Changing Sides
CHANGING SIDES
Part Eleven

By: Elektra

FRIDAY NIGHT

"Hey, Steph! Me, Jericho, Trish, and the Hardys are playing Truth or Dare! Want to join us?" Lita asked as she came up to Stephanie's seat on the chartered bus the WWF had rented.

"I'd feel out of place. I'm not the walking wounded," Stephanie replied with a smile, indicating Lita's crutches.

Lita laughed, "Yeah, well, neither is Trish, but she's still playing! It's a 6 hour drive. Us walking wounded are trying to pass the time…"

"No thanks," Stephanie replied, "I don't think they'd want me there,"

"Oh, come on! What are you going to do for the next 6 hours anyway? Sit here staring out the window?" Lita asked.

"I guess…" Stephanie replied.

Lita tugged at her arm, "Come on. Hang out with us!"

Stephanie looked at her, "If I join you, will Jericho leave me alone for the next week? No 'trashbag ho' jokes?"

"I think you're asking the impossible there," Lita replied with a smile, "Just come play! I hobbled all the way back here to get you…"

"Fine, fine," Stephanie answered, then followed Lita down the aisle.

"Wow... you got her out of her seat!" Jeff spoke up as Lita returned with a reluctant Stephanie.

"Let me tell you it was no easy feat!" Lita said. "She wanted me to make a deal that YOU," She looked pointedly at Jericho, "Wouldn't insult her for the next week!"

"I hope you didn't agree," Jericho said.

"Please... NO ONE could promise something of that magnitude," Lita answered, "Now on with the game. I'll go first..." Lita sat down and turned to Jeff, "Truth or Dare?"

"Truth!" Jeff replied.

"I was hoping you'd chose that!" Lita began with a sly smile, "Ok... here's the question -- have you ever had a SERIOUS romantic relationship with a co-worker?"

Jeff laughed, "What, do you think I'm YOU, Lita?"

"HEY!" Matt replied.

"Ummm… Jeff… uh…" Trish looked a little embarrassed.

Jericho looked at Trish, then smirked, "We finally have OFFICIAL confirmation, ladies and gents. Rainbow Brite and Trish are A COUPLE!"

"Thanks Trish," Jeff muttered good-naturedly.

"Jeff, it's your turn," Lita said.

"Ummm..." Jeff thought for a moment, then turned to Stephanie, "Ok... truth or dare?"

Stephanie paused. Why did Mr. Skittles have to pick HER?

"Stephanie?" Lita asked.

Stephanie shifted in her seat, then smiled nervously, "Truth," she replied.

"Ok. What is your biggest regret?" Jeff asked.

"Agreeing to this game," she muttered.

Everyone voiced their disapproval of her answer, "Come on! You have to be serious!" Lita replied.

Stephanie sighed. She had many regrets. The biggest, without a doubt, was marrying for business instead of love. Stephanie would never share that with the group before her though. It would only add fuel to their belief that Triple H was behind the Alliance's violent attacks Monday night.

"Well…" Stephanie started quickly, "I don't regret much, really. Maybe waiting so long before learning to Wrestle," she smiled, then glanced at Lita, "Especially since my trainer is injured now,"

Lita let out a laugh, "Ok. Fair enough. It's your turn. Pick someone,"

Stephanie looked at the group before her, and her eyes rested on Jericho. She offered him what could only be described as the 'evil McMahon smirk'.

"No way!" Chris protested.

"C'mon, Chris," Matt said, "You have no choice!"

Jericho muttered something under his breath, then made his decision, "Dare," he said.

"Ok… if you want a dare, then a dare I'll give you! Now, what should I make you do that's nice and embarrassing… hmmm..." Stephanie thought for a moment, "How about a pie in the face? That's always good for a laugh, right?"

Chris smirked, "Well, I thought so… yeah"

"But we have no pie here. At least, not the kind that I'M talking about," she added before a nearby Rock could comment, "How about something really private and embarrassing -- like admitting to everyone you wear lifts in your boots? I mean, you're not above talking about ... physical enhancements ... right?" Stephanie asked.

"I do NOT wear lifts!" Jericho protested.

"Right, just like I did NOT get implants!" Stephanie shot back, then an idea came to her, "OOOOOH… I know!" Her face brightened, "Ok, you once insulted MY singing, so how about I dare YOU to sing. Loudly! Make sure everyone on the bus can hear you! I'll be fair and let you pick the song yourself..."

Lita, Trish, and the Hardys exchanged looks, then burst out laughing.

Stephanie didn't get the joke.

"All right, Moongoose McQueen!" Jeff cheered, "Sing, buddy! Sing like you've never sung before!"

Jericho smirked, "Moongoose? I'm not Moongoose! I wish I was, but--"

"Can it, Chris!" Trish said, "Just SING already!"

Jericho looked a little uneasy, "Well, I don't even have a band…"

Matt and Jeff suddenly began an air-band. Jeff on electric guitar, and Matt on drums. Lita and Trish quickly joined in.

Jericho burst out laughing, "This is just too funny! I can't keep a straight face,"

"Sing, Jericho!" Stephanie insisted with a determined glare.

"All right... you asked for it!" Jericho started, then took a deep breath, stood up, and began:

I've been down.
I've been beat.
I've been tossed
Into the street.

Making nickels.
Begging dimes.
Just to get
My bottle of wine.

Some say life
She's a lady.
Jealous sort
Kinda shady...

Chris smiled, truly enjoying himself. Lita, Trish, and the Hardys started to laugh, continuing their instrumental accompaniment.

I can't tell you
Life is rich.
She's no lady
She's a bitch

"OK! I think that's enough of THAT!" Stephanie snapped, interrupting the song.

"Hey, we were on a roll!" Jeff started with a smirk, "How dare you interrupt the great Moongoose!"

"I told you, I'm not Mooongoose!" Jericho replied, "That man is a metal god, and I'm just a lowly Wrestler!"

"Listen, I don't CARE who this Moongoose guy is, but I know who the bitch in your song is! No need to spell it out, JERICHO!" Stephanie replied angrily, then spun on her heel and headed to her seat at the back of the bus.

The group was stunned silent.

"That's just the way the song—" Jericho stopped. It was a wasted effort. "FINE!" he shouted, "Sit back there and STAY there!" he snapped, then turned to his friends, "I TOLD you this 'working together' thing just wasn't going to… well… WORK!" He sat down and crossed his arms gently over his tender ribs, his jovial mood now gone.

"Uh, Mr. Insensitive," Lita started, "Maybe you should go talk to her!"

"Oh please! You think she'd listen to me?" he asked, "Here we are, inviting her to play a game with us and trying to include her as part of the WWF team, and she walks off in a huff as if I personally offended her!"

"Well… she's a little sensitive when it comes to you," Lita explained, "Can you blame her?"

"Excuse me, but WHO started our feud in the first place? Not ME!"

"How DID it start anyway?" Trish asked.

Jericho took a deep breath, then explained, "About a year-and-a-half ago, I mistook Stephanie and her friend, Tori, for two of the Godfather's 'hos!"

"Oh, Chris…" Trish groaned.

"Wait! I'm not done yet!" he continued, "I apologized! I mean, I SERIOUSLY apologized… but little Miss Princess saw fit to stick me in a handicap match that night anyway! So … I'M not the one who started it!"

"Um… you conveniently left out the whole 'trash bag ho' speech you made when you got to the ring, Chris," Matt pointed out.

"Hey, I was angry at the time! She didn't accept my apology so I fired back. Would you have expected any less from me?" Jericho asked.

"You two are like kids in a playground. Can't admit when you like each other, so you insult each other instead," Jeff said.

"LIKE each other?" Jericho sputtered incredulously, "Since WHEN do we LIKE each other? I HATE her. She's nothing but a filthy, dirty, disgusting, brutal, skanky, bottom-feeding, trash bag HO!"

Trish and Lita exchanged glances, then looked back at Jericho.

"Oh my," Trish replied with a smirk.

"Toooooold ya…" Jeff sing-songed quietly. Matt, Lita, and Trish stared at Jericho, looks of realization and understanding etched on their faces.

"Uh-huh… well… that's interesting," Lita said, "I mean, now it all makes sense!"

Jericho looked at them, confused, "What?" he asked, "What's interesting? What makes sense?"

"It's times like this that overused and tired old saying still applies – De-nial ain't just a river in Egypt," Jeff snickered.

"Observant little guy, aren't you!" Matt spoke to Jeff, smiling at this latest turn of events.

Jericho shook his head, "I think there's something in the water!" he replied, "You've all gone crazy!" They still stared at him, waiting for him to crack. Jericho frowned, "I DO NOT HAVE A CRUSH ON STEPHANIE McMAHON!" he shouted loudly.

A little TOO loudly as all the wrestlers on the bus turned to Jericho, staring at him with curiosity.

"GOOD! BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE CRUSH ON YOU, EITHER!" Stephanie shouted in response from the back.

The bus occupants paused for a moment, then laughed loudly, many making cat-calls and joking about a lover's quarrel.

When the noise died down, Matt spoke again, unable to contain the smile, "Funny, I don't recall Jeff saying anything about it being a full blown CRUSH!"

"There is NO crush!" Jericho insisted, "Nothing! Nada! Zip!" he sighed and shook his head, "Maybe I should sneak into the luggage compartment at the next truck stop and hide there for the rest of the trip!"

"Only if Stephanie is hiding in there with you," Jeff smirked.

Lita, Matt, and Trish burst out laughing, leaving Jericho eyeing the emergency exit and wondering how much it would hurt if he just jumped out right now…