Chapter 25

It had been several days since the last Raw taping and Randy simply could not get Candice off his mind. He tried calling her cell phone time and time again, but she refused to answer. At this point, he could have cared less if he seemed to be stalking her, he hated the fact that he had no control over the situation and this was the only way he knew how to deal with it.

"Put the phone away man." John told Randy as he approached the table with two beers in his hands.

It was John's idea to get Randy out and simply do the bar thing. He refused to let Randy beat himself up, so he had hoped that getting a few drinks in his system might help, at least until he sobered up by the next morning.

"I fucked up man." Randy confessed.

"Come on Randy, it's not like it's the first time." John said jokingly just to try and lighten the mood.

Randy glared over at John with a raised eyebrow.

"This is different and you know it. She actually compared what I did to what Shane did to her. I'll never get over those words John." Randy confessed as he took a long drink from his beer.

At this point, John and Randy had been at the bar for several hours. Although John tried to make sure the drinking didn't get out of hand, Randy had other thoughts. While John nursed his fourth beer, Randy was well on his way to finishing his sixth, in addition to the two shots he had when they first entered the bar.

"Slow down man." John told his friend as he noticed Randy's eyes getting heavier. His words now starting to fall sloppily out of his mouth.

"Damn it!" Randy pounded on the table. "If only I wouldn't have been such a prick to her in the first place, before she starting fucking that asshole McMahon, none of this would have ever happened."

Randy was now making no sense at all and John couldn't help but to just roll his eyes. He had been listening to Randy take the blame for something that was not his fault all night long. In all honesty, he was getting tired of it.

"You can't change what Shane did Randy. Maybe you and Candice just weren't meant to be with each other. Just leave her alone bro." John replied.

"Fuck you John!" Randy spat and then stood up from the bar stool where he sat, almost falling backwards on his ass. Luckily for Randy, John was there to catch him and steady him on his feet.

"Come on man, you've had too much to drink. Let's call a cab and get back to the hotel." John urged, struggling to balance the bigger man.

"You know what would make me feel a whole hell of a lot better right now?" Randy asked.

John shook his head.

"Shane McMahon's ass on a platter." Randy stated with a smirk, just before doubling over and throwing up all over the floor.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Candice held the number for the Women's Crisis Hotline in her hand. She was in desperate need to get help and figured seeking the help of strangers couldn't be any worse than relying on those people she thought she could trust. It was obvious Melina would not be there for her, and now after what Randy had done, she figured there was no one left to turn to. Since joining the WWE she had all but lost any contact with her family. None of them approved of the way she had flaunted herself around on television like some two bit whore. As far as her family was concerned, Candice was certain they'd see the whole thing the same way everyone else did: either Shane was innocent, or Candice was asking for it.

So here she was, forced to do something she never thought she would need to do.

"Hello, Women's' Crisis Center." The woman on the other line answered.

"Hi, I'd like to set up an appointment for a pre-evaluation." Candice replied hesitantly.

"Okay, what is it you'd like to speak to one of our therapists about?" The woman replied back as if reading from a script.

"I was raped." Candice said plainly.

"Okay, I can schedule you for next Wednesday with Dr. Michaels. Can I get your name?" The woman asked.

"Candice. Candice Mi..."

But before she could get her full name out, Candice found herself slamming the phone down and hanging up. She just couldn't find the courage to go through with it. She was WWE Superstar Diva. Thousands of people watched her on TV every week. She was making good money and staying in fancy hotels. Things like this just don't happen to people like her. Since becoming somewhat of a public figure, she was always sure to carry mace with her at all times and travel in groups late at night. The idea of someone actually assaulting her was the furthest thing from her mind. The last person she thought she would have to fear was her boss and lover at the time. She felt foolish and simply could not go through the pain of reliving the whole date rape incident in therapy.

Candice crumpled up the hotline number and threw it across the room. Getting up from her bed she heard her cell phone ring and went over to check the number. The name read Stephanie McMahon.

"Hello?" Candice answered.

"Hi Candy, its Stephanie. I need you to come to the office tomorrow to go over a storyline idea. Are you available at around ten?" Stephanie asked.

"Sure." Candice replied.

"Alright, see you then." Stephanie finished and then hung up the phone.

Candice held her phone and then walked over to the mirror. She studied the dark circles under her eyes and the smeared makeup from her tears. Taking her index finger she wiped away whatever tears remained on her face.

"You have to hold it together girl." She told herself.

She knew that going forward her days in the WWE would not get any easier unless she somehow ignored the harsh words and whispers that would surely follow her through every hallway and every corridor. As if it wasn't bad enough having to get over the fact that she had been raped, she would now have to deal with her very own peers looking down on her for what they would surely think were false accusations against Shane. But despite it all, she loved her job. She loved being in front of the camera and entertaining people even if she did have to play an annoying little pixie doll. It was all an act anyway and she loved getting the opportunity to show off her athletic ability as well. So when Stephanie asked to meet Candice at her office tomorrow, Candice forced a smile. She hoped that maybe whatever Stephanie had planned would give Candice a chance to take her mind off of everything else going on around her.

Candice walked back over to her bed and was just about to call it a night when her cell phone rang again. She checked to see who the caller was and read the text 'Randy Orton'. It was the third time today he had called and the sixth time in the past three days.

Candice tossed her phone in frustration watching it land next to the crumpled up hotline number. She knew Randy wanted to ask her for forgiveness, but Candice just wasn't ready to give it to him. Every time she heard or read the name Randy Orton she wanted to scream, and yet, she could not escape him. If she wasn't constantly being reminded of him by his constant calling, then it was her own mind reminding her of his strong face and piercing blue eyes. But she would be damned if she ever fell victim to his empty promises again. She would stand alone against Shane and Melina, even if it killed her.