CHAPTER SEVEN

Date: February 10, 2005

Day: Thursday

Dear Journal,

Today was...intense. There's no other way to put it. Vince McMahon is literally a certified genius. I woke up this morning thinking that I would have to put my grand master plan in action with Stephanie. Then I heard my cell phone ringing. I SO hate to be interrupted when I think. I picked up the phone and I was like, "What is it, Junior?" and it was like I could just picture the evil look on Vince's face. That's where Stephy gets it from, but hers is sexy. The look of death must be in the McMahon genes... Anyway, Vince told me that I had an autograph session scheduled for about an hour. Talk about springing something on somebody! I mean, The King of the World needs time to get ready for his loyal Jerichoholics! "Oh yeah," Vince added. "Steph will be there, too."

I really didn't mean to hang up in his face the way that I did, but he said Stephy would be there, and everyone knows that Y2J has to look sexy for his woman. That's right, she's MY woman. I'm claiming her for mine. Because, if today was any indication, she WILL be mine in time for Valentine's Day. And once I have her, I'm never eeeeever letting her go again!

Flashback

"Ready to sign some autographs?" Chris asked, looking over at Stephanie. She was sitting next to him. She had been completely silent the whole time, and he was just dying to hear her voice.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Stephanie replied, readjusting her dark shades.

He readjusting his shades as well. "We're both wearing shades. Cool, huh?" he said, trying to think of something to say.

"Yeah. Cool."

He wondered why she was being so quiet. It's probably because of what happened after my match against John Cena, he thought with regret. I made her cry.

"Did you hear what I said?" she asked, breaking into his thoughts.

"Sorry, hon, what'd you say?" he asked, surprised that she was speaking to him after all that horrible silence.

"I said how does your head feel?" she replied, looking concerned.

"I'm tough, baby," he said, smirking. "A steel chair shot from John Cena can't keep me down."

"I love...your confidence," she said out of the blue.

"Why, thank you, Princess," he said, genuinely surprised at the compliment. "But, if you want me to be honest... My confidence hasn't been at an all time high lately."

"Really?" She seemed surprised at this. "And why is that?"

"Well," he began in a serious voice. "I've been wanting to tell you for quite some time that..."

"Ok, time to sign some autographs," someone yelled to them.

Chris sighed as the first fans came up to the table. "Can we finish this conversation later?" he asked.

Stephanie sighed and nodded. "Sure."

They signed their autographs and shook hands with the fans for what seemed like forever, but they didn't mind. They both loved interacting with the fans. After all, the fans were the ones who helped make the WWE a success! But what they didn't really like were the questions about what had happened at the house show the previous night...

"Was that kiss last night scripted?" one fan asked.

"Were the tears scripted?" another fan asked.

"Did that slap across the face hurt?" yet another fan asked.

Chris and Stephanie looked at each other and shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

How do we answer that? Chris wondered. "Yeah, that slap hurt like hell," he said finally.

"But it was all in the script," Stephanie added in a convincing tone. Chris looked at her sharply as she went on. "Did we do a good job making it look realistic?"

"Awesome!"

"You guys are the best!"

"You're both that damn good..."

An hour later, the two stars were finally given a break. A much-needed break. Chris looked at Stephanie. "Want to go backstage for a while?"

She shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me."

They walked backstage. Both of them grabbed a bottle of water. They were both silent. Chris chugged his water while Stephanie took dainty little sips.

The silence was too much for him. "Did you mean what you said to those fans?" he asked finally. "About everything being scripted?"

"Of course it wasn't scripted. You and I both know that," she said. "I just didn't think they should know that."

"Oh," he said, looking away. "Makes sense."

"So...what were you saying out there before the autograph session began?" she asked curiously.

"I've been trying to be really obvious about the situation, Stephy," he said, touching her arm. "The truth is-"

"Ok, you two. Break is over," a man said. It was the same man who had interrupted them the first time. "Only about one hundred fans left, and then you'll be home free."

"Damn it, Junior!" Chris exclaimed, frustrated. "Can't you see we're in the middle of something here?"

"It's ok, Chris. We can...finish this conversation in the limo later," Stephanie assured him. "Ok?"

"Fine," he grumbled.

"Oh, stop being so grumpy. The fans like Y2J when he's in a good mood, and..." She leaned up and kissed him softly on the cheek. "So do I..."

About two hours later, Stephanie and Chris sat in the limo together, once again, in total silence. When is she going to say something? he wondered. Mentally, I am going INSANE!

"So back to our conversation," she said finally, looking at him. "What were you trying to tell me?"

It's now or never. "I like you, Stephanie," he said quietly. "I mean, I really like you."

She smiled. "I like you, too," she answered. "I mean, I really like you. And I really appreciate the roses you bought me the other day."

He smiled, more like grinned. "I knew you would. Now, you want an extra dose of Vitamin C yet?"

She frowned. "It's not all about sex all the time, Chris."

"Oh, come on Stephanie. You know you've been wanting me for years," he teased as the limo rolled to a stop in front of the hotel she was staying at. "Why not just give in and invite me up to your room? You can't keep fighting the feeling."

"How about this feeling?" she said, and before he knew what was happening, she had slapped the hell out of him.

"Ow! Damn it, Stephy, what gives?" he asked, rubbing his tingling cheek. "It was just a joke... Did I hit a nerve?"

"You know, sometimes I wonder why I'm so attracted to you," she said warily.

"You can't help but be. My body is so fucking hot that you just want to- OW! STEPHANIE!" he exclaimed when she slapped him again. "Can't keep your hands off me," he muttered angrily.

She rolled her eyes and got out of the lime, slamming the door behind.

He watched her walk away. She didn't even say goodbye, he thought, wincing because of the way his cheek felt. He smiled at his next thought. She SO wants some Vitamin C!

End Flashback

Ok, so by the end of the day, she's slapped me twice. In the same spot, no less. Talk about some SERIOUS pain! She made that whole side of my face go numb! But it's so obvious that she wants me. Oh, the look on her face when I offered her some of this Vitamin C... Priceless. Yep, I know she wants me. She NEEDS me. Vitamin C is essential to keep the female body healthy and satisfied. Isn't that what all the health gurus say? Know what, it doesn't matter what they say. It only matters what I say, because I'm The King of the World!

On a more serious note, it kind of bothered me when the fans were asking all those questions about last night. Ok, it wasn't all the questions that bothered me It was Stephy's answer. "It was all in the script." It SO wasn't! I mean, I wish the tears I saw in her eyes after the kiss... I wish the tears were scripted. But everything was really real. I know, because I FELT it. I felt that slap stinging my face. I felt those lips pressing against mine. I felt that warm, pliable body melting against mine. I felt her sincerity when she said she cared. And I felt my heart breaking when the first tear blazed a trail down her face... So it just bothers me that she said it was scripted when it was obviously so real...

I learned some stuff about Stephy today, some stuff that I already knew. But today I got confirmation, proof, if you will...

1. She likes me when I'm in a good mood. Note: I'm always in a good mood...right?

2. She likes me, period. Note: I know, I knew this already.

3. She really likes me. Note: I'm a charming man. What can I say?

4. She really appreciates the roses I bought her. Note: They were expensive enough!

5. She's "so" attracted to me. Note: But what woman isn't?

6. And even though she didn't verbally admit it, she wants me. Note: Well, duh!

Yep, Stephanie McMahon is MINE. She belongs to ME and only ME.

More Next Time,

Chris

P.S. She SO wants me!