A/N: .. Same thing, characters are not and will never be owned by me..
::Sigh:: .. but thank you guys for the reviews. There were 3 that didn't go
through, but it's okay cuz I read them anyways. :D
I was watching Dirty Dancing the other night.. and.. there's a song in the movie that goes well with this story! XD
"She's Like The Wind" was done by Patrick Swayze .. not by me. -.o It's from Dirty Dancing, the movie. Enjoy! :D
~ - ~
I slowly got back in the car, expecting Stephanie to unleash an arsenal of questions on me. I got silence instead. I looked at her, but she was looking away from me, out her window. Maybe it was for the better. If she knew me, then she knew what I had done. There was nothing to talk about.
"So where's your hotel?" I asked quietly as I started the car up. My knuckles were stinging like mad, and I could feel warm blood on them. I couldn't see it though, and I doubted Stephanie could either.
"I was staying with Hunter." She answered, as she turned to look at me just as I glanced up at her. We made eye contact for a brief second before we both looked away.
"Well, you shouldn't stay here." I decided, and she didn't argue with me. "Where's Shane?"
"At home, with Mom." I sighed. This was not helping me.
"Well what the hell do you want to do?" I demanded. "You want to stay here with Hunter?"
She stayed quiet, while I struggled to keep my frustration with her in check. I could deal with Hunter, but Stephanie was something else.
"Well? I'm talking to you, Stephanie." I said, annoyed.
"No, Chris, I don't want to stay with Hunter." She replied, an edge to her tone.
"Fine, that's all you had to say." I shot back. "We'll go to my hotel room, and I'll take you to the show tomorrow night. We can talk to your dad about this -"
"You said you weren't going to tell anyone!" She cried out, spinning to face me angrily. I looked at her and this time, we maintained our eye contact. We were no more than a few inches apart from each other, each of us daring the other to back down. We both scowled simultaneously. I broke the silence by speaking up, quietly though.. stressing each syllable as if she were a child.
"If I do not tell your father what he did to you.." I started, her eyes focused dangerously on mine. She was giving me that "look". I used to tell her that look could melt steel, but she wasn't intimidating me tonight. I was vaguely aware of my breaths becoming shorter, and my grip on the steering wheel becoming tighter. ".. and he finds out from someone else, or he thinks I kicked Triple H's ass for kicks, then he'll have my ass beaten from tomorrow night until the day I retire. Give me one reason why I should not tell your dad what happened tonight." I finished, daring her to say something, anything. A tense twenty seconds later, she broke our eye contact. That alone lifted the tension in the car.
"Fine." She said, giving in. "Do what you have to do."
"Fine." I repeated, not surprised that she had backed down. She owed me that much.
The drive back to my hotel was a quiet one, and try as I could, I couldn't keep my head clear. Had it been any other girl, I wouldn't have been in this situation. Who had that kind of trust in me, to come to Chris Jericho of all people? They'd probably go to Kurt, or Steve Austin, or Kevin Nash, maybe Shawn Michaels.. but Chris Jericho? No one had the ability to look past the character I played for the cameras, the arrogance I showed in the ring. That is, no one except Stephanie. She looked past it all, even when I couldn't do it myself. I loved and hated that about her. All in all, only one thing stood clear.
She had been in trouble, and had come to me for help.. and I had readily and willingly given it to her. If this was the case, why did I still feel empty inside? I should have been proud. Not anyone can leave Hunter in a pile of his own blood like that.
When we got there, I got out of the car and walked up into the lobby, Stephanie following closely behind me. My hands felt like they were on fire, so I just kept them in my pockets. Stephanie had put her sunglasses back on, to avoid questions. There wasn't a real need for words at the time. We had a sort of connection. I knew what she wanted, and she knew what I needed.
The ride up the elevator didn't even last a minute, but it felt like hours. Stephanie rubbed her arms while I looked up ahead, focusing on the floor numbers. Finally, I stepped out, feeling Stephanie close by me. She was never more than a foot away from me. For some reason, it had felt nice before, but now it bothered me. I spun around to face her.
"Would you give me some damn breathing room here?" I snapped. She gave me a look of disgust as I opened the door to my room and stepped inside. I didn't bother holding the door for her.
I walked over and took a seat by my phone, playing my answering machine. I had two new messages.
"I'm tired. Where do I sleep?" Stephanie asked, standing at the doorway to the bedroom. The spoiled little girl inside of her was coming out. Look out.
"On the floor." I answered, as I played my messages while her jaw dropped in shock of me even proposing the idea.
"Yo, Chris!" I heard Christian's voice say on the machine, as I watched Stephanie disappear into my bathroom. I suddenly winced as I looked down at my knuckles for the first time that night. "Dude, you're not gonna believe this, but someone just KICKED Triple H's ass! I mean, TOTALLY destroyed him! It's awesome, man! Call me when you get in! Peace out, CJ!"
I shook my right hand, trying to shake the sting off, and played the next message.
"Hello Chris Jericho, this is Vince McMahon.."
I turned off the machine and sighed heavily. I looked up to see Stephanie standing in front of me, wearing one of my t-shirts, which looked too big on her. She was also wearing one of my old, faded shorts.
"Who gave you permission to wear my clothes?" I asked, as I continued shaking my hand.
"Ha! You should be glad I'm even wearing your nasty clothes." She rolled her eyes and sat down on my bed. "Where do I sleep?"
"I thought I said on the floor." I said, while she laughed sarcastically.
"Don't be rude, Chris." She warned. I grabbed a pillow and got up.
"You can take the bed." I went to leave, but before I did, I opened the drawer by the bed, and pulled out a new six-pack of beer cans. I turned to look at Stephanie, but she was already under the covers. She was laying on her side, her back towards me. I left the room and turned off the light.
{She's like the wind, through my tree
She rides the night next to me
She leads me through moonlight
Only to burn me with the sun
She's taken my heart
But she doesn't know what she's done}
I glanced around the living room and tossed my pillow onto the sofa, which would serve as my bed for the night. I wasn't tired, though, so I stepped out onto the balcony. I collapsed on a lawn chair that someone had left there, sighing heavily. She hadn't even said thank you to me, or even good night for that matter. What kind of appreciation is that? I had just put my reputation on the line for her, and what did I get in return? A half-assed explanation?
'She's playing me again.' I thought to myself as I opened a can of beer, not paying mind to the blood that was beginning to dry on my knuckles. Maybe I had expected something to change. I shook my head. Chris Jericho here, the biggest dumbass on the planet. Taking Hunter out had done wonders for me, but it was only a small piece in a bigger puzzle. I took a long chug out of my beer can, some of it spilling onto my shirt. Great, now I was an Austin wannabe. I scoffed and threw the can aside, then leaned back and closed my eyes.
I had watched guys turn out like this for years, and had always laughed at them. "You idiots," I had once said. "You deserve to live miserable lives if you keep being dumbasses." Now look at me. I was no better. I was the world's biggest fool, such a moron, an idiot. What had I really expected from Stephanie? A thank you? That was too much to ask. Maybe the fans are right about me, after all. Maybe they really could look past my arrogance. Maybe everyone could see the obvious. I struggled to ignore the hurt that was swelling inside of me. If Stephanie knew the effects she had on me emotionally.. she could literally tear me apart, piece by piece.
I was so warped up in my thoughts and frustration that I didn't know she was there until I felt her touch my hand. I winced unconsciously and pulled my hand back.
"What happened to your hands?" She asked, quietly, while I kept my eyes closed. "Chris?"
"What do you care." I mumbled. I felt her lift up my right hand and look at it more closely. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"My arms are kind of sore.."
"I have ice." I suggested.
"No, it's okay, Chris.. you shouldn't let this blood stay on your hands like this. Hang on a sec, I'll clean it up." I heard her walk back inside, and opened my eyes again. I hated when people got concerned about me, absolutely detested it. Stephanie came back out with a first-aid box that was in the bathroom.
"It's mostly his blood." I said, shrugging as she grabbed my hand. "It's not a big deal."
"You're bleeding, though. It could be a big deal if this gets infected, don't be stupid." She scolded. She wiped the blood off my hands, careful not to aggravate it even more.
"It's been a while since I've hit someone so hard." She didn't answer me, as she cleaned my left hand. She pulled out bandages and gauze and began to wrap up my hand. I winced and pulled back.
"Sorry.." She grabbed my hand and pulled it back. I looked on impatiently, but she was going very slowly, very gingerly. No one had ever been that gentle bandaging me up. It was almost relaxing. She knelt down in front of me when she was finished and put her hands on my knees, looking up at me. I was busy examining the job she had done on my hands.
"Chris.. I just wanted to thank you for what you've done for me tonight." I nodded and shrugged, like if it were no big deal. "I was scared."
"Yeah, it's fine." I answered, nonchalantly.
"You have no idea how much I appreciate it.." She said softly. That's when my patience wore out.
"I get it, you're welcome, what else do you want me to say?" I got up and walked back inside, Stephanie on my heels.
"Damn it, Chris, I made a mistake. I'm sorry if I ruined your life, but I'm trying to make this work, I'm trying to FIX things!" She said, as I walked over to the bathroom. I flicked on the lights and opened a drawer, looking for my toothbrush. Who was I kidding? I just needed something to keep me preoccupied, so she wouldn't drive me crazy.
"You can't fix it, Stephanie, what's done is done." I glanced up at her quickly in the mirror. She had her hands on her hips, and she looked visibly frustrated. Good. Let her feel a tinge of what I've felt all this time. "What did you expect? A simple, 'I'm sorry' and everything's fixed? Maybe it's not that simple, did you ever think of that?"
"Yeah, but I don't know how to make it up to you. What do you want, Chris?" She asked, exasperated. I suddenly regretted this sharing room idea. I wanted space, right then and there. I didn't know how to answer her question. I didn't know what I wanted, but.. I didn't want this.
"I want this to stop." I answered her, feeling as if there was some kind of fire creeping up inside of me. Maybe that was the hurt I had hidden for all this time. I looked up into the mirror for the first time, and cringed at my appearance. I needed a shave, and I looked like I hadn't slept in days. There were loose strands of hair in my face, and the top of my shirt was wet from spilling that beer just a few moments ago. I looked like a mess. I looked at myself, into my own eyes for some time. I didn't recognize the guy in the mirror.
{I look in the mirror and all I see
Is a young old man, with only a dream
Am I just fooling myself
That she'll stop the pain?
Living without her
I'd go insane}
"Look at that." I said quietly, not able to tear my eyes from the guy staring back at me. I watched the mirror as the man's blue eyes seemed to glaze over. Poor bastard.
"What, Chris?" She asked, pulling my left arm gently. I leaned on her a little bit, feeling tired.
"The guy in the mirror. That's me." I mumbled, and she didn't answer me. I soon felt her cool hand on my forehead, before she felt my cheeks.
"Are you okay?" She sounded concerned. "Did Hunter hit you?"
"This is called a reflection." I said, ignoring her. "It's a reflection of yourself."
".. You're scaring me, Chris.."
"I'm scaring myself." I admitted, looking down, away from the mirror. My reflection disgusted me. "I'm not the same guy I used to be. I don't know who the guy is in the mirror."
I squeezed my eyes shut, suddenly regretting every word I was telling her. Why should she know what's going on inside my head? So she could use it against me the next time she deemed fit? I bit my lip, resisting a growing urge to cry. Of all the women in the world, why did I have to fall for her?
I didn't feel her pull me away from the mirror until she had wrapped me in a tight hug. I think that's when it finally hit her how much she hurt me, but I was too worked up to be glad, or to even care. Much as I wanted to, I willed myself and did not break down in tears in her embrace. I was stronger than that, but I could taste one tear that did manage to escape me.
Stephanie pulled away from me and moved the hair strands out of my face. I looked up at her slowly, as she ran a hand through my hair. It felt unnervingly good and almost gave me chills.
"Chris, I'm so sorry.." She leaned up close to me, until we were about an inch apart. I couldn't take it anymore, and leaned in the rest of the way, covering her lips with mine. I reached up to stroke her hair, my bandaged hand trembling with my burning desire for her. I was a broken man without her, I needed her to keep me sane. She wrapped her arms back around me and deepened the kiss. Without words, I was granting her a second chance.
I just hoped that I wasn't making a big mistake.
{Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my league
Just a fool to believe
I have anything she needs
She's like the wind}
~ - ~
I was watching Dirty Dancing the other night.. and.. there's a song in the movie that goes well with this story! XD
"She's Like The Wind" was done by Patrick Swayze .. not by me. -.o It's from Dirty Dancing, the movie. Enjoy! :D
~ - ~
I slowly got back in the car, expecting Stephanie to unleash an arsenal of questions on me. I got silence instead. I looked at her, but she was looking away from me, out her window. Maybe it was for the better. If she knew me, then she knew what I had done. There was nothing to talk about.
"So where's your hotel?" I asked quietly as I started the car up. My knuckles were stinging like mad, and I could feel warm blood on them. I couldn't see it though, and I doubted Stephanie could either.
"I was staying with Hunter." She answered, as she turned to look at me just as I glanced up at her. We made eye contact for a brief second before we both looked away.
"Well, you shouldn't stay here." I decided, and she didn't argue with me. "Where's Shane?"
"At home, with Mom." I sighed. This was not helping me.
"Well what the hell do you want to do?" I demanded. "You want to stay here with Hunter?"
She stayed quiet, while I struggled to keep my frustration with her in check. I could deal with Hunter, but Stephanie was something else.
"Well? I'm talking to you, Stephanie." I said, annoyed.
"No, Chris, I don't want to stay with Hunter." She replied, an edge to her tone.
"Fine, that's all you had to say." I shot back. "We'll go to my hotel room, and I'll take you to the show tomorrow night. We can talk to your dad about this -"
"You said you weren't going to tell anyone!" She cried out, spinning to face me angrily. I looked at her and this time, we maintained our eye contact. We were no more than a few inches apart from each other, each of us daring the other to back down. We both scowled simultaneously. I broke the silence by speaking up, quietly though.. stressing each syllable as if she were a child.
"If I do not tell your father what he did to you.." I started, her eyes focused dangerously on mine. She was giving me that "look". I used to tell her that look could melt steel, but she wasn't intimidating me tonight. I was vaguely aware of my breaths becoming shorter, and my grip on the steering wheel becoming tighter. ".. and he finds out from someone else, or he thinks I kicked Triple H's ass for kicks, then he'll have my ass beaten from tomorrow night until the day I retire. Give me one reason why I should not tell your dad what happened tonight." I finished, daring her to say something, anything. A tense twenty seconds later, she broke our eye contact. That alone lifted the tension in the car.
"Fine." She said, giving in. "Do what you have to do."
"Fine." I repeated, not surprised that she had backed down. She owed me that much.
The drive back to my hotel was a quiet one, and try as I could, I couldn't keep my head clear. Had it been any other girl, I wouldn't have been in this situation. Who had that kind of trust in me, to come to Chris Jericho of all people? They'd probably go to Kurt, or Steve Austin, or Kevin Nash, maybe Shawn Michaels.. but Chris Jericho? No one had the ability to look past the character I played for the cameras, the arrogance I showed in the ring. That is, no one except Stephanie. She looked past it all, even when I couldn't do it myself. I loved and hated that about her. All in all, only one thing stood clear.
She had been in trouble, and had come to me for help.. and I had readily and willingly given it to her. If this was the case, why did I still feel empty inside? I should have been proud. Not anyone can leave Hunter in a pile of his own blood like that.
When we got there, I got out of the car and walked up into the lobby, Stephanie following closely behind me. My hands felt like they were on fire, so I just kept them in my pockets. Stephanie had put her sunglasses back on, to avoid questions. There wasn't a real need for words at the time. We had a sort of connection. I knew what she wanted, and she knew what I needed.
The ride up the elevator didn't even last a minute, but it felt like hours. Stephanie rubbed her arms while I looked up ahead, focusing on the floor numbers. Finally, I stepped out, feeling Stephanie close by me. She was never more than a foot away from me. For some reason, it had felt nice before, but now it bothered me. I spun around to face her.
"Would you give me some damn breathing room here?" I snapped. She gave me a look of disgust as I opened the door to my room and stepped inside. I didn't bother holding the door for her.
I walked over and took a seat by my phone, playing my answering machine. I had two new messages.
"I'm tired. Where do I sleep?" Stephanie asked, standing at the doorway to the bedroom. The spoiled little girl inside of her was coming out. Look out.
"On the floor." I answered, as I played my messages while her jaw dropped in shock of me even proposing the idea.
"Yo, Chris!" I heard Christian's voice say on the machine, as I watched Stephanie disappear into my bathroom. I suddenly winced as I looked down at my knuckles for the first time that night. "Dude, you're not gonna believe this, but someone just KICKED Triple H's ass! I mean, TOTALLY destroyed him! It's awesome, man! Call me when you get in! Peace out, CJ!"
I shook my right hand, trying to shake the sting off, and played the next message.
"Hello Chris Jericho, this is Vince McMahon.."
I turned off the machine and sighed heavily. I looked up to see Stephanie standing in front of me, wearing one of my t-shirts, which looked too big on her. She was also wearing one of my old, faded shorts.
"Who gave you permission to wear my clothes?" I asked, as I continued shaking my hand.
"Ha! You should be glad I'm even wearing your nasty clothes." She rolled her eyes and sat down on my bed. "Where do I sleep?"
"I thought I said on the floor." I said, while she laughed sarcastically.
"Don't be rude, Chris." She warned. I grabbed a pillow and got up.
"You can take the bed." I went to leave, but before I did, I opened the drawer by the bed, and pulled out a new six-pack of beer cans. I turned to look at Stephanie, but she was already under the covers. She was laying on her side, her back towards me. I left the room and turned off the light.
{She's like the wind, through my tree
She rides the night next to me
She leads me through moonlight
Only to burn me with the sun
She's taken my heart
But she doesn't know what she's done}
I glanced around the living room and tossed my pillow onto the sofa, which would serve as my bed for the night. I wasn't tired, though, so I stepped out onto the balcony. I collapsed on a lawn chair that someone had left there, sighing heavily. She hadn't even said thank you to me, or even good night for that matter. What kind of appreciation is that? I had just put my reputation on the line for her, and what did I get in return? A half-assed explanation?
'She's playing me again.' I thought to myself as I opened a can of beer, not paying mind to the blood that was beginning to dry on my knuckles. Maybe I had expected something to change. I shook my head. Chris Jericho here, the biggest dumbass on the planet. Taking Hunter out had done wonders for me, but it was only a small piece in a bigger puzzle. I took a long chug out of my beer can, some of it spilling onto my shirt. Great, now I was an Austin wannabe. I scoffed and threw the can aside, then leaned back and closed my eyes.
I had watched guys turn out like this for years, and had always laughed at them. "You idiots," I had once said. "You deserve to live miserable lives if you keep being dumbasses." Now look at me. I was no better. I was the world's biggest fool, such a moron, an idiot. What had I really expected from Stephanie? A thank you? That was too much to ask. Maybe the fans are right about me, after all. Maybe they really could look past my arrogance. Maybe everyone could see the obvious. I struggled to ignore the hurt that was swelling inside of me. If Stephanie knew the effects she had on me emotionally.. she could literally tear me apart, piece by piece.
I was so warped up in my thoughts and frustration that I didn't know she was there until I felt her touch my hand. I winced unconsciously and pulled my hand back.
"What happened to your hands?" She asked, quietly, while I kept my eyes closed. "Chris?"
"What do you care." I mumbled. I felt her lift up my right hand and look at it more closely. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"My arms are kind of sore.."
"I have ice." I suggested.
"No, it's okay, Chris.. you shouldn't let this blood stay on your hands like this. Hang on a sec, I'll clean it up." I heard her walk back inside, and opened my eyes again. I hated when people got concerned about me, absolutely detested it. Stephanie came back out with a first-aid box that was in the bathroom.
"It's mostly his blood." I said, shrugging as she grabbed my hand. "It's not a big deal."
"You're bleeding, though. It could be a big deal if this gets infected, don't be stupid." She scolded. She wiped the blood off my hands, careful not to aggravate it even more.
"It's been a while since I've hit someone so hard." She didn't answer me, as she cleaned my left hand. She pulled out bandages and gauze and began to wrap up my hand. I winced and pulled back.
"Sorry.." She grabbed my hand and pulled it back. I looked on impatiently, but she was going very slowly, very gingerly. No one had ever been that gentle bandaging me up. It was almost relaxing. She knelt down in front of me when she was finished and put her hands on my knees, looking up at me. I was busy examining the job she had done on my hands.
"Chris.. I just wanted to thank you for what you've done for me tonight." I nodded and shrugged, like if it were no big deal. "I was scared."
"Yeah, it's fine." I answered, nonchalantly.
"You have no idea how much I appreciate it.." She said softly. That's when my patience wore out.
"I get it, you're welcome, what else do you want me to say?" I got up and walked back inside, Stephanie on my heels.
"Damn it, Chris, I made a mistake. I'm sorry if I ruined your life, but I'm trying to make this work, I'm trying to FIX things!" She said, as I walked over to the bathroom. I flicked on the lights and opened a drawer, looking for my toothbrush. Who was I kidding? I just needed something to keep me preoccupied, so she wouldn't drive me crazy.
"You can't fix it, Stephanie, what's done is done." I glanced up at her quickly in the mirror. She had her hands on her hips, and she looked visibly frustrated. Good. Let her feel a tinge of what I've felt all this time. "What did you expect? A simple, 'I'm sorry' and everything's fixed? Maybe it's not that simple, did you ever think of that?"
"Yeah, but I don't know how to make it up to you. What do you want, Chris?" She asked, exasperated. I suddenly regretted this sharing room idea. I wanted space, right then and there. I didn't know how to answer her question. I didn't know what I wanted, but.. I didn't want this.
"I want this to stop." I answered her, feeling as if there was some kind of fire creeping up inside of me. Maybe that was the hurt I had hidden for all this time. I looked up into the mirror for the first time, and cringed at my appearance. I needed a shave, and I looked like I hadn't slept in days. There were loose strands of hair in my face, and the top of my shirt was wet from spilling that beer just a few moments ago. I looked like a mess. I looked at myself, into my own eyes for some time. I didn't recognize the guy in the mirror.
{I look in the mirror and all I see
Is a young old man, with only a dream
Am I just fooling myself
That she'll stop the pain?
Living without her
I'd go insane}
"Look at that." I said quietly, not able to tear my eyes from the guy staring back at me. I watched the mirror as the man's blue eyes seemed to glaze over. Poor bastard.
"What, Chris?" She asked, pulling my left arm gently. I leaned on her a little bit, feeling tired.
"The guy in the mirror. That's me." I mumbled, and she didn't answer me. I soon felt her cool hand on my forehead, before she felt my cheeks.
"Are you okay?" She sounded concerned. "Did Hunter hit you?"
"This is called a reflection." I said, ignoring her. "It's a reflection of yourself."
".. You're scaring me, Chris.."
"I'm scaring myself." I admitted, looking down, away from the mirror. My reflection disgusted me. "I'm not the same guy I used to be. I don't know who the guy is in the mirror."
I squeezed my eyes shut, suddenly regretting every word I was telling her. Why should she know what's going on inside my head? So she could use it against me the next time she deemed fit? I bit my lip, resisting a growing urge to cry. Of all the women in the world, why did I have to fall for her?
I didn't feel her pull me away from the mirror until she had wrapped me in a tight hug. I think that's when it finally hit her how much she hurt me, but I was too worked up to be glad, or to even care. Much as I wanted to, I willed myself and did not break down in tears in her embrace. I was stronger than that, but I could taste one tear that did manage to escape me.
Stephanie pulled away from me and moved the hair strands out of my face. I looked up at her slowly, as she ran a hand through my hair. It felt unnervingly good and almost gave me chills.
"Chris, I'm so sorry.." She leaned up close to me, until we were about an inch apart. I couldn't take it anymore, and leaned in the rest of the way, covering her lips with mine. I reached up to stroke her hair, my bandaged hand trembling with my burning desire for her. I was a broken man without her, I needed her to keep me sane. She wrapped her arms back around me and deepened the kiss. Without words, I was granting her a second chance.
I just hoped that I wasn't making a big mistake.
{Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my league
Just a fool to believe
I have anything she needs
She's like the wind}
~ - ~