"Should've Said No"
Disclaimer: The song belongs to Taylor Swift. I own nothing/ no one but Kristen. Please read and review. Still thinking how to move forward from here – terrible in multishots!! Thanks for stopping by!!
It's strange to think the songs we used to sing
The smiles, the flowers, everything: is gone
Kristen looked around her almost-empty house, smiling a small, wry smile to herself. Her house. And, until about a fortnight ago, her home. She looked over the few boxes left – most of her stuff had already been moved off. She heaved a small sigh and sat down, for what could be amongst the last few times, on the couch that had once been a favourite spot for her and her husband to relax and snuggle.
Her face darkened.
Yesterday I found out about you
As had been the norm for the past five years they had been married, Chris would fly back home the morning after Smackdown. His logic in doing that was so that Kristen wouldn't have to spend her weekends alone. And, for the past five years, he had faithfully done that without fail.
That Friday night, he had called to say that he would be delayed, that he had an appearance and a signing to make over the weekend. He had apologised profusely, scolded Vince and promised to make it up to Kristen.
She had sighed disappointedly and told him that she missed him, to take care and that she loved him. He had replied similarly before putting the phone down.
When Chris finally got home late Monday afternoon, he looked tired and a little disturbed. Kristen busied herself with preparing dinner for him, hoping to alleviate his exhaustion. She stood at the stove, trying to roast the steak to that optimum stage, just as Chris liked it. Kristen was startled when Chris suddenly enveloped her in his arms from behind, nuzzling his face into her neck.
"I love you, Kristen," he murmured, choking up slightly. "Don't ever leave me, okay?
Kristen turned around and hugged him back. She loved the feeling of being in his arms, it had been far too long. "Of course I won't, silly. Married for life, remember?"
"I love you so much." Chris swept Kristen up in his arms and their dinner was long-forgotten.
Feeling the warm sun-rays on her body, Kristen awakened. She found Chris' arm draped over her torso. Lifting it gently so as not to wake him, Kristen positioned his arm back on his body and rolled over to kiss him lightly before getting up. Even in slumber, Chris looked gorgeous. Kristen thanked her lucky stars daily – how many women would be fortunate enough to be blessed with a loving, affectionate, good-looking husband who was devoted and committed? Oftentimes, she wondered if she had it too good.
Kristen kissed Chris lightly again before pulling on a teddy. She made her way downstairs to prepare breakfast for him. She guessed correctly that it had been way too long since he had had breakfast served to him in bed, and thought it would be a nice morning surprise.
Kristen pulled out all the stops for the breakfast – making his favourite butterscotch pancakes with real Canadian maple syrup, frying the bacon and the hash-browns and slicing the fruits cleanly. She roasted his coffee and poured out a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
She prettied up the tray and got ready to bring it up to him.
As expected, Chris was overjoyed at the little surprise. They shared his breakfast, traded stories, made love and snuggled together as the morning rays warmed their room and their hearts.
Chris left the house to go to a signing that Vince had scheduled for him, kissing Kristen and promising to be home as soon as he could.
Kristen decided that instead of waiting around, moping 'til Chris came home, she'd go for a run. She busied herself tidying up the house a little before getting her running gear on.
She was about to start stretching when the doorbell rang. Kristen thought of ignoring it and sneaking out the backdoor, but the rings continued insistently and incessantly. Kristen heaved a sigh and opened it slightly. Just outside, she saw a slight, blonde girl. She looked somewhat familiar – Kristen recalled seeing her at a few of the company events previously.
"Hi?"
"Hi Kristen," the blonde girl said,. "I'm Kelly, I work with Chris. Can we talk?"
"Chris isn't home," Kristen replied. "Do you want to come by later?"
"No," Kelly answered. "I don't want to speak with Chris, I need to speak with you."
Kristen shrugged and opened the door, inviting the blonde girl in. "Come on in."
Kelly walked into the house, looking round. She took a seat on the couch.
"Can I get you a drink? Coffee, tea?" Kristen asked.
Kelly shook her head and motioned for Kristen to sit down. "I'll keep this short. I just thought that there's something you should know."
Kristen leaned forward and looked expectantly at Kelly, studying her countenance. She was a bit bewildered that Kelly had come by. They had never spoken, she was surprised that Kelly even knew where she lived.
Kelly cleared her throat a little nervously. "This isn't easy for me to say, and I'm not sure if it's my place to do so. But, I thought you might want to know that your husband isn't who you think he is."
Kristen blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Chris and I spent the last weekend together," Kelly replied, her eyes taking on a steely edge.
Kristen's head started spinning. She tried to even her voice and remain calm. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"You know exactly what I mean. Your beloved husband and I spent the weekend - together. We've been seeing each other for almost three months now. Just thought that you might like to know that, seeing how your wedding anniversary is coming up soon." Kelly held up a hand, stopping the question that she knew was coming. "Don't, Kristen. I'm not going to say anything more."
Kelly stood up, walked towards the door and turned around. "I don't plan to stop seeing him, by the way. You might want to think about that." The door slammed shut after her.
Kristen sat where she was, chewing on her lip, trying to stop her head from spinning. As little as she knew Kelly, she knew that Kelly had been telling her the truth. She didn't know how, but she just knew.
She felt as though her world was collapsing around her. She had given up her career as a corporate lawyer to make home for Chris. For the greater part of the past decade, her life had revolved around Chris and his life. And now, it seemed that the man she thought she knew better than anyone, was a man she barely knew at all.
A wave of nausea took over Kristen. She ran to the bathroom and threw up, before collapsing in the shower stall, crying.
Even now just looking at you: feels wrong
You say that you'd take it all back, given one chance
It was a moment of weakness and you said yes...
Chris opened the door. "Baby? I'm home. Kristen?" He walked into the living room and saw Kristen sitting quietly on the same couch that her life fell apart on. He walked over and kissed her lightly. She didn't respond. "You okay, baby? Is something wrong?"
Kristen's heart broke. Still, she remained composed and quietly replied. "I know."
Chris stopped in his tracks and turned around. His face was ashen and he looked guilt-stricken. He took one step towards Kristen. He reached out for her. "Kristen, please... Let me explain."
Kristen shied away from his touch. "Don't. There's nothing to explain. You decided not to honour your wedding vows. I'm not enough for you. That's all there is to it."
"Kristen..."
Kristen held up one hand. "Stop. Please. I don't want to hear it." Kristen's voice was flat, emotionless.
Chris moved to sit next to his wife. She moved to the other end of the sofa. Kristen bit her lower lip, willing herself not to cry.
Kristen stared into the open space in front of her. "She came by earlier, Chris."
Chris closed his eyes tightly. He buried his head in his hands. "Baby, I'm..."
Kristen continued, seemingly having not heard him. "She told me that you've been seeing each other for a few months. And, she said it so factually. A few months? You've been cheating on me for a few months?"
You should've said no, you should've gone home
You should've thought twice before you let it all go
Chris reached out for his wife. This time, while she didn't respond to his touch, she didn't move away from him either. "Baby, let me explain, please..."
Kristen stared through him. He took her silence as consent.
"Do you remember when we quarrelled while I was in Denver? I was upset and I went to the hotel bar to drink. I must have had a drink too many. I know Kelly has always liked me and I guess I took advantage of that when she came to talk to me. I just needed an outlet to vent. It was never meant to become what it has."
The look Kristen gave him broke Chris' heart. "You could have called to talk to me. We could have worked through the argument. You could have just come home."
Chris hung his head. "I know... I didn't think."
You should've know that word, bout what you did with her
Would get back to me...
"You thought I'd never find out, didn't you?" Kristen's words, so full of anger, were made even more chilling by the complete lack of emotion in her voice.
"No!" came the fervent reply. "It was never supposed to continue. I tried to end it so many times. Baby, please believe me..."
And I should've been there, in the back of your mind
I shouldn't be asking myself why
Kristen shook her head. "It's not that, Chris. It's the fact that you let it happen in the first place. And, for three months?!"
Chris looked like he was at a loss for words. He closed his eyes, hoping to open them and find that this was all a nightmare.
"Chris?" Kristen's gentle voice made him open his eyes.
"Baby?" his voice was hopeful.
His heart dropped at her reply. "I'm leaving you."
You shouldn't be begging for forgiveness at my feet...
You should've said no, baby and you might still have me
"Kristen, please..." Chris fell to his knees. He grabbed both her hands in his, his tears running down his face, his eyes pleading with hers. "I'm so sorry... Please give me one more chance. That's all I ask for. Just one more chance. Please... I'll never contact Kelly again. I'll leave the company if you want me to. Please... Please don't leave me. I can't live without you."
"What's the point, Chris? I'm obviously not enough for you. Why prolong it any further?"
You can see that I've been crying
And baby you know all the right things: to say
But do you honestly expect me to believe
We could ever be the same...
Kristen's own tears rolled down her cheeks silently. Her eyes were red and swollen from her having cried the entire afternoon. She steeled her heart to follow through with what she had just said.
Chris clasped her hands tighter, his desperation obvious in every word he spoke. "Baby, please... I'll make everything right again. I'll quit wrestling. We'll move back to Canada. I'll make everything right, I promise. Please, give me one more chance."
Kristen smiled humourlessly. "Do you really think things could ever go back to being the same?"
"Yes! I'll make sure of that! You don't need to doubt me ever again, Kristen."
You say that the past is the past, you need one chance
It was a moment of weakness and you said yes...
"Why, Chris?" Kristen looked straight into Chris' eyes.
"I was drunk. I wasn't thinking. It was a moment of weakness." The look in his blue eyes broke Kristen's heart. "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry for hurting you, Kristen."
Kristen looked lost in thought. She snapped herself out of it and looked at the man she had loved for the greater part of her life. Kristen felt torn – she didn't know if she had the strength to walk out on him but she knew that she couldn't stay with him. She couldn't get the mental image of Chris and Kelly together out of her mind.
"Please, Kristen. One more chance? Please..." Chris' head was buried on her lap, her thighs wet with his tears.
Kristen held back her tears. She ran a hand gently through Chris' hair and down his cheek. "I'm sorry, Chris. I... I can't. I can't be around you right now." She pried his hands off her leg and set them down gently on the couch. She stood up.
Chris continued to sit on the floor, breathing heavily. He was in a state of shock.
"My stuff will be out of the house by next week." Kristen turned to head out of the room.
Giving in to temptation, Kristen turned round one last time. "Was it worth it, Chris? You gave up on everything we had."
I can't resist... before you go, tell me this
Was it worth it...
Was she worth this...
She didn't wait for an answer. As she closed the door, she heard Chris' loud sobs behind her.
No... no no no...