Finally Back in Québec City
In memory of Sarah's ceremony
It was going better than John expected. He and Réné were in the plane, not far from Québec City now. He had just finished explaining all the Sarah- Cassie story to his friend. Somehow, telling it to Mr.Mcmahon had liberated him. He could talk about it now. It was still painful but maybe after the ceremony, his heart and soul will be soothed. Maybe all he needed was to talk about it. And to say a last good-bye to Cassie, wherever she was now. He knew she was looking down on him and hoped she was not mad he couldn't saved her.
He glanced at Réné and saw him quickly lift his hand to his eyes. Like he was wiping unfallen tears. He laughed, feeling his heart light for once in a long time.
" What the fuck are you doing frenchie? Don't tell me you've been crying?"
" Shut up! Your story is so dramatic, so sad. And it explains why you're such a jackass too. I mean I never thought you could have been through so much John."
" Somethings aren't meant to last. And I wasn't over that story yet, that why I never wanted to talk about it. Plus the medias would have made a big deal about it. Even when it happened, the police kept my name out of it. To preserve my career. But I'll never be over Cassie. I still love her so much, sometimes it feels like she's still there. Almost like I could just pick up the phone and call her. But she's not. I'll never hear the sweet sound of her voice again."
" And considering the things that creep, Étienne right?, did to her, maybe she wouldn't have been able to recover. He kidnapped her, gave her drugs and you said his shirt was covered in blood? Holy shit I don't even want to imagine...."
" Shut up frenchie! I don't want either! That creep killed the woman I was about to ask to marry me, he tortured her, drugged her and beat her senseless and even killed one of her friend right in front of me. If he hadn't pulled the trigger I would have killed him myself, I swear to God."
Réné understood by the look and the anger in John's voice that it was time to talk about something else. The guy was dead, they would never be certain about anything. They couldn't change the past. The only thing he could do was to be there for John. He will need a friend at the cemetery later on.
" So, what do you think about this WFL? Do you expect it to be any good?" Asked Réné, suspicious. " I mean a woman owning and controlling a wrestling federation? It sounds weird. Ok, I admit Stephanie was a pretty good manager but a woman cannot resist us wrestlers, we're just too perfect."
" You're too full or yourself you know that? That's why fans don't like you. I'm sure it will be different but it could also be as good. Vince wouldn't be interested if he didn't think it would turn out good enough for him no? Besides, in the end, Cassie used to train wrestlers herself. And I can tell you she was doing a damn good job. She was hard on them sometimes but for their own good. I wonder who get her to be into wrestling in the first place?"
Réné lifted his eyesbrows and rolled his eyes. He wasn't convinced yet. Women were beautiful and attractives yes, but still so delicate in every way.
The plane finally landed and they took a cab to the hotel. They wanted to take a shower and eat before going to the church.
A few hours later, they were ready to go. John allowed Réné to take care of everything. With him speaking french, it all seemed easier. John was amused at the fact that french was not painful to hear anymore. For more than a year he had winced evrytime he heard a single word in french. But now he loved it so much. Every word was like music to his ear and made him remember Cassie's lovely accent.
They sat down at the back of the small church. Sarah had no family and not a lot of friends, John explained to his friend. She was more a loner, not accepted very well. That's why there was so few people. And after two years, it's not everyone that would have want to honor Sarah's memory. But she had saved my life, John reminded himself, I have to honor and thank her for the rest of my life. And he was glad to do so. If he could, he would have exchanged places with her. That way he'd be with Cassie and Sarah would still be alive.
" Hum, Yummy!" Said Réné when he spotted a picture of Sarah. " Well, Québecoises (girls from Qc) hadn't changed much. They were always so beautiful. This one made no exceptions dude."
" Shut up frenchie! We're in a church, it's not appropriate to talk like that. Besides my friend, she would have not even looked your way."
" You're the one making rude comments! And why not? I'm the French Phenom, incredibly good-looking and only twenty years-old. Any girl would fall at my feet."
" Not this one. She was a...hum, she was a, damnit she was into girls.!"
Réné was speechless at first, but then an evil grin formed on his lips. He was about to say something when silent fell. The priest was coming in. He began his speech. Of course John didn't understood a word but didn't want Réné to translate. He just wanted to sink in the atmosphere. Réné understood and respected him.
After the prayers, they could hear an organ played a song. It was Graduation, by Vitamin C. John remember that Cassie once told him about that song. When they were in college, Cassie, Sarah and all their friends had formed a group named Artémis's hope. They were singing and dancing and were really popular in their school. That particular song had been their hit and had remained Sarah's favorite of all time. It brought a smile to John's lips. But then the irony sinked in. It was also the song where he and Cassie had danced together, before Étienne hit Cassie. John was very moved, feeling desperate all of the sudden. All the sadness he had hid, all the pain he was feeling, finally got the best of him. He allowed hinself to cry, silently. Réné, from the corner of his eye, saw what was going on in John's head. But when he saw him crying, he felt relieved. All this emotion had to get out somehow. It was better to cry it out. He didn't made a sound, didn't moved, not to disturb his friend. He had to grieve in peace, he deserved it. And for nothing in the world he wanted John to know that he saw him cry. He knew that would be something John would never get over. But as the song died away and people started to get out of the church to the cemetery, Réné decided to wake his friend up. People were looking at them and they wanted to avoid the publicity. They were known even here. He elbowed his friend in the ribs.
" What? What is it?" He seemed a little lost, furiously and quickly wiping his tears. Réné looked the other way, like he saw nothing. But the image had tore his heart and was forever going to remain in his mind.
" It is time to go to the cemetery. Come on, I've got the flowers don't worry."
He grabbed the two really big and expensives bouquets John had bought. A dozen of yellow roses and a dozen of blue ones. When he bought the yellow ones, he had bit his lips at the memory and grasped his hands in his pockets. Réné had noticed that whenever John was thinking about Cassie, his hand seemed to grasp on something carried in his pocket. But he had the discrecy not to ask what it was. If John wanted to talk about it, he would. They waited for a few people to knelt down beside the grave of Sarah. Soon, they were the only ones still there. Réné leaned against a tree and waited for John. Cena first put the blue roses agaisnt the grave.
" I brought you these Sarah. I don't know if they were in your tastes, but they have the same blue than your eyes. That's why I picked them. Sarah, you were the only one to talk to me in your club. You first told me about Cassie and I know you've been the only one from High School to still care about her. You two weren't that different after all, except for the sexuality of course." A flash of a smile stopped him. He swallowed then went on." I wanted to thank you Sarah, that faithful day you didn't just saved my life, you sacrificed yourself for me. You did all you could to help me find Cassie, you wanted to save her life also. I know you were the best friend someone could have asked for and I'm honored to say I could count you as one. I really really hope you're having a blast up there with Cassie. Peace Sarah and thank you."
Then he took the yellow bouquet and put it beside the blue one. He had a lump in his throat. Words didn't seem to come out. He took the black velvet box out of his pocket. He totally forgot that Réné was staring at him, understandement filling his eyes. He opened the box and rubbed tenderly his finger on the ring.
" Cassandra, my love, my life, my Cassie. Sunshine, I'm nothing without you. I love you so much. I'm sorry I never had the chance to ask you my big question. Sometimes I wish I never got in the wrestling business, that way I could have been there to protect you. I couldn't save you, neither Sarah. I was too weak, too late. But I can feel you always beside me, especially today, here in your hometown. My words can't tell how much I miss you, how much I need you. There's not a day that passes by that I'm not thinking about you. You were my soulmate, the one I'll love 'til the day I die. But I promise you one thing Cassie, one day we'll be reunited. When my day comes, I'll join you and we'll finally be together my love. Forever, like it had always should been. You and me. You know I carry you in my heart wherever I go. Your loss is too much for time to erase, you've been the best thing that ever happened to me. Je t'aime.."
Maybe it was to say the words in french, like she always told him, but suddenly everything went down. He couldn't bear it anymore. He broke down in tears.
Seeing John's shoulders got up and down and hear the sound of his sobs, made Réné wished he was anywhere but here. He didn't want to be the witness of such despair. After a few minutes, he decided it was time to go. The sun was setting and it was getting chilly here. He slowly approached John and put his hand on his shoulder. John was too upset to wipe his tears, he only hid the box in his pocket again. The ring was his only secret, it belonged to him and Cassie. No one else should see it if Cassie never did. He got up, realising it was in fact getting late. The opening of WFL was only a couple hours away. Maybe it will help him think about other stuff, less painfull stuff.
They walked away, not saying a word. Rain began to fall, warm rain. But John felt something like a strong blow of wind in his back. He stopped but felt no wind. He swore he had heard Sarah's voice. He looked around but no one was there. The pain was playing tricks on him. He took one last glance at Sarah's grave and held his breath. Through the rain, one lonely ray of sun was shining on a silhouette knelt in front of the grave. When she got up and left the opposite way, the grace of her body made John thought he was going mad. First he thought he heard Sarah's voice and then the girl leaving the graveyard had the same lovely grace than his loved one. For a minute, he wanted to run after the girl to see her face. But why even bother? Cassie had been dead for two years, it was not a good idea to run and scare a young girl at night in a graveyard. Was he doomed to see her everywhere? He shook his head, thinking he needed a good nap. Maybe after he'll feel better.
(A/N: Here you won't hear what Cassie is praying to Sarah because, well, it was in french and I don't think there's many of you who would understand..hehe)
Cassie had waited in the parking for everyone to leave the graveyard. She entered by a small fence on the other side, where no one could see her. She wanted to be alone with Sarah. She knelt and prayed. As she opened her eyes, rain began to fall. But she didn't cared, it just mixed with her tears. She apologised to Sarah, thinking she was the one who should have been in her place. When she noticed the yellow roses against the grave, she let out a sob. No, no, no it was no time to think about John. She got up, put a light kiss on her fingers and pressed them on the flowers. She took a deep sigh and left. A page of history had been turned. It was time to move on. Move on but never forget. She had a big night ahead of her. It was opening night for WFL. There was still much to do. But before she left, she felt a whisper in her ears. She stopped dead in her walk. It was like Sarah's voice. No, no, the pain was just too much for her, she couldn't have heard Sarah, she was dead.. There was no one left in the now dark graveyard. Except for two distant guys who were almost out of the cemetery now. They were so far she could barely see them. It was obvious they weren't the one that she heard. Come on now, she thought, time to go. She still had a little time to relax before the show. She wiped off her tears and forced herself to smile. She knew that was what Sarah would want to her to do. Then she was gone, without taking a look behind her......
A/N: Did you like did you like? Review please even if you don't like. Next chapter will take place at the opening night of WFL. Will they see each other u think? Stay tuned and you'll know shortly! ehehe
It was going better than John expected. He and Réné were in the plane, not far from Québec City now. He had just finished explaining all the Sarah- Cassie story to his friend. Somehow, telling it to Mr.Mcmahon had liberated him. He could talk about it now. It was still painful but maybe after the ceremony, his heart and soul will be soothed. Maybe all he needed was to talk about it. And to say a last good-bye to Cassie, wherever she was now. He knew she was looking down on him and hoped she was not mad he couldn't saved her.
He glanced at Réné and saw him quickly lift his hand to his eyes. Like he was wiping unfallen tears. He laughed, feeling his heart light for once in a long time.
" What the fuck are you doing frenchie? Don't tell me you've been crying?"
" Shut up! Your story is so dramatic, so sad. And it explains why you're such a jackass too. I mean I never thought you could have been through so much John."
" Somethings aren't meant to last. And I wasn't over that story yet, that why I never wanted to talk about it. Plus the medias would have made a big deal about it. Even when it happened, the police kept my name out of it. To preserve my career. But I'll never be over Cassie. I still love her so much, sometimes it feels like she's still there. Almost like I could just pick up the phone and call her. But she's not. I'll never hear the sweet sound of her voice again."
" And considering the things that creep, Étienne right?, did to her, maybe she wouldn't have been able to recover. He kidnapped her, gave her drugs and you said his shirt was covered in blood? Holy shit I don't even want to imagine...."
" Shut up frenchie! I don't want either! That creep killed the woman I was about to ask to marry me, he tortured her, drugged her and beat her senseless and even killed one of her friend right in front of me. If he hadn't pulled the trigger I would have killed him myself, I swear to God."
Réné understood by the look and the anger in John's voice that it was time to talk about something else. The guy was dead, they would never be certain about anything. They couldn't change the past. The only thing he could do was to be there for John. He will need a friend at the cemetery later on.
" So, what do you think about this WFL? Do you expect it to be any good?" Asked Réné, suspicious. " I mean a woman owning and controlling a wrestling federation? It sounds weird. Ok, I admit Stephanie was a pretty good manager but a woman cannot resist us wrestlers, we're just too perfect."
" You're too full or yourself you know that? That's why fans don't like you. I'm sure it will be different but it could also be as good. Vince wouldn't be interested if he didn't think it would turn out good enough for him no? Besides, in the end, Cassie used to train wrestlers herself. And I can tell you she was doing a damn good job. She was hard on them sometimes but for their own good. I wonder who get her to be into wrestling in the first place?"
Réné lifted his eyesbrows and rolled his eyes. He wasn't convinced yet. Women were beautiful and attractives yes, but still so delicate in every way.
The plane finally landed and they took a cab to the hotel. They wanted to take a shower and eat before going to the church.
A few hours later, they were ready to go. John allowed Réné to take care of everything. With him speaking french, it all seemed easier. John was amused at the fact that french was not painful to hear anymore. For more than a year he had winced evrytime he heard a single word in french. But now he loved it so much. Every word was like music to his ear and made him remember Cassie's lovely accent.
They sat down at the back of the small church. Sarah had no family and not a lot of friends, John explained to his friend. She was more a loner, not accepted very well. That's why there was so few people. And after two years, it's not everyone that would have want to honor Sarah's memory. But she had saved my life, John reminded himself, I have to honor and thank her for the rest of my life. And he was glad to do so. If he could, he would have exchanged places with her. That way he'd be with Cassie and Sarah would still be alive.
" Hum, Yummy!" Said Réné when he spotted a picture of Sarah. " Well, Québecoises (girls from Qc) hadn't changed much. They were always so beautiful. This one made no exceptions dude."
" Shut up frenchie! We're in a church, it's not appropriate to talk like that. Besides my friend, she would have not even looked your way."
" You're the one making rude comments! And why not? I'm the French Phenom, incredibly good-looking and only twenty years-old. Any girl would fall at my feet."
" Not this one. She was a...hum, she was a, damnit she was into girls.!"
Réné was speechless at first, but then an evil grin formed on his lips. He was about to say something when silent fell. The priest was coming in. He began his speech. Of course John didn't understood a word but didn't want Réné to translate. He just wanted to sink in the atmosphere. Réné understood and respected him.
After the prayers, they could hear an organ played a song. It was Graduation, by Vitamin C. John remember that Cassie once told him about that song. When they were in college, Cassie, Sarah and all their friends had formed a group named Artémis's hope. They were singing and dancing and were really popular in their school. That particular song had been their hit and had remained Sarah's favorite of all time. It brought a smile to John's lips. But then the irony sinked in. It was also the song where he and Cassie had danced together, before Étienne hit Cassie. John was very moved, feeling desperate all of the sudden. All the sadness he had hid, all the pain he was feeling, finally got the best of him. He allowed hinself to cry, silently. Réné, from the corner of his eye, saw what was going on in John's head. But when he saw him crying, he felt relieved. All this emotion had to get out somehow. It was better to cry it out. He didn't made a sound, didn't moved, not to disturb his friend. He had to grieve in peace, he deserved it. And for nothing in the world he wanted John to know that he saw him cry. He knew that would be something John would never get over. But as the song died away and people started to get out of the church to the cemetery, Réné decided to wake his friend up. People were looking at them and they wanted to avoid the publicity. They were known even here. He elbowed his friend in the ribs.
" What? What is it?" He seemed a little lost, furiously and quickly wiping his tears. Réné looked the other way, like he saw nothing. But the image had tore his heart and was forever going to remain in his mind.
" It is time to go to the cemetery. Come on, I've got the flowers don't worry."
He grabbed the two really big and expensives bouquets John had bought. A dozen of yellow roses and a dozen of blue ones. When he bought the yellow ones, he had bit his lips at the memory and grasped his hands in his pockets. Réné had noticed that whenever John was thinking about Cassie, his hand seemed to grasp on something carried in his pocket. But he had the discrecy not to ask what it was. If John wanted to talk about it, he would. They waited for a few people to knelt down beside the grave of Sarah. Soon, they were the only ones still there. Réné leaned against a tree and waited for John. Cena first put the blue roses agaisnt the grave.
" I brought you these Sarah. I don't know if they were in your tastes, but they have the same blue than your eyes. That's why I picked them. Sarah, you were the only one to talk to me in your club. You first told me about Cassie and I know you've been the only one from High School to still care about her. You two weren't that different after all, except for the sexuality of course." A flash of a smile stopped him. He swallowed then went on." I wanted to thank you Sarah, that faithful day you didn't just saved my life, you sacrificed yourself for me. You did all you could to help me find Cassie, you wanted to save her life also. I know you were the best friend someone could have asked for and I'm honored to say I could count you as one. I really really hope you're having a blast up there with Cassie. Peace Sarah and thank you."
Then he took the yellow bouquet and put it beside the blue one. He had a lump in his throat. Words didn't seem to come out. He took the black velvet box out of his pocket. He totally forgot that Réné was staring at him, understandement filling his eyes. He opened the box and rubbed tenderly his finger on the ring.
" Cassandra, my love, my life, my Cassie. Sunshine, I'm nothing without you. I love you so much. I'm sorry I never had the chance to ask you my big question. Sometimes I wish I never got in the wrestling business, that way I could have been there to protect you. I couldn't save you, neither Sarah. I was too weak, too late. But I can feel you always beside me, especially today, here in your hometown. My words can't tell how much I miss you, how much I need you. There's not a day that passes by that I'm not thinking about you. You were my soulmate, the one I'll love 'til the day I die. But I promise you one thing Cassie, one day we'll be reunited. When my day comes, I'll join you and we'll finally be together my love. Forever, like it had always should been. You and me. You know I carry you in my heart wherever I go. Your loss is too much for time to erase, you've been the best thing that ever happened to me. Je t'aime.."
Maybe it was to say the words in french, like she always told him, but suddenly everything went down. He couldn't bear it anymore. He broke down in tears.
Seeing John's shoulders got up and down and hear the sound of his sobs, made Réné wished he was anywhere but here. He didn't want to be the witness of such despair. After a few minutes, he decided it was time to go. The sun was setting and it was getting chilly here. He slowly approached John and put his hand on his shoulder. John was too upset to wipe his tears, he only hid the box in his pocket again. The ring was his only secret, it belonged to him and Cassie. No one else should see it if Cassie never did. He got up, realising it was in fact getting late. The opening of WFL was only a couple hours away. Maybe it will help him think about other stuff, less painfull stuff.
They walked away, not saying a word. Rain began to fall, warm rain. But John felt something like a strong blow of wind in his back. He stopped but felt no wind. He swore he had heard Sarah's voice. He looked around but no one was there. The pain was playing tricks on him. He took one last glance at Sarah's grave and held his breath. Through the rain, one lonely ray of sun was shining on a silhouette knelt in front of the grave. When she got up and left the opposite way, the grace of her body made John thought he was going mad. First he thought he heard Sarah's voice and then the girl leaving the graveyard had the same lovely grace than his loved one. For a minute, he wanted to run after the girl to see her face. But why even bother? Cassie had been dead for two years, it was not a good idea to run and scare a young girl at night in a graveyard. Was he doomed to see her everywhere? He shook his head, thinking he needed a good nap. Maybe after he'll feel better.
(A/N: Here you won't hear what Cassie is praying to Sarah because, well, it was in french and I don't think there's many of you who would understand..hehe)
Cassie had waited in the parking for everyone to leave the graveyard. She entered by a small fence on the other side, where no one could see her. She wanted to be alone with Sarah. She knelt and prayed. As she opened her eyes, rain began to fall. But she didn't cared, it just mixed with her tears. She apologised to Sarah, thinking she was the one who should have been in her place. When she noticed the yellow roses against the grave, she let out a sob. No, no, no it was no time to think about John. She got up, put a light kiss on her fingers and pressed them on the flowers. She took a deep sigh and left. A page of history had been turned. It was time to move on. Move on but never forget. She had a big night ahead of her. It was opening night for WFL. There was still much to do. But before she left, she felt a whisper in her ears. She stopped dead in her walk. It was like Sarah's voice. No, no, the pain was just too much for her, she couldn't have heard Sarah, she was dead.. There was no one left in the now dark graveyard. Except for two distant guys who were almost out of the cemetery now. They were so far she could barely see them. It was obvious they weren't the one that she heard. Come on now, she thought, time to go. She still had a little time to relax before the show. She wiped off her tears and forced herself to smile. She knew that was what Sarah would want to her to do. Then she was gone, without taking a look behind her......
A/N: Did you like did you like? Review please even if you don't like. Next chapter will take place at the opening night of WFL. Will they see each other u think? Stay tuned and you'll know shortly! ehehe