Okay, 3rd chapter, guys! Story takes place on Raw, Monday, March 22. You know the drill. Characters aren't mine. They're the WWE's. Story is mine. Bla, bla, bla. Please review!

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Chris walked the backstage halls of the Raw set, nervously weaving through the rest of the roster, plus all of SmackDown!'s superstars. He had gotten changed at the hotel before he left, to avoid having to see Christian in the locker room. Confrontation was the last thing he needed. Chris had his own objective. It was the night of the big roster switch, but for Chris, it served a bigger purpose.

The halls were filled with fellow WWE superstars. Chris had never paid much attention to how big the rosters were. He managed to avoid conversation, but seeing all of his old friends and people he's competed with in the past on SmackDown was calming. He knew that everyone was in for a change. His own body shook with some fear, and a great deal of anticipation of the night's events.

As he rounded a corner, Chris smacked into Lita, causing her to lose her balance and stumble back a little. "Oh, hi Chris. I didn't know if you were going to show up."

Beside her stood Matt Hardy, who had his arm around her waist. He had only moved to Raw late last year to spend more time with his long-term girlfriend. Chris could sense Matt's nerves from the look on his face, the lingering doubt in his eyes. He knew the two would do anything to remain on the same brand.

"Hey Lita, Matt. Listen, Lita, can I talk to you for a sec?" Chris whispered. Lita looked toward Matt, who nodded in response to her expression, and he left her side, after giving an accepting glance to Chris. Chris grinned slightly and lowered his head apologetically, blinking twice.

Chris grabbed Lita's wrist and pulled her around the corner. "This might be the last day I get to say anything to Christian or Trish... and before I do..." he gulped, "I want to get your approval, and know you have my back."

Lita jerked back a bit, and looked at him in a confused manner, her eyebrows raised, and expression questioning. "Wh... why would you need my approval?"

Chris's lips creased to a slight playful smile. He lowered his forehead so it was a few inches from hers, and whispered, "If I say something stupid, I can blame it on you."

Lita chuckled a bit, and shoved Chris's shoulder. After that moment of fun, she returned to seriousness, and a loving, warm, concerned look rose in her gaze. "Don't do anything to get yourself hurt, Chris. I'm here for you. Matt, too. He's sorry for taunting you last week. He knows what you're going through... he understands, and if you need anything, we're here."

Chris nodded, took a deep breath, kissed Lita on the cheek and bolted in the opposite direction. Raw's theme music had just hit, and Vince was behind the curtain, dusting his vest off, ready to kick off the day's big events. Chris ran through the halls opposite the stage entrance Vince was standing at. He burst through the curtains, and taking everyone off guard, made his way down the ramp.

His eyes never left the steel ramp below him. He took a few deep breaths, and tried to keep focused, mouthing words to himself, encouraging himself to stay strong.

The announce team of J.R. and Jerry Lawler seemed just as perplexed as the rest of the stars backstage, who knew Vince was supposed to make his entrance the first of the night. There Chris was, fists clenched, eyes cast downward, no music playing behind him; only the sound of the crowd's mixed reactions rung through the arena.

"What? Jericho isn't supposed to be out here! Vince McMahon should be walking to the ring right now. This is uncalled for!" Lawler announced the inopportune presence of Chris Jericho in the arena, while J.R. looked on, just as confused as the rest of the roster backstage watching their TV screens, and the audience, who could tell it was not scripted for Chris to be out there right now.

Chris climbed up the steel steps and through the ropes into the ring. He leaned over the top rope on the opposite side of the ring for a microphone, which was handed to him short after.

Lita and Matt were backstage looking on as well. "Oh my god, I didn't know that's what Chris meant! He's going to do this in public?!" Lita was obviously worried about Chris.

"What's he going to do, hun?" Matt questioned Lita. "I know he doesn't have a match..." Lita bit her lower lip, shook her head slowly from side to side, and watched the screen intently. She slowly and quietly whispered, "I don't even know, he... he didn't tell me exactly, he just ran off."

Chris paced back and forth across the ring a few times, tapping the side of the microphone with his finger, and breathing heavily to himself. He felt sweat begin to drip over his left temple, and down the side of his face. He raised the mic slowly to his lips, only to pause quite a bit longer.

The crowd began to get restless and impatient, but Chris blocked out everything for the instance he was up there in that ring. He had nothing to say to the audience. Just to Trish, and Christian. Before this Lottery had to happen, it would be known where Chris stood, if he ended up split from the couple. He would welcome that possibility with open arms, however.

He finally took one more breath and raised his head. His chest expanded and a demanding, revengeful expression crossed over his features.

"Life is funny. You have to deal with shit every day... and a lot of unexpected things happen in the process. WrestleMania is the chance we all get to prove ourselves. But for me, it was a chance to prove something closer to heart. Trish Stratus... you, you were... the best thing that ever happened to me. I don't regret a single thing that happened between us. I've made plenty of mistakes, but I don't regret making that bet, following through with everything I did. I would never have given myself a chance to get to know you if it weren't for the bet. I...I, I- fell in love with you, Trish, and... I'm not the type of person to let love interfere with the rest of life. You were an exception to that. After all of this, I hope you realize what you've lost, because no one else can ever care for you the way I did. I guess... I guess I just wasn't what you wanted. But Trish, I don't blame you. This wasn't your fault. People have told me, since March 14th, to just let it go. They've been saying that... I'm too good a person... to let this drag me down, to let you drag me down. It's not your fault though, Trish. Something... something turned that wonderful, beautiful, amazing, sweet woman I loved......... into a lying, backstabbing bitch..... It wasn't you. That something... was Christian. He'll never l- love you like I did; like I still do. Even if you get everything you want from him, something will always be missing. I'll always be missing from you, and since you chose Christian over me... you'll never get me back."

Backstage, Lita's eyes began to water and her hands were shaking nervously. "Matt... how can he not be dying up there..." Matt held her close and offered all the comfort she needed.

"Everything I've done for you these past months... I don't know if you realize, but it's all been out of love, because goddamnit woman, what I felt for you... I would have done anything for you to feel the same way. But not a damn thing was good enough. I'm just not good enough. And somehow that bastard Christian is. After what he did to you..... You know what... fuck it." Chris dropped the microphone in the middle of the ring, walked to the outside of the ring nearest the ramp, and vaulted himself over the top rope. He stormed back up the ramp, and the announcers called for a commercial to air.

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The 4th chapter is going to include Trish and Christian, I promise! I've got it all planned out, I'm just too tired to write anymore tonight. I want to get the rest posted before Raw tomorrow though. Remember, my story is not going to follow the actual angle on Raw, or wherever the characters happen to be moved to. Anyway, please review! ^_^ Thanks, guys!