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: Nothing new to add at this time.. I can say I'm ticked over the outcome of the Nebraska vs. Michigan game.. Grrrr…damn officials. Oh and the Italian/English translations are from Google.. I am no linguistic genius.
-x-x-x-
When dinner was finally over; Lillian, her two children, Dave and Tyson went down the street to the bed and breakfast. By that time, Matthew and Julianne had both fallen asleep, Lillian stating that she'd come over for lunch the next day. Chris and Christian left shortly after, the two blonde man informing them all that their hotel was still half an hour away. Just as Lita had predicted earlier, Victoria and Dawn asked if they could stay the night. Of course, they were welcomed to stay, the redhead showing them upstairs while Matt, Ashley, John, Trish and Jeff cleaned up the backyard. Matt and Ashley soon retired to their room, Lita passing the two on the stairs as she made her way back to the living room. Not entirely too her surprise, the television was on and Jeff had already procured his usual stash of late night snacks and assorted candy. Lita informed her step-brother that Victoria and Dawn were in the fourth and fifth bedrooms on the second floor; the menagerie of four legged animals moved to the second bedroom on the third floor. By default, Felix and Brutus would be with her, while Othello preferred to sleep underneath Jeff's bed. Scooby was none to happy about having to give up 'his' room, but the Great Dane's bed was now settled on the third floor with Cleo, Sheba and Isis.
"I'm taking Othello, Scooby and Brutus for a walk.." Lita held up three leashes in her hand, "and before you completely zone out there, Jeff.. Can you make sure that the cats have fresh water?"
Jeff nodded absently, "Yeah.. I'll take care of it."
Trish sent the redhead a look, "I'll come with you.. I know there aren't many dangers here in Waynesboro…or if anyone would try to attack you with that Great Dane around, but--"
Lita nodded, "I need to get Scooby anyway, so.." she trailed off, a smile sent to the blonde woman. "I'll be back down in a bit."
"Hey Li.." Jeff spoke up before the redhead could take another step, "what would you say to getting a ferret?"
Lita raised an eyebrow, "Jeff.. We already have a small zoo, why would you want a ferret?"
"Because.. Dave's cousin said he's moving to an apartment an' he won't be able to keep his pets."
The redhead nodded slowly, "Pets…how many pets exactly and if you already said yes, I'm going to hurt you."
Jeff turned his attention away from the television, "He's got two ferrets and a chinchilla.. And no, I didn't say yes…I told him I'd check with ya first."
Lita pinched the bridge of her nose, "I'll think about it.. Honestly, Jeff.. If both of us weren't working, I might not have a problem with it. But we both are and we already have a house full of animals." She left it at that, heading upstairs quickly to avoid any further pleas from the green eyed man.
Trish raised an eyebrow at Jeff, "I thought you told Tyson you could take the pets.."
He shook his head, "Nah.. I jus' told him I'd talk to Li about it. I'd like to take the pets in and all that, but it depends on her. I live here, but it's still her house."
"She does have a point," Trish pointed out then, "unless you two have a live-in pet sitter or something.. Taking care of the numerous pets you have already is a big task."
Jeff half shrugged, "It also means spending most of the vacations and stuff at home. Which kinda sucks, because we can't go skiing over winter break, can't go to Virginia Beach over the summer break.."
"But you have the snowmobiles, your ATV track.." Trish jammed her hands in the back pockets of her shorts. "I'd imagine you to go horse back riding.. So it's not like you miss out on everything."
"Yeah.. Li also gets to go to some pretty cool places for the classes she's teaching."
"Which doesn't count," Lita informed her step-brother, Scooby following at her heels. "That's work, not a real vacation." She stopped to hook leashes to collars, the handles looped around her wrist. "Don't forget to the fresh water for the cats--"
"And the extra cat treats, I know.." Jeff waved the two off, "now go on.. Scooby looks anxious."
Trish and Lita shook their heads in unison, the two women and three dogs soon heading outside.
"Are you two teaching at the same school?" Trish pushed back a few strands of hair, wishing she had brought a light jacket or something. "Or have I asked that and forgotten already.."
Lita shook her head, "Nope.. Jeff's teaching at Charlottesville High and I'm actually teaching at Tandem."
Trish blinked, "You're kidding me right? Why aren't either of you teaching at Waynesboro High?"
The redhead shrugged, "I ended up doing up doing a semester at two at Tandem for college.. Jeff chose Charlottesville for the same reason."
"University of Virginia. Right?"
"Yup.." Lita stopped when the dogs chose a corner, "which was my first choice.. Both for their programs and because it was one of the cheaper options.. Being a state resident and what not."
Trish nodded slowly, "I remember when you got your acceptance letter.. Everyone else was trying to get out of the state and I think you and Jeff were some of the few who stayed in state."
"It made more sense to me," two plastic bags were brought out from her pocket, Lita holding off on the rest of her reply to take care of the dog's business. "I saved on room and board, because I commuted, it would've been a waste of some great letters of recommendation from teachers who were pretty hesitant to give it.."
Trish rolled her eyes, "Which they wouldn't have been so hesitant if you hadn't gotten in trouble so much.. Don't get me wrong, Li.. Yeah, you might have gotten really good grades and you might not have been a major troublemaker or anything like that, but--"
"I have your cousin to blame for that," Lita smiled thinly. "Each and every time I got in trouble, I can look back, lo and behold.. He was sitting in the principal's office with me."
To that, Trish nodded. "I know.. I think the headmaster was just more disappointed that you two couldn't abide by school rules."
Lita half shrugged, "In my defense, I got along peacefully with mostly everyone.. Your cousin happened to be an exception."
-x-x-x-
Full well knowing the truth behind that statement, Trish said nothing in reply. Instead the two kept on their route down the street before turning at the corner. The walk back to the house was at their leisure, the dogs setting the slow pace, leaving Trish and Lita to talk more. Half way back, Trish made the inquiry about Randy.. The redhead hesitating before she relayed the latest news on the brown haired man. Of course, it wasn't exactly recent, but it was still more recent then what Trish knew. The two women stopped on the front porch, Lita letting the dogs inside before she and Trish settled on a pair of wicker rocking chairs. Lita had just opened her mouth to speak when the door was re-opened; Felix quite parading outside before he jumped up into the redhead's lap. No sooner had the finicky cat settled did Brutus join the two, settling himself between the wicker rocking chairs.
Trish glanced to the cat and dog, "Why don't you guys have a pet door?"
Lita smirked, "Because His Royal Highness did not approve," she nodded down to the cat in her lap. "We had one and Felix decided he didn't like it.. Refused to move from the house, 'forgot' where his litter box was… everything."
The blonde woman shook her head, "Such a spoiled cat he is.."
"I actually got him before Jeff moved in with me.. The house was pretty much empty, so I wanted a pet." Absently she scratched behind Felix's ears. "I went to the shelter and poor Felix here was on his last kitty life. Everyone else who adopted him, returned him."
"Spoiled and lucky then," Trish turned her attention to the dog, one of her hands moving to pet Brutus. "And how about this one here?"
"Same deal actually.." Lita glanced down the border collie, "I got him about one month or so after I got Felix. They've been around me more then Jeff, which is why they usually follow me and why they sleep wherever they please."
Trish raised an eyebrow, "In other words they have free reign over the house?"
Lita nodded, "Pretty much.. It took forever to convince Felix that the fish tanks weren't his newest toys. And Brutus was petrified of the snake but loves the horses."
Trish nodded, "So.. You were saying something about Randy.."
"Yeah," Lita re-adjusted the sleeping cat. "From what I've heard, he's getting separated from his wife--"
"When did he get married?"
The redhead shrugged, "I don't know.. I think I read something about it in the paper, but I didn't pay much attention to it. The only reason I found out about his separation, is from my mom who heard it from his mom."
"Interesting," Trish commented idly, "is he still living in the area or something?"
"I'm not sure.. All I know is that, his parents moved into the same area that my mom, step-dad and Billy did."
"Lillian said that Stacy was married.." Trish frowned in thought, "but I'm not sure what else.."
Lita nodded, "I guess we'll find out what everyone else has been up to at the reunion." She yawned then, "well I'm going to turn in.. or watch TV until I fall asleep. Jeff should be up for awhile if you wanna hang out with him."
Trish shook her head, "Nah.. I think I'll turn in now.. Tomorrow is gonna be pretty busy."
The redhead rolled her eyes at that, opening the door for Brutus before she, Trish and Felix went inside.
"Y'all goin' to sleep already?"
"Duh, Jeff.." Lita glanced to the grandfather clock in the corner, "it's getting late and--" She cut herself off, an eyebrow raising at the other body on the couch. "And just why are you still here?"
John shrugged, "I need a place to crash."
Lita snorted, "Just because I take in strays, doesn't mean I take in all dogs."
He stretched his arms over his head, "And just why is it a big deal, huh? It's only for one night.. I called the hotel and they rented my room to someone else."
"Not my problem," she retorted in an instant. "Your cousins, Victoria, Matt and Ashley were the only ones invited to stay the night. You were just invited to dinner because Trish bugged me about it."
"But, it's not like you don't have the room.. An' besides which, you owe me."
Felix jumped out of her arms, the finicky cat and Brutus soon padding upstairs while Lita crossed her arms over her chest. "I paid you back for that, idiot. And so what if we do have the room? If you want to stay here, you can sleep in the damn tree house."
"Or he can just pay," Trish suggested before John could argue again. "One night in a standard hotel should be enough, right Li?"
Lita nodded, "That seems perfectly agreeable with me. I should charge you extra for the headache you bring."
John rolled his eyes, taking advantage of his recent time in Italy to curse at her.
An eyebrow quirked, the redhead rolling off easily: "Infastidirsi, dolore nell'asino." (Annoying, pain in the ass)
John raised an eyebrow in turn, "Since when do you know Italian?"
"Are you forgetting the cultural immersion trip from Junior year?" Lita shook her head, "I retained a little from there, but also studied in college.. Knowing a few native speakers who were more than happy to teach me the not so nice phrases, helped." She tossed her hair over her shoulder, "anyway.. You can work out payment with Jeff, I'm going to bed."
Trish sent a warning glare to her cousin, "You could try being a little bit nicer to her.. This is her house and she doesn't have to let you stay here."
John waved it off indifferently, "I don't plan on staying here more then one night anyway."
The blonde woman sighed, bidding good night to Jeff before she also went upstairs; leaving Jeff and John to whatever was showing on television at that moment. Lita returned to the living room once, a spare blanket and pillow tossed in the general direction of the couch.. And after she had checked the water bowls in the kitchen, the redhead disappeared back upstairs. It was clear to both Jeff and John, that the dark haired man was not entirely welcomed to stay.. But neither bothered to question why she had relented. On one hand, Jeff knew that picking a fight with her would only lead to a late night for all of them.. While John was just grateful that she was letting him stay.. Not that he would ever admit that to her, but at least the sentiment was there. Whatever the case, the two remained downstairs until Jeff decided it was good time to turn in.. leaving John in the living room with the television at his disposal.
