It had been a couple of days since Paul had broke up with Joanie and he was still hurting of course but he couldn't help but get angry every time he had to see her. He hadn't been back to his apartment just for the simple fact he didn't want to have to talk to her, seeing her at the arena was enough for him. He had been trying to keep his mind off of it all by talking to Shawn or going to the gym and working out but it never worked for long.

Paul made his way toward his dressing room and opened the door dropping his bag to the floor. All he wanted to do tonight was avoid Joanie in the halls at all cost. Hell he would stay locked away in his dressing room when he wasn't needed if he had to. He sat down on the couch and pulled his hair up as he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in" he called watching the door as it opened and he felt relieved when he saw that it was only Stephanie.

"Hey" Stephanie said coming in and shutting the door behind her.

"I wasn't expecting to see you"

"Yeah well I came to talk about the uh…kiss" Stephanie replied looking at him.

"What kiss?" Paul asked feeling confused.

"The kiss we have to do tonight" Stephanie replied fanning the paper she had in her hands at him. He had completely forgot about that. He was supposed to kiss her after him and Vince made their deal for whoever won at Armageddon got what they wanted.

"What about it? Do you want to rehearse it or something because it's really not that hard to just kiss. We used to do it all the time" Paul said and then he smiled "Or is it that you just can't wait for later for me to kiss you?"

"Oh yeah you caught me" Stephanie replied sarcastically and rolled her eyes.

"Then what are you doing over there? Come sit down on the couch and we'll just make out right now" Paul joked gesturing at the seat beside of him.

"You-" Stephanie started to say but was interrupted by a knock on the door but he made no move to answer it.

"Are you going to get that?" Stephanie asked him and he made a face as if he were thinking about it. He didn't have time to get up before Stephanie went over and opened it herself.

Paul's smile he had on his face disappeared as he seen Joanie standing at the door.

"What do you want?" Paul asked in a irritated voice.

"I came to give you my key to the apartment" Joanie replied looking at him after she was done burning a hole through Stephanie.

"Did you make a copy?" Paul asked not convinced it was just that easy for her to give up.

"No" Joanie said narrowing her eyes at him and holding out the key for him to come and get.

"Just give it to Steph" Paul replied and Joanie scoffed but handed the key to Stephanie. He didn't want to even be close to her.

"That's right. She is probably going to be the one that needs it now" Joanie said and just turned and left.

"What was that supposed to mean?" Stephanie asked irritated as she shut the door.

"She probably thinks I'm fucking you" Paul said and shrugged his shoulders.

"Aren't you going to go tell her any differently?"

"Why? She won't believe me and I don't want to be anywhere near her"

"Because I don't want anyone thinking that"

"Listen Steph, I've been trying to tell her nothing is going on and she wouldn't believe me. I don't think she is going to go around spreading a rumor and if she does I'll handle it"

"What happened between you two anyway?"

"Do you care?" Paul asked arching his eyebrow.

"Not really but when she is trying to say we are sleeping together it raises some questions"

"It wasn't about you Steph. I broke up with her because she cheated on me" Paul replied feeling his once okay mood slip back into a sour mood.

"Oh" Stephanie said playing with the key that was still in her hands.

"So what was it about the kiss you wanted to talk about?" Paul asked after it seemed like she wasn't going to say anything else.

"I just wanted to tell you, no warn you. Do not try and put your tongue in my mouth" Stephanie replied and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Okay. I'll try not to" He said still laughing.

"Oh here is your key" Stephanie said holding out the key to him. He looked at it then looked at her.

"Are you sure you don't want to keep it? You could always come by and consummate this marriage" Paul joked with a smirk. Stephanie narrowed her eyes at him and then she looked at the key curling her fingers around it. She then smirked at him and slipped the key in her jacket and walked out of his dressing room.

Later that night Stephanie walked backstage wiping her mouth with her hand. She had specifically told him not to try and stick his tongue in her mouth and that was exactly what he tried before she pulled away quickly. He did it on purpose she knew that much and it irritated her.

"I don't know why she is acting like that. It's not like she didn't like it" Stephanie heard Joanie say to someone but she didn't even turn around to look. She kept walking trying to be the bigger person and just hoped nobody would believe her.

Stephanie walked into her dressing room and closed the door behind her. She went over to her jacket where she had left it sitting on the couch and searched for her chap stick to relieve her now irritated lips from rubbing them so hard. As she was searching for her chap stick in her jacket she came across the key in one of her pockets and pulled it out. She had forgot that she had taken it. The only reason she had was just to mess with him and watch him sweat it out. What if he had thought she was seriously considering his offer? No he was broken up over Joanie, she could tell that much. Even though he was trying to cover it up with his joking earlier but then again he had just broken up with Joanie when Paul and her began dating those years ago. She was really overthinking this but next time she probably shouldn't do something like that again. Stephanie jumped a little when there was a knock on the door.

"What?" Stephanie asked irritated when she opened the door and found Paul standing there smiling.

"Are you going to invite me in?"

"No" Stephanie replied and went to shut the door but he held his hand up stopping her from doing so.

"Don't be mad" Paul said with a chuckle.

"How can I not? You deliberately did what I asked you not to" Stephanie said raising her voice a little.

"Just let me in before everyone starts staring at us" Paul replied and she sighed in defeat walking back into her dressing room. The last thing she wanted was to make a scene in front of everyone.

"What do you want?" Stephanie asked crossing her arms.

"I just came to apologize" Paul said holding his hands up.

"If you hadn't done it then you wouldn't need to" Her cellphone starting ringing before she could say anymore and she went over to the table and picked it up.

"Hello" Stephanie answered with irritation still in her voice.

"Stephanie?" The voice asked. It took her a minute to recognize the voice but when she did a smile formed on her lips forgetting her irritation with Paul.

"Jake. Yeah it's me. I'm sorry I'm just stressed" Stephanie replied tucking her hair behind her ear.

"That's okay. I thought I might have dialed the wrong number" Jake said with a laugh.

"Nope right number"

"I hadn't heard from you and I was still wondering if you still wanted to go on that date"

"Yeah definitely" Stephanie replied turning her back to Paul trying to get a little privacy.

"How about tomorrow night? Does that work for you?"

"You know what that sounds great"

"Great" Jake said and she could hear his enthusiasm through the phone "I'll call you tomorrow"

"Okay I'll talk to you tomorrow" Stephanie replied and then ended the call.

"Was that your boyfriend?" Paul asked and she turned around to look at him. She had forgot he was there for a moment.

"No not yet" Stephanie replied with a smile. She felt like she couldn't even feel irritated with Paul now that she was thinking about Jake.

"I thought you had a boyfriend"

"No you assumed I did" Stephanie said sitting her phone back on the table.

"Are you even mad at me anymore? Your mood just completely flipped"

"I'm less irritated than I was"

"You need to bring this guy here then and maybe you would be in a better mood all the time" Paul replied with a laugh.

"I would be in a better mood if you would just do as I ask and not intentionally do things to make me mad"

"Maybe one day you'll lighten up and laugh it off"

"If that was a joke well it was terrible. Besides Joanie smarted off about it" Stephanie replied crossing her arms again.

"She was watching?" Paul asked his facial expression changing for a moment.

"Oh my God was this about Joanie?" She asked feeling the irritation come back full force "I don't want in whatever the hell you're trying to do"

"No. Do you really think Joanie would be able to see me trying to stick my tongue in your mouth?"

"Then what was the look you just had when I mentioned Joanie watching?"

"Nothing Steph. Can we please stop talking about her now?" Stephanie shook her head but dropped the subject and went over to the coffee table picking up his key.

"Here" Stephanie said going over to him and handing him the key and he slipped it into his pocket.

"I thought I was going to have to change my locks there for a moment" Paul joked.

"So you don't want to consummate the marriage after all huh?" Stephanie asked with a smirk. She loved that he had been sweating it out after all.

"Oh no that I want to do" Paul joked back "but knowing you, you would just come over just to handcuff me to the bed and leave me there"

"Your probably right" Stephanie replied with a laugh "you should probably change your locks anyway"

"I think I will" Paul said turning and heading toward the door. "I'm surprised you actually joked back with me there for a minute"

"It's probably because I'm in a good mood from Jake" Stephanie replied with a shrug.

"Maybe we can get to being friends after all" Paul said and smiled at her before opening the door and leaving.

"Wait. You wanted to go to a bar for me to hit on girls?" Paul asked shaking his head in disbelief.

"No I wanted to come to a bar and drink. You might as well try to pick up someone to help you start getting over Joanie since you won't be drinking" Shawn laughed and put his glass of whiskey to his mouth taking a drink.

Shawn had come out to stay with him since he was having a hard time and thought he needed to come cheer him up. Since Paul was able to go back to his apartment Shawn thought it was the perfect time. After Shawn arrived and Paul picked him up from the airport the first thing he wanted to do was go to a bar and drink, so here they sat.

Paul looked around the bar not really spotting anyone that interested him even if he were to try and pick up a girl. He wasn't ready for any of that yet so Shawn's attempt was futile.

"We are supposed to be having fun and I am not" Paul said looking at Shawn.

"You would be if you would just talk to one of these girls" Shawn replied gesturing to the women in the bar.

"I'm not interested"

"Come on. Joanie is probably out there still fucking that guy why can't you have fun?" Shawn asked as Paul winced at the thought of that.

"Let's not talk about that unless your trying to depress me"

"Yeah I shouldn't of said that" Shawn replied with a apologetic expression. "Just flirt with someone and I'll leave you alone"

"Fine. Pick one" Paul sighed as Shawn looked around the bar.

"How about…her" Shawn said pointing at a girl not that far away from the table they were sitting at. She was sitting at the bar and all he could see was her brown hair that laid in curls to her shoulders and wearing a dress that looked way to nice to be at a bar in. He had no idea why Shawn even picked her out but he didn't ask. All he wanted to do was go flirt with this girl and get Shawn to stop bugging him about it.

Paul slowly got up from his seat and made his way over to her trying to ignore the smile Shawn had plastered on his face before he left their table.

"Can I buy you a drink?" Paul asked sitting down beside of her. Her head was turned away from him so he still had no idea what she even looked like.

"I already have one" she said picking up her glass and turning her head to look at him. He froze when he saw it was Stephanie.

Paul looked back at the table where Shawn was to see him laughing. He must have seen her when she walked in and decided to mess with him. Paul flipped him off before turning his attention back to her.

"Are you trying to hit on me?" Stephanie asked arching her eyebrow.

"No I thought you were someone else"

"Are you trying to say I'm not hot enough to be hit on?" Stephanie asked before taking a drink.

"I didn't mean-"

"It's fine Paul" Stephanie said waving it off.

"Wow I think you are the most beautiful woman I've seen tonight" came a voice from the other side of Stephanie. Paul looked over to see some young blonde guy that hardly look like he even turned twenty one staring at Stephanie and rolled his eyes.

"Are you hitting on my wife?" Paul asked as the guy looked over at him with a frightened expression on his face.

"Uh um… sorry" he said before getting up and walking off.

"Thanks for that" Stephanie replied which surprised him because usually she hated when he joked about being her husband but then again she looked like she didn't want to be bothered. Which was why he even said anything to the guy.

"No problem. So what brings you here? I'm sure you didn't dress like that just to come here"

"I was waiting for my date at a restaurant just down the street and he never showed so I ended up here" Stephanie replied and he suddenly understood why she was offended by his earlier comment.

"I'm sorry Steph" Paul said putting his hand on her shoulder for a moment.

"It's not your fault" Stephanie replied and then downed the rest of her drink and motioned for the bartender.

"Maybe you should take it easy Steph. You have to drive home"

"That is actually more funny than getting stood up. My friend offered to drop me off at the restaurant to meet him since she had to come this way. I agreed because I was expecting him to bring me home" Stephanie said with a laugh.

"Are you already drunk?" Paul asked giving her a strange look.

"I might be a little tipsy. I had I think two glasses of wine before I left the restaurant because I got tired of looking stupid. I walked out to call a cab when I spotted this bar and decided to get something stronger before going home and well it's been awhile since I've really drank" Stephanie explained as Paul looked back at his and Shawn's table to see Shawn staring at them.

"Do you want me to walk out with you and wait with you for a cab?"

"No. I'm not ready to leave yet" Stephanie replied before ordering another drink.

"At least come and sit with me and Shawn. I don't want to leave you sitting here by yourself" Paul said and she looked at him for a moment before nodding her head.

A little later Paul watched as Stephanie finished off yet another drink.

"I think that's enough Steph" Paul said as she put her glass on the table.

"I'm just getting started" Stephanie said her words slurring.

"No it's time to get you home" Paul replied as she giggled.

"Wow she really is drunk" Shawn said with a laugh.

"Come on" Paul said standing up and grabbed her hand pulling her up. She swayed a little once she was on her feet and he held onto her to keep her from falling. Once she was steady on her feet he held on to her arm as they walked out of the bar to make sure she didn't stumble over and fall.

"Are we taking her home?" Shawn asked Paul as they made it out of the bar. Paul let go of Stephanie when it seemed she was good enough to walk without his help.

"I have no idea where she lives" Paul replied looking at him "and I'm kind of worried about leaving her on her own"

"Why?" Shawn asked as Paul looked toward Stephanie who had made her way to the parking lot.

"Because she's drunk and she is trying to open someone else's car with her keys" Paul replied before hurrying to stop her in case the car had an alarm on it.

"My car won't open" Stephanie said as he took her keys away from her.

"That's because it's not your car" Paul replied taking her hand and leading her to the passenger side of his car and opening the door.

"She is a lot more fun drunk" Shawn said when he caught up with them at the car.

"I don't call this fun" Paul replied and sighed as Stephanie got in the car and he shut the door. This wasn't what he was expecting at all tonight.

"So do we just take her to your apartment?" Shawn asked walking over to the driver side door and opening it.

"Yeah I guess so I just hope she doesn't flip out about it" Paul replied while Shawn climbed behind the driver seat and settle into the backseat.

On the way back to his apartment he sat silent as Shawn who seemed quite tipsy sang along to a song on the radio horribly and Stephanie sat trying to talk but everything kept coming out garbled and she kept giggling. He really couldn't understand much anyway from Shawn singing so loud. Thankfully it didn't take long for them to make it back to his apartment because if he had to spend another minute listening to Shawn sing he was going to end up with a headache.

Paul got out of the car quickly after parking and headed to the other side of the car to open Stephanie's door. He helped her out and guided her to the apartment building. After they made it to his floor of the building he unlocked the door and stepped in turning on the lights. Stephanie walked off into the apartment and Shawn went directly into the kitchen opening the refrigerator.

"You hardly have anything in here" Shawn said as Paul headed into the kitchen where he was.

"I haven't been here until today" Paul replied leaning up against the counter.

"Ah you have stuff to make a sandwich at least" Shawn said pulling out the food as Paul heard something fall to the floor.

"I guess I need to go take care of her" Paul pushed himself away from the counter to see Stephanie picking up a picture frame.

"You look happy here" Stephanie said trying to turn the picture frame around but dropped it again. He sighed and picked it up seeing the picture of him and Joanie. It was a picture of them right when they had got back together years ago. He looked at it a few seconds before tossing it into the garbage.

"You need to go to sleep Steph" Paul said walking over to her putting his hand on her arms to turn her towards his bedroom but she shrugged him off. Instead she placed her arms around his neck and giggled.

"You're trying to get me in bed" Stephanie slurred as he put his arms around her picking her up slightly and heading to his bedroom.

"Yes I am" Paul replied putting her feet back on the ground when they were in his bedroom "but to sleep. I'm not trying to do what you are trying to imply"

He unwrapped her arms from around his neck and went to the bed pulling the blanket down. Stephanie fell back on the bed moments later groaning.

"Help me" Stephanie said stretching her foot out to him indicating she needed help with her shoes. He couldn't help but chuckle as he slipped her high heel off and repeated the action with the other foot.

"Goodnight Stephanie" Paul said before turning around to go back to the living room.

"Paul" Stephanie called his name softly.

"Yeah" Paul answered turning back around.

"Did you care about me at all?" Stephanie asked and he sat on the edge of the bed next to her. He didn't know what brought this question up for her, maybe it was the picture.

"I…" he trailed off staring at his hands wanting to be honest with her but at the same time he was afraid to. When he looked back up at her she had already closed her eyes and he was pretty sure she was asleep. He let out a sigh of relief before standing up and heading to the living room.

"Is there something going on between you two?" Shawn asked as Paul went to sit next to him on the couch.

"No" Paul replied looking at him as if he were crazy "I think the alcohol is starting to kill your brain cells"

"They already have" Shawn laughed before looking at him with a serious face "but seriously you have went out of your way to get her to stop hating you. Which ended up pissing Joanie to the point-"

"That she cheated on me. Are you trying to say it was my fault?"

"No. I was going to say to the point you two were going to break up even if she hadn't cheated. You have just put Stephanie before anything lately and I couldn't help but think something was going on"

"Nothing is going on" Paul said as Shawn just nodded his head dropping the subject. He couldn't believe Shawn thought that because what him and Stephanie had was over a long time ago. Besides he was hurting over Joanie and he hadn't moved on from that so there was no way he could feel something for Stephanie. Right?