A/N: The reviews were great! Keep them up.

candilicious: Thanks for reviewing. Is John and Trish really together? I didn't really make that clear on the last chapter, but in this one you'll find out.
Cenafaction.Stratusfaction13: hey, i'll definitely check out your story. i think you'll get even more nervous as the story reaches its end. lol. Thanks for the review.
TrishOrton: Hey, thanks for reviewing like always! Stacey and Randy? hmmm...you're not the only one who thought of that. lol. I don't know...maybe? To be honest, I haven't even thought of that. lol.
LaMorena: Thanks for reviewing. Trish and Randy do make a great couple! Maybe they'll get their happy ending, who knows? Oh wait, I do. lol.
ChainGangDiva54: haha, sorry if the story is getting you frustrated. but regardless of the ending i hope you'll still like it! i get worried when reading the reviews and i probably will get even more nervous when i decided who i put Trish in the end.
gtea-angel: thanks for reviewing. you'll find out sure in this chapter whether Trish and John are really together.
TrishStratusFan2007: it could be Trish and Randy in the end, but you gotta stay tune. Thanks for the review.

What happened to all the John/Trish supporters? It appears most of you want Trish and Randy in the end. hmmmm...More surprises in this chapter...

Chapter 23

"Only Time Will Tell"

Just two more weeks left before Trish Stratus will make her return in the ring as she continues to train Sharmell, Jillian, and Melina at the gym inside the arena of Houston, Texas. The training has not only improved the divas in Smackdown but it did help Trish regain her strength from her ankle injury which has kept her from the ring for the past two months.

Moments ago Trish gave Sharmell, Jillian, and Melina a fifteen minute break and as she stayed in the gym to cool down, her cell phone started to ring. Trish digs through her gym bag and successfully finds it. "Hello?" She answered while squirting some water into her mouth from the bottle.

"Hey there, beautiful."

The blonde bit her lip and smiles. "Hey, John. Shouldn't you be at an autograph session right now?"

"Well I just arrived. But before I go out there I just wanted to hear your voice."

Trish coyly blushes in awe. Although the two are not officially dating, they have agreed to take things slow and remain friends and perhaps develop something even more in the near future. But now being on different shows, it would be the ultimate test to determine how they really feel about each other.

"That's cute, John." Trish glances over at her watch and realizes the fifteen minutes are up. "Well, I got to go." She says with a sigh just the thought of going back to work. "Call me later."

"I will. Bye, Trish." She hangs up the phone when just moments after Sharmell and Jillian returned to the gym. "Where's Melina?" She asked when she noticed it was only the two of them.

Sharmell rolls her eyes. "She still out there."

"Flirting with Randy," Jillian added as Trish shot her a look. This was beginning to make her angry.

"Very well," she groans trying to contain her anger. "I'll be right with you, ladies."

Trish, in her sweat pants and a simple black tank top, exits the gym. And just down the hallway, she spotted Randy and Melina talking nearby.

"So I thought maybe we can hang out some time." Melina giggled as she traced his jaw with her finger tips seductively, making Randy feel nervous.

"Uh yeah…maybe."

"What the hell is this?" Trish intrudes in their conversation as she glares evilly at Melina. Randy looks up in relief. 'Oh thank you.' He thought. "Break is over."

"Just five more minutes, Trish." She stares at Randy hungrily. "We were…just talking."

The blonde rolls her eyes, "Right. Well sorry to break it to you, honey but when I say break is over…" she moves closer to Melina, her expression deadly serious, "it's over."

Randy darted his eyes between the two as their contact grew intense. "You don't want to mess with me, Trish." Melina warned the former WWE women's champion.

"Oh please," the Canadian native chuckled, "I see the way you perform in the ring and, sweetie you're not exactly a threat."

"I believe it's not your job to patronize me, Trish."

"Well maybe I wouldn't have to if you stop being a slut and start wrestling."

Melina cuts her off with an abrupt slap to the face. "You bitch!"

"Melina! What the hell?" Randy's eyes widen as he comes to Trish's aid. "Are you okay?"

The blonde breathed heavily, covering one side of her cheek that connected with Melina's hand as she sends her a dreadful look. There was a small pause when suddenly Trish pushes Randy out of the way and physically tackles her to the ground. "You want to say that again, bitch!" Melina begins screaming furiously, forcing Randy to carry Trish from off of her. "Damn it let me go! I'm not finished yet!"

"You need to calm down, Trish." Randy hauls her up on his shoulder. Despite all the kicking and punching he was getting from the blonde, he successfully brought her to his locker room and lies her down on the couch. "You could get fired for this."

Trish sits up and groans. "UGH! I can't believe that bitch slapped me."

"I can."

She shot Randy a look. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Cut Melina some slack, Trish. She and I were just talking."

She rolls her eyes. "Right, when she should be training."

"What has gotten into you lately?"

"What has gotten into me?" Trish scoffs, followed by a forced chuckle. "Well let's see…" she pauses and clasp her hands together, "for the past week my so-called best friend has been ignoring me again for—gee whatever reason that may be—and now I see him hitting on Melina who is supposed to be training and not wasting my time."

Randy rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably and sighs. "Trish, I--"

"You know what? Just forget about it. I'm so sick of you giving me the guilt trip here and making me feel like total crap." He furrows his eyebrows in bewilderment as Trish continues on. "You want to be an asshole? Fine." His jaw dropped as she slowly rises up from the couch and makes her way to the door. "I won't let it play with my emotions anymore."

"But--"

"This happens all the time, Randy. Why is that?" She questioned. "Is there something you want to tell me? Something that you're hiding?"

Silence fell upon them as the self-proclaimed legend killer drew in a few nervous gulps. Tension rises in the room when suddenly they broke their intense contact at the sound of someone knocking on the door. Trish groans and quickly answers it. "What!"

The leggy blonde stood back in astonishment. "Gee, is that how you greet your friend?" Trish's jaw dropped as a smile crossed her face. "Uh yeah hello to you too."

"Stacey! You're here!" The Canadian bombshell shrieked excitedly as she threw her arms around her. "You look great."

"Hey, you too." Stacey observed as soon as they broke apart from their hug. "I see you've been working out." Her eyes then drifted over to Randy and then back at Trish. "You know I was about to go to Randy and ask for you…but then you're here." She lifts an eyebrow suspiciously. "Why is that?"

Randy and Trish exchange looks. "We were just talking."

"Right…" Stacey chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I have a meeting with Stephanie about my return. I'll call and set up a meeting with you too."

"Meeting?"

"Yeah, we have a lot to catch up." She winked while exiting the locker room. "Nice seeing you, Randy."

He groans, "Yeah." Trish turns around, and she too, leaves the room.

Later that night, Trish met up with Stacey in her hotel room as they watched recorded episodes of Dancing with the Stars Stacey have taped to show Trish. As the blonde Canadian has her eyes clued to the television screen, Stacey peered at her from the corner of her eye, very curious to know what's been going on in her life while she was gone. "So," she clears her throat out as she made Trish look away from the TV, "what's up with you and Randy eh? When I walked inside the locker room it looked as if you two were in the middle of something."

She rolls her eyes. "It's nothing, Stace. We just had an argument."

"Over what?"

Trish turns to the leggy blonde. "Can't you see I'm watching here?"

"Well it's recorded, Trish." She smirks. "You can watch it anytime."

The short blonde releases a heavy sigh. "I don't even want to talk about it."

There was a moment of silence as Stacey nods her head considerately. "Fine, so how's John doing?"

"He's doing well."

Stacey grins, "Uh huh and are you two like a--"

"Couple?" She finishes off as though she could read her mind. "No, we're not."

Stacey frowns. "That's a shame. He's hot."

Trish rolls her eyes and chuckles. "We're taking things slow, Stace."

"Okay, take all the time you need. But just remember, John is a really sweet guy." Trish turns to her female companion and listens intently, "I thought it was so romantic when he came all the way to Smackdown just to see you and tell you how he felt." She gushed. "Think about it, Trish. He came after you. When you broke up with Randy did he ever come after you?" Stacey questioned, putting the blonde Canadian in deep thought. Silence filled the room as a smirk then crossed her face, "Didn't think so."

As Trish and Stacey said their goodbyes that night, Trish makes her way down the lobby of the hotel to find Randy when suddenly she was approached by none other than Vince McMahon. She faces him with a weak smile. "Hey, Vince…"

He adjusted his tie and groans. "Trish, I was informed that you tackled Melina earlier today." The blonde gulps nervously. "I believe your job was to train her…not beat her up."

"Mr. MaMahon, I can explain."

He crosses his arms and listens. "Please do."

"Well…" she started off nervously, "I was just--"

"She was only giving Melina a taste of some of her moves." Randy fills in from behind, helpingTrish out. "I saw the whole thing, Vince. It was just part of training." The blonde turns to Randy in bewilderment.

"Very well." The boss groans. "Anyway, have Dave or Randy told you about your storyline when you return to the ring?"

She wrinkles her forehead. "No, they haven't."

"Well since you and Melina are getting along so well," he says in a rather sarcastic tone, "I thought it'd be interesting if you two start feuding. Batista and Randy will go one on one with MNM for the tag team titles. Melina will make the interference and that's when you come in."

Trish lifts an eyebrow. "Sounds great, Vince. I can't wait to go out there and do some ass kicking."

He smiles. "You two have a goodnight." Vince adjusted his suit as he makes his way outside where a limo was waiting for him. Trish then turns back to Randy.

"Thanks for helping me out."

He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. It was nothing really."

There was a moment of awkward silence as they avert from each other's gaze. "Randy, I was actually looking for you."

"Okay, here I am."

She bit her lip and sighs. "Look, I'm sorry for going off like that."

"Whatever," Randy just shrugged his shoulder, "it's okay if you were jealous."

"And I--" Trish pauses in mid-sentence and tilts her head to the side, "jealous!" She scoffed as a mischievous grin crossed his face. "You thought I was jealous?"

"Isn't that why you tackled Melina?"

"No! I tackled her because--" She lost her train of thought and sighs while shaking her head in frustration. "Because she's a bitch."

"And you weren't?"

Trish beams coldly at him. "You know what? Just forget it."

"Trish, wait." Randy turns her back around so that their eyes could meet. "I'm sorry for being a jerk to you this past week. It's just--"

Trish studies his eyes carefully. She could tell that he was pretty nervous and that it sounded important. "What is it?"

He moistened his lips and heaves a deep breath. "Trish," he started off uneasily, "there is something you should know." She furrows her eyebrows in bewilderment. "Something I've wanted to tell you for so long now."

"Okay…" Trish tilts her head to the side and listens carefully.

"Trish, I--" But before Randy could say anything, they were interrupted by the sound of Trish's cell phone going off as she takes it out from her back pocket and groans.

"Hello?" She answered as Randy waits patiently. "Oh hey, John." Randy looked away from Trish and sighs. 'Great, perfect timing,' He thought sadly. "What's up?"

"You know, Trish I should go."

"Can you hold on a sec?" She puts the phone on hold and faces Randy. "Wait, what is it that you need to tell me?"

He shook his head in dismay. "You know funny thing is it totally slipped out of my mind." Her expression was almost blank and uncomprehending. "I really don't know anymore. So uh…I'm just gonna go."

She sighs, "Randy…" Trish watches on as he exits the hotel. She puts the phone back in her ear. "John, let me call you back."

It was late in the evening as Trish heads outside in hopes to find Randy. The night was cool and windy, but it didn't stop her from searching. While walking for a few blocks, she suddenly spotted Matt Hardy standing in front of a nearby restaurant alone not too far from the hotel. She turns around and smiles at his way. "Hey, Matt." The blonde greeted him as he looks over his shoulder in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

His lips slightly parted at her unexpected appearance. "Oh I just had dinner and I'm waiting for someone." Matt looked rather nervous as he scans around cautiously.

"Oh is it a date?" Trish teased as Matt kept quiet, feeling very uncomfortable at the moment. He hoped that Trish would just leave before she finds out who he is really with. "Anyway, have you seen Randy by any chance?"

He wrinkles his forehead in bewilderment. "Uh, I don't think so. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to him and he just walked off."

"Well, no I haven't seen him around." Matt responds as Trish nods her head.

There was a small pause.

"Yeah…so…" Trish clears her throat as the wind brought shivers down her spine. "Who are you waiting for?" She asks while folding her arms with her sweater to keep warm.

Matt bit his lip when suddenly he heard his name from nearby. 'Damn it, too late.' He cursed himself. "Sorry I took so long, bro. I was--"

Trish's mouth fell open as her eyes grew larger at the figure standing before her. Matt's male companion also looked back, his lips slightly parted. "Trish..." Matt darted his eyes between the two worriedly as eerie silence filled the air.

"Jeff…"

A/N: Okay let me know what you think!