Chapter 3

"Hey Trish!" a familiar male voice called, and fast footfalls followed

Turning around Trish found Chris Jericho jogging to catch up with her. Looking over her fellow Canadian, Trish couldn't help but be impressed. Chris was definitely an attractive man, with long blonde hair, blue eyes, strong arms, and sexy abs, who could resist?

"Hey Chris, what's up?" she asked, pleasantly surprised to see him chasing after her

"I heard about your match tonight…" he started, trailing off hoping she would tell him what he wanted to hear

"Yeah, I'm kinda nervous…I have a bad feeling about tonight." She told him, looking away for fear of showing too much in her eyes.

"Come here," Chris said, opening his arms for her. With a moment of hesitation, Trish walked into his open embrace. The feeling of her in his arms was amazing, he never wanted to let go, but of course he wouldn't let himself acknowledge that fact.

Trish was feeling equally comforted, as if a part of her had found what she was searching for. The nerves that filled her moments ago were gone, the anxiety she had was nowhere to be seen. Looking up at the man who made her feel in a way she'd never felt before, she saw something besides the Chris Jericho façade.

"Don't worry about it, everything will be alright." He promised her

"Trish! Come on, you're up next." Lita called, not liking the look of the embrace those two were sharing

Sighing, Trish looked back up at Chris and smiled. "Thank you." She said before pulling out of his warm embrace to face the cold Christian

"Any time." Jericho whispered after she'd left his sight

"There is no reason for this match to happen." J.R. said, definitely not happy with the decisions of Eric Bischoff

"Poor Trish is gonna get destroyed out there J.R." King said, not liking the situation anymore than his friend and co-announcer

"Introducing first, from Toronto, Canada, Christian!" Lillian announced as his theme song played and he strutted down the ramp. The audience booing, despising him for attacking Matt Hardy and even more for going after Trish Stratus now.

"And his opponent, from Toronto, Canada, Trish Stratus!" Lillian announced, sparing Christian a disgusted look before getting out of the ring. What kind of man would request a one-on-one match with a woman?

Trish slowly made her way down the ramp, the crowd cheering for her success, she wished she was as confident in herself as the audience seemed to be. Christian was ruthless and wouldn't spare a second thought for her wellbeing.

Climbing into the ring, Trish looked at her opponent. With both of them in the ring, the ref rang the bell, signaling the start of the match. Christian wasted no time, reaching out and grabbing Trish by the hair. He walked around the ring; dragging her around much in the same fashion he did Lita the week previous. Pausing Christian grabbed another handful of hair and threw Trish across the ring. Landing face down, Trish gripped her aching head, feeling all too well the result of his manhandling.

"Get up!" Christian shouted loud enough for the camera's to pick up from their haven outside the ring

Determined to put up a fight Trish got to her feet. With a corner behind her, Christian rushed her; however, she had enough time to see him and get out of the way, causing him to run chest-first into the turnbuckles.

Having lost his breath, Christian turned around and sagged into the ropes. Pressing her advantage Trish grabbed his arm and pulled him from the ropes, using his own momentum to propel him into the opposite corner. Christian ran into the turnbuckles, losing his breath. She walked over to him and pushed back his shoulders, then licked her hand and slapped him across the chest.

The crowd cheered her on as she repeated the action. Christian felt the full power of her slaps, his chest turning a bright red. The moment Trish stepped back he lifted up his leg and kicked her in the stomach, launching her backwards. Not sparing a second, Christian stepped forward and grabbed Trish by the hair, effectively getting her to her feet. With her on her feet he sent her flying against the ropes and clotheslined her; her own momentum flipping her over to land face-first into the mat.

Christian, feeling cocky at how easy it was to handle the whimsy female, picked her up by the arms and turned her around to do a favored move. However, just as he was about to plant her pretty little face into the mat yet again, his tag-team partner came running down the ramp. Smirking at Jericho's audacity, Christian dropped Trish to the ground, forgoing his original idea for something with a little more spice. Just as Jericho was about to climb into the ring, Christian applied the Walls of Jericho, a patented move of his partners.

Trish wailed as the pain seared up her legs and back. Not able to see Chris, see tried pulling away, trying to drag herself and Christian to the ropes. Once she was almost able to reach them, Christian lifted up a bit and more waddled than walked back to the center of the ring. Trish shouted as he applied more pressure, sending more shocks of pain throughout her body.

Time seemed to move as slow as molasses to Trish, but quick as lightening to her tormentor. He watched as his partner sprinted down to aid his opponent, slid into the ring, and felt as Trish dragged not only herself but him as well toward the ropes just behind him. Jericho slid into the ring, just as he dragged her back into the center of the ring. Sensing that things were about to take a turn for the worse, he dropped Trish's legs and walked right up to Chris. The referee first went to Jericho, trying to get him out of the ring, then to see if Trish was alright and back to the two men who were now standing nose to nose.

Trish was able to hear two voices, definitely male and they were definitely not saying nice words to one another. Then suddenly she felt the mat shake a bit as one was tossed to the ground. Pulling her legs to herself and then back into the opposite corner she watched as Christian climbed back to his feet, looking as confused as anything, and Chris walked towards him with purpose in his angry stride.

Chris shoved his partner against the ropes and jumped to drop kick him, except Christian was smart enough to grab onto the top rope to prevent himself from flying into Jericho's powerful legs. Jericho landed hard, all his weight on his back, he arched up, trying to alleviate the sprouting pain. Christian walked forward, his intent obvious in his eyes.

Trish got to her feet, she be damned if Chris just risked his neck to come out here and save her and wound up getting hurt for it. Just when Christian turned his back to her completely she got to her feet and climbed to the top rope, the crowd went crazy, Chris looked up just in time to see her leap into the air and moved out of the way as Christian came crashing down. Trish rolled off the man a moment after they landed, her stomach taking the brunt of the landing.

Christian wasn't moving and Trish was crawling away, an arm over her midsection protectively. Chris walked over to her, ignoring his aching back, and bent down to her, "Are you alright?" he asked, reaching forward

"Behind you!" Trish gasped, seeing Christian's looming form behind Jericho. Pushing the man out of the way, she remained in the way as Christian charged ahead. The shoulder meant for Jericho's kidney area went into Trish's abused abdomen.

Watching Trish sink to the ground Jericho received a renewed amount of adrenaline and waited for Christian to step out of the corner and turn around. As soon as he did, Chris did a well known move – the Enzuigiri. Christian dropped to the ground and didn't get up this time. Popping back up off the ground, Chris rushed over to the beautiful blonde sagged in the corner. Gently he lifted her face, looking into her dazed eyes.

Seeing beautiful blue eyes looking concerned into her dazed ones, Trish smiled. The owner of the baby blues slid his strong arm around her waist and helped her to her feet. Appreciating the help, Trish shook her head, trying to clear it. When she knew for sure she was standing she looked around the ring for the cause of all her pain – Christian was nowhere to be seen, coward must've slinked off to the back to lick his wounds. With her head a little clearer, Trish pulled away from Chris. When he was hesitant to relinquish his hold on her she smiled at him and nodded once. Understanding her, he released her and watched her like a hawk as she stepped out of his arms.

Chris watched as she walked over to the turnbuckles and jumped to the second one, raising her arm in victory, the audience shouted their approval. A broad smile spread across his face, watching as she dropped down and walked over to the opposite turnbuckle and doing the same thing. Having excited the crowd sufficiently, she walked back in front of him, smiling grandly, she threw her arms around his neck. Slightly shocked, he stood stunned for a second before wrapping his arms around her in return. When the pulled back slightly, enough to look at one another, he took a risk and leaned forward to cover her mouth with his own.

When he pulled back she dropped her arms and her eyes were wide with shock, the realization of what he'd just done shown on his face. He backed up two steps and said, "Oh God Trish, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry." He said, hoping not to destroy what he'd worked so hard to achieve.

She simply stood there, her hand covering her mouth. She was too stunned to respond, even when he apologized again, his eyes looking so full of anguish. Trish watched as he backed away, his eyes downcast, and then slid out of the ring. As she watched him head up the ramp, head hung with embarrassment and sorrow she couldn't make her feet move.

"Well Chris Jericho certainly has out-done himself this time, King." J.R. said, stunned at the young man's rash actions

"He kissed her! Jericho kissed Trish!" King stated, disbelief evident in his voice

"He kissed me." Trish said as soon as she walked into her locker room, still stunned, with her hand on her mouth

"So we saw, are you alright?" Jeff asked, sitting up a little more in his chair

"I don't know…" she answered, looking over at the blue-haired man

"Trish, do you wanna talk about it?" Lita asked, trying to be understanding and not jump all over Trish about her odd relationship with one of WWE's snakes. Jeff looked over at Lita, surprised but glad she decided to listen to his advice.

"Yeah, let me shower and then can we go get some food?" she asked, feeling her flat stomach rumble

"Sure, I'll tell Matt." Lita said, smiling at her blonde friend

Both women looked over at Jeff, who was turned back to the TV. Trish cleared her throat to get his attention. His head whipped around and he looked up innocently at the two, "Yes?"

"Do you mind?" Trish asked, nodding toward the door

Sighing Jeff pushed himself up out of the chair, "But I love watching you walk around in nothing but a towel…"he complained

"In your dreams." Trish told him laughing as he walked out of the locker room, shoulders slumped and head hung as if he was a puppy being punished.

"I'll see you in a bit." Lita said, squeezing Trish's arm before following her friend to her boyfriend's locker room

"So is Jericho a good kisser?" Lita asked as the two women enjoyed some take-out back at their hotel

"Can't say, I was too shocked to really pay attention…" Trish replied, blushing

"Well…?" Lita led, waiting for her friend to pick up the lead and tell her tale

"Well…I don't know…I'm glad he came and saved my ass, yet again. But I mean, whoa. Remember when that happened with you and Matt?" Trish asked, trying to get the focus off of her confusing life

Lita's eyes glazed over a bit as she thought back to their first kiss. Matt had been so excited and just kissed her, she pulled herself together quick enough to run after him and kiss him back. That had finally changed their entire relationship, letting the world know that they were together and that wasn't going to change.

"Yeah, I do." She returned, smiling. "Why didn't you go after Jericho?"

"Do you think I should have?" Trish returned, looking down at her sushi

"Do you think you should have?" Lita asked

"I think I need to figure this out…" Trish told her, sighing

"Don't sweat over it honey, whatever's meant to be will be, stressin' out over it won't help." Lita advised, not being judgmental, just trying to help her best friend

"Yeah…I guess you're right."

So this is chapter 3...lemme know what you guys think! I've got a lot planned for this story, but some advice is ALWAYS welcome. Sorry it took so long, but having a break and travelling around kind of prevents the updating. Reviews keep me going so push the little button an give me some words of encouragement!