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Chapter Six: More Than a Friendxxxxx
"You're fighting Stacy?"
Lita turned around as Matt entered the room, and she had to school her features as she tried not to smile and look him up and down. He'd caught her the last time and she wasn't sure what was redder; her hair or her face. He was moving closer to her and she had to fight the urge to go to him. If she was going to make him realise that she wasn't just one of the guys then she'd have to stop acting the way she always had.
"Yes, I'm fighting Stacy. What's so wrong with that? Are you afraid I might hurt her?" she asked, almost daring him to say yes.
Matt snorted. "Are you kidding? I hope you rip her pampered little face to shreds. I'm just shocked about the match."
"What's so shocking about it? I'm in a match, I've had matches before." She turned to rummage through her bag, deliberately keeping her back to him.
"Yes, I realise you've had matches before, Lita, I'm usually at ringside or at least cheering you on in the back. I think you know what I mean." Matt turned her around and smiled at her. "You always know what I mean."
"You lied to me," she whispered.
"Huh?"
"I said," she pushed him away slowly and indicated the video on the bench next to her bag, "you lied to me."
Matt sighed and looked at the ground. "There are only so many times I can say sorry for that, Li."
He ran a hand through his hair before looking up at her, regret in his eyes. She almost turned away, but these weren't the puppy dog eyes he used to get what he wanted, he was truly sorry. Before she realised that she had broken her promise to herself, she was hugging him.
"I really didn't mean to hurt you," he whispered and she couldn't stop the shiver that ran through her as his breath tickled her neck.
"I know," she sighed. "Just promise me you'll never lie to me again?"
He leaned back and cupped her face with his hands. "I swear that I will never lie to you and I promise I will do all that I can never to hurt you."
She felt her heart jump as he leaned towards her, unsure as to whether or not is was really happening. She could hardly believe that he was looking at her the way he was and her breath caught in her throat. She felt as if time was stopping…and then he did. He stopped.
"Li?"
The look in his eyes told her all she wanted to believe about his feelings for her, but she couldn't allow herself to believe it. Not until he actually said it.
"Lita, I-"
"Knock, knock. Listen can I…want me to leave?"
Lita and Matt jumped apart and for a second, Lita was furious with her friend for his interruption. However, the look in Chris' eyes spoke volumes. He was sorry he had interrupted them, but there was a hint of panic in the background. Strange, she mused, how she could read her best friend's eyes and have no problem believing what she saw, but when it came to Matt…
"What's wrong, jerky," Matt ground out.
"I need your help."
"What? Need someone else to help you keep that title?"
"Matt!" Lita swivelled to face him again, but her angry retort died in her mouth as she saw his repentant look.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it."
"Yes, you did," Chris said, entering the room further. "But it's okay, I deserved that. Tonight, however, I plan to leave this arena with my belt and I'm going to keep it fair and square."
"Good." Lita smiled.
"However, I do need a favour…" When Chris trailed off, Lita noticed that he wasn't alone. There was someone behind him, huddled so closely that she wondered for a moment if it was Torrie, that something had happened.
"Chris, who…" Lita's eyes widened. "Stephanie?"
The youngest McMahon stepped out from behind Chris and took a deep breath, keeping her head high. Lita, however, couldn't keep her gaze off the nasty bruise that was forming on the woman's right cheek. Torrie had told her that she had found Stephanie in tears, but, until that moment, she had thought it was a rouse.
"Oh, my God, are you all right."
"No," Stephanie said, a little shakily, "but I will be."
"No questions now, Li, but I need you to help Steph get ready for my match."
"What?" Stephanie asked in shock, and the feeling was mirrored in Lita and Matt's faces.
Chris smirked. "Heyman and Shane want you out there for my match, you'll be there. But not to help," he added quickly.
"Where do I fit in?" Lita asked, her smile widening. She knew Chris very well and she had the feeling she knew what the man was planning.
"Depends on what The Rock has to say about the whole thing."
"What?" Stephanie asked, fear masking over her eyes again. "This doesn't sound like a good idea, Jericho."
"It'll be fine," Chris said, turning to look at her. He gripped her arms and looked straight into her eyes. "I said I'd help you and I meant it." When she nodded, he turned to Lita and indicated Steph. "Get her something to wear that she's comfortable with." He turned and walked towards the door.
"Jericho," Stephanie said softly and he turned. "Thank you."
"Anytime, Princess," he said with a wink, making sure that he made 'Princess' in soft tones. He hadn't liked the way Heyman had spat the word at her. He wanted it to mean something nice to her, not to have her remember it as an insult. "Oh, and Princess, you can call me Chris."
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Lita tilted her neck from side to side, trying to stop her muscles from tensing. She had her match with Stacy as soon as the current match was up and she was going to be ready. She wasn't sure why she had told Stephanie her plans, she hadn't even told Torrie and the blonde woman was her best female friend.
Chris had been the one to suggest it and her initial reaction had been to try and swing a punch. Luckily he had back peddled and explained himself.
"I still can't believe you're doing this," Steph said and Lita turned to her, matching the other woman's grin. "Tell me about it."
"You must really love him," Steph whispered.
Lita nodded. "Yeah, I guess I really do." Lita shrugged. "But you have Hunter," she said, trying not to sound disgusted at the thought.
The brunette laughed loudly, causing Lita to step back a little in shock. "I'm sorry," Steph said, "I didn't mean to surprise you." She wiped her eyes, hissing slightly when her ring caught her bruise. "I'm sorry. I guess I should explain."
"You don't have to."
"I know," Steph said with a smile, "but I want to. Lita, why did you and Matt pretend to be a couple?"
"To get someone else off my back."
Steph nodded. "It's a good plan."
"Oh, my God. Hunter married you to protect you from Shane."
Steph nodded sadly. "But he's hurt."
"Then why, Stephanie? Why did you come back?"
"Because they threatened to hurt Hunter more," she said softly. "To end his career. I may not be in love with my husband, but I love him very much."
Lita nodded. "Chris isn't going to let this keep happening, you know."
Steph nodded. "I know, but I have no idea why."
"Well, why did you go to him for help?"
"This may sound strange," Steph said with a wry smile, "but I went to him because he hates me."
"You're right, that does sound strange," Lita said with a smile and Steph laughed.
"I knew he'd help me because he's a good guy, despite what I say to and about him. Chris is a good guy, no matter how stupid he sometime is. I knew that, if he helped me, it wouldn't be because he wanted something from me in return."
Lita nodded. "It's strange, but I guess it makes sense."
Lita turned around when she heard her name, realising that a stage hand was calling her. It was time.
"I am really not looking forward to this," Lita grumbled.
"You don't have to do it, you know," Steph said. "A blind man could see how much Matt loves you."
Lita shook her head. "No, I'm just one of the guys to him. Well, not anymore. Everyone knows that I can kick Stacy Keibler's ass, now I want them to know that I can compete on her level as well. Besides," she continued, "I'm not really doing this for Matt. I'm doing this for me. I've never been the pretty one, never been the one all the guys go for. I'm their best friend, the unusual one. Never the pretty one. This is my chance to show the world that I can be both. It's my time to show myself that I can be both."
Steph nodded and smiled. "Okay, then go out there and stun the world."
xxxxx
"All right folks, I have just been informed that we have an impromptu Diva's match coming up next. But, King, I don't think even you'll believe what's coming up."
"I just heard, JR, and you're right, I don't believe it! But I certainly am not complaining!"
Matt frowned and turned to Jericho and Stephanie. "What are they talking about? It's not like Lita's never fought Stacy before."
"Not like this she hasn't," Steph mumbled.
"What? Do you know what they're talking about?"
"Just keep watching, jerky."
"What-" he was cut off as King's voice filtered out through the TV.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the following match will be a bikini contest!"
"Did he just say what I think he just said?" Matt asked, his eyes wide. After a moment, he turned to Steph and Chris, incredulously. "But why?"
"Maybe because she wants to prove to herself-"
"And a certain blockheaded guy," Steph interrupted, making sure Matt knew she was talking about him.
"-that she's desirable. That she isn't just one of the guys."
Matt groaned and dropped his head on his hands. "This is all my fault isn't it?"
"Partly," Chris said with a shrug. "But I think that Lita wanted to do this for herself as well."
"And she's certainly doing it, all right." Steph laughed as the guys looked at the screen, their jaws dropping.
"Oh, my God."
"I know she's in love with you and everything," Chris said absentmindedly, not noticing the look of shock on Matt's face, "but I'm allowed to look, right?"
"She's what?"
Steph hit Chris and he jumped, coming back to his senses and realising what he had just said. "Lita's going to kill me."
"You're damn right she is," Jeff said with a smile as he and his girlfriend entered the room.
"Did you mean it?" Matt asked in disbelief.
"I'm a dead man."
"He meant it," Torrie said, rolling her eyes at Chris. "Now will you go out there and tell her that you love her, too?"
"But she knows I do."
"Oh really?" Chris said, raising his eyebrows. "Then how is it that Steph here, who has only been nice for about twenty minutes-"
"Hey!"
"-knows more about how Lita feels that you do."
Matt looked slightly stunned for a moment before standing up and turning to leave. Chris watched on screen, ignoring Jeff and Torrie's silent questions about Steph, as Lita was cheered the winner of the contest, a satisfied smile on her face. After a few moments, the crowd erupted as Matt made his way down to the ring, completely by passing Stacy who had decided to flash her 'assets' at the eldest Hardy.
"What's he going to do?" Steph asked, leaning forward in her seat.
Chris smirked and leaned forward, his knee brushing against hers. "If I know Matt Hardy, I think he's going to prove to Lita that she's most definitely not just one of the guys."
They continued to watch. Lita seemed apprehensive as Matt walked towards her, waiting for what he had to say. But he didn't say anything; he didn't have to, because the kiss said it all.
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End of Chapter Six
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Okay, before I get lynched for the Bikini match, I want to say that I don't care! Lita was feeling down because she felt that Matt wasn't as attracted to her as he was to Stacy, this was just her way of throwing in his face the fact that she most definitely is a woman and not just one of the guys.
(Also, I likely would never have written this now, not given Lita's current shitty storyline where she's been reduced to arm candy without even having the dignity of being announced as accompanying Edge to the ring. However, for this story, it stands.)