A LITTLE WHILE LATER

"So... what you're saying is, you're actually friends with him?" Trish asked in disbelief, sending Stacy a funny look. The younger woman's gaze was serious as she nodded.

"Yes. John and I have been friends for awhile now... since he debuted, actually," she admitted. Trish let out a short snort of a laugh.

"Stace, let me get this straight. You, Stacy Keibler, were actually friends with Mr. Thuganomics, John Cena? That's crazy," she said, still laughing. The thought of anyone being friends with John considering the way he treated people was insane. Sure, he had helped her out and all, but that didn't mean they were friends, nor would they ever be. Besides, seeing as how Stacy didn't know about her little incident and subsequent encounter with John, she couldn't show any amicable emotions toward him...

"No Trish... we *are* friends. To this day, John and I have been kind of... kind of like brother and sister," Stacy said, and Trish could tell by her gaze that she was dead serious. She sent her best friend a very confused look.

"W-what?  How? I mean, what would possess you to be friends with that man?" she asked disbelievingly. "He's rude, he's obnoxious, he's..."

"He's actually a pretty good guy once you get to know him," Stacy finished for her, resting her arms on the table in front of her. Trish shook her head in amazement, picking up her glass of iced tea and taking a small sip.

"If you say so," she said, placing the glass back down on the table. Stacy's eyes narrowed skeptically at her friend.

"You know, you never really gave him much of a chance," she pointed out. "I didn't think he was all that amazing when he started turning asshole either, but I decided I'd give him an opportunity to explain himself. While I don't understand exactly why he acts the way he does, I do know that he and I have had some awesome talks, and I really love hanging out with him." Trish eyed Stacy as if she just stepped off of a flight from Mars.

"Are you sure we're talking about the same John Cena?  Cause the John Cena that I know would *never* be caught dead having a conversation with the likes of you, nor would he even bother..."

"That's just the thing, Trish," Stacy cut her off again. "You don't know him, or at least, not the *real* him. He's really a good guy Trish, and if you knew why he acted the way he does around you, maybe you wouldn't hate him so much." At the end of her statement, the leggy blonde let out a tiny, almost unnoticeable gasp, causing Trish to raise an eyebrow.

"What exactly do you mean?"

"Nothing... just, don't worry about it," she replied, lowering her head slightly. Trish wasn't so quick to give up on the topic.

"No, really, what is it?" she asked, curiosity taking over her mind.

Stacy kept her gaze down, locked on her glass of water in front of her. She just *knew* she shouldn't have opened her mouth. John was going to kill her for this.

"Well, Trish... it's just that, he doesn't mean to be such an ass to you. He just, he can't think of a good way to explain how he really feels. I've told him time and time again to just talk to you about it, but I think he feels like it's too late," she explained.

Even though Trish was *very* confused, what Stacy said made sense in a way. After all, if John really didn't hate her, it would explain why he had been acting so weird recently. It would also explain his actions the other week. Although it seemed plain as day now, she just didn't see it before. She felt as though she were so blind for not picking it up before. He didn't stop to help her just because he felt that he had to. It was so obvious now...

"Are you saying that he likes me?" she asked, a hint of what Stacy swore to be hopefulness in her tone. She glanced down for a moment, swirling around the ice in her drink.

"He does, he really does," she replied, nodding firmly. Trish kept her gaze on Stacy for a moment before turning away and glancing around the room. When she brought her eyes back to her best friend, she questioned her.

"Are you sure?" she asked. She didn't want to sound so skeptical of the idea, but she wouldn't put it past John to play a joke on her like that. Stacy smiled softly, nodding again.

"I'm positive Trish. If I thought he was only messing around, I wouldn't have even bothered to tell you. What he feels is real. I can see it in his eyes... he just looks... genuine," she explained.

Trish felt a grin forming on her face, and she had no idea why. This was John Cena they were talking about. Even if he *did* really like her, it made no difference. He was an asshole and for that, she shouldn't even give him a second look...

So why did she all of a sudden get butterflies in her stomach?

Trish placed a hand on her stomach gently, willing the feeling to go away. Those butterflies weren't the nervous kind. They were the kind you got when you brushed up against a gorgeous guy walking down the street, the kind that you got when you got asked out in high school... the kind you got when you could feel yourself falling for someone. She couldn't allow herself to feel that way, not after she had vowed to despise John Cena for the rest of her life. It just wouldn't be right...

"Well, speak of the devil..." Trish heard Stacy say.

When she snapped herself out of her daze and glanced over at her friend, she noticed that the young woman had her eyes locked on someone else, somebody standing behind them. Trish turned around as Stacy smiled with satisfaction, knowing that her plan was going smoothly. When Trish turned around to see who was behind her, her eyes widened slightly...

The person was none other than John Cena.

Hey guys! Sorry I took so long for the update, but I've just been so busy. Also sorry that this chapter is kinda short, but I'll try and make up for it next chapter.  Hope ya like it!!