The drummer's blonde girlfriend had told her that she was from Toronto, like Christian, Edge and Test, the guitar player she'd replaced.  Another tidbit the redhead found interesting was that Trish was the manager of the band.

"I've always wanted to play the guitar," the young woman, whom Lita guessed was probably her same age, admitted.  She had a bubbly type of personality that the redhead instantly liked, and she could see herself and Trish becoming good and fast friends.

"I can teach you some riffs and licks," she offered.

"Cool..." the little blonde quipped.  "So, how long have you been playing?"

"Oh, about twelve years, now," the redhead replied.  "I always knew I wanted to do this."  She shifted her gaze toward the bar, where she'd known Edge had gone over to a few minutes earlier.  The tall blond man was speaking with the bartender, and when he suddenly glanced her way, the young woman looked away.

Christian noticed the exchange.  "So, I take it you've already met Edge?"

"Yeah," she replied, rolling her eyes.  "Unfortunately, I have..."

Trish arched an eyebrow and quickly exchanged glances with her boyfriend.

"Excuse me?" the blond man said.  "Am I missing something here?"

The guitarist sighed, running a hand through her long hair as she faced her new bandmate and the blonde.

"We met earlier, and...Well, he didn't exactly make a good first impression," she said.  "Basically, he said I must have been mistaken about thinking you and Chris hired me - because I'm a woman..."

"What?  That doesn't sound like Edge at all," the Canadian man said.

Trish nodded.  "Yeah...he's not the sexist type at all.  That's weird."

"Maybe he just doesn't like me, period," the redhead said bitterly.  Quite frankly, she felt that she couldn't care less if the tall blond man didn't like her.  But she'd be damned if she allowed him to intimidate her in any way.  She was taking this gig, and, damn it... Like it or not, she would have to stand up there onstage next to this man.  She intended to make the most of her situation.  She would grin and bear it, no matter what.

"Edge not like you?" Christian asked, a look of confusion dominating his handsome features, as though it was the strangest concept.  "Lita, I only met you this morning, and I like you a lot...I think I can speak for Chris as well."

"Me too," Trish said.  "I like you, too, Lita."  The blonde smiled at the other woman.

"See?" Christian said, gesturing toward his girlfriend.  "I don't see how Edge could not like you when all the rest of us do...Maybe you guys just got off on the wrong foot."

"Oh, I'd say that's definitely the case," the redhead said in agreement.  She swung her hazel gaze back over toward the bar, where the tall blond man was now downing a drink.  He suddenly looked up, meeting her eyes, and Lita narrowed her orbs suspiciously as they studied each other in a silent staredown.