I Remember
R --- finally, I settled on a rating.
A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates. I'm too busy with my work. :(. Hope you guys don't mind. I want to thank those who've reviewed, even read the story too. I'd have my own butt-ache after reading such long chapters. I apologise for all the errors and boring segments as well… Thanks. Finally, after soooo long… :).
Chapter 7: Who?
"Stephanie?"
"I told you not to bother me."
"You did?"
"Yes, I---" Steph stopped and looked up. "I thought you were my assistant."
"That's not very flattering," Chris said.
"Sit down," she said, gesturing to the seat. She couldn't help but sound so serious. Maybe it was just the office atmosphere.
She hadn't spoken to Chris for two days now, because of business and she needed sometime to think. Something happened to her like that too. Something like that was from deep in her brain.
"I was wondering… Nicolette, was it?"
"Nicole Lynette Summers…" she rolled her eyes. That bitch! She kept repeating that in her head mentally. "What about her?"
"I mean, she couldn't have possibly been THAT inhuman."
Chris didn't know he was going to lie. Maybe he was afraid she'd hate him for the idiotic jock he was. The stupidest, no-brainer neanderthal. He though it was that.
Stephanie glared. "You don't know how much of a pain she really was. Makes me sick, really."
Chris laughed nervously. "Oh, alright."
"Let me tell you how it started with her…"
~*~
About a week after the prom, he became somewhat of my love interest, the TOP priority in my life. But of course, the course of true love never did run smooth, did it? Well, she was just the pain in my ass that wouldn't stop chomping.
Stephanie stared at the clock at the top of the wall. It seemed like a typical long day in school and she couldn't wait for it to end. The clock showed it was past school dismissal time already. Maybe the bell was faulty.
"Hello, Mrs Cretel?" she said, raising her hand.
"What is it?"
"It's way past time already."
"But the bell hasn't---" As if on cue, it did ring, and Stephanie muttered, "Nevermind."
FINALLY. She threw everything into her bag and escaped class as fast as she could to her locker, to unload everything in her haversack.
"What was that all about?" Chris said, coming up to her. "I've never seen you so unenthusiastic about classes in my entire life." His arms then slid around her waist.
"Because it was boring, I couldn't wait," she replied. "I'm tired, Chris."
"Of me?"
"You're just saying that on purpose," she frowned. "No, I'm just tired of studying so hard. And tired of her," she said, spotting the blondie she told off the other day. Stephanie wasn't surprised that she didn't have her other friends by her side. Maybe they finally came to their senses.
"Stephanie," Nicole greeted solemnly. "I'll be sheerleading, Chris. Will you come and watch?"
"I've got better things to do."
"You can go if you want," Steph said, "I trust you."
"I don't want to. Watching airheads jump around all day is not my kind of thing. Now, watching you jump around might be a different story…"
Nicole was watching them and Stephanie caught the expression on her face. "You're so stubborn, you know that?" she told Chris, wrinkling her nose at him.
"I don't care. I am going to pop by your place today."
"You can't. I have to go stand in court as the prosecutor. Besides, I just might get some guard dogs. Dogs seem to hate you."
"That was a long time ago," he insisted. Then, he hesitated. "Oh, I have to be there too, then."
"Which is why you can't go to my house."
"Excuse me," Nicole said, "I do believe that I exist."
"…Maybe in your cheerleading squad," Stephanie added. "I don't think you need me to give you another tongue lashing."
The blonde girl rolled her eyes, huffed, then walked away. As soon as she was out of sight, Chris leaned into his girlfriend.
"I could use a little tongue lashing myself, you know," he told her softly, grinning from ear to ear.
"Ugh, you pig," she replied, smacking him in the chest.
"Ow! You forced the wind out of me with that one," Chris said, using a hand to nurse the sore area. Stephanie giggled then pressed her lips against his for a moment, then shut the locker door.
"That's all you're getting from me," she said, zipping up her bag.
"Aww man, I was getting worked up for nothing," he said.
"Worked up? Eew, not now," Stephanie said. She faced him. "Look, I need to thank you for being there when I needed you most."
"Steph, I love you so much. It's impossible not to be there." He planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Stephanie smiled. "I think I need to go settle a legal dispute now." She shrugged. "Time to play a McMahon."
"Go on then."
Chris leaned againt the lockers and smiled to himself. "Wait a minute…" At a distance, Stephanie could hear him. "I'm supposed to be there too!" She rolled her etes and continued walking, refusing to stop and wait for him.
***
"Alright, this court is adjourned." Once the 'hammer of justice' -as Chris called it- slammed, everyone rose and most of the people left. Chris had to stay away from Stephanie for the moment, since she was reduced to tears when she had spoken and because the family was there for her. Shane, Vince and Linda. They cared about business, but they cared for their daughter as well. Besides, she needed time with her family to receive the comfort she needed.
"Mom, dad, you've got business, so I guess you have to go," she managed.
"Honey, we know you need us. We'll be here for you always," Linda said. To see Stephanie so hurt was absolute torture for Mrs McMahon, and Chris had so far seen her to be the strongest woman of all her time.
"I've got Shane," she said. She let out a smile when he tried a terrible face, and then moved close to him to receive an assuring arm around her.
"I can take care of her," he stepped up, "And you two can just head on to work." His parents had figured out that Steph really preferred to be alone, and they nodded. So, after awhile, they bode farewell, exchanged hugs, and left.
Shane brought his sister straight home with the car. "So, do you feel any better?"
"Well, I suppose. I spoke the truth, so I should win," Steph replied through her faint sobs. "I'll definitely get something… He used a weapon anyway."
"How is Chris?"
"He's alright, although, I think he might've wanted to see me."
"Hey, I don't think you're that great to him."
"Shut up!" They laughed.
After that, no one dared to speak, especially Shane. He glanced at her via the rear-view, and saw her staring out the window blankly, watching everything pass her by. She wasn't hateful to anyone, it was just that she didn't know what was the appropriate emotion to settle for. There were mixed feelings, but altogether, they made her heart race. Her fingers drummed on her lap, her appearance a calm façade, but she was so flustered inside. About what exactly, she couldn't say. Maybe it was her life, Nicole, James, Shane, Pryce, Connor, the case…
Chris.
She didn't really know what to feel about him. She felt so safe in his arms, like they were protecting her from the world's unclean and harm. She felt secure around him, more than anyone else. But on the other hand, she felt a little awkward about him being her steady. Somehow, she felt it was going too fast.
Amazingly, he managed to help her recover from a traumatic experience so well, so quickly, even if it was only temporary. Maybe that was what made her want to be with him so badly. Or maybe it was something else. 'Confusing' was all she could classify everything under.
"Stephy?" Shane called another time, breaking her train of thought.
"I'm sorry," she apologised, looking down at her nails, then away, to keep her mind off things.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he questioned with a tone of concern. But he knew she wasn't okay. No one was when he or she'd been violated like that.
"…I'm positive that I feel better than before… Before was cheap, and like shit," she replied, smiling a bit at her sudden use of vulgarity. That was some anger settled. She hadn't done so in an awful long time, swearing. It was so pathetic that she did now, possibly to make herself more pitiful. People did that in hope that someone would prove them wrong about themselves and their flaws. Only the people who really cared would want to have a shot at that improving. Shane, of course, was definitely one of those that cared.
"I'm glad you don't feel that way anymore. And to tell you the truth, you're priceless and beautiful. Not cheap and like shit," he said, commenting on her self-opinion.
"Thanks, Shane," she said, smiling at her brother's kind words. "I'd like to hug you now, but that would just result in a fatal chokehold."
"Better not. I think I'm too young to die." Steph giggled. What a brother.
"When do you think it'll be over?" she said, after awhile. He remained silent. "The case," she referred. "When do you think?"
"By next month, it'll be done," he replied. "Don't worry."
But what was there not to worry about?
***
Stephanie decided to give Pryce a phone call. She needed to just talk to her best friend.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Pryce," Stephanie said, brightening at the sound of her voice.
"How was it?" she asked, voice filled with curiosity.
"It sucked a little, but turned out quite okay. James wasn't there for identification yet."
"So the real thing hasn't started?"
Stephanie sighed. "Not really." She looked around her own room. The curtains were drawn, leaving the room dark and sad-looking. She had taken off the posters on the wall and de-cluttered the place. She didn't need some of those useless things anyway. She disliked talking about the particular case problem all the time, so she decided to change the subject. "So, what's up with you and Connor anyway?" she asked.
"Nothing," Pryce quickly clarified.
"I am not believing that there's nothing, Pryce, you know that I know very well."
Pryce was silent for a long minute. "So I may have a thing for him. It doesn't beat how Chris had happened to throw every hint in your way, still."
"Don't change the topic! Chris and I saw you two getting the groove on during prom," Stephanie teased, trying to weed it all out from her best friend. "By the way, Connor asked me for cash earlier before."
"He did? Oh, that was to pay for some stuff. His mom's in the hospital. He's working part time as a bartender too," Pryce said.
"Did you know he's got a girlfriend already?"
"They broke up."
"They did? Chris never told me."
"That's because he never told Chris."
"Well, he asked for quite a sum. But I guess I could help him.. He's Chris' best friend after all. Oh yeah, I was wondering if you knew how to balance some chemical equations. Flew out of my head completely," Steph grabbed a pen and a piece of paper while trying not to stretch the phone cord too much, and scribbled what info Pryce had to offer.
"Oh, guess who's turning sixteen in 2 months and seven days?" Pryce excitedly said.
"You?" There was air of 'duh' that passed. "Yeah, okay, don't worry. I'll remember your birthday," she laughed. "I'll see you tomorrow then… Thanks Pryce, for everything. You've been really great."
"You too. Bye Stephy, take care."
"Bye."
*So full, yet so empty in myself,* she thought to herself, *I've got such wonderful, supportive people around me. Why do I feel this way?* She sighed and started to doodle on her fresh notes. *I can't believe I'm so much trouble.* She drew a character similar to Pac-Man, just with sharp teeth and a speech bubble that said 'Bite me world' beside it. Then she drew hearts and flowers… She wanted to draw Chris, but she didn't have that artistic ability, so instead, she drew a pig, one with wings and a halo with thick dots as eyes, a big snout and a head that was hardly any larger than its snout. Then she wrote, "Chris, my angel, that fine swine!" She sighed with a smile, then set her paper and pen on top of her drawers beside her bed. Homework could wait.
But as she tucked herself to bed, all she could think of was the past and her problems.
*My heart cannot wait,* she thought, closing her eyes, desperately trying to drift away into oblivion.
***
Stephanie sat on the tables and benches outside the school compound and waited, her head lowered down. She was just waiting for anyone to come by and talk to her. Chris sat in front of her quietly, but she only noticed when he placed his books on the table with a soft thud.
"You sure you're okay?" he said, leaning forward a bit.
"Would everyone just stop asking me that?" she displayed her displeasure, then calmed. "Coping." She tried to smile, but she failed miserably.
"If you need me, I'm always there," Chris said.
It pounded into her head. "There?" she asked. "Where's there?"
Unable to answer even after some thought, he said, "How's Pryce?"
Stephanie knew she was going to be a total bitch today, even if she didn't mean to. She wasn't surprised he changed the subject. After all, she knew pushing him would make him uneasy.
"Pryce? Hung up over Connor, what else?" That definitely did not sound friendly, but Chris understood.
"Connor?"
"Yeah," she replied. "Oh, right. He hasn't told you that he broke up with his girlfriend. Or rather, Belinda dumped the poor guy. It just happened that Pryce was there for him."
Chris paused. "I kinda got lost at the part where he did not tell me that."
"S'ok. Pryce told me. By the way, I managed to pass him the cash he wanted the other time."
"Money?"
"I told you before," she replied.
"Must've slipped my mind."
Chris brought his focus back on her. "Are you really alright?" he asked again, almost grimacing at what her response could be. He didn't want to be thrown across the compound, that's for sure. Instead, she kept quiet and sighed.
"To tell you the truth, I'm still not very stable. I'm shaken up, and I'm ready to burst into tears at any given moment," she replied calmly. "It doesn't take just a few days to recover, I think you understand." Chris nodded in response. "…But you managed to take my mind off it even immediately after the whole ordeal. Even if it was only for a little while, you managed to anyway, which would have been almost an impossible feat. You know what that means?" He urged her to continue. "That I've got you, and well, I'm sorry if I sound needy, but I want you to be there almost all of the time. I don't know why… But you give me the security and assurance I need."
"Give me your hand," Chris said. He smiled as she let him hold her hand, "Steph," he said as he lifted her fingers and kissed them sweetly, "I love you."
If she didn't physically melt on the spot, her insides were definitely as runny as chocolate sauce on a hot pan. But instead of reciprocating, she felt that it was best to not have a response. She had to sort out her feelings, in order to let herself admit that she loved him too.
He kissed her and allowed his eyes to close, inhaling her faint scent, just to cherish the moment. Once he let her hand go reluctantly, he looked at her longingly. "I can't imagine what I'd be without you in my life," Chris told her. It was warm, sincere, genuine, and… "You affectionate, mushy sap." She couldn't help love him too. However, she couldn't bring herself to return the sentiment in her own words. *I love you too, Chris. But I don't know how I really feel about everything yet. I'm sorry… It's just a little too quick.*
She smiled back at him. "Do you think it's all fated? …Everything that's happened recently. Do you think… It was supposed to turn out this way?"
"…I suppose so. We're together. I think it's fated that we would be together, forever."
It made her so happy to have Chris. He was committed and everything else. Why didn't she see all of this in him earlier?
"Forever is an understatement," she heard herself say. "So is the word 'eternal'."
"I'm really glad to hear that."
"…Hungry?" Stephanie asked.
"Like Hippos," Chris replied matter-of-factly. She wrinkled her nose and he laughed. "Hippos?"
"Hungry Hippos! The game… You look so cute when you make your face like that." She stuck out her tongue at that, then stood up. "Where shall we go?" Chris asked, following suit.
"Somewhere nice. Somewhere that would let me tell you things I can't in public I suppose."
"Your house?"
"My house," she said confidently.
"Sounds exciting," he said, with a grin on his face. "Very exciting."
Stephanie gave him a huge slap to the chest like she always did. Once they reached her place, he plopped himself on the couch, putting his feet up on the coffee table.
"Shane's gone out. So behave and obey the rules here, because I'm in charge now." She climbed the stairs quickly.
He rose his voice enough for her to hear, "Ooh, a Stephanie McMahon being dominant over me. I think I like that sound of that!" When she came down, she sounded serious but on her face was a smile.
"You obey the rules or you'll never stop in here again."
"Yes ma'am. I mean, m'lady."
"I'm gonna try to cook up a storm in the kitchen. You're the first to actually taste it, okay?" she said, heading into the kitchen.
"Yessiree bob. But I hope I don't have to hide from the tempest in the kitchen. Will you poison me for annoying you so much?"
There came a light-hearted laugh in the kitchen. "I hope I won't have to."
"Okay, okay, I'll shut up now," he immediately stated. "Just don't kill me okay?"
"I'll try my best."
Chris smiled, to which it faded after a bit. "Is that trying to kill me or not?"
"I don't know," she shrugged, and continued her preparation.
***
"It's ready!"
Chris woke up that instant when the sound of her voice exploded into his ears. "You didn't have to shout, I can't risk being deaf, not at this age."
"You want lunch or not?" Steph said, a little impatient for an opinion.
"Yes, yes… Don't get your undergarments in ribbons."
She rose a brow. "You love to twist things, don't you? Camels and ribbons."
"I can't help it… Smells good, and the counters are clean. Did oversleep enough for you to have enough time to be rid the evidence?"
"Very funny, Chin Chong. Eat up," she said, serving up a plate as he sat down.
"Chin Chong?"
"Eat!" Steph half-demanded. "Please, I bed of you. Tell me how it is!" she submitted.
"Beg. Now that's---"
"EAT!"
She seemed like she was going to stab him with his fork. He had wanted to comment some more, but he feared his life more than anything.
The dish was just a black pepper chicken steak, but it smelled absolutely wonderful. Stephanie eagerly anticipated as she closed her eyes and waited.
"Oh man," he exclaimed.
"What?" she asked, alarmed. "Is it good? Do you like it?"
"I'm disappointed, because I'm high on this now."
Steph clapped her hands gleefully and gave him a tight hug and a peck on the cheek. "I finally know the standards of my cooking, thanks to you! Shane just refuses to comment." She washed her hands.
"What was it you wanted to tell me?" Chris said.
She ate a little slower and swallowed. "Can we talk later?"
"Sure." Then they continued their meals.
***
Stephanie stared at the print on her textbook blankly. Last night was so awkward. She wanted so bad to tell him how she felt, but the words wouldn't come out. She wanted so much to tell, but she didn't know what the after effects were going to be. Chris would love it, but what if it would never work? What was the use of going deeper when you knew that it would never last forever? She didn't know how that managed to get into her head, but she felt that it meant something. Somehow, she didn't want anything like that to happen.
When she cleared her thoughts, she immediately noticed the teacher looking down at her. "See me after class, Miss McMahon," she said in a soft tone. "I might have to sort out some things for you."
*Great,* she thought *Just Great.*
By the time class was over, Steph felt dead. She had been thinking the whole time throughout the lesson. She made her way to the teacher's desk as soon as everyone left, including Chris. She told him to wait around her locker area.
"Stephanie, your attention span has deteriorated in class. Now, I know that you've been through a lot lately, but it's only for your own good that you concentrate during lesson," the teacher said.
"…Try being in my shoes for once," Steph snapped, then walked away.
As she headed down the hallway, she spotted Nicole hanging around Chris again, which was just starting to piss her off.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Stephanie asked grumpily. "For once, stop trying."
"Trying what? To steal your boyfriend?" Nicole eyed Chris. "I don't have to try, Stephanie. He'll be wrapped around my finger in a snap of my fingers."
Chris folded his arms and raised a brow. "Right."
Stephanie stepped up and pushed Nicole. "I don't want you here."
"You don't own anything or anyone… Sums up your authority status right now."
"I don't need you here then."
"Like, what are you going to do?" Nicole asked haughtily.
The brunette scoffed, then looked her straight in the eye. "This."
Stephanie was pretty sure that Nicole felt that punch go right into her pretty face. Chris muttered a "Whoa there, girl," and kept her back, literally, and from trouble. "Bitch!" she exclaimed. "Let me go!" she struggled, her arms flailing at the blonde. Nicole seemed as if she was about to cry as the tears welled in one eye, but Stephanie didn't quite give a shit. "Let go!" she screamed again.
The scene, obviously, caused much commotion. When Nicole disappeared, Chris let his raged girlfriend go.
"You idiot!" she called him, then she gave him a tight slap across the cheek. "I was so close to annihilating that bitch, and you had to ruin it! What the FUCK is WRONG with you?"
"Stephanie! STEPHANIE!" he yelled, shaking her. "What's wrong with you?"
"Leave me alone. You both just piss me off so much," she replied, on the verge of tears, turning her heel against him. "You will never understand."
Chris watched her leave in complete shock. She slapped him, and basically told him to 'F' off. Perhaps it was because she was just falling into that depression phase. After all, she did just have a terrible ordeal. And maybe he really wouldn't understand. But whatever the case, he was sure to be by her side, no matter what she said, thought or did, or whatever that was going to happen.
Come what may, they say.
***
"Wake up, Stephy. It's four."
The sound of her brother's voice and his light shaking aroused her from her sleep. "You told me to wake you up, remember?"
Steph woke with lazy eyes. "…Thanks, Shane," she said sleepily, then gave a large, feline yawn. "I think you can leave me alone now," she told him.
"Are you alright?" Shane asked.
"Yes. I'm almost perfect. I've got to do my homework now. Thanks again, Shane."
She got herself up slowly with her arms and rubbed her blurry eyes. The day was so bad. She had been nicest to Shane, and everyone else just made her mad. She didn't even see Pryce. *But at least I got a shot at Nicole,* she thought to herself with much satisfaction. And perhaps she shouldn't have slapped Chris. After all, he was trying to maintain the peace on school grounds.
*Maybe I should call him.*
Suddenly, Shane called her. "Steph, Chris is at the door. You feel like dealing with this scumbag?" She could hear a loud 'hey', and it made the corners of her mouth turn upwards.
"I'll be down," she shouted, straining her vocal chords. Running her fingers through her hair, she thought, *Coincidence… I think I'm going to fall ill.* She got herself out of bed tiredly and dragged her feet on the way down to meet Chris at the door. She squinted at him and rose a brow.
"Can I…"
"Come in," she completed sleepily. "Sit your ass down anywhere." Shane chuckled at her attitude and went away to leave the both of them.
Chris stepped in slowly and sat on the chair next to the sofa. Stephanie pushed the door shut and fell backwards onto the couch. "What?" she mumbled, trying to keep her eyes open.
"Are you feeling alright?" he said, deciding to kneel down in front of her.
"That's the millionth, gazillionth time---"
"Steph, you're not," he said with concern, his fingers brushing over her pink, heated cheeks. "You're not okay."
She gazed at him for awhile. Why couldn't she just admit it? Why couldn't she just say 'I love you so much'? "I'm… I think I'm just feeling a little feverish. So don't come so close."
Chris sighed and they experienced a familiar moment of silence. She shifted to face him, but she didn't smile.
"Why did you… Why did you hit me so hard, Steph? Was I wrong?"
"I slapped you," she said, exhausted, "because you were stupid enough to stop me from sending Nicole a message. Now she most likely is going to round up everyone she knows on the football team to murder me," she replied solemnly.
"You hate each other that much huh?"
"Chris, she's so bent on ruining my life for some unknown, no good reason. I'm just afraid that she really is going to take everything away from me. Including you."
He frowned. "You're never going to lose me. Because I love you."
"Mmm," she replied. But in her heart, she just felt like the day that Chris would be stolen would just… happen. She didn't want to feel that way anymore. If that were to really happen… She never completed the thought.
"I think it's time too that you saw the doctor before that feverish feeling gets worse."
"Whatever," she replied. "…I don't want to see you around her that much."
"She doesn't… She comes to me. I just try my very best to drive away."
She poked him in the chest. "Who told you to come here to be so adorable?" Then she frowned. "Promise me you'll always be there. Wherever 'there' is."
"Promise. Promise, promise, promise, promise," he told her repeatedly. His head leaned on their linked hands.
*But you never keep your promises, Chris.*
~*~
"You didn't say very much about Nicole, Steph," Chris said, scratching his head.
"I don't feel like talking about her," she said. "…Seriously."
"I guess I understand."
"No one will understand how I felt, Chris."
"Oh, hurrah. So you're not gonna tell me how you feel about your relationship with… him," he said. He almost slipped and mentioned 'me'. All he could say was, 'phew'. "That poor guy."
Stephanie glared at him. "That unfeeling jerk." With gritted teeth, she added, "If I ever came across him again, I'll… I'd probably rip out his guts and use them as party decorations, throw acid on his pathetic face and feed his heart to the wildest boars."
"Whoa. Hey, there-there lady. Didn't have to add the details."
"Does it matter? He's not here anyway."
Chris laughed nervously. "Chris Jericho would be a better replacement to make your life as interesting as possible," he said, patting his own chest confidently.
Stephanie sighed. "I hope you're as interesting as you say."
"But of course," he said, leaning in. "Much more interesting than you, anyway."
She leaned in as well. "Who said so?"
Then he moved even closer. "I said so."
Stephanie moved forward like him until their foreheads touched, then she gave him the bitchiest glare she could come up with. "You don't count."
Chris returned an evil stare of his own. "I count like Mathematicians do…"
"Right." They paused for awhile.
"…Can we stop acting like Angle and Benoit feuding now?" Chris chuckled.
"You're right… But I don't feel like moving," she said.
"Me neither…" The smiles on their faces faded. Chris pressed his lips to Stephanie's gently in a soft kiss.
But from one kiss, it became many, each one deepening and more heated with passion as they continued. More daring as they went, Chris stood up and made his way around the desk to engage in more contact with her.
Stephanie broke their kisses and looked at him.
"Chris?"
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Not here, not now," she replied, touching her lips with the tips of her fingers. Chris suddenly felt a slight stir in his groin, and just knew she felt completely opposite from what she was saying. "Why not?" he questioned, the lust starting to ignite in his eyes.
Since she hadn't anything to say, his lips descended on hers again, this time lifting her onto her desktop. Without delay, his tongue dipped into her mouth and his fingers ran up her thighs, hiking up her skirt…
"Steph," he whispered in her ear, "Please."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~
A/N: Phew. That's it for now. Be sure to drop a review, thanks. Stay tuned and on the lookout for chapter 8! ~Pearlyn