_ .. hehe. I love Jericho/Steph, I dunno.. maybe it's just me. OH YEAH! These characters are all owned by WWE Inc. Yeah I'm running on *extremely* low sleep right now..

NO ROSTER SPLIT IN THIS STORY! I mean, I like people from Raw and people from Smackdown, and I want both in my story. So just preteeeeeend.. thanks! Don't forget to R&R, pleeease. Lookit, I asked nicely, lol. ;)

~ - ~

People don't understand me. How could they even begin to? Maybe it's just me. Perhaps it's my fault, as everyone loves to tell me. Oh yeah, there's Chris Jericho, let's all put the blame on him. Never mind that he has feelings. Well.. used to have anyways. People don't seem to expect that much from me. That would've bothered me once upon a time, but now, I don't give a damn anymore.

Let them think what they want. I don't need anybody. I used to feel hurt when my supposed friends turned on me. I used to feel angered when Stephanie McMahon, along with her (then) husband, always foiled my plans. Stephanie.. is another story though. I don't feel much nowadays. I spent so much time trying to establish and explain myself that I forgot what it was for. Now it just feels like a huge waste of time.

That's where the drinking comes in. It helps me to cancel everything out, cancel out problems, cancel out stupid morons who can't tell the difference between the asshole I have to be on camera, to the guy I really am. Maybe it won't solve my problems. But it sure as hell is doing the trick right now. That's all that matters. No one knows who I really am anyways.. no one understands.

"What's up, Jericho?" I don't bother to look up, since I know who's speaking to me. I heard the ape-nose snort as he stood directly in front of me. I closed my eyes for a brief second before looking up at Triple H. He made me laugh, he was so pathetic. He thought that just because we NOW had something in common, I would forget about our past. He doesn't understand, doesn't realize that I never forget.

"Get away from me, Hunter." I said evenly, watching as he frowned. Oh no, the big bad Hunter was after me now. I don't care anymore, to be honest. I know that I can take him on, if given the opportunity. Besides, even if I get my ass kicked, it won't be the first time.

"You know, I was coming here to ask for you assistance in my match later on, but I guess maybe I won't anymore."

"Good, because I wouldn't have agreed to it anyways."

"I knew it, you're pathetic, Jericho. Weak, pathetic, I told Naych (A/N: Is this how you'd spell it?) that I shouldn't have asked you. I knew you were a coward - "

That's all I could hear. His words triggered an anger inside of me. Now I was a coward? Because I had refused to help him? He was the coward for wanting me to help him in the first place. He was a cheater, that's all. Getting up to my feet, I pulled my fist back and decked Triple H as hard as I could in the face. My knuckles were stinging after the blow, but I didn't care.

"Don't you ever fucking call me that again." I said in a low voice as I looked down at the fallen Hunter. I couldn't help but feel even a tinge of satisfaction when I saw his look of total surprise. He obviously hadn't expected for me to strike him down. Not giving him the chance to answer, I spun around and walked off, away from him.

You don't need to see the looks from people to know when you're being watched. My hands in my pockets, on the outside, I looked calm. On the inside though, hell if I knew what was going on. There was an anger inside of me, that ran deep, and I had no idea where it was coming from, or what would trigger it. Hunter had only had a brief, extremely brief meeting with it. I was scared to imagine what I'd do to the person who really pissed me off one day.

I didn't really enjoy the looks from people though. I had to clench my fists in my pockets to stop myself from grabbing the nearest wrestler and just beating the shit out of him, before daring him to look at me like that again. I've been this restless for about a year, since last year's Wrestlemania when I lost against Triple H. I used to be such a calm guy, but I've changed. I used to do a great job of hiding that change, hiding how I really felt. But now, it didn't feel worth it anymore. Let the world see me for who I am. If they didn't like it..... tough. I didn't like it much either.

"Chris!"

I stopped walking but didn't turn around at the voice. I knew everyone there. I knew them all by voice. Right then, all I wanted to do was head back to my hotel and sleep. I could already feel an oncoming headache coming on. Some drinks would also be very helpful. But I didn't keep walking, I stopped and waited, until Stephanie McMahon had caught up with me.

"Chris!" She said again, out of breath as she stopped running. I looked at her impatiently, my headache getting worse and my patience running thin.

"What? Speak, I don't have all damn night." I said, trying my hardest not to snap at her. I knew full well that she didn't put up with anyone's attitude, much less mine. That's what I respected about her. That was the trait I loved about her.

"Oh don't you DARE give me an attitude, Chris Jericho. You just gave Triple H a black eye! What the hell is your problem?"

"Nothing's my problem, alright?" I said, before turning away from her. "He got what he had coming." I shrugged, as if that would get her off my back. I was about to walk away when I felt her hand on my shoulder. To anyone watching, it wasn't that big of a gesture. That's only because they didn't know. They didn't understand.

~ - ~ Flashback:

"I bought you these flowers."

"They're so beautiful.." She took the bouquet from me and smelled the flowers, before smiling widely at me. My heart did a flip-flop, and I smiled back, though I could feel myself blushing.

"I knew you'd like them." I said, my smile growing wider as she took my hand in hers. She leaned up and kissed me on the cheek.

"I love them." She whispered, before moving down and giving me a real kiss. That's when she lost me and I knew that I was in love with this woman. That's also when my troubles began.

~ Back to present ~

"Leave me alone, Stephanie." I said quietly, but the anger was beginning to creep into my voice. "And get your hand off of me." I added, which she reluctantly did.

"You're not being reasonable, you're not even letting me explain.." She began, but I didn't want to hear it.

"I don't want to talk about it." I said, cutting her off. My back was still to her, but I could feel her close by.

"Chris.." She said, her voice trailing off. Here we go.. pretty soon the tears will start coming to. I was having none of that tonight.

"Don't ever touch me again. Tell Hunter that if he has a problem with me, I'm here. Let him come tell me to my face what his problem is. I'll be more than happy to knock his ass down again. More than happy."

She sighed behind me, and I took that as my cue to leave. Stephanie probably thought I was a jerk now. But who didn't? If that was supposed to bother me, it wasn't working. I knew that what I had, I was never getting back. Old friendships, old relationships.. long gone with the wind. I was fine with it. All I needed was myself and my beer. I didn't need Stephanie. It was obvious that she didn't need me either.

I was determined to get by without her. And that was what I was going to do.

~

R&R, tell me if it's worth continuing. Have a nice day!!!!