Title: Because I Need You (4?)

Author: AngelicTorture

Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one you recognize.

Rating: PG 13(may change as the story goes on)

Distribution: Litafics on LJ. Anyone else, ask and you shall receive.

Spoilers: None so far.

Notes: Response to challenge posted by andonly at litafics on LJ.

Summery: What do you do when you fall for your best friend?

Part 5: I love you

How many times have you told me you love her?

As many times as I've wanted to tell you the truth

How long have I stood here beside you?

I live through you

You look through me – Solitude by Evanescence.

Lita didn't hear John calling to her as she ran across the dance floor and eventually out of the club altogether. She leaned against a wall as silent tears ran down her face.

John stared in disbelief at the spot his best friend had been standing in. She'd just been about to tell him what was going on, if it hadn't been for Maria showing up.

"John you promised you'd dance with me…" the brunette whined.

"I will, I just have to check on Li first"

"All you ever worry about is her…I'm your girlfriend, not her…you never pay any attention to me…"

"Maria would you please just get over yourself for 5 minutes…she's my best friend and she's upset, I want to make sure she's ok"

"Fine" Maria pouted and stomped off towards the bathrooms. John sighed and headed in the direction Lita had gone.

It didn't take him long to find the crying redhead outside.

"Li what's going on? And don't tell me it's nothing, you don't cry like this over nothing…"

"Go away John…please…just go back to Maria like a good little puppy"

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's wrong…please Li, I hate seeing you cry."

Tearful hazel eyes looked up at him.

"You don't know how much I want to tell you…"

"Then tell me…whatever it is, it can't be worth all this…"

The redhead took a deep breath and mumbled something.

"What?"

"I said…I…I love you…"

John looked more than a little stunned.

"What did you just say?"

"I'm so stupid…I have to go…"

The diva tried to leave but 2 things were stopping her, she had no way to get back to the hotel and John had a hold of her arm.

"Li…did you just…say you love me?"

Lita wished the ground would open up and swallow her.

"Let me go John…please…" she let out a sob.

"How long have you been…in love with me?"

"I don't know…a while I guess but I tried to ignore it…I'd never do anything to break you and Maria up…please don't hate me John…" tears spilled from her brown eyes.

"I don't hate you…Li how could I ever hate you?"

John didn't know what to say to her, it wasn't every day that his best friend declared her love for him.

"I knew this would happen if I told you…just pretend I didn't say anything John…I'm sorry…"

She pulled her arm free and ran. She had no idea where she was going, she didn't know this town very well.

John stayed where he was; he was trying to go over what the redhead had said. How could she be in love with him? They'd known each other almost since they were born. He stood there for 5 minutes before he remembered what he'd said to Maria. With one last look in the direction Lita had headed he went back inside to apologise to his girlfriend.

Lita was wandering aimlessly down a street, trying to remember where the hotel was. She was pretty sure she was going in circles. She could've kicked herself for telling him, she'd known it would only cause trouble, now she was probably going to lose her best friend. She couldn't imagine her life without John in it, he'd always been there. They'd taken their first steps at the same time, said their first words on the same day. Whenever some boy had broken her heart and made her cry John was the one who picked her up. When Matt had cheated on her and left her broken John had put her back together. She should have ignored what she felt; love wasn't worth losing John over.

Her phone rang in her pocket, for a second she thought about ignoring it incase it was John. She pulled it out of her pocket and saw Randy's name flashing.

"Hello." She said with a small sniffle

"Li where are you? What happened? I saw you run outside then John followed you…"

"I told him Randy…I told John I love him…"

"Where are you?"

"I don't know…" she sniffled again.

"You can't be too far from the club…head back the way you went and I'll come get you ok?"

"Ok."

It didn't take Randy long to find her.

"What did he say when you told him?" Randy asked as the redhead got in his car.

"I think he thought I was joking at first…how could I be so stupid? What did I expect him to do? Sweep me off my feet?"

"At least it's out in the open now…"

"What if he hates me? I've known him my whole life…how am I gonna look him in the face ever again?"

"It'll be ok…I don't think there's any way John could ever hate you"

"What if he tells Maria? She'll just love telling that little wannabe Ashley wont she?"

"There's no way he's gonna tell Maria…she probably wouldn't get it anyway, too many big words."

The redhead laughed a little.

"Come on, it's been a long night" Randy said with a smile as he drove them back to the hotel.

John was dancing with a now slightly happier Maria but he couldn't get the red head off his mind. He couldn't believe she'd said she loved him. The more he thought about it, thought about the look in her eyes the more he believed she meant it. He knew he shouldn't be thinking like this but part of him wanted to say it back to her, if he didn't have Maria he probably would have said it.

He'd never told anyone but for the best part of 3 years he'd been head over heels for the redhead. He hadn't been able to tell her when she was with that idiot Matt, then when the jackass cheated on her she'd been so lost, the last thing she'd needed then was another relationship. He wanted to tell her at their birthday party but he'd been too scared to and then Maria had come along. The universe had a crappy sense of timing.

"Ria, I'll be right back, I have to make a call." John kissed his girlfriend's forehead and made his way outside, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

Lita lay on her bed waiting for Randy to get back with the ice cream he'd gone to get to cheer her up when her phone rang. Without checking to see who it was she flipped it open.

"Hello?"

"Li…"

"John…I..."

"I love you too Li…"

Everyone leaves me stranded

Forgotten, abandoned, left behind

I can't stay here another night

Your secret admirer

Who could it be?

Ooh, can't you see?

All along it was me

How can you be so blind

As to see right through me?

Mwahahahahaha yes i am evil with the cliffhangers lol review and i'll post the next part faster :)