Disclaimer: I only own Alex.
A/N: A HUGE thank you to everyone who read and reviewed, I love you all! I feel like the story is slowly winding down. I'm think there's about three more chapters left. Keep in mind, there might be a sequel if you guys are interested. Enjoy! Read & review!
Alex woke up the next morning to find Wade still asleep next to her. A low sigh escaping from her lips when she saw a slight bruise forming against his jawline. That bruise was there because of her. If things had ended with John in a smooth fashion then the previous night's fight wouldn't have taken place. Wade probably wouldn't even be next to her then. He would probably be somewhere giving more people hell.
"What have I gotten myself into?" She asked herself, slowly getting out of bed.
With one more look at Wade, she left the room. There had to be somebody she could talk to. Phil would have been the obvious choice, but she already knew what he was going to say. He was very straight to the point and it honestly bothered Alex some of the time. She would have gone to Randy, but after their talk she didn't feel right going to him. It almost hurt her to go talk to him about Wade after he admitted that he was in love with her. No. She wasn't going to Randy. Alex knew full well it would hurt them both in the end. There was only one person to go to and that was John himself.
"Who the fuck is here this early in the morning?" He grumbled to himself, walking to the door.
The person on the other side of the door had better had a damn good reason for coming to him that early in the morning, he thought.
Alex braced herself when she heard shuffling on the other side of the door. To say she was nervous would have been an understatement. Her nerves were acting up and she felt the urge to regurgitate. No. She couldn't do that. After last night's episode it was time to put an end to everything. John wouldn't be around to ruin anything for her. She loved Wade and wanted nothing more than to be with him. In order for that to happen, John had to let go. More importantly, she had to let go of him.
"What?" John all but screamed, opening the door. He quickly calmed down when he saw Alex standing before him. "Alex?"
Taking a deep breath, she made the bold move in walking past him and into the room. It was too late to turn back and run to her room. He had already answered the door and she had already stepped inside. Moving forward would be healthy for them. She knew it and deep down inside, Alex felt that John knew it too.
"What the fuck were you trying to accomplish last night?"
So much for being calm.
John stepped back in surprise. Not since he met Alex had he known her to be so forceful. After everything with Phil went downhill she became very soft spoken and quiet. John had always suspected that she was really like that, but he then started to notice she had built up walls. Her being with Wade really summed that up for him. Seeing her holding hands and smiling up at Wade with that look of love made him sick. She use to look at him like that.
"A fist fight was the last thing I wanted last night." He shrugged, his initial shock wearing off. "I wanted to talk to you and instead I had that British bastard in my face."
"Snickering like a child and being a talking dick head isn't the way to get my attention. Trying to lie to Wade like that is lower than low. You know that nothing has ever happened between myself and Randy. He's your best friend and you're trying to drag his name through the mud. I don't get you John! You hurt me, I hurt you, and you attempt to fuck over your best friend."
"Correction, he was my best friend. I stopped giving a damn about him after I saw you two go into your hotel room a while ago. I've seen the looks he give you, Alex. The man is in love with you!"
"That's no reason to fuck up his reputation!" Alex exclaimed. "That really is no way to get me back either. Acting like an immature, hormonal, possessive teenager isn't the way to do it."
He felt himself calm down a bit. "I can get you back?"
"No, John, you can't. You may want me back, but I don't want you back." She nearly cried. "I was hurt by you and you were hurt by me."
If there was anything he hated, it was seeing Alex cry. No matter what the situation was his heart broke when she cried. The sensitive part of him that would always love and care for her kicked in. Feeling like a jackass he pulled her into his arms.
"I never meant to hurt you. Everything just got of control. My trying to take down Nexus and Barrett. Then I got you involved and we fucked it up." He sighed. "Everyday that I go without you I realize we shouldn't have done what we did. I'll always love you, Alex. Nothing or no one is ever going to change that. I just want another chance at us. That's all. No Wade. No Randy. Definitely no Phil. Just you and I together again."
This wasn't supposed to be happening. He was supposed to be acting like an uncaring asshole and Alex was supposed to get everything in order. She was in love with Wade and John was going to be in the past. They were going to move on and that was it. Now, she was starting to think that it was easier said than done.
"I can't do this." Alex broke away from him. "You've got to let me go just like I'm letting you go."
"Alex, I love you." His eyes welled with tears.
"I don't love you anymore, John." She started away from him. "Forget about me and move on. I'm with Wade now."
"Alex-"
"Don't say it, John!" Alex held her hand up. "This is all over! I'm moving on with my life and you should do the same."
Before anything else could be said, Alex stormed out of the room. In her heart, she knew that it hadn't gone the way she wanted it to. Something told her that it wouldn't be the last time she heard from John.
Wade jumped off the edge of the bed when the door opened. When he saw that Alex was crying, he was quick to take her into his arms and hold her. No words were said, he just held her and allowed her to cry into his bare chest.
"Its alright, doll." He soothed her. "I'm here for you."
His words should have made Alex smile. Instead they made her cry harder. He was being nothing but sweet to her and she was being as close to uptight as she could get.
"Its never going to be alright!" She exclaimed. "He's never going to leave me alone."
"What's going on? I wake up to find you gone and when you come back you're crying."
She looked up at him. Her cheeks were stained from her tears and her lips were turned down in a frown. So much was going on and someone was going to wind up getting hurt. Something told her it would be Wade. He had defended her and been there for her and she was nothing but ungrateful to him. She couldn't even utter the simple fact that she loved him to his face.
"You're frightening me."
Alex lightly brushed her fingers over the bruise along his jawline. Remembering her thoughts from earlier in the day, she sighed. This had all been happening because of her. John was being an utter douche because of everything and she was shying away from people who mattered the most to her.
"Don't worry about that." He whispered, light wrapping his hand around hers. "I would do anything for you. Don't ever doubt that for one second. Anybody who calls you a whore or does anything to hurt you will have to answer to me."
He had suffered much worse.
"Why do you love me?"
For many nights he had wondered the same thing. Because his thoughts kept him awake, Wade was even more sleep deprived than usual. He beat himself up about it until he couldn't think anymore. Finally, he just stopped wondering and told her how he felt.
"I don't how to explain it." Wade began, looking down at her. "I just do. I know that's a pathetic answer and you'll probably be angry at me for it, but I don't know what to say. Words run through my mind and none of them could even begin to explain why I do."
Alex only sighed. She didn't know if she should drop it or push him to explain himself further. Somehow, she wasn't satisfied with his answer and was going to say something until it hit her. There wasn't any reason for her to ask him why when she didn't even say she loved him back yet. Not to mention, if he were to ask her the same question, Alex would have answered the same way he did.
"I'm not mad." The tiny brunette finally answered. "That was a stupid thing to ask. Its just that I'm so afraid that I thought I needed to know. Being reassured isn't always a bad thing. In the end, I know you really do love me."
Smiling down at her, he wrapped his arms around Alex. "I know what you've been through and I'd never hurt you. Never would I lay my hands on you the way Phil did. I'll surely never cheat and bring you down the way Cena did. That's not in my nature."
"Weren't you the one that blackmailed me? Come on, baby, you had my ripped panties in your gym bag every week."
He laughed at the memory. It amazed him that she hadn't caught on to what he was doing. Well, its not like he could say he knew why he was doing it at the time. Likely, his actions were his subconscious's way of keeping Alex around.
"I was never going to tell John anything." He admitted, breaking away from her. "Until recently, I never understood why and one day out of the blue, it hit me like lightening. You always had a way of getting under my skin when we first met and you still do. Thinking back to all those months ago, I always felt something for you. I didn't know how to approach you or get you to be around me, so I just started showing up at the most opportune moments and you told me off. Finally, I was able to put two and two together and I realized that you enjoyed what we had as much as I did. Being a jackass is what made you stick around and is eventually how I realized I felt something for you."
"That night at the bar-"
"All that happened by chance." He admitted. "Seeing you that night never crossed my mind."
"Mine either." Alex whispered. "Waking up next to you the next morning was quite the surprise."
"I think that's really when everything started to come full circle for us. We ended up spending more time together and in the end something brought us even closer together. For the longest time I was cold hearted and only looked out for myself. Then I met you and all of that started to melt away."
With a small sigh, she carefully walked to him.
"Don't cry, doll." Wade whispered, drawing her to him. "I hate seeing you cry."
She needed to tell him why she was crying. The last thing she wanted him to think was that she was some sort of basket case.
"I went to go see John this morning." Alex whispered, fearing the worst.
Wade's heart began to race. If she was going to say that she wanted John back he was going to have a heart attack on the spot. Then again, it would explain why she wasn't so quick to say she loved him back. Maybe she harbored some feelings for John that he didn't even know about. Just by knowing what he knew, Wade was sure that was why she went. She could be wishy washy at times. Which often led Wade to worry about her feelings for him.
"Why?"
"After last night's episode I just want all of this to end. We've both got to move on." Alex whispered, her eyes locked on Wade. "I'm letting him go and I told him he had to let me go."
"How did he react?"
"He tried to tell me that he still loved me, but I wasn't hearing it. I told him I was with you and that I didn't love him anymore."
A smile pulled at the Brit's lips. She had told John she was with him. Alex had gone out of her way to say this to her ex and not even flinch or think twice about her words.
"You told him you were with me?"
Alex didn't miss the smile on his face and couldn't help the one she felt creeping along her face. Of course, she wanted to be with him. Nothing could make her happier. Being with Wade would be the best thing to happen to her.
"Yes." She answered timidly, finally realizing what she had said.
"Don't be so shy, baby." He lifted her chin up towards him. "There isn't any reason to be embarrassed about that."
"I lied to him."
"One, who gives two flying shits if you lied to him." Wade smirked. "Two, I want to be with you."
"You do?" Her eyes widened with wonder.
"You're so surprised." Wade laughed. "I love you and of course I want to be with you."
"Why didn't you ask me sooner?"
"Because I didn't want to rush you into anything. I was going to wait until all of this boiled down and then ask you." He rationalized. "But, you beat me to the punch, Alex."
"We're together then?"
"Only if you want to be."
This was something she didn't have think over for a long period of time. Being with Wade felt right and she knew without a doubt that she would be happy. It was like Phil had said, she had to trust him. That's what she was doing. Wade was different from the others and she felt it in the bottom of her heart that she had found the one in him. Only to say those three little words he was patiently waiting for her to say.
"Are you ready for this?"
Opening and closing her eyes, she turned towards Wade. In some sense she was ready and she wasn't ready. The part of her that loved Wade made her want to go out and flaunt her relationship with him. But, the part of her that was nervous made her want to run back to the hotel and forget about going to the ceremony.
"I'll never be ready for this."
He could understand where her nerves were coming from. This was the first time that they were going out as a couple for everyone to see. Not to mention, it was only mere hours after they decided to become official. Naturally, he could see why Alex was afraid. Wade would never admit it out loud, but he too, was worried about the looks they were going to receive.
"I'll be by your side all night. Should you get nervous just squeeze my hand."
Five minutes later, with her hand tightly grasping his, they walked on. As expected, all eyes were turned on them. Many were surprised, some didn't care. A few people here and there saw it coming, while only a select few were angry.
"Let's go, baby." Alex whispered, not missing the glare from Kelly. "I can't do this."
He knew why she was nervous. The whispers and stares were impossible to miss, but they couldn't run away. They were together now and they would have to deal with this for a few days. Maybe, even a few weeks.
"Calm yourself down, baby." Wade stopped in the lobby, wrapping his arms around her. "No one can do anything to you. As long as I'm around nobody is going to harm you."
"Everybody is talking about you guys." Justin said before Alex could get in a word. "I don't think anybody expected this."
Alex was tempted to say they didn't either, but she bit back her words. Lots of people would kill to be in her shoes at that exact moment. Besides, she was happy to be with Wade. She just wasn't happy with the glares.
"If people don't like it then oh well. We're together now and nothing is going to change that."
"I know you're nervous, Alex." Justin pointed out. "Just don't let other people in on it. If you do, they'll chew you up and spit you out alive."
"Noted." She whispered. "Excuse me for a second."
Before anybody could say a thing, Alex was gone and heading towards the bathroom. She needed a few seconds to think. Once her mind processed everything, then she could get back to Wade and be who she truly was. It was time to break out of that shell she had been casted in for so long.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, you didn't. Her nerves are just really shot because of everything that's going on." Wade shook his head, his eyes following her until he couldn't see her no more. "For whatever reason, she's worried about what everything is going to say."
Wade knew why she was nervous, he just wasn't sure if she wanted anyone else to know. So he just lied and said he didn't know. Besides, it wasn't really Justin's business. Wade was confident he had done the right thing.
Stepping out of the stall, Alex walked over to the sink. Her nerves had been getting the best of her lately and were making her sick. It had subsided for a bit, but being there that night had caused it to return. With a small sigh, she washed her hands and then touched up her makeup.
"You're such a slut."
Scrunching her eyebrows together, Alex turned around to see Kelly standing behind her. The blonde's arms were folded across her chest with her face scrunched up the same stank look she had on her face earlier.
"You broke up with John only to end up fucking Orton. Now, you have the gall to show up with Wade Barrett." Kelly spat. "Have you no shame or respect for yourself?"
She had to have been kidding. Was she really standing their trying to reprimand Alex? Clearly, she knew nothing of the situation and was basing her attack on backstage talk. Most of which wasn't true or was exaggerated.
"I'm not going to have a talk about morals, least of all with you." Alex was trying to keep herself together. "I'm not sleeping with Randy Orton, nor have I ever. Whoever told you that was badly misinformed."
"John's been telling everyone that since he saw you two go into your hotel room a few weeks ago." Kelly pointed out. "Looking at your track record, I believe him. You stole Phil from Maria. Then right after your marriage with Phil ended you started seeing John. Then you break up with John. There were some rumblings about you and Wade. Then you're spreading your legs for Randy. Now, you're here with Wade. I'd say you're getting around."
With a dirty stare, Alex stepped towards Kelly. "Don't point fingers at me when you're hands are just as dirty."
Not waiting for a response, Alex turned on her heel and left the blonde sputtering for a clever response. The nerve of some people.
"Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Hey Ryse." Alex said, stopping in her tracks. "What's up?"
"Is it true that Wade called you a whore and that he and John fought?"
She sighed, hanging her head in shame. With everything that happened earlier in the day, she had nearly forgotten about the fight. It was just not a good night for her. First, she had Kelly try to talk down to her. Then, she hears a rumor about her and Randy. Now, she's hearing false stories of the fight.
"They did get into a fight. But, it was John that called me a whore." Alex muttered. "Look, I really don't want to talk about this now. There's enough going on."
"What do you mean?"
"You haven't heard?"
Maryse shook her head. So many rumors were flying around about Alex that she had stopped listening to them. Not to mention, she hadn't even asked her friend because she knew she wouldn't say anything about the matter. Alex's solution was to ignore it.
"John's going around telling people that I slept with Randy. Kelly tried to corner me in the bathroom and give me shit for it."
"Don't listen to her." Maryse waved it off. "I hardly think she's one to comment on these types of things."
Alex laughed out loud and mentioned that she had said something along those lines.
"You're here with Wade?" Maryse asked.
"I am." Alex smiled, watching Wade on the other side of the room.
Maryse didn't miss the look on her friend's face. Her lips were turned into a smile and her eyes were sparkling. Not to mention, her face was glowing.
"You love him, don't you?"
Tearing her gaze off of Wade, Alex turned her attention back to Maryse. "I do, Ryse. I just don't have the guts to say it back to him."
"Are you afraid he's going to reject you?"
Alex shook her head. "He already told me he loves me. Its just that I'm afraid to say it back for many reasons. The first one being that everyone I've ever loved has left or hurt me."
"Everybody's different. So, you can't look to him to be like them. Not everyone is Phil or John. You've got to drop that label and move on from it. Say something before its too late."
"I went to go see John this morning."
"That can't be good."
Maryse had feared the worst. Knowing Alex, something probably happened. It was a a well known fact that Alex couldn't resist John's eyes. Something about them always drove her wild and she never could say no.
"I just told him I was letting go and he had to do the same." Alex finally replied. "I told him I was with Wade and that there was no chance of us getting back together."
"Really?"
"He tried to tell me that he still loved me, but I wasn't having it. I told him it was done and then I left. I want to be with Wade. I love him and he makes me happy."
The blonde was surprised. Maybe, Wade was good for her friend. This is the strongest she had seen Alex in a long while. When everything started going downhill with John, she just started to change in terms of her personality. It had left her worried, but she never said anything. That is until she tried to take her life. It was then that Maryse started keeping a close eye on them. The one time she wasn't looking hard enough, everything crumbled.
"Go be with him." Maryse smiled, noticing Wade was looking in their direction.
When she was gone, Maryse was joined by Mike. He gently laced his hand with hers. "Did you tell her?"
"She's so happy." She looked in the direction Alex was in. "Look at her, she's laughing. I haven't heard her laugh like that in so long."
Mike watched the tiny brunette as she giggled at something Heath had said. All the while, her hand was intertwined with Wade's massive hand. Looking at the scene before him, he couldn't blame Maryse for not telling her. It would kill Alex's spirit even more than it had already been killed.
"I didn't have the heart to tell her."
Wade's hand stayed joined with Alex's throughout the ceremony. It was almost as if he were afraid she was going to disappear. Besides, after hearing the rumor that was going around, it was better he stayed at her side. If he didn't, he would rip John limb from limb.
"Did you want to head back to the hotel?"
Alex nodded her head. The ceremony and dinner had long since ended. Everyone was just gathered around and mingling. Light fits of laughter could be heard here and there.
"I'm pretty tired and we all have a long day tomorrow." Alex responded.
They were halfway out of the hall when they were stopped by Vince.
"What's this I hear about you and Cena getting into a scuffle last night?" He was straight to the point. "Cena told me that you started a fight with him. He was minding his own business when you came at him from out of nowhere."
Wade fought hard to not roll his eyes. Of course, he would run to the boss. John was the golden boy in the locker room and no matter what he said, he was screwed. That still didn't stop him from telling the truth.
"John had started everything and he took it upon himself to try to degrade Alex. I was simply defending her." Wade replied, keeping his gaze on his employer. "I know it was wrong to get into a physical fight with someone else. But, he was no better, he hit me back. In the end, we both look stupid and childish. I know that. What makes everything even worse is that he came running to you like a kid."
"You just ignore him, Barrett." Vince said through gritted teeth. "Fighting, and fighting in the middle of the hotel lobby no less, is unprofessional."
"Unprofessional it might be, but the second you say anything to degrade her, I don't care." Wade shrugged.
Vince looked at Alex and smirked. It really didn't surprise him that she was involved. This was starting repeat the patterns of what happened a few years ago. She really had been trouble, but had managed to tone down her attitude tremendously. Somehow, Alex seemed to be going back to her old ways. Messing around with superstars and causing fights.
"It doesn't surprise me none that this is centered around you, Ms. Jordan." Vince turned his attention towards Alex. "Since you don't have a match tomorrow, I can't do this. But, Wade does."
Alex and Wade glanced at each other, then back at Vince. What could he possibly have up his sleeve now? There was no way he was going to do something to sabotage the match.
"Tomorrow night at Wrestlemania your team will be on the losing end."
Before either could protest, Vince sauntered off. Leaving the newly formed couple shocked and confused. Had John really just stooped that low because of the night before? Yes, things got out of control, but that wasn't any reason to change the outcome of the match.
"I'm sorry, Wade." She apologized.
"Don't be." He angrily replied. "John should be the one who is sorry. I don't understand how you could have been with him so long."
"He was a different guy when we started seeing each other."
"Was he different after you tried to take your own life?"
His words stung her. The tears were starting to burn her eyes. Ignoring him, she pulled away and crossed the hall. It wasn't too late to get a ride back with Maryse.
Feeling like a jackass, Wade ran after her. He didn't mean to say that. Its just that he was so angry with John and what had just taken place. He regretted what he said. She was still there, he could make it right with her.
"Alex!" He called after her.
She continued to ignore him as she stepped outside with Maryse and Mike.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" The blonde questioned her.
"I'm fine."
"Wow, you're really taking the fight between John and Randy well." Mike said without thinking.
Alex looked up from the ground and stared at Mike. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Maryse looked at Mike annoyed and he just looked away. He had really stepped in it this time. She was fine earlier in the night. What could have possibly ruined her mood other than that?
"That's not what you're upset about?"
"I'm upset with Wade." Alex mumbled. "Can we just go now? I don't want to talk about it."
Getting in the backseat of the car, Alex got lost in her thoughts. Wade was losing his match the next night because of her. He had hurt her worse than she could have imagined. To top it off, John and Randy were in the midst of a new fight. Everything was steadily falling apart.
A/N: Phew, this was a long one.