Title: The Four Steps to Happiness
Chapter: 03
Chapter Title: Reflection
Character(s): Stephanie McMahon, Jason Reso
Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the idea; sorta.
Copyright: The song "Higher" is by Creed and can be found on their album Human Clay.
***//when dreaming I'm guided through another world. time and time again. at sunrise I fight to stay asleep. 'cause I don't want to leave the comfort of this place. 'cause there's a hunger, a longing to escape. from the life I live when I'm awake//
Colors. Swirling colors that seemed to imprint themselves into Stephanie's mind. And then she had seen him and for some reason everything was all right in the world.
But then he had left her-wait, or was she the one was completely gone? She tried remembering but even that was too difficult a task. Struggling to be able to open her eyes, she faced defeat and let the fatigue engulf her.
Too tired, too weak, Stephanie decided. She felt a hand grasp hers and then drifted off.
***//so let's go there. let's make our escape. come on let's go there. let's ask can we stay//
Maybe this will finally teach me a lesson about something, Stephanie thought to herself, still not feeling ready to open her eyes. Meds? Did somebody say something about medications? Suddenly she felt very groggy and all thoughts left her mind.
*~*~*~*
"What do you mean?"
Stacy gave her a pointed grin. "I mean, if you could go out with anyone in this company, who'd it be?"
Stephanie glanced around at to the group in the hotel room; consisting of Stacy, Amy, Torrie, Trish, and Terri. "I'm not sure." She mumbled, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks.
Terri nudged her in the ribs. "Is it who I think it is?"
"Depends on who you think it is."
Terri leaned over and cupped her hand around Stephanie's ear. "I was kinda thinking Rob."
"Van Dam?" Stephanie finished off, fixing Terri with an annoyed gaze. "It's not RVD, you thought wrong."
"So if it's not him, who is it?" Amy prodded. "Because honestly, it's gotta be someone."
Stephanie sighed. "I would like to date someone, but it's the last person you guys would ever guess. I can promise you that." She sighed again, not wanting to reveal the fact that they were already dating.
They kept the guessing game going on for a good fifteen minutes before Trish suggested they stop; tomorrow would be a long day.
Torrie and Stephanie got into the bed they'd be sharing together and she reached over and flicked off the light when everyone had said they were ready.
Torrie waited about ten minutes until everything got quiet and moved closer to Stephanie, propping her elbow onto her own pillow. "I never got a chance to guess." She whispered simply.
Stephanie opened one of her eyes and looked at the blonde sleepily. Knowing that she was the most observant and intelligent out of the group of divas, Stephanie was reluctant to let her guess. Then she saw the look of anticipation on Torrie's face and sighed. "Go for it."
Torrie bit her bottom lip thoughtfully and stared out over the room before returning her gave to Stephanie. "Is it Christian?"
Stephanie groaned and buried her face in the pillow, muttering, "How in the hell did you know that."
"I'm insightful." Torrie answered, tapping the side of her head. "But you don't have anything to worry about, I won't tell anyone."
"Thanks Torrie." Stephanie mumbled, setting her head back down on the pillow. "Just as long as you won't tell anyone."
Torrie pulled the covers up to her chin and held up her hands, palms pressed forward. "I swear on my life I won't."
"That's going a bit too far."
*~*~*~*
***//can you take me higher. to a place where blind men see. can you take me higher/ let's ask can we stay//
*~*~*~*
"So when do you wanna tell your parents?" Jay asked. "Or anybody else for that matter?"
Stephanie glanced up into his cloudy blue eyes and felt worse then she ever had. "I, we can't tell anyone yet. Please?"
Jay sighed, but nodded his head. "Okay, but just as long as you promise that we'll be able to tell them."
"I promise Sweetie." Stephanie said, nodding her head in earnest. "Just give me a couple more weeks and it'll all be out."
*~*~*~*
***//although I would like our world to change. it helps me to appreciate. those nights and those dreams//
*~*~*~*
"So did you?" Jay asked Stephanie one night, leaning against the side of the dresser.
She looked up slowly from rummaging through her purse and caught eyes with him. "Did I what?" She asked evenly.
"Have you told your father about us today? Because you were in his office for a pretty long time. I figured you might've been able to slip it in or something." Jay stated, running a hand through his already disheveled hair.
Stephanie took a slow breath and set down her bag before responding to his question. "Why do you want me to tell everybody about us so bad?"
"Why don't you?" Jay countered, shifting so that he was standing upright.
"Do you honestly want to know why?" Stephanie asked as she stood up to face him, clenching her hands together. He looked her straight in the eyes and nodded. "Fine, I'll tell you." She reached over and brushed some lint off his shoulder. "I don't want to." She continued on before he could interrupt. "Do you know what everybody would say if they knew the daughter of Vince McMahon was in a relationship with 'Christian'." She asked, mocking his entrance. Jay looked at her stonily until Stephanie began to feel uncomfortable. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"How can I say something." He started off. "When I can't even believe the words that came out of your mouth. I thought you were so much better then that Steph; you were above having to care what other people thought, whether or not you were accepted."
She shrugged. "You thought wrong." She answered non-chalantly. "I don't think we should see each other anymore."
Jay's head snapped up and he stared at Stephanie with wide eyes. "Just like that?"
"Yea, just like that." She repeated with a cruel smile. She began gathering her things when Jay stopped her.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm getting my stuff so I can go stay with Amy or somebody." She answered as if it were the most reasonable fact in the world.
"Don't bother." Jay snapped. He grabbed his suitcase and brushed by her and slammed the door behind his retreating form
*~*~*~*
***//But, my friend, I'd sacrifice all those nights. if I could make the Earth and my dreams the same. the only difference is. to let love replace all our hate//
Stephanie swallowed dryly as her mind brought forth the memory that tried to be forgotten; the one that hurt too much to be remembered. She had been stupid, and not thinking. And just like you, her inner voice taunted. You are a terrible person that doesn't care about anything or anybody else but yourself and Jay doesn't deserve what you put him through.
"I'm not a terrible person." She whimpered, feeling tears start to form at the corners of her eyes. "I'm not terrible." She kept repeating until she felt somebody put their hand on her own; heard somebody urging her to open her eyes and wake up. But I can't, her body protested. Stephanie ignored the screams of protest that came from her head and opened her eyes, squinting against the harsh fluorescent lighting.
***//can you take me higher. to a place where blind men see. can you take me higher. to a place with golden streets//
Her parents were sitting next to her on one side of the bed, her mom holding her hand in a comforting manner.
"You're awake." Linda breathed as soon as she saw Stephanie open her eyes.
"You had us so scared Stephanie." Vince added as he gave her hand a quick squeeze. "What ever possessed you to do something that dumb?"
"Not now Vince." Linda snapped as she turned to her husband. "She's in the hospital for God's sake. There's no need for an interrogation. Why don't you go get a coffee or something, assure the people outside that Steph's fine and she just woke up."
Vince got up and walked out of the room tersely and they both watched him out.
"I'm so sorry Mom." Stephanie whispered.
Linda sat closer to her and brushed her hair out of her face. "Honey, it's not your fault. Neither your father nor I are blaming you for what happened." She paused. "Could you at least tell me why?"
Stephanie shrugged, ignoring her mom' question. "I have a favor to ask though."
"Anything Sweetie. What do you want?"
"Could you get Jason to come in here?" Stephanie asked quietly.
Her mom agreed without question and left the room in search of him. Her eyes scanned the waiting room for the blonde and found him standing next to Chris Jericho. They were talking in hushed tones and looked up as Linda approached them. "Jason, Stephanie asked to see you." She said simply. "I'm not quite sure why, but you're who she wanted to see."
Jay looked at her, and then at Jericho who urged him to go to the room. He took a deep breath and began walking towards her room. He knocked on the door lightly and strained to hear her voice saying 'Come in'.
Her eyes lit up as soon as she saw him and she smiled nervously. "Take a seat." She said, motioning to the chair her mom had vacated. "I promise I won't bite."
He forced a smile as he sat down next to the bed and tried searching for the right thing to say. "Your mom told me that you wanted to see me." He said finally.
"I'm in the hospital, you don't have to make it seem like such a chore." Stephanie joked.
"Sorry if I'm a little bit nervous, we kind of parted on bad terms." Jay answered tightly.
The look on Stephanie's face softened. "Yeah, I know. That's sort of what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Oh."
She nodded slowly, trying to ignore the pain that doing so caused. "I wasn't thinking when I said the things that I did. And honestly, it didn't take me very long to realize how wrong I was. But by the time I did, it was too late and you wouldn't even look at me, let alone talk to me. And I realized that I had lost the best thing that ever happened to me and couldn't believe how much that hurt." She paused to let him soak everything in. "And if you want to continue to never talk to me again, I understand that. I just wish that you'd rethink your decision."
"You're jumping to conclusions." Jay said softly, looking up at her. "You were never one to make good quick decisions."
"I just spilled my heart out to you and all you can say in return is that don't make good quick decisions?" She asked incredulously.
His face broke out into a grin and he took her hand and squeezed it. "Well, if I decided to tell you everything I was feeling right now we'd be here for a very long time. And I'm thinking that you want to get out of the hospital as soon as possible."
"You always knew me so well." Stephanie said quietly. He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She circled her arms around his neck and sighed happily. She wouldn't screw up this time. Everyone would know; whether they wanted to or not.
***//up high I feel like I'm alive for the very first time. up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams. and make them mine//
Author's Note: Sorry it took so long for this to come out. I've been super busy and I wanted this to be good enough to post; not just some stuff I slap together and call a story. That's not what I'm about. But please read n' review like responsible readers! See y'all in a bit!
~*FallenAngel*~
Chapter: 03
Chapter Title: Reflection
Character(s): Stephanie McMahon, Jason Reso
Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the idea; sorta.
Copyright: The song "Higher" is by Creed and can be found on their album Human Clay.
***//when dreaming I'm guided through another world. time and time again. at sunrise I fight to stay asleep. 'cause I don't want to leave the comfort of this place. 'cause there's a hunger, a longing to escape. from the life I live when I'm awake//
Colors. Swirling colors that seemed to imprint themselves into Stephanie's mind. And then she had seen him and for some reason everything was all right in the world.
But then he had left her-wait, or was she the one was completely gone? She tried remembering but even that was too difficult a task. Struggling to be able to open her eyes, she faced defeat and let the fatigue engulf her.
Too tired, too weak, Stephanie decided. She felt a hand grasp hers and then drifted off.
***//so let's go there. let's make our escape. come on let's go there. let's ask can we stay//
Maybe this will finally teach me a lesson about something, Stephanie thought to herself, still not feeling ready to open her eyes. Meds? Did somebody say something about medications? Suddenly she felt very groggy and all thoughts left her mind.
*~*~*~*
"What do you mean?"
Stacy gave her a pointed grin. "I mean, if you could go out with anyone in this company, who'd it be?"
Stephanie glanced around at to the group in the hotel room; consisting of Stacy, Amy, Torrie, Trish, and Terri. "I'm not sure." She mumbled, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks.
Terri nudged her in the ribs. "Is it who I think it is?"
"Depends on who you think it is."
Terri leaned over and cupped her hand around Stephanie's ear. "I was kinda thinking Rob."
"Van Dam?" Stephanie finished off, fixing Terri with an annoyed gaze. "It's not RVD, you thought wrong."
"So if it's not him, who is it?" Amy prodded. "Because honestly, it's gotta be someone."
Stephanie sighed. "I would like to date someone, but it's the last person you guys would ever guess. I can promise you that." She sighed again, not wanting to reveal the fact that they were already dating.
They kept the guessing game going on for a good fifteen minutes before Trish suggested they stop; tomorrow would be a long day.
Torrie and Stephanie got into the bed they'd be sharing together and she reached over and flicked off the light when everyone had said they were ready.
Torrie waited about ten minutes until everything got quiet and moved closer to Stephanie, propping her elbow onto her own pillow. "I never got a chance to guess." She whispered simply.
Stephanie opened one of her eyes and looked at the blonde sleepily. Knowing that she was the most observant and intelligent out of the group of divas, Stephanie was reluctant to let her guess. Then she saw the look of anticipation on Torrie's face and sighed. "Go for it."
Torrie bit her bottom lip thoughtfully and stared out over the room before returning her gave to Stephanie. "Is it Christian?"
Stephanie groaned and buried her face in the pillow, muttering, "How in the hell did you know that."
"I'm insightful." Torrie answered, tapping the side of her head. "But you don't have anything to worry about, I won't tell anyone."
"Thanks Torrie." Stephanie mumbled, setting her head back down on the pillow. "Just as long as you won't tell anyone."
Torrie pulled the covers up to her chin and held up her hands, palms pressed forward. "I swear on my life I won't."
"That's going a bit too far."
*~*~*~*
***//can you take me higher. to a place where blind men see. can you take me higher/ let's ask can we stay//
*~*~*~*
"So when do you wanna tell your parents?" Jay asked. "Or anybody else for that matter?"
Stephanie glanced up into his cloudy blue eyes and felt worse then she ever had. "I, we can't tell anyone yet. Please?"
Jay sighed, but nodded his head. "Okay, but just as long as you promise that we'll be able to tell them."
"I promise Sweetie." Stephanie said, nodding her head in earnest. "Just give me a couple more weeks and it'll all be out."
*~*~*~*
***//although I would like our world to change. it helps me to appreciate. those nights and those dreams//
*~*~*~*
"So did you?" Jay asked Stephanie one night, leaning against the side of the dresser.
She looked up slowly from rummaging through her purse and caught eyes with him. "Did I what?" She asked evenly.
"Have you told your father about us today? Because you were in his office for a pretty long time. I figured you might've been able to slip it in or something." Jay stated, running a hand through his already disheveled hair.
Stephanie took a slow breath and set down her bag before responding to his question. "Why do you want me to tell everybody about us so bad?"
"Why don't you?" Jay countered, shifting so that he was standing upright.
"Do you honestly want to know why?" Stephanie asked as she stood up to face him, clenching her hands together. He looked her straight in the eyes and nodded. "Fine, I'll tell you." She reached over and brushed some lint off his shoulder. "I don't want to." She continued on before he could interrupt. "Do you know what everybody would say if they knew the daughter of Vince McMahon was in a relationship with 'Christian'." She asked, mocking his entrance. Jay looked at her stonily until Stephanie began to feel uncomfortable. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"How can I say something." He started off. "When I can't even believe the words that came out of your mouth. I thought you were so much better then that Steph; you were above having to care what other people thought, whether or not you were accepted."
She shrugged. "You thought wrong." She answered non-chalantly. "I don't think we should see each other anymore."
Jay's head snapped up and he stared at Stephanie with wide eyes. "Just like that?"
"Yea, just like that." She repeated with a cruel smile. She began gathering her things when Jay stopped her.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm getting my stuff so I can go stay with Amy or somebody." She answered as if it were the most reasonable fact in the world.
"Don't bother." Jay snapped. He grabbed his suitcase and brushed by her and slammed the door behind his retreating form
*~*~*~*
***//But, my friend, I'd sacrifice all those nights. if I could make the Earth and my dreams the same. the only difference is. to let love replace all our hate//
Stephanie swallowed dryly as her mind brought forth the memory that tried to be forgotten; the one that hurt too much to be remembered. She had been stupid, and not thinking. And just like you, her inner voice taunted. You are a terrible person that doesn't care about anything or anybody else but yourself and Jay doesn't deserve what you put him through.
"I'm not a terrible person." She whimpered, feeling tears start to form at the corners of her eyes. "I'm not terrible." She kept repeating until she felt somebody put their hand on her own; heard somebody urging her to open her eyes and wake up. But I can't, her body protested. Stephanie ignored the screams of protest that came from her head and opened her eyes, squinting against the harsh fluorescent lighting.
***//can you take me higher. to a place where blind men see. can you take me higher. to a place with golden streets//
Her parents were sitting next to her on one side of the bed, her mom holding her hand in a comforting manner.
"You're awake." Linda breathed as soon as she saw Stephanie open her eyes.
"You had us so scared Stephanie." Vince added as he gave her hand a quick squeeze. "What ever possessed you to do something that dumb?"
"Not now Vince." Linda snapped as she turned to her husband. "She's in the hospital for God's sake. There's no need for an interrogation. Why don't you go get a coffee or something, assure the people outside that Steph's fine and she just woke up."
Vince got up and walked out of the room tersely and they both watched him out.
"I'm so sorry Mom." Stephanie whispered.
Linda sat closer to her and brushed her hair out of her face. "Honey, it's not your fault. Neither your father nor I are blaming you for what happened." She paused. "Could you at least tell me why?"
Stephanie shrugged, ignoring her mom' question. "I have a favor to ask though."
"Anything Sweetie. What do you want?"
"Could you get Jason to come in here?" Stephanie asked quietly.
Her mom agreed without question and left the room in search of him. Her eyes scanned the waiting room for the blonde and found him standing next to Chris Jericho. They were talking in hushed tones and looked up as Linda approached them. "Jason, Stephanie asked to see you." She said simply. "I'm not quite sure why, but you're who she wanted to see."
Jay looked at her, and then at Jericho who urged him to go to the room. He took a deep breath and began walking towards her room. He knocked on the door lightly and strained to hear her voice saying 'Come in'.
Her eyes lit up as soon as she saw him and she smiled nervously. "Take a seat." She said, motioning to the chair her mom had vacated. "I promise I won't bite."
He forced a smile as he sat down next to the bed and tried searching for the right thing to say. "Your mom told me that you wanted to see me." He said finally.
"I'm in the hospital, you don't have to make it seem like such a chore." Stephanie joked.
"Sorry if I'm a little bit nervous, we kind of parted on bad terms." Jay answered tightly.
The look on Stephanie's face softened. "Yeah, I know. That's sort of what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Oh."
She nodded slowly, trying to ignore the pain that doing so caused. "I wasn't thinking when I said the things that I did. And honestly, it didn't take me very long to realize how wrong I was. But by the time I did, it was too late and you wouldn't even look at me, let alone talk to me. And I realized that I had lost the best thing that ever happened to me and couldn't believe how much that hurt." She paused to let him soak everything in. "And if you want to continue to never talk to me again, I understand that. I just wish that you'd rethink your decision."
"You're jumping to conclusions." Jay said softly, looking up at her. "You were never one to make good quick decisions."
"I just spilled my heart out to you and all you can say in return is that don't make good quick decisions?" She asked incredulously.
His face broke out into a grin and he took her hand and squeezed it. "Well, if I decided to tell you everything I was feeling right now we'd be here for a very long time. And I'm thinking that you want to get out of the hospital as soon as possible."
"You always knew me so well." Stephanie said quietly. He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She circled her arms around his neck and sighed happily. She wouldn't screw up this time. Everyone would know; whether they wanted to or not.
***//up high I feel like I'm alive for the very first time. up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams. and make them mine//
Author's Note: Sorry it took so long for this to come out. I've been super busy and I wanted this to be good enough to post; not just some stuff I slap together and call a story. That's not what I'm about. But please read n' review like responsible readers! See y'all in a bit!
~*FallenAngel*~