Down the Road
PG-13
Disclaimer: The Song 'Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word' belongs to Blue and what ever record label its under.
A/N: ~~ denotes song lyrics. And in my time, today's Dec 6th, one day ahead of the US.
Chapter 12
The tough part about trying to snoop around someone's property was that Chris had to get the book while Steph was in the shower. She took about 5 minutes, or what seemed to be 5 seconds to him, to borrow the diary and just read through it just for today. She was sure to put something in it today. He used the term borrow, because he was going to put it back anyway.
By the time he sneaked into his own room, he sat up on his bed and flipped it open. It said,
'If you ever dare read further than this page, not only are you dead meat, you are trespassing my property and you're breaking part of my heart. Get out or face the fury of my scorn and evil.'
Whoa. Stephanie sure was snappy about the warning. But it was a risk worth taking, since he was bearing horrid screeching and yelling from her the past years. Maybe he could just bear it all over again until everything settled down.
He started from the back, and flipped until print could be seen. So he decided to start way back when he had that dumb note. Most of the thick book had been filled, and it dated almost everything from the end of 2000 until now. She sure had a lot of time for a General Manager.
~What I got to do to make you love me?
What I got to do to make you care?~
'2nd October 2002
Wednesday
Felt weird today. Maybe it was because Chris kind of asked me out, and I acted as if it was a small thing. I mean, it was a normal thing. But you don't get asked out very often. Had to chase him about a mile or so to find that out, but I'm glad it happened. Unfortunately, being the doofus he was, he waited at the wrong restaurant, the one opposite of what I suggested. But things became better... I thought it was pretty fun. Ordered pizza at my place and we talked about things like life, the past dates that we've been in, how they ended... I have to admit that I felt comfortable with him tonight. Made me feel... Me. Just being Stephanie McMahon, not caring what other people thought, whether my makeup was okay, whether I was saying something wrong or not... Just me. And I think I'm starting to like him because of that. After all, I used to think he was cute... Oh man, did I just put that down? Ugh, forget it. what's past was past, and I think this could actually work.
Until then, Stephanie.'
*She used to think I was cute!* he thought happily. With a smile, he decided to head on to another entry.
~What do I do when lightning strikes me?
And I wake to find that you're not there?~
'3rd October, 2002
Thursday
Lots of work today. Janice was on leave, so I had to work without an assistant. What a bummer. I managed to complete most of my work without any problems. Chris came in later in the day, and he did the unthinkable; he bought me flowers! I could tell that he really meant it, no matter how much excuses that he made up about giving me poison ivy and things like that. His blush was so obvious I had to be mean and make him even more embarrassed. After some silly banter, he asked me out again to my surprise. And well, I accepted. I didn't realise how happy he was... There was a gleam in his eye that gave me the impression. I made a slip and said I was going to bed... I guess I was a little off in front of him. He didn't notice anyway. When I closed the door, I went back to work and well, I could't concentrate. I just stared at the roses and thought about him. For awhile. Right now, I'm feeling very tired. finished work late and went back... Had some coffee to perk me up...'
Beside the last few words it was a picture she drew of herself falling asleep on a table. Those moments were great... Too bad jerk off Greg had to come into her life. He skipped a few entries and read the part where she met Greg.
~What I got to go to make you want me?
What I got to do to be heard?~
'10th November, 2002
Sunday
I'm feeling pretty confused. I met someone today, and his name was Greg Allen. I thought he was nice. In fact, something inside me just told me that he was the one. THE one. He was sweet, he was charming, and he understood me. I was in the record store, and I was just looking around, and well, he just stumbled upon me. Its hard to explain, but I felt that he was right. We just started to talk... And well, we just clicked like that. I like him, I really do. He was telling me that he was feeling a bit angry, because he just divorced and he lost the custody of his kids. He had a son and a daughter, and the bitch of a wife ditched him because she found somebody else. What a waste. He was a really nice guy.'
Chris frowned, but he felt sorry for the poor guy. Maybe that's why he was so snappy all the while. But even so, he wanted to be selfish and have Stephanie all to himself. It annoyed Chris, and it definitely gave him no right to be verbally abusing Chris like that.
'Chris came to mind at the moment. I felt guilty, because I knew very well that he did like me. I was hoping that it wasn't deep enough, because deep down inside of me, I... I feel that Greg's really the one. I really hopes he understands. I'm so sorry Chris, I have to do this to you. Stephanie.'
~What do I say when it's all over?
Sorry seems to be the hardest word~
'2nd December, 2002
Monday
'Breaking news today. Chris told me he had a new girlfriend: Victoria. King of the World meets his queen. When he told me, I just felt... Weird. I have to say that I was happy for him, but... I just couldn't let him go. All these days, and when this day came it made me realise that I couldn't really grasp the concept. Chris had a girlfriend. I guess... He had to be happy. I think he told me because he was sure she was the one too. And this was the... This was the same thing that I did to him. Shit. Now I feel bad. Reality kind of slapped me right in the face. I've realised that Chris couldn't be there for me all the time, and that he had a life to live too... I felt a little sad to know that. Guess I was selfish too. All this time, I thought everything should've gone my way, that everything was there for me, waiting to use them. God, I guess that relationship between Chris and I is over, huh?
'All day, I was thinking about it. We settled a double date, which I thought would cover up my feelings a bit. I hope it wasn't showing... He could've seen me as selfish. And I really didn't want that, so I tried my hardest to push the matter aside. I didn't call Greg to tell him, but I just stayed home, thinking about the rest of today. Chris? Are you still there?'
~It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd~
Chris stared blankly at the page. Was he still there? He really didn't know now. Maybe it was himself that was selfish... That he was doing all this for the sole purpose to prove to Greg that he could be better than him. Now he was getting confused. Oh, poor Stephanie. Ever since he told her, she'd been acting different around him. She never shared anything with him anymore, or for that matter, talked to him. The whole plan was to just make Steph jealous, make her dump her boyfriend, and probably have her all his life. He never thought that there was going to be little twists and turns in it. How naive of him. Now he had to break someone else's heart by telling another lie, put on a front for Steph, and keep his horns in when he spoke to her boyfriend. Why did he even want to go with this plan? It was the most sneaky, most dirty lies that he ever told.
~It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word~
'4th December, 2002
Wednesday
Dinner was disaster. Even if I tried not to feel something for Chris, it was there. It was inevitable. I can't possibly stand to see him with someone else, even if it kind of means that I might be jealous. When I saw him just snuggle up with Victoria, I didn't feel all that good. I didn' t even want Greg's arms around me anymore. I wanted to be left alone. And when Chris told us that he wanted to take that step further into his relationship, my heart stopped. What if he got married? What if... I don't know. Is it that bad for me to not accept facts? After all, he's my best friend... I should be kind of happy, shouldn't I?
Greg was too sensitive. That jerk just couldn't be nice to one friend of mine. ONE. My best friend. I don't see what was so hard about that. In fact, when I left the restaurant, I think it was the last of our relationship. They're always at loggerheads... I just can't deal with that. I don't even know how I feel about Chris Jericho anymore. Its so.. frustrating.'
~What I got to do to make you love me?
What I got to do to be heard?~
Chris felt a sense of relief in himself. Did that really mean that the Stephanie/Greg relationship was over? If it really was... Chris was happy. But Stephanie could feel that she would never like Chris again. After all, there was Victoria that he still had, and that was already a very good reason to keep away from developing something with him. He read on.
'If the case is that I can't deal with anything anymore... Maybe there's some way to end it. Stephanie.'
~What do I do when lightning strikes me?~
He ran his fingers over the ink smudges on various areas of the page. She had been crying by herself, and he didn't even know. Right in the house, and he didn't have a hunch that she'd be that upset. Nothing could bring tears to Stephanie. He just wanted to make things right for her again. But when he started to read the last written page, his face turned expressionless.
'5th December... 2002...
Thursday
This is mixed up. This is... shit. I can't believe all this is happening.
Greg called me up a billion times today, but I picked up when I was so damn annoyed at him. He told me he wanted to see me that day, later in the evening. I just felt so sick of him and thought that maybe he needed just one last time to settle it once and for all, so I agreed.
I told Kurt everything after I knew Chris left his place, and he listened. But you know what? He had to say that he still loved me. He told me, no matter what I thought, no matter what I did or said, nothing could keep him from loving me. Was that just a statement, or did he mean something? I'm sure it was something, but it made things worse for me. Three men falling in love with me, and I don't know what the hell in the world to do. So screwed up. Now I have to deal with Kurt at the same time, and I really cannot take it. What about Chris? Damn bastard.
When I saw Greg, I felt like slapping him upside down, but I refrained. We sat down and talked... And you know what?'
~What have I got to do?~
Chris didn't want to read anymore, but his fingers couldn't move. What did it really take to have her back?
'He proposed.'
~What have I got to do?~
'And I said yes.'
Chris wanted to rip the book apart, and hide under his pillow like a little kid. Instead, he closed it gently, and he left it in his lap. Stephanie was going to get married. To Greg. Gregory Allen Smith. Low life bastard. Who came crawling to his knees to Stephanie.
"Chris?"
The moment his eyes saw her coming to his door, he shoved the blue diary under his pillow and leaned back. "Yeah?" he replied.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "You seem to be... A little sad about something."
"Its nothing." *Nothing my ass.* "I've got lots on my mind."
Stephanie nodded. "Well, I hope you'll be doing okay for the rest of the time, then."
He weakly smiled and she left. He didn't get to finish up what she had to say.
'I'm sorry I had to say yes, Chris. I'm sorry I still have feelings for you. I'm sorry... That I still love you.'
~When sorry seems to be the hardest word~
PG-13
Disclaimer: The Song 'Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word' belongs to Blue and what ever record label its under.
A/N: ~~ denotes song lyrics. And in my time, today's Dec 6th, one day ahead of the US.
Chapter 12
The tough part about trying to snoop around someone's property was that Chris had to get the book while Steph was in the shower. She took about 5 minutes, or what seemed to be 5 seconds to him, to borrow the diary and just read through it just for today. She was sure to put something in it today. He used the term borrow, because he was going to put it back anyway.
By the time he sneaked into his own room, he sat up on his bed and flipped it open. It said,
'If you ever dare read further than this page, not only are you dead meat, you are trespassing my property and you're breaking part of my heart. Get out or face the fury of my scorn and evil.'
Whoa. Stephanie sure was snappy about the warning. But it was a risk worth taking, since he was bearing horrid screeching and yelling from her the past years. Maybe he could just bear it all over again until everything settled down.
He started from the back, and flipped until print could be seen. So he decided to start way back when he had that dumb note. Most of the thick book had been filled, and it dated almost everything from the end of 2000 until now. She sure had a lot of time for a General Manager.
~What I got to do to make you love me?
What I got to do to make you care?~
'2nd October 2002
Wednesday
Felt weird today. Maybe it was because Chris kind of asked me out, and I acted as if it was a small thing. I mean, it was a normal thing. But you don't get asked out very often. Had to chase him about a mile or so to find that out, but I'm glad it happened. Unfortunately, being the doofus he was, he waited at the wrong restaurant, the one opposite of what I suggested. But things became better... I thought it was pretty fun. Ordered pizza at my place and we talked about things like life, the past dates that we've been in, how they ended... I have to admit that I felt comfortable with him tonight. Made me feel... Me. Just being Stephanie McMahon, not caring what other people thought, whether my makeup was okay, whether I was saying something wrong or not... Just me. And I think I'm starting to like him because of that. After all, I used to think he was cute... Oh man, did I just put that down? Ugh, forget it. what's past was past, and I think this could actually work.
Until then, Stephanie.'
*She used to think I was cute!* he thought happily. With a smile, he decided to head on to another entry.
~What do I do when lightning strikes me?
And I wake to find that you're not there?~
'3rd October, 2002
Thursday
Lots of work today. Janice was on leave, so I had to work without an assistant. What a bummer. I managed to complete most of my work without any problems. Chris came in later in the day, and he did the unthinkable; he bought me flowers! I could tell that he really meant it, no matter how much excuses that he made up about giving me poison ivy and things like that. His blush was so obvious I had to be mean and make him even more embarrassed. After some silly banter, he asked me out again to my surprise. And well, I accepted. I didn't realise how happy he was... There was a gleam in his eye that gave me the impression. I made a slip and said I was going to bed... I guess I was a little off in front of him. He didn't notice anyway. When I closed the door, I went back to work and well, I could't concentrate. I just stared at the roses and thought about him. For awhile. Right now, I'm feeling very tired. finished work late and went back... Had some coffee to perk me up...'
Beside the last few words it was a picture she drew of herself falling asleep on a table. Those moments were great... Too bad jerk off Greg had to come into her life. He skipped a few entries and read the part where she met Greg.
~What I got to go to make you want me?
What I got to do to be heard?~
'10th November, 2002
Sunday
I'm feeling pretty confused. I met someone today, and his name was Greg Allen. I thought he was nice. In fact, something inside me just told me that he was the one. THE one. He was sweet, he was charming, and he understood me. I was in the record store, and I was just looking around, and well, he just stumbled upon me. Its hard to explain, but I felt that he was right. We just started to talk... And well, we just clicked like that. I like him, I really do. He was telling me that he was feeling a bit angry, because he just divorced and he lost the custody of his kids. He had a son and a daughter, and the bitch of a wife ditched him because she found somebody else. What a waste. He was a really nice guy.'
Chris frowned, but he felt sorry for the poor guy. Maybe that's why he was so snappy all the while. But even so, he wanted to be selfish and have Stephanie all to himself. It annoyed Chris, and it definitely gave him no right to be verbally abusing Chris like that.
'Chris came to mind at the moment. I felt guilty, because I knew very well that he did like me. I was hoping that it wasn't deep enough, because deep down inside of me, I... I feel that Greg's really the one. I really hopes he understands. I'm so sorry Chris, I have to do this to you. Stephanie.'
~What do I say when it's all over?
Sorry seems to be the hardest word~
'2nd December, 2002
Monday
'Breaking news today. Chris told me he had a new girlfriend: Victoria. King of the World meets his queen. When he told me, I just felt... Weird. I have to say that I was happy for him, but... I just couldn't let him go. All these days, and when this day came it made me realise that I couldn't really grasp the concept. Chris had a girlfriend. I guess... He had to be happy. I think he told me because he was sure she was the one too. And this was the... This was the same thing that I did to him. Shit. Now I feel bad. Reality kind of slapped me right in the face. I've realised that Chris couldn't be there for me all the time, and that he had a life to live too... I felt a little sad to know that. Guess I was selfish too. All this time, I thought everything should've gone my way, that everything was there for me, waiting to use them. God, I guess that relationship between Chris and I is over, huh?
'All day, I was thinking about it. We settled a double date, which I thought would cover up my feelings a bit. I hope it wasn't showing... He could've seen me as selfish. And I really didn't want that, so I tried my hardest to push the matter aside. I didn't call Greg to tell him, but I just stayed home, thinking about the rest of today. Chris? Are you still there?'
~It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd~
Chris stared blankly at the page. Was he still there? He really didn't know now. Maybe it was himself that was selfish... That he was doing all this for the sole purpose to prove to Greg that he could be better than him. Now he was getting confused. Oh, poor Stephanie. Ever since he told her, she'd been acting different around him. She never shared anything with him anymore, or for that matter, talked to him. The whole plan was to just make Steph jealous, make her dump her boyfriend, and probably have her all his life. He never thought that there was going to be little twists and turns in it. How naive of him. Now he had to break someone else's heart by telling another lie, put on a front for Steph, and keep his horns in when he spoke to her boyfriend. Why did he even want to go with this plan? It was the most sneaky, most dirty lies that he ever told.
~It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word~
'4th December, 2002
Wednesday
Dinner was disaster. Even if I tried not to feel something for Chris, it was there. It was inevitable. I can't possibly stand to see him with someone else, even if it kind of means that I might be jealous. When I saw him just snuggle up with Victoria, I didn't feel all that good. I didn' t even want Greg's arms around me anymore. I wanted to be left alone. And when Chris told us that he wanted to take that step further into his relationship, my heart stopped. What if he got married? What if... I don't know. Is it that bad for me to not accept facts? After all, he's my best friend... I should be kind of happy, shouldn't I?
Greg was too sensitive. That jerk just couldn't be nice to one friend of mine. ONE. My best friend. I don't see what was so hard about that. In fact, when I left the restaurant, I think it was the last of our relationship. They're always at loggerheads... I just can't deal with that. I don't even know how I feel about Chris Jericho anymore. Its so.. frustrating.'
~What I got to do to make you love me?
What I got to do to be heard?~
Chris felt a sense of relief in himself. Did that really mean that the Stephanie/Greg relationship was over? If it really was... Chris was happy. But Stephanie could feel that she would never like Chris again. After all, there was Victoria that he still had, and that was already a very good reason to keep away from developing something with him. He read on.
'If the case is that I can't deal with anything anymore... Maybe there's some way to end it. Stephanie.'
~What do I do when lightning strikes me?~
He ran his fingers over the ink smudges on various areas of the page. She had been crying by herself, and he didn't even know. Right in the house, and he didn't have a hunch that she'd be that upset. Nothing could bring tears to Stephanie. He just wanted to make things right for her again. But when he started to read the last written page, his face turned expressionless.
'5th December... 2002...
Thursday
This is mixed up. This is... shit. I can't believe all this is happening.
Greg called me up a billion times today, but I picked up when I was so damn annoyed at him. He told me he wanted to see me that day, later in the evening. I just felt so sick of him and thought that maybe he needed just one last time to settle it once and for all, so I agreed.
I told Kurt everything after I knew Chris left his place, and he listened. But you know what? He had to say that he still loved me. He told me, no matter what I thought, no matter what I did or said, nothing could keep him from loving me. Was that just a statement, or did he mean something? I'm sure it was something, but it made things worse for me. Three men falling in love with me, and I don't know what the hell in the world to do. So screwed up. Now I have to deal with Kurt at the same time, and I really cannot take it. What about Chris? Damn bastard.
When I saw Greg, I felt like slapping him upside down, but I refrained. We sat down and talked... And you know what?'
~What have I got to do?~
Chris didn't want to read anymore, but his fingers couldn't move. What did it really take to have her back?
'He proposed.'
~What have I got to do?~
'And I said yes.'
Chris wanted to rip the book apart, and hide under his pillow like a little kid. Instead, he closed it gently, and he left it in his lap. Stephanie was going to get married. To Greg. Gregory Allen Smith. Low life bastard. Who came crawling to his knees to Stephanie.
"Chris?"
The moment his eyes saw her coming to his door, he shoved the blue diary under his pillow and leaned back. "Yeah?" he replied.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "You seem to be... A little sad about something."
"Its nothing." *Nothing my ass.* "I've got lots on my mind."
Stephanie nodded. "Well, I hope you'll be doing okay for the rest of the time, then."
He weakly smiled and she left. He didn't get to finish up what she had to say.
'I'm sorry I had to say yes, Chris. I'm sorry I still have feelings for you. I'm sorry... That I still love you.'
~When sorry seems to be the hardest word~