Title: Growing Up

Chapter 25: Bad Things Happen To Good People

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the characters you don't recognize.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed my chapter. Please make sure you review. Review mean a lot to me. They inspire me to write. So the more reviews I get, the quicker a chapter should come up. Thanks again to all my readers who reviewed and who read.

XoxoxoxoX

Vince stared at Stacy puzzled. He was sure, that the two girls would have seen each other. Especially if they both were heading for the other's house. He just couldn't believe this. Maybe Stephanie stopped by the store or something first.

"So you didn't see Stephanie on your way over here?" Vince asked with hope in his voice.

"No I didn't." Stacy frowned. "I didn't walk the usual way we always do."

"Damn!" Vince stated with worry as he noticed his wife pull up in the drive way.

"I'm sorry!" Stacy responded now really worried for her best friend.

"It's ok." Vince fidgeted with his hands. "Why don't you come inside, and we'll try and figure this out."

Vince motioned Stacy inside the house as Linda stepped out of her car. He ran a hand through his grey hair thinking of what to tell his wife. He knew that she would ask. Whenever she got home from work, she would always ask how his day went. Then after he would respond, Linda would ask about Shane and then Stephanie. What would he say? He couldn't tell Linda, that her daughter was missing. She would kill him. He put both his hands in his pockets as Linda began to approach him. His heart raced as if he was about to get in trouble for breaking his mother's expensive vase when he was 10 years old. He faked a smile when Linda finally met him on the porch.

"Hey Hun, how was your day today?" Linda smiled kissing her husband.

"It was alright." Vince responded as they went inside the house. "Nothing new."

"That's good." Linda spoke hanging her jacket on the coat rack behind the closed door. "How's Shane?"

"He's fine, he's over at Marissa's right now." Vince was beginning to sweat.

"How's Stepha…" Linda trailed off as she noticed Stacy sitting on the couch in the living room. "Stacy?"

Stacy smiled over at Linda and waved. She wasn't sure what exactly to say. She didn't want to be the one to tell her that her daughter was missing. By the looks of it, it looked like Vince was about to tell her anyway. Linda was really confused to see Stacy sitting on her couch. She hadn't seen Stacy in over a week because of the fight. It was nice to see her, but something just wasn't right with this picture. Stephanie wasn't sitting next to her. Linda knew how much her daughter wanted to make things right with Stacy, so there was no reason that she wouldn't be down here with her. Linda slowly looked at Vince and finally realized the panicked look on his face. It was like a mother's instinct. She just knew exactly what Vince was going to say next.

"Where is Stephanie?" Linda asked her words a bit choked.

"Well…" Vince trailed off.

"Well what?" Linda took a deep breath. "Where the hell is she Vince?"

"I'm not exactly sure at the moment." Vince winced at the rise in Linda's voice.

"How do you not know where she is?" Linda was about to scream.

"She said she was going to Stacy's." Vince defended. "Maybe she's on her way back over here."

"Then why is Stacy here?" Linda began to think bad things.

"They both had the same idea." Vince explained. "They went different routes though, so they didn't pass each other."

The room fell silent. Stacy watched on. She wasn't sure if she should have left or stayed. Of course she stayed, because she wanted to help find Stephanie. Vince tried to stay calm for his wife Linda. He knew she would get this way, and right now they needed someone to stay level headed and it wasn't going to be Linda. Vince watched as Linda looked as if she was looking at him, when she was actually just staring off into space. She had no expression on her face. Vince wondered what was going on in her head. Out of no where, Linda broke down into tears. Vince pulled her into a hug to console her.

"We'll find her Linda." Vince stated rubbing her back. "She's ok."
"How can you say she's ok?" Linda cried. "You don't even know where she is."

"She's a McMahon." Vince tried to hush Linda. "She knows how to stand her ground."

"I'm sure she's ok Mom." Stacy spoke, she had always called Vince and Linda her mom and dad. "I just know it."

Linda pulled away from Vince and looked directly at Stacy. She shook her head as she let her tears roll down her face. Without a second glance, Linda ran up the stairs to be left alone for the time being. Vince sighed as he watched his wife run up the stairs. He was just as worried for Stephanie's sake, but just showed it in a different way. He looked over at Stacy who was biting her lip. Stephanie wasn't even missing for that long yet. So there was still that possible chance, that she had gone off some where else before actually going to Stacy's. Maybe she would turn up in the next hour or so.

XoxoxoxoX

Paul, Randy, Chris and Trish all sat at the small diner that all six of them would usually go to a few times a week. It was their local hang out spot. Everyone that worked there knew them. They were basically the normal regulars. They all had ordered a milk shake. Chris and Trish decided to just share a large milkshake instead of getting separate ones. After Paul had told his story about Adam, Stephanie and himself things began to feel strange. Well, just for Paul that is. He just got that vibe that something bad was happening. He just blew it off though. He didn't think too much into it. He didn't see any reason to. When the waitress came over to their table, they all thanked her for their milkshakes. Once the waitress set the milkshakes down and left, they began a conversation.

"So what are you going to do now?" Randy asked Paul.

"What do you mean?" Paul looked at Randy.

"You know, with Stephanie." Randy replied.

"I really don't know." Paul answered. "I highly doubt she ever wants to speak to me again."

"I wouldn't want to speak to you either." Trish spoke sipping from her straw of the milkshake.

"My cousin is a kind hearted girl." Chris said shaking his head at Trish. "I'm sure she'll listen to what you have to say."

"Even after I called her…" Paul was cut off by Trish.

"The whore of Greenwich and a slut." Trish stated firmly. "I'm sure she'd still listen to you."

"Yeah, I get it Trish." Paul frowned. "I fucked up!"

"You did more then that." Trish was about to start arguing with Paul when Chris cut her off.

"Ok, that's enough." Chris spoke putting an arm around Trish. "We all get that Paul messed up."

"He broke my best friend's heart!" Trish stated looking at Chris intently. "He deserves to be yelled at."

"I understand where you are coming from." Chris replied. "She is my best friend and cousin too, and I know it upsets you. But you have to remember that Paul is our best friend too."

"It still doesn't give him the right to break her heart." Trish was getting upset now.

"Trish, this is between Paul and Stephanie." Chris explained. "It doesn't involve us, so we need to stay out of it."

"Of course you'd sided with Paul." Trish rolled her eyes.

"I'm not siding with anyone." Chris defended himself.

"Whatever." Trish stood up and walked outside.

"I'll see you guys later." Chris stood up and went after Trish.

Randy and Paul just stared at Chris and Trish. They just sat there not wanting to get involved. They both knew that if they had said anything Trish would have snapped at them. What they didn't understand, was why Trish was so upset over this. Yes, Stephanie was her best friend, and it hurt to see your best friend get hurt, but was it that big of a deal? It must have been, because Trish was really upset by it. Paul sighed again. He did agree with Trish. He screwed up badly and he didn't know what to do. He turned and looked at Randy. He would have asked Randy for help, but knowing his current take on relationships at the moment wouldn't help him. He ran a hand through his hair when Randy began to speak.

"Stephanie has always had a kind heart." Randy spoke. "I'm sure Chris is right, she'll listen to what you have to say."

"I sure hope so." Paul sighed again.

"I'm pretty sure she will." Randy smiled. "We've known her since we have been in diapers. She'll listen."

"Yeah she'll listen, but who is to say she'll forgive me?" Paul asked.

"In time she will." Randy spoke. "You just have to give it time."

"I just can't believe it took me so long to realize this." Paul put his head on the table. "Why didn't I just listen to her in the first place?"

"Because you are a man and you always have to be right." Randy smirked.

"Haha." Paul laughed sarcastically. "The sad thing is, that's true."

"Yeah, it is." Randy shook his head.

"What's up with you and Stacy?" Paul questioned wanting to change topics off of him.

"I'm not sure." Randy answered. "I want to try and work things out with her."

"Like go back out with her?" Paul asked.

"Well, not right now." Randy responded. "I want to fix our friendship first."

"That's good." Paul stated. "You two will work it out."

"Why do we have to be such jerks?" Randy asked now feeling the same way as Paul.

"Its just the way we are." Paul replied. "Without it, life would be so boring."

XoxoxoxoX

Chris ran after Trish who had just walked out of the diner. He looked around outside and finally noticed her sitting on a bench on the side of the diner. He went over there and sat down beside her. When she realized that he was sitting next to her she stood up. Trish was going to walk away but she couldn't. Chris had taken a hold of her arm gently and wouldn't let go. Unwillingly she sat back down. It was quiet for a few moments before Chris began to talk.

"Trish, I understand that you are upset." Chris started. "I am upset too. He hurt my cousin and we all know how important family is to me. I felt like tearing Paul apart. I didn't do that though, because its not my battle to fight. Paul has realized what he's done, and he knows he has to pay the price. We can't get involved in their relationship, because it will only make things work."

Chris paused for a moment hoping to get some reaction out of Trish. She just sat there though. She didn't move or say a word. He wasn't sure if she was even listening. He hoped that she was. As he waited another minute or so, he began to talk again.

"I'm not picking sides." Chris continued. "I'm just trying to stay neutral. There is no way that I could pick between two of my best friends. If I was to pick sides, it would only blow things out of proportion and they don't need that right now. I see both sides of the story, and I'm just trying to help by giving unbiased advice."

Trish sighed as she listened to what Chris had to say. She knew he was right, but she was just really upset that he broke her best friend's heart. Unlike Paul, Trish knew exactly how Stephanie felt. Trish has had her heart broken plenty of times, just like Stephanie. Where as Paul hasn't had his heart broken, unless Trish didn't know about it. Trish knew the pain that Stephanie was feeling. She just hated that someone so close to them could hurt her best friend so bad. That's why she was so upset. Trish slowly turned and looked at Chris. She didn't know why she took it out on Chris and she felt bad for fighting with him.

"I'm sorry." Trish frowned. "Forgive me please?"

"Well, I don't know…" Chris trailed off with a small smirk.

"I really am sorry." Trish pouted. "You were right. I was just upset, because I know exactly how Steph feels."
"Of course I can forgive you." Chris smiled pulling her into a hug. "I understand how you feel. Really I do."

"I know you do." Trish sighed happily. "I'm sorry I took it out on you."

"Don't worry about it." Chris rubbed her back. "Anytime you are upset, you can take it out on me."

"Really?" Trish smirked. "I'm not going to forget that."

"What have I gotten myself into?" Chris laughed as Trish kissed him on the cheek.

XoxoxoxoX

Stephanie slowly opened her eyes. She looked around at her dark surroundings. She was in a small brick cellar type area. There was one very small old window for ventilation purposes. The cellar was empty with the exception of an old water heater that hadn't been used in a while. There was a lot of wood and boards as well. She had no clue where she was, and she didn't remember how she got here. When she went to try and rub her eyes she realized that her hands were tied behind her back. Not only that, but she was sitting in a wooden chair that was bolted to the ground. Her hands were also tied to the chair. Stephanie's heart began to race as she realized what was happening. She went to scream, but failed to do so. Tape was covering her mouth. She began to cry silently to herself. She shut her eyes and counted to three. Then she opened them again, hoping she would be back home in her bed. She was hoping that it was just a nightmare. Sadly to say, she wasn't dreaming. Her ears perked up when she heard footsteps coming closer to where she was tied up. The door to the room she was in slowly opened. She realized for the first time that there was stairs leading up to the door. Stephanie's eyes watched as she noticed the person walking down the stairs. She couldn't make out who it was at first. The only thing she could tell, was that it was a male by the darkened figure that she could see. Who would do this to her? Why would someone want to do this to her? Stephanie's eyes widen as she realized who the person was when he turned on the lights.

"Rise and shine Sleeping Beauty." The he smirked.

XoxoxoxoX

Thanks for reading this chapter. I hope you all liked this one. I don't think its as good as it could have been, but I promise the next chapter will be better. Don't forget to review please. Thanks!!

Citcat