Strangers At Heart

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*March 1, 2003*

The blonde woman wore a look of concern on her face as she put the car in park by the house. Then, rushing out of the vehicle, she hurried out and up the front walk.

Torrie Wilson bit her lip nervously, dread coursing through her as she finally reached out to press her finger to the doorbell. It had been nearly a year since she'd been here, let alone *lived* here. But she'd of course heard all about Adam's plight as of late, and she felt she had to see him. Besides, she had to admit, she missed him.

The door suddenly opened, and the tall blond man looked surprised, to say the least, to see her standing there. A twinge of hurt shot through Torrie as she thought she detected disappointment on his face as well.

"Torrie... What are you doing here?" He stared out at her from the doorway, but he didn't make a move as though to let her in. And quite frankly, it hurt.

"Hi, Adam," the tall blonde said dumbly. "I... I heard all about your neck injury, and I just wanted..." She tried to glimpse past him. "... Can I come in?"

Resignedly, Adam held the door open more widely for his ex-wife to enter. He eyed her back suspiciously as she strode into the living room. He'd found out his neck was broken about a month ago - everyone in the WWE, on *both* rosters, knew all about it. And Torrie was coming here *now*, as though it was the first time she'd heard of it? He smirked as he stepped into the room after her. 'She must want something,' he thought bitterly.

Torrie blinked rapidly as she raised her head to eye her ex-husband with those blue eyes of hers. He didn't look happy, that was for sure. She only hoped the feeling wasn't currently mostly because of her appearance.

"How are you?" she asked, so flustered she didn't even really think of the question at all.

"How am I?" Adam echoed. "Figure it out."

The platinum blonde winced, but the Canadian refused to feel sorry for her. Hell, he was in no position to feel sorry for his bimbo of an ex-wife when he was dealing with his own predicament - his own personal hell! Besides, she hadn't spoken to him in months... Why would she be here now? Somehow, he doubted it was as simple as Torrie feeling badly for his plight and genuinely interested in seeing how he was doing. No... She had an agenda. He was positive of that.

She squirmed uncomfortably for a beat, then recovered and patted the cushion just to her left on the couch, where she was now sitting.

"Oh, Adam... Come and sit with me."

Reluctantly, the tall blond man moved closer, sighing as he seated himself. He sat beside her but made extra certain not to appear *too* close. Something was up - and he was not about to allow himself to fall under her spell again. Lord knew, although he'd made a definite mistake by even getting with her in the first place, it had still hurt when she'd announced she wanted a divorce. On the other hand, his feelings of rejection and loneliness didn't stem specifically from *her* - they originated from his own personal greatest fear - being alone.

Wearily, he looked at her. She was giving him the dewey, innocent blue eyes - something that used to drive him wild but which now drove him nuts - in a not so good way. At this point, just looking at her annoyed the hell out of him.

"What is it, Torrie? I mean... What is it that you want?"

She grew silent for a moment, merely gazing into his eyes almost sadly, then, to his amazement, the blonde reached out for him. He was so astonished that he didn't even duck out of her way, and Torrie placed her hand palm-flat against his cheek.

"I... I *miss* you, Adam," she spoke. "And to be perfectly honest, I regret the way things ended between us. I... I want you back..."

The Canadian simply stared at his former wife with widened green eyes. He couldn't believe his ears. Yet, at the same time, he knew one thing for sure - he wasn't going to be sucked into her web again.

Finally, he pulled away from her touch, not merely backing away but rising to his feet.

"I don't think so, Torrie," he said in annoyance. He gestured with his right hand. "I think you should leave."

The platinum blonde winced, giving him one last dewey-eyed look before she stood up.

"But Adam, I-"

"Save your breath... Just go."

Wordlessly, Torrie obeyed and sadly started back toward the foyer to the front door.

*

Amy held her breath as she and Jay exited the car and began trekking up the front walk. She couldn't believe the way her heart was pounding at the anticipation of seeing Adam...

... But then, her heart broke as a woman suddenly emerged from the house - a woman who was none other than the Canadian's ex-wife, Torrie...
 
 
 
 

Part 14

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