Tears in the Rain

Disclaimer: Vince owns the personas, people own themselves.. I own pocket lint and the story idea.

Spoilers: Nope… it's A/U.

Rating: PG-13 for now

Summary: A high school reunion answers questions and stirs up countless memories. .

Characters: Lita, Trish, Victoria, Dawn, Lillian, Stacy; Jeff Hardy, John Cena, Batista, Randy, Chris Jericho, Tyson Tomko, Triple H and Christian. Many others will also be making an appearance, but, my main characters are the ones previously listed.

Notes: Author realized that she didn't have to fiddle with Trish's nationality to make the relations work… so Trish is still Greek.

-x-x-x-

-Flashback-

Summer of 1981

With Matt and Jeff beside her, four year old Lita drew a new hopscotch board on the driveway.. Of course, her mother had specifically told her not to draw it on the driveway…which meant that Lita was going to anyway. The trio was waiting for the strawberry blonde's other best friend -- Trish Stratus -- to show up so they could go swimming…or to the playground… or wherever one of their parents felt like driving. Trish had promised she would show up as soon as she could leave the house… that's what she had told Lita the night before and now.. Matt, Jeff and Lita were growing tired of waiting. Just as the three were getting ready to go back inside the air conditioned house… they heard a familiar voice beckoning from a few blocks away. The redhead tossed down the rock that had been her place-keeper for hopscotch, running to meet Trish. Lita had gotten halfway there when she realized…Trish wasn't alone. Walking not far behind her friend was a boy.. A boy that Lita hadn't seen before…which was odd considering that most everybody in the neighborhood knew everybody else.

"Hi, Li-Li!"

Lita stopped in her tracks, glancing behind her friend before she finally greeted her. "Hi Trishy!"

The lighter haired blonde girl grinned toothily, "Hi Matty! Hi Jeffy!" She turned slightly, hands on her hips…mimicking a motion she often saw her mother do. "John Felix Anthony Cena!" Trish stomped her foot impatiently, "Hurry up!"

Matt and Jeff exchanged a look, the two bursting out in laughter…earning them both a glare from John.

Trish waited until her cousin had reached her side, "This is my bestest friend in the whole world.. Lita Dumas." She then motioned to the pair behind the strawberry blonde. "An' that's Jeff and Matt Hardy." Glancing back to her cousin, she finished: "This is my cousin John… he just moved here."

The trio eyed John warily, not too sure what to think…but if he was Trish's cousin he couldn't be that bad.

"Trishy, you wanna play hopscotch?"

"Sure!" Trish grabbed Lita's hand, the two skipping over to the waiting hopscotch board.

"Hopscotch is dumb." John crossed his arms, "plus it's a girls game…and girls are dumb."

Lita stuck out her tongue, "Girls aren't dumb… boys are dumb!"

"No, girls are dumb.. My big brother says so."

"Boys are dumb," Lita repeated before turning her attention back to the hopscotch. "An that's 'cos I say so." Quickly she added: "'Cept for Matt an Jeff.."

"Stupid girl."

"Dumb boy."

Trish frowned, the blonde choosing to take her best friend's side. "If you don't stop.. I'm gonna tell your mommy on you!"

"I don't care," John scuffed his shoes on the sidewalk, "girls are still dumb."

Lita scowled, "Come on Trishy.. Let's go play in the tree house."

"Girls are still dumb!"

-End Flashback-

Lita shook her head, snapping back to the present time as she pulled the car into an empty parking spot. From that point on, she and Trish's cousin had done nothing but argue… or he would pick on her or she would pick on him. Whatever the case, the two had been at odds from the get go.. And things had only gotten worse as they had gotten older. Lita had lost count where it concerned the number of times her lunch money was missing, or when her favorite snacks disappeared from her backpack. She had also lost count of the numerous scrapes and bruises she had received …courtesy of a few playground scuffles. The same could be said for the number of times she had gotten her bra strap snapped, her hair pulled and the practical jokes at her expense. But, she had gotten her revenge every time.. With a few exceptions here and there. Their antics through the years had kept the other continually on guard…and had also earned them several trips to detention, one suspension and many trips to the principal's office.

"Li?"

The redhead turned her attention to the blonde, "Hmm?"

"You had this .. Space cadet look." An eyebrow raised, "are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm good.." Lita mustered her best smile. "Just thinking…about stuff."

"About…?"

Lita rolled her eyes, "Stuff.. Like, childhood stuff, high school stuff.. Summer camp stuff."

Trish nodded slowly, "Stuff like how many times you and my cousin tried to kill each other? Or how many times you got detention because of each other?" Shrugging she added: "Or could you be thinking about the few times you actually helped each other.."

Lita shot her an incredulous look, "When did we ever try to do anything nice?"

"You saved his life on two occasions--"

"I was the lifeguard on duty, Trish.. I couldn't risk my summer job."

"You let him copy a few of your homework assignments--"

"He was my partner, I had no choice."

The blonde woman frowned, "What about the college visits? The two of you were in the same group and I was with Jeff…something happened and you and John ended up driving back to Waynesboro."

"Okay so that's one time," Lita conceded with a shrug. "But--"

Trish sighed, "He stood up for you that one day at school.. I had the flu, Matt had the flu and Jeff was pretending to be sick.. Remember that? Or the one time at summer camp, you twisted your ankle and he carried you back."

Lita scoffed, "Okay so that's three times he's willingly helped me."

"Then you're forgetting about the time you helped him when he was stranded.. Or when he got lost.. Or the one time when--"

"Alright, you've made your point," Lita shot her friend a look, "So I've willingly helped him for each time he willingly helped me. Every other time, I had no choice.. It was either my job or my grade average on the line." She shook her head, "face it Trish.. He and I pretty much hated each other. He picked on me, called me names, pulled my hair and the minute he found out that I started wearing a bra? He started snapping my bra strap."

"Alright, alright.." The blonde woman held up her hands in defense. "You want me to take half the list or something?"

The redhead nodded, "If you could pick up the ground meat, milk and orange juice.. That would be great. I have to get the soy milk, breakfast fare and cat food."

Trish blinked, "Who drinks soy milk?"

Lita frowned in thought, "I think it's for Lillian's little boy.. Lactose intolerant or something. She might have brought it with her, but if she didn't…at least we're prepared. Everything else we need because Matt and Ashley are staying with us.. And you of course."

"What's Ashley like?" Trish swept a hand through her hair, "unless I've met her and forgotten already.."

"I don't think you have.. She and Matt started dating about four months ago." The redhead shrugged, "and last I knew they were looking for a place together but I'm not sure.. As for what she's like? I don't know how to describe her, which isn't a bad thing…but she's really nice."

"Gotcha," Trish sent her a look, "so are you still not looking forward to the reunion?"

Predictably so, Lita rolled her eyes. "Not as much.. But there are people I'd rather not see…and yes, that still stands where your cousin is concerned."

Trish rolled her eyes right back, "And ya know Li.. He's changed over the past ten years and he's probably forgotten about what happened." Shrugging she added: "He's not that bad of a guy."

"I'll judge for myself," Lita informed her, sticking out her tongue as an afterthought. "Now go on.. We have to pick up stuff so we can get back before everyone else gets there."

-x-x-x-

The two women parted ways, Lita muttering under her breath about best friends and their annoying cousins. She made her way to aisle designated for pet food and the likes last, cursing softly when she realized the brand of cat food she needed was on the top shelf. After deciding that she needed to talk to the store manager about moving the cat food down.. Lita perched on tip toe to reach for the prized can only to have it within inches of her grasp. Just as she was about to start jumping up to get it, a hand reached over hers, holding it just out of her waiting fingers.

"I see you're still short.." a familiar voice began from behind her. "But you ain't blonde anymore.."

Frowning, Lita turned to glare at the speaker. "You.. Still a jerk after all these years."

John Cena smirked, "In my defense, I was only a jerk to you.. But that's because you just had to be the worlds biggest bitch."

Smiling thinly, Lita reached for the can. "I'm only a bitch to people who deserve it.." She scowled when he held the can higher, "can you give me that please? I'm in a rush."

He shrugged, "I could give it to you.. But I don't think I will…now that you've said you're in a rush.. Why should I help ya?"

"Trish was dead wrong about you," she crossed her arms over her chest. "Claiming you had changed, when really you're still the same immature, jerk."

A smirk crossed his features, John tossing the can of cat food into the nearby shopping cart. "You haven't changed all that much either.." He grabbed the back of the cart before she had the chance. "Now.. Where's my cousin?"

The redhead snorted, "And just why should I tell you?"

"Because, you ain't getting the shopping cart.." An eyebrow raised, "so I'll ask ya again.. Where's my cousin?"

"Annoying, good for nothing ass." Lita slapped at his hands, trying to gain possession of the shopping cart. "Why don't you call her or something."

"This is more fun," he informed her with a grin. "Aww.. Don't tell me you aren't happy to see me."

Lita laughed without humor, "I've lead a perfectly normal, trauma free life since you moved out of Waynesboro."

John scoffed, "Well now that just sounds boring.." He raised an eyebrow when she slapped his hand again, "and if you don't stop that, I'll put you in this cart."

The cart turned a corner, the two halted in their tracks as they collided with another shopper.

Randy Orton smirked, "Can't drive a car.. So it figures you can't push a shopping cart without hitting someone.."

Lita rolled her eyes, "The same could be said for you.."

Randy shook his head, "So I take it you two are back for the reunion?"

"No, dumb ass.. I just came back for the hell of it." John rolled his eyes, "what do you think?"

"And I still live here," Lita clenched the handle of the shopping cart. "I'd really love to stay and chit chat with you two…but I have grocery shopping to do."

The cart didn't budge, "And like I told you.. I'm not letting go of this cart until you tell me where my cousin is."

Lita shot him a withering glare, "I hate you."

"I know," briefly his attention turned back to Randy. "Now, if you'd excuse us.. We have to find my cousin."

The redhead snorted, "We aren't going anywhere.. You need to let go of this cart, so I can find Trish so we can get the hell out of this grocery store."

"Trish.." Randy repeated the name hesitantly, "as in Trish Stratus?"

"Yes, that Trish." Lita tossed her hair over her shoulder, hazel eyes sending an annoyed look to John. "Let go of the damn cart."

John opened his mouth to reply when a new voice joined the conversation..

"There you are.. I was looking for you everywhere Li and--" Trish cut herself off in mid-sentence, taking in the sight before her. "Is John helping you?"

Lita snorted, "Like he'd ever help me.."

The blonde woman nodded, "Well I have what you need.." she deposited the items into the cart, "so I'm ready when you are."

Lita smiled tightly, "If you could tell your jackass cousin to let go of the shopping cart…we can go. Given the time that he just wasted.. Dawn and Vikki are probably there by now."

"Right," Trish sighed, a pointed look sent to her cousin. "Can you stop being a jerk? We do need to be somewhere."

John feigned hurt, "You aren't inviting me over?"

"When hell freezes over," Lita retorted before Trish could say a word. "We have enough people coming over as is and I'm sure Jeff wouldn't appreciate it if--"

John released his grasp on the cart, "I'll just bother you more tomorrow.. And besides which, it's not like I don't remember where you live."

Trish grabbed the cart, "I guess something's don't change.." shaking her head, she finally glanced in Randy's direction. "See you two tomorrow night."

At that, Lita and Trish soon left the aisle, Randy and John watching until the two women had disappeared from view. Before they could leave completely, Trish came back in sight, beckoning for her cousin to join him. And either Lita had a change of heart or she was just in no mood to argue… but somehow John soon found himself joining the two on the way back to Lita's house. The ride back to Lita's house was silent on the redhead's part while the two cousins caught up with each other.. Trish also taking that time to let John know that Dave, Lillian and her kids were also on their way.