It was amazing what two weeks away from everything could do for a person; away from that suffocating feeling. She loved Jon and her family, but there was only so much a person could take, even when Layla knew they were only trying to help her. This was something she had to fix on her own, something she felt compelled to do on her own. To prove to herself that she was strong and she didn't need someone holding her hand the whole time. She was a big girl and she was going to deal with Carter's visitation and all the anger she was feeling without everyone pandering to her. She needed to prove to herself and the world that she wasn't made of glass.
And she was. Back home, away from the hectic schedule of being on the road 300 days a year, she had found some order in her life, somewhat of a routine. One of the first things she had done was sign up to a kick boxing class at the gym near where she lived. She knew Nick went there often, knew it was a good gym. And working out there each morning made her feel good, the sweat dripping off her body; the adrenaline pumping around her body, the ache she felt in her body after each workout. Then the kick boxing class three times a week in the evening. She loved it. She had already been relatively fit; from her school days cheerleading to working out with Punk, or Nick or Jon on the road. But now, really pushing herself with her workouts, she was feeling amazing. She loved the feeling of the adrenaline pumping around her body. She loved the way she could work out all the aggression she was feeling, all the anger. The way she could block everything out as she pushed herself to the limit.
Taking some time off the road was one of the best decisions she had made. Doing something for herself. She missed Jon like crazy though, waking up in his arms each day, watching him do what he loved each night; how the crowds reacted to him. She especially missed the part of the days when it was just the two of them, when they talked about everything and nothing, when they just goofed around. But she needed this time alone, it was going to be better for everyone in the long run. The anger she had been feeling was slowly dissipating, but there was one more thing she needed to do. One final thing before she was free from Carter for good; she had to go see him.
Singing along to the music blaring from her phone as she finished the final touches to the cupcakes she had made that afternoon, Layla was surprised to hear knocking at her door. She knew it wasn't her family; she had spoken to Nick after telling Jon she was taking time off work. Nick wasn't jumping for joy but he understood, like Jon, that Layla needed to do this for herself. As for her parents and Ryan, she had spoken to them a couple of days after getting back to her condo. She had spent the afternoon with them before telling them that she needed some time on her own, away from feeling smothered by everyone. Her parents had been harder to convince that she wasn't about to do something stupid, that she just needed some time to work through the anger she was feeling.
Opening the door, a massive grin spread across her face at the two visitors standing at her door. It had been far too long since she had seen either of them.
"You going to stand there all day or actually let us in, kiddo?" Punk grinned at his friend.
"Yes, yeah, come in," Layla walked back into her kitchen, Punk and AJ following. "What are you guys even doing here? Not that I'm not happy about it." Layla couldn't believe it. "Shouldn't you be like planning a wedding or something?"
"We heard you were taking some time off, figured we were due a visit. It's been way too long, I missed you," AJ smiled hugging her friend as they all stood in the kitchen.
"Nick or Ryan?" Layla asked, knowing one of her brothers had told Punk and AJ.
"Nick may have asked us to check in on you. You know what he's like," Punk revealed. "But you're clearly fine…and baking."
Layla had two older brothers, she knew the look on Punk's face. "One. You can have one cupcake."
Punk smiled as he picked up a cupcake, taking a large bite out of it. AJ and Layla shared a look, shaking their heads as they saw Punk eyeing up another cupcake.
"Seriously though, I'm fine. I've taken up kick boxing, it's good for getting rid of the anger and frustration. Enough about me though, how are you guys? How's the wedding planning coming along?"
AJ beamed, "That's also part of why we're here. We're getting married next month, we were hoping you would be able to make it."
"Of course I'll be there guys. Two of my best friends getting married, I'm glad someone finally got around to asking." Layla looked pointedly at Punk.
"You knew!" AJ exclaimed. She shouldn't have been that surprised, she knew that Punk and Layla had become close friends when he was still with the company. Even after they left, they still spoke a lot.
"Phil may have informed me of what he was planning," Layla grinned. "It's so cute though, you guys are perfect together. I'm just so happy for you."
"I'll come with you, if you want?" Punk told Layla, she had just told Punk and AJ about going to see Carter the following morning.
"I appreciate the offer, really. But this is something I have to do on my own. I need to sit opposite him and tell him exactly what I think about him. I need to look him in the eye and tell him I'm not scared of his anymore. Then that's it, I walk out and don't look back. I've already been in contact with the prison, this is the one and only visit he'll be getting from me. Anything he tries to send me in the future: any more visitation requests, any letters, anything he tries to send to his sister to pass on to me, it won't be posted to me. Simply ripped up and taken out with the garbage."
"You're so brave," AJ wrapped an arm around Layla's shoulders.
"I'm starting to feel brave again. After tomorrow, if I get through it, I know I'll be able to get through anything."
"When, not if. You've got this kiddo."
Layla smiled at Punk, "Now to show Nick I'm fine. Smile, AJ." Layla pulled her phone out, turning her front camera on and taking a quick picture of her and AJ grinning on it, sending it to Nick attached to a message: I promise you I'm good, feeling good about everything. Though I do appreciate you sending Punk and AJ my way. Love you, dork.
AJ and Punk ending up staying the night at Layla's, sleeping in the spare room. The trio laughing into the early hours of the morning. They left the following morning as Layla got ready for her visit to the prison, promising to text AJ after. While making them to promise to let her know when they got back to Chicago.
Layla felt nervous as she drove to the prison. When she finally got there, she gave herself a minute. Giving herself a little pep talk, she could do this. She could tell Carter exactly what she thought about him and then walk out of the prison feeling much stronger. Then it was time to live the rest of her life.
Layla sat on one side of the table, waiting with the other visitors, looking around the room she wondered if she was the only person visiting today to tell an inmate how much she despised them. If she was the only person whose skin crawled sitting there, waiting for the inmates to be bought out into the visiting area.
She wasn't sure what she was going to feel when she set her eyes on Carter again, the last time she had seen him had been at the trial, the sentencing. Back then she felt pure hate for him, she wondered if that would be the same. Maybe she'd feel pity or disgust or relieve that he was behind bars where he belonged. But no, when he walked out with the other inmates, she felt nothing. Absolutely nothing for him. Not pity, anger or some strange sadness at the black eye he was sporting. No she felt nothing. He was nothing to her.
"Angel, you came. Here was me thinking you might not." Carter spoke arrogantly as he sat down at the table, armed guards watching everyone in the table.
"Don't call me that," Layla spoke calmly. "This is the first and last time I'll be setting foot in prison to see you."
"Look at you, all assertive. It's kind of a turn on."
"You're disgusting, Carter. That's what I came to tell you today. You don't scare me anymore."
"You sure about that, angel?" Carter tilted his head. "I remember when you use to cower and beg me not to hurt you, you were so scared then. Are you sure you're not scared now?"
"I'm far from scared right now, Carter. I'm never going to be that scared girl again, I'm stronger now. So much stronger now. I'm going to live my life, enjoy my life. While you, you're going to spend the next twenty years in here, rotting. Like you deserve. And when you get out, do you really think you're going to have a life? By then, who's going to want to hire or know a pathetic, woman beating, ex con like you? Your life is over, mine has only really begun. That's what I came here to tell you today."
Carter cut Layla off, "Yeah, it's easy for you to say that now. Sitting the other side of the time, but if I wasn't wearing cuffs, if there wasn't armed guards in this room. Would you still be saying that? You're still the pathetic, weak little slut you always were, angel," Carter snarled.
Layla chuckled, "Sounds to me like you're scared, Carter. You know that everything I just said was true. As to if I would still be saying all this to you if you wasn't shackled and there wasn't armed officers in this room. Yes. I told you, I'm not scared of you anymore. I don't feel anything towards you anymore, absolutely nothing. You're a disgusting, pathetic piece of shit. You have no control over me anymore, over anything and that's how the rest of your life is going to be. So don't bother trying to contact me again when I walk out of those doors, because nothing you try and send me will reach me." Layla stood up, she was done here and damn did it feel good saying all that to Carter. "Have a nice life, Carter."
"YOU BITCH. YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Carter yelled at Layla as she walked out of the room, two guards at Carter's side, ready to escort an irate Carter back to his skull.
Layla took a deep breath as she walked out of the prison. She felt free, completely free from Carter now, no more nasty surprises from him. She felt so empowered, so strong, like she could take on anything right now. That last bit of anger that she had felt that was gone. She felt a freeness, a new positively that she wasn't sure she had ever felt. Part of her wanted to do a little dance, but considering she was still in the Prison's grounds, she wasn't sure that was a good idea. She didn't think the guards would appreciate that.
She knew what to do next though; some people she needed to talk to, she wanted to see. It was Tuesday, that meant Nick and Jon would have the Wednesday and Thursday off and her parents had had enough money to retire early so she knew they would be free. She might have wanted the last couple of weeks on her own, processing and dealing with it all on her own without feeling suffocated. But now she wanted to celebrate, she wanted to enjoy the newfound complete freedom she was feeling. She wanted to do that with the people she loved. She was happy, free, relived, she wanted a fun lunch with her family, with Jon.
Jon. She needed to text him first. She wanted to see him first, away from everyone else. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him and how sorry she was for how hard she had made things for him at times. Taking her phone out Layla text him. I love you. So much. Meet me for coffee tomorrow?
Five minutes later she had a reply. Not a long one; she knew what Jon was like with technology. I love you too, princess. Where?
I'm planning a big lunch for my family tomorrow, but I want to see you first. Meet me at Mesa's at 10? Layla knew that Jon would know which coffee shop she meant, her favourite little place when she was at her condo in Arizona.
See you there, princess.
Now that she had everything arranged with Jon, she just had to arrange everything with her family. Which was easy enough; her mom was already excited, telling Layla she was already booking the flight from Cleveland to Arizona for tomorrow morning. Ryan was doing a show nearby so it wouldn't take him long to get there. Nick had some early radio show to do but he promised he would be straight after. Layla went home excited, picking up groceries on the way. She also text AJ to let her know that everything went well.
She was fuming, she was so angry. Who the fuck did she think she was? She was nobody, an attention seeking liar. She had already told enough lies, lies which sent her younger brother to prison. Now she dared to go visit him, to practically laugh in his face. No, she wasn't about to get away with it. She was going to pay, Michaela was sure of that. Layla Nemeth was going to pay for everything she had done, all the lies she had told.
Layla woke up early and excited, she couldn't wait to see Jon. As much as she had needed some space, she had missed him so much. But she was feeling so positive about everything now. She wasn't magically cured from her past, she wasn't going to stop having nightmares at times. She knew life didn't work like that. But she did feel strong, physically and mentally. Carter was completely in her past now. She had sat in front of him and told him she wasn't scared of him anymore, which she wasn't. That was a great feeling. She felt like she had a new lease of life and knew what she wanted to do with it. She wasn't about to give up her job with the WWE, she loved it and being with Jon and her friends. But she wanted to do something for the people that had been in the same position as her; who like her were rebuilding their life one step at a time. She wanted to set up a charity for people who had escaped domestic violence and she knew that the connections she had would really be able to help her with that.
Driving to pick up some last bits for the lunch, stuff she had forgotten to get yesterday, Layla happily sang along to the song playing on the radio. She could feel herself getting more excited at the prospect of finally seeing Jon again later that morning, but that wasn't all she was feeling. As she drove down the road, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed. She was sure she had spotted the same car several times, but the only car behind her now was a black Hundai; not the silver Chevy she kept seeing. She was just being silly, she told herself. Who would be following her? She wasn't in some action film. Maybe she was just going delirious at the thought of seeing Jon again in an hour. She just had to get the last bits for lunch home and fix her hair, maybe put a little lipstick on.
But there was that Chevy again, on the other side of the road. Suddenly, Layla screamed, trying to swerve out of the way as the car came hurtling towards her head on. The car behind her not able to stop in time either, crashing into the back of Layla's car. Everything quickly went black.
Oh Crap...