CHAPTER THREE

LILY

After a surprisingly nice talk with Dean, I knew I needed to go back to my room. I hesitated. "Hey," Dean said, noticing. "You alright?"

"I... Yeah," I said. "Thanks for everything, Dean. You really helped me out. I should get back to my room."

"You don't have to, you know. I'm not kicking you out."

"I've taken up enough of your time."

"Lily, it's fine. Really."

I was embarrassed because I wanted to stay with him. I was afraid to go back to my room. The thing was, I'd never let fear stop me from doing anything before.

"I'll be okay," I promised. "I just need for everything to get back to normal."

"It won't," he said bluntly as I started to walk out the door.

"What?"

"It won't get back to normal, Lily, no matter how hard you wish it would. This happened. It isn't going away. You have to deal with it. Pretending nothing happened will fuck you up worse."

I stared at him. I wanted to curse him out or kick him or do anything to prove he was wrong. Where did he get off? Who the fuck was this guy to tell me what my future held? What the fuck did he know?

Looking into his eyes, however, I knew he wasn't trying to be an asshole. I saw concern there. More importantly, I saw understanding. Somehow, this big, psychotic wrestler understood what I was dealing with. That didn't make a lot of sense.

"Dean... Look, you've been great to me, but I need to stand on my own two feet," I said.

He nodded. "Okay, I can respect that. But if you need anything, you know where to find me until we leave here..." He wrote something down. "And that's my number. If you need to or want to or just feel like screaming at someone, dial it. I'm here."

I took it in shock. "Thank you... Really."

He opened the door to his hotel room. "Do you want me to walk you back?" He asked.

I did, but I shook my head. I needed to do this on my own. "That's okay. I'll see you around..." I walked out and headed to my hotel room.

I was okay at first, but once I stepped inside, I saw the mess left over in the room. I'd fought harder than I realized. The sheets were in terrible shape. There was even a little bit of blood. A lamp had fallen to the floor. My underwear was still on the floor where he'd forced it off of me as he leaned me over the bed...

I started to panic. Unwelcome images flashed through my head. I could still see him, hear him, feel him... I could smell the mix of sweat and cologne and alcohol he'd left all over me. I could feel the way he'd bitten my lip at points to stop me from screaming. I could feel him, huge inside of me, tearing me apart in ways I hadn't been able to fully process while drunk.

I doubled over in pain, then gagged and ran to the bathroom and threw up my breakfast. My throat burned as I continued puking. It didn't matter that my stomach was empty. My body was trying to force him out of me.

"Too much to drink last night?" An amused voice asked.

I jumped, then clung to the toilet as I flushed it, too sick to stand up yet. Ashley stared at me. "Hey, sorry! Your door was open. Are you okay?" She asked.

"Hung-over," I said. It wasn't a lie.

"Well, you only turn twenty-one once, right?" Ashley pulled a bottle of water out of my mini fridge. "Wow... What happened in here?" She looked at the messy room in surprise.

"Nothing," I said.

"Nothing?" She raised an eyebrow at that.

"Things got a little out of hand, that's all."

Ashley seemed to see through my words. "Lily... Are you sure you're okay?" She asked. She reached over to help me stand, but I got up on my own. As she followed me out of the bathroom, she went to close the door.

"No!" I said in an irrational panic. Ashley looked at me. "Leave it open. Please."

That, unfortunately, was when her eyes fell to the bed. I saw her spot the blood. "Oh, shit, Lily... Who was it?"

"It's nothing-"

"Don't you dare try to lie about this! Who did this to you, Lily? I'll kick his motherfucking ass myself and then make sure to get you a good lawyer so he rots in a cell!"

I wanted to lie, but what was the point? The evidence was blatently staring her in the face. "I don't want to talk about it," I said instead.

Ashley softened slightly. "You have to call the cops, Lil. He has to pay for hurting you."

"We were drunk-"

"Did you want to do this?"

"No.. Maybe... I don't know. I liked him, but... I didn't want it to go this far."

"Did you tell him no?"

"Yes," I admitted.

"Then it's rape, Lily, no matter how drunk you both were."

I sighed. "I know... But I don't want people thinking I'm weak."

"You are not weak. The limp-dick who has to force himself on a young girl to get off is weak."

"It... Ashley, no one will believe me. Everyone saw me flirting with him all night and drinking with him, and he's... He's a big deal around here."

I saw rage flash back on her face. "It was one of the wrestlers? Son of a bitch!" She looked at me. "Lily, I'm so sorry this happened to you... But you need to report it."

"I took a shower. I have no proof."

"Your sheets are proof. It's good the maid hasn't come and cleaned up yet."

"I left the do not disturb sign on the door I guess... I think he put it on the door when we got back here... It's a little fuzzy."

"Who was it, Lily?" She looked at my t-shirt. "Oh, fuck, was it Ambrose? I'll cut his dick off-"

"No!" I said quickly. "Dean... I ran into him afterward. He took care of me, Ash. He kept me safe after it happened. I wouldn't tell him who it was, either, but he helped me. I owe him..."

Ashley seemed to decide she believed me. "Okay... But whoever did this is still out there, Lily. He could do it again, to you or someone else. You have to report this."

I realized she was right about that part. "I need to think about it... But Ash, why are you here, anyway?"

"Well, I wanted to ask... Never mind."

"No, please. Ask."

"I wanted to know if you wanted to have a match at the house show tonight."

I was instantly distracted. "Really? Of course I do! Against who?"

"Me, of course! And Becky. It would be a tag match, to get your feet wet with the main roster."

I stared at her. "Hell yes! Who's my tag partner?"

"Lily, with what happened-"

"With what happened, I need this. So who's my partner?"

"Brie Bella. With Nikki out injured, she needs a partner."

"What about Alicia Fox?"

"She's wrestling Trinity tonight." She hesitated. "Lily, this isn't the right time for you to take this match."

"Yes it is. What better way to prove I'm not a victim than to get in that ring and wrestle my ass off?"

"You could be hurt."

"Then let them check me. I'll see a doctor."

"Lily, honey-"

"I'll tell them, okay? I will tell them what happened." I knew Ashley was right and that he could do this again if I kept it to myself. I had to stop acting like a helpless, scared victim.

"You... You will? Just for a match?"

"The match is only part of it."

She nodded. "Let's call the cops."

"Wait. Triple H first."

"Paul can't help-"

"Paul needs to know one of his guys did this and I don't want him being blindsided by cops."

"Okay." Ashley called Paul herself. She waited with me until we got to his office, where I told her I was ready to do this alone. Reluctantly, she left.

Paul welcomed me with a big smile. I sat down in a chair. I took a deep breath and said, "Paul... Something happened last night."

His face turned serious. "What was it?" He asked.

"I... um... I let someone walk me back to my room... And he came in, and things got out of hand."

"Out of hand how?"

I had to do this. I took another deep breath. "He raped me." The words were strange to say aloud, but I knew it was better to just blurt it out and not beat around the bush.

Paul seemed unsure of what to say. Finally, he asked, "Who was it?"

"Reigns." It was easier to call him that, like I was talking about a character and not an actual person.

Paul stood up so fast, I jumped slightly. "Now, wait a minute," he said quickly. "Are you sure, Lily? I mean, I know Roman. He's a legacy. He isn't the type of guy who would just-"

I was pissed at that. Who the fuck did Paul think he was to say that to me? "Really? Well, he did, so I guess you're wrong."

He hesitated. I think he realized what a stupid thing that had been to say to me. "Lily, I didn't mean-"

"Yes you did. You think Roman Reigns is above reproach. You think he's incapable of raping someone. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but he did."

"It's not that... It's just, Roman is generally a good guy. I know you were both drinking last night... Is it possible that you're confused about what happened?"

"Fucking hell, Paul, are you serious?"

"Maybe things just went further than you would have wanted if you'd been sober."

"You're damn right it did! If I'd been sober, I would have fought harder and gotten away! If I'd been sober, I'd have reported it sooner! If I'd been sober, I wouldn't have ever let him into my room! If I'd been sober..." I stopped talking. What else could I say?

Paul realized he fucked up. "I'm sorry... I wasn't there, so I don't know what happened. I just need to know if you have any proof-"

"Blood. On my sheets."

"That only proves it got a little rough. He's a big guy, and this is your word against his. He'll argue that."

"I took a shower... But I will let a doctor check me... See if there are... signs." Signs of force.... I knew that's what I needed. I'd watched enough crime dramas to know how this went.

Paul sighed. "Let me talk to him. By all means, get cleared by a doctor. Take care of yourself. Let me handle getting his side of the story."

I didn't want to leave it at that, but Paul stood up. It was obvious he was dismissing me. I walked back into the hallway and took off running. If I walked too slowly, the thoughts that hit me would be very bad. I'd told my boss the truth, and he pretty much told me I was wrong. I wasn't sure how to handle that. I ran until I couldn't breathe, and then I dropped to my hands and knees and screamed.

CODY

I was walking through the park near the hotel when I heard it. Someone was screaming. It sounded so primal, my hair stood on end. If I still had my ridiculously dashing mustache, that probably would have been twitching, too. Something was very, very wrong.

I raced toward the wooded area and followed the sound of sobs. That was when I spotted her, rocking in a self-soothing rhythm, nearly catatonic. I recognized her immediately.

"Lily?" I asked. "Honey, what's wrong?" Lily had been one of my dad's favorite "kids" at NXT. He had always raved about how much potential she had. I hardly knew her, but I knew Dad would want me to help her. Hell, maybe he'd been the one who put it in my head to go to the park in the first place.

"Lily..." I called again. I knelt near her, but didn't get too close. Whatever had happened, I didn't want to make it worse.

She noticed me then. She quickly wiped away her tears and sat up. "Cody... Hi," she said awkwardly.

"What's wrong, sweetie?"

"Nothing. Just a crap couple of days."

"I get that... Anything I can do to help?"

"No... I'm okay. I need to be somewhere."

"Do you want company?"

"Um... It's kind of personal. But thanks for the offer. That's sweet of you."

"At least let me make sure you get there safely." I paused. "I know you barely know me, but my Dad would be furious if I left one of his favorites to wander around alone while upset."

She stared at me. "One of his...?"

"Yeah. Dad thought you were great, Lily."

This seemed to shock her. Most of the kids dad had embraced like that were humbled by it. She finally asked, "Really?"

"I never say that unless it's true." I smiled at her kindly. She relaxed slightly.

"That means a lot... He was a great man."

It always stung a bit when people referred to Dad in the past tense. It was like I'd remember all over again that he was gone.

"Yeah," I said. "He really was." I knew the sadness showed on my face. When I was in character, I could hide anything, but I was Cody today, not Stardust, and the pain was obvious.

"You can walk me there," she said suddenly. "Thank you."

I nodded. We made a bit of small talk until we arrived at a clinic. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'll be fine."

"Do you have anyone picking you up?"

"I'm going to ask Ashley to meet me. If all goes well, I'll have a match against her and Becky tonight."

I raised my eyebrow in surprise. "Look at you, making it to the big leagues!" I smiled. "Good luck."

"Thanks, Cody." She smiled back before heading into the clinic. As I walked away, I found myself wondering what Dad would think of her possibly coming up to the main roster at such a young age. He loved his NXT Kids like they were his own children. I knew how he'd feel, really. He'd be damn proud.