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*Present Time*
Adam grumbled as he walked down the hallway at the hotel, irritable as he recalled the events from earlier in the night. He couldn't believe he'd been so wrong in his assumption of what she'd wanted to talk to him about.
'I... I think we need to talk...'
She'd said it just like *that*. A strange inflection had been present in her voice, the expression on her face unforgettable. She'd bitten her lip as though uncertain as to what she really wanted to say to him when they'd gone into that deserted locker room together. He'd read it all on her face - or at least he'd thought he had. And the question that had emerged from her lips, every word she'd say, had completely thrown him for a loop.
He raked his hand through his hair, annoyance and frustration coursing through him at how very maddening the situation felt. The blond man couldn't believe his fate, and the cruelty of it all. How could he have fallen in love with this woman so long ago, only to have her end up marrying one of his best friends? And not only *one of*, but his *best* friend. It was simply horrible.
In a strange, warped way, he wished he could go back to the past, back to when he'd first started seeing Torrie. Back then, he'd somehow managed to keep Amy out of his mind. Oh, sure, she'd entered his thoughts on a few occasions, but for the most part, he'd been pretty into the platinum blonde at the time. And hell... Who was he kidding? He'd been a man on the rebound in a big way...
Adam suddenly stopped in his tracks as he heard familiar voices nearby. They were speaking softly, sweetly to one another, and it made his heart hurt even more. Just knowing there were other people around, especially friends of his, who'd found actual true love crushed him at that moment. And meanwhile, he was in a doomed situation.
"Of course I'm gonna worry about my girl..." Chris Jericho cooed as he and Trish Stratus sat across from one another at a small table in the little outside area of the hotel cafe. They were the only ones sitting out there, and so they seemed to have a bit of privacy except for *him* at the moment. Natually, the two didn't even notice him, anyway.
"... Every time you step into that ring, I'm entranced," Chris continued. "But I'm *always* gonna worry about you, sweetie." He smiled as the woman's face brightened with a smile of her own.
"You're so cute," Trish said softly. "You really do care..." She reached out and placed a small palm against Jericho's cheek, drawing him nearer so as to capture his lips with her own.
As Adam continued to watch, a small scowl came to his face, but he felt shitty for feeling so... He didn't even know for sure what the word for it was. He wasn't exactly jealous, because it wasn't Trish he was in love with. He wasn't quite envious, although that was a better word for the way he was feeling. Yes... That was it. Envy was what he was feeling - envy because these two had found exactly what he'd been searching for for so very long. Theirs was a true, deep and all encompassing love. He knew Chris and Trish felt such a passion toward one another, yet were also deeply tender and caring, affectionate and sympathetic. They were best friends and soulmates...
... And that was what *he* wanted. He wanted it so badly that it physically hurt.
The two blonds were still locked in their passionate, sweet kiss, a tiny, muffled sigh emerging from Trish's lips, and Jericho reached out with both hands to cup her face, holding her more firmly to him as he deepened it and drew it out. After long moments, it broke and they both came up for some air, smiles adorning both their faces as they gazed into one another's eyes.
Adam's heart quickened suddenly as he realized they were suddenly onto him and his scrutiny. Damn it, he hadn't meant to spy. He moved slightly from the wall upon which he'd been leaning, fully intending on merely walking away without a word, pretending he hadn't even seen them.
"Adam!" the little blonde diva called out.
Just his dumb luck - he *had* been spotted. And, knowing Trish, he wasn't going to be able to make his getaway. Both were good friends, but he knew the woman to be somewhat pushy when it came to even suspecting that someone she cared about was going through a crisis. So, instead of responding, he tried to make his escape. And God, did he feel low.
"Wait right here, baby," the blonde said, patting Jericho's hand. Then, as her boyfriend watched after them curiously, Trish broke into a run as she chased after the tall blond man. She knew something strange was up with him and had been as of late. He'd been acting damn weird - almost depressed, even - and as much as he might call her nosy or prying, she wanted to help.
Somehow, she cornered her tall friend by the elevator.
"Okay... You wanna talk about it, Adam?"
The Canadian man turned as though surprised to see her right beside him, his brow quirking up as he looked down at her.
"Trish... When did *you* get here?"
"Don't play dumb with me, blondie... I saw you. We *both* did. And I know something's going on with you and bothering you, so why not just spill your guts?" she stressed. "It'll make you feel better, you know."
The elevator stopped and opened, and the little blonde followed him inside. She knew Chris would wait for her, so it would be okay.
Adam cast an irritated glance her way again. Why did she insist on being so pushy all the time?
"That's where you're wrong," he said, turning his gaze up to the floors that lit up top on the lift. "Talking about everything doesn't always make it better, Trish."
"Oh, please... Adam, I'm your friend. All I wanna do is help."
"Trust me," he muttered, shaking his head, "there's nothing you can do to help." He was beginning to wonder why this damn elevator was taking so long to reach his floor. He could have *walked* and gotten there more quickly.
The little blonde sighed with impatience, then grabbed his arm, putting herself in front of him, directly in his line of vision.
"Look... would you just *trust* me?" she snapped. "You've been so... distant and not yourself these days, and I'm worried about you. Please, Adam... What's wrong?"
He shook his head.
"You'll think I'm stupid and insane."
"I think you're insane regardless," Trish retorted. "I mean, you *were* married to Torrie!"
The tall blond man smirked, his gaze dropping down to take in the teasing expression on her face. Then, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, looking away again as he began to speak.
"I'm an idiot," he muttered self-deprecatingly. "What would *you* call a man who's in love with a married woman?"
Instead of her usual quick, off the cuff banter, the tiny Canadian woman frowned, cocking her head at him.
"Wait... What are you talking about?"
Adam let out a deep breath, looking down as he steeled himself. He was finally going to admit it, and aloud for the first time.
"Truthfully," he began, "I'm talking about... Amy."
There was a silence in the air that was so thick, a machete could have sliced cleanly through it. Then, after a thoughtful moment, Trish blinked and, to Adam's surprise, she didn't look all that shocked.
"Are you telling me you're in love with Amy?"
He didn't respond verbally, but the blonde could clearly read every emotion, along with his answer, in his green eyes and in his facial expression.
"My God, Adam..." the tiny blonde breathed. "... You never knew, did you? You honestly never knew in all this time."
The tall blond man looked up sharply, his gaze meeting hers. And by God, he suddenly realized the elevator had reached his floor, that the doors had opened, but neither of them had moved a muscle, so the doors had simply closed again and the car merely sat there.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"Two years ago," she answered, looking him directly in the eye, "when you married Torrie, I found her crying her eyes out in a bathroom stall in the ladies room. She was crying her heart out because *she* was in love with *you*."
Adam eyed her with shock for a split second, his mind working so rapidly, he barely had a chance to think about what he might do with this information. Then, "Trish, Jay went out tonight, didn't he?"
"Um... yeah. He went to a club with Shane and Matt."
"Thanks, Trish." With that, the blond man punched the 'Door Open' button on the elevator's control panel, causing the doors to open. As he rushed out, the petite diva pressed her finger on the same button as she poked her head out between the doors, watching him rush off.
"Adam! Don't do anything stupid!"
He pretty much ignored her as he continued down the hallway. Their room was on this floor, the same floor his room was on. He might be reacting on pure impulse, but damn it... He couldn't help it. He had to take this chance. As insane as it was, and despite the fact that he was too late, he had to do it.
The tall blond man held his breath, his heart thundering like a cannon as he reached the right door. He recalled everything from earlier that night, at the arena as he knocked.
'I... I think we need to talk...'
"A-Adam..." The look on the redhead's lovely face appeared to be one of surprise, and perhaps something else, as she stared out at him from the doorway.
"You were right tonight, Amy," Adam said softly. "We *do* need to talk..."