PART 18

THE NEXT DAY

Bang!  Bang!  "Ohh… shit," Adam groaned, rolling over in his bed.  Someone was banging on the door, adding to the monster headache he already had.  He really did not feel like getting up to get the damn door.  Sighing, he got up and headed to the door as the banging persisted.  It wasn't until then that he noticed that he had slept in his clothes from the night before… if you could call it sleeping.  The banging got even louder.

"Alright!  Knock it the fuck off, I'm coming!" he yelled.  As he unlocked the door, he rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"We need to talk."

Adam looked up to see the crystal blue eyes of Chris Irvine.  After blocking the entrance for a moment, Adam backed away, allowing the other Canadian in.  The men flopped down on opposite couches.

"You look like hell, man," Chris commented.

Adam groaned again, "Yes, I know.  I've had two VERY long nights.  I don't need a reminder from YOU."  Adam hated being so snappy, but he didn't really see a point in being nice.  "In less than 24 hours, my life has been completely turned upside down."

Chris frowned, "I know man, and I'm sorry.  Britney… she, uh… she stayed with me last night.  She told me everything."  Adam sighed, rubbing his eyes again.  He remained silent, and Chris swore he saw a tear in the taller man's eye.

"I fucked up, Chris.  I… I brought this on myself.  How the hell could I hit her?  How is she ever going to trust me again?" he asked no one in particular.  He'd been asking himself the same questions over and over again all through the night, but he just couldn't seem to find an answer.

"Adam, it was an accident, she knows that just as well as you and I do.  She's not going to hate you forever for something like this.  Don't be so hard on yourself," Chris said sympathetically.

"How can I NOT be?  I lost the most important person in my life… in my entire world!  God, I… I know it was only an accident, but I just can't… I just love her so damn much, Chris.  She's only been gone for one night and I'm ready to fucking snap," he said in a lost tone.

"But Adam, you haven't LOST her.  She's just scared, and she needs time, but she'd never leave you over this.  Just give her a few days… it'll all blow over, trust me," Jericho replied, beginning to worry.  In all the years he had known Adam, he never saw him in such bad shape emotionally.

"I hope you're right," Adam responded.  "You said Brit stayed with you last night.  Could you please get her and bring her over here?"  Chris frowned and shook his head at the request.

"Sorry, but I can't do that."

"Christ… you sound like Trish.  Why not?" he asked, slightly offended.

Chris sighed, "Because she's, um… she's gone.  She left for home already.  She didn't want to say goodbye.  She said she'd, uh… see you when we got back on the road."  Adam shook his head.  Damn it, it was losing her again.  All of the shit being piled on him was beginning to severely weigh him down.  All because of Brock fucking Lesnar.

"I guess I have a long few days off then.  I'll… I'll call her when I get home," Adam said solemnly.

The shorter man across from him nodded, "It would probably be best."

HOTEL LOBBY

"Hey Vince, you needed to see me?" Brock said as he approached his boss.  Vince McMahon looked up from the stack of papers he was holding to meet the eyes of his niece's ex-boyfriend.

"Yes, have a seat," he instructed, pointing at the couch Brock was standing by.  "Now Brock, I've been hearing a lot from many of the divas, and to tell you the truth, I'm not enjoying much of what I've heard.  I want to hear your side before I jump to any conclusions."

Oh shit, the fight, Brock thought silently.  "Oh, yeah.  I'm sorry Vince.  What happened with me and Adam Copeland was just some stupid macho sh--- stuff.  We just got carried away.  I'm so sorry… I know this isn't a great way to start out a career," Lesnar said, lowering his head shamefully.

"Brock, you realize that this is the second time you've gotten into a fight since you arrived.  However, neither you nor Adam will be fined or suspended.  This will serve as your FINAL warning though," Vince scolded.  After hearing of the scuffle, Mr. McMahon began to worry a little about Brock.  It certainly made him wonder if all the things he heard about the young man were true.  Still, he couldn't bear to think that his little niece actually went through all the things his son told him about.  He decided he would just have to keep a closer watch on Lesnar from now on.

Brock looked up, "Yes sir… and I'm really sorry.  It won't happen ever again, I promise."  He widened his eyes, putting on the best innocent face possible.  Vince gave him a smile.

"Alright, as long as we're clear.  Have a nice couple days off," he said.

"You too, thanks Vince!" Brock called as he headed towards the stairs to go up and get his things.  "Stupid bastard," he muttered about his boss, smirking all the way up the steps.

BRINTEY'S HOUSE

The phone was ringing again.  It had been ringing nonstop since she left.  Practically everyone who knew what had happened called to check on her.  She hadn't picked up the phone yet.  She had messages from Adam, Amy, Jeff, Stephanie, Chris, Trish, Kurt, Mark, and Jay, trying to see if she was okay.  Word traveled pretty quickly in her circle of friends.  It was sweet and all, but Britney just didn't want to spend her two days off getting sympathy calls.  Once again, she let the machine pick up.  She passed by the machine on the way out of her bedroom, stopping when she recognized Adam's voice.  Again.

"Hey baby, it's me again.  I'm still SO sorry for what happened the other day.  When you get this, PLEASE call me.  You've only been gone for around a day and a half and I'm already losing it.  I MISS you, Brit.  And I know you're there… please stop ignoring me and just CALL so I can at least apologize.  You owe it to both of us to at least hear what I have to say.  Please, just give me a call or something… anything.  I love you, don't forget that.  Bye."

Britney sighed, unable to control the tears from springing to her eyes.  She felt like such a bitch for everything.  First, she left without saying goodbye, when all her friends wanted to do was to see if she was okay… and now she wasn't taking any phone calls.  She felt absolutely rotten for how she was treating all her friends, especially Adam.  It was an accident, she told herself time and time again.  She just couldn't help it… whether or not he meant to, he had frightened her.  Goddamn it, this was all Brock's fault.  He HAD to have planned all the event that had transpired over the last two days.  Brock and Paul HAD to be in it together.  Brock was definitely smart, and Levesque wasn't too dumb either.  They definitely had to have concocted this scheme… and Britney doubted that it would be over any time soon.

ADAM'S HOUSE

Adam reclined on the couch, checking his watch for the umpteenth time.  Britney STILL hadn't returned his calls.  He'd left the last message over 2 and ½ hours ago.  In all honesty, he didn't really think she would call back, but there was that tiny glimmer of wrongfully hopeful chance.  It was times like these that the Canadian wished he wasn't so damn positive all the time… it really made him get his hopes up for nothing.  He really needed to stop thinking about her, but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't.  For Christ's sake, there was a playoff hockey game on and he couldn't even bring himself to pay attention!  He honestly didn't even know which teams were on the ice.  It was as though his whole world came to a grinding halt because Britney wasn't speaking to him.  He stared at the TV screen, completely spaced out.  A knock on the front door snapped the Canadian out of his trance.  Adam jumped and practically ran to the door.  It's her… THAT'S why she wasn't returning any calls… she was on her way here!

"Oh… hey Steph," he said somewhat disappointedly after yanking the door open.  He didn't mean to send her such an un-amused look, but in his disillusioned mind, he thought that maybe it was Britney at his door.  Stephanie noticed the look right away, and she understood how he felt.

"Sorry for just showing up like this.  I, uh… I know I'm probably not exactly who you wanted to see," the brunette apologized, smiling.  Adam sheepishly returned the grin.

"No, I'm sorry Steph.  You know how I can get sometimes.  Please, come in," he instructed, backing out of the way and allowing her to enter.

"Look, I know you probably don't want any visitors, but I really wanted to talk to you.  I'll make this…"

"Don't worry about it.  Just sit down.  Who knows… maybe company will do me good," he said hopefully.  They walked into the living room, and sat down next to each other on the couch.

"I was going to go home… but then I realized that I forgot to thank you.  So I decided to swing by on the way and do it in person."

Adam raised an eyebrow, laughing as he responded, "Steph, this is Florida.  You live in Connecticut.  It isn't like you can just 'swing by' on your way.  But still, I'm glad you're here.  What are you thanking me for?"

Stephanie grew serious, "Well, everything you've done for me and Britney, for the last few months.  Specifically the last two days, though… especially for patching 'this' up."  She held up her still bandaged hand.

"It was no problem.  I did what any good guy would do.  Really Steph, it's nothing," he insisted, but the brunette shook her head.  "No, it was a lot more than nothing.  I showed up at your door at three in the morning with a bloody hand, and you didn't slam the door in my face.  You let me in AND you cleaned up my hand.  Not only that, you LISTENED to me.  I can't tell you how much that means to me.  You're probably the first guy, except Jay to ever REALLY listen, and actually care.  And you always have.  You were so nice to me even when I was with Paul and I treated everyone so horribly," she explained.  Well, that certainly made Adam feel a little bit better about himself.

"That's because I saw through everything.  I knew what kind of person you were, and so did Britney.  The person you were while you were with Paul was not the Stephanie McMahon that I know today," Adam said seriously.

Stephanie nodded, "That's for sure.  I always knew Paul was no good… he… he reminded me of Brock.  But… I guess that's what the McMahon girls are made for."  Adam frowned, the tone of Stephanie's voice making him uncomfortable.  She got unmistakably quiet… and that last statement.  "That's what the McMahon girls are made for."  He could have sworn he heard Britney say that before, about why she stayed with Brock for so long.

"What do you mean?" he asked a little uneasily.

"Oh, nothing.  Don't… don't worry about it," the brunette answered, eyes widening a little.  Adam knew better, as Stephanie and his girlfriend were exactly alike… which meant when they said nothing, it meant something.

"No, tell me.  Come on Steph, you know you can tell me anything, so just tell me," he insisted, earning a groan.

"A-alright… but it's really nothing.  It… its just this thing that Brock said to me and Brit this one time.  It just really sticks in my mind when I think of Paul, that's all.  One day, I actually got up the nerve to threaten Brock… I told him I was going to tell my dad the truth about him.  I… I should have never went alone," she said distantly.  Adam watched as a pained expression suddenly took over her pretty face, like she was recalling a bad memory.

"Steph, I don't get it.  What else happened?" he asked, placing a hand on her knee and encouraging her to go on.

"Well, I went to his house one day when I knew they were there alone.  I… I kind of went to… to spy on them, I guess."

Adam nodded, "And I'm guessing you didn't like what you saw."

Nodding, Stephanie replied, "At first I felt a little guilty, cause they were just laying around watching TV.  Next thing I knew, he was up and screaming at her for God knows what, and I got mad.  Just as I flung the door open, he smacked her right on the cheek.  And it was hard too, cause you could see the handprint on her face.  She… she just wouldn't cry.  It was like she knew if she cried, she would only get hit again.  So anyway, I screamed at him.  I… I told him I was going to tell my dad."  She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing.  "He, uh… he laughed.  He said he'd make sure neither of us ever told.  That was… it was the first time he hit me.  He only hit me like 3 times in my whole life, but it scared the shit out of me.  I… I can't even imagine what poor Britney went through.  Anyway, when we went home, Britney and I told Shane everything, and he was PISSED.  Absolutely livid… he told us not to worry, that he would take care of everything himself.  Obviously, it didn't work… but he did try, at dinner that night."

JUNE 23, 1997

"Excuse me?" Vince asked, clearing his throat.  He couldn't believe what his son had just said, of what he accused such a good kid like Brock of doing.  The look on Shane McMahon's face did not falter.

"You heard me Dad.  Why don't you just tell him, Brock?  Tell him what you did to these two today!" he said angrily.

Brock's eyes widened, "Excuse me?  Shane, what are you talking about?"

"Yes, what the hell ARE you talking about?" Vince demanded.

"Dad, THIS asshole hit Britney AND Stephanie today…"

"Mr. McMahon, um… Vince, I didn't even see your daughter from the end of school till I got here," Lesnar insisted.

"I'm sure you didn't, son," Vince replied.  "I believe my son's imaginative mind is getting the best of him again.  Shane, I think I told you to keep you're creative ideas for the company's use, didn't I?"

"Oh my God, I'm telling the truth, aren't I Brit?" Shane swore, becoming frustrated.  Everyone took their eyes off of Brock and turned to Britney.  Out of the corner of her eye, Stephanie saw Brock place his fists on the table and clench them tightly.  Britney must have seen it too, as her eyes widened.  He was intimidating her, and it was working very well.

"I, uh… well… no.  It… it's… not… true," she said unwillingly.  She had no choice.  There was no way in hell she could just rat Brock out… he would kill her.  Shave heaved an enormous sigh, frowning when Britney sent him a helpless look.

"Alright, young man, what the hell was that all about?!" Vince demanded again, raising his voice angrily.  Shane sighed again,

"Don't you see?  He's SCARING her so much that she's LYING to you!"

"With all due respect Shane, you're the one who's lying.  I… I'm upset, man.  I thought we were friends," Brock cut in, seemingly offended.

"Like I'd EVER be friends with a no good piece of fucking shit like you!" Shane cried.

"Alright, knock it off!  And watch your damn language in my house!  You better be happy your mother's not here to see that, and I don't care how old you are!  You know what… go and get in the car.  You and I are going to go take a ride and have a chat.  It seems that even at your age, your maturity level is way behind," Vince said, pointing at the front door.

"God damn bastard," Shane mumbled as he headed to the car.  That so hadn't gone as he hoped.  In his dad's eyes, he had gone a picked a fight with a kid who was about 5 years younger than him.  After watching his son disappear out the door, Vince turned to Brock, who was standing in the kitchen with a bewildered look on his face.

"I'm really sorry about that.  Please excuse how rude my son was acting.  Girls, I'll be back later.  Brock, you can let yourself out when you're ready.  Once again, I'm very sorry about what just happened," Vince said, glancing back at the three kids.

"Alright Mr. McMahon, thank you," Brock said, smiling innocently.

Britney and Stephanie followed Vince halfway to the door.  After the door closed behind him, the girls sighed loudly.  They turned back to head to the kitchen, both of them smacking directly into Brock.  The innocent face he was wearing was completely wiped off, and had been replaced with a cold glare.  He shoved Stephanie clear across the room, causing her to trip and whack her head on a table.  Brock then grabbed Britney and shoved her roughly up against the wall, causing her to cry out.

"You are fucking lucky.  You better watch that bastard cousin of yours.  He could really get me in trouble, which means he could really get you HURT," Brock hissed, holding her to the wall as tears filled her eyes.

"And what if we do tell?" Stephanie asked cockily.  Leave it to Stephanie to never part with her pride in any situation.  "Then Britney could move on and get a new boyfriend, one that's better than a piece of trash like you!"  Brock let go of his girlfriend, letting her slump down the wall as he made his way to the brunette.  Picking her up, he threw her on the couch, pinning her to it.

"Oh, Stephanie… Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie.  Don't you see?  Britney was BOUND to date a guy like me… just like her stupid whore of a mother.  It's in her blood… and it's in yours too.  Just like your aunt, you and Britney will end up beaten down crack addict sluts.  It's what the McMahon girls are made for," he told her.  With that said, he turned and stormed out of the house.

"He's sick Steph.  You know everything he said was totally untrue," Adam said after hearing her story.

"Yeah, I… I know now.  But when I got with Paul… it just made sense," Stephanie said.  "I know now that it's not true.  I know that what happened to my aunt was her own fault, but it doesn't mean that Britney and I are destined to be like that.  My dad is so afraid that we'll end up like her, Adam.  That's why he always acts so crazy about the whole situation… he doesn't want to see his daughter and the niece he thinks of as a daughter turn into his sister.  He was really hurt by her death.  You know, I think he knows that all of this is true, but I think it's just unbearably hard for him to admit it.  So yeah, I know that none of what Brock said is true… I'm just not sure that Britney does."