Story Four: Stephanie's Troubles
Lies Kill Trust
"Well, Hunter... you out did yourself this time," Stephanie said as she dropped the stack of papers on the hotel desk. She was tired of her life. And the whole situation with Hunter didn't help... just complicate it.
She sat in the chair at the desk and put her head in her hands. "So I lied..." She didn't mean to do it. It was just; she loved him so much and wanted him back in her life, like the old days.
Even she had to admit that she was wrong for the lie that she told, but she could help herself. It's like a disease that she has... compulsive lying. She knew their relationship was faltering; and she knew she could save it. Maybe that why she did what she did.
The sound of the phone ringing brought Stephanie out of her thoughts and she lifted her head to pick up the phone. "Hello?" she said as she spoke into the receiver. She held her breath, hoping it wasn't Hunter. He was the last person that she wanted to speak to... all he would do is berate her.
"How are you feeling Steph?" the voice asked. She sounded tired and sleepy, but always found time to check on Stephanie.
Stephanie sighed in relief. "Hey." She said at the recognized voice.
"How are you?" she asked again. She had been the only one that was really concerned, besides Terri and Chris Jericho, over what was going on with Hunter how it was affecting her. She was Stephanie's most unlikely friend. They had met when she was talking with Lilian one day, and their friendship of misery kinda grew from there.
"I'm surviving," Stephanie said. She looked at the stack of papers.
"'Surviving?'" she asked. "You got the papers, didn't you? Don't lie to me because I can tell."
She chuckled at how well her friend knew her despite the fact that it hasn't been that long since they became friends. "Yes I did. I got them a couple weeks ago and been putting it off for a while now. He's been asking about them lately."
"I'm sorry..."
"You're not the only one. I guess you were right," Stephanie said. She picked up the papers and started to look through them.
"Well," she said with happiness in her voice, "I'd hate to be an I-told-you-so... but I told you so... lies kill trust."
Stephanie laughed. Just like her to stick it back in my face, she thought to herself. "Yes, you did... I should have never lied about being pregnant."
"It was the final lie, Steph. He couldn't take anymore of them in your relationship," she said with certainty.
"I know," Stephanie said still reading through the papers. "How did you get so wise in the relationship field?"
She chuckled. "I don't know... especially since I haven't been with anyone in a while." Her voice sounded as if she was suddenly saddened by the fact that she was alone.
Stephanie frowned at her friend's voice. "Is something wrong? I can come over if you want me too."
"No, Steph... you got a lot to deal with on your own," she said.
"You know if you ever need me... I'll be there," Stephanie said. "You're a great friend..."
"Thank you, I have to go," she said. "Take care, Stephanie."
Stephanie stopped looking through the papers. She was concerned for her friend, and hopefully she knew that she would be there for her when she is ready to tell what's wrong. "You too," she said as she hung the phone up.
She went back to the papers, only to be interrupted minutes later by a knock on the door. She stood from the desk and walked over to the door to answer it.
"Hello, Steph," Chris Jericho said as he walked through the opened door with a bottle of champagne.
Stephanie's face scrunched up in confusion. "What the hell are you doing here?"
He sat at the desk she previously occupied in a chair across from the one she had sat in. "Have a seat, dear."
"'Dear?'" she repeated the last part as she sat down in the seat. She started to move the papers out of the way, when he stopped her.
"Jazz told me he sent the papers to you," Chris said.
Stephanie smile. "She was quick. I just spoke to her on the phone."
"I know," he chuckled. "I was on hold while she spoke to you. She figured I could cheer you up." He opened the champagne bottle and grabbed two hotel cups that were located on the desk. Chris poured the champagne into the cups and put one next to her.
"I still love him Chris," she confessed softly.
He would never understand why she did. "He's an ass..."
"And I'm a bigger one... there was too many lies in our relationship. It's for the best that we do this though." She finally realized that. It was for the best and she had her family and friends to help deal with the pain.
Chris nodded in understanding. "Do what you feel Stephanie."
Stephanie picked up an ink pen and started to sign her name on all the papers that required her signature. As she finished she put the papers in a brown envelope and sighed. She took the cup of champagne and raised her cup in a toast.
"Here's to the death of Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley... and the rebirth of Stephanie McMahon," she said.
"Here, here," Jericho said as he clinked his cup with hers.