Rating: PG (language)
Disclaimer: I own Lauren/Crystal.  I assume Chris Jericho owns himself (or maybe his wife does ^_^).  Aaron Tippin (& writers) own the song "That's As Close As I'll Get To Loving You".  WWF owns everything else except the plotline *g*
Distribution: My own site—if anyone lese wants it, just please let me know so I'll know where to find it :^)
Spoilers: None, but I'm using the current timeline (as of 9/10/2001)  

* * * * * * * * *  

She got out of the car and immediately looked towards the arena.  Her jaw dropped.  She'd been a wrestling fan all her life and had seen numerous pictures of the arenas, but she'd never *been* to one before this night.  She tucked her keys into the smallest pocket of her backpack, never taking her eyes off the digital screen proclaiming "Sold Out".  It was her first night appearing as a WWF star and needless to say, she was still very impressed.  She walked blindly towards the door, keeping her eyes fixed on the screen.  She was stopped when two hands had been placed on her shoulders.  "Wha-?"  She turned her gaze to the man standing in front of her and smiled.  

"You really should watch where you're walking.  I mean, you won't always almost walk into someone as good-looking as I am," he told her, smiling.  "Now, which do you want me to call you?  Lauren or your ring persona Crystal?"  

She smiled brightly.  "I'll answer to either from you, Chris."  

"It's the charm," he said, then slung an arm over her shoulders.  "I think you're gonna love it here."  

"I already do," she replied.  "I already do."  

"You know what I love?" he asked.  

"Yourself?" she asked, grinning.  

"Your choice for your ring name," he said, ignoring her comment.  

"Yup, another Crys added to the roster," she said, then added, "but if anyone but you calls me that, I'll…"  

"Hang on there, little one," he said, then opened the door for the petite newcomer, "I know you can kick some major ass, but will you allow me the honor to beat the shit out of the guys for you?"  

She smiled.  "For the life of me, I cannot figure out why there are some people who don't like you, Y2J."  

Jericho snorted.  "They're jealous of me."  He paused.  "One thing I ask, no more going awe-struck on me, okay?"  

"I'll try," she said, then winked and added, "blue eyes."  

~ ~ ~  

"Wow, 5 foot, 125lbs… and you kicked some *ass* out there!" he said, grinning.  

"Heyman was annoying me!  I mean, all I was doing was standing outside the ring during your match, not doing anything but minding my own business and he decides to start mouthing off at me," she said, then paused.  "The truth is, I was gonna pound him anyway.  I'm still annoyed that The King isn't sitting out there commentating."  She sat back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest.  

"Even if you had no reason…" Chris said, then laughed.  "That was damn funny!"  

A wide smile crossed her face.  "I think my favorite part was stealing the 'con-chair-to' from Edge and Christian.  Thank you for providing the second chair, by the way."  

He shrugged.  "I *had* to join in on the fun."  

There was a knock at the door, followed by, "It's us!"  

"And that would be Lita and The Hardys," he said, noticing the slight look of confusion on her face.  "It's open!" he called.  

The door opened.  Lita came in, followed by Matt and Jeff.  

"Congrats of the fabulous ass-kicking you gave Heyman, Crystal," Lita said, taking a chair next to her and extending her hand.  

Crystal took it.  "Thanks, Lita."  

"Are you heading back to the hotel?" Chris asked.  

Lita, Matt, and Jeff exchanged glances, then finally Matt answered, "Yeah."  

Chris turned to Crystal.  "I told you they could make decisions without saying a word."  

"I'll never doubt you again," she replied, smirking.  

"You doubted me?" Chris pouted, causing Crystal to burst out laughing, which caused Lita to laugh.  Matt and Jeff exchanged glances.  

"I think we missed something," Jeff whispered.  

Matt nodded in agreement.  

~ ~ ~  

2AM – one week later  

Lauren is flipping channels, trying to find something—anything—to watch.  

Chris removed the pillow from his head, then sat up enough to glare at her.  "Do you mind?"  

"I can't sleep," she said, shrugging.  "I'm too wound up."  She turned on her bed so she was facing him.  "Besides, I *thought* you were asleep."  

"I was, but strobe effects somehow have a way of getting through pillows," he said.  

She tossed a pillow at him.  He blocked it, causing it to sail into the far corner of the room, then he got up and closed the gap between their beds.  He grinned down at her.  

"What?  Don't like a pillow flying towards your head?" Lauren asked, calmly.  

"Actually, I don't really mind as long as you threw it," he replied, then sat down in between the beds.  

She shifted onto her stomach to meet him face-to-face.  "I would be happy to throw one at you anytime."  She smiled.  

Chris rested his arms on the bed, then his chin on his arms, making them nost-to-nose.  "Just make sure that the next time you do throw one that it isn't 2am and that I've actually had sleep in the past 48 hours."  

She noted how tired he looked, then sighed.  "Okay, but it's more fun at 2 in the morning," she said, then smiled.  "And it isn't *my* fault you're losing sleep."  

"Uh huh, sure.  We've been together one week now and I've had a total of 9 hours sleep.  It's awfully hard explaining to everyone that it's simply because you're an insomniac who had to keep me awake, too," he said.  

A look of surprise crossed her face.  "Rumors flying that we're sleeping together already?  Damn, I lost that bet."  

"Who'd you make a bet with?" Chris asked.  

"APA," Lauren replied.  

"Got news for you, then, they're the ones who *started* the rumors," he said.  

She dropped her head face-down onto the comforter.  

"Oh, good, you're going to sleep!" he said, sounding relieved.  

She looked up and greeted his smile with a frown.  "Very funny.  And, yes, I think I will try to get some sleep now.  A constant battle of wits tires me out when it's so obvious I'm winning."  

He laughed.  "Never won against me.  Just gotta hang around me long enough…"  

"And learn how to inflate my ego.  Yeah, yeah," she said, then turned off the TV, sending the room into darkness, then crawled under the comforter.  After a few moments, she reached out a hand and found her target.  "You're gonna have awful cramps in your legs if you stay sitting there all night."  Her hand had rested on his head.  

"Too late," he said, the mocked groaning while standing up.  

Lauren laughed out loud.  

There was a sudden pounding at the adjoining room's door, followed by, "Will you two keep it down?  Some of us are trying to sleep!"  

Lauren continued chuckling.  

"Sorry, Skittlehead!" Chris called.  

"Don't call me that!" Jeff called back.  

"Will you shut up," Matt grumbled.  

"No, no, no, you didn't say it right…" Chris said.  

"Will all of you *please* shut the hell up?!" Lita said, sounding very annoyed.  

"She's got it," Chris said.  

"And you're gonna get it," Lauren muttered.  

"Excuse me?" he asked, now leaning over her.  

"You heard me," she said, smirking.  

"G'night, little one," he said, then kissed her forehead.  

"You're such a tease," she said.  

"Aren't I?" he said, finally retreating to his bed.  

"Night, Chris," she said.