Fanfic: A Nice Place to Visit - Part Two (part one posted a while ago)
CHANGING SIDES
Part Five

By: Elektra



THURSDAY NIGHT - After Smackdown

"I don't feel like going out tonight. I'm tired, man! Besides, the weather sucks!"

"C'mon, Matt… the worst of the storm is over!" Jericho said. He had called Lita's cellphone to tell her that he and Matt were on the way. Unfortunately, Matt was whining about being tired.

A surprise birthday party was a little pointless without the birthday boy present.

"Helllllo, Jericho," Stephanie started as she came up to them.

Jericho frowned, "Helllllo, Stephanie. What do you want?"

"I want to have a meeting with all the WWF guys," she said, "I've told them we're meeting at the Fox and the Firkin. I expect you two to be there in ten minutes. Got it?!" Stephanie demanded. Jericho looked at her, his expression revealing his shock. Was she actually HELPING him get Matt to his own surprise party? "Well don't just stand there like an idiot! Get going! The meeting starts soon!"

"Right. Well…" Jericho turned to Matt, "Shall we?" he asked.

Matt sighed, "Fine fine…" he muttered, "Let's go!" Jericho and Matt quickly headed out.

***

THE FOX AND THE FIRKIN

"Man… you guys are great!" Matt said with a smile and he gulped down another drink, "And to think, I almost didn't want to come to my own surprise party!"

Jericho smirked, "I would have dragged you if I had to!"

Jeff looked at Jericho, "So… I guess we owe Stephanie thanks for that bogus meeting story to get Matt's ass here, huh?"

"Yeah… that was pretty nice of her," Lita replied, "Kind of weird. I guess she's trying to make amends. Maybe she IS daddy's little girl after all!"

"Oh great… and how many times has daddy screwed us all over?" Jericho asked.

"Good point," Trish replied, having no love lost for the McMahon family herself, "Maybe we shouldn't trust her quite yet…"

"Speaking of the billion dollar princess," Jericho muttered as he looked towards the door.

Everyone turned to see Stephanie enter the bar. Lita snickered, "I guess she wanted to see if you were telling the truth, Chris,"

"Telling the truth about what?" Matt asked.

"Oh, Chris and I were making final plans this morning, and Steph saw me coming out of his hotel room. Of course, she thought the worst. Chris told her what it was all about, but I guess she wanted to see for herself."

Matt laughed, "You know, if I wasn't half-sloshed, I'd probably kick Chris's ass in a fit of jealously for having you in his room…"

"Well then," Chris replied, "Let's get you TOTALLY sloshed!" Jericho called over the waitress, and ordered another drink for Matt.

***

Stephanie watched Matt, Lita, Jeff, Trish, and Jericho laughing it up. Their corner of the establishment had been decorated with streamers and balloons, just like Jericho had said.

Why she felt she needed proof, though, was a mystery to her. Why did she care what Jericho and his buddies did… or WHO for that matter?

"Hey… you by yourself?" a voice spoke. Stephanie turned to see a dark-haired man sitting beside her. She could smell the liquor on his breath. Gross. Stephanie held up her hand, showing off her ring finger before the man could try a lame pickup line, "Pshaw… like that matters any more in this day and age," he replied.

"It does to me…" Stephanie replied. Well, actually… it didn't. It's not like her and Hunter had a loving relationship. Business was business, and that's what her marriage was.

Still, Stephanie was a faithful woman, despite what that jerk, Jericho, said about her.

The man was not easily dissuaded. He put an arm around her and smiled, "How about one dance, huh? The horizontal kind…"

"Ugh… you're a pig!" Stephanie snapped, then shoved his arm off her and headed to where the others were sitting, "Hi… mind if I join you?"

The conversation at the table halted, each member eyeing Stephanie suspiciously. Stephanie pulled up a chair, making herself comfortable.

"Uh… Stephanie…" Lita started, "No offence… but since when do you want to sit with us?"

"Since the drunk at the bar tried to pick her up," Jericho replied, "Nice to know we're good for something…"

"So… you've been watching me all night?" Stephanie asked.

"Not really, no. I just happened to look across the bar at the time he was making his move. Kind of funny, actually. Maybe I should call him over to join us…"

Stephanie grabbed Jericho's hand before he had a chance to wave it at the man, "Do it, and you'll be sorry!" she hissed.

"Awww, look. They're holding hands. Isn't that cute?" Jeff started with a snicker.

Stephanie quickly removed her hand from Jericho's, "Be quiet, Hardy…" she replied, somewhat embarrassed.

"Hey, you think that's bad? She nearly jumped me in the elevator this morning!" Jericho replied.

"The elevator stopped and I lost my balance!" Stephanie snapped angrily. "God… why DID I come to sit with you? You're all IDIOTS!" she began to get up, but Jericho grabbed her arm.

"Calm down!" Jericho snapped, "Your latest squeeze is still sitting there drooling over you. You can go dance with him, or you can sit here and take our crap. Your choice!"

Stephanie sighed and sat down again. Right now, taking crap seemed a lot more appealing.