"Excuse me, Chris Jericho." I heard a voice say. Not even a damn minute to
myself, but what else is new? I frowned and looked over my shoulder, not
bothering to stop. I had just talked to a shrink! I didn't need to talk to
anybody. In being mad, I didn't hear the annoyance in the voice that spoke
to me.
"What do you want, Stephanie?" I asked as I looked ahead. She caught up to me, and grabbed me by the arm. We both stopped walking as I turned back to look at her. A thousand memories came down on me at the same time. Good times, when I gave this girl my love, everything I had. Bad times, when she took my heart and single-handedly broke it. Then reality hit and I remembered that it was a thing of the past..
"Chris, are you listening to me?" She said, snapping her fingers in front of my face. My eyes re-focused. I had blanked out for a moment there.
"No." I said, making her sigh heavily. She raised her hand to her forehead, before taking a deep breath. I stood motionless in front of her, waiting for her to repeat herself so I could leave already. "Well?" I asked after a short bit, starting to get impatient.
"You have a match tonight." She said, looking back up at me.
"Wow, I never would have thought I'd actually have a match." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "It's only what I get paid for, after all.."
"Against Brock Lesnar, no holds barred."
I closed my eyes momentarily, visualizing myself being lifted into an F5. I shook my head and looked back at Stephanie, who now had a concerned look on her face. Frowning, I turned away from her and walked off.. but she followed me.
"Leave me alone, Stephanie!" I shouted, not in the mood. She never listens anyway. Catching up to me again, she grabbed my arm. This time though, she pulled me into a room. Obviously Stephanie could never pull me around if I didn't want her to. It's not that I wanted her to pull me into a room, it's that she caught me by surprise in doing so.
She locked the door and I yanked my arm out of her grip. I turned to the door but she leaned back against it, her arms folded over in front of her. Feeling my blood start to rush through me and my patience wearing extremely thin, I bit my bottom lip and closed my eyes, trying to calm down.
"Stephanie.." I started, as I opened my eyes to look at her. "If you don't get the hell out of my way.."
"What? You'll hit me?" She said, acting scared. "I'm not moving."
"If you don't move, I'm going to MAKE you move." I said in a low voice. By this time, we were face-to-face. Her steel eyes looking into my intimidating ones, neither willing to budge first.
"We need to talk." She finally said.
"There's nothing to talk about."
"I hear you're drinking?" She asked, while I groaned loudly.
"Stephanie I am trying very hard not to lose my temper.. so what if I drink?" I scoffed. "Not like you fucking care anyways, right? Now *open.. the.. door*."
Calmly, she raised her hand and put it against my chest. She then proceeded to push me back, to give her some breathing room, I suppose. I shoved her hand off of me.
"Don't touch me." I warned. "Don't you ever touch me again."
"Chris." She said, sighing. "Drinking's not going to help.."
"Stephanie, don't you fucking stand there and tell me what I can and can't do, okay?!"
"God damn it, Chris! Why are you doing this?" She cried out. She reached out to me, but I turned away, giving her my back. "Why are you being like this..?"
"I don't want to hear it. I do as I please, when I please."
"Chris.. I am so sorry." She whispered, and the words gave me chills. I stayed quiet for a while, those words calming me down immensely. Now all that was left was hurt. "I'm so sorry for what I said.. what I did.."
"Sorry's not going to cut it anymore." I whispered back. It was then that we heard a loud voice on the other side of the door, calling for Stephanie. It didn't take that long for me to realize it was Triple H. That bastard.
"I have to go." She said, but I could feel her eyes on me. "But.. be careful in your match."
"Why? You never fucking cared before if I was hurt or not." I said, feeling the bitterness creep back into me. "Just go, get out of here. Let me be."
It took a few moments, but that's what she did. She left me in the room, the door closing behind her. I couldn't help but feel like she had just walked out of my life. But that was impossible. She had already taken that walk. And I was not going to let her back in.
~ - ~
I made a mistake. Only this mistake was going to cost me. I went to hit Brock in the face, but I didn't time it right. He ducked, and before I knew it, he had me up on his shoulders. This was worse than what I had pictured in my head earlier. Earlier, I had seen Brock deliver the F5 to me.. on the mat.
Brock spinned off, dropping me hard. The impact would have hurt enough on the mat. But I tasted steel upon my landing, since Brock had chosen to perform the move right there, on the steel ramp. As soon as I landed, a white light flashed, and I could feel the pain for a brief second before everything went black.
~ - ~ Flashback:
"Lance man.. I feel like something's wrong." I said, looking up at my friend as I laced up my boots.
"What do you mean? You made her sound like Ms. Perfect." He answered.
"Yeah I know man, but it feels like.. she's not all there anymore."
"She's probably cheating on you." He joked, but I frowned as I finished tying my boots. "I'm just playing, Chris."
"It's not funny." I said softly.
"Chris.. I was just joking. Yes, I have a sense of humor." Lance said, his face as serious as ever.
"I know.. but she's been smelling a lot like after-shave lately." I said, looking up at him.
"Maybe she likes it."
"I don't know.."
"If she's smart, she wouldn't cheat on a guy like you."
"I hope you're right."
~ End of Flashback ~
"Chris, can you hear me?" I heard someone ask. There was a light shining in my eye, but for some reason or another, it didn't bother me as much as it should have. Then the pain began to slowly creep up through me, until it started to become unbearable. My head felt like it had just exploded. The voices all swam around, and I couldn't focus on one in specific.. but I knew that one of them was hers..
~ - ~ Flashback:
"Chris, I have something I need to tell you."
"What is it, babe?" I said, wrapping my arms around her waist. She let the contact be for a few moments, before grabbing my arms.
"Let go of me."
I heard something in her voice, and it didn't sound good. I let her go and looked at her curiously as she turned around to face me. There was no smile on her face this time.
"What's wrong, Steph?" I asked, starting to get a little worried.
"This."
"What?" I asked, confused.
"Me and you. It's over, Chris."
"Wh-what?" I was stunned.. this was coming directly out of the blue. "But.. are you breaking up with me?"
"Yes, I am."
"You're playing.." I said, smiling nervously.
"I'm not, it's over." She said firmly.
"But.. why?"
"Because, Chris. I can't be with you anymore. I'm.. with someone else."
"You cheated on me.." my voice trailed, and I stopped it before it could start to crack. My whole world felt shattered.
"Don't call me anymore. Just.. forget you ever knew me.."
"But Steph.. I love you." I said, tears stinging in my eyes. She turned her back and walked to the door.
"Goodbye, Chris." Then the door clicked shut, and I stood there, wondering what had just happened. How could something so perfect, end so fast and so hard? We had been dating for six months. Six strong months, she had been my girl, only to leave me at the drop of a hat. What a world.. and the worst part was yet to come..
~ End of flashback. ~
"Why do we have to be here?" I heard someone ask.
"Because my dad told us to." A female answered, annoyed. She was lying though. I knew she was.. I could tell. That wasn't the reason why she was here.
"He'll live." The man said, sounding bored.. impatient.
"He will." She answered him, with an attitude.
"What the hell's your problem?"
"What's yours?"
"Stephanie, don't start."
"How about you don't start. You with your stupid attitude."
"What?" Triple H said, sounding angry.
"Shhh, shut up." She said, before grabbing my hand. "Chris? You awake?"
"Stephanie?" I asked, wanting to make sure it was her.
"Yeah." She answered. I opened my eyes, and after a few moments, things started to clear up. Triple H, black eye and all, was sitting on a chair, arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face. Triple H and Steph had decided to try again. Stupid if you asked me, but it's not like I cared anymore.
Then I realized what had happened. Brock had F5'd me, now I was in a hospital. Stephanie was here with me. I scowled and shook my head.
"Get out." I said. Stephanie looked at me like if I was gravely ill and about to die.
"Chris.. it's okay. Brock F5'd you on steel.. head-first. You'll be okay.." She said, concerned as she brushed some hair out of my face.
"I don't think I stuttered." I mumbled, starting to get pissed off. Her mere presence around me in a hospital was enough to bring back bad memories. "Get the hell out."
"But Chris.."
"Let's go, Stephanie." Triple H said as he stood up. Triple H.. strong, smart bastard. Ignorant could also be added to the list. He didn't have a clue about the past Stephanie and I had had. He thought we had met each other when I started working for Vince's company. If only he knew..
Stephanie hesitated, but she left with him. I closed my eyes, feeling the stinging pain in my head. If only it had all stopped the night she broke up with me. If only things had ended that night. But it didn't.. it was just the beginning.
"What do you want, Stephanie?" I asked as I looked ahead. She caught up to me, and grabbed me by the arm. We both stopped walking as I turned back to look at her. A thousand memories came down on me at the same time. Good times, when I gave this girl my love, everything I had. Bad times, when she took my heart and single-handedly broke it. Then reality hit and I remembered that it was a thing of the past..
"Chris, are you listening to me?" She said, snapping her fingers in front of my face. My eyes re-focused. I had blanked out for a moment there.
"No." I said, making her sigh heavily. She raised her hand to her forehead, before taking a deep breath. I stood motionless in front of her, waiting for her to repeat herself so I could leave already. "Well?" I asked after a short bit, starting to get impatient.
"You have a match tonight." She said, looking back up at me.
"Wow, I never would have thought I'd actually have a match." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "It's only what I get paid for, after all.."
"Against Brock Lesnar, no holds barred."
I closed my eyes momentarily, visualizing myself being lifted into an F5. I shook my head and looked back at Stephanie, who now had a concerned look on her face. Frowning, I turned away from her and walked off.. but she followed me.
"Leave me alone, Stephanie!" I shouted, not in the mood. She never listens anyway. Catching up to me again, she grabbed my arm. This time though, she pulled me into a room. Obviously Stephanie could never pull me around if I didn't want her to. It's not that I wanted her to pull me into a room, it's that she caught me by surprise in doing so.
She locked the door and I yanked my arm out of her grip. I turned to the door but she leaned back against it, her arms folded over in front of her. Feeling my blood start to rush through me and my patience wearing extremely thin, I bit my bottom lip and closed my eyes, trying to calm down.
"Stephanie.." I started, as I opened my eyes to look at her. "If you don't get the hell out of my way.."
"What? You'll hit me?" She said, acting scared. "I'm not moving."
"If you don't move, I'm going to MAKE you move." I said in a low voice. By this time, we were face-to-face. Her steel eyes looking into my intimidating ones, neither willing to budge first.
"We need to talk." She finally said.
"There's nothing to talk about."
"I hear you're drinking?" She asked, while I groaned loudly.
"Stephanie I am trying very hard not to lose my temper.. so what if I drink?" I scoffed. "Not like you fucking care anyways, right? Now *open.. the.. door*."
Calmly, she raised her hand and put it against my chest. She then proceeded to push me back, to give her some breathing room, I suppose. I shoved her hand off of me.
"Don't touch me." I warned. "Don't you ever touch me again."
"Chris." She said, sighing. "Drinking's not going to help.."
"Stephanie, don't you fucking stand there and tell me what I can and can't do, okay?!"
"God damn it, Chris! Why are you doing this?" She cried out. She reached out to me, but I turned away, giving her my back. "Why are you being like this..?"
"I don't want to hear it. I do as I please, when I please."
"Chris.. I am so sorry." She whispered, and the words gave me chills. I stayed quiet for a while, those words calming me down immensely. Now all that was left was hurt. "I'm so sorry for what I said.. what I did.."
"Sorry's not going to cut it anymore." I whispered back. It was then that we heard a loud voice on the other side of the door, calling for Stephanie. It didn't take that long for me to realize it was Triple H. That bastard.
"I have to go." She said, but I could feel her eyes on me. "But.. be careful in your match."
"Why? You never fucking cared before if I was hurt or not." I said, feeling the bitterness creep back into me. "Just go, get out of here. Let me be."
It took a few moments, but that's what she did. She left me in the room, the door closing behind her. I couldn't help but feel like she had just walked out of my life. But that was impossible. She had already taken that walk. And I was not going to let her back in.
~ - ~
I made a mistake. Only this mistake was going to cost me. I went to hit Brock in the face, but I didn't time it right. He ducked, and before I knew it, he had me up on his shoulders. This was worse than what I had pictured in my head earlier. Earlier, I had seen Brock deliver the F5 to me.. on the mat.
Brock spinned off, dropping me hard. The impact would have hurt enough on the mat. But I tasted steel upon my landing, since Brock had chosen to perform the move right there, on the steel ramp. As soon as I landed, a white light flashed, and I could feel the pain for a brief second before everything went black.
~ - ~ Flashback:
"Lance man.. I feel like something's wrong." I said, looking up at my friend as I laced up my boots.
"What do you mean? You made her sound like Ms. Perfect." He answered.
"Yeah I know man, but it feels like.. she's not all there anymore."
"She's probably cheating on you." He joked, but I frowned as I finished tying my boots. "I'm just playing, Chris."
"It's not funny." I said softly.
"Chris.. I was just joking. Yes, I have a sense of humor." Lance said, his face as serious as ever.
"I know.. but she's been smelling a lot like after-shave lately." I said, looking up at him.
"Maybe she likes it."
"I don't know.."
"If she's smart, she wouldn't cheat on a guy like you."
"I hope you're right."
~ End of Flashback ~
"Chris, can you hear me?" I heard someone ask. There was a light shining in my eye, but for some reason or another, it didn't bother me as much as it should have. Then the pain began to slowly creep up through me, until it started to become unbearable. My head felt like it had just exploded. The voices all swam around, and I couldn't focus on one in specific.. but I knew that one of them was hers..
~ - ~ Flashback:
"Chris, I have something I need to tell you."
"What is it, babe?" I said, wrapping my arms around her waist. She let the contact be for a few moments, before grabbing my arms.
"Let go of me."
I heard something in her voice, and it didn't sound good. I let her go and looked at her curiously as she turned around to face me. There was no smile on her face this time.
"What's wrong, Steph?" I asked, starting to get a little worried.
"This."
"What?" I asked, confused.
"Me and you. It's over, Chris."
"Wh-what?" I was stunned.. this was coming directly out of the blue. "But.. are you breaking up with me?"
"Yes, I am."
"You're playing.." I said, smiling nervously.
"I'm not, it's over." She said firmly.
"But.. why?"
"Because, Chris. I can't be with you anymore. I'm.. with someone else."
"You cheated on me.." my voice trailed, and I stopped it before it could start to crack. My whole world felt shattered.
"Don't call me anymore. Just.. forget you ever knew me.."
"But Steph.. I love you." I said, tears stinging in my eyes. She turned her back and walked to the door.
"Goodbye, Chris." Then the door clicked shut, and I stood there, wondering what had just happened. How could something so perfect, end so fast and so hard? We had been dating for six months. Six strong months, she had been my girl, only to leave me at the drop of a hat. What a world.. and the worst part was yet to come..
~ End of flashback. ~
"Why do we have to be here?" I heard someone ask.
"Because my dad told us to." A female answered, annoyed. She was lying though. I knew she was.. I could tell. That wasn't the reason why she was here.
"He'll live." The man said, sounding bored.. impatient.
"He will." She answered him, with an attitude.
"What the hell's your problem?"
"What's yours?"
"Stephanie, don't start."
"How about you don't start. You with your stupid attitude."
"What?" Triple H said, sounding angry.
"Shhh, shut up." She said, before grabbing my hand. "Chris? You awake?"
"Stephanie?" I asked, wanting to make sure it was her.
"Yeah." She answered. I opened my eyes, and after a few moments, things started to clear up. Triple H, black eye and all, was sitting on a chair, arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face. Triple H and Steph had decided to try again. Stupid if you asked me, but it's not like I cared anymore.
Then I realized what had happened. Brock had F5'd me, now I was in a hospital. Stephanie was here with me. I scowled and shook my head.
"Get out." I said. Stephanie looked at me like if I was gravely ill and about to die.
"Chris.. it's okay. Brock F5'd you on steel.. head-first. You'll be okay.." She said, concerned as she brushed some hair out of my face.
"I don't think I stuttered." I mumbled, starting to get pissed off. Her mere presence around me in a hospital was enough to bring back bad memories. "Get the hell out."
"But Chris.."
"Let's go, Stephanie." Triple H said as he stood up. Triple H.. strong, smart bastard. Ignorant could also be added to the list. He didn't have a clue about the past Stephanie and I had had. He thought we had met each other when I started working for Vince's company. If only he knew..
Stephanie hesitated, but she left with him. I closed my eyes, feeling the stinging pain in my head. If only it had all stopped the night she broke up with me. If only things had ended that night. But it didn't.. it was just the beginning.