Down the Road
PG-13
A/N: I think this is something that takes a look at what Chris is going to do while wallowing in self-pity. Have a little surprise at the end too. I don't know. All depends on you. :P. Oh, and Kurt's gonna be a dad in 5 weeks. Whoohoo!
Chapter 8
Wednesday.
How... unlucky. Perhaps Chris would have to name Wednesday the thirteenth an unlucky day. Friday didn't seem to be working these days. He sighed. He had probably counted that... About 17 times that day. He was bored too, so what would you expect? 'Dear Stephanie,' he wrote on that paper. Ever since Kurt told him the news, Chris decided that he should start living life day to day. Even if he was just 32.
He stared at the ripples in the styrofoam he made with his coffee and stirrer. Why did all of this happen to him?Just a day after his birthday, and the person he wanted most was asking him to be his best friend. And best friends never got together. Look at Stephanie and Kurt in the past. They were best friends. Or... Or Julianne and her best friend Michael in 'My Best Friend's Wedding'. Or Pete and Sharon in 'Two Guys and A Girl', or like Willow and Xander. They failed to carry out a proper relationship. It seemed like Chris Jericho and Stephanie was about to be added to that list. Now that he had this on his mind, any other thought, he could not concentrate on. Maybe he'd feel better if he headed back home. To his old house. His possessions weren't there, but he sure as hell left everything that couldn't fit in his suitcase there.
"Are you alright?" a concerned voice asked. When he looked up, he felt even more miserable. "I'm sorry about that day, Chris."
"It's no problem. I'm quite over that," was his reply. "I guess you know, being a best friend is better than anything else."
She sat right in front of him. "Are you sure you're okay? Kurt told me you really liked me alot."
"I did. But the word is did. But you know, I'm your best friend and that's just all... Wrong."
"Exactly," Stephanie agreed. "I really admire how you get over things so quickly. I mean, you have a really strong personality."
"Thanks." He didn't want to drink that coffee anymore. He slid the note off the table quietly and into his pocket. "What's new?" he asked, trying to lighten his own mood and leaning forward.
"I suppose Kurt hasn't told you, has he?"
"Haven't seen him at all today," he said. "What did he do?"
"Oh well, you see, you know there are times when either you or him bets either one of you to do something?"
"Oh no---"
"Wait! I'm not done." This worried Chris a bit. Kurt had stupid terrible dares sometimes. He was sure himself that he was never allowed to step into that Catholic church again. "He dared me to... Uh..." She covered his ear in front and whispered it all into his ear. Chris' face turned red for her and a grin started to form.
"No way."
"Here's proof," she said, taking out last night's ten.
"I didn't know Kurt hated that guy THAT much."
Steph had drugged Kurt's neighbour's dog and set it loose all over its owner... And that owner happened to be his old highschool teacher. And Kurt was there to tar the poor guy too.
After a few chuckles and giggle here and there, Stephanie spoke again. "I'm really glad that you're so nice to push your own troubles away to accomodate mine... I think you'll make a fine best friend." She smiled warmly, and Chris couldn't help but smile back. "I wonder why we never did this earlier."
*That's because I happened to like you at some point of time and you liked me back.* His heart was screaming to label her something mean, or evil, or anything that'd the old Jericho would say to Mrs Helmsley. "I think I need some time alone."
"You do?" she said, a tone of concern present. "...Alright then. I'll do just that."
"Thanks," he replied. At least she understood. Kurt would just go, "Tell me! Tell me!" and basically give him a verbal challenge. That wasn't what he needed now. He figured that feeling sorry for himself once in a while wouldn't hurt.
So why did this happen to him? Number one: because he was a giant softie. Damn, the truth really hurt. Let's face it; Chris would never hurt anyone intentionally. Even if it WAS Hunter, or some other mean guy. Hurt meaning either psychological hurt or emotional hurt. Hell, he'd beat the crap out of Kurt any day. His soft heart often gave way, and when he put so much interest in something it disappears in a cloud of useless nothing. Sighing always did some serious stress relieving.
Thinking about how easily he gave his heart away made him feel so stupid. In fact, not only did he give his heart away, the person who was supposed to receive it didn't even know it was there for her. Another big sigh. If he had ten bucks for everytime he frowned or sighed, he'd be swimming in an olympic-sized pool of green. He'd even use the remainder to wipe his butt off. Its all her fault.
He left the place after awhile and walked along the streets. He turned his head to the right and he saw the florist's, where he bought those roses for her. He was surprised that the roses were still alive, since roses didn't last for very long. Enough of the florist. He didn't want to look at anything that reminded him of Stephanie, so he continued down the street.
Oh my, there it was, that restaurant. The chinless English fart was still there standing at the entrance. Ooh, one fine day, Chris was going to get his hands around his neck. He made a left turn and there was Delifrance. And further down was the shop where he bought the post-its where he wrote that letter to her. So much for not encountering memories.
***
"That's because its the only route to yourself," Kurt replied.
"But its not fair that I have to think about her every five seconds. Ten bucks she doesn't think of me more than five times a day."
"That's an unfair bet because you know its true."
"Thanks alot. That helped."
Both of them sighed in unison.
"Do you---"
"Did you---" they said together. Another big sigh.
"You're such a loser, you know that?" Kurt said, frowning at him. "Now I guess you have to know everything."
"Know what?"
Kurt breathed another sigh. "I don't think its the right time to break it out to you."
"Then you shouldn't have told me I have to know everything. Kurt, you never tell me anything important to me and you know, I don't think it's really worth for me to sit here and wait all the time for you until I'm begging, and I suppose you know that very well---"
"She's found someone else."
Chris was silent for a long time. "...You know you shouldn't have told me that."
"You asked for it!" The olympian defended. "Besides, I think you should be there for her in case anything happens. Maybe you won't become best friends anymore at that time. Maybe, you know, you'll be more than just friends."
"But more than friends doesn't mean that I have to be attached to her! That's what I want. And best friends never get together."
"Best friends never get together while they're best friends," Kurt told him. "Best friends get together when they can accept it."
"...You never said that." Chris whined. Not that he liked to whine, but at the postion he was in, he was entitled to do so. "Shit. Now you're confusing me. Who's she with anyway?"
"I don't know. She's never told me. But I'm guessing it's some guy who owns some big place. Or something like that."
"Don't think she's always that kind of person," Chris said, defending her case. "She's... Different."
"Depends how good that 'different' is. Chris, it hurt when she smacked me in the head with a chair too." He paused to think. "I mean, it hurt not because of the chair, but it hurt inside because she dumped me live in front of national television."
"She was married, you dork."
"...Well, fine. But it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt anymore. The best I can do, is fix you up with someone else."
"...No way. I'll never do it. I'm not at the position to do it."
"For ten bucks you will." Kurt pulled out a note.
"No," Chris replied sternly.
"For twenty bucks then." Chris stopped to think. It wasn't the money, but perhaps he was right. He needed some time off thinking, and maybe being with someone else did work. He took the notes from Kurt, and shoved them into his own pocket.
***
Hoo boy, he didn't know he'd be going out with Victoria, of all people. He almost did strangle Kurt right in front of her. He'd get him later. Definitely.
"Chris? You alright?" she asked, linking arms with him. He felt so weird. So very very very awkward to the point that he felt like worms. And being a worm was weird.
"I'm... fine," he replied. He wasn't used to this at all. But Kurt did a good job of not making him think about Stephanie. He was too busy feeling freaked out with Victoria. With all this closeness, he wasn't used to it. She was being too nice. Maybe she was trying to get into his pants eventually. No way. He'd never let that happen.
They stopped by at a bench on a bridge and sat down for a talk. "I guess that you're still thinking about her," she began.
"I am. Always. I can't help it." He had to admit, she was awful nice. He might like her instead of Stephanie.
"I can't really blame you. She must've made an impact."
Impact was an understatement. "I liked her alot."
She smiled at him, and took his hand. "You're gonna be okay. I think you know it yourself. In the meantime, I think we'd better salvage what we can tonight." She leaned in for a kiss, and Chris reluctantly took it, and pulled away as fast as he could. Actually, that was pretty nice. He was starting to worry less about Stephanie now, and he was sure that he could start anew. "Can we go?"
"Sure," he replied, swallowing.
***
The next day, Chris was back on his feet again. He was thinking that he might be falling in love with Victoria. He even started to call her Vic, and they talked and talked about alot of things. He whistled as he walked the streets and stopped by the windows of that store he was kicked out from. *Losers. Wonder how they're doing.*
As he expected, not many were there. He was so proud that he could influence THAT many people not to go to the store any longer. He migth as well get inside to check it out again. Ha, what a laugh, but his laugh was about to be cut short. "Hey you, you're not supposed to be here!" A man pointed out. He seemed to be that 'Greg' guy, the manager that kicked him out. "You're banned from entering this shop."
What Chris saw next made him forget how good last night was. Stephanie came out from the shop and she looked beautiful as usual, except for that puzzled look on her face. "Chris?"
"You know him?" the manager said.
"He's my best friend!" she gave Chris a hug. "Why'd you ban him from here?"
"He chased all my customers away."
"Was it a bet?" she asked.
"On my own free will," he proudly said. "Anyway, what're you doing with this hardass?"
"Oh, I forgot to introduce you to each other." She gestured to Chris. "Greg, this is Chris, best friend, and Chris---"
He couldn't believe what he had heard. Somehow, he'd felt a piano fall on his head.
"---this is my boyfriend, Gregory Allen."
PG-13
A/N: I think this is something that takes a look at what Chris is going to do while wallowing in self-pity. Have a little surprise at the end too. I don't know. All depends on you. :P. Oh, and Kurt's gonna be a dad in 5 weeks. Whoohoo!
Chapter 8
Wednesday.
How... unlucky. Perhaps Chris would have to name Wednesday the thirteenth an unlucky day. Friday didn't seem to be working these days. He sighed. He had probably counted that... About 17 times that day. He was bored too, so what would you expect? 'Dear Stephanie,' he wrote on that paper. Ever since Kurt told him the news, Chris decided that he should start living life day to day. Even if he was just 32.
He stared at the ripples in the styrofoam he made with his coffee and stirrer. Why did all of this happen to him?Just a day after his birthday, and the person he wanted most was asking him to be his best friend. And best friends never got together. Look at Stephanie and Kurt in the past. They were best friends. Or... Or Julianne and her best friend Michael in 'My Best Friend's Wedding'. Or Pete and Sharon in 'Two Guys and A Girl', or like Willow and Xander. They failed to carry out a proper relationship. It seemed like Chris Jericho and Stephanie was about to be added to that list. Now that he had this on his mind, any other thought, he could not concentrate on. Maybe he'd feel better if he headed back home. To his old house. His possessions weren't there, but he sure as hell left everything that couldn't fit in his suitcase there.
"Are you alright?" a concerned voice asked. When he looked up, he felt even more miserable. "I'm sorry about that day, Chris."
"It's no problem. I'm quite over that," was his reply. "I guess you know, being a best friend is better than anything else."
She sat right in front of him. "Are you sure you're okay? Kurt told me you really liked me alot."
"I did. But the word is did. But you know, I'm your best friend and that's just all... Wrong."
"Exactly," Stephanie agreed. "I really admire how you get over things so quickly. I mean, you have a really strong personality."
"Thanks." He didn't want to drink that coffee anymore. He slid the note off the table quietly and into his pocket. "What's new?" he asked, trying to lighten his own mood and leaning forward.
"I suppose Kurt hasn't told you, has he?"
"Haven't seen him at all today," he said. "What did he do?"
"Oh well, you see, you know there are times when either you or him bets either one of you to do something?"
"Oh no---"
"Wait! I'm not done." This worried Chris a bit. Kurt had stupid terrible dares sometimes. He was sure himself that he was never allowed to step into that Catholic church again. "He dared me to... Uh..." She covered his ear in front and whispered it all into his ear. Chris' face turned red for her and a grin started to form.
"No way."
"Here's proof," she said, taking out last night's ten.
"I didn't know Kurt hated that guy THAT much."
Steph had drugged Kurt's neighbour's dog and set it loose all over its owner... And that owner happened to be his old highschool teacher. And Kurt was there to tar the poor guy too.
After a few chuckles and giggle here and there, Stephanie spoke again. "I'm really glad that you're so nice to push your own troubles away to accomodate mine... I think you'll make a fine best friend." She smiled warmly, and Chris couldn't help but smile back. "I wonder why we never did this earlier."
*That's because I happened to like you at some point of time and you liked me back.* His heart was screaming to label her something mean, or evil, or anything that'd the old Jericho would say to Mrs Helmsley. "I think I need some time alone."
"You do?" she said, a tone of concern present. "...Alright then. I'll do just that."
"Thanks," he replied. At least she understood. Kurt would just go, "Tell me! Tell me!" and basically give him a verbal challenge. That wasn't what he needed now. He figured that feeling sorry for himself once in a while wouldn't hurt.
So why did this happen to him? Number one: because he was a giant softie. Damn, the truth really hurt. Let's face it; Chris would never hurt anyone intentionally. Even if it WAS Hunter, or some other mean guy. Hurt meaning either psychological hurt or emotional hurt. Hell, he'd beat the crap out of Kurt any day. His soft heart often gave way, and when he put so much interest in something it disappears in a cloud of useless nothing. Sighing always did some serious stress relieving.
Thinking about how easily he gave his heart away made him feel so stupid. In fact, not only did he give his heart away, the person who was supposed to receive it didn't even know it was there for her. Another big sigh. If he had ten bucks for everytime he frowned or sighed, he'd be swimming in an olympic-sized pool of green. He'd even use the remainder to wipe his butt off. Its all her fault.
He left the place after awhile and walked along the streets. He turned his head to the right and he saw the florist's, where he bought those roses for her. He was surprised that the roses were still alive, since roses didn't last for very long. Enough of the florist. He didn't want to look at anything that reminded him of Stephanie, so he continued down the street.
Oh my, there it was, that restaurant. The chinless English fart was still there standing at the entrance. Ooh, one fine day, Chris was going to get his hands around his neck. He made a left turn and there was Delifrance. And further down was the shop where he bought the post-its where he wrote that letter to her. So much for not encountering memories.
***
"That's because its the only route to yourself," Kurt replied.
"But its not fair that I have to think about her every five seconds. Ten bucks she doesn't think of me more than five times a day."
"That's an unfair bet because you know its true."
"Thanks alot. That helped."
Both of them sighed in unison.
"Do you---"
"Did you---" they said together. Another big sigh.
"You're such a loser, you know that?" Kurt said, frowning at him. "Now I guess you have to know everything."
"Know what?"
Kurt breathed another sigh. "I don't think its the right time to break it out to you."
"Then you shouldn't have told me I have to know everything. Kurt, you never tell me anything important to me and you know, I don't think it's really worth for me to sit here and wait all the time for you until I'm begging, and I suppose you know that very well---"
"She's found someone else."
Chris was silent for a long time. "...You know you shouldn't have told me that."
"You asked for it!" The olympian defended. "Besides, I think you should be there for her in case anything happens. Maybe you won't become best friends anymore at that time. Maybe, you know, you'll be more than just friends."
"But more than friends doesn't mean that I have to be attached to her! That's what I want. And best friends never get together."
"Best friends never get together while they're best friends," Kurt told him. "Best friends get together when they can accept it."
"...You never said that." Chris whined. Not that he liked to whine, but at the postion he was in, he was entitled to do so. "Shit. Now you're confusing me. Who's she with anyway?"
"I don't know. She's never told me. But I'm guessing it's some guy who owns some big place. Or something like that."
"Don't think she's always that kind of person," Chris said, defending her case. "She's... Different."
"Depends how good that 'different' is. Chris, it hurt when she smacked me in the head with a chair too." He paused to think. "I mean, it hurt not because of the chair, but it hurt inside because she dumped me live in front of national television."
"She was married, you dork."
"...Well, fine. But it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt anymore. The best I can do, is fix you up with someone else."
"...No way. I'll never do it. I'm not at the position to do it."
"For ten bucks you will." Kurt pulled out a note.
"No," Chris replied sternly.
"For twenty bucks then." Chris stopped to think. It wasn't the money, but perhaps he was right. He needed some time off thinking, and maybe being with someone else did work. He took the notes from Kurt, and shoved them into his own pocket.
***
Hoo boy, he didn't know he'd be going out with Victoria, of all people. He almost did strangle Kurt right in front of her. He'd get him later. Definitely.
"Chris? You alright?" she asked, linking arms with him. He felt so weird. So very very very awkward to the point that he felt like worms. And being a worm was weird.
"I'm... fine," he replied. He wasn't used to this at all. But Kurt did a good job of not making him think about Stephanie. He was too busy feeling freaked out with Victoria. With all this closeness, he wasn't used to it. She was being too nice. Maybe she was trying to get into his pants eventually. No way. He'd never let that happen.
They stopped by at a bench on a bridge and sat down for a talk. "I guess that you're still thinking about her," she began.
"I am. Always. I can't help it." He had to admit, she was awful nice. He might like her instead of Stephanie.
"I can't really blame you. She must've made an impact."
Impact was an understatement. "I liked her alot."
She smiled at him, and took his hand. "You're gonna be okay. I think you know it yourself. In the meantime, I think we'd better salvage what we can tonight." She leaned in for a kiss, and Chris reluctantly took it, and pulled away as fast as he could. Actually, that was pretty nice. He was starting to worry less about Stephanie now, and he was sure that he could start anew. "Can we go?"
"Sure," he replied, swallowing.
***
The next day, Chris was back on his feet again. He was thinking that he might be falling in love with Victoria. He even started to call her Vic, and they talked and talked about alot of things. He whistled as he walked the streets and stopped by the windows of that store he was kicked out from. *Losers. Wonder how they're doing.*
As he expected, not many were there. He was so proud that he could influence THAT many people not to go to the store any longer. He migth as well get inside to check it out again. Ha, what a laugh, but his laugh was about to be cut short. "Hey you, you're not supposed to be here!" A man pointed out. He seemed to be that 'Greg' guy, the manager that kicked him out. "You're banned from entering this shop."
What Chris saw next made him forget how good last night was. Stephanie came out from the shop and she looked beautiful as usual, except for that puzzled look on her face. "Chris?"
"You know him?" the manager said.
"He's my best friend!" she gave Chris a hug. "Why'd you ban him from here?"
"He chased all my customers away."
"Was it a bet?" she asked.
"On my own free will," he proudly said. "Anyway, what're you doing with this hardass?"
"Oh, I forgot to introduce you to each other." She gestured to Chris. "Greg, this is Chris, best friend, and Chris---"
He couldn't believe what he had heard. Somehow, he'd felt a piano fall on his head.
"---this is my boyfriend, Gregory Allen."