"So what do we know about Stephanie McMahon, more specifically Stephanie and Paul?"
Nattie looked over at Chris like he was some crazy person just come up to her out of the blue, which, he was. "Well, hello to you too, Chris." What is up with him? I mean, yeah, we're friends, but uh, weirdo!
"Hey, sorry," he said and he really didn't want to read Nattie's thoughts. He didn't know why, but sometimes, it just felt, well, no, he knew why, he felt like he was spying on people and it was always strange to spy on people and know so many of their secrets. Like he really didn't need to know that Mike liked to wear his girlfriend's underwear sometimes; there were some boundaries he'd crossed that he didn't want to cross at all. "I just thought-"
"That since I'm a woman, I would know all the good gossip?" Nattie asked, peering down at him. I think I'll have a little fun with him.
Chris was glad in that moment that he knew she was joking. "Of course, because that's all you're really good for." He made sure to make his tone joking so she would know that he was merely joking with her.
"Why do you want to know about Stephanie of all people? You guys aren't even friends, are you? Are you holding out on me?" she asked playfully, nudging him in the shoulder. The bartender at the bar a bunch of the guys and divas were hanging out in came over and Nattie pointed to her beer and then at Chris. The bartender nodded and left again.
"I just want to know about her situation."
"You know her situation, Chris, she's with Paul, married to Paul," Nattie said, "this is not new information, they've been married for years. Plus, you're with Barbie, why you're with Barbie, I will never figure out." God, if Chris wanted to get some, he could have found someone better, which is pretty much every female on the Earth. Barbie is so gross. If he only knew how she talks about her conquests all the time.
Well that intrigued Chris. Barbie talked about her conquests. Forgetting Stephanie for a moment, he wanted to focus on that, but how could he bring it up without Nattie getting suspicious. Of course, if she did get suspicious, there was no way she'd believe he could read her thoughts. That was just too out there and yet, it was true. What did Barbie say? Did she talk about him? Did she reveal all the details of their relationship? Just what did talking about her conquests entail?
"Yeah, I'm with Barbie…I guess," he just decided on the truth. This seemed to catch Nattie's attention and she raised an eyebrow in silent question. "I don't know, she's just…"
"Oh, you're figuring out that she's, well, I don't know how to put it nicely because there's not a lot that's nice about her." She's disgusting, no-brained, ugh, now you're just being a bitch, don't be a bitch, don't be a bitch.
"What's she like when I'm not around?" Chris asked.
"I don't know how she is around you other than she hangs of you like she's a drape or something," Nattie told her. "She's really annoying though, no offense because I know she's your girlfriend, but damn it, Chris, she's annoying. She constantly talks about…well, I don't want to say anything because you're with her and I don't want to be that person." I wish I could be because he deserves to know what she says.
"No, please, tell me, I've been thinking about breaking up with her anyways so I'm really kind of just looking for a reason," Chris admitted. If anyone could keep it to herself, it was Nattie. While she probably heard all the gossip, she never participated in it, which he admired her for. There were a lot, a lot of people in this company who couldn't keep their mouths shut.
"Oh thank God you're thinking about that. She just brags about how she's slept with all these main-eventers and how she knows that she'll be around for however long she wants," Nattie said, "I really shouldn't tell you, but…you can do better, Chris. Wait, let's get back to what this was really about, what is this about you and Stephanie?" Okay, I may not like Barbie, but I don't think that Chris should be with a married woman either. I know the guy was divorced, but seriously, doesn't he have any standards?
Chris was slightly insulted, but brushed it off. "I don't want to be with her. I've just become friendlier with her. She looked out for me the other week when I got injured. She was there to take me to the trainer and make sure I was okay. She's actually not as bad as I thought she was and I was just wondering about her and Paul."
"But why?" Chris, please don't think about being with her, you're only asking for a world of trouble if you are! Nattie's face was actually matching what she was thinking, a pained look on his face.
"I don't want to be with her, I swear to you I don't want to be with her. I just worry about her, that's all."
"Worry about her?" I've never seen Chris worry about Stephanie before. Maybe he wants to know because he does want to be with her and he's just trying to act like he isn't trying to be with her. I still think this is really weird.
"I don't know, she just seems kind of off, I'm not trying to make something out of nothing. I was just wondering if you knew anything about her relationship with Paul. I'm not saying he's abusive or anything, I'm really, really not saying that at all," Chris was quick to say. He never suspected Paul of being an abuser, at least not physically, but he seemed more…neglectful.
"I really don't know anything, I really don't look at her or him or their relationship," Nattie admitted. I try to keep myself away from that kind of idle gossip, I don't give a shit what goes on with people, Chris should know this.
"Look, I know you're not a gossip, but I know that you hear things and I'm not gossiping right now, I'm really just wondering about her. I mean, she's always kind of off to herself-"
"Did you ever think that's by choice?" That's maybe just how she is. I mean, she is one of the bosses so maybe she just doesn't want to associate with people, that's totally her prerogative.
"Maybe, but I was just wondering if there seemed to be any tension between them."
"I don't know, sorry, Chris. But maybe talk to her I guess," Nattie shrugged, "as long as you aren't trying to steal her away or anything. Because if you are, then you are worse than dating Barbie."
"Yeah, I've heard that before."
"Then make sure you take that to heart. The woman is married and you can't-"
"I don't want to be with her!" Chris protested. Well, he sounds like he's telling the truth, but then isn't it awfully convenient that he would want to break up with Barbie right when he's asking me about Stephanie.
"Okay, I guess, well, I have heard that Paul has a bit of a wandering eye, but if he had slept with any of the divas, they aren't talking and knowing the divas that we work with they would absolutely be talking if they had so I think he just looks, but never touches." And why would he when he has the plum position of being Stephanie's husband.
"Thanks, Nattie," Chris said, "I'll leave you alone now."
"Be careful, Chris, please, I don't want you doing something stupid that will get you into trouble." I care about this guy, but he will be playing with fire…stay out of it, Nattie.
"Don't worry."
At the next show, Chris sought out Stephanie's office. He found himself drawn to her and he couldn't stay away. Her thoughts, he wanted to solve the mystery that was Stephanie McMahon and he knew that he should probably leave well enough alone, but he just couldn't help himself when it came to her, which was a revelation that surprised him greatly. He'd never figure that Stephanie of all people would be the person whose thoughts he wanted to read the most.
He was getting much better at blocking out people's thoughts. It was kind of like he was a deaf person and then when he started hearing everyone's thoughts, he got hearing aids that helped him hear for the first time. At first, all the sounds were there and he didn't know how to turn some of them out. Now he could though. He could pretty much live normally until this "curse" was lifted. He walked down the hallway, letting the noise just become a dull buzz in his brain.
"Knock, knock," Chris said jovially so as not to disturb her.
"What the hell do you want?" Paul asked as Chris opened the door further. He looked around. Stephanie wasn't there, but her idiot of a husband was and that pissed Chris off for some reason. He didn't want to talk to Paul, he wanted to talk to Stephanie. What the hell is this jack-off doing in here? I swear to God, I can't escape his sorry ass.
"Where's Stephanie?" The best way to deal with Paul's thoughts were the same way to deal with Paul in general, ignore it and move on.
"Does it look like she's here?" he asked.
"Yeah, I can see that," Chris said, an edge to his voice, "but where is she?"
"I'm not her fucking babysitter," Paul countered. Like I give a shit where she is, she's working, which is exactly what she's supposed to be doing. God, doesn't this dipshit know that?
Chris ran his tongue along his teeth, Paul's thoughts getting harder and harder to ignore. If he could just get one good punch on this jackass, he would feel so much better. One day, he knew that he and Paul would come to blows. It would be reminiscent of the altercation he had with Goldberg, but one day, it was going to happen.
"Do you know when she'll be back?"
"Did you not hear what I just said?" Chris just tuned out the thoughts, he had to because what Paul was thinking right now was so bad that Chris was two seconds away from pouncing on him and beating him into a bloody pulp.
Paul was saved from that beating when Stephanie walked in, a stack of papers under her arm. She looked between the two men in confusion. What is Chris doing here? Why is he always around here? I don't get it, why the sudden interest in me? It's kind of weird. And now Paul is here too. Awkward much, Stephanie? "What's going on, Chris, did you need something?"
"No, I just wanted to talk to you," he told her, giving her a smile.
What the fuck is this bastard doing? This is my wife! "Hey, babe, I thought we could go eat lunch or something, you hungry?" Paul asked her.
"I'm not in the mood to eat, I've got things to do right now," Stephanie told him. Just go away, please, just go away and leave me alone because if I have to hear how you should be in the title match one more time, I think I will scream.
Chris smirked. Even Paul's own wife couldn't stand to be around him. He knew there was something going on and he couldn't figure out why Stephanie would stay with a man she so obviously despised. Maybe that was what he wanted to find out. There had to be some reason because Stephanie's thoughts were less than complimentary towards the man who she was supposedly meant to be with for the rest of her life.
"Well, I'm hungry," Paul protested.
"Then go eat," Stephanie told him rationally. Why does he have to act like a child all the time? And in front of Chris too, as if he needed more reason to be weird around me.
"Fine, whatever, I'm outta here," Paul said, knocking into Chris on his way out. Chris glared at his back, but didn't do anything else. Instead, he turned to Stephanie, who was looking at him apologetically.
"I guess you have to cut up his food for him?" Chris joked.
Stephanie actually laughed. "He can be a bit of a baby." Understatement.
Chris was thinking the exact same thing. "I just wanted to come say hey, see how you were."
"Chris, what's going on with you?" she asked him. Why is he so friendly to me now, why is he even interested in me, I just don't get it, why? It can't be because he finds me attractive, he has a girlfriend who everyone thinks is gorgeous. If they only knew how she really was.
Chris didn't even know what was going on with him. The didn't stop him from smiling at her. He just wanted to figure her out. He just wanted to know everything about her, inside and out. Maybe he was cursed in other ways too. Maybe his curse was to figure out what made Stephanie McMahon tick because right now that was the only thing he wanted to figure out. He couldn't tell her that though, so he had to be safe about it.
"I just thought we could be friends."
