Wildest Dreams
by Shea

Part One

BRRIIIIIIINNGGGG!!!!!!! The shrill sound of the alarm cut through 
the silent apartment. A muffled groan came from under the purple 
comforter covering a queen sized waterbed. A hand slapped the 
offending clock to the floor as Shea LeBlanc got up to face another 
cold winter day in Nashville. 
She padded her way to the kitchen to turn on the coffee maker 
and wake up her roomate. Carol was already gone so Shea went to take 
a shower while the coffee brewed. She wished she didn't have to go 
to work at the health club this cold gray morning two weeks before 
Christmas. Especially since the weatherman predicted a possible 
snow storm coming in.
She finished drying off and got dressed, sipping hot coffee as she 
checked her bag to make sure she had all of her gear. Today she had 
some older students to teach grappling and didn't want to forget her 
mouthguard. She grabbed her black gi from the closet and left the 
apartment. A restored black 1976 Trans Am with a custom airbrused 
Phoenix on the hood, the flames reaching past the front fenders in 
bright shades of orange, yellow and red (compliments of her friend 
Stan) sat at the curb. She unlocked the door, turned off the alarm 
and tossed her bag into the passenger seat. She turned the ignition 
key and the car rumbled to life. 'I owe, I owe. its off to work I go' 
she sang under her breath as she fumbled KISS Alive out of the cd 
case while she waited for a break in the traffic. She roared into the 
gap in traffic as 'Deuce' roared out of the speakers. 
The trip to work, was thankfully uneventful, which was saying 
something in this town. People tended to drive the same regardless of 
whether it was dry, raining cats and dogs or threatening snow like 
today.
"Hey Hey Shea whaddya say!?", Eddie cheerfully asked her as 
she came through the doors of the health club. "How was the tribute 
band last nite?? Did they have a good Starchild?"
"Mornin' Eddie. Yeah they were great! Their Paul had all the 
moves down pat... he didn't have the chest tho. How's Melissa?" She 
replied.
"Melissa is so bummed she couldn't go with you, but we 
couldn't risk it with her being so close to her due date and all. 
She's so anxious for the baby to get here." 
"Lifes not only a bitch sometimes she even has puppies" Shea sighed, 
trying hard not to laugh and not doing a good job of it as Eddie 
burst out laughing. "Well, your first class won't be here until ten 
and that's the little dragons. Ken wants you out on the weight floor 
checking people in until 9:30 when Melissa gets here. Greg should be 
in by then to help show people how to use the machines. Will that 
give you enough time to get set up and all?" "I think so, maybe I can 
squeeze in twenty minutes on the bag before class. Did the order from 
Asian World come in?? I have some new students needing uniforms." "I 
think so. I'll check while you get changed." Eddie replied. Shea 
nodded her thanks as she headed toward the ladies locker room to 
begin her day.

****************************

By lunchtime, Shea found herself more tired and frazzled than 
usual. 'Thank God for long lunches!' she thought to herself. The 
uniforms had come in along with the much needed sparring gear but the 
body gear for the women's self defense class was still on back 
order. "Don't worry about it.", Greg, who was working part time at 
the health club (in addition to his job as a reserve police officer) 
told her. "We still have enough of the old gear to make do until it 
comes in." 
"Thanks," she told him "You're a peach." 
"Well, I did go to college in Georgia." he joked. She grinned and 
shook her head as she waved him off to his other duties. 
That afternoon, she tossed her gear bag into the car and 
made her way to the dojo where she was an assistant instructor. When 
she glanced at her gas gauge, she noticed that it read below a 
quarter tank. She pulled into the Mapco service station to get gas 
and grab a cup of coffee. Normally she loved teaching martial arts 
but today she was tired, sore and just wanted to go back to the 
health club and soak in the jacuzzi. 'I'm glad this is my short day', 
she thought to herself as she cautiously made her way out the door of 
the service station with a hot cup of coffee. As soon as her feet hit 
the black ice, she knew she was in trouble. She would have fallen 
hard to the pavement if not for the man behind her. Strong arms 
slowed her fall as they landed in a heap on the cold ground. 
"Are you ok??" he asked her. 
"Yeah, I think so", Shea replied, turning to thank her rescuer, 
shocked when she saw who he was. Shea was stunned to find herself 
face to face with Paul Stanley! Paul stood up, offering her his 
hand to help her up. "Thank you. I would probably have hurt myself if 
you hadn't grabbed me. I didn't spill my coffee on you did I??" 
He shook his head. "Could I buy you another cup of coffee?" Shea 
glanced at her watch before saying yes. 
"I need to move my car first so I won't be blocking the pump. I'll 
meet you inside." she said.
"Sure thing pretty little lady." Paul said, making Shea blush. 

A few minutes later they were sitting in one of the few 
booths inside the Mapco. 
"So may I ask what brings you to Nashville?" Shea asked. 
"Well, believe it or not, I'll be doing Phantom here for the next 
three months." Paul replied. "At least until they need me on 
Broadway. My agent thought this would be a good way for me to spend 
the downtime and get ready. "
"How long have you been in Nashville?" 
"About a week, trying to get settled in, find my way around. What 
about you, have you always lived here?" 
"No I'm originally from Alabama. I moved up here about two years ago. 
For a job offer."
"Really? What do you do?"
"I'm an assistant karate instructor at the Golden Dragon Martial arts 
school not far from here . I also teach self defense at Gold's Gym 
and karate ."
"That's very interesting. What belt are you?"
"First degree Black. I'm working toward my second degree. I'm also 
working toward rank in ju jitsu as well."
"That sounds pretty cool. How did you get involved in martial arts??"
"Would you believe I won a free month four years ago and I've been 
doing this ever since??"
"Wow that's cool. I can tell by the way you talk that you're really 
into it."
Shea looked at her watch, surprised at the time. "Oh man," she 
said "I need to go. It was nice meeting you Paul. Hopefully I'll be 
able to come see you in Phantom. I've been looking forward to it ever 
since I heard rumors it was going to happen. I'm glad they turned out 
to be true."
Shea offered her hand and Paul took it and pressed a gentle kiss on 
the back. 
"I do hope we see each other again, Shea." Paul said with a smile. 
They said their goodbyes and both went their seperate ways, Paul to 
pick up his rehershal schedule, Shea to her classes. 
'I hope we see each other again too.' Shea thought to herself as she 
jumped in her car and made her way to the dojo. 
Shea walked into the Golden Dragon, placing her bag at the end 
of one of the benches located on the far side of the workout floor. 
She put her leather jacket on the floor beside the bag and pulled out 
her karate top and belt. She was tying her belt when the schools 
owner, Mr Donnie came up to her to tell her she had two intro 
classes to teach before ju jitsu class later that afternoon.
"Did my judo uniform come in?" she asked Mr Donnie's wife Donna, 
who took care of much of the paperwork involved with the school. 
"I think so, I haven't had time to go through all of it. I should 
know in time for class though." Donna replied. 
"Great. Even if it hasn't we aren't on the really rough throws yet 
so my old karate uniform should survive another class or two" This 
made Donna laugh and say "Well, maybe it won't come to that"
Shea's first intro, an eight year old boy went well but her 
last one had the student, a man in his twenties, trying to hit on her 
until she made it clear that she was here to teach karate, not pick 
up men. She told Mr Donnie this student might bear watching. 
Shea was changing into her judo uniform when Ms Donna told 
her she had a phone call. She put her folded belt around her neck, 
tying the top of the gi closed as she went to the phone. 
"Hello? Shea?" a warm male voice said. 
"Yes, is this Paul??" Shea said, trying to keep the surprise out of 
her voice.
"Yes it is. Look, I hope this isn't too forward, but I was wondering 
if maybe you'd like to go out to dinner with me when you get finished 
there. Mrs. Chappell said your last class was over at 7:15."
"Uh yeah, dinner would be great. Do you want me to meet you 
somewhere?" she stammered slightly.
"Just give me your address and directions. I'll pick you up. Is 8:30 
good for you?"
Shea said that was fine and gave him directions to her apartment. 
She hung up the phone feeling a bit stunned. She made her way to the 
workout floor, deep in thought, wondering to herself what she was 
going to wear. 
After ju jitsu class, she made her way back out to her car 
to head home and get ready for her date. Carol would be surprised 
that was for sure!
She walked into their apartment and put her bag in her room 
before going to find Carol in the kitchen making herself a sandwich. 
"How was your day?" Carol asked as she looked in the refridgerator 
for the diet coke.
"Pretty good actually. You won't believe who I met today and who I 
have a date with tonite!" Shea said, unable to keep the news to 
herself any longer.
"I don't know, who?" Carol asked.
"Paul Stanley!" Shea blurted out.
"Get outta here! really!??" 
"Yes, really!! He'll be here to pick me up at 8:30! What do I 
wear!!!!" 
"How about that blue dress? That looks good on you. Is he taking you 
out to dinner?"
"Yeah but I don't know where. I bet you're right that a dress would 
be my best bet." 
Shea took a quick shower, washing her reddish brown shoulder length 
hair. She went into her bedroom and took out her blue dress and four 
inch black heels. 
Just before Paul was due to arrive, Shea was putting the finishing 
touches on her hair. She heard the doorbell and Carol saying she'd 
get it.
Shea walked nervously into the living room to see Carol talking to 
Paul about his upcoming stint as Phantom of the Opera. 
"Shea and I planned on trying to get tickets if the rumors turned 
out to be true." Carol told him 
"Well, if you like I can get tickets for you. Good seats too. Just 
let me know all right?"
"Great! Thanks we really appreciate it." Carol said. 
"Hi Paul. I see you found the place." Shea said, feeling slightly 
nervous.
"It was a breeze. Are you ready to go?" Paul asked
Shea nodded and opened the closet by the front door to get her coat, 
which Paul helped her with.
"Thank you. I'll see you later Carol."
Paul offered her his arm and escorted her out to his black 
sportscar. "Your carriage awaits m'lady." he joked.
"I hope you like Italian one of the stagehands at TPAC said 
Guilano's was a good place. Have you ever been there?" Paul asked as 
he pulled out of the apartment complex. 
"No, its a bit expensive for me. I have heard that they have good 
food though."
"Well, you're going to have to tell me how to get there from here, 
I'm not sure how to get there."
Shea guided Paul through Nashville to the restaurant where Paul 
handed his keys to the valet before coming around to her side of the 
car and opening the door for her so he coud help her out. 
They were shown to an out of the way booth by the matre'd who handed 
them the menus and a wine list. 
"This does look like a nice place." Paul said, taking in the 
candlelit, intimate atmosphere. 
"Yes it does." She agreed as Paul seated himself beside her and 
began to look over the menu.
They ended up ordering pesto with pasta and a bottle of Merlot. 
"So what made you decide to do Phantom here?" Shea asked
"The offer was made for me to do this until the other actor's run is 
finished on Broadway. They thought it would be a good way for me to 
get ready to do it again. Nashville sounded like a good place to do 
that. Plus, I thought a change of scenery may be good for me."
"It's been a rough year for you hasn't it??" Shea said, placing her 
hand over his.
Paul nodded, as he poured wine into two glasses before speaking. "But 
I have the feeling things are going to get better."
Dinner went by at a lesuirely pace, the conversation easy as 
they began to get accquainted with each other. Soon it was time for 
them to leave. 
As Paul walked her to the door of her apartment, he found 
himself wishing the night didn't have to end. 
"Would you like to come in for a night cap??" Shea asked shyly, also 
unwilling for the nite to end.
"That would be great." Paul said. 
Shea unlocked the door and they went inside. She could hear music 
and the faint clicking of computer keys from Carol's room.
"Make yourself at home, I think we have some wine in the fridge." 
Shea said as she took off her coat and started for the kitchen. Paul 
stopped her by taking her into his arms and capturing her lips with 
his. Shea slid her hands up his chest, feeling the warmth beneath 
the silk shirt he wore. Paul released her and guided her to the 
couch, easing her onto his lap as he sat down. He kissed her again, 
his tongue parting her lips as he held her close to him. 
"Hang on Paul, let me take my glasses off,." Shea said 
breathlessly. "Ok, now where were we." 
"Right...about here." Paul said, kissing her deeply, strong hands 
stroking her back through the material of her dress before he found 
the zipper and eased it down, moving her dress off her shoulders. 
"Paul....I think we should stop....., " Shea said breathlessly." 
Before I go farther than I want to on the first date....I'm...not 
that kind of girl. Not that I don't find you attractive, I do. But I 
don't want to be just another conquest ." Paul leaned back on the 
couch, eyes closed, trying to catch his breath. "I understand..I 
don't want you doing something you're not ready for. We have time.," 
He breathed. Shea stood up."I get the feeling you're worth waiting 
for. Can I call you? I'd really like to see you again."
"Sure. I'd like that alot." she said, standing on tiptoe to kiss him 
again. "Great." Paul said with a smile as Shea wrote her phone number 
on a piece of paper to give him. Paul kissed her goodnight once more 
before he left. As Shea made her way to her bedroom, she passed her 
roomates room, where she was on her computer. 
"I take it your date went well?" Carol said with a knowing grin.
Shea blushed. "I take it you heard us out there." 
Carol nodded. "I'm sort of surprised you didn't go for it. It has 
been a long time."
"It was a near thing, let me tell you." 
"Well, I hope he calls you back." 
"So do I" Shea thought to herself as she went to her room and got 
ready for bed.