John was right you couldn't tell if Randy was there or not. He walked like a ghost through the corridors; he didn't speak or socialize with others. Randy felt dead inside but he had to be strong for John. He wouldn't forgive him if he takes his own life.
He tried his best to avoid Cody and most importantly Swagger.
"Hey Randy" Punk tried his luck.
"Hey" the Viper answered.
"How are you?" Punk knew it was a stupid question, he looked terrible.
"I had better days" Randy knew Punk never lost his trust in him.
"Do you want to tell me what really happened?" he pushed.
"No" Randy shook his head.
"Okay" Punk accepted his decision, he wouldn't give up but he could wait "Do you want to go out tonight?"
"I'm not in the mood" he planned to do his job and crawl back into his bad.
"Can I come over tonight?" Punk tried again.
"Do what you want" Randy continued to walk away.
Punk sighed "I failed" he felt Kane's presence "No you didn't. He isn't ready"
"We can't wait too long or we'll lose him for sure" Punk turned around and looked at his lover.
"I'll keep my eyes and ears open" the older man promised "You won't lose him"
"I'm not sure" he feared that they lost him already.
"Come" he put an arm around his lover and dragged him away "We'll find a way…. I think we need Rhodes help"
"But he hates him"
"John said he seemed worried the last time he saw him, maybe we can use his remaining feelings"
"Glen, you're a bad boy" Punk grinned.
"And you love me for that" Kane countered, Punk chuckled "oh yeah I do"
"Wait" they heard Matt's voice.
"Hey Matt" Kane eyed him "It's our turn to watch over him tonight and I want to ask if you have time to come over" Matt asked.
"I promised Randy to pay him a visit this evening" Punk stated, Kane rose a brow "You didn't promise you threatened him" he said.
"It's the same" Punk huffed, Matt chuckled "Adam and John celebrate their third anniversary and we offered to look after him. You know them they would never leave him alone"
"I wonder how Randy puts up with both of them. They're worse than my mother and grandmother together" Punk grimaced.
Matt laughed until Kane interfered "I don't think he notices anything"
"You might be right" Matt nibbled on his bottom lip and sighed deeply.
"We have to distract him" Punk mused "and how do we do that?" Matt threw in.
"I have no clue"
"Good me neither" Matt rubbed his forehead "I think I borrow movies and talk to him until his ears bleed"
"Great. You're more effective than sleeping pills" Punk nagged.
"Thank you" Matt said sarcastically "Sleep is what he needs" Kane shrugged.
Matt rolled his eyes and groaned "See ya later"
"Popcorn?" Punk offered while they watched the first DVD.
"No thank you" Randy stared at the screen, he tried to forget but the movie wasn't helping.
"Pepsi, Whisky or water?" Matt offered but got the same answer.
"You have to eat or at least drink something before you dehydrate" Jeff begged, Randy turned his head to look at him and saw worry in his eyes. He took a bottle of water to make them happy.
The evening was uncomfortable for all of them. Randy wanted to be alone and his friends didn't know how to handle him.
~ I miss him so much. I wish he would be here with me.
His smile lightened my day and his voice was so calming. I understand that he hates me but it wasn't my fault. No that's wrong it was my fault. I should have pushed harder; I should have fought a lot harder than I did. It was my own fault that he did what he did. He took everything from me. Everything I have left is a life I don't want.
John lost his trust; he believes I'm a cheater. It's bad enough I lost Cody but John too is a catastrophe. He took me in, he apologized but he left me when I needed him most, they both left when I needed them. Chris and Cody are right I'm worthless and insignificant ~
"Randy?" Matt shook him.
He looked at them "I asked if you want to watch a second DVD" Matt repeated.
"No, I go to bed" he stood up and bid goodbye before he went upstairs.
"Wow" Jeff sighed "How the hell did John safe him last time?"
"He got on his nerves until he gave in" Matt remembered.
"You never told me about that" Jeff crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"You never asked" Matt smiled at him.
"I ask now" the young man had waited for Matt to tell him what happen but he never did.
"Randy attempted suicide and John gave him a wigging. It wasn't his intention to overdose and I believe that but sometimes … his mind shuts down and he's functioning on … autopilot. John and Adam locked him in for a few days after he was released and we fussed over him until he understood that he was indeed loved" Matt explained.
"We talked to him if he wanted to or not, we watched movies, we played games so he never was alone. We left him some space to think too, it's not as if we were around 24/7 but we were near and kept an eye on him constantly" Punk added.
"He's a good guy" Jeff pitied him.
"Yes he is but he has issues" Matt rubbed Jeff's back.
"He loves Rhodes more than he loved me" a voice appeared out of nowhere "you should lock the front door" he pointed at the door as they stared at him.
"What are you doing here?" Punk frowned.
"I don't want him to die" Chris said "Believe it or not I still like him. Whatever you think I never hated him. I grew up a little too late. I tried to change after I saw what my actions caused. I swore to make it up to him one day, after I almost killed him"
"I think you should leave" it wasn't a suggestion it was an order, Kane got up to empathize his words.
"Stay" they heard Randy's voice. He heard the ruckus and wondered what happened.
"But Randy…" Matt tried to argue but Randy stopped him "Can we talk?" he asked.
Punk almost dropped his pepsi "Randy do you think it's a good idea?"
"No" he gestured Chris to follow him.
"You look terrible" Chris eyed him "I want to apologize"
"It's too late for that but we can start from scratch" Randy didn't look at him while he continued to walk.
"Okay, I'd like that" Chris followed him into his room.
"How's R-Truth?" Randy asked.
"He's fine" Chris blushed; it was awkward to talk about his relationship with Randy.
"You're the strangest couple I ever saw" Randy said with a hint of a smile.
"I know we hear that pretty often" Chris tilted his head "Do you like to tell me what happened?"
"I can't" Randy held it in for so long that he couldn't get it out anymore.
"I heard he left because he caught you with Swagger" Chris watched him closely and noticed the shiver as he mentioned Swagger's name.
"What did he do?" he had broken his heart but he still knew him pretty well.
Randy looked at him in shock "Nothing"
"Don't lie" Chris waved a finger "I might have said mean things to you but most of them weren't true. I do know you you're not as cold and heartless as people think you are and you're a terrible liar"
"He…." Randy choked on his words "Take a deep breath and tell me what he did"
"Don't tell anyone" Randy shut his eyes "I promise and I don't intend to break my word. Your friends have to figure it out on their own if they want to know what happened. I'm surprised they didn't figure it out already. I need five minutes with you to know what's weighing on your soul"
"That's why I fell in love with you" Randy rubbed his neck.
"We weren't meant to be" Chris smiled sadly "Tell me what he did"
"He assaulted me, he said something about a job and that touching me was his favorite part of it. He touched me everywhere and I couldn't …"
"It's not your fault Randy" Chris heard that people who got sexually assaulted thought they were at fault "He took you by surprise, there was nothing you could do. Did he…you know"
"No" Randy shook his head "but he ejaculated over me the last time I saw him he blew me a kiss. I'm scared he comes back to get me"
"I'll take care of you, he will not touch you again" Chris was angry "Cody saw us and he thinks we… I – " Chris took him into his arms, he was trembling like an aspen leaf.
"I'll try to change his mind" Chris promised "You can't. I saw the hate in his eyes, I rather die than seeing it again" Randy stifled a sob.
"You can cry as much as you want. It doesn't make you weak. It's normal to cry" Chris thought about a way to change Cody's mind.
"You're the first who listened" Randy sounded tired.
"What's with John?" Chris was surprised that John wasn't privy to the matter.
"I didn't want to talk and he got angry. He told me not to bother him should I change my mind"
"He was angry I'm sure he would listen" Chris soothed.
"He believes I cheated on Cody" Chris was even more surprised, John knew him good enough not to believe in stories like that.
"Go to bed. You'll see it can only get better" Chris smiled at him to cheer him up but his smile faded. Randy knew better than to believe in his words "I know I lied don't look at me like that" he tucked Randy in and settled down next to him.
"I'll stay tonight and keep bad dreams away" Chris grinned.
Randy chuckled softly "You sound like my mom"
"I know" Chris watched him until he fell asleep.
A soft knock disturbed his thoughts "Is he okay?" Punk asked.
"Of course not but he'll survive the night" Chris looked at Punk, they were friends once but his actions cost him more than a good friend, it cost him everyone. No one spoke to him anymore and he needed months to build a new social network.
"Why are you here?" he entered.
"Like I said I swore to make it up to him" Chris whispered.
"Why?" Punk watched Randy sleep.
"I miss our friendship, he was my best friend before we became lovers and I broke his heart. We should have stayed friends but I dragged him into a relationship. I don't know why I had others. I loved him but I think I loved him like a brother and not like a lover"
"You still love him like a brother" Punk was sure.
"I do. I never stopped to care even though I was so mean. I don't know why, I ask me the same questions year for year but …" Chris regretted what he did deeply.
"It's too late. You can't change what happened but you can try to change the future" Punk rested a hand on his shoulder.
"I want to see him happy again" Chris couldn't remember when he saw him truly happy.
"Me too" Punk smiled at him "me too"
John and Adam entered the house "Cute" Adam grinned. Matt and Jeff slept arm in arm on the couch. Punk and Kane lay on the floor and snuggled closer together.
"Where is Randy?" John looked worried "They promised to keep an eye on him"
"They can't stay up all night" Adam reasoned.
"I know" he pinched the bridge of his nose "Go" Adam smiled at him. John nodded and went upstairs to look for Randy. He was surprised as he opened the door. Next to Randy's bed sat a man who held his hand. His head rested on the mattress and he couldn't make out who it was.
He stepped closer, his stomach churned as he saw Chris. He was angry but decided to wait until he kicked his ass. Randy looked so peaceful in his sleep. It was the first time in weeks.
"Is he alright" Adam asked as John stepped out the room. He glared at Adam "Chris is here"
"What?" his jaw dropped "He's holding Randy's hand and it seemed he calmed him down" John hissed.
He was angry at Chris but mostly at himself. Chris, who broke his friend's heart, was able to calm him down. He struggled day for day to keep his friend alive and Chris showed up and made it better in one night. That wasn't fair.
"Let's go to sleep, we can try to get to the bottom of things tomorrow morning" the blond took John's hand and led him into their own room.
"Morning" Punk shuffled into the kitchen. John was wide awake and had prepared breakfast for his friends. He couldn't sleep at night and lie in bed, wide awake and musing.
"Why is he here?"Cena hissed, Punk grumbled "He came by last night and asked for Randy"
"Why is he here?" John repeated slowly.
"He wants to help. He loves Randy and I believe him" Punk explained.
"He broke his heart" John looked at the straight edge superstar.
"He loves him like a brother and he knows he made a grave mistake but he intends to make it up to him. I think Randy means a lot to him" Punk backpedaled to ease the tension in the room.
"I don't understand why his presence helps Randy so much. I try and try to help him but he won't listen" John slammed a drawer shut.
"You're jealous" Punk pressed his lips together "John, he was his boyfriend, he knows things about Randy you never heard bout. He sees things you can't see. You know that. No one knows Adam better than you. No one knows Kane better than I do"
"I put the pieces together, I held him until he slept, I held his hand while he lay in the hospital, I listened to him"
"You told him not to bother you this time" Punk reminded him.
"I didn't mean what I said" John huffed.
"You know how he is. You say don't bother me and he won't bother you, tell him to go away and he'll never come back" Punk stated.
"I'm his friend" John seemed to fight against tears.
"And you'll be his friend forever" Punk sighed "He loves you; you hurt him as you turned your back at him. You accused him of cheating. I don't believe this lie. Swagger tricked him"
John's eyes widened, he never thought of that "He assaulted him?"
Punk's jaw dropped "Oh" he mouthed, he thought Swagger might had tricked them but he never took into consideration that the tall man could have abused Randy.
"That's not far from the truth" Chris lent against the doorframe.
"What did he do?" John needed an answer.
"I can't tell you. I promised to remain silent. You have to figure it out on your own" Chris rested his head against the doorframe.
"But…" Punk wanted to argue but Chris shook his head "I promised and I'll stay true to my word. I lost his trust once and I won't jeopardize what little we have"
"How?" John frowned sadly.
"Watch him closely. His mimic, his gestures, his moods, everything and you'll find the answer pretty fast" Chris offered some help.
"How did you do it?" Punk was truly interested how he figured it out so fast.
"The right word at the right time" Chris said cryptically "Tell Randy I had to go. R-Truth kills me if I'm not home in an hour"
"Sounds like you found what you looked for" Punk smiled.
"Yeah, I never suspected to fall for him but that's life" he shrugged before he bid goodbye.
"I think he changed" Punk said.
"You might be right" John stared at the door "We have to be observant"
Punk nodded "I wake the others and we can talk a bit before Randy wakes up"