Title: Because I Need You (8?)
Author: AngelicTorture
Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one you recognize.
Rating: PG 13(may change as the story goes on)
Distribution: Ask and you shall receive.
Spoilers: None so far.
Notes: Response to challenge posted by andonly at litafics on LJ. This part picks up right after Lita finds out that John and Maria are getting married. Lyrics are from How to Save a Life by The Fray.
Previous parts: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Summery: What do you do when you fall for your best friend?
Part 8: Five Days.
"Are you sure he's getting married?"
"I saw his vows Li…"
"I have to do something…"
Lita turned on her heal and headed into her house with Randy following behind her.
"He's getting married Li, I don't think there's much you can do…"
"I can't just let him do this…"
Randy saw tears in her eyes as she picked up her phone and dialed John's number.
John stood in his bedroom, his phone in his hand as it rang. He looked at her name flashing on the screen then at his bride to be sleeping in his bed before walking into the bathroom.
"Li…"
"You're marrying her?"
"Li, I can explain…"
"How can you tell me you love me then marry someone else?"
"What was I supposed to do Li? You left…I didn't know if you were ever coming back…"
The former diva sniffled.
"Do you love her?"
"What?"
"It's a simple question John, do you love Maria?"
A sigh.
"I don't know…"
"Do you love me?"
"Yes, you know I do."
"Then don't marry her."
"Li, you know it's not that simple…"
"Like hell it isn't…you don't love her but you do love me…I know what I want now John…I've always know…I want you."
Another sigh.
"I really wish you would've said that 6 months ago Li…"
"I'm saying it now John…please don't do this…"
"It's too late Li…5 days from now I'm marrying Maria…I'm sorry Li…"
Lita snapped her phone closed and turned to Randy.
"5 days…that doesn't give us much time…"
"Time for what?"
"To stop this wedding and remind him of a promise we both made at our birthday party."
"I really shouldn't have asked should I?"
"Nope…Come on, I'm gonna need your help…"
xxxXXxxx
The former redheaded diva put her plan into action the next morning.
"I need you to swap this with John's ipod."
She held out an ipod to Randy.
"Why?"
"Duh, cause I've put exactly the right kinda songs on there to pull on John's heartstrings."
"Why can't you do it?"
Lita rolled her eyes.
"Cause he'd know I'm up to something…oh and make sure he finds this too."
She handed him a picture of herself and John taken at their birthday party.
"Do I have a choice?"
"Nope…please Randy, I have to try…"
The legend killer smiled.
"Fine…but I'm only doing this because I think John's being an ass."
"Thank you."
Lita felt a little more hopeful as she watched him leave and got to work on the next stage of her plan.
Randy had the ipod and picture hidden in his pocket as he stood on John's doorstep.
"Don't kill me man, someone had to tell her since you weren't gonna…"
"What do ya want Orton?" John asked in a bored voice.
"I just realised I haven't been a very good friend lately…thought I could help with the wedding stuff."
John stepped back to let Randy in.
"I guess you could be useful…"
"I'm glad someone thinks so."
The 2 men walked into the kitchen, Randy couldn't believe his luck when he saw an ipod lying on the counter top.
"So where's the blushing bride to be anyway?"
"At her moms, she wanted to stay there till the wedding."
Randy took advantage of John's back being turned and switched ipods. All he had to do now was find somewhere to leave the picture.
"How's Li?"
"Honestly? Not good man…are you sure you're doing the right thing?"
John sighed.
"No…but it's too late to go back now."
"It's not too late till you put that ring on her finger."
"Is that why you're here, to talk me out of it?"
"No…if you're really gonna do this then I won't try to stop you…maybe I should just go."
"Yeah maybe you should."
Randy got up to leave.
"Um…can I use your bathroom?"
John rolled his eyes.
"Whateva…"
The St Luis native sprinted upstairs but didn't head for the bathroom, instead he made for John's bedroom, looking around before finally deciding to place the picture underneath the edge of one of the pillows.
xxxXXxxx
Randy walked back into Lita's house and put John's ipod down in front of her.
"You do know that was technically stealing right? If he gets me arrested you're posting bail."
Lita stuck her tongue out at him.
"Now all we have to do is wait for stage 2…"
"Stage 2?"
"Of the plan…but that doesn't come in till the wedding…"
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
xxxXXxxx
John put his earphones in and pressed play on his ipod. Instead of his usual loud hip hop or classic rock a song he didn't know came on. He was about to go through the list of songs when something about the lyrics caught him.
Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
By the time he'd listened to every song his blue eyes were shining with tears and all he could think of was Lita. With a small sigh he pulled his earphones out and got into bed. He was pulling the covers over himself when something caught his eye. He picked up the picture and smiled when he realised what it was. He brushed his fingers gently over the photograph.
"I'm so sorry Li…I love you."