Adam Copeland studied the young woman intently as she threw her head back and giggled.  His brain absorbed every note of the soft, feminine laugh, of how she tucked a lock of dark red hair behind her right ear and how the taut, smooth muscles of her throat worked as she gulped her drink.

Adam smiled at her merriment as she continued to laugh and joke with the guys.  Chris Irvine said something to her that made her laugh, and she playfully swatted him on the shoulder from across the table.  Matt Hardy was at her right side and laughed along with her.

Although Adam was also sitting at the table, he couldn't help but feel separate from the group.  Maybe that was because he couldn't concentrate on anyone but Amy.

Adam was fascinated with Amy Dumas.  She was so sweet, intelligent, charming and beautiful.  He wanted more than anything to get to know her better.  They'd been friends for three years now, but for the past year, he'd found himself longing for more with Amy.

He'd told his best friend, Jason Reso, how he felt.  Jay had urged him for months to "go for it," but something held Adam back.  There was just something about Amy...he was afraid she would reject him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.  It was just some sixth sense he had.

Besides that, Adam had also realized that in the three years he'd known Amy, he'd never heard of her dating anyone.  She had many male friends in the Federation, yet she'd never attempted to snatch up a boyfriend.  He'd once dared to ask Jeff Hardy, one of her best friends, about this.  Jeff had replied, "Oh, you know Amy...like she always says, she's single and she likes it that way."

Adam sighed as he continued to gaze longingly at her.  She was taking small sips of the margarita she'd ordered when they'd all been seated at the club.  Her hazel eyes suddenly shifted in his direction and met his.

Something inside of Adam felt as if it were melting as Amy smiled at him.  He grinned back, his heart pounding like a jackhammer inside his chest.  He finally looked away when he felt Jay's finger poking him in the ribs.  He turned to glance at his best friend and saw the huge grin on his face.

"What?" Adam asked between gritted teeth.

"Nothing, I'll tell you later," Jay whispered, his blue eyes gleaming mischievously.

*

"Just ask her out already, Adam!" Jay exclaimed later that night in their hotel room.  "You know you want to..."

"It's not that simple, Jay," Adam replied as he absent-mindedly flipped the channels on the TV with a remote control.

"Aw, you're just a big chicken."

"No, I'm not," Adam protested.

"Then what's stopping you?  All you do is go up to her and say, 'Amy, I really like you...will you go out with me?'"

"I want to do that, but is it really such a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Don't answer my question with a question!" Adam snapped testily.

"Okay, fine. I think it would be a good idea, Adam.  The real question here is - do you think it would be?"  Jay crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at his friend from his bed.

"I...don't know."

Jay rolled his eyes impatiently.  "Then don't ask her out...look, I really think you should do it because you talk about Amy all the time, and I see the way you look at her - you drool over her.  But if you're just going to be a big baby about it, stop talking about her to me all the time, 'cause you're only going to drive me nuts."

"I just want to do it the right way, that's all," Adam said.  "Timing is everything, you know."

"I know, man, but this has been going on for over a year now.  I mean, enough is enough - just ask her out already!"  Jay reached for the switch on the lamp on the bedside table next to him.  "I'm gonna go to sleep now.  Goodnight, Adam."

"Goodnight, Jay."

Adam pushed the off button on the remote he was holding and then placed it on the nightstand.  As he curled up under the blanket, seeking solace in sleep and dreams, he thought about everything Jay had just said.

Adam knew that Jay was right - he was acting like a chicken.  Since he was a child, he'd always been shy and reserved, but he hadn't been this nervous over a girl in years.  Besides, Amy was a good friend and they knew each other pretty well.  In fact, he had been the one to suggest she wear her trademark pants slung low to show off her thong.  He remembered how she'd been so excited when she'd modeled new parachute pants for him nearly two years earlier and how good she'd looked.  He'd hardly been able to take his eyes off her.

Adam recalled how Amy had smiled at him when she'd finally caught him gazing at her earlier that night.  They'd held a steady, unwavering eye contact for awhile until Jay had poked him in the ribs.  Maybe Jay was right - he should just swallow his fears and talk to Amy.

Just as Adam drifted off to sleep, he made up his mind.  He would approach Amy tomorrow and talk to her.

*

The next morning, when Adam and Jay went to the dining room of the Holiday Inn at which they were staying, they saw Amy.  She was sitting alone at a tiny table built for two.

Adam stared at her as they entered the room.  He felt Jay nudge him in the back.  "Now's your chance," he whispered.  "She's all alone...go on - and don't worry about me."

Adam gave Jay a sarcastic smirk before turning back and walking over to Amy's table.  She looked up from her menu, pleasantly surprised to see him.

"Hi, Adam."

"Good morning, Amy," he said.  "Can I join you for breakfast?"

"Yeah, sure."  She gestured to the chair opposite her.  Adam slid into it, feeling slightly awkward, as if he had intruded on her privacy and solitude.  He glanced over at Jay, who was sitting a few tables away.  He gave Adam a thumbs up and a grin.

Adam turned away, ignoring his best friend, and faced Amy.  He thought she looked so fresh and beautiful.  He suddenly found himself unable to speak as he gazed at her.

"A lot of fun last night, huh?" she asked as a waitress came over to hand Adam a menu.

"Yeah," he replied, "it was fun."  He felt like the world's biggest dork.  It was as if he were back in junior high school.  Why was he suddenly finding it so hard to talk to her?  He'd had hundreds of conversations with Amy, and none of them had ever been so awkward.  He raked his fingers through his long blond hair as he pretended to be deeply absorbed in his menu.  He knew Jay was watching them like a hawk and tried to ignore all the gestures and facial expressions he knew he was making and the words he knew he was mouthing at him.

Before long, the waitress came by to take their orders.  At this point, Adam knew he had nothing to hide behind, now that his menu was gone.

"Doing anything today?" he asked.

"Yeah, but not a whole lot.  I'm training at the arena for awhile this afternoon, but after that, I'm a free agent."  She pushed some of her dark red hair back over her shoulder.

From his peripheral vision, Adam could see Jay gesturing to him, but he ignored him.

Amy smiled.  "Do you have anything planned for today, Adam?"

"Not really...Jay and I were going to train for awhile at the arena later, too."  This time, Adam couldn't resist glancing over at Jay, who was making a time-out gesture and shaking his head.  As Adam continued to watch him, Jay shook his head no while pointing to himself, then nodded while pointing at Adam, then at Amy.

Adam got the message, feeling grateful that Jay had chosen a table that was facing somewhat behind Amy rather than in front of her.  She apparently hadn't even realized that he was in the room at all.  This was confirmed a moment later when Amy next spoke.

"Where is Jay?" she asked.  "You guys usually eat together, don't you?"

"Uh...yeah," Adam said reluctantly.  "He's around."

"Oh...Amy smiled as she looked up into Adam's greenish-brown eyes.  "So...about this afternoon...since you were going to train at the arena later anyway, I was wondering if you'd want to come with me, and we can train together.  If you want to, that is," she added.

Adam couldn't help but glance momentarily over Amy's shoulder at Jay, who nodded aggressively and made an okay sign.  He shifted his eyes back to Amy's and smiled.  "That sounds like fun," he said.

"Great," Amy exclaimed.  "Then it's a date!"

The waitress suddenly came over and placed their breakfasts in front of them.  As Amy lifted her cup of coffee to her lips, Adam glanced once more at Jay.  His best friend was grinning and nodding his approval.

*

That afternoon, at one-thirty sharp, Adam met Amy at her hotel room.  He knocked on the door, a duffel bag slung over his left shoulder.  He waited for her to answer.

"Hi," she said with a warm smile a moment later.  She stepped through the doorway, her equipment bag over one shoulder.  Her eyes lingered on his face and modestly lowered to take in the rest of him before she turned back to shut the door.

Adam smiled at her and reached out to her.  "Can I carry your bag for you?"

As they began the walk to the lobby, Amy looked up, slightly taken aback.  "No, thank you, Adam...it's okay."

When they got outside, Adam blinked in the bright sunshine and pushed his sunglasses to cover his eyes.  They just stood on the hotel's front walk for a moment.  Adam glanced around.

"My rental car or yours?" he asked, chuckling slightly in his nervousness, which he hoped Amy wouldn't pick up on.

"How about yours?" she suggested.

A few minutes later, they were on the road and on the way to the arena.  Adam steered with ease, every now and then glancing quickly over at Amy, who had thus far remained quiet during the ride.

As he braked for a red light, Adam took the time to study her.  Amy seemed distracted, her head slightly turned away from his direction.  She was gazing thoughtfully out the windshield.  Adam wondered what was on her mind.

"What's wrong?" he finally asked.  "You're so quiet."

"Nothing," Amy answered quickly.

Adam realized she was lying because of her fast reply.  He just hoped she wasn't unhappy to be spending time with him.

At the arena a little later, they changed into appropriate attire for training and then met in the hallway.

"It's too bad Jay couldn't make it," Amy said.

"Yeah," Adam said lamely.  "He decided he was too tired at the last minute."

As they approached the ringside area, Adam was disappointed to see Matt and Jeff Hardy, Chris Irvine, Nora Greenwald and Trish Stratus there.  He thought that he and Amy would be the only ones there.

"Hey, look who's here," Matt's thick southern drawl greeted them.

"Hey, Matt," Adam called reluctantly.  He wished he and Amy could be alone, but that wasn't an option now.

"When did you all get here?" Amy asked.

"Oh, about an hour ago," Matt said as he approached them.  "We were all gonna train for tomorrow night's six-person mixed tag match, but Jay never showed up."

"I thought you and Jay were supposed to be training today," Amy said to Adam.

Adam reddened slightly, wishing that Matt hadn't opened up his big mouth.  Then he regretted that thought.  It wasn't Matt's fault.

"Err...Matt, can I talk to you for a minute, please?"

"Sure."

"Excuse us, Amy," Adam said, then he led Matt over by the ramp, where everyone else, Amy included, was out of earshot.

"What's up, Adam?" Matt asked his friend.

"Well, I hope you don't think I'm rude or anything," Adam began in a soft voice, "but I kind of thought it would just be me and Amy - you know?"

Matt's face broke into a big smile, his dark brown eyes sparkling with merriment.  "Yeah, I think I do know.  So, you brought her here so you could cop a few cheap feels, huh?"  He laughed and slapped Adam on the back.

"No, it's not like that at all, Matt," Adam replied seriously.

"Gosh, what happened to your sense of humor, dude?" Matt asked.  "You must be in love," he teased, the grin returning to his face.

"I..."  Adam was suddenly at a loss for words.  He glanced quickly over at Amy, who was now chatting with Nora and Trish.  She laughed at something Trish said and grabbed her friend by the wrist as she replied something back to her.

Adam glanced back at Matt, who smiled at him genially.  "Hey, it's all cool," he said.  "If you want us out of your hair, I'll just tell everyone that our practice is over.  Don't worry, man."  He playfully swatted Adam in the chest with the back of his hand.

"Okay...thanks, Matt," Adam said with a smile of his own.

"Don't mention it.  But I'll tell you what," Matt said.  "I'll tell them in a few minutes so as to not seem obvious at about it."

Adam nodded.  "Good point...I didn't think about that."

"And by the way, I think Amy digs you, too."

"Really?  You really think so?"  Adam shifted his eyes from him back to Amy, who was still talking with Trish and Nora.  She suddenly turned her head and glanced in his direction, meeting his eyes and smiling warmly, pushing a lock of her red hair over her shoulder.

"Oh, yeah," Matt said with a slight chuckle, glancing from Amy back to Adam.  "I've known her long enough to know when she really likes someone."

*

Less than twenty minutes later, Matt announced to the rest of his group that he and Jeff had something important to do and that they had to leave.  The others followed suit, each saying goodbye to Adam and Amy as they left.

"Well, I guess that leaves just the two of us," Adam told her.

Amy smiled at him and bit her lower lip softly.  "I guess so."

For the next hour, they trained together in the ring.  Of course, Amy was unable to practice certain maneuvers because of Adam's hundred pound weight advantage, but instead, Adam urged her to practice submission holds, which she rarely used.  Before he could suggest any particular one, she tripped him with a Russian legsweep and tangled him up in a Scorpion deathlock.

"Like this?" Amy asked teasingly, slightly out of breath.  She dared to apply the slightest amount of pressure on Adam's knee.

"Wow, you're good!" he exclaimed.

"Wait till you experience my figure four leglock," Amy joked.  "I can put Ric Flair to shame!"

"Err...I don't know if this is such a good idea...my left knee isn't in the best shape."

"Oh, God, Adam...I'm sorry," Amy said, instantly breaking the hold.  She felt awful, only now recalling him telling her a few months back that his knee sometimes hurt after his matches.  She looked guiltily into his face as he stood up and gazed down at her.

"It's okay, Ames," he said as he tried to catch his breath.  "You didn't hurt me."  He noticed the wince on her face.

Amy was silent for a moment as she stared up at him.  She seemed suddenly at a loss for words and appeared to be thinking deeply about something, her eyes glued to his.  Finally, she said, "Okay, why don't you do some of your signature moves on me?"

"I'm not going to do the Edgecution on you," Adam protested.  "No way."

"I won't break," Amy said with a slight pout.  "I'm not made of crystal, you know."

"Oh, I know," Adam laughed as he gazed at her fondly.  "Believe me, I know."  He grinned.  "Tell you what...go over there."  He pointed toward the corner on the opposite side of the ring, diagonally from where they were now standing.

Amy obeyed, jogging over to the turnbuckles and stared at him.

"Run to me now," Adam directed.

She did as he requested, deciding she was going to turn this into a hurricanrana.  However, it didn't turn out that way.  They collided in mid-air, Adam hitting her with a spear.  As Amy fell back with the force of the maneuver, Adam slid his left arm underneath her to cushion her as best he could.  Nonetheless, she landed in a heap, surprised and with the wind knocked out of her.

"Oh, God...I'm so sorry, Amy," Adam stammered guiltily.  He was afraid he'd hurt her.

Amy groaned, lifting her head slightly but then allowing it to fall back to the canvas.  She winced and squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and gazed up into Adam's eyes.

Instead of rising and helping her to her feet, Adam stayed in position on top of her, his arm still around her her waist and cradling her.  He gazed with concern and tenderness down into her hazel eyes.  "Did I hurt you?" he asked frantically.  "God, I'm so sorry..."

Amy shook her head slightly.  "No, I'm okay."  She made no attempt to move.

They continued to gaze into one another's eyes, and Adam wanted to kiss her.  He wanted to kiss Amy so badly he could taste it.  There she was, lying beneath him, gazing up into his eyes with a soft expression on her face, making no effort to move away from him.

Adam finally stood up when he realized that if he lay there much longer with her under him, he would develop a raging hard on.  He grabbed hold of her hand and helped her up.  She pushed some hair out of her face and stared at him wordlessly.

"Amy..." Adam said softly.  "Are you sure you're alright?"  He continued to gaze intensely at her.

"I'm fine, Adam," Amy replied softly.  She glanced down at her right hand, which Adam was still holding firmly in his left.  She shifted her eyes from their hands to Adam's emerald eyes, lips slightly parted.

Adam felt a jolt of electricity surge through him as his eyes met Amy's and he continued to hold her hand.  He felt a burst of tenderness as he gazed down at her.  He felt an overwhelming urge to kiss Amy right there and then.  He moved closer to her, his eyes never wavering from hers, hers glued to his, and leaned slightly down.

Amy stared up at him, blinking furiously as a myriad of emotions swept through her.  She held her breath for a moment, craning her neck a bit to meet Adam halfway.  She felt her eyes glaze over slightly, as if she were becoming drunk in his eyes.

When Adam's lips were only inches from hers, Amy abruptly pulled away from him.  She gently but firmly yanked her hand free from his and turned away quickly.  She felt extremely awkward and tried her best to cover it up.

"We should head back to the hotel...I have a few things I have to do..."

Adam felt stunned.  He was totally confused and embarrassed at the same time.  He had been certain that Amy had wanted to kiss him, same as he wanted to kiss her, but she had rejected him.  He stared after her in disbelief, his heart sinking.

A little later, the drive back to the hotel was quiet and awkward.  Adam felt rotten.  Although it felt as if he'd been kicked in the balls, he wasn't angry with Amy but with himself.  He should have asked her first if she had feelings for him.  He knew he wouldn't make that mistake again.

As he continued to drive, Adam reflected over Matt's words to him earlier: "You must be in love..." - and he realized that Matt was right.