Changing Sides
CHANGING SIDES
Part Twenty

By: Elektra

WINNIPEG - Sunday night

Stephanie eyed Jericho as he put the finishing touches on his supper, "That's a big sandwich," Stephanie replied as she sat at the kitchen table in the basement apartment.

Jericho shrugged, "Hey, I'm a big guy..."

Stephanie raised an eyebrow at this, "No you're not. You like... what? Maybe two inches taller then ME?" she asked.

"Only because you wear those three-inch stilleto heels!" Jericho replied as he took a bite of his sandwich and sat across the table from her.

"Oh please..." Stephanie continued, "My DAD is bigger then you!"

Jericho glared at her as he stopped eating for a moment, "Don't eeeeeeeever compare me to that 60 year-old letch again!" he said.

"Why not? You're a 30 year-old letch!"

"And you're a 25 year old bitch. Guess that makes us the perfect pair, huh, Stephie?" with that said, he turned his back to her and gulped down the remainder of his sandwich. Chris faced her once again, as if just noticing her sitting there, "Oh... did you want something to eat?"

Stephanie frowned, "You couldn't have asked me that BEFOREyou gorged youself?"

"No. I was too busy gorging myself..." he replied with a smirk.

"I've been here three weeks and your manners haven't gotten any better! You really need to learn how to entertain guests," Stephanie replied.

"And I'm sure you can teach me all about ENTERTAINING people..." Jericho replied.

Stephanie scowled, "Is that yet another trashbag 'ho joke? Can you maybe give the rudeness a rest?"

Chris let out a harsh laugh, "YOU'RE one to talk about being rude. I don't recall you ever THANKING me for helping you get away from Kronik!"

"That was your job!" Stephanie replied.

"My JOB? No, sweetcheeks... my JOB is WRESTLING. Helping your sorry ass is a favour to your father!" Jericho snapped angrily, "And even then, HE probably won't thank me either!"

"So... ask him for a raise!" Stephanie replied.

Jericho stared at her, apalled at what she was saying, "Money really IS the most important thing in the world to you McMahons, isn't it? Forget gratitude! Just pay someone off and it'll all be ok!" he stood up, "I guess 'thank you' is a foreign word to your family," Chris turned to leave the room.

"Chris... wait!" Stephanie called out.

"What?" Jericho replied coldly as he turned back to her.

"Thank you," Stephanie said.

"Yeah... you had to be reminded to say that, didn't you?" he asked, then turned around to leave again.

Stephanie quickly went up to him and spun him around to face her. Before he could speak, Stephanie threw her arms around him, not caring that she was holding him in a way that was more-than-friendly, "Thank you," she whispered with sincerity, "Thank you for everything..."

Jericho was taken aback, not quite sure how to respond, "You're... welcome," he replied quietly. It seemed the safest thing to do at the moment. "Steph..." he stopped as he felt her shoulders shaking, "Steph?" he asked, growing concerned, "Are you... crying?"

Stephanie quickly let go and turned her back to him.

"Daddy says crying is a sign of weakness! McMahon's can't afford to be weak!" she sighed as she sat down at the table again. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, "But ... you're right. I was raised to pay people off, not thank them. This thanking thing is new to me,"

"Well, this 'entertaining guests' thing is new to me too," Jericho replied with a smirk, "My parents said you were MY responsibility during your stay here, and I haven't exactly been a gracious host,"

"Your parents don't like me much, do they?" Stephanie asked.

"Considering they watch the WWF and have seen you screw me over more times then I can count... you're right. They DON'T like you,"

Stephanie stared up at him, looking more like the girl next door and less like the tramp on the street, "Do YOU like me?" she asked.

Chris opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again. He wasn't quite sure how to answer that question, "I take the 5th," he said quickly.

"Thanks a lot," Stephanie frowned.

"What? You'd rather I tell you the truth?" he asked.

"Is it that bad?" She asked quietly, "Do you HATE me?"

"Hate you?" Chris repeated. He thought for a moment, then spoke, "No. No I don't hate you... but sometimes, you make me--" he shook his head as he sat down, "I don't know how to explain it," he sighed, "Put it this way - the past two months, I've seen a side of you I didn't know existed. I mean, you actually showed concern for others. You've started giving as good as you get," he smirked, "And you actually said 'thank you' for the first time!" He grew serious again, "It's hard to hate that side of you, Steph. Maybe if you showed it more often, you might just make a few friends," he stood up, "Now I'm off to sleep. I suggest you do the same. We have to catch an early flight tomorrow. RAW night,"

Stephanie nodded, "You're right... we should sleep," she said, then offered him a smile. A GENUINE smile. "Good night, Chris,"

"Good night, Steph..."