Against Her Will - Part 3
"What!" John questioned, quickly turning in his chair and directing his gaze in the same direction Trish had focused hers.
"Richard is here," Trish whispered, every word sounding forced out of her mouth.
"Which one is he?"
"The… the one with the glasses and that horrible evil look on his face."
Though it wasn't much of a description, John spotted the man instantly. The smug look on his face made him want to just punch him right in the face. What a fucking bastard.
"Trish, do you wanna get out of here?"
"We can't. There's no other exit besides the one he's standing right in front of."
"Okay, well just don't look at him. Maybe he won't notice you."
"Trish!"
Trish jumped and looked up. Her brown eyes widened beyond belief when she saw Richard approaching the table her and John sat at.
"Trish, honey, how are you?"
Trish was dumbstruck. She couldn't say a word. How could this horrible man, the man who had raped her nearly twenty years ago – how could he be attempting to talk to her like they were old friends?
Desperate, Trish looked to John, begging him with her eyes to help.
"Excuse me," John said, clearing his throat and earning a look from Richard. "My girlfriend and I are having a nice lunch here. Can we help you?"
"I'm an old friend of Trish's. I haven't seen her in a long time, and I'd like to chat about old times, if you don't mind."
"She minds."
"How would you know?" Obviously, Richard had no idea that John knew exactly what kind of creep he was, and was ready to snap and kill him in about five seconds.
"Trust me, I just know. Now, would you please excuse us so we can finish our lunch and get out of here."
"No, I don't think I can. I'd like to talk to an old friend."
"She's not an old friend of yours, Richard."
"How do you know my name?"
Suddenly finding her voice, Trish stood and took John's hand. "John, let's get out of here. Now."
Feeling Trish's hand shaking on top of his, John obliged and the two turned to walk out of the coffee shop.
"Come on, Trish. You know you don't wanna leave."
"I… I have to go, Richard."
"No, you don't, Trish. Your mother is at work right now, and I don't think she'll appreciate you interrupting her just to tell her some silly fib."
"It's not a fib, now get away from me!"
"What makes you think your mom will believe a word you say? She loves me, and she's in my bed every night. You've done nothing but cause her trouble since the day you met me."
"Because you're a crazy man, and you're doing bad things! Get away from me!"
Richard laughed. "I'm not crazy. You are. Your mother won't believe you. I'll smile and tell her that you were watching a television show that filled your head with lies, and she'll believe me. You're just a little girl. There's not a damn thing you can to stop me. Now, come here."
Trish jumped to the left and started to run when she felt Richard reach for her. She had to get out. She ran to the door and started to pull on it, but it was locked, and she couldn't reach the top lock. She was trapped.
"Come on, Patricia, you know you don't wanna leave," Richard laughed and grabbed Trish by the waist. "You wanna stay here with me."
Tears stung at her eyes, and Trish froze. John felt her hand go cold, and he stopped and turned to her. "Trish, he can't hurt you. I won't let him. But we have to go. Come on."
Trish took a deep breath and let John lead her out of the shop and into a large crowd of people. "John…."
John turned to Trish and wiped a few tears from her brown eyes. "Yeah?"
"I need AJ."
John felt a small twinge of jealousy, but he knew that AJ and Trish were best friends, and AJ was the one who had always been there for Trish. She needed him. He nodded to her, and started searching for AJ.
Trish found him first, and she tapped on John's shoulder to show him. He nodded and they quickly made their way to AJ.
He turned around right as Trish launched herself into his arms and started to cry. "What's the matter, sweetie?" He looked to John for the answer.
"TRISH STRATUS!"
The booming voice caused Trish to jump and hide behind AJ. "No way," AJ began.
John nodded.
Richard spotted Trish's blonde hair, and he quickly ran to where she was hiding behind AJ. "Trish, honey, let me talk to you."
"You better get out of here, right now," John threatened.
Randy Orton - who had been standing with AJ when Trish had found them – looked completely and totally puzzled. He looked to John or AJ for an answer, but he got nothing except that they hated this man with a passion.
"I'm not going anywhere until I get to speak with Trish."
"Then I guess you're not going anywhere," AJ spoke through gritted teeth. He wanted to kill Richard, but he couldn't do that around Trish. "But we're leaving now. I suggest you don't follow us."
Randy, John, AJ, and a shaking Trish turned to leave, but they didn't get very far.
Trish jumped when she felt a hand grab her wrist. She spun around, and of course, there was Richard. The smug grin her wore made her want to break down and crawl away. She never wanted to see him again. Why did he want to make her life so difficult?
"Why are you doing this to me?" Trish questioned, surprised at the steadiness of her voice.
"Because I love you, sweetheart. No one can love you like I can."
More tears poured from Trish's eyes.
"You're one stupid son of a bitch, huh?" AJ pulled Trish into his arms as John and Randy both started to attack Richard.
"Come on, Trish, let's get out of here."
"AJ, why is he doing this to me?"
"Because he's a sick asshole. Now, let's get back to your place, because I think you need to rest."
Trish sighed and let herself fall into AJ's arms.
"Mommy, can I talk to you?"
"Trish, it's nearly two in the morning and you have school tomorrow. What's going on?"
"Mommy, I'm scared."
"Of what? Did you have a bad dream?"
Trish shook her head and took a deep breath. "I'm scared of… Richard."
"Trish, please don't start that now. You've never given me one good reason for why you dislike Richard so much, and I'm starting to think that you're just jealous…"
"Mommy, he raped me!"
Silence filled the small living room. "What did you just say?"
Trish bit her lip. "Richard raped me. He touched me and he wouldn't stop, and I said no but he didn't listen, and he told me that you wouldn't believe me."
"Oh my God, Trish."
"Trish, hey, wake up."
Trish jumped up and rubbed at her eyes. "John?"
"Yeah, it's me. Are you okay? You were talking in your sleep."
"Just a nightmare, but I'm fine. Thank you so much for being there for me earlier."
"It was no problem. You don't deserve to have to live in fear."
AJ popped his head into the room. "Hey, Trish, are you alright?"
She smiled. "I'm fine, AJ, thanks."
He nodded and gave John a grin, then popped his head back out of the room and closed the door behind him.
"So, uhm…" Trish placed her hand on top of John's. "John, seriously, thank you so much."
"It's no prob…."
Before he could finish, Trish leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. It was just a small, light kiss, but to John, it meant everything. He grinned at her.
"What was that for?"
"For helping me, and for making me feel so safe. I've never felt this way about anyone except AJ. And AJ's just a friend. I… I love you, John."
He smiled again. "I love you too."
:The End:\