Starting Over

17 year old Cherish Leah Hardy opened her hazel eyes to the wall of her bedroom. She sat up and shook her head, making her brown hair with its blond streaks fall into place. She sat nervously wrenching her hands and then got dressed quickly.

She prayed that she would be able to sneak out without having to talk to or see her step-father. He had hurt her the night before and she was ready with her things. Today was the only day that she didn't have to go to school and he had to go to work.

Cherish made her way quickly down the stairs and looked around the corner and into the kitchen, it was empty, and then she checked every room in the house. She grabbed her things and ran outside to the cab she had called.

"Get me to the airport as fast as you can please." Cherish wore a plain t-shirt that had long sleeves and blue jeans. When the cab stopped, Cherish paid the man and hurried inside. She scanned the board for it, and there was her destination, North Carolina.

She had been waiting for this day for a month and a half. She had her ticket and bolted to the gate. She made her way through the security check without any problems and was sitting on the plane. It was a few hours before they finally landed and Cherish woke up. As Cherish got off the plane she hurried to the nearest pay phone and dialed the only number she knew. The only number that would promise her a new and better life.

"Jeff, I'm here." Her voice was shaky and nervous her eyes full of tears. The voice immediately answered her back with worry evident.

"Cherry, hold on I'm coming." The phone line disconnected and before she knew it she could hear the yelling of her name over the crowd and saw Jeff and Matt Hardy emerge from the crowd.

"Jeff! Matt!" Cherish felt her knees give way from exhaustion and the beatings. Matt caught her as she fell and Jeff carried her things to their car, as Matt carried Cherish behind him. They hurried to the car and went back to the house. On the way Cherish fell asleep.

"What's he done to her now, Matt?" Jeff asked his brother, anger lacing his voice. Matt looked up at him and then back at Cherish who was laying her head on his shoulder.

"I don't know, Jeff, but this time it really must have gotten to her." Matt felt a wave of regret pass through him. This was their entire fault. They had so many chances to save her, but she had told them not to come get her. She had finished most of school out and arrangements had been made in case she was to ever come to live with them. This was it. She had brought as much as she could with her and now she was staying with them no matter what.

"She's strong Matt. She's like us." Jeff tried to reassure his brother and then as he pulled into the driveway he saw Lita and Trish. Jeff felt better knowing that Cherish would have some friends here who actually did are about her. They had known about Cherish and her situation, so when they heard she was coming back they wanted to see her.

"What happened to her? What did he do to her this time, Jeff?" Lita asked as she helped Matt getting Cherish's things out of the car.

"We'll talk later." Jeff whispered to her and began to help the two with the items. Cherish in the meanwhile had awoken to the sight of Trish standing in front of her.

"Trish, I can't believe you are here." Cherish tried to stand but once more her knees gave way and Trish caught her.

"You're safe now, Cherry." Trish helped her up and led her inside. Cherish ran upstairs when she entered the house after her cousins and Lita.

"Well you seem to be doing better now." Jeff said as he reached the room Cherish always had stayed in when she would visit them. Cherish lay happily on the bed all curled up and satisfied. She waited until Trish, Matt, and Lita had left and Jeff was in the room with her.

"Look at them Jeff, look at my bruises and scars." Cherish pulled off her shirt and stood in front of Jeff. She felt comfortable enough to take off her shirt in front of him so he could see the damage.

"Oh, god, Cherry its worst than the last time. Why didn't you let us stop him? We could have helped you Cherry." Jeff said as he looked at her bruises, examining the severity of some of them, and then suddenly he felt sick as he looked at her arms, he saw cuts.

"He told me it was punishment." Cherish's eyes filled with tears and Jeff took her in his arms. He felt so bad for her and now he had to help this poor battered and bruised girl start over.

"Listen you haven't met very many wrestlers, but I know you love wrestling. So how about tomorrow I take you with me to work?" Jeff felt Cherish nod her head and he stroked her hair as she soon stopped crying.

"Get some rest, Cherry. God knows you need it." Jeff whispered the last part as he left the room. Cherish changed into some pajamas and laid down on the bed. It felt nice to finally be able to sleep without fearing closing her eyes.

Alright so this was basically inspired by Twisted Beauty's story "Perfect"….read it because it rocks! Alright now review my new story I just wrote for you guys!

Much luv,

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