*Author's Note: To look at my disclaimer and all of that, go to the first chapter.*

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*Chapter Twenty One – Trouble in Paradise?*

(Later that week, on Thursday the 12th…)

Stone Cold Steve Austin was in his apartment on campus trying to do some of his homework.  Homework is such a pain in my ass.  Hell, being in school is such a pain in my ass.  Everyone is, he thought as he looked outside his window.  It faced the sidewalk below, so he could see all the people standing in front of his building and who decided to go to class and who didn't want to.  Stone Cold continued to write in his notebook and thought, I feel bad for Bubba Ray now.  Undertaker and Chyna are after him and I just hope he knows how to get out of the mess he's already in.  I guess they somehow found out that he told D-Von about their plan.  Stone Cold threw his pencil down.  'Taker and Chyna will get what's coming to them soon, I know it.  Just then, his cell phone rang.  Stone Cold stared at it incredulously.  The fuck?  Who would be calling me now?  It's 5:00, who's around at this hour?  He checked the number flashing on the phone.  It was Shawn Michaels. 

Stone Cold coughed, and answered.  "Hello Shawn." 

"Hey Stone Cold, what are you up to?"  Shawn asked.  From the static Stone Cold could hear, Shawn sounded like he was either in a car or someplace in town with shitty reception. 

"I was trying to get some homework done.  Why?"

 Shawn coughed.  "Well, I heard some bad news about 'Taker."  Stone Cold's eyes went wide as he realized that Shawn was Taker and Chyna's "informant."  I wonder if they have him doing it against his will, he wondered as he tapped his pencil on his desk.  I know that he and Chyna used to go out back in the day…I wonder if she threatened him, too.  My God, I'm gonna kill them all -

 

"What?!" 

Shawn said sort of quietly, "Yeah, Bubba Ray is already his first target.  You knew that, right?" 

Stone Cold nodded.  Unfortunately, yes, he thought.  And I tried my damndest to stop it, too!  "Yeah, I did.  What, you know who the next target is?"  Even though I already figured out that you're the informant, he thought. 

Shawn sighed.  He didn't answer for about a minute.  "Yes…Shane McMahon is next.  We have to warn him or something!" 

Stone Cold sighed.  "What the fuck would Undertaker want with Shane O'Mac?!" 

Shawn yelled back, "I have no idea, but…I gotta go." 

Stone Cold demanded, "Where are you?!" 

Shawn replied, "Listen, I'll talk to you whenever I get back to campus.  Goodbye."  With that, he hung up. 

Stone Cold stared at his phone like it was a monster.  "The fuck?  I think he's going to go after everyone in the apartment!  I have to say something!"  And with that, Stone Cold bolted out the door, leaving the phone spinning on his desk.         

****

Across campus, Raven was busy observing Victoria, Dawn Marie, and Hurricane interact with each other.  He had to do a report on how people talked with each other for his one psychology class.  So far, he couldn't get far on his observing since Hurricane didn't know what to say to either Dawn Marie or Victoria. 

Billy Kidman, who was on his bed reading a comic book, said, "Come on, Hurricane, say something!  This is for a grade, ya know!" 

Hurricane sighed.  "I know, but still, I mean, I hardly know these two." 

Dawn Marie shrugged.  "We don't bite.  Well, Victoria does, but I don't." 

Victoria growled.  "I do not bite…only when I'm pissed off."  She turned to her roommate and smiled evilly.  "Cheerleaders like you are a different story." 

Dawn Marie scratched her head.  "Just because I made the cheerleading squad doesn't mean that I bite, does it?"

"I'm confused." Kidman muttered, flipping the page of his comic book.

"Me too." Hurricane added with a hint of a squeak to his voice.  Damnit, having girls in the room makes me so damn nervous, he thought.  I need to get past that already…this ain't middle school anymore!  

Raven smiled.  Leave it to Kidman to start things off, he thought as he furiously scribbled notes in his notebook.  "Come on, say some more stuff, Hurricane, I don't care what it is.  Anything."  Raven began, motioning with his hand to continue.  Victoria looked at Dawn Marie, who gave her a weird look.  I have no idea what that girl is gonna do, she thought as Victoria moved closer to Hurricane.  He squeaked and tried to back away. 

Billy laughed – he knew Victoria was gonna try to kiss Hurricane.  "Hurricane, come on, dude, she's not gonna hurt ya." 

Raven nodded. "You have to learn how to interact with women sometime." 

Hurricane sighed.  "Where's Matt when I need him?" 

Billy snickered.  "Probably trying to figure out how to fuck that one girl…what's her name?  Rita?" 

Raven's eyes went wide.  "No shit, Matt's after Lita?!  I used to go out with her a few years ago."  Everyone in the room stared at him as if he was insane.  "I'm serious.  She wouldn't give it up to me, though.  She's a stubborn one.  But hey, she is very loyal, if that's your thing."  Raven continued.  He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a picture that was obviously taken a few years earlier. 

Dawn Marie looked at it – Lita was smiling broadly, wearing a dark bandanna in her hair and a bright green crop top with red fishnet underneath.  Raven was wearing a black shirt with a flannel over it and had a half smile on his face. 

"Wow, how'd you pull that off?" Hurricane asked, obviously interested.  "I didn't even know she existed until this year.  Matt talks about her all the time." 

Raven shrugged.  "I'll tell you all the story later, but right now, let me finish my observations, okay?" 

Dawn Marie, Victoria, and Hurricane growled in disappointment, "Fine."   

****

In the other dorm, Steph McMahon was in her room with Molly Holly, slacking off and watching TV. 

"I hate taking tests, you know that?" Molly began, chewing on some licorice. 

Steph nodded in agreement.  "Yeah, the last few tests and quizzes I've taken this week seemed to be much harder than usual.  I wonder why that is." 

Molly turned to her roommate.  "I have no idea, but I thought that was just me, too."  A rerun of Dawson's Creek was on the TV and Molly abruptly switched it off.  "I hate that show, sorry, Steph." 

Steph nodded in agreement.  "It's cool, I understand.  See if there is anything else on." 

Molly shrugged.  "Well, it's only 6 or so.  Like there is anything on at this hour except for news." 

Just then, Steph's cell phone rang.  "It's Chris." She picked it up and said, "Hi dear." 

Chris Jericho replied, "Hi Stephie dearest.  What are you doing at this hour?" 

Steph shrugged.  "Molly and I are hanging out, trying to find something worthwhile to watch on TV.  You?" 

Jericho surveyed the living room of his apartment – Rob Van Dam was on the computer playing a game, and Matt Hardy was at the kitchen table doing his homework.  Ever since Matt had snapped on Undertaker a few days earlier, he had made himself very scarce in the apartment.  Not that we're complaining, he thought, stroking his chin.  "Well, we're pretty much doing the same thing you all are." 

Steph nodded.  "Yeah." 

"So how about you and Molly go out to dinner with us?  Are you up to it?" Jericho asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice. 

Steph grinned widely.  "We're always up for getting off campus, you know that." 

Jericho looked at the clock on the wall near Matt and said, "We'll be over in ten.  Be ready." 

"Okay, dear.  Bye bye."  Steph told him as she hung up. 

Molly sighed and asked, "Where are we going?" 

Steph bounced off of her bed and said, "Who knows, but at least we'll be off campus!"  With that, the two of them instantly got ready since they had been hanging out in their pajamas all day.

(Twenty minutes later…)

                Steph, Molly, Jericho, Rob Van Dam, and Matt Hardy were all piled into Jericho's car, heading towards the nearest Denny's.  "Thanks for suggesting dinner, man, I was getting kinda hungry."  Rob Van Dam said, stretching out his arm.  Molly ducked out of his way – she was wedged between him and Matt.  Matt looked over at Molly and sighed.  Damn, we were together for about a month too.  I know how badly Shane was hurt by it. I regret it, but I don't.  But at least I learned my lesson – don't fuck around with your best friend's girlfriend, he thought and then looked out the window. 

Molly blinked.  "Matt?" 

"Yeah?" He didn't turn around. 

"What's wrong with you?"  Besides Jeff, Hurricane, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels, Molly was one of the only people who knew Matt pretty well.  "You're being awfully quiet."  Molly continued over the lively conversation between RVD, Jericho, and Steph. 

Matt sighed.  "I'm confused, Molly.  I'm very confused on a lot of things.  It's like I have no idea where I'm going."

Molly nodded in sympathy.  "I know how that is.  Tell me what's up.  Come on." She motioned to the loudness of the others.  "It's not like they can hear you." 

Matt chuckled.  "Well…I like this one girl a lot, almost a bit too much.  And I have no idea what to do about it."  He sighed.  "It's not like I can tell her straight out, 'I fuckin' want you,' you know?  That'd scare her off."  Not to mention the fact that I only met her last week and I swear that I'm already in love with her, he thought.

Molly nodded, her brown eyes clear.  "Yeah."  I used to be her.  I used to be the one you wanted, she thought sadly.  But hey, I loved Shane more.  "Who is it, if you don't mind me asking?" 

Matt smiled.  "Her name is Lita…she's a junior." 

Molly laughed.  "Going for the older women, I see." 

Matt shrugged.  "Well, I'll be considered a junior next semester.  I might as well go for it.  Plus she just has this…aura…it's hard to explain."  Molly smiled inwardly.  I'm glad Matt has found something to be happy about, she thought.  I remember how depressed he'd get because of me, Shane, and him fighting between each other.  Oh, how I hated those days. 

"I'm glad you found something to be happy about, Matt." 

Matt grabbed Molly's hand and nodded.  "Me too.  I wish you would think about getting back with Shane.  He loved you and he still does, you know." 

Molly sighed.  "I know…it's just so hard for me to even think about.  So I'm kind of glad that I'm alone for a while.  It gives me time to think about my life and where it's going." 

Matt patted her hand.  "Talk to him anyway."

Molly closed her eyes.  "We'll see."      

                The five of them had finally reached Denny's, and were piling out of the car.  "Okay, you did not just say that Victoria is hot!" Jericho chortled at RVD, who was putting up his hands in defense. 

"That girl just scares me, man!"  RVD yelled. 

"Do I scare you?" Steph asked Jericho sweetly. 

"No, I don't…only when you're PMSing." Jericho replied, kissing her on the forehead.  RVD feigned a gagging noise.  Gag, gag, he thought as the five of them made their way to the door. 

Matt raised his eyebrow at Molly and said softly, "I see they're arguing about who's the hottest chick on campus again.  They do that all the time back at the apartment.  It gets annoying at times." 

Molly nodded.  "Yeah, they have nothing else to talk about, I'm sure.  I always wondered why you didn't do that." 

Matt shrugged.  "I tend to keep quiet about that stuff."  I wish someone would think I'm hot, though, Molly thought as Matt held the door open for her and Steph.  Oh well.  One day.  But then again, no one up here is worth my time. 

Steph clung to Jericho's arm as they all went inside.  "Chrissy, are you paying for me this time or is it my turn to pay?  I forget."

Jericho smiled at her.  "It's my turn, hun.  Next time, you get the bill." 

Steph nodded.  "Okay, got it."  Matt squinted at the two of them and thought, I'm surprised Shane O'Mac hasn't found out about them yet.  I wonder how much longer they can keep it from him.  I know he won't be too happy whenever he finds out, though.  I'd hate to see them fighting.  Hell, I hate fighting of any kind.  But I had to fight 'Taker because he was pissing me off.  They all got to a table – Jericho and Steph were on one side, and Molly was squeezed in between RVD and Matt, who was on the end. 

A waitress with a huge chest and dark brown hair to her shoulders finally came by and said, "Hi, my name is Katie, and I'll be your waitress for this evening.  What beverage do you want to start out with?" 

Steph looked up and said, "Water." 

Molly said, "Same as her." 

Jericho raised his eyebrow.  "Pepsi."  The waitress looked to Matt and RVD. 

"Uhh…uhmmm…Sprite."  RVD giggled. 

Matt said, "Pepsi."

"Alright.  I'll give you a few minutes to decide what ya'll want to eat, okay?"  the waitress told them as she passed out menus.  They all nodded as she left. 

"Dude, she's hot." RVD giggled. 

Matt shook his head, knowing full well where the conversation was about to go.  "Here we go again." 

Jericho nodded.  "She does have a nice rack." Steph glared at him.  "But not as nice as your rack, of course."  Matt rolled his eyes.  God, Chris, he thought, you're such a jackass!  Steph coughed.  Damnit, Chris, why do you have to be such an asshole at times?  You're not supposed to compare your girlfriend to other people, especially with other people around, she thought as an angry look crossed her face. 

RVD was busy drooling at the menu, completely oblivious to the tension growing between Jericho and Steph.  "Dude…I want that and that and that…" he said, pointing to random things on the menu.  Molly laughed. 

Steph got up and said, "I need to get outta here."  She grabbed her coat and purse and glared at Chris.  "Blame him." 

Matt looked at her in concern.  "How the fuck are you gonna get back to campus?" 

Steph shrugged.  "I could give a damn."  Matt looked at Jericho, who was silently pleading for Matt to say something to Steph.  Please Matt, talk to her, come on, he thought never leaving Matt's worried glance. 

"I'll take care of this.  If the waitress gets back before we get back, tell her I want some buffalo chicken and a side of fries." Matt told Jericho as he followed Steph out.

Steph sat on the steps outside and growled.  I don't know how to tame Chris and his fucking "I must look at every chick that passes by" ways, she thought bitterly.  It's bad enough when I'm constantly compared to people.  She heard the footsteps of someone behind her and her blue eyes went wide.  Shit, who is that?, she thought.  I didn't want to be followed! 

She heard the soft voice float over her – "Steph." She blinked.  That's Matt, she thought.  Good thing Jericho didn't follow him out.  I'd end up killing him, I'm sure. 

Matt sat down next to her and said, "So what's wrong?  Start talking."  Steph sighed.  She knew that Matt wouldn't back down and that he was the peacemaker of the group. 

"Alright, well, I was kinda pissed off at how Chris just compared me to that waitress.  I mean, what gives him the right to do that?" 

Matt put his arm around her and said, "Listen, Chris has a tendency to not think before he speaks.  Yeah, that can be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing.  At least you know he's being honest and not lying to you." 

Steph wiped a tear.  "Yeah." 

Matt smiled sympathetically.  "Come on, don't cry over this.  It's not worth it!" 

Steph whined, "Yeah, but I hate being compared to other girls out there.  He knows that.  It's like he doesn't listen to me whenever I remind him of that.  And we've only been together for a few weeks and already things are going down the tubes…" 

Matt nodded.  A few weeks…that's probably the longest Jericho has ever been in a relationship, he thought to himself.  If he hurts her though, I will definitely ream him out.  "I'll talk to him about it, okay?"  Steph sighed.  Matt's arm around her felt strangely comforting.  I would go for Matt if it wasn't for Chris, she thought as she looked up at him.  But then again, I heard he's after someone else.  Good for him.  Matt pulled Steph up and said, "Come on, they want us back in there." 

Steph smiled shyly.  "Okay.  Thanks, Matt." 

Matt held the door open for her and said, "No problem."

****

End of Chapter Twenty One…