A/N: Hey everyone! This is my first story...I hope you´ll like it! Please read and review!
CHAPTER ONE- "Should I Smile Or Cry?"
„You thought this would be the best option to choose to achieve a good life for us, for your family?" Candice yelled with her heated voice at her mother in surprise of her being that careless of the image of their family.
"What do you think? Do you think it´s easy for me? I didn´t have the choice, ok. With your father being drunk all day and sitting on his butt, how should we pay for our food or any other pay bills?"
Candice looked down at the floor because she wasn´t able to look at her mother. It was disgusting…she was disgusting…her step- father was disgusting. Why does she have to be a part of it? 17 years were filled with pain, suffering, helplessness and loneliness…Usually people at this age live their life to the fullest with happiness, liberty and most importantly with people that love you and ones you love. But Candice missed this kind of life because of her stepfather and her mother…"I Hate You." She said with a deep voice.
"I did it for us…for you…" her mom said as she tried to touch Candices face, but Candice quickly moved the hand out of her face and stared at her with furious eyes.
"You left me everyday alone with this drunk monster. He always hit me when he didn´t get his alcohol. Most of the time I couldn´t go to school because of being ill or not able to show up in school. And you wanna tell me, that you did everything just for me? You know what, you don´t have to anymore cause you´re not gonna have a daughter to worry about anymore."
x:x:x:x:x:x
Candice remembered the day she had an argument with her mother. It was the last time she saw her mother. Although 2 years passed, Candice still felt the anger against her mother and her so called step- father. It was hell she was living in for almost 18 years.
But now everything changed, because she wanted it that way.
At evening, watching TV, she waited for Mickie, her best friend to come home. They live together for almost 2 years.
x:x:x:x:x:x
After running away from her mother, Candice walked through the dark and loud roads. Some drunk bum began to harass her. At first, Candice wasn´t aware of the bum, she was still shocked by her mother. With scattered thoughts she was there, not knowing what to do and where to go. The one thing she knew was the fact that she was sick of her life. Even though she didn´t know how to go on, she just wouldn´t return to the misery at any rate.
"Hey Barbie, why are you so lonely? The streets aren´t safe at this time. Come with me, my place is enough for 2 people." The drunk bum said holding Candices waist and trying to kiss her neck, but after Candice noticed the weird situation she was in now, she tried to release herself from the grip.
"Let go of me" she nearly cried. Old memories came to her mind she wanted to forget so badly.
"Come on, it will be fun. You´ll love it" continuing to kiss her neck and to touch every single detail of her body. Candice felt sick. He smelt just horrible like he hadn´t take a shower in a really long time.
"No, Please" she struggled to get free. "I don´t want to"
"I said, come on bitch" getting angry, he began to pull her by her arm. She tried to oppose but wasn´t strong enough to stop him from pulling her away. All of a sudden her voice became loud enough to irritate the bum.
"No" and with that he stopped, staring at her with rage.
"What did you just say?"
"I said no" she answered clearly and confidently, which the bum didn´t like at all.
"Listen bitch. It doesn´t matter at all what you want. Only what I want is important. So, shut the hell up and follow me. Understand?" he ordered, getting in her face. Candice looked away, but the bum immediately grabbed her chin to look at her straightly. "Understand?" he yelled now. Candice looked to him unsure what to do. And from nowhere Candice kicked him right where a man doesn´t want to be kicked. She wasn´t aware of what she did. The bum fell to the ground and began to scream and wince in pain. "Oh no, you didn´t do this" he hissed, while he tried to get up to his feet to catch Candice.
But Candice began to run as fast as she could. Looking back now and then, Candice noticed from a distance more than one person running after her. At the moment Candice was afraid of everything. What if they would catch up? She didn´t wanted to know. Shaking the sickening thoughts out of her head, she concentrated on running away. She turned the corner into a long narrow street. At the end of the dark narrow street she could see lights. No, it wasn´t an illusion. She could hear people chatting with one another and walking down the street. It must be the main street she thought.
She carried on with running until she reached the end of the narrow street. Slowing down, she glanced at the tall buildings along the street, which thousands of people filled. Candice acted like she saw people laughing and enjoying the night for the first time in her life. She hated nights. There wasn´t a reason for her to laugh. She cried every night… Lost in her thoughts she forgot the reason why she was standing in front of a crowded street. After hearing the bum yelling at her she looked back to see them speed up to reach her.
Not waiting another second she squeezed herself through the crowds so they would lose sight of her. At the same time she checked out if they were still rushing to her. Crossing the crowds she stood in the middle of a street still focused on the bum and his gang. But a loud horn of a car confused her. Before she could even make out the whole situation a large black limousine knocked her down. Candice laid on the ground with everyone being in a state of shock. The chauffeur and a posh dressed man came out of the limousine and hurried to Candice.
The chauffeur was really nervous. "I..I´m sorry Mr. Michaels. I did my best to stop but…"
"Ok ok, This isn´t the right moment to speak and all that things. We have to rush her to a hospital. She is bleeding from her head. Come on. Help me to pick her up and let´s carry her to the car."
They laid her on one of the seats. Inside the limousine it was completely dark. "How much longer is it going to take?"
"Unfortunately at least one and a half hour."
x:x:x:x:x:x
The doorbell rang. For Candice it was the sound of happiness. She waited for Mickie to come for hours. She had been on a journey for almost 3 days. She called Candice to inform her of her arrival as soon as the day broke.
Never had she been that late. But all in all it wasn´t surprising because of her job. Mickie is a WWE Diva. That explains why she is away a lot. Opening the door Candice nearly floored Mickie with a big and powerful hug. "OMG Mickie! Finally you´re here. I missed you so much." Candices happiness was recognizable and Mickie could feel it enormously.
"Candice..Candice I..can´t..breath…" coughing at the same time.
"Oh no, I´m sorry Mickie" She immediately released Mickie from the hug. "I ´m just so happy that you´re back here." She squealed with a bright smile on her face hopping up and down.
Suddenly Candice heard a lot of laughter nearby. Candice stopped to hop and looked at Mickie interrogatively. Mickie just smiled, which confused Candice.
Candice started to follow to the noise. "Mickie, I think it´s coming from the backyard" she whispered. "Come on. Let´s see what´s going on there. Or wait a moment…I have a better idea." Candice quickly walked into the house and came out with an umbrella holding it very tight in her hands. "Mickie, you call the police and I´ll see what´s happening up there."
"Candice, uhh Candice…Can you please wait a moment" Mickie attempted to stop Candice from walking away with the umbrella in her hands. Candice didn´t listen to Mickie and went on her tiptoes to be as quiet as possible. "Candice" Mickie nearly shouted. "We don´t need to call the police. There´s nothing." Mickie said as Candice was about to turn into the backyard.
"What are you saying Mickie" Candice was now confused again "Didn´t you hear the noise. I have to check that out." Candice didn´t care of what Mickie meant by her words. She kept walking towards there backyard. As she turned the corner Candice almost fainted because of the powerful cry familiar faces were performing.
"SURPRISE!"
x:x:x:x:x:x
"Is she alright, doctor?" Shawn hoped everything was okay.
"Well for now everything´s under control…But she lost a lot of blood, so she is unimmunized…Though she doesn´t have to stay in a hospital, I´ll write out a prescription for you, just to be on the safe side." the doctor gave Shawn a light pat on the back.
In the meantime, Shawn walked up to Candices room to see her. Candice lay on the bed, her eyes still closed. After entering the room, Shawn closed the door behind him. He stood right in front of the door with his eyes focused on Candice. Instead of Candices face he saw the face of the person, who meant everything for him…his daughter. He wouldn´t want her to be in the situation Candice was in right now. He thought about the parents of Candice. If they would have known, Shawn imagined that they must have been miserable.
Shawn also could have leave Candice there and just mind his own business. But he isn´t a person like that. He is religious and cares about everyone, no matter who it is. So he was determined to help Candice.
Suddenly the door behind Shawn opened. His chauffeur came in, hitting Shawn with the door unintentionally. Shawn tripped and almost fell to the ground. But as soon as the chauffeur realized what he did, he immediately caught Shawn by his arm. "Oh my God! I..I´m sorry Mr. Michaels. I didn´t mean to.." the chauffeur spoke up nervously.
"MAN! Can´t you be careful for once? She´s going to wake up." Shawn whispered angrily. Candice slowly opened her eyes. "Great! You see what you did..." Shawn looked at him annoyed because of his chauffeur being that clumsy. "Wait in the limo!"
"But there is something I´ve been ordered to tell you."
"Later!" Shawn glanced at him for an instant and he immediately left.
Turning to Candice, Shawn recognized the uncertainty of Candice by her quick and bemused moving eyes. Shawn moved next to Candice. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked.
Candice tried to remember the events that night but she was still dazed. "Where am I? What am I doing here? I can´t remember anything. My head hurts…" she whined grabbing her head with one hand.
"Calm down. I´ll tell you everything, but later…Now, you have to recover from the accident you´ve had…" Shawn grabbed a glass and filled it with water. "Do you wanna drink water?" he asked.
Candice looked at the water and one by one she began to remember everything that had happened earlier on. The argument with her mother, the annoying bum, who just wouldn´t let go of her and the car accident…And now she was in a hospital. That wasn´t good at all. How would she pay the treatment and the room? She looked at Shawn and simply shook her head as she answered the question "No…I have to go." Candice began to get up from the bed but failed. Her pulse still was thready. She felt weak as she plunged back into the bed. Pain everywhere in her body...
"Oh God..I´m gonna call the doctor!" Shawn placed the glass back on the table and started to rush to the door in a panicked manner.
"No, no.." Candice almost stood up again but stopped and laid down on the bed groaning as soon as she felt the unbearable pain in her body...
Shawn heard Candice and immediately stopped. "Oh girl, why are you so stubborn? The doctor is just going to take a look if everything´s alright with you…" slowly making his way to her side Shawn spoke up. "Don´t get me wrong. I´m just really sorry because of the accident. This gnaws at my conscience..I just want to straighten this out somehow…But if you don´t want to be in the hospital then I could drive you to your home." smiling and lightly patting on her right hand.
Maybe it would be the right thing if Candice felt awkward. But instead Candice felt safe and comfortable near Shawn. For Candice Shawn was like a caring father, trying to make his little daughter happy at any cost. That´s why she wasn´t afraid that something bad could happen. Shawn wasn´t like her stepfather. Candice was sure of that. "I..I don´t have a home…" Candice looked up to Shawn and wondered how he´ll react.
Shawn imagined that Candice must have problems with her family cause it´s not usual that a girl runs through the streets of a city at night like she was escaping…Smiling once again at her, Shawn said "Alright! Then why not be my guest?" Candice didn´t expect that at all. She didn´t know what she should do now. "Don´t worry! I have a daughter. I´m sure she will be glad to get to know you!"
What should she do? If she refuses to this offer where is she going to stay? No home, no money…´At least until I´m healthy enough to hunt a job..´Candice thought. With a weak smile she responded to Shawn "Thank you!"
After 2 hours they arrived in front of Shawns house. It was big, white and impressive for Candice. She liked the front yard. Absolutely beautiful she thought.
The apartment where she was living with her family was simply hell…It consisted of 3 little rooms. The bathroom and the kitchen had to be shared with the neighbors. It was really small because they weren´t able to pay bigger and better apartments. Candice have had to clean up everything in the apartment cause her mother worked every night and slept at noon. Her stepfather didn´t have a job. He took every penny from Candices mother and bought himself alcohol. And with the effect of the alcohol he drunk all day he hurt Candice and did something that made her nights unbearable so she lost zest for life…Her stepfather raped her when Candices mother wasn´t around. She couldn´t tell anyone about this cause she felt dirty like a slut. Her step- father commanded her not to say anything to her mother or anyone else as well cause if not he would do worse, more than raping…like selling her to other men and thus making money. No, that´s not what Candice desired for her future. She didn´t want to be a tard. So she had to shut her mouth about the raping and go on with her life like a corpse.
But something Candice didn´t expected, though still hoped for happened. She got away from her miserable life and will start from the beginning, hopefully with much more luck.
Entering the house, Candice couldn´t believe what she saw. It was like paradise…comfortable, warm, beautiful. "OMG! What a house!" Candice exclaimed in excitement. But as soon as Candice realized that she was acting like a little child who got new toys she instantly stood quite and nervous. Shawn noticed Candices abrupt change of mood and chuckled to himself.
"So Miss…That´s the place where I´m living with my daughter" Shawn stretched out his left hand to show Candice the living room with its furniture. "What´s your name by the way?"
"My name´s Candice! And you are?"
"Shawn Mi-" Shawn got interrupted by his daughter who was running down the stairs and afterwards hugging him enormously.
"Dad! Where were you? Why did it took so long for you to come home? I called the chauffeur, still nothing. Do you know how much I worried?" Breaking the hug she said tensely and fidgetyly but quieten down as soon as she noticed that someone foreign stood next to her father. "Uhm…" She looked confused to her father. "Who is this?"
"Ok Mickie! First of all relax. I´ll explain you everything. This is Candice!" motioning with his right hand to her.
"Hi.." Candice said nervously.
"Hey, I´m Mickie!" They shook hands. Mickie looked up to Shawn.
"Ok. Sure you wanna know why she´s here."
"Yup!" The both of them started to go to Mickies room. Candice took a seat in the living room.
"That´s what happened…The chauffeur made an accident when Candice was suddenly in the middle of the street."
"What? And you don´t inform me?"
"Let me explain Mickie! Right after the accident we drove to a hospital but she didn´t want to stay ther and said that she doesn´t have a home.."
"Oh…"
"Obviously she has some problems with her family right now. So I offered her to stay here until she´s alright again."
"Ok, I understand…but wouldn´t it be better if she stayed in a hospital?"
"She just has to have a rest and take some medicine...She didn´t want to stay there. I think because of money. Why should be a girl outside running in the darkness when she has enough money to book a hotel room? You know?"
"Right.."
"So..please be nice to her. I´m sure you guys can get friends!" Shawn said smiling.
"Daddy! You don´t even need to say this!" Mickie smiled at her father and hugged him.
x:x:x:x:x:x
"OMG! You guys are crazy. What was that about?" Candice was still shocked from what happened earlier on.
"We wanted to surprise you!" Mickie said with a smile on her face and chuckled at the same time as she remembered Candices reaction.
"What? Mickie..You were in this, too?" Candice couldn´t believe her friends. "You guys know that I don´t like to be scared.." she pouted.
"Come on, Candice! We just have some great news!" Ashley got excited and hold Candices hands.
"OMG! You´re not gonna believe what happened!" Melina squealed, jumping up and down.
"Ok...You guys really scare me! What is going on?" Candice stared at everyone in the room with a confused look on her face.
"Don´t panic, Candice! Should I bring you something to drink, sweetie?" Trish tried to calm down Candice.
"No! Just tell me what this big surprise is please?"Candice was getting annoyed now.
Everyone fixed their eyes on Torrie who must tell Candice the news. "You´re gonna join WWE, just like Mickie, Melina, Trish, Ashley and me!" Torrie announced with excitement.
Candice was in a state of shock but happy about the surprise. As she was sitting on her bed, the other 5 girls hugged her in happiness.
