Sorry this chapter is short guys. It's not my best but I promise next chapter will be better and longer. I hope you guys enjoy :)
One minute Ryder was kissing her and then it all happened quickly. Ryder turned around to meet Paul's fist connecting with his jaw as he stumbled back against the car. Stephanie was actually frightened. She had never seen Paul become violent or had ever seen the look of pure hatred that was on his face.
"PAUL!" Stephanie screamed as he punched Ryder in the stomach causing Ryder to slump to the ground and it didn't look like Paul was going to stop.
"STOP!" Stephanie screamed and finally Paul looked over at her, his expression pained. She wasn't sure why because Ryder didn't even get to hit him. Stephanie shook her head at him in disbelief.
"Don't shake your head at me. What did I tell you about him Stephanie?" Paul asked trying to calm down.
"Oh so that gives you the right to just beat the shit out of him?" Stephanie asked raising her voice. Ryder started laughing and Stephanie looked down at him like he was crazy.
"It has nothing to do with what he told you about me Stephanie" replied Ryder looking at Paul with a smirk on his face. "Why don't you tell her the truth?"
"What are you talking about?" Stephanie asked tired of trying to understand what Ryder had been saying lately.
"Why don't you tell her Paul?"
"I don't know what you're talking about" Paul replied crossing his arms as Ryder laughed.
"Are you too much of a pussy? I'll tell her myself then….."
"Are you begging to get the shit beat out of you even more?" Paul asked taking a step towards him.
"Paul stop, I'm tired of this! Someone tell me what the hell is going on" Stephanie demanded as both pair of eyes fell on her. Paul remained quite.
"Okay this is what is going on, Paul is jealous. That is why he hit me. He likes you Stephanie so there you go" explained Ryder getting up from the ground. Stephanie stood shocked for a moment.
"Is that true Paul?" Stephanie asked as her heart started to beat fast.
"No. I told you the reason Stephanie" Paul replied as turned around and walked off. Stephanie felt tears stinging her eyes as she tried holding them back.
"Such a pussy" Ryder laughed as Stephanie smacked him on the chest.
"Why would you lie to me like that? You know how I feel about him" Stephanie said as some tears slipped down her face. Ryder tried to respond but Stephanie walked away back into the school building leaving Ryder standing there feeling awful that he hurt her.
Stephanie managed to make it through the rest of the school day avoiding Paul and Ryder. At this point she didn't want anything to do with either one of them, especially Ryder. How could he tell her that he liked her and turn around and hurt her like that? It made no sense to Stephanie and now she was thinking that maybe Paul really was right about him and he was just looking out for her. It didn't matter at the moment she just wanted to stop thinking about it.
Stephanie made it to her locker and opened it and was putting her books up when she heard a familiar giggle. She instantly remembered that giggle, loud music, and moaning. Stephanie looked down the hall where from where the giggle came from and seen Nikki. Stephanie dropped her book making a loud noise against the floor. She remembered the important information she felt like she had forgotten before she passed out.
"That's a good way to draw attention" Ryder said as he picked her book off the floor trying to hand it to her. Stephanie just stood there froze in a trance.
"Earth to McMahon" Ryder teased as she finally looked at him and noticed her book. She grabbed the book from his hand and shoved it into her locker.
"What do you want?" Stephanie asked in a hurry.
"I want to apologize and just say that Paul is lying to you Stephanie. I know he is" Ryder answered as Stephanie shut her locker and looked at him.
"I don't know what to believe but it will have to wait. I have to go" replied Stephanie as walked away. Stephanie hurried through the crowd of students making their way out of the building or to their lockers. Stephanie made it outside of the building searching for Paul but it was too late. She saw him driving out of the parking lot with Nikki in his car. That is when realization slapped her in the face. What if Paul didn't believe what she had seen that night? She was highly intoxicated that night and Paul might think she was just trying to cause problems between him and Nikki.
"Why even bother?" Stephanie asked herself, her information was useless.
Meanwhile…..
Paul was struggling with his thoughts and feelings about Stephanie. He never had lied to her before and today he looked at her and did it point blank. He felt guilty and satisfied at the same time. Guilty for lying to Stephanie and satisfied that it made Ryder look like the bad guy.
"Paul" said Nikki breaking him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah babe?" Paul asked glancing over at her as she fidgeted in her seat nervously.
"I think we should take a break for a little while" Nikki blurted out.
"What do you mean?" Paul asked shocked.
"I mean we should break up for a while. I really care about you but I just need some time for me right now" explained Nikki. "Are you mad?"
"Mad? No. Shocked? Yeah" Paul replied.
"I'm sorry to just surprise you with this but I've been thinking about it lately. It's getting serious between us and I just need to step back for awhile and take a little breather."
"So you just want to flake on me when it gets serious?" Paul asked a little irritated.
"No. Not at all please don't make an argument out of this. At least I am being honest with you. I'm scared right now and I need some time to myself" explained Nikki.
"I guess I can understand that" replied Paul still shocked.
"It's not like I don't want to be with you. I mean we will eventually be back together, it's not permanent."
"What if it is?" Paul asked glancing over at her.
"It won't be I promise" said Nikki kissing him on the cheek.
Paul didn't know if he should be happy that he could possibly explore his feelings for Stephanie now or be sad that Nikki broke up with him. He did care about Nikki but he knew there was a part of him that cared about Stephanie too. He couldn't deny that any longer. He knew what he had to do.
"So can we be friends for the time being?" Nikki asked as he pulled into her drive way.
"Yeah we can be friends" Paul replied with a smile.
"You're such a great guy Paul" said Nikki leaning over and kissing him on the lips one last time.
"I'll see you later then" said Paul as she got out of the car.
"I'll see you later Paul" replied Nikki shutting the car door.
Paul backed out her driveway and started heading towards a familiar destination, nervous about the outcome.
Stephanie lay back on her bed stretching out. She had just finished her homework and was now thinking about what Ryder had said before she left school earlier. She didn't know if she could believe him or not. He hadn't ever lied to her before though and he trusted her enough to take her to his house. She didn't really see why he would have a reason to lie to her about Paul. Stephanie sighed as she threw a pillow over her face and muffled a scream of frustration. What was she going to do? If Ryder was telling the truth then that meant Ryder and Paul both liked her. She couldn't be with Ryder if that was true; she was in love with Paul. It would unfair to try and be with Ryder anyways, she could only offer half of herself. She had a lot to sort through.
Stephanie was lost in her thoughts when she heard a knock her door.
"Come in" called Stephanie as she sat up in her bed.
"Someone is here to see you" said Linda opening the door with a smile.
"Hey" greeted Paul walking into her room.
"Hey" Stephanie greeted back.
"I'll leave you two alone" said Linda as she closed the door.
"Are you pissed at me?" Paul asked.
"A little. I don't understand why you acted the way you did today. You and Ryder fighting constantly is getting to me" replied Stephanie.
"I'm sorry for the way I acted. It was just….when I seen him kiss you it really got to me" explained Paul running his hand through his hair.
"Why? I just don't understand why it got to you" replied Stephanie as Paul came over to the side of the bed and sat down next to her.
"I know Ryder. I think he was just doing it to get to me. He's been making smart ass comments about me liking you."
"Wow. I told him you didn't like me" said Stephanie feeling mad about hearing Ryder trying to start arguments with Paul about her.
"I don't think that is completely true" replied Paul looking at the floor feeling nervous.
"Huh?" Stephanie asked confused.
"After the party Stephanie do you remember what happened?" Paul asked.
"You brought me home" replied Stephanie still confused at what point he was getting to.
"And we cuddled and I felt something" replied Paul looking over at her.
"What do you mean?" Stephanie asked she didn't know if she was making his words up in her head or if she was dreaming.
"I like you Stephanie. I think I might have for a long time now and I think it's because of Ryder that I finally realized it" explained Paul.
"But you said earlier today…."
"I lied. I was scared to admit it. I was afraid of your reaction and how you feel about me. I understand if you don't feel that way about me but I needed to be honest with you" interrupted Paul.
"I like you too Paul. I have for a long time" admitted Stephanie. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders and she was kind of shocked. She never expected Paul to say the things he just had.
Stephanie looked over at Paul and he was smiling at her. She didn't know what to say it was awkward for her. Stephanie looked down at her bed feeling embarrassed but Paul gently grabbed her chin and brought it up and leaned over and gently kissed her on the lips. The kiss was nothing like the one with Ryder. Stephanie felt her heart beat speed up as he parted her lips with his tongue and pulled her closer to him. Stephanie was lost in the moment until she realized Paul was dating Nikki. Stephanie broke the kiss.
"What's wrong?" Paul asked.
"I won't let you cheat on Nikki. I don't care if she is cheating on you, I just won't be the other woman" replied Stephanie looking at him.
Paul stared at her shocked and then it slowly turned to anger. Then it finally dawned on Stephanie what she had let slip.
"Oh shit" thought Stephanie.