Author's Note:   I do not own any of the characters you see in this story.  They are all property of the WWE and Vince McMahon.  I own nothing. 

"I mean it, Victoria, I'm finished with you," Steven practically growled the words, which scared Victoria.  She had never seen him this angry before and it was truthfully starting to freak her out. 

"Steven, why are you being so cruel?" 

"Oh, don't play innocent with me.  You know exactly why I'm angry.  I'm nothing more than your little shadow and quite frankly I'm sick of it.  I'm tired of being nothing but your little tag-along buddy that nobody takes seriously.  I'm moving on to bigger and better things.  I don't want to see you unless I absolutely have to."   With those final words, Steven Richards left their locker room, slamming the door as he went out into the hallway.

There had been tension between the two of them for quite a while now, even though she hadn't wanted to admit it.  She had figured it was just a phase they were going through and after a while things would be the way they used to.  She had obviously been wrong.  As soon as her tag match with Lita was over, he took her backstage and to their locker room, where the yelling began. 

Victoria sighed and walked out into the hallway, deciding to go outside and get some fresh air, thinking she could really use it.  A few of her fellow diva friends approached her, trying to see what was wrong, but she brushed them off. 

Once she was outside, she took in a long, deep breath, letting the cool air around her sooth her.  Hopefully I won't be needed in there anytime soon, because I don't plan on going in for a while.

~

Trish made her way down the hallway in search of Chris' locker room.  After seeing the pictures that Christian had showed her, she had pretty much given up all hope of ever getting back together with Chris.  If he only wanted to be her friend, that's exactly what he was going to get.

Once she was in front of the door, she bit down on her lip, suddenly feeling a huge wave of hesitation come over her.  I have to do this.. I have to.   Taking a deep breath, she walked into the locker room without even knocking. 

The concern was clearly written all over her face upon seeing him, seeing how badly he was hurt, all because he was trying to save her, which just made what she had to tell him that much harder to say.

Chris' eyes immediately brightened as he saw Trish had come to check up on him.  This was a good sign, right?  He waved off her apologizes, knowing he'd do it all over again if he had to, just for her, to make sure she was safe.  His eyes lit up once more, hearing her talking about their relationship.  Maybe his dreams of having her back in his arms weren't so far out of reach after all.

As Trish looked into his eyes, she thought for a moment that she saw the slightest hint of hopefulness.  That can't be right, she thought.  He only wants to be friends.

"I think we can be really close.." she said, softly.

Chris smiled, hoping they could try to work things out.

"..friends," she finished.

It was at that moment that his entire world crumbled.  She only wanted to be friends.  He was wrong all along.  There was no way she could ever forgive him for that bet.  She didn't want him as a lover anymore, only a friend. 

"Friends.  Uh..yeah.  Friends.  That's what I wanted the whole time.  I just wanted to be your friend, Trish."   His voice wavered as he spoke the words.  And as if adding insult to injury, she wouldn't even hug him.  A handshake?  A simple handshake was all he was worth to her, which hurt more than words could describe. 

Thinking things couldn't get any worse, he was terribly wrong.  Christian came in and interrupted their conversation, insisting that he talk to Chris right that moment. 

Chris stood there with an emotionless expression on his face while Christian ranted on and on about him using his favor to save Trish.  He took each and every word Christian yelled at him.  It wasn't like this was any different.  Christian was becoming an expert at yelling at him lately.

Once Christian was gone, Chris slammed his fist against the locker, cursing as loud as his voice would allow him to.  He quickly walked out into the hallway, heading for the exit.  He needed some fresh air.. fast. 

~

Victoria remained outside sitting on the curb, lost in her thoughts.   Steven had always been a little rude towards her, but never in a million years did she think things would get as out of control as they did minutes earlier.  She bit down on her lip and lowered her head, wondering what she was going to do now that she didn't have Steven. 

Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard the exit door to the arena slam shut.  She whirled around, her eyes widening, thinking that Steven had found her, coming to yell at her some more.

"Chris?" she asked, a bit confused as to why he would be out here.  Hopefully Steven hadn't sent him to look for her.

Chris turned his head towards the voice, arching an eyebrow.   "Victoria?  What are you doing out here?"   He made his way towards her slowly, taking a seat beside of her.

"I guess I could ask the same thing about you."

He smirked slightly, shifting his gaze over to her.   "I asked you first."

Despite the mood she was in, a small laugh escaped her.  "Yeah, I guess you did, didn't you?"   After a few moments of silence, she spoke.   "Well, its just.. Steven, he.. he completely snapped today.  After my tag match with Lita he took me back to the locker room.  He seemed to be fine for a few minutes, but then he started yelling at me.  He.. got up in my face and said he was through with me because he was sick of being my shadow.  I.. I guess it just caught me off guard.  I felt like I was his shadow.  As for why I'm out here.. I just.. I needed some fresh air.  To get away from everything, you know?"

Chris tilted his head slightly, seeing how hurt she appeared to be.  She was nothing like she was in the ring, which made him a bit curious.  He nodded, glancing down at the pavement.  "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean."

"What about you?  Why are you out here?" 

He frowned softly, thinking back to the events that had just happened.  "Trish," he snorted.  "She only wants to be friends.  Ya know, that thing with the bet.. it was just a horrible, horrible joke.  Week after week after week I've tried to get her to believe that.  I.. I didn't think it would hurt her like it did.  She knows me.. who I am.. I don't understand why she can't see that I'm telling the truth.  And back in my locker room, she told me she only wanted to be my friend, and then she offered me a handshake.  A handshake.  That's all I'm worth to her.  After all I've done for her, trying to get her back, it's all only worth a handshake.  And.. I have to admit, that really hurts."

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stop the tears that were welling up in his eyes. 

As Victoria looked at him, she could tell just how much Trish meant to him. 

"God, Chris.. I'm so sorry."   Biting down on her lip, she hesitantly scooted over to him, placing her arm around him. 

He smiled slightly, his icy blue eyes looking into her much darker ones.  "No need to apologize.  I just need to accept the fact that friends is all me and her will ever be.  I'm sure after a while it'll get better."  

"I wish I could be as sure as you," she whispered, shivering a bit in the cool air. 

Chris was wearing the shirt that went with his wrestling tights.  Seeing her shiver, he removed it, placing it on her shoulders.  "You need this more than I do."

She smiled and shook her head.  "Thanks, now I get to be all sparkly," she smirked.

Chris gave a laugh of his own, keeping his eyes on her.  "You know, you seem like a completely different person compared to what you're like in the ring.  Why is that?" he tilted his head slightly, curiosity getting the better of him. 

She lowered her head, looking at the ground once more.  "The girl you see out in the ring.. that's not me at all.  This.. this is me.  The girl in the ring is just an act.  I.. I can't be myself around here.  There are so many beautiful women in this business.  Torrie, Stacy, Trish, Lita.. the list goes on and on.  I don't have that beauty, so, I just use the crazy act to draw people's attention away from my looks.. to give them something else to concentrate on."

Chris' eyes widened at her words.  She thought she was ugly? 

"Victoria," he whispered her name, tucking her jet black hair behind her ear.  "You are beautiful."

She looked into his eyes, noticing for the first time just how blue they were.  As she observed him, she could see the truth of his words in his eyes.  He really had meant what he said. 

She smiled, staying silent for a few moments before speaking.  "You know, Trish really has no idea what she is losing by giving you up."

The two sat in silence for a few minutes, taking in the surroundings.  It was Chris who broke the silence.  He stood and held out his hand to help her up, which she accepted.  "C'mon, we'd better get inside.  We don't want Eric to lay an egg once he realizes we're gone," he smirked.

Victoria laughed, walking with him back into the arena.  "That's a sight I'd like to see."

The End?