I Remember

A/N: I have to explain that Steph still cannot remember because she's got horrible memory, among other reasons. The song in this doesn't belong to me too. A bit corny, this chapter.

Chapter 6 – Prom Night Rating for this Chapter: R

She stared at herself in the mirror. The dress was absolutely gorgeous and her make-up, hair, everything seemed to make her look beautiful. But she just felt empty. The last week, since he made the phone call, she'd been feeling terrible. Perhaps the prom would make it all better.

"Your date's here!" Shane yelled from downstairs.

"Coming!" she responded somewhat excitedly, straightening her dress and fixing whatever she thought was a mess, then grabbed her purse and headed down.

"Steph," Shane pulled her back before she saw James, "Your boyfriend's an asshole."

She pushed his shoulder hard. "Thanks for saying that too!" Shane smiled.

"And also, take care. I don't trust him, really… watch where you're going."

~*~

Stephanie sighed. "You know, come to think of it, I've kind of noticed that we've had a lot of common situation's experience."
"I take it as coincidental."

"…I suppose." She placed her cloth on the table and rose. "I'm sorry you had to pay."

"That's because I wanted to." With that, they headed back to her home.

*

"You never told me how it went," Chris said.

"I prefer not to talk about it. It was downright dreadful."

"I can imagine. My prom wasn't quite a spectacular time of my life either." How could this be? He was telling her all her own memories again and yet, it didn't even ring a bell. Maybe he just had to ring it a little louder.

~*~

She was wonderful during prom. I mean, if you looked at her, you'd be falling at her feet. I thought so anyway. So I went to my prom alone, maybe out of boredom, or just to see her face… Anyway, this was one night that probably changed her and my adolescence drastically…

He looked around, drink in hand. The last year, he was bad enough to spike the punch and make everyone high. But this year, it was different. No more pranks and jokes like the past few years. This year, he was changed, and he was looking for the girl responsible for doing so.

*Oh no, * he thought as Nicole approached him.

"I'm glad you don't have a date. I don't have one too."

*Figures, * he thought.

"Maybe you wanna hang out… Somewhere else?"

Chris looked at her. Maybe she could take his mind off her… Nah.

"Chris, my man!" Pryce shouted loudly. He grimaced at her voice. Pryce, oh Pryce. Always to the rescue. "Oh my God. Please don't tell me this skank is your date."

"As a matter of fact---" she grabbed his arm, but he pulled away.

"---She isn't," he said.

"Well then, I suggest that you make a move before your face meets my fist."

Nicole gave a hard glare and haughtily strutted off.

"Nice going," he said solemnly.

"What is up with you, Chris?" He didn't answer. "Oh. You're waiting for her, aren't you?"

"I shouldn't even be here. I'll just ruin her day and hurt her."

"No, you won't!" she quickly said. "I bet she'll be glad to see you here." He fell silent. *I hope so. *

The minutes seemed to drag on to hours without her. I was about to leave and then… she was there.

Pryce tugged on his sleeve and nodded towards one direction. Chris looked up and spit in his drink in a spray of red. *Is THAT Steph? *

"…You've got nice taste in fashion, Pryce."

"Whatever, just go to her!"

"No!" he said, trying to stay back while she pushed him. "I can't!"

He spun around to face her. "I don't want to! I don't want to ruin this night for her." She refused to stop. "Please, just… Stop it. Stop it." He stared at Pryce with cold eyes, crushing the plastic cup in his hand and throwing it aside.

He escaped deeper into the sea of teens dancing and chattering about, but no matter how loud it was, he couldn't focus on the surroundings. He couldn't cope with it any longer.

"Chris?"

He was walking somewhere, but he didn't notice to where, and now he knew he made his way to Stephanie.

"Stephanie," he whispered softly. Suddenly everything he told Pryce dissolved into nothing. He felt relieved to see her, and he was so happy. That instant, he picked her up from the ground in a hug and spun one round before setting down again. She looked so gorgeous in her lavender dress. It stuck to her body nicely, and her low neckline allowed her to seem fuller in that sense. Her hair fell in delicate curls, her face just glowing. But her eyes…

They were so empty.

That is, until he came into the picture, they were filled with joy and hope, and were bright again. Just like when she was always with him.

"You came!" she squealed in delight.

"I know!" he replied, just as excited.

"I thought you said you wouldn't!"

"I only said maybe…"

She inspected his appearance in his tux. "Looking like the dorky version of James Bond, as always."

"Yeah, and you, constantly the geek," he retorted playfully.

"Ugh, whatever." She looked around. "Pryce?"

For the moment, he had forgotten about her. "Damn. I have to go find her."

"Go ahead." She observed the place some more. "I have to meet James."

That dreaded name. Chris pretended not to hear, speeding off. Just to balance out the good feelings he felt, James bumped straight into him.

"Oh hey Chris…"

"You'd better make it her night," he retorted.

"With me, it'll always be her night…. Maybe we'll drive down to Ficar Street and pop into my place for awhile… Her night."

"It had better be."

Chris gave James a hard, stern glare, then set off to find her best friend. When he finally got to her, Pryce made it a point to ignore him.

"Listen, I talked to her. I hugged her and everything."
She turned slowly. "What did she say?"

"The normal old things. I'm serious!" he said when she cocked her head back in disbelief.

"What else?"

"Nothing. Anyway, I think she wants to talk to you."

"Me?" she asked. "Where is she?"

"Around the back. I'll go see Conor for awhile."

*

"Con, wassup man?"

"Belinda's going somewhere. I think she's gonna dump me."

"Dump you? But why? Wh--- I mean, whatever for?"

"She's going overseas to study in some English college… Meet some English guy… Break my heart and marry him…"
"That's all bull. You love her, don't you?" He nodded. "So, as long as it stays that way, you'll never lose her."

"What makes you think it's THAT simple? You can't even get Stephanie." Chris frowned at his cold, hard words. "I'm sorry. I just think all this is just so screwed up. I'm worried, Chris."

Suddenly, his face lit up. "I think I know who you could meet… Just to be there. She's a real great friend," Chris said.

"And who might that be?"

"I'll bring her to you later." Chris took a look at the variety of foodstuffs on the plate and platters.

"Please, don't drug any of it," Conor said, smiling at his gawking.

"Shutup, loser," Chris retorted with a slap to his best friend's arm. "I'm out of that. But you know, I could disturb the bee hive outside about three yards away from here…"
"You evil bastard." Chris ran away.

*

Time passed, but much quicker now. She seemed to stay on my mind for the whole night. They were going to give out those dumb titles and all… It was just so lame.

"Come on! You might win something," Conor yelled through the sea of students.

"I just might win the evilest boy of all time," he replied. At the corner of his eye, he spotted vague figures moving out of the hall. They looked so familiar…

"Chris!"
"What?" he spun, spotting Pryce.

"Where's Stephanie?"

"I don't know. I thought she was with you?"

Chris shook his head. "Nevermind."

"Okay everyone," a high-pitched girlish voice rang throughout the Benson hall. "We are going to start giving out some custom awards!"

Her fellow emcee took the microphone from her hands. "Thank you Brit. Now, we're going to invite our coolest, most funkiest janitor, Alan, to give out the prizes."

A guy in the most striking coloured clothes came up on stage with the sounds of cheering and whooping. "Trippy," Chris told Conor, after staring at his outfit for some time.

So the prizes came and went and suddenly, they started to get more unbelievable.

"Next up…" Donna said, switching the cards in her palm. "Rebel of the Year…" she said in a deep playful tone. "This is one guy who didn't turn up for detention a full fifty three times, and defied everyone…. James Marshall Callow."

There were whispers all over, eyes darting all over the place for the winner.

He wasn't there.

Chris started to worry at that. He looked around alarmingly.

"And then now, what a lot of people have seen and voted for… The best couple award!" Britney squealed.

"Now this award goes to a couple, any two people that appear to have been together at some point and that seemed compatible. This was open to the public for voting, and her are the results." Donna slipped the envelope out and her face lit up. "Unusual it may be, but here are the winner…"

"Conor, I need to go find Stephanie," Chris said, suddenly running past everyone.

"Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon."

The hall was filled with natter. Conor had no choice but to just wait, since his friend just disappeared like that.

I heard my name, but never turned back. All that matter to me now was her. The pieces flew to me immediately when James wasn't there along, with Stephanie 'coincidentally', and the parts he told me… It was going to be her nightmare.

Jericho ran. He ran as fast as he could, throwing the jacket of his tuxedo to one side somewhere to lighten the weight he carried. What did James say again?

Ficar Street. James lived on Longway Drive. So if they just left around twenty minutes ago… They should be at his place at the moment.

Oh no. OH NO.

Chris swore and took off again. James drove a black Peugeot, right? He should've spent time to listen to her, instead of wallowing in self-pity. But he had to take a chance and rely on instincts this time.

He jumped across obstacles without problem; his mind was focusing on protecting her. *Shit! * He angrily thought. Why couldn't he have longer legs or something?

When he did arrive at Longway, he needed to look for the Peugeot now. It was the only way.

The car was parked directly in front of a house, the lights all on. This was it. Chris ran and opened the unlocked door, going straight for the stairs. He saw bottles before he proceeded up. On the tables, wine glasses all over. The contents in the bottle, gone.

*Bastard! He even got her to drink. * He bolted up the stairs to the second story. When he heard cries, he went to the door and twisted the knob. Locked. LOCKED.

"Open the door to fucking piece of shit! YOU FUCK!"

"Chris!" he heard from within. He charged towards the door with full force, his body the battering ram.

"Steph, get over here!" The door was suddenly open, probably because she turned the brass knob in time.

Chris was turning into a madman. He went straight for James and grabbed him by the collar, slamming him up the wall opposite where Stephanie helplessly slumped down in a crying heap. Chris threw a punch into his nose. "You fucker," he said, throwing another one to his jaw. "Son of a bitch, you were supposed to be taking care of her."

James managed to block his shot and get one of his own, then nursed his busted nose. Blood coated the tip of his fingers. "Who the hell told you to come here?"

"God did, you prick, so that she wouldn't have to deal with your intended shit," he said, getting straight up from where he had landed. He glanced towards where Steph sat, but she was gone. Chris was busy with his own matters for the while anyway.

The next moment came unexpectedly, when from out of nowhere, the bandanna boy had a Swiss army knife in hand and attacked him. "Did you think I came unprepared? Think I was stupid?" James was practically spitting his words out at Chris, his eyes frighteningly wide and rather insane. He was lowering the blade ever so slowly, nearing his throat and mere inches away. Chris freaked out. Panicked. His mind went blank immediately.

"Oh my God," Stephanie's small, scared voice sounded.

James, being a person to be distracted easily, looked up. This let Chris have a crucial moment to kick him backward, making him fall back onto the wall. "If you like pushing people to walls so much, then stick to them yourself," Chris said, taking the knife from the loose grip of James' hands. With a slight hesitation, Chris plunged the blade deep into his palm, then area between the webbing of his hand and down the knuckles of his second and third finger, pinning him to the wall. He left a tearful James there at that very moment, taking Stephanie in his arms, planting kisses all over her wet face, kissing the tears away. "It's alright Steph, it's okay," he consoled, "he can't hurt you anymore."

Very soon, the sound of sirens filled the air as the flash of red and blue shone into the room. With a trembling hand, she cupped the side of his face, leaning in for a tender kiss.

"I would never dream of what I'd do without you, Chris. Thank you so much," she said, resting her head on his shoulder. He never felt better. In fact, he felt like he was at the top of the world. She sobbed harder, keeping close.

"What about the prom?" he said, tilting her chin up. It was inappropriate, but it was supposed to be a good night for her. "We can deal with the authorities later… I'll tell them. I just want one dance from you, that's all."

"…You know what?" she said, getting up, clearing her eyes. "Let's get going."

Chris got up. "You're the strongest person I've ever met."

"You haven't experienced the maximum of my phenomenal strength yet," she joked. He couldn't believe she had that kind of energy and attitude after an ordeal like that. "We just rhymed," he said. Then there was this pause.

"Lame!" she retorted, pinching him in the process. "Thanks Chris."

"Get a move on, we don't have all night." With a tug of his hand, they set off back to the hall again.

*

The music was blaring through the speakers when they entered. Conor gave a wave and jumped, making sure Chris saw him "Follow me," Chris said to Stephanie.

"You must be the lovely Stephanie," Conor said, taking her hand.

"Stop it man, she's mine." Chris then told Stephanie to wait as he made his way to the DJ. "Hey, " he glanced at his nametag, "Mike. Could you play something for me, I wanna do something stupid." He started unfolding his impromptu plan to him, then thanked him before returning to the awaiting Miss McMahon.

"I just talked to him…"

"For us?"

"It's coming up in a few."

"Well, it's our song then?"

"It's really up to you."

Pryce appeared out of nowhere. "Hey guys… Stephanie, are you okay? You look a little banged up."

She was right. In fact, 'a little' was an understatement. Her hair let down, her dress had a tear somewhere and so many other things she had to discover. Chris looked just as messed up, with some of his hair out of his usual ponytail, some of his buttons missing from top of his shirt that was half tucked in, and missing jacket. But no matter how terrible he looked, he felt like… Well, he felt like he was the king of the world. In fact, it was levels higher than that.

The music started and he let her recognise the beat filling the air. "Listen to what it says… Everything I ever want to say to you may sum it up in there. Steph you left a mark in my life, and that mark will last forever."

They began to move side by side following the rhythm, her for arms resting on his shoulders as eye contact was made. It was their song after all, so they had to soak whatever it had before it was over.

"You know, I never thought anything would bring us together. I'm just so thankful I met you, and I don't know why," Stephanie said, smiling up at him.

"I don't quite know where to start."

"Well, at the beginning, of course. Unless you want to start on two weeks ago."

~ The first, the last, my everything

And the answer to all my dreams
You're the sun, the moon, my guiding star
My kind of wonderful, that's what you are ~

"Never listened much to Barry White really," she said. "I suppose that'll change, huh? Better than whatever you listen to anyway."

"Hey, that's not nice." Their steps caused them to have rotated one big circle, then Chris took her hand and she twirled on her own, returning him.

"Ever think of what will ever happen to us before?" he asked.

"Of course, but we'll see hmm?"

"You do not know how much that means to me. And I'm telling you that the Beatles and… They rock, okay?" Stephanie laughed. They repeated the twirl.

~ I know, there's only, only one like you
There's no way, they could have made two

You're all I'm living for, your love I'll keep forever more
you're the first, the last, my everything ~

Chris stopped then told Stephanie to wait once again, proceeding to the DJ. "Thanks, Mikey," he said, in which he received thumbs up.

"And with you, I've found so many things," he sang into the microphone. Stephanie burst out in full laughter, slapping her palm over her forehead. He couldn't believe himself either. "A love so new, only you could bring," he continued as he made his way up the stairs to the stage. "Can't you see its you, you make me feel this way--- come up here." She obliged, getting up in her heels as fast as she could. "You're like the first morning dew, on a brand new day," he half laughed.

"Chris!" she screamed incredulously.

"I see, so many ways that I…" she couldn't help but laugh along now. "Can't love you, 'til the day I die…"

"You're NUTS!" she shouted.

"You're my reality---"

"---Mad!"

"---Yet I'm lost in a dream---"

"BANANAS!"

"You're the first, the last, my everything," he finished. Yet he took her hand, no matter what she said, because he knew she loved it on the inside.

"You sounded so awful," she said, as soon as he tossed the mic aside.

"At least I got the party going."

"Speaking of party, look at hose two there."

Stephanie was referring to Conor and Pryce, two of them oblivious to their surroundings. "Let them be. I think the both of them need it."

"They look really cute."

"…I know," she replied, keeping quiet suddenly.

"But you know, we beat the ranks."

"How'd you know?"

"They gave out some kooky prize… How does 'best couple' sound to you? Anyway, the song's not really over. I've got one finale for you."

"What finale?" she asked. "Chris… Tell me!"

"You'll see! You may like it. I don't know."

He could feel his heart beating faster right there. Adrenaline was pumping through his whole circulatory system, and he was getting sweaty. She was right… What finale? "Steph," he said, "I love you."

She 'mmm'ed and waited for a little more. The whole world was watching, but it didn't matter anymore. Not to him, not to her. "One more thing," he said. *Finale… *

He gave her a lasting kiss, something to remember. As the song faded to nothing, they were there, just as they were engaged in their long tender kiss. Finally when he came to his senses, the sound of practically the whole school cheering was evident. This was one prom night… To remember.

~*~

"Then we settled our problems with the police… But yeah, the night was spectacular." *I cannot believe you couldn't remember that! *

Stephanie blinked. "That sounds so familiar. Was the song Barry White?"
"Uh… I don't think so… It was embarrassing."

"I remembered that he did something like that… It was nice."

"It was? I mean, yeah, it was nice of him."

They were sitting on the front porch of her home, telling their memories. They reached there ages ago, and it had been about a nice half an hour of Chris' story.

"Well then," she said, getting up. "I guess it's really late. I'll see you tomorrow?"

Just like the other day, there was a long pause that was there before Chris departed. He casually leaned against the doorframe and smiled. "Sure." But before what was coming could get to her, she pecked him on the cheek and shut the door. Chris sighed. That wasn't supposed to happen. That was NOT supposed to happen. She was supposed to… to…
Stephanie plopped herself on her couch in a hard breath. She frowned. He was keeping something.

Why did it all seem so familiar?