Randy frowned at the sight before him. Adjusting his championship belt over one shoulder, he approached the couple, with an arrogant strut that just couldn't be matched - except for maybe a certain Canadian. In any case, he knew what his job was, and had to admit it was more fun planning and scheming with Chris than it ever had been with Evolution. With them it was always about the championship - and he had that already, he thought smugly to himself.
Stephanie was laughing at something Al said when she caught sight of Randy. She tilted her head curiously at him, as Al wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Hey Randy, what can I do for you?" She asked politely.
"Am I interrupting something here?" He asked, glancing at Al and raising an eyebrow.
"No no, not at all. Randy, this is my boyfriend Al. Al, this is our champion, Randy Orton." She said, Al letting her go to shake Randy's hand.
"Congratulations at being champion." The man said, as Randy gave him a once-over. There was something about him, but he took an immediate dislike to Stephanie's boyfriend. He finally saw what Chris had been going on and on about - there was something about him indeed, but he couldn't place his finger exactly on it.
He nodded, smirking a little. "The perks I get nowadays are great."
"I can only imagine."
"I could show you, if you want. Here, check it out." With that, he removed the heavy piece of gold from his shoulder and handed it over to him. Al took it slowly, a look of surprise crossing his face at the weight of it.
"Wow, this is nice." Al said, almost mesmerized by the gold staring back at him.
"Isn't it?" Randy said, amused. He then turned to Stephanie. "I just wanted to ask who Triple H was facing tonight?"
"Eugene in a cage match."
He winced inwardly, feeling bad for Eugene. "Thanks." He said, before turning back to Al, who was still admiring his belt. "You sure you don't want to hang out with the champ for a while?" He asked again.
"No.. it's okay."
"Oh come on." Randy said, grinning. "It'll be fun. Give you a different perspective of the place from a champion's point of view, no offense to you, Steph."
"None taken." She said, chuckling. "Why don't you go with him, Al?" She suggested, missing the glint in Randy's eyes at her words. "The show's not going to start for a while.. and I'm not going anywhere. You can hang out with the world champion."
"Yeah, come on." Randy said, throwing an arm around Al's shoulders in a friendly gesture. "Hell, I'll even let you carry the belt."
"Alright." Al said, finally agreeing, making Randy smirk.
"Don't worry Steph, we won't be long." Randy winked at her before the two walked away, chatting about the ins and outs of the business. Stephanie watched them for a brief moment before retreating back to her own dressing room. She figured she might as well take care of some business now that Al was with Randy. Her father had finally given her a desk in her own dressing room.
She was moving back up, slowly but surely.
She entered her dressing room, and soon caught the sight of a bouquet of roses sitting on her desk in a vase. Noting that they weren't there before and assuming they were from Al, she grinned and approached the desk to look at them more closely. Her eyes on the vase, she was more than startled when her reclining leather chair behind the desk spun around to face her.
"Jesus Christ!" She cried out, meeting the blue eyes of an amused Canadian. "What the hell are you doing here, Chris?"
"Well that's not much of a greeting now is it?" He said in a low voice, though there was a tint of amusement in it. He stood up then, and she gave him a once over. He had his blonde hair tied back (leaving a few strands loose - he did indeed know what she liked), and was wearing a simple white t-shirt, she noted, as he walked around the desk. He smirked, noticing her checking him out (a boost to his ego, to say the least). "So where's the boyfriend at?"
"He left with Randy.. Randy." She said, finally putting two and two together. "You told Randy to take Al around, didn't you?" She said accusingly, glaring at him. He laughed out loud, reaching out then to grab one of the roses, pulling it out of the vase.
"We may be friends, but it is a free country.. I haven't spoken to Rundo in days." He said, twirling the rose in his hand.
"You never answered my question."
"Which was?"
"What are you doing here?"
"I can't come and see a pretty girl like yourself?" At this, he handed her the rose. "The flowers are from me. An apology for all those insults I sent your way over the years."
She gazed at him in wonder, or maybe it was amazement, he thought to himself. He hated apologizing to anyone, it was almost a pet peeve, but he knew when he had no other choice.
"Thanks, Chris." She said, at a loss for words as she took the rose from him. He stepped closer to her, leaning against the desk.
"Not a problem." He said charmingly, smiling at her. She smiled back, before deeming that they were a tad bit too close. She walked back around the desk to take a seat where he had been sitting.
Something about him being charming was slightly unnerving. She knew how to deal with the asshole Chris Jericho, but the charmer Chris Jericho was throwing her for a loop.
He took a seat on the edge of the desk, prompting her to once again give him a once-over. Her eyes went down to his jeans, that fit him perfectly.. She looked back up at him, meeting his once-again amused eyes, and blushed madly.
"Chris, I have work I have to do." She said, embarrassed as she avoiding his gaze as she looked down at the paperwork in front of her.
"I'm not doing anything." He said, shrugging. "I love a woman who knows what she's doing."
Realizing he wasn't about to go anywhere, and wishing for Al to hurry up and come back, she proceeded to ignore him as she read over a contract in front of her. He smirked, knowing exactly where Rundo and Stephanie's loser of a boyfriend were.
"Basically, when you're at the top, you get whatever you want. Whatever locker room you want, first-class flights.. the best suites at the top hotels in the country.. and most of all, you get all the girls." Randy smirked. "I should know."
"Man, you're basically on top of the world." Al said in amazement.
Images of Triple H wielding a sledgehammer suddenly flashing through the young man's mind, he strained a smile, "Yeah, something like that. Check it out."
With that, they both stopped in front of a locker room.
"What's in there?" Al asked, suddenly not trusting the young man next to him. Randy grinned.
"Let's go in so you can find out for yourself." The young champion then pushed the door open and stalked inside, Al on his heels. A few seconds later, he was watching in amazement as the last four girls in the diva contestant search were all over Randy. If there was one thing he had picked up from Evolution, it was how to party.
"Hi Randy." Joy said suggestively, making the champion send a knowing smirk in Al's direction.
"Al, allow me to introduce Joy, Amy, Carmella.. and of course, Christy." All the girls (except for Christy, who was busy flirting with Randy), then turned to Al.
"I should go." He said, suddenly realizing that him hanging out with Randy might cause serious consequences with Stephanie. Randy laughed, knowing exactly what the man was thinking.
"She won't know.. trust me." Randy said arrogantly, before Christy whispered something to him in his ear. He smirked and nodded, and she went over to her bag, pulling out a bottle.
"Champagne anyone?" She asked. Randy snuck a look over at Al, who was smirking as Carmella gave a twirl for him.
Al wasn't going anywhere.
She couldn't concentrate. Not when he was leaning over on her desk, resting on his side as he watched everything she wrote. He hadn't said a word, and somehow that was more frustrating to her than when he was going on about something.
"Do you mind?" She asked, finally breaking the silence. He looked up at her then, hearing the annoyance in her voice.
"You have beautiful handwriting." He said, looking back down at the notes she was taking on the show. "Fitting."
She smiled, touched by the compliment. "Can I ask you something?"
"That depends."
"Did you really hate me?"
"Yes."
"Well that was a fast answer."
"You were always fun to mess with though. I couldn't resist."
"Yeah, and you still can't." She said teasingly.
"You hit it right on the head, Princess." He said, as they once again fell into a silence. She worked while he looked on, only this time, it was a much more comfortable silence for both of them.
Randy closed the door as he left the locker room, deciding he needed a break. He went and took a stroll around, having his title belt once again on his shoulder. He didn't trust that Al guy enough to actually leave his championship belt with him. He might come back to find it melted or something.
"... always around Chris Jericho! Don't you see... "
At the sound of his companion's name, Randy froze, recognizing the voice. He realized who's locker room he had been walking by, and leaned up close to the wall. He removed his belt from over his shoulder and rubbed at it, making it look like he was actually shining it up when he was really eavesdropping.
Yet another thing he had picked up from Evolution.
"He's such.. such an asshole! Anyone can see that from just watching him prance around.. ugh, I can't stand him! But her.. she's trying to move on him, it is so obvious!"
Randy raised an eyebrow at this. Her? Who's 'her' ? Stephanie?
"Trish," Someone said, who Randy figured must have been Tomko. "I don't think she's an actual reason for you to get jealous --"
"I am not jealous!" She shrieked, making Randy wince. "How dare you suggest that I would be jealous of Lita!"
"She might not even like Jericho." Tomko reasoned.
"Yeah, and why are you getting defensive with her anyways? You're not seeing him anymore, so who cares who he goes after next?" Another voice asked, who Randy recognized as Christian's.
"I swear, sometimes I think you two are so dense.."
At this, Randy left, lest one of them come out and find him there. Pulling out his cell, he sent a text message to a familiar number.
"I hope Rundo doesn't lose track of the time." Chris said, not having moved from his spot on her desk. Stephanie had gotten used to it though, and now it felt comfortable. She snickered.
"Rundo.." She shook her head, and added her signature to the last paper, before putting it aside and leaning back. "Finally.."
"Finally is right.. the show's gonna start in like twenty minutes."
"No one told you to join me." She responded sarcastically.
"You should be honored that I have graced you with my larger than life presence."
"Have graced? Does that mean you're leaving?" She asked hopefully, making him laugh.
"Wow, that kind of stung, Steph."
"Did it? Aw, I'm sorry."
"Yeah, you should be." He got up and stretched out for a bit, before turning back to face her. "So how come we can't go out to lunch sometime? As friends. Friends go out to lunch sometimes. Unless, that is, we're not friends."
"Now you sound like Kurt." She said, rolling her eyes as he started to walk around her desk. "Yes, somehow you have managed to make it so I can regard you as a friend."
"You make it sound like a bad thing." He said, now standing in front of her. He turned her chair slightly so she was facing him, and leaned towards her. "So.. about lunch?"
"Chris.." She said, her voice faltering as he leaned closer. "It just wouldn't be.."
"Wouldn't be what?" He cut in, lowering his eyes to her lips. The lips that had nothing but venomous words for him before. Of course he knew what they tasted like, but that was so long ago..
"Somehow wouldn't be quite appropriate.." She mumbled, her heart feeling like it was in overdrive. She blamed her total inability to get out of this situation on the scent of his cologne..
And just then, someone from above felt like ending her torture as his phone vibrated on her desk. She used this as an excuse to turn away from him and grab it, while he growled, having been so close to making his move. She pressed a key on the phone, looked at it, then handed it to him.
"Randy sent you a text message."
Damn that kid, I told him to wait until I left. He took the phone from her and read the message.
"What the hell?" He mumbled to himself, gazing at the short message in shock. He straightened and re-read the message again, and then cursed under his breath, not noticing Stephanie sigh in relief at the distance he created.
"Something wrong?" She asked, partly relieved, and partly curious.
"No.. I have to go though. I'll be back later." He gave her a suggestive look before walking over to the door. "Oh, and think about lunch."
"Whatever, Chris." She said as he left. She let out a deep breath she didn't know she had been holding, and turned on the TV to wait for the show to start, Al completely forgotten for the moment. She was too busy thinking about how good Chris had looked in those jeans.
"This was not part of the plan." Chris snarled as he angrily pulled off his t-shirt. He threw it aside and snatched his other shirt he was going to wear for the night. "No wonder Trish has been treating Lita like shit. She's jealous of us. Man, she's always getting into my business, thinks she can just waltz back and have the nerve to talk to Lita like she's been doing, like she has the right.." He stopped his angry tirade as he stared at Randy.
"What?" Randy asked.
"Wait, shh, shut up." Chris said, on the verge of a realization. "Do you realize what this means?"
"Actually --"
"Didn't I say to shut up?!" The Canadian growled, making Randy frown. "She still wants me." He said in awe.
"Who?"
"Trish.. she still wants me. Oh man." Chris said, running his hand through his hair.
"This is bad?"
"Are you kidding me? This is great! Only thing is, Lita's having to deal with her.. we'll have to think of something to take care of that."
"Yeah.. but how'd it go with Steph--"
"Shhh, shhh.. you hear that?" Chris asked, and Randy strained his hearing. He looked at the older man like he was insane.
"No."
"That sounds like Christian's music! He thinks I forgot about last week.. Y2J never.. EVER forgets!"
"That was kind of lame --" The door shutting cut Randy off as Chris took off towards the gorilla position. He sighed and took a seat in the Canadian's locker room, and decided he might as well check up on the show.
"A ladder match? Are you crazy?"
"Are you stupid?"
"No."
"Then don't question me. I've been in more ladder matches than you've had title shots so shut it, Rundo."
"Is this the thanks I get?"
"What should I thank you for?" Chris demanded, stopping in his tracks and staring at the champion. "Enlighten me."
"For getting Al out of the way so you could work your moves on Stephanie, as you put it."
"And then for text messaging me right when I was about to capitalize on my moves?"
"Don't be asking me for help then next time, you jackass." Randy said angrily, turning around and walking away. He had just about had it with that man.
Chris watched him walk away and scowled. Was he sorry? Yes. Was he about to go and tell Randy that? Hell no. He snorted and went to walk away himself, when someone familiar called out to him.
"Jericho!" He turned to see his arch nemesis jog up to him. His scowl deepened.
"What do you want, assclown?"
"Where's Stephanie?"
"How the hell should I know?"
"I know you know." Al said, his fists clenched angrily. Chris noticed this and smirked.
"What are you gonna do? Hit me? I dare you to." He stuck his chin out and pointed. "Free shot, junior."
"I don't know what she sees in you." Al said in disgust, before walking off, looking for Stephanie. That comment though, made Chris stay still so he could digest it. Had she been talking about him with Al or something?
I guess I'm growing on the Princess.
One week of getting beaten by a creepy little bastard like Christian was bad enough.
Two in a row was just downright humiliating for the king of the world.
He was half helped and half dragged to the backstage, his thoughts all jumbled together as he felt a piercing headache coming on. That had been one bad shot all right, he thought, as he leaned against the refs, who were practically holding him up. Christian was probably getting payback for him blowing Al off earlier.
Or maybe it was because of Trish.
He didn't know anymore. All he knew was he wanted an ice pack.
Needless to say, he was more than shocked when the first person he met backstage was Randy. He looked up at him curiously, before shoving the refs away from him.
"Go away assclowns, I can stand." He said angrily. He sneered at Randy and went to walk off, but he lost his balance and would've fallen, had Randy not grabbed him in time.
"See, I told you you were crazy for wanting a ladder match. All he has to do is knock you out again and he'll win." Randy said knowingly, letting Chris lean against him.
"Shut up Randy." He mumbled, surprising the champion when he called him by his real name.
"Randy?" He echoed, as they walked back to the Canadian's locker room. He went slower for Chris.
"I need to lay down." Chris groaned, feeling his head pounding as Randy's surprise totally flew over his head. "Do you have any aspirin on you kid?"
"No.. you know, you might have a concussion."
"What are you now, a doctor?" Chris mumbled.
Randy sighed, not knowing what he was expecting from Chris. The man was a loner; he only looked out for his own interests, for his own self. How could he have expected an apology from someone like that?
Just as he thought that, Chris once again surprised him.
"What'd you say?" Randy asked, shocked.
"I said I'm sorry Randy, and don't make me say it again."
Randy just smirked.
"Is he okay? That was a pretty bad shot."
"Yeah, he's alright. At least, I think he's alright."
"What do you mean, you think?"
"Well, he hasn't called me Rundo, and he's actually apologized to me."
"Wow.. so he's being nice."
"Yep."
"Yeah, maybe he isn't alright. Can I go in?"
"Sure. I actually have to go.. I have a match against Kane."
"Good luck."
"Thanks.. I'll need it." The young man shuddered, making her laugh. As he walked off, she entered the Canadian's locker room.
Her eyes scanned the room, before they came to rest on him. He was sitting on a folding chair, his head leaned all the way back, an icepack on his forehead. She walked over and stood over him, but couldn't see his face because of the ice pack.
"That's two weeks in a row." She said knowingly.
"Stephanie?"
"You were expecting someone else?"
He removed the ice pack slowly and looked up at an upside down Stephanie.
"I hate ladders." He mumbled, and she smirked.
"Yet you like to make ladder matches. You're very backwards."
"You're the one that's upside down right now."
"How do you feel?"
"Not as bad as I'll feel after Sunday, I'm sure." He said, sighing. "So where's the boyfriend?"
"He's in my dressing room. I'm upset with him, actually."
"Yeah? How come?" He said, though he was secretly pleased.
"He's an ass sometimes. Even more than you."
"Wow, and here I thought that wasn't possible."
"Yeah, seriously." She said, laughing. "But I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Thanks for the concern. I'm still in one piece." She nodded, looking like she wanted to say something. He scowled at her, still seeing her upside-down. "Say it."
"Huh?"
"You know you want to say something. Say it."
She looked at him in surprise, before frowning slightly. "I just wanted to say --"
"Stephanie!" Chris winced when he heard Al cry out her name as he barged into the room. "I finally found you. What are you doing here?"
Chris covered his face again with the ice pack as Stephanie scowled at her boyfriend.
"I don't have to explain what I do to you."
"Steph, come on, we have to talk."
Steph, come on, we have to talk, Chris mimicked to himself under the ice pack. That guy was lucky he was taking it easy for his match on Sunday, otherwise he'd be getting a royal ass kicking right then.
"I don't want to talk to you right now."
"We have to talk."
She sighed. "Fine, I'll be out in a few. You can wait until I'm done with Chris, thanks."
"Fine.. I'll be outside."
"Fine."
"Fine."
Chris heard the exchange, thoroughly amused and his headache forgotten as he wondered why the two were suddenly at odds. He smirked under the ice pack as he heard the door close.
She looked back down at him, sighing slightly and lifting the ice pack so she could see his face. "Good luck on Sunday.. be careful."
"Thanks.. what happened to my lunch proposal?"
"We'll have to see about that." She covered his face again with the ice pack again, before leaving him alone in the room. He heard the door click, and grinned to himself as he removed the ice pack and tossed it to the side.
Slowly but surely indeed.