Disclaimer : I do not James Storm or any other TNA wrestler . I do own Alyssa Joan Beth and the story .
Chapter 4 : Scars
Midnight - Outside of Gulfport , Mississippi
Somewhere outside of Gulfport , Mississippi the bus pulled into a station so they could swap bus drivers , let people use the facilities , and let people off who were suppose to get off at that stop . Alyssa stretch finding herself under a leather jacket and looked around at Storm who didn ' t have his own , that ' s when she realized that he had given her his jacket sometime during the night .
" Why are we stopping ? " Storm asked sitting his hat back where it was suppose to be on his head .
" To let people off and change bus drivers , at least that's what the first driver said . " Alyssa said .
" Oh , okay , they could have done it more quietly without waking me up . " Storm said as the new passangers got on and the ones who had gotten off to do their business got back on , then the new bus driver came and they were off again .
" Does this happen often when riding a bus ? " Alyssa asked .
" Yes and on flights you have lay overs to once again let passangers change flights if they need to or change pilots who have been going for to long . It makes for a safer journey and as long as we continue to make good time like we have been we should be in Orlando a lot quicker . " James said .
" I will take the job offer if you can get it . " Alyssa said .
" Cool , then I will call Jeff Jarrett in the morning , but what about the living arrangements ? " Storm asked .
" I guess I could give it a try but it may end up being a temporary living situation . " Alyssa told him .
" That ' s fine , just as long as you are not out on the streets or going hungry . So , I hate to ask this , but I couldn ' t live with myself if I didn ' t . How did you get those cuts on your wrist ? " James asked her directly not wanting to put it off any longer .
Alyssa pulled her arms out from under Storm ' s jacket and looked at her scarred wrist.
" They are old scars from when I use to cut myself . I started doing it after my ex got abusive cause I thought it would make the pain go away and I wanted to feel something else besides him controlling me . But , I soon realized that cutting myself didn ' t make the pain go away , it just made it that much worse . So , I decided to work multiple jobs and fill up my schedule as best I could that way I wouldn ' t have time to hurt myself anymore and for awhile it made me see him less , so , the abuse wasn ' t as frequent. But , he soon found out what I was doing and that ' s how I ended up in the hospital and he ended up in prison . He went a little farther on the abuse that night which wounded me pretty bad which lead to me packing up all of my belongings and moving to Orlando , Florida . " Alyssa said .
" You started cutting yourself just so you could feel something else besides him abusing you ? " Storm questioned .
" Yes , I wasn ' t exactly thinking about what I was doing until I was doing it , but once I realized the pain I was causing myself even more , I stopped cutting myself . " Alyssa said starting to tear up .
" Hey , I didn ' t mean to make you start the waterworks , darlin . I just want to help you and I am pretty sure there are others who would want to help you , too , Alyssa. The great thing about being in this world is that we are never truly far from help nor are we ever truly alone . But , you have to talk out all of your problems and burdens to make it easier to deal with and to let all of that pain out . You can ' t keep all of that mess bottled up inside of you or it will cause negative effects on you . " Storm said .
" I am surprised you have told your partner about me . " Alyssa said .
" I already did , I told him after you went to sleep earlier . " James said .
Alyssa looked at him worried .
" Hey , you don ' t have to worry about Chris , he ' s a great guy and he won ' t judge you for what you ' ve been through . He ' s in a lot aways like me when it comes to dealing with jerks like your ex - boyfriend . " Storm said .
" Okay , " Alyssa said tearing up even more as the bus started moving again .
" I will call one of the girls in the morning to see if you can crash with them for a while . Then we can see what Jarrett says about the job . " James said pulling Alyssa closer to him where her head was on his shoulder . He put his arm around her trying to get Alyssa to calm down .
" You are the first person to find out about my cutting . " Alyssa said crying on the Cowboy ' s shoulder .
" Don ' t worry darlin , you ' ll see that it will all work out and that things will get better in time . " James said .
" Are you sure , Cowboy ? " Alyssa asked .
" Yes and if you need anyone to talk to about what is bothering you or whatever you are going through you can come to me . You don ' t have go through it alone and if that jerk tries to bother you again , you come to me and Chris , we will handle him for you . " Storm said .
" You would be willing to deal with him for me ? " Alyssa asked .
" Yes , I would and I know Chris would agree with me , you shouldn ' t be put through pain because of someone you put your trust in to take care of you and love you . " Storm said .
" So , you are going to be the Cowboy that rides into town , rescuing the damsel in distress , sweeping her off of her feet onto your horse and then riding off into the sunset on your horse with the damsel by your side ? " Alyssa looked at Storm .
" Exactly , but I don ' t think you are a damsel darlin , you may find out somewhere down the road that you are something more . " Storm said .
" I don ' t know how you see all of this , but I will believe you for now . " Alyssa laid her head on the Cowboy ' s shoulder .
" Go back to sleep Alyssa , I will watch over you . " James said .
" Okay , " Alyssa said
Soon , Alyssa was back asleep and Storm true to his word watched over her through the night . He was determined to make her see that she wasn ' t a damsel in distress , she was stronger than that and could make it through the strongest tempest . The Cowboy would help her fight if he had to and he would deal with anyone who tried to hurt her again .