am I the chicken!?

Me: I hate that you keep bringing that up!

Caleb: I hate the rap you listen to! It's shit! Who wants to hear a guy mumble about an ass for five minutes!?

Me: Who wants to hear a bunch of dudes shout about history!?

Caleb: You leave Sabaton out of this!

Me: I hate that you signed with TNA without telling me!

Caleb: I hate that you called me a womanizer!

Me: I HATE THAT YOU HID YOUR FEELINGS FROM ME IN A DELETED CLIP FROM A DAMN DOCUMENTARY!!!

Caleb: I HAD TO!!!

Me: WHY!?!

Caleb: TO KEEP YOU HAPPY, DAMMIT!!!

We both breathe heavily as we stare into each other's eyes. He looks at me, his eyes filled with that familiar fire. His breath hits my skin...this asshole ate one of my Jolly Ranchers. Oh well, that's not important right now. What is important is his eyes. They soften the longer he looks at me. Finally he turns away from me and paces, running his hand through his hair.

Caleb: You always had someone, Gi. Enzo, Tyler, Bo...you always had someone. It wouldn't have been right to tell you how I felt because it could ruin your relationships or our friendship and I didn't wanna risk it. Just my luck that our FRIENDSHIP WOUND UP DEAD ANYWAY!!!

Me: You should have told me...

Caleb: Told you what, Gionna? Told you what? That I like you? That I love you? That I'm what's best for you? I'm not what's best for you, I'm not your knight in shining fuckin' armor, I am a FUCKING MESS!!! I've got my share of baggage and it ain't fair to put all of it on you, so I thought...

He takes a deep breath, then goes over to a production crate and leans back against it.

Caleb:...Thought it'd be easier to watch you live happily ever after somewhere else. See you ride off into the sunset with someone else. Someone who could make you happy, who could give you the life you wanted, the life you deserve to have. Someone who understands why you own five hundred different pairs of Nikes and two hundred Adidas, someone who likes horror movies, someone who likes that stuff you call music. You deserve to be with someone who can take care of you and enjoy all of your hobbies with you...but that's not me.

Me: Is that why you left?

Caleb: I got fired, Gionna. Vince said I wasn't drawing a big enough crowd and cut the cord.

Me: Why didn't you try to come back when he left?

Caleb: Why would I? There wasn't anything for me there.

Me: You mean...because I was hating you? That's why you stayed gone for over a year?

Caleb: Why go subject myself to a torture like that?

Me: And it happened anyway...

Caleb: Some things are unavoidable, I guess.

Me: Can we...go back to how it was?

Caleb: Not this time, Gionna. Sorry, I can't go back to the sidelines. I can be your coworker, your tag partner, but...I can't be your friend again.

Me: Good...

He looks at me with a raised eyebrow. I smirk and walk up to him and wrap my arms around his neck.

Me: We're on the same page then. No more friend zone.

Caleb: I can think of nine-hundred reasons we shouldn't do this.

Me: That's too bad...

I let go with one hand and reach down into my back pocket. I pull out my phone and show him a picture of us sitting next to each other. It was clearly taken a few years ago by our mutual friend (who should be a spy, seriously, how is she getting these pictures?) and we're both laughing really hard. You can see it in our eyes. The mutual affection, the closeness...hell, my hand is on his thigh in the picture. And not just on there, I mean it's on there enough to where it looks like we're married or something.

Me: They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

I put my phone on his lap, then wrap my arm back around his neck. I smile uncontrollably as I look at him.

Me: Looks like I got you beat by a hundred.

He chuckles and looks down at the picture. After a minute, he shakes his head and looks back up into my eyes.

Caleb: I'm not what's best for you, Gionna...

Me: I hate your self-sacrificing humility. Let yourself be happy.

Caleb: You really wanna do this?

Me: I have since I saw you in Shawn's office at Full Sail.

Caleb: That was eleven years ago...

Me: Better late than never.

I close the gap and plant a soft kiss on his lips. No tongue, no wildness with the hands or anything like that. Just a moment of weakness...a perfect moment. His hands grab my hips and hold me still. Finally, we pull away. My eyes flutter open to see his smirking expression. Our moment is ended when the Hardy Boyz start clapping and cheering, which makes us laugh.

Jeff: That was the best round of "I Hate, You Hate" I've seen. It's one of the things my wife and I do all the time to fix our issues.

Caleb: You mean to tell me you were actin' as a marriage counselor?

Jeff: It worked, didn't it?

Caleb: This complicates a lot of stuff.

Matt: Then simplify it. Oh, and don't think someone won't try to move in on her just 'cause your friends. Made that mistake once.

Caleb: Noted.

He says with a chuckle. I smile at him and mouth "thank you" to Jeff, who just nods his head.

TNA Genesis

During the Tessa Blanchard/Jordynne Grace match, Tessa continues to flirt with Caleb. Even during her entrance, she made sure that he got a good look at him.

She sends winks his way, as if she's trying to impress him over everyone else. He sits unfazed, but I decide to have a bit of fun myself. I wrap my arm around his shoulders with a smile, then after she does one of her moves and shows off, I plant a kiss on his cheek while maintaining eye contact with her.

Tessa comes over to us, getting distracted by us despite us not even doing anything. We're just being our loving, sexy selves. Apparently we're just that good looking. Who knew?

After her win, she celebrates a bit, then exits the ring and comes over to us. Caleb and I stand up and they hold a long stare while I smirk. She moves closer and just when it looks like they might kiss, Caleb puts his finger on her lips.

Caleb: Not my type, darlin'!

He says loudly. I laugh obnoxiously as he backs up over to me, wraps his arm around me, and plants a kiss on the top of my head. I give her a wave goodbye with my fingers, smiling sinisterly as we sit back down. The TNA crowd voices their pleasure for the Southeastern Diamondback's decision to not kiss her. Yes, he's still technically a heel, but like his mentor before him, he gets cheered in spite of it.

Also, I just want to go on record right now to say that physically, Tessa is one hundred percent Caleb's type. Have you seen her ass? Even I'd hit that. Not that I'd tell him that...or maybe I would, I don't think either of us really care at this point. In the eleven years we've known each other, we've pretty much been through everything.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Caleb and I clap for the Hardyz, making sure to stay in character. Let's be honest though, there isn't a single soul out there that wouldn't start nodding their head to their theme.

Their match is a good one. The NXT Tag Team Champions Fraxiom came down and watched right at ringside. The match starts to get more chaotic when Fraxiom gets caught in the crossfire during a suicide dive. Before it can reach a fever pitch, Axiom is turned around and hit with a Southern Superkick, much to the surprise of everyone.

I stand up and applaud, making my way over to them as Axiom hits the ground. All the while, Nathan Frazer stands stunned. He looks back at the Rascalz, then over at Winters. The Southeastern Diamondback shrugs, fixing his jacket while he does. Nathan runs at him for a forearm strike. Caleb ducks it, then hits a Vibecheck.

He pops his jacket, allowing the fans to continue their chants for a while. While they chant, he helps me over the barricade and we walk up the ramp together. I kiss his cheek and he keeps his arm around my shoulders as we walk backwards, a giant smile spread across my face while the cameras focus on us.

We wait for the end of the match, Matt and Jeff get the victory, everyone comes back here and we all say good job, the whole ordeal. Caleb and I wait backstage until the end of the TNA Knockout's World Championship match and for Cora Jade to walk down there.

Me: Wish me luck.

Caleb: Make it yourself, girly. You got this.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

My music hits and I step through the curtain. Cora Jade and Masha Slamovich look up at me confused as I walk down to the ring. I enter it and smile at them both in my usual, sadistic, twisted way. Cora starts questioning me, then lunges for an attack. I duck under it, then run at her and hit the ObLIVion.

From my kneeling position, I look over at Masha and smile once again, then slowly rise up to my feet. Slamovich raises her title in the air. I smile wider, point at the belt, and shake my head. Then, I point at her and nod. I don't want the title. I was just the Women's World Champion, I don't need to do it in another company. I don't want her title. I want her, one-on-one, for bragging rights.

Caleb's POV

After the show ends, I congratulate Joe Hendry on his first major defense of the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Ryan Nemeth. For some reason, people say we look like brothers. I don't see it, but it is what it is. We say our farewells and head back to the truck, only to be stopped by a certain Hardy.

Jeff: Hey, guys, one last thing. Play "I Hate, You Hate" every day. Get all the negative stuff outta the way so you can enjoy life, man. It doesn't have to be deep, offensive stuff. It can be all the goofy stuff you wanna tease each other about.

Me: Thanks, Jeff.

We fist bump, then hug it out a little. Much to the enjoyment of Gionna, who decides to shout "awwwwww" like she's looking at a yard full of puppies. Jeff hugs her too, then we clamber into the truck. We get back on the road and drive back to the hotel, where we will be waiting for the rest of the RAW roster to join us.

Gionna: Why didn't you stop her?

Me: Stop who?

Gionna: Tessa. When she was rubbing up on you and stuff. I know your type, she fits the bill physically.

Me: I told you. She's not the dream girl. She wasn't bothering me, it didn't hurt, and I wanted to see if you would do anything.

Gionna: What'd you want me to do? Punch her?

I chuckle and shake my head. The entire way back to our conjoined hotel rooms, Gionna would not stop asking about why I let Tessa Blanchard flirt with me. The. Entire. Drive. Back. Even in the lobby and the elevator.

Gionna: Was it working?

Me: Was what working?

Gionna: The love spell she was trying to put you under with her ass.

She says with a teasing grin. I am never going to hear the end of this. Not until I give her an answer that satisfies her. I set my bag down on the other side of the bed in Gionna's room, then turn to face her.

Me: You think I was lookin'?

Gionna: You're a bigger ass man than Billy Gunn and his name was Mr. Ass!

She exclaims, making herself laugh. I just had to get her to start talking to me again, didn't I? Fortunately, I have an idea. Let's see how long she can keep this up.

Me: So?

Gionna: If I was a guy, I'd be all over that thing.

Me: I believe that.

Gionna: So...did you like her ass?

Me: The dream girl's is better.

I flop down on the bed and kick my shoes off. We have a few pictures we need to take for social media, basically confirming that we consider taking out Fraxiom and Cora Jade to be our idea of "date night".

Gionna: Do I know this dream girl of yours?

Me: I sure hope so, man. 'Cause if you don't, who does?

She chuckles and lays down next to me, making sure to grab the tv remote and hunt for some horror movie to watch. Knowing her, it'll probably be Child's Play. Gionna and Anne watch everything there is to watch about Chucky. As she hunts for the movie, she decides to push the teasing even further.

Gionna: You know I know that you like her ass, right? I remember how you used to use loopholes to avoid answering questions directly.

Me: I'm still right though. My dream girl's ass is better.

She laughs and playfully swats my chest before whispering "thank you". We relax on the bed, not doing much of anything really. She's watching her movie and I'm just relaxing beside her. I don't really care for horror movies and prefer to judge characters in a hilarious fashion.

Gionna's POV

I keep my body close to his. It's so weird, yet so perfectly great that we're together now. Eleven years spent growing close, admiring and building a close friendship, and now...now we're finally acting on all of it. I know he doesn't like horror movies (unless he can root for the killer or laugh his off) and prefers to make fun of decisions made by the dumbasses in the films.

Me: You know I...y'know?

Caleb: I know, Gionna.

I look over at him and see that he's playing GamePigeon with Duncan, Cody, and his brother. I know he knows how I feel. I know he feels the same way about me. He said so with a camera pointing at him, in a room full of people.

Me: Y'know...eleven years is a long time.

Caleb: Mhmm.

Me: Wanna make up for lost time?

He tosses his phone to the ground beside the bed and I immediately roll over, straddling him and crashing my lips against his. Remember that kiss we had earlier? No tongue and all that? Completely out the window. His hands roam around me while mine go straight into his hair. After a minute of making out, I sit up and lift my shirt off, then come back down onto him. He takes his shirt off and I push him so he's laying back again. Between kisses, he speaks to me.

Caleb: You know...I can't...

Me: Mmhmm...I know...we won't, but...other stuff's allowed, right?

Caleb: Definitely.

I smile and continue making out with him. I reach behind me and grab the covers for the bed, then pull it over us. His touch, his kiss, his commitment to a vow he made himself...it's all adding up to be more than I could ever want. His dedication, his patience, his love, and his restlessness...they are all reasons that I love this man.