*** One month later (late-Sept 2001 basically) ***

"Hey Skittles," Jericho said as got onto a treadmill next to Jeff Hardy.

"Hey Blondie," Jeff replied good-naturedly. "How was your weekend?"

"Pretty good," Jericho said. "The weather is kind of nasty in Florida right now. I think I'll go to Winnipeg next weekend."

"You could always come to Cameron," Jeff offered. "Lita and Matt are not permitted to make out at my house."

"You mean they listen to you?" Jericho asked.

"Yeah," Jeff said. "But only after I threatened to tape them and show it on TV."

"So bribery works huh?" Jericho asked.

"Like a charm," Jeff said.

Jericho smiled. He began to concentrate on running. He wished he could run outside the hotel, but it was always risky. He loved meeting fans, but he needed to be able to exercise without stopping and starting.

"Hey guys," Stephanie said. She was dressed in a t-shirt and warm-up pants.

"Hey Steph," Jeff said. He and Stephanie had talked on a regular basis over the previous month. "How are you doing?"

"Pretty good," Stephanie said as she sat on a stationary bike. "Time to let off some steam."

"I hear you," Jeff said.

"How about you Jericho?" Stephanie asked, peering towards the object of her affection.

"What?" Jericho asked, snapping out of his workout mode.

"We were wondering if you were letting off steam too?" Stephanie asked.

"Not really," Jericho said. "I just feel weird when I don't exercise."

"Oh," Stephanie said. Stephanie turned her attention back to the bike. She had been able to make friends with Jeff Hardy, and to some extent, Matt Hardy. But she was still at a loss as how to get close to Jericho. She didn't want to just come onto him. She wanted to build a friendship and then move onto the rest of their lives together. But she had no doubt they would end up together.

Jericho watched Stephanie as she exercised. He had noticed all the time she had been spending around Jeff. He was concerned about his friend. Jeff really had a thing for Trish Stratus, but he didn't seem to remember the bad blood between Stephanie and Trish.

What did Stephanie want with Jeff? The only thing Jericho could think of was that she might be attracted to Jeff. Jericho dismissed the idea. Stephanie couldn't like Jeff. And Jericho didn't like the knot in his gut when he thought about the possibility of Stephanie being attracted to Jeff. It could not happen.

There was only one way to find out why Stephanie was trying to get close to Jeff. He had to get close to Stephanie. "So Steph," Jericho said. "Why don't you come up with Jeff and I and order some Chinese food after we're done here?"

"You guys eat Chinese after you work out?" Stephanie asked in shock. Hunter had been so meticulous about his diet. He rarely ate any kind of take-out food at all.

"We eat Chinese once a week," Jeff said. "We meet in the work-out room at the hotel at midnight after SmackDown taping and then we go eat Chinese. It's how we relax."

"You sure you wouldn't mind if I join you?" Stephanie asked, glancing furtively at Jericho.

"I wouldn't have asked if I minded," Jericho said. "Jeff here seems to think you are an okay person. I guess I might as well see for myself."

"I thought you knew what I was," Stephanie said wryly.

"No," Jericho said. "I just knew how to get to you."

"Oh," Stephanie said. "So you didn't think I was a slut?"

"I really didn't have an opinion one way or the other," Jericho shrugged. "As long as you weren't a part of my personal life, why would I care?"

"I see," Stephanie said. "I think."

"Now it's a part of why people love me," Jericho said, "So I keep calling you a slut."

"Now that I know you don't mean it," Stephanie said, "it might be a little easier to take."

"Don't let anyone know that you know," Jeff warned. "We wouldn't want anyone to think that Jericho might actually have a crush on you or something."

"I guess not," Stephanie said softly.

Jericho was too busy trying to figure out what Jeff had really meant by his comment. He sounded a bit sarcastic. Did Jeff think he had a crush on the Billion Dollar Princess? That was crazy.

"Of course," Jeff said, "he does seem to kiss you every so often."

"You're just jealous," Jericho teased his friend. "But you get Stratusfaction now."

Jeff grinned, "Maybe a little Stratus attention...but not the Stratusfaction yet."

Stephanie tried not to roll her eyes. She really could not stand Trish Stratus. She always seemed to be in her hair. "Thanks for the info," Stephanie said.

"Well, didn't you want to be Jeff's friend?" Jericho asked. "Isn't talking about who you like and what's going on in relationships a part of being friends."

"I guess," Stephanie said.

*

"Road Warrior," Jericho said.

"Lost Boys," Jeff demanded.

"The Princess Bride!" Stephanie exclaimed.

"Doesn't that have Andre the Giant in it?" Jeff asked.

"Yes," Stephanie said.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Jeff said, "we have a winner."

"Good thing it's not some sappy romance," Jericho grumbled.

"You know you like this movie," Stephanie said. "I've never met anyone who didn't like this movie."

"Just put the tape in Princess," Jericho said.

Jeff hopped onto his bed and laid on his stomach, propping himself with his arms. Jericho and Stephanie sat on the ground. After an hour, Jeff was asleep.

"For someone who sold me up the river to watch your movie," Jericho said to Stephanie, "He sure fell asleep quickly."

"Stop whining because you didn't get your way," Stephanie said, smiling up at him.

"Me whining?" Jericho asked. "I think not."

"I think so," Stephanie said.

"I see how it is now," Jericho said, smiling. "I'm just not allowed to win period, huh?"

"Basically," Stephanie said, turning her attention back to the screen. "Don't worry. You'll get used to it."

"Are you saying you want to be my..." Jericho feigned a shudder, "friend?"

"I was thinking it might be a possibility," Stephanie admitted.

"I wouldn't mind giving it a try," Jericho said.

"Really?" Stephanie asked, looking back at Jericho.

"Sure," Jericho said. "Until you hurt someone I care about. Then all bets are off."

"Understood," Stephanie said. "But make sure it's actually me who is hurting someone. Just because some Alliance star decides he's going to go crazy on some guy's ass, don't blame me."

"I guess it's a deal," Jericho said. "But I'm not planning on being your best friend or anything Stephanie. I just know you and Jeff have been hanging out a lot lately. He really seems to like you. I'm willing to give you a chance for him."

"You're a good friend," Stephanie commented.

"I'm good at a lot of things," Jericho said.

"If I didn't know how you felt about me," Stephanie said. "I might have thought that was an invitation."

"How do I feel about you?" Jericho asked.

"You think I'm a ho," Stephanie said. "Or I thought you did."

Jericho shook his head as he smiled. "Well, it wasn't an invitation. You can rest easy."

"Thanks," Stephanie said.

"No problem," Jericho said.

"Hey Jericho," Stephanie said.

"Yeah?" Jericho asked.

"Do you think people can change?" Stephanie asked. "I mean do you think a person can actually change who they are?"

"Yeah," Jericho said. "I mean, it's all mentality. You just have to change your mentality."

"Really?" Stephanie asked

"Sure," Jericho said. "You planning on changing Stephanie?"

"Well, in my personal life," Stephanie said. "Being a bitch in business helps keep people in line and helps me stay in charge."

"Spoken like a McMahon," Jericho said.

"Don't knock it if you can't beat it," Stephanie said.

"Are you still living with your mom?" Jericho asked.

"Some weekends," Stephanie said. "I have an apartment in New York too."

"How's the divorce going?" Jericho asked.

"Smoothly," Stephanie said. "Hunter will always be one of my closest friends. He helped me a lot."

"How so?" Jericho asked.

"Helped me find my self-confidence and assured me I could make an impact," Stephanie said.

"Good old Trips," Jericho said dryly.

"You just don't like him because he kicked your ass for me," Stephanie teased.

"There's that," Jericho said.

"Rest easy that it won't happen anymore," Stephanie said. "Now I have a whole arsenal."

"Funny," Jericho said.