Chapter 17: A New Beginning or Not?

A court trial was held a week after the cops arrested Andrew and Hunter's unplanned death. Stacy and John had persuaded Mr. George Caldwell to speak against the criminals. Henry Pinkerton, the other witness, whom Andrew and Hunter had paid to keep his silence also, came to speak. Andrew admitted on what he did. He was sentenced for life imprisonment not long after. Shelton was arrested too. He was sentence an imprisonment for fifteen years max and ten years the least.

"What was the reason behind all this Shelton?" Stacy asked slowly when he confronted him after the hearing.

"I'm so sorry Stace, I was just so jealous of Randy. I mean he had everything. He has… you. You might have never noticed Stace but I really like you." Shelton confessed, his head bowed down, never meeting Stacy's gaze.

"Shelton?" Stacy asked in surprise.

"That's why I did everything for you, in the hopes of you liking me. But you just went on loving Randy. I thought it to be very unfair. And so I helped Andrew with his plan to take Randy down. I'm so sorry Stace. I wish you could forgive me for what I did." Shelton said and left along with the cops. Stacy was left dumbfounded on what she had just learned from Shelton.

"I don't know if i could forgive you Shelton... Maybe I will... someday... you took the life of the person i cared the most." Stacy thought to herself as she followed Shelton's leaving figure. Suddenly she felt someone tapping her shoulder. She turned around to see John. Her face brightened up when she saw his face. Forgetting everything.

"I'm so happy John!" Stacy exclaimed and hugged John suddenly.

"Yeah, me too. Randy and Dawn's death are finally given justice." John replied and hugged her back.

"But I felt sorry for Hunter. I mean, dying that way…" Stacy said as she pulled away from the hug.

"Guess he has to pay his crime that way." John said and gave her a faint smile on which she happily returned.

"Yeah, maybe." Stacy replied and tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and blushed a bit when she realized she has just hugged John like that.

"Um… So Stace, you wanna, you know…" John started and scratched his head wondering on what to say to the blonde diva in front of him.

"You mean, out on a date?" Stacy asked him in return, smiling shyly.

"Yea-, I mean, no. Just to celebrate that the case is finally close and over… you know… Aww, okay. I'm asking you out on a date Stacy Marie Keibler." John admitted.

"I would love to, John." Stacy replied.

"Thanks, Stace. And… uh… there's something I need to tell you. I'm suppose to tell you this on our date but I don't think I can wait any longer." John said and looked at her shyly.

"Which is?" Stacy asked curiously, though she already know pretty much what John wants to say to her. She just wants to hear it from him.

"Stace, I… I really like you." John admitted and took her hand. "I mean, I really like you a lot. Your personality, your beauty, your wits, your everything. You are so brave that I couldn't help but admire you." John told her finally, but Stacy just fell silent. She was just so amazed that he likes her! She was just looking at him with an unreadable expression on her face.

"Stace! Say something!" John said, squeezing her hand a little bit. Stacy just leaned over to him and gave him a quick, soft kiss on the lips.

"I like you too John." Stacy whispered to his ear. John just smiled and hugged her tight once again.

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"Where am I?" Randy Orton's voice came from inside a hospital room in St. Louis, Missouri.

-END-

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a/n: so whaddya guys think? stacy is on SD! how cool is that!