Nothing I've Become

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Lita eyed Chris with anticipation, though she pretty much could figure out at least part of what had happened. Whatever the case, she knew it had everything to do with Torrie.

The chef shook his head with an equal mix of dismay and sorrow. His blue eyes narrowed as he answered.

"Torrie upset Trish," he said. "That miserable, God damned bitch."

The redhead sighed as she reached for an apron to put on over her uniform.

"I guessed as much. But why was she crying? I mean, Trish is tough - she wouldn't normally end up in tears over anything she'd say or do."

"No, no," Jericho said. "You don't understand. She brought up something from her past." He got a sad, faraway look in his blue eyes. "I'm afraid it was something really, really bad that Trish just wanted to keep buried."

Lita's hazel eyes shone with recognition, her breath catching in her throat.

"Oh, God," she breathed. "That's awful... She... Torrie must have found out somehow. She-"

"Did I just hear my name?"

They both looked up sharply at the sound of the platinum blonde's voice. Lita guessed the woman must have been coming and had heard them through the doors - and then tried her best to "surprise" them.

"Nope," Chris answered evenly, but he openly glared at the bitch. "You must be hearing things."

"Oh, I'm *hearing* things, all right," Torrie snapped in response. "Those things being *your* mouth-" She shifted her furious blue eyes to the redhead. "-and *hers*."

"How *dare* you..." Lita spat, not in the least intimidated by the taller woman. "... You have really got one helluva nerve. I don't know how you found out about Trish's past, but you sure as hell are the epitome of 'people in glass houses'!"

The blonde waitress shouldered past Jericho to drop the dishes she'd been holding into the sink, then crept her way closer to the other woman. A scowl came to her face as she met Lita's angry hazel gaze.

"You wanna start something with me, whore?" She raised her hand in a seemingly 'come on' gesture.

"Oh, something's already *been* started, Torrie... And as for calling me a whore..." She gave a chilly laugh. "... I think we both know who spends the majority of her time on her back - or on all fours - for just about any many in town."

The blonde was seething. Jericho stood by wordlessly, as though transfixed by the scene unfolding right before his eyes. Actually, he couldn't quite rid his mind of thoughts of Trish.

"Is that so?" the tall blonde said. "And I suppose you *didn't* spread your legs for that creepy blond guy who's always here? I bet you fucked that Christian guy, too... and-" She pointed directly at Chris. "-and *him*!"

The redhead laughed. Torrie truly was pitiful... and Lita had so many more important and better things to do than stand here and trade insults with this skank.

"Torrie," she said evenly, her gaze never once wavering from the woman's wide blue eyes, "you're pathetic. Now, if you don't mind, I have better things to do than deal with the likes of you all day." Lita turned to head to the back room to change into her uniform, but she didn't get too far. She let out a short yelp - Jericho yelling as well - as she felt a pair of hands gripping her long hair from behind.

"Oh, no you don't!" Torrie shouted, twisting her around. She flailed out her left hand, connecting the slap solidly to the redhead's cheek. Lita cried out in pain and anger, her hazel eyes blazing as she was finally pushed well past her limit.

"God damn it!" Chris yelled, his shouts ignored as the redhead suddenly knocked Torrie to the floor. The two women tangled for a crazy moment before Lita got the definite upper hand and started punching the blonde in the side of the head. And then, Torrie screamed, rolling them over, and suddenly there were two new voices joining theirs.

"What in *hell* is going on around here?!" Stephanie McMahon shouted. The manager's eyes were wide with shock and outrage. And then, with further shock, she stared at the man who had barged right into the kitchen. The tall blond grabbed Torrie, hefting her up and off of Lita, giving her a slight shove as he set her upright. A split second after, he knelt at the redhead's side, full of caring tenderness as he examined her and asked if she was all right.

Lita nodded, grateful toward Edge. He was so kind, caring and sweet.

"All right, I've had it," Stephanie resumed, momentarily forgetting about the tall blond man. She fixed her angry gaze solely on Torrie. "Get your stuff and get out of here - you're *fired*!"
 
 
 
 

Part 22

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