Elizabeth James smiled looking down at her phone seeing it was finally closing time and she could head home. It had been a long night and despite loving the people she worked with the patrons could get on her never at times. Liz, as her friends all called her, was a bartender at one of the main clubs in Tampa. She was always friendly and had a flirty personality and that combined with over-confident guys who were drinking could turn bad fast when they mistook her being friend as something more. Liz was 23 and had lived in Tampa the past 2 years. She had moved from Virginia after deciding college just wasn't for her and she had family outside of the city so it was a fresh start for her. She got a lot of attention from guys but she never really paid attention to it and most time was completely oblivious to it. She had thick golden blonde hair that went down her back and silvery blue eyes that changed . She was fair-skinned but worked out several times a week. Living in Florida had spurred her to really get in shape and working at the club around all the other girls who seemed like twigs next to her and she was much taller than most of them at 5'10". Her personality always won over everyone knew she meet instantly and she had no issues making friends. One of the other bartenders Cassie yelled over to the DJ to play some music while they were cleaning up.
"So, I saw that creep grab your arm earlier. What the hell is with some of these guys?" Cassie said grabbing a towel and rubbing down the bar.
"If I knew I could be a millionaire and be a hero to women all the damn planet" Liz said causing Cassie to laugh.
"What was it he was saying before you punched him anyways?" Cassie asked collecting a few bottles and tossing them in the trash.
"He kept going on and on about how good I'd look with my legs around him and he knew I was eye fucking him. Completely disgusting if you ask me" she said rolling her eyes.
"Seriously? More like he was eye fucking wasn't even good-looking I mean if he was one of those wrestlers you drool over maybe but not premature balding douche bags" Cassie said ringing out the towel in the sink.
"Hey I do NOT drool over the wrestlers. I actually respect what they do and like them for their talent. Those guys are incredibly athletic. How some of them look is just a bonus" Liz said smirking before both girls started laughing.

Liz had been a life long wrestling fan and now that she was in Tampa she was in a wrestling fans heaven. FCW, the WWE's developmental promotion was based out of Tampa and she loved going to their shows to see the up and coming talent and on special occasions they would have the established guys come down and make appearances. She always dragged Cassie who wasn't a huge fan but didn't mind going. Once the girls finished cleaning up the bar and put things away Brian, their boss gave them the okay to head home. The girls said their byes before grabbing their stuff and heading out. Cassie was parked close to the building and Liz hugged her before heading down the sidewalks to where her car was parked in the back row of the parking lot. She took a deep breath loving that she could smell the ocean in the breeze as she pulled her keys out of her pocket and got into her car. She got in and locked the doors having an odd feeling that someone was watching her but looked around and didn't see anyone she shrugged it off and pulled out of the parking lot. She looked down feeling her phone buzz and saw she has a new text from Cassie and when she got to a red light she decided to check.
-Hey girl just wanted to make sure you got to your car safe. See ya later and no drooling over men in trunks-
She laughed and shook her head. They always did this to make sure each other got to their car safe.
-Yeah I'm alive and in one piece. Starving but in one piece and I don't drool over them but those trunks don't hide much! Cas-
She hit send and sat her phone in the cup holder as the light turned green. She groaned seeing she needed gas and pulled into the corner store near her house. She pumped the gas and paid with her card and decided to go to go in and get something to drink so she pulled her car around to the side of the building and ran in and got a slushy before heading out to her car. She got to her car and was opening the door when someone came from behind and shoved her against the door forcing it shut and spilling her drink. She tried to scream out but a hand covered her mouth and she felt the man pushing himself against her and leaned so his mouth was by her ear.
"You know you want me and I was going to go easy on you until you punched me,but that's okay I like a fight" the man said and she instantly knew it was the pervert from the club.
He grabbed her ripping her top and forced her to look at him before trying to force her to kiss him and she took the chance and screamed out before he slapped her causing her to stumble and fall. He grabbed her and slammed her back against the car so hard it took her breath away. Before she knew what was happening she felt the man being pulled off her and she fell to her knees and sat trying to gain her composure. She looked up seeing a rather large man slamming the guy against the wall before saying something causing the man to run like his life depended on it. She felt her lip and realized she was bleeding and took a deep breath and pulled her top close to her body trying to cover up as much as she could. She heard the guy who move over towards her and he got down in front of her on one knee and put of his large hands on her arm.
"Love are you okay?….He didn't hurt you to bad did he?" he said in a deep voice that she recognized but it didn't hit her where from until she looked up at his face. It couldn't be?
She was brought out of her thoughts when he brought a paper towel to her lip and gently dabbed away some of the blood and folded it looking at the bruise on her jaw and the black eye forming. She looked at him dead in the eyes and instantly felt like she was going to be sick and she got a chill. It was who she thought it would know those eyes and features swallowed hard seeing him take his jacket off and put it over her shoulders and helped her to her feet.
"Th..thank you" she managed to say as he leaned down picking up her keys and looked at her and smiled at her.
"You don't need to thank me, any decent man would have done the same. I couldn't let any man harm a woman" he said causing her to smile slightly feeling her lip sting.
"Do you want to call the police?" he asked her but nodded when she shook her head no.
"No, I just want to forget about this and go home" Liz finally said pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Do you live close by? I can make sure you get home safe if you'd like?" he asked causing her to smile.
She had just meet the guy and he was already offering to follow to make sure she was okay and she didn't even want to think about what would have happened had he not heard her muffled felt safe being near him.
"Yeah I live right around the corner in one of the new condos" she looked at him and saw him smile which confused her.
"The one that has all the walking paths and the lake? I just moved into one of them. Since we are going to the same place I won't take no for an answer, but I never got your name" he said looking down at the blonde.
"Elizabeth,but everyone calls me Liz" she said seeing him smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you then Liz despite the circumstances. I'm Stuart but everyone calls me Stu or Wade" he said noticing her mumble something.
"What was that?" he asked confused causing her to look up at him.
"I…I know.I mean I know who you are" Liz said seeing him give her a soft smile noticing several people staring at them as they walked by.
"Then I'm lucky. It's getting late and I have a feeling if you don't head home there's going to be a lot of questions from everyone walking by. Are you okay to drive? If not I can always take you home" he said handing her keys when she assured him she was.
Once she got in her car and she took a deep breath trying to take in everything that happened. Wade Barrett has just saved her from lord knows what the man planned and she couldn't even begin to understand it all. She saw him pull up beside her in his SUV and rolled down his window so she could see it was him and waved. She smiled before turning her car on and pulling out and looked behind her to see he was close behind. It all seemed surreal to her as she drove up to her condo and pulled into the driveway and saw him pull up behind her. She grabbed her bag and her phone and got out locking her car and jumped feeling him put his hand on her back.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you Liz" Stu said causing her to relax.
He was surprised that she was just a few down from him but was glad because she seemed like a genuinely nice girl and he wouldn't mind seeing her again. She looked up at him not really sure what to say. It was all too much to even understand. She realized how she must have looked with his jacket on considering it almost completely covered her shorts and the arms were covering her hands.
"I really can't thank you enough. You have no idea how relieved I am you came when you did" she said looking down realizing just how big a man he was.
"Do you know him or was it just some pervert going after the first women he could?" he asked hoping it wasn't a boy friend she'd have to deal with again.
"No, I knew who it was but I don't know him. I work at a club and he was there tonight and grabbed me and was trying to get me there,I punched him in the face to get him to let me go. I guess he waited and followed me, but now I'm glad I stopped and didn't just come right home" she said seeing him nod in agreement as they walked up to her door.
"I just moved in a few places down so if you need anything don't hesitate to come by, I'll be around quiet a bit" he said causing her to look at him oddly until she remembered what had happened just a few days before.
"Oh your arm, do you know how long you'll be out? It was painful to watch I can't imagine" Liz asked curious.
"Obviously it hurt like hell from my 't know much more until I go in tomorrow and they do an MRI and all but I know there's damage so I'll be out for a while. I knew as soon as I did it. Will probably need surgery" he said causing her to feel horrible for him and forget about all that had happened.
"I'm sure there really isn't anything much I can say but I'm sure you'll come back and dominate just as much of not more. Must be bittersweet though with it being so close to Mania and it being here so close to home,well were you live now" she said seeing him take a deep breath.
"Yeah no time is good to get injured but it being so close to Mania and it being in Miami it's a constant reminder of what I can't do but I'll have my time" he said seeing her smile.
"That I'm sure of. Wade Barrett always has been the kind of man to take what he wants after all" Liz said making him chuckle.
She stood and took a deep breath and looked at him and realized it was getting pretty late and she needed sleep and she could imagine he needed some rest. She looked down when she felt her phone buzzing in her pocket.
"Hey,I really appreciate everything you did to help me and I mean since we are neighbors and your going to be around let me write my number you need anything just give me a call or whatever" Liz said smiling before opening her front door and motioned for him to follow her.
They walked in and she lead him to her kitchen where she dropped her bag on the counter and grabbed a pen and piece of paper from a basket and scribbled her name and number down. She clicked the pen and dropped it back into the basket and handed him the paper and noticed him smile before slipping it into his pocket.
"Clearly you already know where I live and feel special I don't let just any guy come in my place. Usually takes several dates, or being an old friend but since you got that creep off me I'll make an exception" she said smirking feeling more herself.
"Trust me I'm the same way. Then again no one has been in my new place but my buddies who helped me move my things in. I always end up with the girl who tries to take something and turn into clingy or just want to say they got Barrett" Stu said noticing her roll her eyes a little and smile before going to take off his jacket.
"Don't worry about giving that back, I'll get it some other time.I know where you live now so I can find you easily" he said with a wink causing her to laugh.
"Yeah well I know where YOU live too so don't try to pull the leave something at the girls house just for an excuse to come back doesn't work on me several have tried that and when they came back I shoved their item at them and shut,well slammed the door in their shocked face" she said leading the way back to the front door smirking.
"I'll keep that in mind incase I ever leave anything around I'll see you some other time. You sure you're alright though?" he asked causing her to smile up at him.
"I'm fine. Nothing some sleep and a shower can't fix" she smiled trying to assure him she was okay even though she was still shaken up over it all.
"If you say Liz" he said before turning and walking out and towards his car but he was stopped when he heard movement behind him and turned to see her walking up to him.
"Goodnight Stu, and thank you" she said before leaning up and hugging him before kissing him on the cheek before turning and running back into her house and shutting the door.
Once inside she couldn't help but smile and feel kind of foolish for acting like this but he was so sweet and he'd in a way been her hero. She held the jacket she was still in and smiled before going up to her room to change. She looked out and saw where his SUV was parked and smiled seeing he really was just a couple down from her. She had been curious who the new neighbor was but she wasn't home when he'd been moving in so it was more than a pleasant surprise. She took off his jacket and laid it on the end of her bed before heading into the bathroom to take a shower. Feeling the steaming water run over her and surround her was what she needed. It felt good to be clean and it let her clear her mind for the time being. After about half an hour she got out and put on her tank top and shorts and brushed her wet hair out looking in the mirror. Her lip was swollen and she had a large bruise on her jaw and cheek. She wasn't looking forward to explaining to Cassie how it happened but knew when they saw each other she'd have to. She was jarred out of her thoughts when she heard a bag outside and glass shattering and rushed to the window and her jaw dropped. The same man who had attacked her was outside and had bashed in the driver's side window to Stu's SUV that was sitting on the street. Without even thinking she slid on her sneakers and rushed down the stairs and looked around and saw a fireplace poker and grabbed it before opening her door and rushed out towards the man. Just as she got to him he turned seeing her rushing at him and smirked.
"Well isn't this cute. You think your bad because you have something? You wouldn't hit 's your hero now bitch? He's probably in there fucking some bitch. Then again you're out here so maybe he has some sense after all" he said stepping towards her.