CHAPTER 25

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Glenn asked as he parked the car. "I have enough time to just bring you back to the hotel, if you want."

"I'll be fine, I want to see the guys," Brandy reassured him with a smile, and grabbing her purse slid out of the passenger seat.

Glenn walked around to her side, and before she could make her way towards the arena he stopped her. When she looked up at him, he commented, "I'm glad you're finally out of that hospital. We all missed you."

Smiling again, she hugged him around the waist. "I missed you guys as well," she replied, and grabbing onto his arm walked with him into the building.

As the two of them approached the main backstage area where everyone was, Brandy could hear her name being said, and when they rounded the corner she gave a wide grin when she saw Kevin and Henry standing there. "Are you guys talking about me?" she spoke up, and immediately they both looked over at them with a surprised look on their faces.

"Brandy!" Henry said first, and unable to help herself she gave a small cheer before running towards him. As soon as she was within arms length he lifted her up into his arms in a tight hug, spinning her around as he added, "Oh my god, I'm so glad you're back!"

"I missed you," she stated, squeezing his neck before he placed her back on her feet. Looking over, she gave another bright smile before exclaiming, "Kevin!"

"There's my girl," he said as he lifted her as well, hugging her just as close. "Damn, am I glad to see you," he added as he put her back down. "I've been worried about you."

"We've all been worried about you," Henry spoke up, making her look back at him.

Brandy gave a small smile. "I'm okay, guys," she said quietly as she looked down, guilt coming over her as she thought of that night.

Gently, Kevin had her look back up at him. "You're not allowed to leave us like that," he stated, his words both joking and serious. Unsure of what to say, she simply gave a sheepish grin.

"Come on, we have a lot of catching up to do. Kevin and I are taking you out," Henry interjected, grabbing her hand and leading her back towards the exit. Laughing, she grabbed Kevin's hand with her free one, and as the three of them walked hand in hand she could not help but to wonder when the last time was she had felt this happy.

) ) ) )

Just as he was about to turn down another hallway, Mark could hear what seemed to be a heated conversation going on between two people. Stopping, he stayed quiet as he listened, his curiosity overruling the small voice in his head telling him to mind his own business.

"Oh, now all of a sudden you have a conscience?"

"No, it's more like I'm pissed I went along with your plan to help you get Taker to leave his fiancée. You told me if I helped you make that stupid fucking tape, you would get your dad to push me higher up the roster, but he made it pretty fucking clear that isn't going to happen. So what am I getting out of this now, Stephanie?"

"I fucked you to make the tape, didn't I?"

He could hear a scoff. "That really isn't an incentive."

"Fuck you."

Mark was left in complete shock at what he was hearing. Had he really been deceived by someone he not only had considered a good friend, but also was currently romantically involved with? Seeing Paul walk down the hall away from him brought Mark back out of his thoughts, and as he rounded the corner he could feel his chest begin to tighten with anger. As soon as Stephanie saw him she smiled, but that smile quickly left her face when she saw the enraged look on his face. "Mark, what's wrong?"

"Did you make that tape I saw?"

A look of confusion came to her face. "What tape?"

"The one someone left me in my locker room."

"That was clearly Brandy and Henry, why would you think that was me?"

"I just heard your conversation with Paul, so don't play dumb with me."

She simply stared at him for a long moment, trying to figure out what to say next, and finally got out, "Whatever you heard us talking about, that's not what it was."

"Oh? So you know another Taker who has a fiancée and was given a tape?"

The color began to leave her face. "I..."

"What?"

Finally, she managed to get out, "I just wanted you to see how perfect we are together."

"So you admit you did it?"

"Well..."

"You are disgusting, Stephanie," he spat at her. "How can you live with yourself after doing something like that?"

"I just...I just wanted to be with you."

"Don't you think it wasn't meant to be if you have to do something that fucked up to try and make it work?"

She remained silent, unsure of what to say, but when he began to walk away she finally started to say, "Wait-"

"Don't," he cut her off before she had the chance to say anything else. "Don't talk to me, and don't come near me, because I really don't want to go to jail tonight," he warned, and when she kept quiet he stormed off. As he made his way down the hall, it began to sink in just what he had done, and how he had treated Brandy, a queasy feeling coming to his stomach as he recalled those harsh words. 'Oh god...I put my hands on her,' he thought to himself, mortified by the fact he had grabbed her shirt. He had turned into exactly what she had been trying to run away from when they first met... Feeling as though he were about to get sick, he made his way towards the exit, needing to get fresh air and to try and fully comprehend what had just happened.

) ) ) )

Hiding in one of the darkened corners of the bar, Mark took a long swig of the beer in his hand, desperately wanting to drown out the feelings coursing through him and the thoughts flooding his mind.

"Do you need another one?" one of the bartenders asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.

Looking up at the young girl standing in front of him, he finished the last swallow in the bottle he was holding and replied as he held it out, "Yes please, thank you."

"You're welcome," she said with a smile, and turning around made her way back towards the bar to grab his replacement.

Mark thanked the bartender once she had returned with his beer, and just as he took another long drink he happened to glance at the entrance of the door, nearly choking when he saw Brandy walking into the building. His entire body growing numb, he sat there paralyzed as he stared, a multitude of emotions coursing through him as he watched her make her way over to the pool table in the other corner of the bar. Following closely behind was Kevin, and he gave a small scowl when he noticed Henry joining them. 'Nothing happened between them," he had to remind himself, but immediately following this thought wondering if he had ended up pushing her into his arms, thus still making him lose her to this person from her past. He saw Kevin say something to the other two, and as he walked away Brandy began to talk to Henry. He could tell she was excited by how animatedly she spoke, and knew it had to be about something she was passionate about. Rolling his eyes, Henry said something as he reached into his pocket and pulled out some change. Giving a small jump, she clapped her hands as he placed the change in her hand, and quickly gave him a small peck on the cheek before heading over to the jukebox. Mark could see she was searching through what her options were, and when he saw she finally picked one his heart gave a small pang of hurt when a Black Sabbath song started playing. Of course she had to pick one of his favorites. As she walked back over to the pool table she did a small dance with every step, laughing at something Henry said as she approached him. Kevin followed shortly after, handing the other two the beers he had bought them before getting the table ready for them to play. Unable to stop, Mark continued to watch them, amused by the way Brandy bounced and danced around the other two as they talked and laughed. The more she drank, the livelier she became, and at one point she started playfully dancing against Henry, her actions making him laugh. After a moment, he finally gave in by dancing with her for a moment before playfully pushing her away. When Kevin said something to her, she laughed before giving him the middle finger, and laughing back he pulled her to him for a hug. At one point, Kevin disappeared to another part of the bar while the other two started another game of pool.

"Didn't your mom teach you not to stare?" a voice next to Mark suddenly commented, making him jump and immediately look over.

"Jesus, Kevin, you scared the shit out of me," Mark replied, his heart pounding and his face hot with embarrassment.

"What are you doing?"

"The same thing you are, just having a drink."

"You look like a serial killer over here in this dark corner."

"Fuck you, man, I'm just sitting here."

"Yeah, and you're watching Brandy like you're contemplating hiding her in your basement."

"Don't ever say that again," Mark snapped, taking Kevin by surprise.

"Sorry Taker, I spoke before thinking," Kevin apologized as soon as he remembered the situation they had been put through. "So why are you sitting here alone?"

"I'm...just watching her," Mark stated, his gaze going back to Brandy who was playfully shoving Henry. "I'm trying to work up the nerve to go talk to her."

"Don't," Kevin quickly replied, taking him by surprise.

"Excuse me?"

"I said don't. She's been in a real bad place. This is the first time I have seen her this happy in a long time."

"And you think I would ruin that?"

"Yeah, actually, I do. You know I love you like a brother, but you really fucked her up. I don't think you get how bad it has been for her. We almost lost her, and I don't mean as in her going home...she tried to kill herself."

Mark did not know what to say to this. He had suspected this is what Glenn had been referring to the last night he saw her, and Kevin just confirmed what he had dreaded hearing. "I know I fucked up, Kevin, and I want to talk and fix things. That's why I want to see her."

"Taker, seriously, leave her alone. Don't make me have to stop you from walking over there," Kevin warned, and Mark watched him in disbelief as he walked back over to Brandy and Henry. They talked for a moment, before making their way out of the bar, and as he watched them walk out the front door he found himself wondering if he had lost her for good this time.